Community

Naomi Wadler and Safe Shores Team Up To Donate Clothes to Abused Kids

THE AFRO — At 12 years old, Naomi Wadler, who hit the world stage when she rocked the nation with her speech at the March for Our Lives last year, is working to make waves for her peers near and far- most recently with the District’s Children’s Advocacy Center, Safe Shores

Published

5 years ago

April 17, 2019

Oakland Post

By Micha Green

At 12 years old, Naomi Wadler, who hit the world stage when she rocked the nation with her speech at the March for Our Lives last year, is working to make waves for her peers near and far- most recently with the District’s Children’s Advocacy Center, Safe Shores.

On April 6 Wadler gathered some of her closest friends to volunteer for Safe Shores’ seasonal clothing switch, which stocks several rows of brand-new clothes folded by size for children affected by abuse in D.C.

On average each year, Safe Shores gives more than 300 colorful new duffle bags filled with new outfits, undergarments and toiletries to our clients to not only take care of a basic need but also to show our clients they matter,” said Michele Booth Cole, executive director of Safe Shores.

“Our clothing closet is a big deal and so is Naomi, an extraordinary young voice for children,” Cole added.

Wadler spoke with the AFRO about her work with Safe Shores and her excitement about the collaboration.

“Safe Shores is just a safe spot for so many kids who have been through violent incidents and who don’t really have a great support system- they can go to Safe Shores and they can just be surrounded with people who can help them through whatever they’re going through. And I thought that was a great message and great mission. And it’s something that we should all pay attention to,” Wadler told the AFRO.

The 12-year-old already collaborated with KIDBOX, from which she donated new clothes. Her collaboration with KIDBOX led to her line, “Kind is the New Cool.”

“I always have noticed when people don’t treat other people like people. They treat them as objects or less than human, and I really don’t understand that and that’s always been something that I’ve not agreed with,” she said. “So I said, ‘I believe in being kind to other people and being, in general, just a good person and doing what’s right when nobody is standing with you. So, I just said, ‘Kind is the New Cool,’ because it was kind of catchy, and I never created a t-shirt before.”

Her work with KIDBOX allowed for her to donate new clothes and present a check to Safe Shores.

“Raising $10,000 worth of clothing for Safe Shores is such a big thing and I’ve never really done anything like it,” Wadler explained about her work with KIDBOX and Safe Shores. “And it’s really rewarding, and overall it’s going really well and I didn’t expect the t-shirts to sell as well the way they did. And it matters that we are helping the kids at Safe Shores and the we’re helping the non-profits to assist the kids.”

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Health System in D.C. Offers Access to Free Medications

Don't Miss

Barre3 Charleston Hosts Suicide Prevention Fundraiser in Downtown Charleston

Oakland Post

Click to comment

California Black Media

Audit: California Is Poorly Monitoring Homelessness Spending

California has failed to monitor state spending and evaluate the outcomes of homelessness programs, according to a report issued last week by the California State Auditor’s Office. California State Auditor Grant Parks urged Governor Gavin Newsom to continue to hold local governments accountable in an open letter dated April 9. The audit highlighted that tracking programs and collecting accurate data could help the state save money.

Published

11 mins ago

May 3, 2024

Oakland Post

Shutterstock

By California Black Media

California has failed to monitor state spending and evaluate the outcomes of homelessness programs, according to a report issued last week by the California State Auditor’s Office.

California State Auditor Grant Parks urged Governor Gavin Newsom to continue to hold local governments accountable in an open letter dated April 9. The audit highlighted that tracking programs and collecting accurate data could help the state save money.

“The state must do more to assess the cost-effectiveness of its homelessness programs,” Parks said.

The report showed that California spent approximately $20 billion on programs and initiatives addressing homelessness in the past five years. Although state funds were allocated to fund shelters and subsidized rent, homelessness in the state increased by 65 during the last year.

In 2021, Gov. Newsom signed a law that required organizations that received state funds to collect data and evaluate the progress of programs they implement.

California auditors revealed that only two out of five action plans were cost-effective. One was Project Homekey, which converted hotels into housing during COVID-19, and CalWORKS, a housing support that offered financial assistance to low-income residents.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expressed concern after the report was released.

“The biggest conclusion that the auditors came back with is there’s just inadequate transparency and data and information available,” said Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) in a statement.

Republican Sen. Roger Niello (R-Roseville) said, “These audit results are a wake-up call for a shift towards solutions that prioritize self-sufficiency and cost-effectiveness.”

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Obituary: Social Justice Leader, the Rev. Cecil Williams, Passes at 94

On April 22, community leader and social justice advocate Reverend Cecil Williams died at his home in San Francisco surrounded by his loved ones, according to his family. He was 94 years old.

Published

24 mins ago

May 3, 2024

Oakland Post

The Rev. Cecil Williams, civil rights activist and social justice leader was the head pastor of San Francisco’s non-denominational GLIDE Memorial United Methodist Church.

By California Black Media

On April 22, community leader and social justice advocate Reverend Cecil Williams died at his home in San Francisco surrounded by his loved ones, according to his family.

He was 94 years old.

The reverend was a civil rights leader who advocated for the equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in the Bay Area.

Williams was the head pastor of the non-denominational GLIDE Memorial United Methodist Church. The church welcomed individuals from the queer community and people struggling with homelessness, housing instability and substance use disorder (SUD).

Through his work, Rev. Williams attracted national attention. Prominent political and cultural leaders such as Maya Angelou, Bono, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Clinton all attended church services at Glide.

Congressmember Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) said she is deeply saddened about the passing of her dear friend.

“The Reverend changed the lives of millions through radical love, support, inclusivity, and a commitment to service to the most marginalized,” Lee said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said that the reverend inspired people across California to embody the values of generosity and acceptance.

Rev. Williams was, “a visionary leader whose legendary compassion and love for his community transformed the lives of people from all walks of life,” Newsom said.

Rev. Williams served as the chief executive officer of the Glide Foundation until his retirement in 2023.