Badge Challenges
As shown on the Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee Well-Being page, Alabama ranks very low in almost every category related to taking care of its citizens. It is up to us to change this. Some issues can be taken care of with bringing more money into the state with better education and better jobs. But some of the issues are driven by our failure to actively make sure that everyone has resources and support networks and to make sure everyone is valued and respected. So we have created activities to challenge us to do so. To make us more aware of how we treat each other. Are we treating ALL people in Alabama like Jesus, Confucius, the Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Buddha, or Muhammad would want us to do? The challenges are described below and you can earn badges for your efforts. We hope and intend to provide special prizes or activities when you earn a certain number of badges. However, the true badge is a badge of honor.
Matt Dillon
Alabama has one of the highest crime rates in the country and a high percentage of them go unsolved. In this challenge, any known crime will be reported into a common crime database for the entire state of Alabama. Then the RSC will analyze the data for trends and report observed patterns to the appropriate agency.
People will still report crimes in the normal way, but also populate this database. The challenge is to tell everyone they know about the database to encourage everyone in Alabama to regularly report known crimes. Various badges will be given out for number of crimes reported, who told the person about the database, the percentage of crimes solved, etc.
White People Love
For three months, a white person pledges to:
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Take at least one action suggested in the article at this link: 106 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
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Figure out a way to spend at least 3 hours a week with a person of color (POC). Time in which you really get to know them individually as a human being. You could:
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Attend a black/POC church (or invite them to your church) and attend smaller meetings where you interface with them individually.
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Have play dates with your children and their children.
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Invite them to game night, the barn dance, your cookout/tailgating party or to go fishing
3. Actively help at least one person of color improve their financial situation. This could be by:
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Helping them get a job,
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Teaching them a skill you have,
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Buy services or products from black/POC-owed businesses
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Helping schools that are predominantly comprised of POC
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Make sure any business you own or run provides equal opportunity to black/POC employees in terms of salary, hiring, promotions, and growth opportunities.
True Colors
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful
Like a rainbow
This song by Cyndi Lauper as long been one of the "anthems" for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/Aromantic (LGBTQIA+) with the plus sign designating other diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. The A is also thought include "allies" of the group as well.
This group has often been demeaned, ostracized, demonized and hated, particularly in fundamental Christian groups, when for the most part, they are law-abiding, self-supporting, loving and giving to others.
I believe the reason this song is one of the anthem songs is that the group just wants to be accepted and loved, like everyone else. The folks in Alabama should begin doing this and let the group know that they care, and even if they disagree with them, that they are loved and respected as human beings. Please see my blog article - XXX - for a broader discussion of this.
So the challenge is:
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For at least 3 months, hopefully longer, display something in your yard, window, front porch, etc. that has the six colors - red, yellow, orange, green, blue and purple. Obviously, you could put a Pride/Rainbow flag in your yard, the bigger the better. But you artists and designers could even have more fun. You could paint the metal rooster in your yard or that ceramic frog collection you have or that old rusty tractor and do a whole layout. Prominent enough so the people who are looking for it can see it and know that you love them, even if you disagree with them on certain issues.
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Many LGBTQIA+ in Alabama are "closeted" because of the persecution, the danger, the hatred. So you may have one living next to you and not even know it. So this part of the challenge has to do with accepting and loving someone who is very different from you. Think about the people you know. Think about the one who is different or even weird. Then do something to help or affirm that person in some way. It doesn't have to be much, a small gesture, that you like that tattoo or their blue hair or just the shoes they have on that day or their creativity. Just spread a little kindness in a group that doesn't usually get it unless they hide who they really are and conform.
First Love Yourself (Fly)
This is the last one for now, but like they say, it's not the least. In fact, we think it's the most important one of all. We think the reason for many of the troubles in the world is that people aren't raised to truly love and take care of themselves. So for this challenge:
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Pick one thing in your life that you are doing only because you think you have to - for whatever reason you think you have to do it. Stop doing it. If you aren't ready to stop yet, then at least spend some time thinking about why you keep doing it. Is it good that you keep doing it. What would happen if you stop doing it? Then write about this.
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What area of your life are you neglecting yourself. Think about one thing you can do to change this. Do that thing. If you aren't ready to stop yet, then think about it and write about it.
Click on any of these buttons to take a challenge. Note: There will also be a group of people who are also taking each challenge, where you can share your experience with the challenge. We think you will have a lot of fun interacting in these groups. We can't wait to hear your stories about each experience and to see your badges in your profile!