I remember what it’s like.
November is National Runaway Prevention Month. For the month, the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) works to focus the nation’s attention on runaway, homeless and at-risk youth. 1.6 million youth will run away in a year. NRS provides crisis 1-800-RUNAWAY hotline and 1800RUNAWAY.org online services to ensure youth can access help 24/7/365.
I’m listing below national activities taking place during NRPM. They are all designed to easily implement in communities, online and locally. The first one is this Thursday. We are asking people to post a picture of yourself as a teenager for ‘throwback Thursday.‘ And put the caption ‘I remember what’s it like‘ and the hashtag #NRPM2014.
This is my high school senior picture. My senior year, 1981-1982, was the best out of the four by far. I was part of a Social Justice class and that class morphed into its own community. Still, high school was hard. My class of 144 kids going through simultaneous angst over hormones, grades, tests, friends, enemies, zits, and the unknown and looming future. And thankfully, I went through this awkward identity phase without the Internet. My blunders, my outspoken moments, my failed attempts at humor, my bad fashion choices lasted a moment or a day but they didn’t live on forever in cyber humiliation. It’s hard growing into adulthood and being scrutinized by authority and peers. I remember that. I would NEVER choose to relive my teenage years especially in 2014. I can’t imagine coming of age in this era of technology capability.
Please join me in celebrating today’s youth by supporting National Runaway Prevention Month.
1.) Thursday, November 6th: #TBT. Post a picture of you as a teenager on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for ‘throwback Thursday.’ Use the caption “I remember what it’s like’ and the hashtag #NRPM2014. If space allows, include a link for your followers to find out more at 1800RUNAWAY.org/ national-runaway-prevention-month. Consider making the photo your profile picture for the month of November to draw even more attention to NRPM.
2.) Thursday, November 13th: National Candlelight Vigil. Youth service agencies, community groups, and individuals will be hosting candlelight vigils to show solidarity with youth in crisis. Host your own candlelight vigil in your neighborhood, at your school, your workplace, your place of worship, etc. This event is low cost and high impact.
3.) Thursday, November 20th: ‘Wear Green’ Day: Most people have something green in their closet; whether it is a t-shirt, tie, pair of socks, etc. Coordinate a ‘wear green’ day with your friends, coworkers, students, and/or classmates on November 20th. This is a fun and easy way to get people to learn more about NRPM. For added impact, take a photo of your group wearing green and post it to social media with the hashtag #NRPM2014. Tag NRS and we could share your photo.
4.) Thursday, November 27th: ‘Give Thanks’ Thunderclap. On Thanksgiving, while people reflect on what they are thankful for, NRS is asking that everyone across the country to ‘pay it forward’ by participating in our online thunderclap. If you have never heard of a thunderclap, you can think of it like the online version of those ‘funds raised’ thermometers. Except, instead of measuring money, thunderclaps measure impressions. Learn more about thunderclaps at thunderclap.it.