Location
Boston, MAI am a writer,trainer/facilitator and arts and marketing consultant who lives in Boston. I have designed and facilitated workshops on a wide variety of topics, including communication, team building, and parenting issues (through Parent-411.com).
I was director of the cultural economic development program, ACT Roxbury, where I founded the Roxbury Film Festival, Roxbury Literary Annual, Roxbury Open Studios and Roxbury Discussion Series.
I've had essays, short stories, children’s stories, and poetry published in several publications. I am an active blogger who writes about relationships, family, current issues, race and sex in witty, entertaining, poignant and powerful entries on my personal blog (blog.candelarisilva.com). I am also a contributing editor to BlogHer.com and to Parent-411.com.
I am an avid volunteer, serving on a number of boards and spreading the joy of reading to young children through my random booking project (myrandombooking.net)
Candelaria submitted a way to: Give back
way to be well created 12.12.10
Giving things gives back
One of my favorite ways to give things is through the Freecycle Network (freecycle.org). It connects people who have things to give with people who need things. In this way, they hope to prevent excess stuff from going into our landfills.
In early November 2009, I was reading my daily updates from the Boston Freecycle and saw a listing by a young woman who needed a set of dishes. She was serving her first Thanksgiving dinner in her new apartment and didn’t have enough dishes. She asked for a set of 8 place settings. I had a set of 6 place settings. I contacted her and within three hours of reading her post, she was picking up the dishes from my home.
Another time I responded to someone who needed a baby gate. I had one that I never got to use for my granddaughter. It was picked up a day after I responded.
In both instances it felt good to give things that I no longer used to people who needed them.
I have also given away a recumbent exercise bike that needed some slight repair beyond my ability via Craig’s List. I posted a “curb alert” on Craig’s List and the bike was claimed within a few hours of being posted.
My most ambitious giving program is one I started called “My Random Booking.” I give away children’s books, mostly board books but also others while riding the T. When I spot a child from around 6 months to 4 years old, I ask their parent if I may give them a book. I try to give away one book per week. Seeing the joy on the children’s faces when they hold the book is so special to me. The adults are surprised and slightly wary but all but one have been gracious in accepting the books.
I buy children’s books from bookstores and discount stores in Boston that are on sale for $6 or less. I’ve given away everything from Dr. Seuss stories to Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield to Whose Toes are Those? In each book I place a sticker that says, “For the love of reading.”
Giving back by giving away extends the life of objects. Giving the gift of a book plants a seed about the importance of reading to a young child.
What can be better than that?
