Changing Our Consciousness is officially a 501(c)3 non-profit! What does this mean? We can now put our ideas into action. We can accept tax-deductible contributions to fund our unique, critically important projects.
What will we be asking for money for? What’s the change that we're envisioning, and what are some concrete steps involved in getting there? The three projects below have the long-term goal of replacing pre-judgment and criticism with greater tolerance of paradox and conflict, a shared search for meaning, a greater capacity for empathy, and an ability to respond to the emotional experience of the other:
EMOTIONAL IMPRINT™ Human understanding has a language all its own, as difficult as Shakespeare, Mozart and Rocket Science to master, and as exciting and potentially transformative. COC is developing a K-12 academic curriculum in emotional literacy, which will enable our children to learn to read, interpret and respond to one another’s communications in more nuanced ways, through the same academic path that teaches them to read, interpret and respond to books, music, and science equations.
What you can do: Help us make contact with groups to whom we can present the program, and with schools to help us develop it, implement pilot projects, and study the outcomes.
THE ENTITLEMENT PROJECT offers a new perspective on the debate about the USA’s “entitlement programs.” People who think, feel, and behave differently need our respect, understanding, and help to re-enter society. COC is developing a jobs program for people who’ve trickled down to the ranks of the unemployed or disabled due to personal or mental health interferences, and who can’t reenter the work force because they can’t be honest on resumes and interviews. There are people willing and able to work given empathy and some job modifications, and they are entitled to that opportunity. We can save tax dollars and self-esteem. And all of us will learn to respect differences and communicate more effectively.
Hot Stove Productions, of which Alice Maher is a partner, in association with Falling Awake Productions, will soon launch an independent campaign through Kickstarter.com to fund post-production of the mental health anti-stigma documentary, HOW TO TOUCH A HOT STOVE. (Because this is a commercial project, COC will not be accepting donations.
How you can help: We need employers to hire talented and motivated people with a history of mental illness, and potential employees willing to reveal their mental health histories, abilities, and needs. We need start-up money to hire individuals to develop a business plan and implement it. We’d like to fund advertising to recognize participating businesses.
THE DEPTH PERCEPTION PARTY is a Facebook group with over 120 people from all parts of the political spectrum. My daily questions facilitate dialogue, ask members to consider new perspectives, and to speak to, rather than at, people who feel differently. It’s harder to sustain a hard-line position when someone reaches out and asks you to understand their point of view. Creative solutions are more likely to emerge. The WAGING DIALOGUE FORUMS are closed discussion groups that also invite people from different perspectives to do the hard work of ongoing communication. A long-term goal is to film a documentary about Christians, Jews, Muslims, and people from other faith backgrounds struggling to understand one another and longstanding societal prejudices.
How you can help: Your financial support enables us maintain our websites and use social media and advertising to engage more and more people in the DPP and our other initiatives. So far almost everyone involved with Changing Our Consciousness has worked for free or almost nothing. That needs to change. We need funding to expand the organization and pay our gifted and talented employees appropriately. In a time of reduced foundation grant support, your donations are critical to fund these next steps.
We appreciate any support you can offer, financially and/or through involvement with our projects. Please share this information with others who might be interested and able to help.
How to make a donation >>
Changing Our Consciousness, Inc. is a New York nonprofit corporation and 501(c)3 organization. 100% of all donations go directly to support the goals of the organization. Contributions made to Changing Our Consciousness, Inc. are tax deductible for US federal income tax purposes to the full extent of the law.