FAIR News: A Reason to be Grateful in the New Year
FAIR News: A Reason to be Grateful in the New Year
Newsletter
Dear Friends of FAIR,
Last year, a friend passed away—suddenly, and unexpectedly. One day he was there, and the next he was gone. Vlad was my age. He and his family had lived in the apartment below ours on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. We served together on the Board of our co-op building. Our kids were similar in age. Vlad and his wife were Russian-speaking Jews from Ukraine, just like my wife. We were not only friends, but we also had a lot in common.
As the shock wore off, the grief set in. How could this have happened? I felt a deep sense of loss for Vlad's wife—and for his children, who would grow up without their father. I thought of my own wife and children, and held them close.
The following morning, I woke up and went to the gym in a fog, still processing Vlad’s death. While working out, a thought came into my mind. Vlad's death was tragic, and heartbreaking, but the five decades he lived were a blessing. The three beautiful children he brought into this world are a blessing. At that moment, I felt gratitude for the gift of life, and a deep feeling of love. Love for my family. Love for humanity. Love for everything, and for everyone. I felt connected, and part of something much bigger than myself.
In the car, driving home from the gym, I joined FAIR's weekly "all hands" Zoom meeting. I was feeling emotional, and took a moment to share the story of what had happened to my friend that weekend, and the epiphany that had filled my heart with gratitude. "Every day is a gift," I told my colleagues. "Every day that you wake up, and experience life, remember, and be grateful for the gift that you have been given. That is the key to true happiness."
It can feel at times, especially in the era of social media, that we are surrounded by a sea of cynicism. Grievance-based ideas and ideologies have permeated our culture, and present themselves in a virtuous way. And yet, we have so much to be grateful for, so many reasons to be optimistic. This year, as we kick off 2023, I hope we can resolve to try and treat others with grace and humility. To be charitable, curious, and compassionate—especially toward those who we may not understand, or who have a different perspective from our own. If we stay grounded, and positive, and maintain a nuanced perspective, then we can help others find their way to dry land.
There are so many reasons to see the good in our fellow travelers on this earth. While grievance can be an insidious force, we need to remember that gratitude is the key—not only to personal happiness and fulfillment, but to our ability to flourish as a people.
Yours,
Bion
__
Bion Bartning
bion@fairforall.org
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Webinar With GETA
This Saturday, January 7th at 5PM ET, join FAIR in Medicine for a webinar with GETA, the Gender Exploratory Therapy Association, to discuss their new Clinical Guide for therapists working with gender questioning youth!
Featuring panelists Stella O’Malley, Sasha Ayad, Roberto D’Angelo, and Lisa Marchiano.
FAIR Summer Internship Program
Applications are now open for our full-time summer internship program for highly motivated and open-minded undergraduate students.
Ideal candidates value curiosity, compassion, and courage, have excellent communication and leadership skills, and show a passion for FAIR’s pro-human values and vision. This internship provides students with real-world experience in a nonpartisan, dynamic, and mission-driven organization, while also empowering students to become ambassadors for FAIR’s mission. See what Summer 2022 Interns have to say about their experience below.
The internship is fully remote, except for an in-person orientation during the first week of the internship. Over the course of the internship, interns attend weekly all-hands meetings and work with a specific team to assist with new and ongoing projects. As a cohort, interns attend lunch & learns and seminars with thought leaders who promote our pro-human mission. Interns are expected to return to campus with a plan for bringing FAIR’s mission and approach to their respective colleges and universities.
FAIR Book Club: The Illusion of Division by Monica Harris
Start the new year off by joining FAIR's Book Club! We'll be reading Monica Harris’s newest publication,The Illusion of Division, and hosting conversations from 7:00pm - 8:30pm ET on January 25th and February 22nd.
FAIR’s Book Club meets monthly with a goal to read books that challenge and deepen our understanding of humanity and fairness, while enriching our sense of what it means to be pro-human. Join us!
HOW TO RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD | JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 2, 2023
You care about your kids and your community, we get it! So do we. Join FAIR in partnership with the Grassroots Leadership Academy for a 4-session, training experience to empower you to roll up your sleeves and run for school board (or effectively organize your community for someone you want to run for school board). This training experience is four, 90 minute sessions over four days, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. ET each day. This training is great for those of you who want to run and your core supporters alike. Together you will learn:
Session 1 on January 30 – How to become the candidate and set yourself up for success
Session 2 on January 31 – How to communicate your why and connect with the whys of those in your district
Session 3 on February 1 – How to create a messaging plan and stay on message no matter what
Session 4 on February 2 – How to talk to voters and raise money
FAIR News Podcast
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Join the Pro-Human Movement With FAIR Merch!
FAIR Educators Alliance & Administrators Alliance Happy Hours
Teachers often feel isolated and alone in their schools, but FAIR is here for you! The FAIR Educators Alliance brings together educators from all levels to share experiences and concerns and work on developing resources that can support teachers, community members, and FAIR chapters.
FAIR’s Educator’s Alliance is hosting an informal happy hour every other Thursday evening, alternating between beginning at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET, and will hold more formal monthly meetings that will address issues based on your interests and needs.
If you’re a K-12 school administrator, we’re here to support you too! You’re invited to join the FAIR Administrators Alliance, which holds meetings the last Thursday of every month at 1:00 p.m. ET!
All teachers and administrators are welcome! For more information and to subscribe to the calendar, reach out to educators@fairforall.org.
Calling all FAIR Member Librarians and Library Staff! FAIR has established a network for members to connect and discuss key issues affecting their profession, advance pro-human principles, and preserve academic freedoms in library systems. The group meets biweekly.
Please contact tanya.simons@fairforall.org if you are interested in joining!
Join the FAIR Community
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Become a FAIR volunteer, or join a FAIR chapter
Sign-up for a Welcome to FAIR Zoom information session to learn more about our mission, or watch a previously recorded session in the Members section of www.fairforall.org.
Take the Pro-Human Pledge and help promote a common culture based on fairness, understanding, and humanity.
Share your reviews and incident reports on our FAIR Transparency website.
Learn more about the pro-human approach to DEI on our FAIR Diversity website.
"'Every day is a gift,' I told my colleagues. 'Every day that you wake up, and experience life, remember, and be grateful for the gift that you have been given. That is the key to true happiness.'
It can feel at times, especially in the era of social media, that we are surrounded by a sea of cynicism. Grievance-based ideas and ideologies have permeated our culture, and present themselves in a virtuous way. And yet, we have so much to be grateful for, so many reasons to be optimistic. This year, as we kick off 2023, I hope we can resolve to try and treat others with grace and humility. To be charitable, curious, and compassionate—especially toward those who we may not understand, or who have a different perspective from our own. If we stay grounded, and positive, and maintain a nuanced perspective, then we can help others find their way to dry land.
There are so many reasons to see the good in our fellow travelers on this earth. While grievance can be an insidious force, we need to remember that gratitude is the key—not only to personal happiness and fulfillment, but to our ability to flourish as a people."
Thanks for this. Food for the soul.
Well said, Bion. A great message for the start of 2023.