awareness

By: Christina Bein

June 19, 1865, commemorates the true enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation to abolish slavery across the United States. President Abraham Lincoln declared the abolition of slavery on January 1, 1863. 

Texas was the last Confederate state to receive the news that those once enslaved are now free. Slavery in the Americas (North and South America) has a long history that recorded documentation shows it starting with with the indigenous people around 1492. 

Over 5 million Native Americans were enslaved before the slave trade for this racial group ended in 1750. It ended because of the decreasing numbers of indigenous people lost to illness and death, and there was increasing importation of African slaves to the Americas, about 12.5 million African people by 1880. 

All the while, between 1492-1750, Africans were being kidnapped from Africa and traded into slavery in Europe with a smaller amount that could sail to the Americas. 

Slavery with these racial groups (in North America) lasted for four centuries, ending with what we know in the U.S. to be Juneteenth.

Texas was formerly recognized as part of Mexico. 

It had become an independent country between 1836-1845, and by the end of 1845, Texas became the 28th state of the U.S. On March 2, 1861, Texas seceded and joined the Confederacy which included: Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South, Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. 

The Confederacy was never recognized as a sovereign nation, and it lasted from 1861-1865 on the basis of fighting to keep slavery legal. 

There is no conclusive answer as to why it took so long for Texas to receive this proclamation. 

Some historians believe it to be due to Texas being a Confederate state until General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union Army General Ulysses S. Grant in April of 1865. It still took two months to free the enslaved. 

Major General Gordon Granger and the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas to publicly announce the Emancipation Proclamation, thus, enforcing the freedom for over 250,000 enslaved Black people in Texas.

Juneteenth is a combination of June and nineteen. It celebrates freedom from slavery for Black people/African-Americans. This day is also known as “Freedom Day” and promotes recognition of African-American heritage and culture.

The U.S. American history includes numerous contributions from the Black community.

Mary Van Brittan Brown invented the home security system in 1966 and patented it three years later. To this day, her designs influence how current home security systems are structured. Alexander Miles invented automatic elevator doors in 1887, which eliminated the risk of falling down elevator shafts from the previous manual elevator doors. 

In 1923 Garret Morgan created the three-light traffic signal that we use today. Thomas L. Jennings was the first African-American patent recipient in the U.S. for developing dry-cleaning of delicate clothing. Dr. Patricia Bath, the first female African American medical doctor, invented the laser cataract treatment machine in 1986. 

There are countless ways the Black community has contributed to and influenced American culture through time that spans from everyday product uses to music and art, sciences and education, and more. 

Read about Juneteenth

10 Black Inventors Who Changed Your Life.

By: Betsy Pownall

Children have five constitutional rights: the right to education, health, family life, play and recreation, and to be protected from abuse and harm.

Over the years, there have been laws enacted to protect our children. Here are a few of the most recent:

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) was enacted in 1974 and reauthorized over the years –  most recently in 2019. 

CAPTA is the largest and broadest legislation in U.S. history to protect children. 

By focusing on the fair, ethical and legal treatment of children, CAPTA is intended to keep them safe from all forms of abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional and psychological.

The Child Protection Act of 1984 removed child pornography from the First Amendment rights, thereby making it criminal for people to create and distribute child pornography whether or not they are making a profit.

THE Pro-Children Act of 2001 imposes restrictions on smoking in facilities where federally funded children’s services are provided.

In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed firearm homicides as the leading cause of death among US children and adolescents.

Death by firearm has surpassed motor vehicle deaths and those caused by other injuries. 

In a study done by Kaiser Family Foundation, it was found that firearms account for 20% of all child and teen deaths in the U.S., compared to an average of less than 2% in similarly large and wealthy nations. 

Our children are at great risk every time there is a shooting in a public place or school. 

There is a distancing that occurs in Washington, DC. Much is discussed about the perpetrator and the (usually mental health) problems the perpetrator was facing.

Focus is placed on the location of the shooting, the victims, and socioeconomic and psychological factors of both the perpetrator and victims.

No mass shooting is the same. However, in every case, there is one common denominator, and that is the gun. 

And it is the one ingredient in these shootings that our legislators seem to refuse to acknowledge. 

Why is the owner of something as lethal as a gun not required to go through licensing, registration and purchase gun owner insurance, as one would to an automobile?

While we have a Congress too nervous to pass comprehensive gun control legislation, our children are dying. 

We hear that we need more mental health services, that schools need more protection, that people need to know how to secure themselves in the face of violence. 

What we do not hear are our legislators, en masse, calling for stricter controls of guns. 

Gun violence is a public health issue, and our children’s constitutional rights are being violated. 

Here are steps you can take now to help. 

Write your Oregon U.S. senators and representatives. Oregon US Senators such as: Jeff Merkley, R 

Eugene: 405 East 8th Avenue, Ste. 2010; 97401 (541) 465-6750

Portland: 121 SW Salmon Street, Ste. 1400; 97204 (503) 326-3386

Ron Wyden, D

Eugene:  405 East 8th Avenue, Ste. 2020; 97401 (541) 431-0229

Portland: 911 NE 11th Ave., Suite 630; 97232 (503) 326-7525

Join and/or donate to local and national gun control groups such as Everytown for Gun Safety, Mom’s Demand Action or Ceasefire Oregon

If you have investments, meet with your financial counselor and examine your portfolio.

You can be creative with your investments by moving money from gun manufacturers to other areas that reflect your values.

And finally, educate yourself. Read and listen. Talk. It takes a village to raise and protect a child.

Bad days happen, but when they start to outnumber the good, it may be time to shift your habits. 

The habits and routines you create can motivate you to get out of bed in the morning and start the day.

Getting excited about a part of your routine can be the fuel you need to keep going. 

Do What You Love

You can take a moment to write down all the items, activities, and people that make you happy. 

Now, it’s time to reflect on that list and be honest about how often you see those people or do those activities. 

Incorporating time into your schedule to do at least one thing you love can make a difference in your mood.

Make Opportunities Happen

Finding opportunities to pursue can be a great mood boost. This can come from taking a class, volunteering or meeting someone new. 

It allows you to have new and exciting experiences that can help you to grow. 

The chance to try something new can open the doors for you in so many ways. You could end up finding something you love that you never thought possible.  

Have Fun With It

A daily dose of fun can be just what you need, especially on challenging days. 

Fun can mean different things to everyone. It could mean watching an episode of your favorite show or spending time with loved ones. 

Tou can take it further by brainstorming ideas for future activities that inspire fun. It can show you that there are so many things you can look forward to doing.

By: Tanya Kramer

This day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992. This year the Theme is “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world”.

For individuals with a disability, there continues to be barriers to living a normal life. That is why the purpose of this day is to promote the importance of understanding disability issues and “mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well being of persons with disabilities.” It is also meant to educate how every aspect of society (political / social / economic / cultural) will benefit when there is a complete integration with persons with disabilities.

More than 1 billion people worldwide have a disability.

What do Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Mean?

Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are disorders that are usually present at birth and affect the individual’s physical, intellectual, and/or emotional development.

IDD includes persons with:

• Intellectual Disability (IQ of 75 or below)
• Developmental Disability
• Global Developmental Delays
• Medical Needs that cause I/DD or adaptive function issues
• Down Syndrome
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Cerebral Palsy
• Epilepsy
• Fetal Alcohol / Drug Syndrome
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Spina Bifida

Where to Find Support and What Type of Support is Available?

Support for individuals with a disability can be found on the county level. You can locate this by searching the internet for your county along with the words “Developmental Disability Services”.

Here is a brief list of the types of services that may be available:

• Case Management – someone to help you identify what you might benefit from
• Skills training
• Assistive devices or technology
• Behavior consultation
• Overnight support
• Specialized medical equipment / supplies
• In home support for intensive medical or behavioral needs
• Family Training
• Environmental Modifications
• Vehicle Modifications
• Foster Care / Group Homes

By: Tanya Kramer

Human Rights Day was adopted by 56 members of the United Nations on December 10th, 1948.

This year’s theme is “The 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.  

To read the entire Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), go to this link:  https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights 

To enjoy an engaging illustrated version by Yacine Ait Kaci (YAK), go to this link:  https://www.un.org/en/udhrbook/#1

This document proclaims “the inalianble rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.”

Eleanor Roosevelt led the commission to implement the UDHR.  Eleanor was quoted saying “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?  In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world […] Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere.  Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”

Some of the rights protected in the document include (but not limited to):

• Freedom from discrimination
• Right to equality between men and women
• Right to life
• Freedom from torture
• Freedom from slavery
• Right to liberty and security of person
• Right to be treated with humanity in detention
• Freedom of movement

For additional information regarding Human Rights Day, go to this link provided by the United Nations:  https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day/know-your-rights

For resources about Human Rights Day, go to this link provided by the United Nations:  https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day/resources

May each one of us be deeply reminded on this day that not everyone’s Human Rights are respected, to acknowledge our own individual privilege, and to speak up for everyone’s Human Rights!!!

Native American Heritage Month is a chance to reflect on the diverse history, traditions, and culture of Native American people. 

During this time, we can learn more about the challenges that Native American people have faced and gain knowledge of their history to raise awareness in our communities. 

Native American Heritage Month was established in November 1990, when Congress and President George H.W Bush signed it into law. This month now marks a time where we can remember the struggles Native people have faced and honor them. 

Today, we can celebrate the achievements and contributions of Native people from the past and the present.

It’s a great time to educate ourselves by reading stories written by Indigenous voices, attending events, and learning more about their history. 

Check out our resources below to learn more.

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

November 2022 Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month | United States Courts

By: Tanya Kramer

Veteran’s Day is November 11th every year and pays tribute to all Americans living or dead, who are veterans.  A veteran is “a person who served in active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.”

This list captures the origins of this important day:

• At the end of World War I, the fighting ended with the signing of an armistice which occurred at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year – November 11th, 1918.  World War I was between the Allied Nations and Germany, which was known as “The Great War”.  The “Treaty of Versailles” was signed on June 28, 1919, which officially ended the war.
• In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th as the first commemoration of “Armistice Day.” Armistice means a “temporary cessation of hostilities.”
• On June 4, 1926, Congress passed a resolution for a “recurring anniversary of November 11 should be commemorated by thanksgiving and prayer and exercises to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations”.
• On May 13, 1938, the date of November 11th became a Federal Holiday known as “Armistice Day.”
• In 1954, Congress amended the 1938 act that had made Armistice Day a holiday, striking the word “Armistice” in favor of “Veterans.” President Dwight D. Eisenheier signed this legislation on June 1, 1954. From then on, November 11th, Veterans Day became a day to honor all Americans of all wars.
• In 1968, Congress passed the “Unifyer Monday Holiday Act’ ensuring 3 day weekends for all Federal Employees. This changed the date of Veteran’s Day to the 4th Monday in October.
• In 1975, it became evident that the original day for Veteran’s Day carried significance due to the end of the fighting in WWI. For this reason, President Gerald Ford signed a new law returning Veteran’s Day to November 11th.

The number of Americans who have been in the service during times of peace and war is significant.

• 4.8 million Americans served during WWI
• 16 million Americans served during WWII
• 5.7 million Americans were involved in the Korean War
• Over 9 million Americans were involved in the Vietnam War

As President Ronald Reagan said in 1983, “Veterans know better than anyone else the price of freedom, for they’ve suffered the scars of war. We can offer them no better tribute than to protect what they have won for us.” 

In this current political climate, no words could be more true.

If you or someone you know is a veteran and you want to learn more about resources or benefits, here are some websites:

• Veterans Affairs (VA) Resources – https://www.va.gov/resources/
• Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits – https://www.va.gov/
• Benefits – https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/303
• A nonprofit called the “Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes” – https://saluteheroes.org/get-help/resources/
• Search your local county website for Veteran services and resources
• If in crisis, then call 911 or one of the local crisis phone numbers