This is section was created for all of us to experience a little bit of joy or to find the joy among this difficult work. So here are some videos and articles that I hope will bring you joy or at least make you smile.

Ted Talks on Joy:

• The radical, revolutionary resilience of Black joy  | Miracle Jones 

• Why joy is a state of mind| Angélique Kidjo and Femi Oke

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is About Radical Joy, Words by Jodre Datu

• "The Rich Man's House" / "Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind Stayed on Freedom)"

Resistance Revival Chorus 

• How dance can unleash your inner joy| Ryan Heffington

• Revelations from a lifetime of dance| Judith Jamison and members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

• Joy is Resistance Mino Lora 

• Wake Up! (spoken word poetry) | Jesse Oliver 

• Where joy hides and how to find it| Ingrid Fetell Lee

Other videos & Articles on Joy:

• Black Men Frolicking 

• Black Joy (Official Music Short Film) Kolton Harris

• Joy as an Act of Resistance: Robert Crenshaw

• Joyful Movement: Dr. Shamell Bell on Black joy | New York Times

• Jon Batiste - FREEDOM

• Pharrell Williams - Happy

• 3 Astonishing Reasons Why Joy is Necessary for Daily Life

• An Experiment in Gratitude | The Science of Happiness

• Kingston's conversation with Me over next season

• Little Boy Only Laughs At Donkeys

• Hey Queen

• Why Joy Is So Important

• How to Find Joy in Life Every Single Day

Here are organization that you can support with your time, effort or money. These  organizations are creating opportunities for people, supporting equity, fighting for justice and changing the status quo. They need your help and so find your org and take action!

• Ron Finley Project

Ron Finley is a rebel with a green thumb. In 2010 Ron set out to fix a problem in his South Central neighborhood parkways; those often neglected dirt patches next to our streets. He planted some vegetables there. Soon after he was cited for gardening without a permit by the apparent owners of those dirt patches: the City of Los Angeles. Queue the beginning of a horticulture revolution. 

• Gardening the Community

GTC operates a training program created for youth from around the Mason Square neighborhood and beyond to grow fruits and vegetables on vacant and abandoned lots. Youth receive a stipend and are taught principles of urban sustainable living and urban agriculture.

• Black Lives Matter

#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.

• United Negro College Fund

UNCF envisions a nation where all Americans have equal access to a college education that prepares them for rich intellectual lives, competitive and fulfilling careers, engaged citizenship and service to our nation.

• Springfield Urban League

The vision of the Springfield Urban League is to serve as a premier human/social service corporation that provides equitable quality of life opportunities for all.

• Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts

The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts fuels progress toward gender equity by funding the most promising solutions, collaborating with results-oriented partners, and by elevating the collective power of local women to take charge, and to lead with purpose.

• Massachusetts Educational Equity Partnership

The Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership (MEEP) is a collective effort of civil rights, social justice, and education advocates from across the Commonwealth working together to promote educational equity for historically underserved students in our state’s schools.

• The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

Since 1982, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has been feeding our neighbors in need and leading the community to end hunger. We provide food to our members in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties. These independent pantries, meal sites and shelters are on the front lines of emergency food assistance in our region, providing sustenance to individuals, families, seniors, children and people with disabilities (including veterans) to lead healthy and meaningful lives.

• Dress for Success Western Massachusetts

The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and life.

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Massachusetts

The ACLU of Massachusetts—a private, nonpartisan organization with more than 82,000 supporters across the Commonwealth and over 100,000 online activists—is a state affiliate of the national ACLU. We defend the principles enshrined in the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights, as well as the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. 

• Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance

MEJA is made up of Massachusetts students, parents, educators, school and college staff, and education advocates with a shared vision: that all students, regardless of income, race, gender, identity, religion, birthplace, or abilities, have access to high-quality, equitable, and democratically controlled public education that addresses the educational needs of the whole student and where every student thrives to reach their full potential.

• Anti Defamation League (ADL)

ADL fights all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.

• Stop Asian Hate

Stop AAPI Hate is a U.S.-based coalition dedicated to ending racism and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAs & PIs). We strive to advance the multiracial movement for equity and justice by building power for our communities, working in solidarity with other communities of color, and advocating for comprehensive solutions that tackle the root causes of race-based hate.

• Land Back Movement

LANDBACK is a movement that has existed for generations with a long legacy of organizing and sacrifice to get Indigenous Lands back into Indigenous hands. Currently, there are LANDBACK battles being fought all across Turtle Island, to the north and the South.

• Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear, and with equality under the law. We empower our 3 million members and supporters to mobilize against attacks on the most marginalized people in our community.

• GLSEN

GLSEN believes that every student has the right to a safe, supportive, and LGBTQ-inclusive K-12 education. We are a national network of educators, students, and local GLSEN Chapters working to make this right a reality.

• Stand for the Silent

Stand for the Silent was started in 2010 by a group of high school students in Oklahoma City, OK, after they heard the story of Kirk and Laura Smalley’s son, Ty Field- Smalley. At eleven years-old, Ty took his own life after being suspended from school for retaliating against a bully that had been bullying him for over two years. Stand for the Silent exists as a platform to allow Kirk and Laura to share their story, and offer education and tools that will prevent their tragedy from happening to another child and family. Kirk and Laura’s mission is to continue to change kids’ lives and bring awareness to bullying and the real devastation it causes.        

• Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is dedicated to creating an inclusive world for all individuals with autism throughout their lifespan. We do this through advocacy, services, supports, research and innovation, and advances in care for autistic individuals and their families.

• American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest library association in the world. Founded on October 6, 1876 during the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the mission of ALA is “to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.”