September 21, 2025

Dear Friends,

It is a pleasure to join you at Pause the World for Peace and to celebrate the 2025
International Day of Peace.

In a world with so much discord and inhumanity, the International Day of Peace reminds us
that no matter our differences, every person deserves to live free from violence and fear.
By pausing the world for peace, we create space for reflection, healing, and dialogue that
can lead to lasting change. And peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the
presence of justice. For over 20 years, this day has been a call to unite in building a more
compassionate and equitable world.

On behalf of the Borough of Manhattan, I hope that we can all work together to create a
more peaceful future.

Sincerely,

Mark Levine
Manhattan Borough President

The post International Day of Peace on Saturday, September 20 in Father Duffy Square appeared first on Good News!.

www.connectall.online

Challenge around promotion: It has on the promo “For all who want to attend!”. The reasoning behind that is, what is going to be shared is for “general public” and those working in the fields; and for those working in the fields, it’s for all fields. Trying to find a simple way to bridge: for many people, when they see CEUs, and for some the language (since the description language must meet CEU standards), they think it’s not for them; if certified/licensed don’t see their CEU listed, they might not think it’s for them. However, there is also knowing, that we don’t have the resources, e.g., interpreters, for “All who want to attend!”.

The day includes:
Panel Presentation: The importance of each child and taking action: Panelists Kenneth Rogers, Jr., Marisol Acosta, and Shannon Crossbear, will share about cultural perspectives, trauma, resiliency, prevention, interdependence and interconnection.
Connect All Foundations training: This training provides the foundation for the Connect All approach, and includes the unique Five Through the Filter self-care framework. The Connect All approach: equips us individually to/try to do the best we can; equips us as a community to achieve our global needs; and is a measurable standard to hold ourselves and others accountable. The self-care framework synthesizes everything from addressing our basic needs, to our major issues from child abuse to the environment (which is child maltreatment), in a simple daily application. PDF of the workbook is provided. Trainer is Gwen Downing.
Registration and more information is on the Connect All website under the Events tab.

About Connect All:
Connect All is a global initiative based on goodness and logic – to address all that can be, for all life to have the most safety and hopeful possibilities. The Originator and Director is Gwendolyn Downing. Connect All received fiscal sponsorship from We, the World, December, 2021.
The Connect All approach:

Equips us individually to/try to do the best we can.

Equips us as a community to achieve our global needs.

Is a measurable standard to hold ourselves and others accountable.

The curriculum includes Five Through the Filter:

A self-care framework that synthesizes everything from addressing our basic needs, to our major issues from child abuse to the environment, in a simple daily application, each individual within functionality can do – adaptable across cultures and to age and functionality.

It came from Gwen’s two motivations:

I need the most safety and hopeful possibilities for myself, and for the individual I am attached to.

I both want to positively and don’t want to negatively, tell all innocents (people and other), “This is what I was doing this moment when you needed me.”

if anyone wants to support the training or initiative, there is a Donate link on the website, or they can text: ConnectAll to (202) 858-1233, and any amount will help.

#nationalchildren’sday #deserve #best #connectall #online #gwendolyndowning #crossbear #challenges #challenge #june12

The post National Children’s Day – They deserve our best www.ConnectAll.online appeared first on Good News!.

Wonders Diary
www.wondersdairy.com

#thought #day #people #deserve #life #ones #treat #love #kindness #respect #wonders #dairy #wondersdairy

The post Thought for the Day 03/17/22 appeared first on Good News!.

At twenty-one years old, Hope O Baker made one of the hardest decisions a person can make: she placed her son for adoption. She lived with her son’s adoptive mother while she was pregnant and pursued an open adoption. After her son was born, Hope tried to resume her life.

But the difficulty of letting her child go gnawed at Hope. Even though she had it together on the outside—graduating college and excelling in her career—on the inside she was battling a destructive cycle of depression and addiction. When life was at its darkest, Hope managed to find her way back to the light. It’s a journey she continues to this day.

Now, in this love letter to her son, Hope shows how messy and chaotically beautiful adoption can be, by sharing the authentic details of her remarkable story. From her struggles, you’ll see how the community can help you rebuild and be reminded of how important it is to find your voice and speak up for what you need when life hands you unexpected difficulties.

Hope will grip your audience’s attention no matter what stage or type of parenting experience they’ve had. There are many relatable moments that can dispense needed wisdom to new parents, and get knowing nods from those who have had kids and been through the journey of parenthood and now have an empty nest. The amount of value here and the nuggets one can take away are numerous, and each time she speaks, you can find new “ah-ha” moments to grab onto. Hope has been through some very rough emotional turmoil, made some agonizing decisions, and has come through the fire to let us know that she has found her namesake as she emerged from places where she almost lost it.

About the Author:
After placing her newborn son for adoption in 2013, Hope O Baker struggled with depression, addiction, and overcoming the stigma that surrounds birthmothers. In her first book, Finding Hope: A Birthmother’s Journey Into the Light, she shares her story of a successful, open adoption—and all the heartache and light that came along the way. Hope is a passionate advocate for those on all sides of adoption. You can find her online at HopeOBaker.com or follow her on Instagram at @HopeOBaker. Hope visits her son regularly and is a passionate advocate for those on all sides of adoption. You can find Hope online @ hopeobaker.com or follow her on IG, Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin

#hope #baker #finding #birthmothers #journey #light #lioncrest #adoption #relationships #decision #child #voice #deserve #emotional #emotion #trauma #struggles #addiction #depression #alone #empowering #women #right #choice #situations #support #afterward #birth #parenting #passionate #hopeobaker

The post Finding Hope: A Birthmother’s Journey into the Light by Hope O Baker appeared first on Good News!.