Imagine what it might take to be a champion for civil rights over a lifetime.
To live the values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
To honor that spirit for peace and justice over 60 years.
To make a difference in the quality of lives for countless people across the country.
I made that champion a few decades ago. It was on a sales call, and I was immediately impressed by this man’s values, character, and positive spirit.
That man is Reverend Clyde Brooks, Founder/Chairman and Executive Director of ICDHR (Illinois Commission on Diversity & Human Relations). Through his leadership, ICDHR is now sponsoring its 55th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Remembrance Dinner. After last year’s brush with death, Reverend Brooks has persevered to bring people of all races, religions and backgrounds together – to learn, get inspired and take action.
The year’s event takes place on December 14th at The Cotillion Banquets, 360 S. Creekside Drive, in Palatine, Illinois, and everyone is invited to participate. You can reserve a seat, a table, make a donation or place an ad in the program book. Deadline to register is December 6th.
This may be the final year for this historic Dr. King Remembrance Dinner. Approaching 90 years of age, Reverend Brooks reveals he is getting tired. Through his educational programs, speaking, training and consulting, Brooks has touched thousands of lives.
His outreach helped provide jobs for minorities. Opportunities for women. For youth. For those facing drug addiction. For economic development. For scholarships. For supporting law enforcement. He serves as a consultant, theologian and minister. While many don’t know him, Brooks is recognized throughout the United States as a human relations building scholar.
Funds from the Dr. King Remembrance Dinner provide college scholarships for deserving high school seniors. Notable past speakers included Andrew Young, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and past President Ronald Reagan. This year, the keynote speaker is the Honorable Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. There is nothing like this event in the country.
How did Reverend Brooks meet Dr. King? Initially working at a local YMCA, Brooks was assigned to be a “go-fer” for Dr. King and his family. He remembers picking them up at the Chicago airport, driving them to a rundown apartment building on Chicago’s west side, and taking them grocery shopping. Before long, Brooks was elected to the Board of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the only organization that was led by Dr. King during his lifetime.
After Dr. King’s assassination, Reverend Brooks got even more inspired to become an activist. He knew Dr. King wanted us to live in peace and harmony. “Those who believe in God and His leadership understand that God has no color, God has no religion, God has no culture. He is a God for all times.”
Favorite message from Dr. King? “This is our minute in time. This is our minute to lead. Not to dream. But to act.”
What does he want people to remember? “I preach a sermon called, ‘The Dash.’ On tombstones, there is a birthdate and an ending date. If the date is not at the end of your dash, that means you’re still living. You’re in the dash of your life. The question becomes, how do we spend the dash of our lives? I hope that’s a challenge for people to reflect and act upon, and treat people right.”
To learn more and reserve your table or seats, visit: https://icdhr.org. There are also opportunities to donate, place an ad in the program book or offer a gift for the raffle. Flyer-KingDinnerFlyer-KingDinnerYour action makes a difference!
Our inner story is the foundation of everything we do.
It’s the quiet, often unnoticed narrative that plays in the background of our minds, shaping our beliefs, mindset, and, ultimately, our actions.
This inner dialogue can either lift us up or hold us back.
The outer story, the one others see, is simply a reflection of that inner conversation.
We have the ability to choose how we are at each moment.
While watching the Democratic National Convention, I’ve been impressed by the recurring theme of joy. The choice to recognize the unity among us. To choose to dream in a better future for everyone together. That’s an inner story that deserves attention… because it’s focused on positive values.
So — what brings you joy? What are you grateful for? What thoughts run through your head that can be focused on a positive perspective? We need to be mindful of those inner thoughts every day.
To prepare myself for each day. I choose to do a meditation practice. It keeps me in a positive inner mindset.
I remember hearing the great motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar talk about the power of our thoughts. He said, “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.”
When my new children’s book, ADVENTURES IN ECUADOR: Diary of a Volunteer needed to be reformatted four times — four times — it tested my patience. A wave of frustration swept over me. After a few minutes, I took a deep breath and calmed down. I decided to focus the positive thought — Let’s make this better!
I was able to rely on a very talented person who also shared my positive thinking. She redid the technical details. We collaborated with the vision and belief that everything will work out for the best. And it has!
Now, we’re planning a book launch party on September 5th at 7:00 pm CST, and I’d love for you to join us. You’ll meet Zully JF Alvarado, Founder/Director of Causes For Change, whose healthcare mission in Ecuador inspired many, including me, to help children in need. You’re invited to celebrate the launch of ADVENTURES IN ECUADOR — and receive a free gift too! I’ll soon be posting a registration page. We’re celebrating this journey of publishing, and would love to have you there.
You can check out my book on Amazon and on my site. Stay in touch with story tips and strategies by getting my free 7-Keys To Grow Your Business Story guide at: https://DifferenceMakersMedia.com.
Remember — the key to stepping into your greatness rests in your inner beliefs.
When you truly believe in your ability to overcome challenges, your actions naturally align with that belief. Then, the results you see in your outer world start to change.
It’s all connected—inner mindset, outer actions, and the results that follow.
So, as you navigate your own journey, remember to tell yourself positive thoughts.
Let your inner story be one of resilience, determination, and hope. When you get up after falling, you’re telling the world that you believe in your strength.
During the summers of 2009, 2010, and 2011, our family traveled with Causes for Change International, a nonprofit organization, to provide free healthcare to children in need.
Joel, my husband who was a local holistic dentist, served as the volunteer dentist, working in primitive conditions with no electricity. I offered musical games and songs outdoors with a borrowed guitar, playing in the 90+ degree heat, and distracting the children before their first dental exam or extraction.
“What can a kid do?” thought Andrew, our son.
Since the children never had a toothbrush before, Andrew became the volunteer toothbrushing teacher. He passed out toothbrushes to kids who never had one before, and showed them how to care for their teeth. He also invited the children to pick out their own small stuffed animals as toys.
He held a flashlight over the children’s mouths for his dad to see their teeth more clearly. And Andrew led games during breaks. He was highly regarded, and felt the joy of giving.
While gathering stuffed animal toys (beanie babies) before the trip, one little bear stood out. The nametag stated, “Fuzzy Bear.” On his fuzzy white chest was a note, pinned to his chest, with childish writing. The words said, “This is Fuzzy Bear. Please take very good care of him.”
The love behind that donation was quite meaningful. Fuzzy Bear became an important part of the new story. The story is told from the imagined diary of Andrew, and the experiences involved in volunteering — from the preparation to the trip itself.
Adventures In Ecuador: Diary of a Volunteeroffers children, ages 5-9, a chance to understand what’s involved in giving of oneself, and the rewards of greater self-esteem. joy, and fulfillment in making a positive difference in the lives of others.
While gathering stuffed animal toys (beanie babies) before the trip, one little bear stood out. The nametag stated, “Fuzzy Bear.” On his fuzzy white chest was a note, pinned to his chest, with childish writing. The words said, “This is Fuzzy Bear. Please take very good care of him.”
The love behind that donation was quite meaningful. Fuzzy Bear became an important part of the new story. The story is told from the imagined diary of Andrew, and the experiences involved in volunteering — from the preparation to the trip itself.
After that, the book will be printed into a paperback and hardcover version. The content includes a variety of Spanish words and phrases (with translations in the back), a “Behind the Scenes” section, a bio and story about Zully Alvarado, Founder of Causes for Change International, two video interviews — with the links, photos from the trip and an empowerment page for kids, filled with positive affirmations.
Lynn's Bio:
Award-winning and bestselling writer, video producer, media host of “The Difference Makers,” and promotional consultant for both cause-focused businesses, entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations. With 30 years of experience, Lynn’s writing was behind the WGN-TV lyrics for WGN-TV’s Chicago’s Very Own Channel 9. Her work encompasses writing live trade shows for Fortune 500 clients, commercials, print, publicity, videos and speeches. This is her third children’s book.
The others were: Social Justice: How You Can Make A Difference, and the bestseller, Dancing With Tex: The Remarkable Friendship To Save The Whooping Cranes.
If you think about it, everything in our life is like a story.
When we hear stories on the news, we get to choose to believe them or not. (Hopefully, people do believe stories based on science!)
We also get to choose what we think about ourselves too. Do we choose to believe negative thoughts, perhaps influenced by those around us, or do we choose to think big?
What story do you want to believe? What story do you really want to live? The root of our stories begins with our beliefs. (And we can change those beliefs at any time!)
My story is a journey of learning self-worth. Growing up in a traditional Jewish home, I noticed that my brothers received a Bar-Mitzvah, but I was told that girls didn’t “need” one. Those words triggered my brain to think that being a girl wasn’t as important.
Strange, isn’t it? One traditional belief affected my attitude about myself. I didn’t even understand its impact. My parents couldn’t figure out why I never felt good enough. As an adult, I studied to become a Bat Mitzvah, which gave me immense satisfaction. I was declaring my own value to myself. A Bat Mitzvah literally means, “Daughter of the commandment.” As an official “adult,” my commitment is to do “mitzvot” – good deeds, and “Tikkun Olam” – to heal the world.
I share this with you because over time, I’ve become sensitive to words — from myself and others. I know our brain is a finely tuned computer. It picks up the energy of our thoughts, and translates those thoughts into feelings, which becomes our belief. Our beliefs can stay with us forever… unless we consciously decide to change.
It took the shocking passing of my beloved mom at the end of 2004 to propel me into a journey of self-discovery. Why was I still alive? What did I want to do while on this earth? How could I make a difference?
The devastating grief affected me physically, until my back gave out with three slipped discs, until I could barely walk. It took an energy healer to eventually ease the pain and bring the discs back into alignment. I suddenly saw in real life how my negative thoughts were physically creating “dis-ease.” With a different belief, I could ultimately heal.
Over time, I’ve learned from amazing world-class thought leaders. I remember finding a book, “Secrets Of the Millionaire Mind” by T. Harv Eker. I was so moved that I decided to travel on my own to Denver to attend a free 3-Day Millionaire Mind Intensive. I never knew you could create your own Millionaire Mind! Those three days were quite powerful.
The underlying lessons from many world-class leaders continues to reverberate.
No matter what happens to us on the outside, we need to care for ourselves on the inside. We are a mental, emotional, physical and spiritual being. To stay healthy, we must take care of each part of who we are.
From the personal development seminars, books, courses and sessions, here are five insights I’ve gained…
Life Lesson #1: We’re all connected. Every thought, word, action carries a vibration and can be felt by others. We get to choose our thoughts. Choose wisely.
Life Lesson #2: Since we’re on this earth plane for a limited time, let us choose to love ourselves. Kindness grows from the inside out.
Lesson #3: You have greatness within you. You can do more than you believe. (And you get to choose what you believe!) Belief becomes reality!
Life lesson #4: Never give up on your dreams.Write down your dreams. Say positive affirmations to reinforce your belief in your dreams. Surround yourself with people who believe in you.
Life Lesson #5:Commit to what’s important to you.Take action. Make the most of your life More positive stories from Difference Makers are needed!
If you’d like to schedule a 15-minute chat, feel free to connect with me at:http://bit.ly/DMM-Chat
