It takes a village to raise a child .
How many times have you heard that said ? Well , it is true and even more important now . It ’ s vital to the nurturing of our future leaders and generations to come that we reach back and educate them .
At the same time , helping build your community does a multitude of things . It helps build meaningful character , teaches compassion and understanding , as well as instilling confidence .
As a child growing up in Riviera Beach , Florida , I never understood the importance of service within my community . I attended events and often interacted with people that I looked up to after they visited my school . At that time , I didn ’ t really understand why they were there but I did sense that there was something happening--something bigger than me .
Now , as an adult who has made those same visits to organizations and groups back home , I get it . I recognize the importance of volunteering time and knowledge to my community through the Sickle Cell Foundation of Americas , Palm Beach Lakes Community High
School , Inner City Youth “ Getting There ” Inc ., and the Quantum House of South Florida . I see how important it is and what is at stake for future generations .
But , not only is community service rewarding and fun , it looks amazing on a resume or even for a graduate school application . In moving and navigating through life , I ’ ve found out that I will always be involved in service to my community because it gives me something to look forward to .
Meanwhile , there are lots of different things you can do to help your community become a better place . They include such things as helping special needs children , feeding the homeless , neighborhood cleanups or simply visiting to middle schools and high schools in your community to talk to the students about what it means to be a young adult .
BUILDING
UP THE
COMMUNITY
“ Life ’ s most persistent and urgent question is , ‘ what are you doing for others ?’”
- Dr . Martin Luther
By James Scruggs III
Universoul Circus
05 / 18 / 16-05 / 30 / 16 ; Newark , NJ ; http :// www . universoulcircus . com
Barbados Gospelfest
05 / 21 / 16-05 / 29 / 16 ; Barbados ; http :// www . barbadosgospelfest . com
Cancun Jumpoff
05 / 25 / 16-05 / 30 / 16 ; Cancun , Mexico ; http :// www . cancunjumpoff . com
Spoleto Festival
05 / 27 / 16-06 / 12 / 16 ; Charleston , SC ; http :// www . spoletousa . org
FunkFest Tour
05 / 06 / 16-05 / 07 / 16 ; Birmingham , AL ; http :// funkfesttour . com
Atlanta Jazz Festival
05 / 22 / 16-05 / 24 / 16 ; Atlanta , GA ; http :// www . atlantafestivals . com
Carnival Houston
06 / 09 / 16-06 / 11 / 16 ; Houston , TX ; http :// www . carnivalhouston . com
Juneteenth Celebrations
Around June 19th ; Various Dates and Cities , http :// www . juneteenth . com
American Black Film Festival
06 / 15 / 16-06 / 19 / 16 ; Miami Beach , FL ; http :// www . abff . com
Summerfest
06 / 29 / 16-07 / 10 / 16 ; Milwaukee , WI ; http :// www . summerfest . comhttp :// www . frasernet . com
NAACP Annual Convention
7 / 16 / 16- / 07 / 20 / 16 ; http :// www . naacp . org
Fillmore Street Jazz Festival
07 / 02 / 16-07 / 03 / 16 ; San Francisco , CA ; http :// www . fillmorestreetjazzfest . com
Taste of Chicago
07 / 06 / 16-07 / 10 / 16 ; Chicago , IL ; http :// www . tasteofchicago . us
Indiana Black Expo
07 / 15 / 16-07 / 16 / 16 ; Indianapolis , IN ; http :// www . indianablackexpo . com
Bill Picket Invitational Rodeo Tour
07 / 09 / 16-07 / 10 / 16 ; Hayward , CA and
07 / 16 / 16-07 / 17 / 16 ; Los Angeles , CA ; http :// www . billpickettrodeo . com
JazzFest West
07 / 16 / 16-07 / 17 / 16 ; San Dimas , CA ; http :// www . jazzfestwest . com
National Bar Association Annual Convention
7 / 16 / 16- 07 / 22 / 16 ; St . Louis , MO ; http :// www . nationalbar . org
Reggae Sumfest
07 / 17 / 16-07 / 23 / 16 ; Montego Bay , Jamaica ; http :// www . reggaesumfest . com
Norfolk Jazz Festival
07 / 15 / 16-07 / 16 / 16 ; Norfolk , VA ; Norfolk Jazz Festival
Whether your concept of a flawless day is simply unwinding as well as having a fabulous time in the recreation center here are some fun perfect activies for this mid year . Get out and make the most of your late spring , travel whatever you can and encounter these brilliant affordable adventures . Here ’ s are a couple of occasions that ’ ll be occurring this late spring beginning in May . For more occasions , and data . Sign onto www . soulofamerica . com
Montreal Jazz Festival
06 / 29 / 16-07 / 09 / 16 ; Montreal , Canada ; http :// www . montrealjazzfest . com
BET Experience
06 / 23 / 16-06 / 26 / 16 ; Los Angeles , CA ; http :// www . bet . com / bet-awards
Sundiata Festival
06 / 11 / 16-06 / 12 / 16 ; Seattle , WA ; http :// www . festivalsundiata . org
AFFORDABLE ADVENTURES all summer
“ 16 ”
Waterfront Blues Festival
07 / 10 / 16-07 / 04 / 16 ; Portland , OR ; http :// www . waterfrontbluesfest . com