Monthly Archives: June 2017

CAMP VERDE Kendra Chadborn was diagnosed with a reading disability at a young age.

But her family, friends, teachers and volunteers helped her to work hard, overcome and persevere.

Indeed, Kendra graduated from Camp Verde High School in 2004 in the top of her class, and married Colby Laneher high school sweetheartthe very next day.

Uncertain of what career she wanted or which degree to pursue, Kendra enrolled in general education courses at Yavapai College while she raised her first-born son, Eli.

Over the next several years, Kendras YC instructors shined a light on avenues of interest she had never considered before.

My history professor, Dr. Amy Stein, is an amazing teacher who taught me conceptual thinking, Kendra said. Her teaching style gave me a passion for history, something I didnt have prior to taking her class. Im now debating on minoring in history.

Dr. Mike Davis, the Director of the Paralegal and Administration of Justice programs at YC, also guided Kendra into the world of advocacy.

While attending the Juvenile Court Institute internship program, I discovered that my passion for children and my love of law could be combined, she said. After observing Judge Anna Young in courttalking to her about how much she loves and enjoys her job, helping and being a part of the childrens livesI decided to become a volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children.

Kendras personal empowerment networkfrom her family and friends to Pastor Rick Carling and the congregation of the Camp Verde Community Church sharpened her determination to succeed.

By attending Yavapai College, I stayed near my support system, worked, furthered my education and completed my associates degree, Kendra said. Moving at my own pace allowed me to keep a high grade point average, continue as a volunteer within my community, and raise two kids.

Yavapai College lightened my financial burden and made what seemed impossible, possible.

Kendras high marks earned her an invitation to join Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year schools and academic programs.

She was named to the All-Arizona Academic Team, qualifying her for full tuition scholarships to continue her studies at any Arizona state university.

This blessing has given me the ability to obtain my bachelors degree in a field that I want to study, not limiting me to a degree in a field that I could afford to study, said Kendra.

In May, Kendra graduated YC with an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies.

She will go on to attend NAUs extended online campus to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities.

YC instructor Mike Davis said that Kendra embodies the essence of the mission of Yavapai College. Because of the flexibility that we offer, Kendra, a mother who works full-time, raises her kids and helps with elderly grandparents, is able to advance her education. And, oh by the way, she does it with nothing less than excellence. I hope she can inspire others.

The ability to attend Yavapai Collegeto interact with the students, instructors, and employeeshas given me that leg up, paving my path to success. Kendra said.

Her advice to others unsure about their future?

It is better to give than to receive; obey the golden rule; and be kind, rewind. That last one is a little outdated, but the rest is good advice to live by. Most importantly, believe in yourself and act now.

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Camp Verde mom goes to head of her class - Verde Independent

Oncology Nurse Advisor

Innovative Navigation Strategies: The Patient Care Connect Program Oncology Nurse Advisor The PCCP was grounded in the framework of personal empowerment (rather than disempowerment) and health promotion (rather than disease), concepts of proactive participation and problem solving. More than 10,000 geriatric cancer patients participated ...

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Innovative Navigation Strategies: The Patient Care Connect Program - Oncology Nurse Advisor

The Econet group has launched a youth empowerment programme designed to support and equip young people with different skills sets, among them entrepreneurship training and mentorship by highly qualified professionals.

The programme, called Elevate, was unveiled at a well-organized and well attended youth event at Harare Gardens on Saturday, and is open to all Econet customers between the ages of 16 and 34 years old.

Speaking at the launch event, Econet executive Lovemore Nyatsine said the programme was an initiative of the youth and by the youth as it was born out of intense interactions and feedback with young people across the country over the past year.

Today is the culmination of input from a sample of about 5.000 young people across the country over the past 12 months, said Nyatsine.

We wanted to find out what it is the youth are looking for, what it is really they want, he said, adding that the launch followed an exhaustive data analysis of the young peoples feedback which they used to come up with the programme.

The programme, according to Jonathan Neshena, a young product manager at Econet involved in its design, consists of four pillars of opportunity for youth engagement.

Neshena said there is the Mix n Match pillar, which allows young people take control of their communication needs by customizing their Voice, SMS and Data usage plans.

Then there is the entertainment-based Spin n Shuffle pillar, that creates a platform for aspiring young artists to bring out the musicians, dancers, vocalists, producers and comedians that are inside so many of them.

The Rise n Shine pillar, Neshena said, is for young people that literaly mean business. It offers opportunities to develop and nurture young entrepreneurs between the ages of 16 to 34, and includes funding opportunities for those who sign up to the programme.

Probably the most important pillar, Rise n Shine helps create employment by equipping young people with vocational training skills and entrepreneurial skills that enable them to start their own businesses and create employment.

Neshena said the Learn n Grow pillar would provide opportunities for youth career guidance and mentorship through boot camps and related interventions.

Mellany Msengezi-Mariri, General Manager for Marketing at Econet Wireless and a key part of the team that organized the event, said she was excited at the prospect of recognizing and rewarding young talent through Elevate, and called on young people to join the platform.

There are 6.5 million young in Zimbabwe between the ages of 15 and 34 years. Elevate is a great opportunity for them and we invite them to join Elevate by simply dialing *771#

In what will probably become a regular occurrence, part of the events highlights were inspirational talks of personal journeys of various business leaders to the young people, including an inspirational Business 101 address by Fayaz King, a telecom and ICT business expert and Econet Wireless Zimbabwes Chief Operating Officer.

Drawing his own inspiration from sport King passionately exhorted the young people to dream big, set audacious goals, believe in themselves, work hard (execute) to achieve their dreams, and to honour and acknowledge God in all that they do.

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Press Release: Econet launches youth empowerment programme - Technology Zimbabwe

COS COUNTY, N.H. After reviewing research about youth experience in the North Country, Cos County high school students have created the 2017 Empower Cos Youth public awareness campaign the third in a series to engage community members in conversations about values, activities and resources that create positive school and community experiences for Cos youth.

The campaign includes flyers for schools, a direct mail piece to be distributed throughout the region, reusable tote bags, and empowerment bracelets. The items tell personal stories of positive experiences in school and in community written by local youth. Some campaign materials have already debuted in schools, while the rest will be distributed in June.

In creating the campaign, students examined results from the Cos Youth Study, a longitudinal research project conducted by the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire. The study is funded by the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

The campaign will encourage youth, families, and civic and community leaders to read the research, discuss the challenges and strengths it reveals, and to consider innovative ways to engage and support youth in the region. The campaigns website, http://www.empowercoosyouth.com, includes recommendations for students, parents, and educators.

Empower Cos Youth creates opportunity for kids to express how they feel about their community and school. It is a great program that gives Cos youth a meaningful and powerful voice, said Emily McCusker of White Mountain Regional High School.

When kids do well, they have the opportunity to become the adults who will sustain and contribute to and improve those communities in the future, said Kirsten Scobie, director of Tillotson Funds at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. We hope that the data from this study will be used widely by youth, teachers, parents and communities in their efforts to help all of our kids thrive.

Now in its 10th year, the Cos Youth Study has gathered data on the attitudes, aspirations, and experiences of Cos youth exploring family, school, and community relationships, attachment to the Cos region, and educational and career goals. Among the Cos Youth Studys findings is that community connectedness correlates with a variety of positive outcomes for youth. Complete findings are available at http://carsey.unh.edu/policy/coos-youth-study.

While youth in Cos County are engaged in their communities, the research shows that despite such participation, many feel their voices are muted, and their ideas or perspectives are not heard by adults. Because the quality of young peoples interactions with adults is so critical to social and emotional development, this campaign seeks to help young peoples voices be heard. More than 30 students participating in the Youth Leadership Through Adventure program, a project of the North Country Health Consortium and Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Prevention Tools, were invited by the Charitable Foundation to consider the data as it related to their experiences.

This entire campaign from the imagery to the messaging to distribution of materials was developed by Cos students looking for new ways to engage in conversation with their parents, teachers, and community leaders, said Sasha Tracy, Empower Cos Youth project coordinator.

The Empower Cos Youth campaign and the Youth Leadership Through Adventure Program are also supported by the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

Learn more about the Empower Cos Youth campaign by visiting http://www.empowercoosyouth.com or join the conversation by posting photos of action your community is taking to empower youth on Instagram @empowercoosyouth.

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Cos County Students Create Campaign to Kickstart Community Conversations - Caledonian Record

Lisa Ann Published 9:18 a.m. CT June 14, 2017 | Updated 9:30 a.m. CT June 14, 2017

Billy Flynn's Facebook post on co-parenting went viral. Here's the back story. SHARI PUTERMAN

Lisa is a single mom who is opening up about love and divorce.(Photo: FILE PHOTO)

Editor's Note:

This is the first installment of a new column titled "Red Curtains." Here, this Lafayette mom will open up about something very personal - and relatable. After 17years of marriage, Lisa and her husband divorced - and it wasn't something she saw coming. Now, fiveyears later, she's ready to share her story - and help others along the way.

Adversity.

This word can either destroy or strengthen.

Up until now, Ive tried to be very private to my own fault but this was not always the case. Full disclosure of our guarded feelings will sometimes hurt if they are said out loud, but if we are being sincere, then why not just find a way to express whats really going on?

Some of us are reaching for something ... anything that will give us clarity of how a certain event or even a life circumstance can completely shatter what we have always known to be safe.

I am beginning this column with months and years of actually wanting to share this journey and honestly, being a little scared to open my heart for fear of judgement. I have considered every single person who would read this, and finally, I am ready to put it out there. I will be truthful and honest, and I promise toinspire others who have been in my shoes.

To my ex-husband: You betrayed me - and I forgive you

My own personal circumstances may be familiar to some, and to those who are going through what Ive been through, this may be a story that will help you from falling off the cliff and trust me it is with my own very reluctant humility that I have taken so long to share and finally acknowledge exactly what I have had to face -the challenges, the struggle its real. Its hard.

Ive had a really difficult time facing my past, but an even harder time facing my future. I tried to run from this fear but, in many different aspects of finding my own identity, I thought about where I was, where I am now and realized that if I can reach just one person who is about to fall, well, thats enough.

Let me begin by saying that sometimes we arent ready to see or know our truth. It takes time and thought, mixed with opening our hearts and minds to heal. I have been in a place where some have been before, some are in now, and some will never understand.

My journey began way before my actual divorce, and it was something I never saw coming. Life as we know it, can change within a minuteI truly believe that everyone goes through some sense of a life trial, not knowing exactly where they are going or how to get there. We can choose to give up, or we can choose to fight our way through it. I choose to fight.

This is not a choice..

We all have our stories and they are all different, but the one thing we all have in common is something so deep that we can begin to move forward or live in the past, with regret and always wondering ... just how in the hell did this become my life??????

This is not just about divorce, its about finding that part of ourselves that we all lose at some point #justbeingreal.

So ... buckle your seat belts.

Its about to get real. Ready????????

#Lets go.

Read or Share this story: http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/life/empowerment/2017/06/14/just-how-hell-did-become-my-life/101840572/

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'Just how in the hell did this become my life?' - The Daily Advertiser

Temple Beth Am, a Reform synagogue in Jupiter, recently hosted more than 160 Jewish teenagers in high school from all over the region for a weekend of learning, prayer and team-building.

The occasion was the Union of Reform Judaism's North American Federation of Temple Youth-Southern Tropical Region (NFTY-STR) Liz Leadership Training Institute (LLTI).

NFTY's Southern Tropical Region includes an area starting in the north in Central Florida all the way down to the Florida Keys.

Families from Temple Beth Am came together and volunteered to host these participants at their houses over the weekend, as well as transporting them to the temple for various programs.

"The moments these participants shared throughout the weekend will not only guide them in the future, but have given them a support system made of new friends and fond memories," said Amanda Feld, Temple Beth Am's director of youth engagement. "It was a delight to host this annual event and work with the region to make the LLTI a success."

Members of Temple Beth Am's high school youth group (JAMTY) really enjoyed attending and hosting the institute.

"LLTI is the foundation for a Jewish youth group board," said Becca Steidle, 14, of Jupiter, who will be entering ninth grade at Jupiter High School in the fall. "It is incredible how everyone is connected and we are able to learn everything we may need in one weekend.

"One main point they make is that every youth group board is connected."

According to the Union for Reform Judaism's NFTY-STR website, "NFTY is a movement that builds strong, welcoming, inspired communities through teen-powered engagement. Together, we pursue tikkun olam [repairing the world], personal growth, youth empowerment and deep connections all rooted in Reform Judaism."

The Liz Leadership Training Institute creates an opportunity for youth leaders to provide useful tools and words of wisdom for the new and upcoming year of NFTY-STR leaders.

Through learning, prayer, teaching and excitement, the LLTI prepares teens to actively perform their youth group board positions successfully.

The networks of different positions grouped together at the LLTI include President, Programming Vice President, Social Action VP, Religious and Cultural VP, Communication VP, Membership VP, Song Leading Network and Leadership 101 (everything teens need to know from Group Leading to the NFTY cheer).

The weekend kicked off with a meaningful Friday night Shabbat [Jewish Sabbath] service. All 160 teens joined the Temple Beth Am congregation in song and prayer led by Rabbi Alon Levkovitz, Rabbinic Intern Brett Tancer and Regional Song Leader Rachel Wolman.

As the sun set, JAMTY welcomed Teens work together at Reform youth conference in Jupiter by lighting the candles in front of the 300+ people in attendance.

Throughout the weekend, teen leaders dispersed to different network groups and practiced useful tools and skills to take back to their youth groups and congregations.

They also participated in interactive teen-led programs that focused on leadership qualities for both youth group responsibilities and everyday life.

The LLTI was carefully planned and organized by Julie Marsh, NFTY-STR's regional director; Feld; and the regional teen board members.

For more information about Temple Beth Am, or its high school youth group, visit http://www.templebetham.com, email tba@templebetham.com or call 561-747-1109.

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Teens work together at Reform youth conference in Jupiter - Sun Sentinel