On The + Side: Mr. Rogers, Curator Chats and Free Hugs

In the words of Nelson Mandela, “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can learn to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

We at Addition Financial want to affirm that racism has no place in our community. We stand by our members, team members and community members, and recognize our responsibility to be a part of the solution. We hear you, we see you, and we are with you.

Positive Focus

In times of tragedy, it can be difficult to focus “on the plus side” and see the positive. We want to continue to shine light on those inspiring individuals and groups who are making a difference in creating a better world.

• In 1969, Mr. Rogers took a stand against racial inequality when many places were still segregated. You can read more about this meaningful episode here.
• WUCF, our local PBS station, will be soon sharing videos in their Meet The Helpers series to help parents talk to their kids about social justice and inequity.
• To comply with social distancing, Orlando’s annual Pulse Remembrance Ceremony will take place virtually this year. This pre-recorded event will be held on Friday, June 12, to help our community come together and heal on the fourth anniversary of this tragedy.
• The Christian Sharing Center is helping Seminole County residents by providing emergency groceries and rent assistance. You can learn more about their Families in Crisis program and apply here.
• One sweet pup named Scout travels around the country giving free hugs for those who need it. He can’t wait to get back to work soon!
• One St. Cloud Elementary teacher is using driveway chalk art to inspire her students and community. From children’s literature to essential workers, the artwork has brought people together and has encouraged input from students as well!
• Players from the Orlando Magic teamed up to congratulate the Class of 2020 and share their words of advice and encouragement. Check it out!

Wellness Boosts

In order for us to show up in the world as our best selves, it’s important to maintain our overall health and wellness. Here are a few ways to do just that.

• When dealing with anger and heartbreak, MindBodyGreen shares seven tips to help you cope.
• If you have a teen at home or in your life who has been struggling during this time, check out these tips to help teenagers protect their mental health during coronavirus.
• Self-care means something different to each of us, but is incredibly important to implement in our lives even if we have a lot of other things going on. Check out this five-step guide to self-care for those of us who consider ourselves “too busy.”

For the most up-to-date guidelines on taking care of yourself during this global pandemic, visit the CDC’s website.

Additional Resources

With many of us still spending the bulk of our time at home, this is a great opportunity to devote to learning and listening to voices other than our own. Check out our latest resources to help you through this time.

• The National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington DC offers free digital content that you can access from the comfort of your own home! The museum provides Curator Chats, online exhibitions, a web portal focused on how we talk about race, and more.
• As the state opens back up, let’s continue to support local! The next time you go out for lunch, dinner or takeout, check out these black-owned restaurants in Central Florida for a delicious meal.
• For those who haven’t been to a concert in a while (i.e. all of us), take a trip to the Kennedy Center’s digital stage, where you can stream free archived shows from John Legend, American Ballet Theatre, Ellen Degeneres, and many other talented performers.
• If you need a reason to smile right now, these sweet Winnie the Pooh quotes are sure to help.
• During times of uncertainty, scammers are quick to take advantage of consumers. We spoke with Apartment Therapy about ways to protect yourself against identity theft and fraud.
• Small business owners who received a Paycheck Protection Program loan should tune in to our latest episode of the Making It Count podcast, where three experts share their strategies for utilizing your loan and qualifying for loan forgiveness. The podcast can be downloaded through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

We’ll be back next week with more positive stories and resources to make this time a little easier for everyone. To get notifications when we post a new issue, subscribe to On The + Side.

For the latest COVID-19 updates from Addition Financial, please visit our response page.