While reading the newspaper, surfing the internet and watching the news, the focus is oftentimes on the effects of negative behavior, rather than uplifting stories about the effects positive actions can have.  At the High School of the Future in Philadelphia there are three educators who make it their goal to focus on rewarding positive behavior, rather than putting the emphasis on punishing poor behavior.

Elizabeth Harvey, Kate Hayes and Kendall McArthur- Johnson created the POSITIVE Behavior Plan at their school.  When students engage in positive behaviors, they are rewarded for it.  When other students see rewards for positive behavior, they are inspired to act the same way.  For example, the homeroom with the best attendance each month wins a pizza party and one student with perfect attendance is randomly selected to receive a $10 gift card.  Students receiving all A’s and B’s are rewarded as well, with a random drawing for three more $10 gift cards.

Look around your school and neighborhood for friends, family and neighbors participating in positive behavior.  What are the positive effects of their behavior?  What can you do to follow in their footsteps?  Let us know!  info@heroesofcharacter.org or comment on this post.

Admin: D. Fiero

On August 28, 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. organized a March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom to promote civil and economic rights for African American citizens. A group of OVER 200,000 diverse people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial to protest racial inequality in the United States.  It was at this event that Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.  Dr. King had a dream that all people living in America would be treated equally, he hoped for younger generations that one day “they will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

To honor this true hero of character, the National Liberty Museum will be hosting Civil Rights Tours and History Scavenger Hunt on January 17th.  The tours and scavenger hunt will highlight civil rights events that occurred in the Greater Philadelphia region.  As you explore the museum you will find stories about each civil rights event and get a sticker to add to your scavenger hunt map!

The centerpiece of the National Liberty Museum is a two-story glass flame called the Flame of Liberty.  To help you remember Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, we encourage you to add your own dreams to our ‘Flame of Dreams Wall’ displayed in the Museum through February, 2011.

All events this day will be free of charge.  Come help us celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others who have struggled for equal rights.

Admin: D. Fiero

The National Liberty Museum Young Heroes Award recognizes extraordinary, young people from across the area and the U.S. – from every sector of society – who make outstanding and selfless contributions to drive change from their local communities. On August 5, we were proud to recognize thirty-nine amazing youth leaders from the tri-state area.

The award, which is sponsored by TD Bank, is given to young people who make positive changes in their schools and communities through art and creative writing, leadership, volunteer work, political involvement or peer mediation.

Ron Matthew, Greater Philadelphia Market President of TD Bank, says: “These young leaders dedicate their energies to bettering the lives of others; they do not do it for financial award or publicity: they do it to make a difference.”

Receiving the Young Heroes Award empowers young people to improve the society we live in and gives them public recognition for the valuable work they do.  Each year, the event has grown to honor hundreds of outstanding students, under age 18, who are creating change through a variety of uplifting activities.

Our winner this year, Deana Vega, a remarkable 11-year-old cancer survivor who is dedicated to improving the lives of those around her, received a $1000 grand prize and a laptop computer. All winners received recognition at the Young Heroes Awards Ceremony at the National Liberty Museum; a certificate of recognition, medallion and gifts; a plaque featuring their story in the Museum’s Young Heroes Exhibit and a wonderful accomplishment to include on college and job applications.

The 2010 Young Heroes have received some outstanding press including:

Philadelphia Inquirer

Channel 6 ABC in Philadelphia

KYW Newsradio 1060 in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Tribune

Courier-Post Online

NJ.com

Admin: B Blumenthal

The Let Art Freedom Ring Liberty Bell created by students from Beeber Middle School is a beautiful peace that was created to celebrate democracy, liberty and most importantly: happiness.

Let Art Freedom Ring is a cooperative program between Philadelphia Arts in Education Program and the National Liberty Museum.

Sixth grade students from Beeber Middle School have called their Let Freedom Ring Liberty Bell “Life.... And the Pursuit of Happiness.” The students described their project by saying “Our bell depicts our inquiry on the people, places and things that represent liberty.”  Considering their statement, it makes perfect sense that this bell can be seen at the Education Center at the National Liberty Museum in historic Philadelphia at 321 Chestnut Street.

The students collaborated with visiting clay artist Debbie Williams, and their art teachers Sonya Smith and Samuel Reed III to make their vision a reality. They chose a multimedia approach, using various mediums including papier-mâché, clay, paint, and plaster to create and design their bell.

Admin: B.Blumenthal

The Let Art Freedom Ring Liberty Bell created by students from George W. Sharswood Elementary School does not just celebrate democracy and liberty, but the history of communication.

Let Art Freedom Ring is a cooperative program between Philadelphia Arts in Education Program and the National Liberty Museum.

Called BOB, meaning Birth of a Bell, this Let Freedom Ring Liberty Bell shows the role of the Liberty Bell within the evolution of communication. The voyage begins with the earliest ringing of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia to commemorate the birth of the nation. The story on the Bell ends in present day, where we use cell phones to keep ourselves constantly connected.

The students and artists working on Birth of a Bell took a multimedia approach, using various mediums to create and design their bell.

This bell can be seen at the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall on 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Admin: B. Blumenthal

If you have been to the National Liberty Museum recently, then you probably saw our two newest editions. In our Let Freedom Ring and Education Center galleries, we are proudly displaying two Let Freedom Ring Liberty Bells made by local school students. 

The Let Freedom Ring Liberty Bells were created jointly by students from five Philadelphia middle-schools and local artists as a part of a program called Let Art Freedom Ring.

Let Art Freedom Ring is a program of the National Liberty Museum and the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership. The goal of the project is to provide middle-school aged students with the opportunity to study the concept of democracy, civic responsibility and learn different art techniques by working with professional artists. 

For the duration of the summer, two of the bells can be seen at the National Liberty Museum, and the other three are on display at the National Constitution Center.

Over the next five weeks, we will be featuring these artistic Liberty Bells on our Heroes of Character Blog. We will be learning more about the schools, students and artists involved, as well and trying to understand how they chose to portray their perspectives of liberty and history through art.

For more information go to www.letartfreedomring.org, and remember to check out the bells soon, because in the fall they are traveling to New York to go on display.

Admin: B.Blumenthal