The world right now, more than ever, needs more empathy. There’s a campaign on Kickstarter trying to achieve just that called This Land Is My Land. The author Dubie Toa-Kwapong and illustrator Samuel Fleming are creating a children’s book to help build more empathy for 2+ million children in the United States of America.

Contribute today: 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/789480008/this-land-is-my-land?ref=b8yrlb

This Land Is My Land has a Kickstart goal of $7,500 and so far has raised a very impressive $2,784 with 58 backers. The idea that eventually led to the Kickstarter campaign first began in summer 2017. Nana Adom Mills-Robertson, a senior at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, came up with the idea of creating a children’s book. “Adom approached Dubie Toa-Kwapong, an award-winning writer and Macalester graduate ‘16, with the idea. Dubie agreed with it and created This Land is My Land. However, it was not complete. Samuel Fleming, a junior at Macalester, who doubled as a prominent up-and-coming artist in the Twin Cities, brought life to the characters through art.”

This Land Is My Land (Cover Art)

I’m writing this article after listening to a full day of news reports detailing the Las Vegas mass shooting. I don’t think I need to go into any more detail about Las Vegas, but it is a tragedy. Many people are asking themselves what they should do about it? Can they change this world for the better or are the problems we face too large? I think one this we can do is anywhere possible we have to opportunity to support positive change, positive campaigns, etc. like This Land Is My Land we should. It’s true that “One Bad Egg Ruins an Omelet” but we shouldn’t let that stop us from trying to do good in the world anyway we can.

I’m also reminded of the Starfish Poem below:

Basically the poem’s message if you didn’t read it is that even though problems are large we can take small steps to make a difference. It encourages us to get out of a fatalistic mindset, take action, and make a difference if only to one person.

Please support this Kickstarter campaign encouraging empathy among today’s youth. The reading level of this book is aimed for grade’s 1-3. However, anybody can enjoy the book and learn the lessons that it brings up. Pick up your copy of This Land is My Land and support their mission anyway you can.