Littleton residents are being encouraged to remember and pass on some wisdom in partnership with Arapahoe Community College and a local couple’s global effort for tolerance and understanding.
A Community of Wisdom has a simple goal: to show that all citizens have wisdom in their heads and hearts, no matter what their age.
Through May 6, Littleton residents can fill out a “wise owl” postcard at participating locations and answer the two questions on it: “What is a bit of wisdom you received as a child?” and “What is a bit of wisdom you would like to pass along to a child?”
The owls will be hung on wisdom trees constructed at the college, Buck Recreation Center, Bemis Public Library and other locations in Littleton.
The effort is the brainchild of Dr. Richard Steckel and Michele Steckel, who started the Milestones Project more than a decade ago as a way to counter ethnic cleansing, race riots and religious hatred by showing, through photography, how people are alike, rather than focusing on differences.
“We were never bystanders when there is injustice,” Richard Steckel said of the effort to depict human commonalities instead of differences.
Using children’s photographs taken around the world, Milestones displays children of all races, cultures and religions at some of life’s milestones — a first tooth, the first day of school — and has them write their stories. Quotations from significant world leaders are displayed with the photographs in the exhibitions; one is a permanent exhibition at ACC.
The Steckels recently published a book, “Wise at Heart: Children and Adults Share Words of Wisdom.” It features quotations of wisdom from famous and ordinary people, along with their photographs.
Steckel said A Community of Wisdom came from a concept by designer Brody Hartman about the yearning to have opinions that matter.
The Milestones Project has photographed more than 60,000 children in 28 countries since its inception, and several exhibits have been dedicated to the project.
Local celebrities will read selected bits of the community wisdom at a community celebration hosted by ACC on May 6.
Daniel Smith: 303-954-2671 or smithd@yourhub.com
How to learn more
For more information, contact the Milestones Project at richardasteckel@gmail or 720-299-3434 or call ACC Dean Kathy Holt at 303-797-5822.
