Category: monthly cause areas

Civic Season is a new American tradition that unites our oldest federal holiday with our newest. Held between Juneteenth and the Fourth of July, it’s a time to reimagine the future by acknowledging our past. By inviting family, friends, and neighbors to join the new tradition, we become part of a movement that helps us to understand our roles in our communities and strategize a future that tells the whole story, where no parts are skipped. Participating in the Civic Season helps each of us discover our story and understand our role in history.

Civic Season started in 2021 and is led by key History Museums nationwide and Generation Z Design Fellows. Civic Season Design Fellows consists of nine fellows between the ages of 18 and 30, selected from a competitive pool of applicants. Together they are artists, activists, immigrants, students, creators, and leaders — each bringing different visions and experiences to the table to help the Civic Season become an inspiring nationwide movement made by us.

Pebble Tossers created a list of family-friendly resources (or individuals!) to help us learn and explore. Add a few of these books to your summer reading, hit play on a podcast for your morning drives, and join us among the hundreds of organizations and communities nationwide to rally together in celebration!

 

Family Events to Participate In

Civic Season Kick-off Party at the Atlanta History Center
Civic Season: A Slice of History at the National Center for Civil Rights
Juneteenth Atlanta Parade + Music Festival
Jubilee: A Juneteenth Celebration at the National Center for Civil Rights
Voice to the Voiceless: Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection
Piedmont Summer Movie Series: Juneteenth
Look Up Atlanta: Independence Day Fireworks Show
American Democracy: A Virtual Tour by the Heinz History Center

 

Resources for Family Learning

Discover Your Civic Superpower
Civic Season: The Classroom Guide
Why We Need a Civic Season
NMAAHC Kids: Understanding + Celebrating Juneteenth
Juneteenth for kids: How to explain and celebrate this important holiday
Gathering Guide: Creating an Intentional 4th of July Gathering
Tips for Talking with Children About Racism and Social Justice

 

Books to Read (Elementary School)

• What Can a Citizen Do? by Dave Eggers
• Your Future is Bright by Corey Finkle
• I Am Golden by Eva Chen
• We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration from Civil Rights Leaders
• Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free by Alice Faye Duncan
• Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper
• Areli is a Dreamer by Areli Morales
• American Desi by Jyoti Rajan Gopal

 

Books to Read (Middle School)

• Come Juneteenth by Ann Rinaldi
• Clean Getaway by Nic Stone
• American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar
• Some Places More than Others by Renee Watson
• The Next President: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America’s Presidents by Kate Messner
• Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

 

Books to Read (Ages 14+)

• Conjour Women: A Novel by Afia Atakora
• My Name is Not Friday by Jon Walter
• And We Rise: The Civil Rights Movement in Poems by Erica Martin
• For Every One by Jason Reynolds 
• Become America: Civic Sermons on Love, Responsibility, and Democracy by Eric Liu
• When We Make It by Elisabet Velasquez

 

Videos to Watch

• John Lewis on Rights and Justice in America 
• George Washington and the Making of the Constitution
• What is Juneteenth, and why is it so important?
• Cooking Up History: Living Lively: Youth Empowerment Through Food with Chief Haile Thomas
• BrainPop: A Collection of Educational Videos on Social Studies

 

Podcasts

• AMENDED by Humanities New York
• Who’s Fourth of July: African-Americans and the Fourth of July by Ben Franklin’s World
• Democracy Vibe Check by Made by Us
• unTextbooked by got history? 
• Asian Enough by the LA Times 

 

Written by Julia Dao, Pebble Tossers ©2023

Picture Books for Children:

• • A River by Marc Martin 
  • My Museum by Joanne Liu 
  • Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy, Theresa Howell, and Rafael Lopez
  • Firebird by Misty Copeland and Christopher Myers 

Books for Teens:

• • To Dance by Siena Cherson Siegel and Mark Siegel
  • Art Matters: Because Your Imagination can Change the World by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell 
  • Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull and Kathryn Hewitt 
  • Let me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D Jackson

If you do wish to order these books, please contact or visit The Little Shop of Stories in Decatur. This charming local business specializes in youth and teen books, and their Booksellers would be happy to order any book from this list. 

 

Six Reasons Why the Performing Arts in Atlanta are worth Supporting:

1) Adult and Child-focused Classes offered by places like the Spruill Center for the Arts introduce ways for anyone in Atlanta to become involved in the Arts!
Why not learn a new artistic skill or bring the family to a workshop or event? Here are some ways to support the Spruill Center. 

2) Atlanta has one of the most distinct and well-known hip-hop communities in the world! They also love giving back to the communities where they grew up.
Rappers like Lil Baby and Gunna have made a major difference in Atlanta with their various charitable efforts. Atlanta native Lil Baby has helped refurbish a basketball court in Oakland City Park and gifted over 200 bikes to children in the neighborhood. He also hosted a back-to-school drive where he gave out much-needed laptops, clothes, and school supplies. Gunna opened up a needed items closet at his old high school, Ronald McNair High, containing food, clothes, toiletries, and more.

 

3) The Woodruff Center Hosts three of Atlanta’s most exciting performing arts productions: The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Alliance Theatre.
The Alliance Theatre has put on musicals, children’s theatre, hosted Ballet Companies, and many traditional plays! Just this year, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is performing the music of John Williams, the Polar Express, and is also hosting famed conductor Nathalie Stutzmann! Supporting your local performing arts organizations is vital to the continued success of the Atlanta Arts Scene. Here is a link to the various volunteer opportunities available at the Woodruff Center.

 

4) Atlanta has venues for all kinds of Performing Arts!
In the mood for something funny? Visit the Whole World Improv Theatre, Dad’s Garage, or the Punchline Comedy Club. Want to be blown away by the skill and dedication of local dancers? Enjoy a night at the Atlanta Ballet. See a high-profile visiting performer at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center or enjoy a timeless classic at the Atlanta Shakespeare Company. 

 

5) There are many Performing Arts productions featuring youth performers!
Metro Atlanta is home to a variety of youth-focused choirs. Notable groups include the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, based out of the Woodruff Center. There are also the Atlanta Young Singers, Gwinnett Young Singers, and Georgia Boy Choir. Enjoy a show from one of these groups, or consider encouraging your child to try out for one of the many local choirs! 

 

6) The Atlanta Film Community is supportive of each other and are Atlanta’s biggest cheerleaders.
The Atlanta Film Festival is an excellent place to meet talented local filmmakers and crew members working to bring Atlanta’s unique neighborhoods to big and small screens. Prominent local film studios like Tyler Perry Studios and indie studios alike encourage young actors and filmmakers to visit Atlanta, which in turn brings revenue to local businesses. Plus, who doesn’t want to see a street or building they walk past every day featured in the next big Marvel movie? 

Being a community resource by supporting our active and returning service members is of the highest importance for Pebble Tossers. Successfully reintegrating into society is sometimes a challenge for veterans who have completed their military service. The best way we can support them is to educate ourselves on the difficulties these veterans face and learn strategies to support the veterans in our communities. 

One in ten people experiencing homelessness is a veteran, and about 29 percent of veterans return with a service-related disability. The challenges returning service members face are varied and complex. That is why Pebble Tossers’ Cause Area focus for the month is US Troops and Veterans. May is National Military Appreciation Month, and we at Pebble Tossers are proud to shine a light on service members in the Metro Atlanta area.

In the past, Pebble Tossers has honored our service members by helping to stock the Veterans Empowerment Organization pantry with needed supplies, and by making “Welcome Home” Kits for HOPE Atlanta to be given to veterans coming out of homelessness. In addition, we have organized birthday card workshops and gift bag assemblies for local veterans. We then send these thoughtfully made items to Trinka Davis Veterans Village, a clinic offering primary care and specialty health services in Carrollton.  We have also partnered with Operation Gratitude to send current troops handmade items like paracord bracelets, bandanas, masks, scarves, and cards. 

Veterans in America

Veterans currently comprise about seven percent of the US population, roughly 19.5 million Americans. Veterans of the Gulf War Era make up nearly half of that population, followed by around six million Vietnam War veterans. A little over one million people are veterans of the Korean War veterans, and around 326 thousand are World War Two veterans. Two million of those veterans are women, and Georgia has the ninth largest percentage of Veterans living in the United States. The US veteran population has declined significantly in recent years. Population decline coupled with the introduction of veteran support-focused legislature means we have a unique opportunity to focus more on personal care and hands-on treatment of veterans returning in need. A study by the VA predicts that by 2030, Georgia will be home to the fifth-largest percentage of veterans in the nation!

Challenges Veterans Face

Homelessness is one of the most prominent issues returning service members face. There are around 40 thousand veterans living without a home in America, 89 percent of which received an honorable discharge. The main reasons behind this sizable amount of homeless veterans is poverty brought on by home foreclosure, unemployment, substance abuse, and mental illness. 

But progress is being made to find every veteran in the United States a home. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “More than 82 communities and the entire states of Connecticut, Delaware, and Virginia have effectively ended homelessness among Veterans”. This has been made possible by various government support programs such as the Veterans Affairs’ Supportive Services for Veteran Families program and Housing and Urban Development’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program. 

The mental changes that occur upon returning home are also often a major obstacle. A write-up by the VA on veteran re-adjustment to civilian life puts the seemingly simple act of existing in civilian life into perspective: “The military provides structure and has a clear chain of command. This does not naturally exist outside the military. A Veteran will have to create his or her own structure or adjust to living in an environment with more ambiguity”. 

Resources Available for Veterans

Many veterans often look for structure in their daily life through a steady home life or a good working relationship with coworkers. That, as well as the obvious financial pressure, is why reintegrating into the workforce is vital for returning service members to fall into a familiar and comfortable routine.

The VA and other government entities provide a variety of programs intended to prepare veterans to rejoin the workforce. Job training, resume building, and even navigating office lingo are new concepts to a veteran whose only career has been with the military. Programs like Boots to Business are excellent resources to increase returning service members’ experience and confidence in joining the workforce. 

The many obstacles facing returning veterans make learning about the positive resources and programs available all the more critical. In addition to the Nonprofit Partners Pebble Tossers’ support, there are also multiple government-supported Veteran Service Organizations. These organizations include the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and more, located at the Atlanta Regional VA Office. 

There are many ways to show your support and honor the veterans in your family and community. Here are some simple tips on how you can support service members through words and actions listed in an article by Jamie Howard, Ph.D. at the Child Mind Institute: 

• • Acknowledge people who have been deployed, be it your neighbor, distant relative, friend, or colleague. 
  • Be available to talk and listen about things in general, including the important aspects of returning to everyday life—job, hobbies, activities, etc. 
  • Offer a job if you or someone you know is hiring.
  • Engage in community activities. Some military members return to a huge network of friends and family; others do not. Arrange outings to baseball games, museums, or the movies.
  • Offer help in specific ways. Rather than saying “Let me know if I can help…” say, “I’d like to babysit for you this weekend—you deserve a night out.”

Atlanta has multiple parks with monuments or memorials honoring veterans.  Planning a trip is a great way to teach the importance of US service members and veterans to younger children in a more physical way. Pebble Tossers is also hosting a few different service opportunities in May to benefit returning veterans. These include writing notes of encouragement virtually, Memorial Day remembrance, and more.  You can always check our Monthly Service Calendar to see what service projects are available. 

You can also contribute your time to one of our Nonprofit Partners. Here is a list of Pebble Tossers’ Nonprofit Partners focusing on assisting US Troops and Veterans. 

Nonprofit Partners 

Doc’s Healing Hives and Honey Foundation: 

• This organization aims to familiarize and educate veterans of the Atlanta metro area with beekeeping and the art of harvesting honey. They also sell this honey at local farmers’ markets. Doc’s primary goal is “helping veterans heal through the vocation of beekeeping.” Learn more here

Operation Gratitude: 

• Operation Gratitude operates all over the country with the primary goal of creating and sending care packages to service members and veterans. They organize workshops to fill these care packages, such as letter-writing campaigns, knitting, and even hacky sack making. 

VA Atlanta Healthcare System: 

• The VA is integral in supporting our returning veterans. Here service members can get the medical treatment they need, be it mental health treatment or something as simple as battery replacement for a hearing aid. Learn more here

Veterans Empowerment Organization: 

• The VEO is dedicated to helping returning service members reintegrate into society as efficiently and easily as possible. They focus on providing housing, wellness programs, and workforce training and placement services for veterans. Learn more here

Earth Day isn’t the only time to think about the importance of protecting our environment. But it can be intimidating to dive into a field so vast as the environment. After all, doesn’t that pretty much cover every natural cause on earth? 

Pebble Tossers is committed to reducing our environmental impact. We follow consistent environmental sustainability practices on every service project we are a part of. Here are some examples of how Pebble Tossers has prioritized environmental sustainability within our organization: 

• • Creation of efficient ways to reduce negative impact on the environment. 
  • Reduction of pollution and wasted resources like water and energy. 
  • Efficient usage of necessary materials and an emphasis on recyclability when possible. 
  • Proper education on sustainable practices within Pebble Tossers. 
  • Continuing environment-focused service projects in needed communities.

By creating a system of accountability and tracking our impact on the environment, Pebble Tossers prioritizes this cause within our organization. These eco-friendly practices should be evident in our attitude during service projects and encourage partnered organizations to act likewise. Feel free to visit our monthly cause area resource page to see a list of the various environmental service projects Pebble Tossers is a part of this month. You can also find some fun tips and activities to minimize your daily ecological impact.

Environmental Conservation encompasses many different focus areas, including habitat, soil, marine, energy and more. Pebble Tossers wants to take this April to highlight many of the various causes associated with Environmental Conservation. We also want to highlight some partnered sustainability-focused organizations that positively impact the Atlanta community. Through learning about the history of environmental conservation and seeing the progress made by these efforts, we can become better stewards of our environment in the Atlanta area and worldwide! 

History of Environmental Conservation

Efforts to decrease our negative impact on the environment have been ongoing for hundreds of years. Modern Environmental Conservatism gained momentum during the Industrial Revolution, spurred on by unprecedented amounts of pollution. Scientists of the era realized that important resources like wood and coal would not last forever and expressed concern over the ever-increasing reliance on them. 

Later in the 1900s, severe over-hunting threatened the populations of many diverse species in different parts of the country. During this time, the populations of the Carolina Parakeet, Eastern Cougar, Labrador Duck, and many more were permanently extinguished by overzealous hunters and habitat destruction. 

While the disappearance of one or two species may not seem like a big deal, it can have a massive effect on the surrounding wildlife. Taking even one critical species out of an ecosystem can have major unforeseen consequences. Luckily, some mass extinctions were prevented by the founding of the National Park Service. Many of the new natural parks provided a place animals such as the grizzly bear could live without the risk of being over-hunted. Today, visiting a local or national park can be a great way to see wildlife unique to your area. Georgia is home to many species not found in other parts of the country, like the woodchuck and flying squirrel. 

Climate Change

One of the most well-known causes associated with Environmental Conservation is the fight to reduce climate change. This is an ongoing problem that affects every part of the planet. It has brought about the gradual destruction of countless wildlife habitats through rising temperatures, increasingly destructive storm patterns and much more.1 

The effects of climate change can very much be felt in Atlanta.  A yearly report released by the Georgia Water Coalition expressed concern over the harmful effects climate change will bring to Georgia. This report predicts future heatwaves and severe droughts in the Atlanta area and Georgia.2 Studies like this stress the importance of making simple changes to ensure a sustainable and bright future for generations to come. 

While the many different causes associated with Environmental Conservation may seem daunting to get involved in, there have been quite a few success stories made possible by the movement. Several important species have been brought back from the brink of extinction. The bald eagle, humpback whale, grey wolf, and many more species are around today thanks to the efforts of environmental conservationists worldwide.3 

Impacts of Georgia Based Environmental Conservation

Conservation efforts have also been successful in Georgia, including multiple projects in Atlanta organized by Pebble Tossers. Service projects such as forest and trail maintenance at Big Trees Forest Preserve, the Beltline Beautification Project, and recycling event volunteering opportunities are offered monthly. Check our monthly service calendar here for a list of projects organized by Pebble Tossers and partnered organizations. There are also successful ongoing efforts like cleaning up the Chattahoochee River and the hundreds of thousands of trees being planted statewide by Trees Atlanta and other organizations. 

Many of the environmental issues that face the world are also a concern in the Atlanta area. Making a positive impact on the environment isn’t an easy thing to do, but finding ways to work these changes into our daily routine is hugely important. Sometimes the most meaningful effects you can have on the environment around you can be done with the simplest of actions. Educating yourself about recycling, getting involved with an environmental nonprofit, even switching to a reusable water bottle are all easy steps to become an advocate for the environment. 

Pebble Tossers is proud to partner with many organizations that focus on environmental conservation. These local organizations focus on various environmental issues, such as wildlife conservation, youth and adult education, and the preservation of many of Atlanta’s uniquely beautiful outdoor spaces. Here are some of those organizations and what they do in the Atlanta area. 

Nature Preserves: 

The John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest Preserve: A 30 acre Tree, Plant and Wildlife sanctuary and Urban Forest Education Center located in Sandy Springs. In 2021, the Forest Preserve was designated part of the Old-Growth Forest Network, a national network of mature forests that are protected, native, and publicly accessible.  Find more information here. 

Blue Heron Nature Preserve: Here you can enjoy the three mile Blueway Trail on unique wetland trails home to a variety of wildlife! Blue Heron also hosts multiple art, education and conservation programs. Find more information here. 

Chattahoochee Nature Center: A 127 acre natural space located on the Chattahoochee river. Lots to do here, like guided river canoe trips, summer camps, and multiple private event spaces. Find more information here. 

Dunwoody Nature Center: Dunwoody Park is a great place to spend the day enjoying nature. Also home to the Dunwoody Beekeeping Club, which hosts monthly meetings and classes for current and future beekeepers of all ages. Find more information here. 

Lost Corner Nature Preserve: A great space to enjoy some quiet time in nature. Here you can help out in the community garden, walk the trails, or even attend the native plant sale in the Spring and Fall. Find more information here. 

Community Engagement: 

Park Pride: An organization that provides programs, funding, and leadership with the goal to improve every park possible in the Atlanta and Dekalb area. A great organization to get involved with if you want to learn more about how parks can benefit the community and the challenges of establishing a new park. Find more information here. 

Trees Atlanta: A nonprofit organization that focuses on forest restoration and tree care and planting. Trees Atlanta has planted over 140,000 trees in the Atlanta area and has no plans on stopping! Find more information here. 

Atlanta Beltline: An urban development program focusing on “connecting 45 intown neighborhoods via a 22 mile loop of multi-use trails, modern streetcar, and parks – all based on railroad corridors that formerly encircled Atlanta”. Find more information here. 

ChaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials): An important drop off facility that specializes in hazardous waste and other materials that may be difficult to recycle. Not only an important community resource, but also a site for youth and adult education programs such as Sustainable Material Management, Sustainability/Environmental Education, and Recycling 101. Find more information here. 

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s mission is to educate, advocate, and secure the protection and stewardship of the Chattahoochee River. Programs are dedicated to protecting and restoring the Chattahoochee river basin. Find more information here. 

 

¹https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/
²https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/chapter/19/
³https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/conservation-stories-on-world-wildlife-day/

Did you know that Georgia has the 10th highest food insecurity rate in the county and that 1 in 5 children struggle with hunger?¹ For most of us, hunger can be solved by a trip to the kitchen. Mealtimes often revolve around planned ingredients, thoughtfully purchased during weekly grocery runs, or include impromptu restaurant visits. But for many Atlantans, food is an expense that has to take a backseat to more pressing needs. For these individuals and families, there isn’t regular access to adequate or affordable food—it’s a chronic problem known as food insecurity.²

“A household is food insecure when they’re unsure about where their next meal is coming from,” said Jon West, VP of Programs at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. “This may be due to a lack of resources—money, a place to buy food or transportation to get there.”³

Food insecurity does not just affect children and families in the city but it also affects individuals living in rural areas. People who live in rural Georgia face hunger at higher rates, in part because of the unique challenges living remotely presents. These challenges include an increased likelihood of food deserts with the nearest food pantry or food bank potentially hours away, job opportunities that are more concentrated in low-wage industries, and higher rates of unemployment and underemployment.⁴

Our partners at HOPE Atlanta, the Atlanta Mission, Open Hand Atlanta, and the Atlanta Community Food Bank are working hard to thwart those statistics and we’re glad we can help by hosting a variety of service projects for our members including food drives, serving as delivery drivers, helping pack and sort food donations, making sandwiches, preparing a meal for a youth shelter, and more. Our current service calendar has 10 projects for this cause area with nearly 100 project dates and times available to members.

Data has shown that in the state of Georgia more than a million children in Georgia do not have consistent access to enough nutritious food. This can have long-term effects on their health and future. Kids who are food insecure are more likely to be held back a grade in elementary school, more than likely to be sick and hospitalized and more likely to have growth and developmental issues.⁵

Here are a few highlighted upcoming projects for Pebble Tossers members:

Thanksgiving Meal Boxes
InCommunity needs volunteers on Wednesday, November 17th to sort and fill Thanksgiving Meal Boxes for its 43 group homes. The items donated at our food drive on November 6th will be used to fill these boxes. InCommunity provides opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to participate in meaningful activities within their communities. All volunteers must be at least 8 years old.

S’mores with SafeHouse Outreach
This will be our 9th year providing the S’mores for the Chili Outreach. Pebble Tossers volunteers will make and serve the S’mores and help with the entire event. All supplies are provided and we will be serving and visiting with the community from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 27th. This is a great way to extend your Thanksgiving and is a wonderful family project.

Thanksgiving Love Feeds on November 19th
Love Beyond Walls focuses on raising awareness of the realities and needs of those experiencing lack and vulnerability and using that vehicle as a way of mobilizing people to take part in those stories. Love Beyond Walls is preparing for the Thanksgiving Love Feeds – they will be collecting the following items: turkeys, boxes of cornbread, boxes of mac & cheese, boxes of stuffing, boxes of desserts, and drinks. If you would like to donate any of the items listed below, please click here to sign up with Love Beyond Walls for a time to drop them off at their office

¹ HOPE Atlanta https://hopeatlanta.org/
² Southface https://www.southface.org/what-does-food-insecurity-look-like-in-atlanta/
³ Southface https://www.southface.org/what-does-food-insecurity-look-like-in-atlanta/
⁴ Georgia Food Bank Association https://georgiafoodbankassociation.org/hunger-in-georgia/
⁵ Georgia Food Bank Association https://georgiafoodbankassociation.org/hunger-in-georgia/