Brooke Leifer "Always remember, Impossible means I’m Possible."
We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes. (Fred Rogers.)
Brooke Leifer is an inspiring young woman. Brooke was nominated as a Healthy Kids Hero by Robin Organ, Executive Director of Green Schools. “Brooke has been singing her little heart out at schools and events across the country to raise awareness of green schools everywhere ...she would surely touch people’s hearts to protect children and our planet.”
Brooke Leifer is a student at Quatlers Middle School in Mansfield, MA. She is an outgoing, passionate, inspiring sixth grader who cares about a lot of things. She plays piano, sings, acts, dances, and is an honor student. She attended Mansfield’s Jordan/Jackson Elementary School where her 4th grade teacher, Kimberly Goff, was an inspirational influence.
“Brooke is an eager learner and a natural performer because she loves the things she performs about,” says Mrs. Goff, who had been a “teacher ranger” one summer at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. When she asked Brooke’s fourth grade class to research a National Park and create a virtual tour, Brooke’s poster and presentation were “exceptional.” “Brooke draws people to her with her kindness, her confidence, and her passion for the earth.”
Even little kids can spread the word.
Brooke advocates for the environment in a unique way -- through music. She knows that a lot of people love music and music is easy to share. She is dedicated to using music to inspire people “to make the world a better place, a special place, a healthy place, to stop pollution,” she says. “Even little kids can spread the word.“
In early 2015, Brooke recorded and made a music video of “One Earth,” an original song to raise awareness about the earth’s problems and the ways everyone can help. She has performed her song live to large audiences at conferences, schools, and other events and in classrooms, at special events, and online sharing her message far and wide.
ONE EARTH, Lyrics by Brooke A. Leifer and Scott P. Leifer, Music by Brooke A. Leifer and Jeffrey Pongonis (Full lyrics at end.*)
This is our homeThis is our planetSo I can't understand itI see litter on the groundToo much pollutionHarming naturePlants and animals in dangerLet’s make a change right nowCause we've got one earthWe've got to recognizeThis is our worldIt gives food, water, and lifeWe should all learnHow to help it grow and thriveWe've got one earthAnd one chance to get it right ...
In March 2015 she performed “One Earth,” live at the Green Schools National Conference in Virginia Beach. She performed at the 2015 Long Island Food Conference and at the annual Massachusetts Green Schools Summit at Boston University. The Green Schools Summit connects stakeholders from government, education, business, community, nonprofit organizations, and leaders of all ages interested in green schools and communities.
In April 2015 the Massachusetts House of Representatives awarded Brooke Leifer the "Making a Green Difference" award for her song “One Earth” and doing her part to make our world a better place. (By the way, in July 2015 she sang the National Anthem at a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.) In August she performed for a large crowd at GreenFest on Boston’s City Hall Plaza. See more about Brooke on her website and Facebook page.
An Early Start
In an email her father Scott writes, “Brooke has always shown a great love for all things related to science and nature.” Brooke attributes her love for the environment to gardening with her grandparents at an early age, especially her grandfather, George H. Reed Jr., who was Senior Environmental Health Specialist at UMass Amherst. (Photo: Michael Carroll from Summer Sky Digital Media)
Important Allies
Brooke has found important allies who share her values and goals. Bill Orr, Executive Director of the Collaborative for High Performing Schools (CHPS), recognized Brooke’s passion for “green schools” and invited her to narrate the CHPS Verified School Tour video. The video illustrates many sustainable features and the remarkable conservation achievements of the Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School. As Brooke points out in the video, it shows what others can do to make their school “a school to be proud of.” Brooke’s song “One Earth” is the sound track.
The project was a collaboration of the NE-CHPS [Collaborative for High Performing Schools], NEEP [Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships], and Green Schools Society, an initiative of Green Schools.
Like other Healthy Kids Heroes, Brooke’s story can inspire others to make schools the safe and healthy place that all students deserve and the safe havens they are supposed to be.
For more school activities see Bring the Lessons of 1937 to Your School.
Brooke defines a hero as someone “who really cares about someone or something and willing to sacrifice themselves for them. To do the best they can, believe they can accomplish the goal, to inspire others. Always remember, impossible means I’m Possible.”
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* ONE EARTH
Lyrics by Brooke A. Leifer and Scott P. Leifer
Music by Brooke A. Leifer and Jeffrey Pongonis
This is our homeThis is our planetSo I can't understand itI see litter on the groundToo much pollutionHarming naturePlants and animals in dangerLet’s make a change right nowCause we've got one earthWe've got to recognizeThis is our worldIt gives food, water, and lifeWe should all learnHow to help it grow and thriveWe've got one earthAnd one chance to get it rightWe can reuseWe can recycleTo preserve all that’s vitalLights out when you leave a roomGo play outsideStop watching TVStart a garden plant a treeBe “green” in all you doCause we've got one earthWe've got to recognizeThis is our worldIt gives food, water, and lifeWe should all learnHow to help it grow and thriveWe've got one earthAnd one chance to get it rightLet’s work to sustainNature’s precious giftsAnd the world will beA better place to liveProtect the climateLive in a healthy waySo many simple thingsWe can do todayThis is our homeThis is our planetWe can’t take it for grantedI want it to always be aroundCause we've got one earthWe've got to recognizeThis is our worldIt gives food, water, and lifeWe should all learnHow to help it grow and thriveWe've got one earthAnd one chance to get it rightRepeat Chorus
