I think back to the year Nelson Mandela was freed.  I was in the 2nd grade and I was so amazed by his courage and perseverance.  My mother and I went to the craft store and made South African flags for my entire class with construction paper and mod podge.  Whenever I am dealing with a tough situation, I draw from Nelson’s enduring example and continue on.

The annual Mandela Day celebration was created to inspire people from every corner of the earth to embrace Nelson Mandela’s values as they seek to improve their lives through service to their communities.

New York takes world center-stage in July when the city hosts the inaugural ‘Mandela Day.’ Centered around a massive music headliner concert at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday, July 18, the event is designed as a call around the world for people to honor Nelson Mandela’s inspiration and values, and observe the day annually as a celebration – not as a holiday, but as a day to opt in.

Nelson Mandela has been making an imprint on the world for 67 years, beginning in 1942 when he first started to campaign for the human rights of every South African. His life has been an inspiration to the world. To date, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664 have focused mainly on supporting projects in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa where current needs are greatest, particularly for those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS…Natural Human Rights are everything, silence helps no one! http://mandeladay.com/articles/press/