New York City: The home of sadistic subway passengers, pickpockets and criminals. At least, that’s how non-New Yorkers might describe it. Singer Risa Binder, however, prefers to paint a different picture of the city. Through her website, Be The Change, Binder highlights the charitable acts people perform every day to demonstrate how small changes in our lives can lead to big differences for those around us.
The singer lived in the city for years, but her friends and family never said nice things about it. As a Maryland native, she was constantly told that New Yorkers were not nice people. So she set out to prove them wrong.
“I see random acts of kindness every day here," Binder says. “There are every day heroes living in New York City.”
In August, the singer launched her site, which “celebrates the volunteers, the ‘do-gooders,’ the entrepreneurs, and organizations that are making New York City a better place.”
Since creating Be The Change, Binder has witnessed an array of good deeds and made sure to document them.
She posts videos of her visits to New York charities, which range from animal shelters to consignment shops. One of her first visits was to Bottomless Closet, an organization that helps disadvantaged New York City women become self-sufficient through a mentoring program. Rather than providing women with a minimum wage job, the program gives them the tools and attire to land a full time position with benefits.
Binder also visited Kids Enjoying Exercise New York, which provides free one-to-one recreational opportunities for children and young adults suffering from mental and physical disabilities. The singer says this was one of her favorites, because she saw children volunteering with the adults.
“It’s not because their school is telling them to be there. It’s because they want to help,” she says.
But Binder doesn’t focus solely on the big organizations. She also acknowledges and admires those who perform the tiniest of good deeds.
“Whenever I see a mom struggling to get her carriage up the stairs and a random stranger helps her, I can’t help but smile,” Binder says. “I love seeing things like that every day.”
While Binder would love to spread the word about do-gooders and make Be The Change a big phenomenon, she ultimately does it because it helps her feel better during her crazy, chaotic days.
“It instills a wealth of inspiration in me too. It’s a wonderful way to see all the good that’s happening.”
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Follow Leah Rocketto on Twitter: @LRocketto
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