How to Change the World
Make your voice heard! Learn five ways to make a difference, from What Can I Say? author Catherine Newman.
Being the best person you can be is honestly the most powerful tool you have for change. But there are some noisier ones, too:
Talk openly, courageously, and optimistically with your family and friends about what you believe and why.
Illustration © Debbie Fong, excerpted from What Can I Say?
Use social media to share books, ideas, causes, songs, art, and whatever else you can to spread the word. Share a poem about being gay. List your five favorite Asian American authors. Do an interpretive dance about the benefits of solar energy.
Write to your school administration insisting that they teach a more diverse range of books, adopt a Black Lives Matter curriculum, or start a recycling program.
Contact your political representatives by email or phone to demand that they address the issues you care about. It’s okay if you don’t have the solutions all figured out. “I’m really worried about the prisons in our state being overcrowded ,” you can tell your senator. “I’m hoping you will make a plan to address this.”
Be noisy when you need to be. As congressperson John Lewis once said, “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
Don’t forget to read the newspaper (or tap into other reliable news sources) to stay informed about what’s going on in the world.
Excerpted from What Can I Say © by Catherine Newman.
From the best-selling author of How to Be a Person, this supportive guide to practical social skills guides kids 10 and up through establishing and maintaining meaningful relationships, communicating effectively, and getting along with others.
Middle school is an essential time to learn and practice social skills, including how to get along with others, talk about hard things, be an ally, and a good friend. In What Can I Say?, best-selling and award-winning author Catherine Newman provides supportive guidance and instruction to help kids establish and maintain meaningful relationships, with tips for effectively communicating with friends, teachers, family members, and their communities. Talking the talk can be tricky, and every page of this useful book provides easy, accessible scripts and guidance on the right thing to say in all kinds of situations.
Learn how to:- Be inclusive
- Listen thoughtfully
- Give advice
- Stick up for yourself
- Express sympathy
- Deal with offensive comments
- Respond to bullying
- And be trustworthy
Humorous, graphic-style illustrations that play out familiar scenarios reinforce Newman’s friendly, non-judgmental tone and her commitment to helping kids develop the skills to express themselves clearly while showing empathy, care, and generosity towards others.
Featured Titles
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How to Be a Person