Martin Luther King Jr. goes down in history as one of the principal leader of the civil rights movement in the United States and a prominent advocate of nonviolent protest. King’s challenges to segregation and racial discrimination helped convince many white Americans to support the cause of civil rights in the United States.
King was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and was ordained as a Baptist minister at age 18. He graduated from Morehouse College in 1948 and from Crozer Theological Seminary in 1951. In 1955 he earned a doctoral degree in systematic theology from Boston University. While in Boston, King met Coretta Scott, whom he married in 1953.
In 1954 King accepted his first pastorate at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Montgomery’s black community had long-standing grievances about the mistreatment of blacks on city buses. Heading the year-long bus-boycott against segregation in buses, King soon became a national figure.
In 1957 King helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an organization of black churches and ministers that aimed to challenge racial segregation. King and other SCLC leaders encouraged the use of nonviolent marches, demonstrations, and boycotts to protest discrimination.
King and other black leaders organized the 1963 March on Washington, a massive protest in Washington, D.C., for jobs and civil rights. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech to an audience of more than 200,000 civil rights supporters. The speech and the march created the political momentum that resulted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited segregation in public accommodations and discrimination in education and employment. As a result of King’s effective leadership, he was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize for peace.
Throughout 1966 and 1967 King increasingly turned the focus of his activism to the redistribution of the nation’s economic wealth to overcome entrenched black poverty. In the spring of 1968 he went to Memphis, Tennessee, to support striking black garbage workers. King was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968.
Tag Archives: RI
Au Pair In America Offers Free Information Sessions on Affordable Child Care
Free, no obligation information sessions are being offered to Rhode Island parents to provide information and to answer questions that they may have about hosting an au pair. Program costs will be discussed and compared with other child care options, with emphasis on the benefits and cost-effectiveness of the au pair program. Reserve a spot at an upcoming session, or schedule another convenient option by contacting Barbara Fetta (BarbaraFetta@gmail.com). Information sessions can also be scheduled on-site for corporations, groups and community organizations.
Earth Day 2013
Earth Day is observed on April 22 and was started in the United States in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson to create awareness for the Earth’s environment and to encourage conservation efforts. In 1990, Earth Day was taken international, and today, more than 500 million people in 175 countries observe Earth Day.
Since the first Earth Day in 1970, it has been an annual event for people around the world to celebrate the earth and renew their commitment to building a safer, healthier and cleaner world for all of us. This year, au pairs in Rhode Island will have the opportunity to volunteer as a group to do something nice for the earth, have fun, meet new people, and make a difference! Details of Au Pair in America’s Earth Day activities will follow.
Rhode Island Au Pairs Give Back to Their Communities Once Again
Rhode Island au pairs have volunteered for a "Classroom Makeover Project" which will involve cleaning, repairing and repainting a classroom in an older urban public school in the Providence area. On Saturday, June 30, au pairs will dedicate about 5 hours to the project; and when they are through, they will have been responsible for a complete classroom makeover which will benefit many children. The entire classroom makeover project is made possible by volunteers – those who are physically involved in the makeover (our group of au pairs), and others who donate the necessary equipment (paint, supplies, etc). These classroom makeovers are coordinated through "Serve Rhode Island”.
This is the second volunteer activity that Au Pair in America’s Rhode Island au pairs have participated in during the month of June. On June 2, au pairs spent much of their day volunteering as house guides for Providence Preservation Society’s 33rd annual Festival of Historic Houses. It is encouraging to see au pairs so willing to give back to the communities in which they are living while they are here, and hopefully will inspire other young Rhode Islanders to become more inolved in such community activites!
Halloween Activities for Au Pairs and Children in Rhode Island
Halloween is celebrated on October 31st in the United States. It is a favorite family celebration – a time for traditions such as dressing in costumes, trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, and carving pumpkins. American children dress up in funny or scary costumes and go “trick or treating”. The neighbors are expected to respond by giving them small treats. Adults may also dress in costume for Halloween parties. The name “Halloween” comes from the Christian tradition. It is derived from “All Hallow’s Eve.” October 31st is the eve of All Hallows day, better known as All Saints Day. This is a day when the church celebrates and remembers the lives of the saints.
Most au pairs will be celebrating the American tradition of Halloween for the very first time this year. If you are looking for fun ways to celebrate with your children…here are some of the Halloween attractions that will be going on in the Rhode Island area:
Boo Bash: Providence Children’s Musuem; October 29, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM http://www.childrenmuseum.org/
Children can play bewitching games galore, have hands-on fun with imaginative arts and “witch crafts,” explore an eerie environment, mix it up in the mad scientist’s laboratory and much more. Come in costume and have a blast at the biggest Halloween bash around!
Costume Parade: Meet at the Gazebo in Pawtucket Park, Narragansett Parkway, Warwick, October 29 at 1:15 p.m. Participants will trick or treat (wear a costume and bring a treat bag) through the village to the Village Playground in Edgewood for games, goodies and music until 4 p.m. Free. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Evening of Horror: Mystic Performance Workshop, 40 Washington Street, Providence. Haunted house with spooky sounds, children’s activities and family activities, including apple bobbing, face painting and horror move scream. Last entrance to the haunted house is 6:45 p.m. 4 – 7 p.m. $8; $5 ages 12 and younger.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular: Roger Williams Park, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. 401-785-3510. RogerWilliamsParkZoo.org
Thousands of pumpkins set in a magical display or artistry. Carved jack-o-lanterns depicting people, places and scenes from popular culture to old time favorites and everything in between. Nightly 6-10 p.m. Ends November 6. Call or visit website for pricing.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
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Creepy, Crawly Family Fun Weekend: October 29, 2011 to October 30, 2011. Take a look at the gross, creepy and crawly things that make Halloween special with spooky activities and Museum creature features! Free goodie bags for each visitor. Location: Roger Williams Park, 1000 Elmwood Avenue. Time: noon-4 p.m. Cost: Free with Museum admission of $2. Information: www.providenceri.com/museum/special-events
Baby, It's Cold Outside!
On Sunday evening, January 23, our cluster meeting was scheduled at the Bank of Ameirca Skating Center at Kennedy Plaza. Frigid, below-zero temperatures drew most of us across the street, though, where there is a warm, toasty Starbucks at the Biltmore hotel, just steps away from the skating rink. It was a very comfortable place to be on a cold, winter, night. There were a few who immersed themselves into winter sports, though, despite the cold weather. Three au pairs (all from Thailand) not only enjoyed skating on Sunday, but also spent sometime snow-tubing earlier in the day! They really enjoyed immersing themselves in our cold, winter weather. We said “Farewell” to Jade, from South Africa, who has successfully completed two years with Au Pair in America and is now moving on to her next exciting adventure! Our next meeting is scheduled indoors, and it won’t matter how cold it is outside. We’ll be enjoying a Zumba class….and the heat will be on!!!
View more photos at: http://www1.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=3640394017/a=13509975_13509975/
January Au Pair Meeting – Dinner at Madeira Restaurant – Portuguese Food at its Finest!
Our January meeting was held at Madeira Restaurant (www.MadeiraRestaurant.com). It was a great way to start the new year — The food was incredibly delicious, and it looks like some of our au pairs will be returning to Madeira to enjoy more of that wonderful Portuguese food! We have two au pairs celebrating January birthdays – Aylin on January 1, and Nathalie on January 27. Unfortunately, neither Aylin or Nathalie could join us for dinner on this particular evening — so we are sending our birthday wishes to you via our blog. Happy January Birthday Aylin and Nathalie! We’ll look forward to seeing you in February – details of our February meeting will follow by e-mail.
December Au Pair Meeting – Holiday Celebration at Glen Manor House
Our December au pair meeting at the Glen Manor House in Portsmouth was very festive! The French chateau was beautifully decorated, and each of our au pairs had photo opportunties with Santa himself! This was a wonderful environment for our holiday meeting and gift exchange. To view more photos of this event, click on the link listed under "photos" on the right side of this page.
Welcome to Au Pair in America's RI Blog
This blog has been created to bring you the most current information about Au Pair in America’s Rhode Island branch (referred to as the Rhode Island “cluster” in Au Pair in America terms). As the Rhode Island representative and counselor for Au Pair in America, my goal is to provide information and support to my current au pairs and host families, and to be a source of information to those families in the community who may be interested in hosting an au pair – an experience which should provide not just child care, but an enriching, memorable cultural exchange experience.
I work with a network of community counselors throughout the country (about 180 in all), each provides support to au pairs and host families in their community. In turn, all of us have the support of our U.S. Corporate headquarters in Stamford, CT.
I plan to post up-to-date information for au pairs and host families, and would also like this blog to serve as a forum for all of you to post questions and comments that may be of interest to others in the Au Pair in America community. My sense is that these collective questions, answers, and comments will become a valuable resource for all of us.
Barbara Fetta
Community Counselor
Au Pair in America – Rhode Island Office
401-949-2427
(U.S. Headquarters: 800-928-7247)