How does this issue impact YOU and the people you care about?
STEP 1: 5 MINUTES
Get Curious: Pick A Story
Which stories and videos make you interested in learning more about this issue?
RAISING LUMINARIES
Hi, I’m Ashia, founder & Head Custodian of Infodumpery for Raising Luminaries.
I create free tool kits to help overworked caregivers ignite the next generation of leaders.
ABOUT | MISSION | FINANCIALS | ACCOUNTABILITY
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
STAY IN TOUCH
Get free monthly email notifications when I publish new Family Action Toolkits
FREE STUFF
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
SHOP
Posts may contain affiliate links and sponsorships, which allow me to earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
PARTNERS IN CAHOOTS
TOPICS
CONTACT
RECIPROCATE
Collaborate with Raising Luminaries on an issue important to you.
You’re welcome to share & boost this toolkit, with attribution to Raising Luminaries.
Let's explore
Animal Rights
Climate Change - The way Earth’s weather patterns change over many years.
Ecosystem - A network of living things and their environment that rely on each other to stay in harmony.
Endangered - types of animals or plants at risk of going completely extinct.
Extinct - Entire species who are gone forever, with no way to repopulate with new babies.
Habitat - A place where animals and plants have the right food, water, and space they need to live.
Species - Groups of animals and plants, like polar bears or tomatoes.
Speciesism - an idea that humans are more important than living creatures, so it's okay to be unkind to our animal and plant relations.
SMASH THE KYRIARCHY
Why Act Now?
As humans cut down forests and pollute our oceans, animals around the world are losing food sources and safe spaces to raise young.
As we lose more animal species, all our ecosystems get thrown out of whack. Over 50 wild animals will go extinct within our lifetime - but we can protect them if we take action now.
Animal Rights Toolkit For Kids
Dismantling speciesism and protecting animal habitats
Ages 5+
Kids Take Action Against Ocean Plastic
Content warning for harm against animals due to pollution, animal bones
More Kid-Approved Favorites
Kids Books About Animal Rights
STEP 2: 10 MINUTES
Ask Questions
Talk about this topic with an adult who you trust to be honest with you..
Do...
Do you know any animals personally?
Do you see these animals as pets, family, food, or something else?
How do you engage with these animals? Do you play together, help each other, or keep each other safe?
How...
How do you feel about the way your family treats animals?
Do you feel responsible for keeping animals safe and comfortable?
Which animals deserve safety and comfort? Which don't?
Why?
What...
In what ways do humans harm animals?
Is this harm always necessary?
How can you help animals - either through direct care, or indirectly (like protecting their habitats)?
Questions inspired by the Prison Industrial Complex Abolition Concentric Circles by CriticalResistance.org
JOIN THE NEWSLETTER
Tackle tricky conversations with confidence
Need help starting hard conversations with your kids?
Get weekly tips and tools to ignite the next generation of kind & courageous leaders.
STEP 3: USE WHAT YOU HAVE
Get Creative
Flex your brain using what you've learned & discover what's within your control to change.
Pre-K+
How Pets See Your Home
Human perception is not the one and only way to experience the world!
HomeAdvisor trawled through scientific research to show how your pets might see your surroundings at home.
Pre-K+
Build a Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Find 5 DIY wildlife habitats your family can build for your own backyard, courtesy of Jill Staake of 'Let It Grow.'
Pre-K THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL
Advocate Against Cruelty In Pet Stores
For pre-writers, emerging, and advanced writers, find letter templates to help kids raise their voice against cruel and inhumane treatment of animals in pet stores.
Elementary+
Join Bumble Bee Watch
Tracking animal sightings through seasons and climate change gives policy-makers the information they need to protect animal habitats. Becoming a citizen scientist can be as simple as noticing the bumblebees in your neighborhood.
Elementary+
Respect Wildlife Activities
Learn how to protect wildlife and dismantle cruelty in the pet industry with the World Animal Protection's activity workbook.
RAISING LUMINARIES
Hi, I’m Ashia, founder & Head Custodian of Infodumpery for Raising Luminaries.
I create free tool kits to help overworked caregivers ignite the next generation of leaders.
ABOUT | MISSION | FINANCIALS | ACCOUNTABILITY
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
STAY IN TOUCH
Get free monthly email notifications when I publish new Family Action Toolkits
FREE STUFF
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
SHOP
Posts may contain affiliate links and sponsorships, which allow me to earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
PARTNERS IN CAHOOTS
TOPICS
CONTACT
RECIPROCATE
Collaborate with Raising Luminaries on an issue important to you.
You’re welcome to share & boost this toolkit, with attribution to Raising Luminaries.
IT'S STILL OKAY TO LAUGH
Hard conversations with humor & joy
Every month the Luminary Braintrust tackles a new member challenge to make talking about social justice easier in real life.
STEP 4: ASSESS YOUR CAPACITY
Step Into Your Power: Take Action
Whether it's time, money, or our voice - we all have something to contribute.
if you have 1 minute
Tell Congress: Protect Endangered Species!
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) protects threatened wildlife. Since the 1970's, the bill has protected iconic species and brought many back from the brink of extinction.
It's time for Congress to make the extinction crisis a priority. We need them to strengthen and fully fund implementation of the Endangered Species Act.
DIG DEEPER
Bonus Resources
Share what worked for your family (and what didn't).
Add the resources you suggest in the comments below to help families like yours.
VIDEO
Who Deserves Rights & Personhood?
"Why granting lakes and rivers 'personhood"'-- giving them the same legal rights as humans -- is the first step to protecting our bodies of water and fundamentally transforming how we value this vital resource."
via Kelsey Leonard
Activity Guide
Citizen Science For Kids
Learn how kids ages 8 and up can participate in citizen science projects to protect animals & habitats.
via National Geographic
ACTION
World Animal Protection
From shutting down the Miami Seaquarium to ending cruelty at Petco, follow the World Animal Protection for more quick actions to make a difference today.
Reading Guide
What Do Animals Teach Us?
Kid-approved bedtime stories with lessons our animal relations have shared with us.
Stay Curious, Stand Brave & Smash The Kyriarchy
Raising Luminaries reduces the workload on overworked caregivers
igniting the next generation of kind & courageous leaders
Ashia (they/them or she/her)
I’m an Autistic, multiracial (Chinese/Irish) 2nd-generation settler raising two children alongside my partner on the homelands of the Wampanoag and Massachusett people. My goal with Raising Luminaries is to collaborate with families and educators in raising the next generation of kind & courageous leaders, so we can all smash the kyriarchy together.
Reciprocate & Contribute
Help me keep these resources free & accessible for all
RAISING LUMINARIES
Hi, I’m Ashia, founder & Head Custodian of Infodumpery for Raising Luminaries.
I create free tool kits to help overworked caregivers ignite the next generation of leaders.
ABOUT | MISSION | FINANCIALS | ACCOUNTABILITY
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
STAY IN TOUCH
Get free monthly email notifications when I publish new Family Action Toolkits
FREE STUFF
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
SHOP
Posts may contain affiliate links and sponsorships, which allow me to earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
PARTNERS IN CAHOOTS
TOPICS
CONTACT
RECIPROCATE
Collaborate with Raising Luminaries on an issue important to you.
You’re welcome to share & boost this toolkit, with attribution to Raising Luminaries.
Raising Luminaries is anchored in the land of the Wampanoag & Massachusett People.
Support Wôpanâak early childhood education here.
©2024 Ashia Ray of Raising Luminaries™. All rights reserved.
This page may use affiliate referral links. We may earn a small commission if you choose to make an order using these links. Learn how we use affiliate links to support our community.
Photographs via Unsplash & Illustrations via Storyset, used with permission.
2 comments
Hello Friends
It’s an inspirational day when I am introduced to such a dedicated team. (You make the Earth smile) I have created a website to help draw attention to how we can give love to nature, as she shares love with us. This is especially true for the voiceless (well, they are speaking in their behaviors if we learn to see and listen). I look forward to sharing this with you.
http://climatechangeanimals.com
Lovely poetry, TJ!