What's One Small Thing We Can Do Today for Future Generations?

Remember the lessons and ways of life of indigenous peoples.

In September and October our Everett Library Cafe book display, Ancient Wisdom, Future  Earth, centered on teachings and application of the Seventh Generation. We included a peg board, allowing visitors to respond to the question, What's One Small Thing We Can Do Today for Future Generations?  We received sixty-nine anonymous responses from members of the community who shared their thoughts and  sentiments reflecting broad areas of the Teachers College curriculum, from education to psychology and applied health --  and with notable concern for AI and climate change.  While some of these responses are small and simple, others are a bit larger and more complex -- but know that individuals and community can help things happen.

Thank you for your interesting and noteworthy contributions, and here is what you had to say! 

Education

• Teach Your Children Well - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (Record Album, CSNY 1969)
• Funding Education, Libraries and Museums
• Teach them to be good stewards
• Give books a Second Life!
• Read a book!
• Learn the difference between TC and Columbia
• Social-emotional learning in schools
• Remember the lessons and ways of life of indigenous peoples
• Good, good study, Day day up :)
• Group present. Hope all goes well.
• Make art
• Web arching at-risk Knowledge

Technology - AI

• Stop using generative AI
• Stop using Ai. Just use I.
• STOP USING AI!
• Use more brain, and use less generative AI :)

Psychology, Human Relations, Interpersonal Dynamics

• Be a better person then the Last Day Before
• Learn to emotionally regulate; be slow to speak
• Stand up for others. Be open!
• Stay Kind.
• Respect each other more! :)
• Give a happy face!
• Smile :)
• Share Love
• Forgive ourselves and show compassion
• Smile :)
• Practice empathy and teach them to meet their neighbors where they are
• Mind our own business. Less control.
• Each day take time to appreciate simple things, such as the warmth of the sun on a cool day 
• Speak to Strangers! Say hello. Be kind.
• Learn your neighbors' names!

Health

• Take care of yourself physically and mentally
• Echale gains (give it your all)
• Gut health is important for overall Brain Function -- Bidita Rahman.
• Don't Forget to Love, Life
• Reproduction :)
• Birth Control
• Gut health is important for overall Brain Function

Climate

• Treat our planet with respect (don't litter today). :)
• Network for action on climate!
• Flight climate change
• Use a water bottle
• Use a garbage can
• Recycle clothing
• Less Fast Fashion
• Plant a tree :)
• Grow more trees!
• Bike to work
• Take public transit!
• Clean and protect the environment

Activism

• Raise your voice -- most powerful thing
• Support our youth
• Vote to Free Palestine and other oppressed 
• Support people of Palestine
• Support immigrants
• Tax the RICH
• Challenge patriarchal norms
• Continue struggling!!!
• Vote

As we think about mid term elections and democratic governance, we close with an image of all the responses we received -- overflowing on the peg board -- and a complimentary word cloud in the shape of a person reading a book, for of course at Everett Cafe, you'll find a new book collection every few weeks that relates to current events, education, or learning environments.   

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And be sure to visit our next Everett Cafe curation, What Is Home? (on display through December).