In the wake of everything COVID-19, Katrina Eileen Real Estate recently registered an initiative, Impact Real Kindness, with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, asking each of us to claim our number! What’s this all about exactly?
What are the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.”
— Source: United Nations
What is Katrina Eileen’s Impact Real Kindness?
Impact Real Kindness is a multi-faceted initiative to create a local awareness campaign to inspire and encourage individuals and business owners in the Seattle area. This initiative encourages people to claim their SDG number and to make a commitment with some level of support within it, whether it’s financial, volunteer work or broader awareness. The project will include helping to create actions supporting each one of the numbers to encourage participation and growth. Katrina Eileen Real Estate will encourage people to support others with shared initiatives to support their efforts.
— Source: Katrina Eileen Real Estate
What Does it Mean to Claim Your Number?
Katrina Eileen Real Estate hopes that we will all be willing to participate in making a commitment to one of the United Nation’s SDGs to transform our world! Katrina and her team claimed SDG 1 – No Poverty – to end poverty in all its forms everywhere!
Claiming My Number and My United Nations Story
The UN Sustainable Development Goals bring back some significant memories for me! When I was attending grad school at Sacramento State, I was a Model United Nations delegate. In November of 2004, I represented Brazil at the American Model United Nations Conference in Chicago and in March of 2005, I represented Third World Network at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York! During the 2005 trip, my classmates and I met with representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency and the US Mission to the UN as well as being able to partake in mock General Assembly meetings at the United Nations building! I spent many years dreaming of moving to New York and working at the UN but alas, I speak zero French (the language of diplomacy).
The SDG number I claim is 3 – Good Health and Well-Being! Through my love of exercise and promoting of a healthy lifestyle, I want to help ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages! This seems especially tough to promote during the COVID-19 crisis, but helping promote universal health coverage, finding sustainable financing for health, addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (i.e. mental health), and tackling air pollution, inadequate water and sanitation – these are all incredibly important and pertinent issues right now.
Bringing awareness to the topic of mental health resonates with me right now. I am an extrovert to my core who has suffered from depression and panic attacks in the past. Now as I enter month four of practicing social distancing – while COVID-19 hasn’t personally affected me, everything that has been happening around me has indeed affected my mental psyche. I have many friends who are also having their own mental health issues exacerbated by social distancing, so they have been trying to find ways to help their mental health during this time, including online therapy and using websites like FinestLabs.com so they don’t succumb to this fear. Being a champion and a voice for those who are too afraid to speak about how the social impacts of COVID-19 are affecting them is one way I want to claim SDG 3.
Former Seahawks Players Claim Their Numbers
Former Seahawks defensive end, Joe Tafoya (who also brought the Guinness World Records to CenturyLink Field to measure sound during Seahawks games), claims goal 15 – Life on Land. This goal aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Joe, who lives on a farm with horses, chickens, goats, and dogs supports all types of animal-related charities with his wife, Brandelyn. Joe and Brandelyn practice sustainable living on their farm – they aren’t driving to the store to purchase eggs (they use eggs from their own chickens), they make their own soap with goat milk, they promote kindness and friendship with animals, they plant trees on their land and so much more. The more people Joe can reach on animal kindness, the more that message can be promoted. He wants everyone to remember that one person’s kindness and act of charity can create a positive ripple effect in the world.
Former Seahawks linebacker, Hillary Butler, also claimed 3 for his number – like me! As an athlete, Hillary definitely wants to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages!!
LPGA Golf Champion Sadena Parks Claims Her Number
LPGA Golf Champion, Spanaway native at UW alum, Sadena Parks, claims goal 5 – Gender Equality. This goal aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls – something incredibly important to Sadena. As golf tends to be catered more towards wealthier males, a few years ago, there were four African American women playing in the LPGA – which was a first! Sadena is the 5th African American woman to play in the LPGA and she wants the media to take notice and start acknowledging golf’s diversity so young girls can be inspired by who they see on the course. Sadena also hopes to help women that play in LPGA tournaments start gaining more sponsors, so much like their male counterparts, these women can also use their sponsorship and winnings as sustainable income.
Are You Ready to Claim Your Number and Help Spread the Word?
Once you review the UN Sustainable Development Goals, claim the number that speaks to your heart and think of a creative way to display it. Submit a photo or video of you claiming you number and a charity or volunteer effort you are aligned with to PR@ImpactRealKindness.com and you may be featured on their Facebook group, Real Kindness and maybe even win the weekly $500 prize!
