I have a confession to make. Call me old school if you will, but I have been collecting postcards since early childhood (and still do until this day). It’s a little souvenir that I bring back from all the different places I’ve visited throughout the years.
I also LOVE receiving some from my friends in faraway lands. It allows me to travel all over the world instantly!
Now a few days ago I received a very interesting email that surprised me but really caught my immediate attention.
It came from a nonprofit organization called Atlantic Impact in Michigan. Their mission is to empower youth to believe that they can do anything in this world.
As you may already know, low-income youth are limited in their mindset and potential because of their lack of opportunities to have experiences outside their neighborhood. Their surroundings or environment do not fully support or allow them to dream bigger, reach higher goals. That’s where Atlantic Impact comes in!
They asked me if I wanted get involved, so I jumped on the opportunity and told them I’d love to!
I can totally relate because I have a similar story of overcoming many obstacles since I come from a humble background.
Fortunately, my parents (especially my father) found the strength, courage and iron will to fight and go after his dream, which was offering his family a better future in a different country (We are originally from El Salvador). So he did almost the impossible, traveled throughout Central America and once in Mexico, he applied for Canadian residence (He later became a citizen) which allowed him to bring us to the city we are currently living in!
That adventurous spirit and will to improve each one of our lives is something I truly admire and am quite grateful for.
Both of my parents have always told and encouraged us to go after what we truly want in life. They also taught my siblings and me some great values. It has allowed me to be goal-oriented, disciplined and hard-working.
The path to success has not been easy but with determination and perseverance, I have been able to see my dreams come to pass and traveled all over the world thanks to a positive mindset and continuous encouragement from great people. They truly have made all the difference 🙂
Atlantic Impact’s goal is for every high school student in their district to receive a postcard. Since they don’t get the global awareness from friends and family, this is a way for them to be exposed to another part of the world, whether it is a state next door or the country next door or on the other side of the planet!
The postcard can be of our town or city and the message could simply be a few things about the picture, which may be a few interesting things about the place where we live and inspire them to go out and see new place. It’s always exciting to receive a piece of snail mail, right? 🙂
This is what I started doing:
There are no specific names or recipients since they are planning to go around to different classrooms, but ideas for addressing people would be something like “Dear Detroit student” or a simple “Hi!” would work too!
If you are interested and would like to participate as well, you can get together a group to write postcards (group size doesn’t matter!) and send them in one envelope to:
Atlantic Impact
C/o Samantha Kelley
22174 Clover Ln.
Novi, MI 48375
They will take as many postcards as possible and make sure a student receives any postcard that is sent to them. Receiving hundreds of postcards would be great and the first batch of will be passed out this fall.
For more info you can check: http://atlanticimpact.org/postcards/
Now to help spread the word around the world, the organization just launched a challenge that will support youth to travel internationally to broaden their horizons and change their life…forever.
They are offering 2 bloggers an international trip, flight and accommodation included, to join their youth in Barbados this coming summer! These bloggers will get to go abroad for a cause and can treat it as an overseas volunteer opportunity!
If you want more information just head over to http://atlanticimpact.org/bloggerchallenge/
I hope you can send a postcard to a student or more. I am finishing mine and will send them pretty soon!
In the meantime I am inviting you to follow Atlantic Impact on these Social Media channels:
https://twitter.com/atlantic_impact
https://www.facebook.com/atlanticimpact
https://plus.google.com/+AtlanticimpactOrg/posts
Now over to you!
Tell me,
Do you still buy and write postcards?
When was last time you received one & where was it from?
I can’t wait to read all about it!
Until next time,
All the best
Karla 🙂
Traveller Soul 
What a lovely idea, Karla 🙂 I collected postcards until a year or so ago and I still glance at the stands when I pass one. They used to be ‘insurance’ in case my holiday photos didn’t turn out but times and cameras have moved on, haven’t they? I still love them though.
Good to hear about your background and the success you’ve made of life, and your willingness to give a little back. I don’t know that I can get a group together but I’ll certainly look out a few postcards.
Thank you Johanna!
Ha ha I am glad I am not the only one who immediately glances back at the postcard stands even if it’s at the airport. I sure hope they never go out of style or are forgotten!
I totally agree with that “insurance” feeling. I have been taking photos since I bought my own camera way back in the days, a Konika 110, remember those? Hey I worked and saved $ for it 😉 If the pics didn’t come out right, I’d have a postcard to make up for it 😉
Thank you for your compliment. I mean sometimes people think that I am just running away and just spending mindlessly but they don’t know the true reasons, drive, determination, endless hours, patience, perseverance & BELIEVING BIG!
Every single trip I have worked for it and deserved it. It has allowed me to realize how fortunate and spoiled I am. I have seen what a tremendous difference travel makes. It literally transforms you and helps you become someone better.
I look beyond the attractions of a city or country. I look into the culture, education, history.
This cause really hit home because children or teenagers look up to us grown people and if we can inspire them through words, then we might as well implant only seeds of positiveness and success right? Anything is possible and I sure am proof of that 😉
Oh that would be absolutely wonderful if you can send them some postcards of your region, I thank you so much in advance for doing so. *HUG*
Making someone feel as if they are important and telling them they CAN DO IT is #Priceless.
Much love Jo, thank you!
You’re welcome 🙂
What a great story. My husband held up a postcard when we were in Italy last summer and showed it to our kids . He said to them this is what we did before Facebook came along. We wrote postcards to our family and friends. I still enjoy today receiving postcards from all around the world.
Thank you so much Carmen!
I am glad you liked it.
Oh how your husband showed a postcard to your kids? that is just awesome. It is important to teach the new generation what we used to do, like and enjoy before all this technology revolutionized the way we communicate.
Honestly, I think I was like 7 or 8 when I first started collecting postcards, right after we moved to Canada. I dreamed of exotic countries at the other side of the planet and one of my teachers signed us up to this pen pal service and we received postcards, short letters from young childre in other countries who did the same thing we did 😉
Today I show my 11 year old my stamp/postcard collection and tell her that is important to write by hand. It is a great feeling that no electronic device will ever make you feel.
I appreciate the time you took to stop by & if you do send a postcard to a student let us know.
Thank you, merci, gracias 😉
Your post inspired me so much that I bought a handful of postcards this past trip and I’m getting ready to send them to Atlantic Impact. I know it’s the summer, but I figure the kids will have something to look at when they get back in school in the fall.
Oh I’m so moved by your comment!
Thank you so much for thinking of those underserved students that need some encouragement and those postcard you bought will brighten up their day I am sure.
Atlantic Impact will be so happy to receive them!
Thank you, merci, gracias for your generosity and may God bless you today and always.
Lots of love,
Karla
The first thing we do when we travel is buy and send postcards to friends and family, even in this social media world. We also send one to ourselves. I like seeing them on the fridge. Your story is quite moving, Thanks for sharing and the project sounds great. Will do my part.
That is awesome!
I am so happy that you are keeping that tradition alive.
It’s actually quite sad to see less & less postcard stands in cities and who takes time to sit down for a minute to write down by hand to someone they love & share a bit of what they’ve experienced?
It brings a smile on my face when I receive a real piece of mail with a stamp from another country 😉
Thank you so much for the compliment. Some people are so quick to judge me when they see me take off or go to the other side of the planet. They think I’m spoiled and careless but they sure don’t know where I come from & what it has taken for me to be where I am and how far I will go! Again having a passport is a PRIVILEGE and traveling is a reward.
ANYTHING is possible and I want those students to believe just that. Start where you are with what you can. No one can take your dreams away, EVER!
Thank you so much for wanting to participate!
This is such a great idea – I’ll definitely send some over from my rather extensive collection!
If you haven’t already you should check out http://www.postcrossing.com – I love it!
That would be awesome if you could send a postcard or many!
Students will be quite happy to know that they matter and people care enough to send them a card from another city, country 😉
Many thanks in advance!
K
BTW cool site you have!
I keep my old postcards preciously. They are great memories 😉
Atlantic Impact sounds like a great organization! Btw…my grandmother is from El Salvador 🙂
It sure is!
It kind of touched a sensitive chord once I read the scope of the project and I had to say yes, how could I not?
I was introduced to postcards from early on and they just have a certain power to make you daydream and BELIEVE 😉
I may be one of the last few who buys & collects them but it’s ok. Different is good!
Oh wow, your grandma is Salvadoran? How awesome is THAT?
So you speak Spanish? Have you been to El Salvador?
I left when I was 7 but have returned many times and I still have plenty of places to discover!
If you have any postcards left or of the city where you are now, you can send them to the address provided in the post.
I thank you in advance for it.
Muchissimas gracias Jessica 😉
I Love it! I totally support the efforts of Atlantic Impact as a travel blogger and someone from Detroit myself.
That’s great!
Helping a good cause is gratifying and sharing is caring right? 😉