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Photos by Miller Taylor.
September 2015 CreativeMornings/Raleigh event (global theme: Empathy) with guest speaker Kevin Trapani, founder of The Redwoods Group.
We are at our best when we serve others. And business can and must be a powerful force to right wrongs and bring about positive social change.
These ideas have been the driving force behind the career of Kevin A. Trapani.
From founding The Redwoods Group —a mission-driven insurance company that has helped transform how YMCAs, JCCs, camps and other youth-serving organizations transport kids, guard their pools and prevent child sexual abuse—to testifying in-front of the US Senate in favor of the Paid Family Leave Act, Kevin believes that business leaders have a responsibility to give back, to help build the leaders of tomorrow, and to encourage policies that promote social justice and build stronger, fairer communities.
The title of his CreativeMornings talk: Empathy & Social Justice: How Serving Others Serves Us.
Special thanks to our host CAM Raleigh and sponsors CompostNow, Myriad Media, Counter Culture Coffee, who generously provided us with complimentary coffee, and Yellow Dog Bread Company, who provided the tasty breakfast snacks.
The volunteers from Keller Williams helped create a bird watching area for my dad. They put 3 feeders in the ground, with a bird bath in the center.
After the volunteers left and the rain let up a bit, I filled the feeders for my dad. Now he'll be able to enjoy seeing the birds eat and drink water right in front of the window where he sits.
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Why were they selected? Keller Williams was looking for families who have made a difference in the community. Laurie approached a staff member at her church (which also is my parents' church), and asked if the church was aware of any families who fit what they were looking for in terms of positive community impact. My parents were recommended, and Laurie contacted me for more information about ways they had served others throughout their lives.
So, I shared with her some of the ways they have shared their time, talents, and gifts with others: My Dad use to be the Deacon of his church. He and my were one of the original families who founded the church in the mid-1970s.
Since that time, they both started and led activities and trips with the Gad-Abouts - a senior group at their church. They stopped leading the group a few years ago due to my mom's mobility issues.
My mom co-started and continues to host the Angel Quilters at her home bi-weekly. The ladies made quilts that are donated to people who are homeless, been through a natural disaster, or who were in domestic violence situations and are starting thier lives over.
For his career, my dad was a school social worker at two different schools (senior and junior high). He was a Boy Scout leader, and helped guide many boys to becoming Eagle Scouts. He led many trips to northern Minnesota as well as throughout the U.S. to help boys learn how to camp, fish, and gain outdooor skills.
He was a Big Brother (as part of the Big Brother/Little Brother program) to many boys who are now men in their 50s-60s.
My mom led Girl Scout troops, a 4-H club, and has volunteered in many ways through her church.
Currently, they are both facing health challenges - my dad with Alzheimer's Disease, and mom with mobility issues, diabetes, and vision problems. They would like to stay in their home, but the upkeep as well as several features make it challenging.
Keller Williams stepped in and made many improvements to their home to make it safer for them plus help with outdoor maintenance which had been done as well as in the past due to my father having Alzheimer's Disease, and the impact it has had on his skills and abilities.
A Dutch paratrooper stands at attention during the Canadian jump wing ceremony after successfully completing an airborne jump onto Sicily Drop Zone located at Fort Bragg, N.C. This is the first time he has jumped from an American aircraft and has particpated in Operation Toy Drop. Hosted by the U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), the 16th Annual Randy Oler Operation Toy Drop is the largest combined airborne operation in the world which including allied foreign paratroopers from nine nations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda Smolinski/USACAPOC(A) Public Affairs NCO)