SimplePath recently sat down with Michele, a labor-relations professional and mother to six  year-old, Sofia. As a busy working mom
raising a daughter in the Los Angeles area, Michele talked about the rewards and challenges of teaching her child the meaning of community and giving back. The daughter of a Haitian mother and an El Salvadoran father, Michele spoke of how her own parents valued both duty and responsibility to others, and taught her to appreciate what she had been given. Today she successfully balances a busy career while exemplifying the lessons her parents taught her, by making time to give back. She and her daughter recently volunteered time at Sofia’s elementary school to help parents and their children who were participating in a parenting program.
Long-interested in social justice issues, Michele (who is fluent in French, Spanish and Creole) also contributed her time to staffing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hot-line set up to help Hurricane Katrina victims.
SimplePath:
Why did you decide to get involved in SimplePath?
Michele: SimplePath is just that -- a ‘SimplePath’ that helps me lead my daughter to a greater understanding of her value in and responsibility to our world. It is such a challenge these days to raise a child, especially since there is so much commercialism competing for her attention. Sofia is privileged. One of the ways that I help her appreciate her opportunities is by teaching her to feel compassion for those who aren’t as fortunate. I want her to develop a thoughtfulness and intentional commitment to positively contribute to the world community. With SimplePath, I now have a tool to teach Sofia that terms like ‘giving’, ‘helping’ and ‘making a difference’ are a part of her everyday life. SimplePath encourages us to find opportunities to contribute in small and meaningful ways, and we can track our involvement. With the help of SimplePath, I want her to understand that she can and must work to make our world better for her having been here.
SimplePath:
How does SimplePath help your family talk
about giving back?
Michele: Philanthropy is challenging for kids to understand and it can be difficult to explain. It’s quite easy for a six year old to understand instant gratification, and reward for a job well done. But how does a six year old understand that some actions you take don’t benefit you directly; and that the joy you feel is through the joy your action gives others? How does a six year old understand that some people work 80 hour weeks, and still don’t have enough to provide for their families? With SimplePath, I can show Sofia tangible and concrete examples of how others have chosen to give, the impact of their giving and that by getting involved, she is fulfilling her obligation to others.
SimplePath:
How has giving back changed your family?
Michele: I see that
Sofia is a much more thoughtful child. When
we go to the supermarket, she pays attention
to the price of things. Volunteering and
philanthropy have made her think about what
she wants versus what she needs. I’ll
tell you a story. We were considering different
activities for her. She was thinking about
her dance lessons and she actually prioritized
for me what dance lessons she wanted to
take based on the cost. To show that kind
of thoughtfulness and logic is amazing.
I am most proud that she realizes her place
in the world and is not self-centered.
During Hurricane Katrina, I was asked to volunteer on the FEMA hotline because of my knowledge of French, Spanish and Creole. It meant that I had to work twelve hour days during the day and do the work for my regular job at night. Growing up in South Florida and living through Hurricane Andrew, I know what it’s like to survive a disaster and I wanted to help. Even though I was working long, long hours during that time, Sofia knew what I was doing was important and regularly encouraged me even though it meant we had less time together. My daughter is so selfless and aware and that is what philanthropy is all about.
SimplePath:
What advice do you have for other families
who want to get involved in the community
but don’t know how to get started?
Michele: The best piece of advice I can give is to make it [philanthropy] a part of your every day life. Don’t make it a chore. You don’t have to go to a shelter and serve food once a year. In fact, that can be really overwhelming for a small child if they aren’t prepared. You have to talk about it every day and find small activities to do. Talking about the earth and conservation is a great start. Even watching the news can be a lesson. Talk to your kids about what they are seeing. Engage them. In those discussions you can discover what your child feels strongest about and begin involving them in activities that can impact their issues.
One activity I engaged Sofia with early on was playing with the globe. Originally, I bought one to teach her about where her family came from, but it became a larger lesson about her world. The trick is to prepare your child for what matters most to them and what is comprehensible to their young minds. In this way, they will develop both the desire and motivation to give back; and in time, they’ll surprise you too!
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