Join The Nora Project on #GivingTuesday
Banner with three young girls of different abilities and races with their arms around each other and the caption “Now more than ever, ALL our kids need to know they belong.”
The Nora Project Now More Than Ever
#GivingTuesday is less than a week away, and we’re absolutely sure of two things. First, we know you and your friends and family are looking for ways to join the global giving movement. Second, we’re sure lots of organizations doing really great work are asking for your support. You are ready to make an impact next week, and there are so many ways you can do it! As you take stock of your opportunities, we invite you to choose The Nora Project as your vehicle for making a difference this #GivingTuesday.
Why is supporting The Nora Project so important right now? We’ll tell you.
The two issues at the core of our work--the empathy crisis in America (and beyond) and the segregation of students with disabilities--have never been in more urgent need of addressing.
You don’t have to look far to see how divided and uncompromising and seemingly self-involved and unconcerned people are about one another these days. There’s a psychological reason for this. Empathy researcher and Nora Project Leadership Council member Dr. Michele Borba explains, “As anxiety increases, empathy wanes: it’s hard to feel for others when you’re in ‘survival mode.’” Our fear--based in the pandemic and all the associated insecurity, isolation, and risk--is driving us inward, away from community, and it's causing us to forget that our personal well-being is tied inextricably to our relationships and the well being of others. The Nora Project brings empathy education front and center for our students--helping them reduce anxiety by fostering connections. CPS school counselor and Nora Project Advisory Board member Samantha Uribe explains, “The Nora Project is important now more than ever before because in a world where there is much to be concerned about, we can continue our work as educators in transforming the lives of our students by allowing them to be inspired by one another, to find community in learning about shared values and personal stories.” The Nora Project is the answer our children need in these challenging times.
And there’s little doubt that students with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by the disruption of the pandemic. Whether due to precautions required by medical fragility, the lack of accessible remote learning options, the stoppage of therapeutic and speciality services, and the sudden change in all kinds of routines and expectations--it’s been hard for many. Further, segregation of students with disabilities has been amplified by reductions in inclusion programming required by public health protocols. But The Nora Project is working to deliver virtual and remote inclusion experiences to our students and to encourage them to think creatively about how to connect with and support one another. Fourth grade teacher and Nora Project Educator Advisory Board member Kerry Duffy explains, “Students are more isolated than ever, making The Nora Project curriculum more important than ever. Finding unique ways to help students connect, even if over Zoom, is so important. The Nora Project has made this so easy--but also exciting and fun.”
Our work matters. It matters to the quality of life for our students today and for the types of citizens and leaders they’ll become tomorrow. Students engaged in The Nora Project will remember the pandemic as the time their values were deepened, the time they learned that nothing--not even a global health crisis--can keep us from putting friendship and mutual support first. You can be a part of this movement. Here are all the ways:
Sign up for our monthly volunteer newsletter to find out all the ways you can get involved - www.thenoraproject.ngo/volunteers.
Donate to our #GivingTuesday campaign at give.classy.org/tnpnowmorethanever and spread the word in your network. If we get 100 new donors and 250 total donors, a generous board member will unlock a $10,000 gift!
Become a Nora Project Ambassador and give your friends and family a chance to join the movement for a more inclusive future! Here’s how to do it, in just 10 minutes.
Tell an educator (or five) you know about The Nora Project and encourage them to sign up at www.thenoraproject.ngo/apply-to-participate!
Share this post with others to amplify our mission of teaching empathy and sparking friendships.