COMMUNITY, GIVING BACK, AND HELPING OTHERS QUOTES

Albert Einstein: "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about my family member, so it does not matter to me. Oh, I wish those kids parents would step up. Well have you thought about being a mentor, a leader, a surrogate mother, surrogate father, a professional example, a teacher, a coach, a real example and so on.)

*Brian K. Rice: "My father taught me to walk in my own footsteps." (It bothered him to know that grown men followed after other grown men. It bothered him to see men trying to impress the others. He knew his responsibility as a man and he performed. If a boy can learn this at an early age, he will not follow in the footsteps of the gang members, homeboys, or the in-crowd. He taught me to be comfortable with self.)

John Wesley: “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can”

I was thinking earlier today as I was heading to volunteer and I realized that there are rarely any signs or advertisements requesting everyday people to volunteer. Sometimes you may get an email through an organization or a leaflet at work or at church but rarely is there a marketing campaign for volunteers outside of the small percentage of very large organizations. Please be proactive and go help someone.

Brian K. Rice: There is nothing like having a father who stands behind his child when learning how to ride a bike. There is nothing like a father who is there to wipe off the bruise from falling off of the bike. Nothing can replace a father who is still standing behind you as an adult and is willing to help you wipe off the bruises of life if necessary.

Jim Valvano: "My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me." (Brian K. Rice: I wish everyone had a chance to experience a earthly father who believed in them the way my father believed in me and my siblings. I wish everyone could have experienced a father who took on his God given responsibility as a husband and a father. Thanks for that living image, Dad)

William Buie "if you are not making a difference, then you are not a difference" by (when I heard these words last week I had to repeat them over and over because they are so profound to me and I wished more people would wake up with a mission to make a difference. Just think about it, if you are not making a difference what is your purpose?)

Booker T. Washington "there is no escape- man drags man down, or man lifts man up."(are you helping or hurting, are you dragging others down, lifting them up, or are you like so many who sit back and do nothing?)

Lena Horne "You have to be taught to be second class; you're not born that way." (Many have broken down this mentality but many have not. Self confidence, self awareness, self worth, self belief, & humbleness in yourself is necessary to fight this problem. Many people treat themselves like they are 2nd or 1st class because of what side of the tracks they live on, work in, or where they received their education... ~ by Brian K. Rice)

Jesse Jackson "Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up." (Brian K. Rice: Quit talking about people, reach down and try to help them especially if you are the one that notices something that could improve them)

“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.” by W.A. Ward (In the end there is a lot of power in encouraging and loving others. ~by Brian K. Rice)

Maya Angelou: "Each of us, famous or infamous, is a role model for somebody, and if we aren't, we should behave as though we are? Cheerful, kind, loving, courteous. Because you can be sure someone is watching and taking deliberate and diligent notes." (I truly believe that someone is always watching you and following you whether you know it or not ~by Brian K. Rice)

Audre Lorde: "When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak." (It is easy to be silent about a problem and it is easy to talk about a problem behind closed doors but it takes character to step up and face a problem. ~ by Brian K. Rice)

MLK: "The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me? But the Good Samaritan reversed the question: If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?" (Too many of us look the other way because of unnecessary fear and selfishness, many people have never had anyone reach out to them and try to help. Volunteers see this everyday ~by Brian K. Rice)

Marian Wright Edelman: "Investing in children is a national necessity. If the foundation of your house is crumbling, you don't say you can't afford to fix it and stop there but you find a way...If you as parents cut corners & lie & do not save and do not give money to charities, your children will do the same. And if parents snicker at racial and gender jokes, another generation will pass on the poison."

"One": "It only takes one. One person can make a difference. One tree can start a forest. One smile begins friendship. One star can guide slaves to freedom. One vote can change a nation. One candle wipes out darkness. One prayer and you can be saved. One act of kindness can change another's life."

Brian K. Rice: "You see an apple seed but I see an apple orchard. Do you know who you are? There is more to you than you will ever know, you are the chosen one in your own right. You are an ancestor to more seeds & trees & orchards. You have been blessed with great purpose. Your life is far too important for you to be wasting it. Your choices affect many. Know your worth, don't DEVALUE who you are"

Brian K. Rice: "Do you know who you are? You are the head & not the tail. You are the President & CEO. Right now you are the leader of one & you don't see the others but they are there, look beyond where you are, so get off of your back, pull up your pants & take pride in your image, take heed to the power of your mind, put a pen in your hand, put some miles in your shoes, alter your future."

Brian K. Rice: "Do you know who you are? You are pointing a gun at your head & don't even know it. You drop out of school & you go in & out of jail. You prance around & flaunt your body & attract men who are only out for the kill. You read no books & have no mentors, you have low self esteem, you have no vision & no goals. YOU ARE MY PASSAGEWAY, YOU ARE MY FOUNDATION. You WILL BE my father or my mother"

Tenzin Gyatso: "If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them" (Brian K. Rice: quit pulling me down, quit telling me what I can't do, quit being that crab in the barrel, don't put in a bad word for me when you barely even know me, let me speak for myself, let me stand up. In the end, it is not hard to help others)

Brian K Rice "I rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6". There are times in your life where you have to protect yourself and there are times when you will have to walk away. Continue your life if you can even if you have to be a coward. I know a lot of people that don't believe in using guns even in their homes when an intruder invades, so hide if you have to.)

Italian Proverb: "A candle losses nothing by lighting another candle" (Brian K. Rice: A lot of people want extend their light in fear that their light will be snuffed out. Light several candles around you and see the blessings come back to you. Oh, so you are selfish now. You made it, but you want help no one. Oh, you are too good for the little people. You become the big boss & you want even try to lift someone up.)

John Crawford: "Every day I wake up, my goal is to make someone’s life better, whether through kind words, a helping hand, or through a thoughtful gift"

What I saw today & yesterday is not unique to Houston. There were mounds of trash just sitting in between several houses with no trash bags in site, boarded windows, plastic on sagging rooftops, mis-match sheets acting as curtains... I hoped it was only unique to one street but it wasn't. Do you know what that does to the psychi of the many people living there? (Just pause for a minute & imagine.)

What if your only responsibility was to change the world? There is a lot of power in just ONE. You can make a huge impact on this world if you believe in the power within you and above you. Israel Houghton , “The Power of One”

Brian K. Rice: "Pause for a moment, think about your plans this weekend and see if you can fit some time in there to help someone else" (YOU SAY you are too busy during the week. Find a program near you and start getting involved. A hour here and there can change many lives)

Brian K. Rice: "Teachers, we turn over our kids to you for and avg of 6.5 hours a day excluding the typical 30 minute lunch for typically 180 days a year for 12 to 13 years on average and totaling at least 15,000 hours. Teachers, we need you to be the best brain surgeons you can be for as many students as you can for this critical 15,000 hour operation."

Jawanza Kunjufu: "Parents often want to know what the teachers instruct from nine to three, but where are the parent's lesson plans from three to nine?" (Brian K. Rice: We have to invest more into the minds of our children. We have to teach our kids about self responsibility and self accountability. We have to lead the way.)

Brian K. Rice: Ok, hey you parents quit putting all the pressure on the teachers. The Adult to Child ratio in the classroom is 15 to 1 in good settings and in many inner city settings the ratio may be 30 to 1. The adult to child ratio at home is most likely 2 to 1 up to 2 to 4+ or 1 to 1 up to 1 to 4+. Now, tell me, who has a better chance at educating and training their children to be good students.

Brian K. Rice: "When helping others move forward, make sure you are not helping too much and enabling them to stay where they are" (People can easily get used to receiving. It is great to give, but if you give too much then it is likely that the person receiving the gift will expect you to continue giving in the same manner and they will never try to replace your gifts with their own efforts. Be cautious)

If a kid remains in foster care to the age of 7 it is more than likely that the kid will never be adopted. And 40% of foster care children end up on welfare, 30% end up in jail." (Brian K. Rice: if this concerns you and you feel a calling in this area, step up and help, whether through volunteering, adopting, or providing a kid with a good foster care environment, do it and don't wait for others)

Brian K. Rice: What can you do to give back? It does not take much. We need you. The kids need you. The elderly needs you. The jobless need you. The homeless need you. The teens need you. The ex cons need you. The church needs you. The dropouts need you. Your fraternity or sorority needs you to work. The libraries need you. The schools need you. Think about your family and those outside of your blood family.

Sylvia Hewlett: "caring for others is the center of compassion" (if parents are tuned out of their children's lives then children who ultimately will become adults will never develop the trait of compassion and then we have adults who have no care in the world for others and they become selfish compassionless creatures who take and give nothing back.)

Al Sharpton: "The hardest job for a preacher, is to preach a sermon at the funeral of an irrelevant person." (Brian K. Rice: I am glad he was not politically correct with this statement, because this is real strait talk. Make sure you are not an irrelevant person who only takes from this world and adds nothing of value. Make sure you are not a waste of a life)

in the US when you look at what they consider poverty it is scary and is only compared to living in a 3rd world. for example, for a four-person family unit with two children, the 2009 poverty threshold is $21,756. For one- or two-person family units, the poverty thresholds differ by age; the 2009 threshold for one individual under age 65 is $11,161, whereas for an individual 65 or over it is $10,289.

Brian K. Rice inspired by Dare to be King community program: “Hey Brother, Dare to be a king. Hey Sister, Dare to be a queen. Take charge!!!”

"the Daddy lifted his little girl up on his shoulders and she said, Daddy! I can see can see farther than my eyes can see" (Brian K. Rice: lift someone up on your shoulders so they can see over and pass the obstacles, allow someone to use you as their stepping stone to success, lift someone up with your knowledge, your insight and your experience.)

Phillip Randolph "Power is the flower of organization" (Brian K. Rice: If you can garner a team of people or of resources together for a common cause then you generate a significant source of power. This is why networking is important. This is how people with few resources can start a business. This is true of every major victory where you need more than just yourself. Quit being so self-centered.)

Its amazing, everyday I choose to pick up a new book, I am amazed at what I wished I knew 10 or 20 years earlier. There is so much knowledge out there & too many of our kids don't even care to learn it. We have to figure out a way to prep the next generation with the DESIRE TO LEARN. Once a week, kids may need to be required to participate in a class that focus on the importance of learning & the consequences of not.

Brian K. Rice: "Encourage the man who is sitting down just as much as you encourage the man standing up." (recently, a person got mad at me for telling them to stay focused & to follow their dreams, they quickly took the "stay focus" part as being a negative way of saying they were not focused. I told that person as long as I live, I will encourage people and if you see a fault with that, then so be it.)

Brian K. Rice Yesterday, when I went to read to the elementary kids, one of the 5th graders who saw me working with his friend last year that no longer goes to the school, came up to me and said "Brian, I am struggling with my math, can you come back and help me?" I said, "yes". I will go back next week and every week I can. "There is nothing like helping a person that wants to be helped."

Brian K. Rice Giving a little bit of you to help someone does not take much (help your family and friends & don't overlook your neighbors in your city) [The other day I went to my usual dining spot & a young man said he was hungry, so I told him to sit & have dinner with me & after that dinner & our conversation, I saw a man open up and smile in a way that truly touched me & him. Give a little bit of you)

Theodore Roosevelt: “To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”

Iyanla Vanzant: “One of the greatest miracles in this country is the birth of an individual, where sperm meets and egg in darkness and becomes [a man or a woman who knows they are worthy and lives with great purpose]‘. That’s deep. I see the greatest miracle in the world being ignored and denied every day. When human begins are not born to know that they are worthy. That they’re just worthy. There must be something really, really wrong with you to think that God would make you unworthy. To make you that way. And we live in a society where people are born to believe they are unworthy.”

Brian K. Rice: “There are so many people full of low self esteem and believe less of themselves. We need you to step up an encourage others. There are so many youth who have no hope for their future. There are so many who rely on the lottery or rely on some form of entertainment because they do not believe they are worthy of anything else.”

Brian K. Rice: I truly believe once a purpose can identify with a goal & a dream that is meaningful, that person will begin to enjoy all the learning associated with that purpose. Every day I wake up searching for information & books to read which is the opposite of my youth. (The sooner we can get our youth & many adults to tap into a meaningful destination, the sooner they will appreciate the learning.)

Brian K. Rice: "Today marks a new beginning, yesterday we learned from intentional learning or from experience, today we use what we have learned to better our tomorrow and the tomorrow of others or we waste our learning" (Have you ever awaken and realized there is something you have to do? I am not a parent but those who are parents realize they have additional responsibilities, what about you, parent or not?)

Dr. Tony Zeiss: "We are in the success business not the flunking business." (Brian K. Rice: This statement addresses the purpose of schools and especially higher education systems where you go and learn specific skills and knowledge for your desired path. It is disappointing when non-students and students do not take advantage of the opportunities and resources before them. They are there for your success.)

Darryl Zanuch: "If two men on the same job agree all the time, then one is unnecessary. If they disagree all the time, then both are useless." (Brian K. Rice: You can sit back and act like this is not happening from the leaders of this country. They are as black and white as segregation too often. They separate themselves between red & blue too often. Their mission too often is to disagree & agree on today’s segregation. It's killing us. We need leaders who will individually vote for what is right and not what is opposing the other party just because.)

Coco Chanel: "Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty." (Brian K. Rice: you can go around wasting your week days and your weekends all you want but I ask that you look at a few people who already at 50 or 60 that you admire and those you don't so you can figure out what you need to do now to better your life at fifty or sixty."

Marian Wright Edelman: "Service is the rent we pay to be living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time." (Brian K. Rice: We all have a responsibility; you do not have to change the whole world, just your world through Service to God, Service to self, Service to family, and Service to community)

'One': "To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world"; There is some cause or an issue out there with your name on it, something you care about, somewhere where you can serve and make a difference in a way that is unique to you. Whatever it is, find it and follow it." (Today it’s your choice whether you will step in to somebody’s world and make it better. ~ by Brian K. Rice)

Malcolm X: "Without education, you are not going anywhere in this world." (Please help stress the importance of education to our youth, Today I was working with my mentee and recently he made and "F" on a test and he said it does not matter because he has a "D" in the class. He is one of millions that think this way so if you have time to give back, give back. ~by Brian K. Rice)

Michael Jackson, We Are The World: "There comes a time...When the world must come together as one. There are people dying. And it's time to lend a hand to life...We can't go on Pretending day by day. That someone somewhere will soon make a change. We are all a part of God's great big family...We are the world. We are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day So let's start giving...lend a helping hand."

Nikki Giovanni "There is always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. And while I don't expect you to save the world I do think it's not asking too much for you to love those with whom you sleep, share the happiness of those whom you call friend, engage those among you who are visionary and remove from your live those who offer you depression, despair and disrespect."

James Weldon Johnson: "Lift ev'ry voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring...Let us march on till victory is won. Stony the road we trod...Felt in the days when hope unborn had died...We have come over a way that with tears has been watered....Till now we stand at last....God of our silent tears...Keep us forever in the path..." (Suddenly after reading this original poem & anthem, I am encouraged even more ~Brian K. Rice)

MLK, Jr. "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." (one example of sincere ignorance: I hear people complain about the fact that foreigners who come to this country get breaks & incentives so they can start their own business, but on the other hand those same people who complain have never picked up a book or sought the resources that are already here ~ Brian K. Rice)

MLK, Jr "We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people." (What good does it do to sit back and do nothing when you have something to say or have something you wish were done. I have come to realize that the loudest people are usually the most negative & they are the ones many people listen to or follow ~ Brian K. Rice)

MLK, Jr: "I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality." (One example: A lot of people get overly offensive when someone that truly is concerned about their welfare makes a bold & truthful statement about them. Welcome honesty, welcome realness. Real friends and family members should not have to hold back ~ Brian K Rice)

Thurgood Marshall: "None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody - a parent, a teacher, friend, team, boss... -bent down and helped us pick up our boots." (Be thankful for that person that has helped you, give them a call, send them an email, just go by an tell them thanks out of the blue, it is the least you can do ~ by Brian K. Rice)

MLK Jr: "I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be... No individual or nation can stand out boasting of being independent. We are interdependent." (I pray that I can grow stronger and wiser like the martyrs of the bible & of our world history. It takes a lot of unselfishness to stand up for the principles they believed in to change their world which affected the whole world ~ by Brian K. Rice)

Nelson Mandela "After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb." (Invictus poem: "...I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.") (I watched Invictus yesterday and it has a strong message about forgiveness, racism and unity. How many people are able to forgive someone who put them in jail for 27 years because you led a movement to stop their racism?

Oprah: "Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism." (Are you really as good as you think you are? Did you really deserve that promotion? Are you great only in your own mind? I do understand that racism and sexism is strong but are you really separating yourself from your competition by your hard work, skill level, and knowledge. ~by Brian K. Rice)

"There is a great deal of work to do and it calls for sacrifice and determination on the part of those who are leading, and if men believe that money should be the only consideration for leadership, then there can be no successful achievement." by Marcus Garvey (Leaders be willing to take charge for the cause and not the fame. ~by Brian K. Rice)

"Each person must live their life as a model for others." by Rosa Parks (you must keep in mind that some kid, some man, some woman, is watching you, so be mindful of what you do and what you say. Stand up for what you believe in and constantly try to improve your imperfections ~by Brian K. Rice)

"Great parents learn to do without sometimes" (when I 1st started as an engineer and I had real bills, I always wondered how parents can manage to get their kids everything they need and want for the most part. One of my friends and coworker who was about 65 years old explained it best; great parents learn to do without. So go thank your parents today just because.) by Brian K. Rice

Edith Sitwell: "I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it." (Brian K. Rice: In our society we have a lot of people who are proud of it. We have a lot of people who boast it. We have a lot of people who wallow in it. We have a lot of people who thinks it is cool and to do anything else would be unjustified. I am patient but there are some things that I cannot take anymore. It is time to be a light for those who are in the dark. It is time to be a difference maker. It is time to do what I can.)

Christy Joiner: "I wish we had a class that could teach people how to love" (Brian K. Rice: The context of love she was referring to covered all of the loves but her main reason for saying this was that she wished more people actually cared for others enough to help those in need near them. She stressed that some of these trouble kids only need someone in their life that showed they cared for their well being. She also made light that she wish her ex-
husband knew how to love. What if we had a required subject such as Language or Math that taught people how to truly love unselfishly? Could you imagine how different our society would be?)

Organization of Black Airline Pilots: "There is no limit to how high you can go if you don't look down" (Brian K. Rice: Yesterday, I went to a volunteer event put on by the Houston chapter. It felt great to see how the local group of pilots are exposing kids on a consistent basis to the world of flying. One mother spoke and she said her son was not interested at all when she made him attend a event a few years ago and her son is currently in the air force now following their footsteps. Exposure! Exposure! Exposure!)

Clarence Budington Kelland: My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.

Author Unknown: "A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty."

Panera Bread Co. "Take what you need, leave your fair share." (Brian K. Rice: I spend a lot of time at Panera Bread on the computer and every night right before they close you will see a friendly face walk in and within moments their back seats and trunks are loaded with loaves of premium bread. Panera gives to different charities everyday. In 2010 they opened there first non profit based location in St. Louis.)

Kevin Mondy: "It's hard to get us to invest in us" (Brian K. Rice: Step up where you are and invest some of your success in the next person. Stand up where you are and go and donate to a grassroots organization in your community. The donations are needed in all sizes. A few days ago I was speaking with Kevin who is a founder of a successful non profit and he expressed to me how hard it is to get us to invest in us)

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: “Let everyone sweep in front of his own door and the whole world would be clean”