Middletown Youth Services Bureau

The New Great Depression - Young People and Employment

2012-01-10T16:46:00.000-05:00

Today in the Capital, the CT Commission on Children held a forum on the current youth employment crisis that we're facing both nationally and state-wide. Unfortunately, I made it up there late and by the time I got there the room was packed beyond capacity (which in some ways is a good problem to have since this needs to be an all hands on deck initiative) so I did not stay for very long. Fortunately, CT-N was taping the event and it's already available on-line (see above). Additionally, the Commission on Children made the following documents available here: http://www.cga.ct.gov/coc/youth_employment.htm.

I'll try to debrief pieces of this on here sometime in the near future but wanted to get this information out to you all as soon as possible.

Asset Message of the Week

2012-01-06T19:35:00.001-05:00

Returning back to work this week after a restful holiday vacation I started to think about connecting this week’s message to New Year’s Eve. The easiest way to do that is around asking folks to spend some time making a resolution that included supporting young people, possibly even making a promise (alla www.assetpromise.org – shameless self promotion, I know!). However, I remembered that was exactly what we did last year and I really want to try not to repeat ourselves just yet.

So thinking a little deeper about it, I asked the question, what if we changed it from asking people to create resolutions supporting young people to asking people to support the resolutions of young people. Some might be very specific like “get better grades” (Asset #21 Achievement Motivation), “get involved in xxxx club/sport/group” (#17 Creative Activities, #18 Youth Programs), or “make better friends” (#15 Positive Peer Influence) or they might be more general like “make 2012 a better year than 2011” (#40 Positive View of Personal Future). Either way, many young people will take the new year as an opportunity to set goals for themselves.

Regardless of what that goal might be they’ll need help to achieve it. It might be that they need help brainstorming and problem solving how they go about it or it could be they need some roll-up-your-sleeves-help. Encouragement and cheerleading are other key factors along the way. However, the all important first step is simply asking a young person what their resolution is in the first place.

So as the first week of the new year nears conclusion, let us just remind you that so many young people still have these wonderfully optimistic goals of how their lives could be better in 2012 and that you can play a huge role in helping them realize it.

Happy New Year! and thanks again for all you do to support our youth.

Best wishes,

Justin

White Out Night 2011

2011-12-28T16:05:00.001-05:00

White Out Night 2011, a set on Flickr.

If you see a group of people wandering around Main Street tonight, it most likely will be the Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Council and students from MHS' Dragons In Action and WWMS' Rams In Action. We may even be joined by some friends from Middnight on Main, since we're asking for people to have a safe New Year and they're providing a great way to have one. Wave, smile, or lend us a friendly honk if you see us.

Above are some pictures of Dragons In Action preparing for the event.

DIA YLS Wrap Party

2011-12-28T15:21:00.001-05:00

DIA YLS Wrap Party, a set on Flickr.

Members of our Dragons In Action group met with the Middlesex United Way's Young Leaders Society and Macdonough Elementary staff to help wrap presents for the YLS' first ever toy drive. Over 170 toys were donated and wrapped and sent out throughout the City to three local schools and to Parks and Rec.

Asset Message of the Week - "The Ask"

2011-12-23T18:16:00.000-05:00

Some of you know that I’m involved with a “Young Leaders” group based out of the Middlesex United Way. As we were planning a social event for December someone offered the idea of tying it to a toy drive. Since the group has only been around for a handful of months we really tempered our expectations. As it turned out, we shouldn’t have. The event was able to collect around 170 toys and helped a number of local toy distribution efforts achieve their goals while even getting through their waitlists too. What we found is that each person in the group went to their jobs and let others know they were looking for toys and in they came. One member from Wesleyan put together a flyer connected with a day of athletic events on campus and brought in 60 toys just through the university staff and students. Another who works in Bethel, CT, a good 45 minutes away from our community, sent out an email and the next day found toys on her desk when she came into work.

To me, the take away from this is around “the ask”. So much good can be done but sometimes we’re afraid to ask or think that it may be too much work or more often than not we assume people will just say no.

This doesn’t just go for toy drives or even asking adults to participate in something…it also is connected to the way we utilize our young people in a community. Sometimes we take for granted their desire to help others or to be involved, whether it’s something random around the house or in the community. In the six years in this job, I’m continually surprised by how willing our teens are to get involved. Regardless of background or appearance they say yes; some of the kids who I thought were the least likely to participate are the ones that are the most surprised and eager when asked. Even with this toy drive, we held a wrapping party and asked members of our youth leadership group to participate and sure enough we had 10 students there that day with members of the Young Leaders and Macdonough staff. Some of the teens I had expected to be there, but several others I did not and they all had a blast.

With the craziness of the holidays staring us in the face, take a step back and see if you can identify one or two things to include a young person. It might be baking, it might be wrapping, it might be watching the game with you. But the key is “the ask” because we will never know what might happen unless we try.

Have a happy, healthy, and safe holiday weekend.

Thanks for all you do.

Asset Message of the Week - Survey Reflections

2011-12-16T18:57:00.000-05:00

Last week, we went through the process of resurveying Middletown youth using the Search Institute’s Profiles of Student Life survey. The administration of the survey which reached out to approximately 2,200 students in grades 7-12 (including Adult Education) went extremely smoothly and a lot of that is due to the work of school system staff and administration. Additionally, feedback we’ve received has been really strong around how seriously the students took filling out the survey. The previous two week’s really have been a whirlwind (see our blog post on all the preparation here: http://middletownyouthservices.blogspot.com/2011/12/week-of-survey-preperation.html) and we really appreciate all the partnerships needed to pull off all this work.

Now that the smoke has cleared, we really have the opportunity to reflect on how a survey of this nature generates such positive outcomes in our community. This spring will mark the five year anniversary of the release of our initial survey and of the all the work that has gone into building a universal language community-wide around supporting our youth. The data released in 2006 was such an amazing springboard for conversations that took place in all parts of Middletown, from City Hall to schools’ staff meeting and PTAs, from afterschool programs to churches to civic organizations so many people were able to gather together around this framework and what our kids’ were saying about growing up in Middletown. With all the great work that has come from the survey I thought it would be a nice opportunity to briefly celebrate some of the initial key outcomes.

The first is around the use of students in sharing the results in the community. Dr. David Blumenkrantz who has worked with the YSB as a key advisor in this initiative insisted that when the results were released, that they be shown to a group of students even before key stakeholders like the Mayor or Superintendent of Schools got a chance to see it. Furthermore, no one outside of the students would get to see it until the big launch where the students themselves would announce the results along with a national facilitator from the Search Institute. Apparently, we were on of the first communities if not the first in this facilitator’s 30+ year career in this work, to co-present along with teens. What this also did, was set a critical notion that has carried with us throughout the first five years, and that is that teens need to be the driving force behind these discussions. By empowering the students to “own” their data, they were the ones who set the tone for any discussion that was to follow; their priorities would become our priorities.

One of the ways we’ve helped students promote their priorities was through a poster series aimed at increasing the percentage of an individual asset. A total of 30 students had a chance to create an individualized poster which were disseminated throughout the community. The posters can be seen here: http://www.assetpromise.org/uploads/pdf/posters/AssetsPosters_AllSchools.pdf

The final outcome that I wanted to note came directly from a conversation which with then-Mayor Sebastian Giuliano. As highlighted in many of the above posters, one of the most glaring statistics from 2006 was that only 19% of our kids felt valued by the community. As we discussed this figure and asked the questioned how do we improve on it, one of the answers became “we involve them in our community’s decision making process”; and from there the City’s Youth in Government program was born. It became a great example of the intentional and purposeful involvement of teens and of the simplicity of asset building (we’re holding these meetings anyway, why not involve them). Today the program has expanded to include 12 boards/commissions within the city and involves close to 20 young people each year.

In the next week, we’ll be shipping off this latest batch of surveys to be tabulated by the folks at the Search Institute and will be eagerly awaiting the results. A lot can happen in five years and this is a great opportunity for us to revisit what and how we’re doing as a community in supporting our youth. It’s possible some assets will increase while some might need additional improvements but the importance in data like this goes beyond the numbers because it gets us talking about the “whys” and the “hows” that create real community change. I know these next several months will fly by but as the spring approaches, I hope that you will all find the time to take part in the community discussions that will follow the release of the results and in continuing your commitment to support Middletown youth.

Thanks for all you do and have a great weekend.

Black, White, and Grey???

2011-12-07T18:11:00.001-05:00

This issue is really interesting to me. I feel like it really speaks to issues around accountability, discretion, and zero tolerance. I encourage you to watch the video above, but here are the basics:

via ESPN.COM: BOSTON -- The 18-year-old senior was racing for a score as time wound down in the game against Blue Hills. Video shows Owens briefly raising his left arm and then lowering it as he approaches the end zone. The penalty nullified the touchdown, and Cathedral lost the game 16-14.

So its easy to understand the "excessive celebration" rule and how and why we would come to play in sports (especially high school atheltics - where sportsmanship can lead to life long lessons). But put into practice at that moment, it just feels wrong. Most can agree there is a difference between that and what Bills wideout Stevie Johnson did a few weeks back when he scored a touchdown the pretended to shoot himself in the leg (ala Plaxico Buress) and then mocked the Jet's own TD celebration. One seemed to be heat of the moment and reactionary while the other seemed to be calculated and choreographed. The rule via zero tolerance applies to both, but feels different when we allow each to be taken for its own merits.

I posted the video on twitter and had a quick back and forth with another follower and we both basically agreed that the rule makes sense but the application was off. But if you sit and think about it, the rule is the rule and was it really mis-applied? Many could argue yes, many no. For me, its really difficult to assess this situation. I enjoy taking real life examples and using them as teachable moments for the kids we work with but I struggle to really figure out what the take away is on this one? Is it that accountability is key and the moment you cross a line, whether its by an inch or by leaps and bounds, you have to be ready to accept the consquences. Or is the notion that there is a difference between intention and outcome and that rules have consequences that may miss the mark if we aren't using discretion and that judgement needs to be situational as much as it needs to be consistent (which is somewhat hypocritical I know).

Do our thoughts on this issue change if this the NFL as opposed to a high school game or that is was the championship or that it was in the forth quarter during the last drive? In the words of a tv commercial from my youth "I don't know, I'm asking". But I am very interested to put this in front of kids to get their opinion. At the very least it will lend itself to an interesting conversation.

A Week of Survey Preperation

2011-12-05T16:20:00.001-05:00

Since I've been a little MIA here for the past couple weeks that's usually a good sign that something up (and yes there is). Tomorrow at Middletown High School and throughout the week at Woodrow Wilson Middle School student will be engaging in the Search Institute's Profiles of Student Life which tracks the attitudes and behaviors of a community's teenagers. This is the first time we've resurveyed since 2006 and I can't tell you how excited I am to see what we've accomplished over the last five years. Since this survey is once again the largest survey ever conducted of Middletown kids both in size (160 questions) and scope (all public school kids in Grades 7-12) a lot of work has gone into making sure everything is prepared correctly and that students.

Last week we presented the Developmental Assets framework to the general community at the Middletown Schools Association monthly meeting as well as special presentation to Mayor Drew and members of the Common Council and Board of Education.

Leah Maille spent time in the WWMS cafeteria asking students to make pledges to take the survey seriously and answer questions honestly. A copy of the pledge is below.

Leah and I then teamed up with Dragons In Action member Leon Chandler to make our first PSA ever. Check it out below.

And between that all we prepared packets so that over 2,000 students have the opportunity to have their voices heard and let us know how we're doing as a community to ensure that all kids will grow up to be healthy and successful. Many thanks to Youth Services Bureau Advisory Board member Vinnie Senatore for volunteering with all us last week and intern Miles Nasta (who broke away from the Youth Yellow Pages project) to help make sure we got the survey items out on time.

Nice Read on Juvenile Justice Reformist

2011-11-22T18:54:00.001-05:00

A little over a year ago I posted some information from a fantastic workshop I attended centered around juvenile justice reform. It was facilitated by two sourthern judges from Alabama and Georgia who have done tremendous things around they ways police, schools, and juvenile courts all do their jobs and how they work together. Their progress came from a move away from the "zero tolerance" policies that have a habit of sending more kids to court that there probably should be and more towards graduated responses that more appropriately deal with normative teen behavior in a way that's both developmentally appropriate and situationally based as opposed to one-size-fits-all.

I bring this back up because there was a really nice write up on Judge Teske and his successes in the Washington Post not to long ago. Its a nice read on why this work is so important and some of the struggles associate with making these kinds of reforms. Hope you enjoy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/judge-steve-teske-seeks-to-keep-kids-with-minor-problems-out-of-court/2011/09/21/gIQA1y8ZsL_story.html

We've done some work directly with them since that intial workshop and look forward to continue to partner with them through the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance as one of the four communities in the state looking to be the early adopters to their work. As Judge Teske has said in the past, court and its resources should be squarely focused on dealing with the "kids who scare us not the ones who annoy us." Additionally, all kids should be allowed to make mistakes without the intervention of police is a really important notion to me. This does not equate to a lack of being held accountable but as a society we've criminalized a lot of things for today's juveniles while past generations were afforded a different set of consequences. From the article above:

Both men (Judge Huf and Judge Teske) admit to their own teenage trouble.

Teske recalls pulling a prank at age 13 that set off his school’s fire alarm. He recalls the mass havoc that ensued. The threat of arrest. The terror he felt.

His principal prevailed in insisting the school system would mete out the punishment. “Would I even be a judge today had I gone to jail that day?” he asks.

To me, that is a really important question. I think with these types of reforms, right or wrong, agree or disagree, we as a community really need to ask ourselves some important questions around the systems we've created to "protect" our youth and evaluate if our goals are being met with the outcomes we've intended.

We're hopeful to faciliate some conversations during the begining of the new year around these types of questions on juvenile justice and later in the spring around some even larger questions based on our new developmental assets data which will be recently released around that time. I really hope you will join us in these conversations as we make Middletown an even better place for kids to grow up.

Join Us!

2011-11-22T18:46:00.001-05:00

At the next Middletown Schools Association meeting as we host a conversation on developental assets...

Monday, November 28, 2011
6:30pm
Middletown Youth Services Bureau
372 Hunting Hill Ave

Asset Message of the Week

2011-11-22T18:27:00.001-05:00

Hi folks,

When I was researching some topics to write about for this week’s Developmental Asset message of the week, I came across a very interesting program called Bank It. Given that “Black Friday” and the idea of “spending” is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the Thanksgiving weekend holiday this appears to be pretty timely.

Bank It is a collective program of Capitol One and the Search Institute (the founder of Developmental Assets) which works to improve financial literacy of teens and parents using a strengths based approach. The program “affirms that families who talk about financial challenges, values and choices together are stronger and make better choices”.

Some interesting facts that are posted on the site regarding financial literacy and families included:

• The average financial literacy score for high school students is an F
• 24% percent of teens say their parents discuss money management with them
• 75% of adults say it's important for adults to give financial guidance to youth but only 36% do it.

The Bank It site is separated into 3 targeted sections focusing on teens, parents, and workshop leaders. Each of the three sections focuses on their “12 money topics” and aims to teach teens and parents how to make positive money choices; become more comfortable with talking about and managing money; discover how to avoid common money traps; identify steps needed to reach financial goals and find resources to help them do it…..all while embracing the 40 Developmental Assets! If you are a youth worker/educator, you can also find a FREE downloadable curriculum.

You can find Bank It by going to http://www.bankit.com/. Enjoy.

For more information on Developmental Assets please visit http://www.search-institute.org/ and don’t forget go to http://www.assetpromise.org/ and make a promise to support Middletown youth.

Have a great Thanksgiving holiday. I am absolutely thankful to be in the position to give back to this community which has given me so much growing up and to have the support of wonderful people like you.

Best wishes,
Justin

Youth in Government Program

2011-11-08T12:49:00.001-05:00

Last night the Mayor and the Common Council swore in a group of Middletown teens to a number of boards and commissions in our community. This marks the fourth year that the City's Youth In Government program has empowered young people to be part of the larger decision making process in Middletown. The program was born out of the developmental assets initiative and more directly from the statistic that only 19% of our youth feel valued by the community. From what we know we are one of a very few programs like this in the state.

Prior to their appointments each student went through an orientation that included expectations, the role of a student representative, information on Roberts Rules of Order, and a discussion on professionalism (including attendance, presentation, communication, and preperation). What we may have forgotten was to let them know that at the end of their appointment oath they can say "I do" (luckily they were bailed out by Mayor Giuliano).

Student Leader of the Year Speech

2011-11-02T16:16:00.000-04:00

Middletown Youth Services volunteer and Middletown High Senior Leon Chandler was presented the Connecticut Youth Services Association "Student Leader of the Year" award at their annual conference held at the Aqua Turf on October 7, 2011. Here is his introduction speech and part (apparently we ran out of space on our memory card half way through) of Leon's acceptance speech. We've included the text of his entire speech below because even what we did catch on video isn't easy to hear.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2009, I WAS TWO YEARS INTO HIGH SCHOOL BUT DID NOT HAVE A SINGLE CREDIT TO MY NAME AND WAS GETTING READY TO START THE YEAR AS A FRESHMAN FOR THE THIRD TIME. I WAS SPENDING MY TIME GETTING INTO FIGHTS WITH OTHER KIDS AND DOING OTHER THINGS I KNOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO, .

WHICH INCLUDED BEING ARRESTED. THERE WAS A LOT OF SADDNESS AND ANGER BOTTLED UP IN ME AND AS I COMPARED MYSELF TO OTHER KIDS AND WHAT THEY HAD AND I DIDN'T, I USED THAT FRUSTRATION ON MY TEACHERS OR ANY OTHER ADULT WHO I CAME IN CONTACT WITH. I HAD NO GOALS OR EXPECTATIONS FOR MYSELF AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY I TREATED OTHERS, I THINK THEY THOUGHT THE SAME ABOUT ME AS WELL.

AND WITH THAT SAID, GETTING ARREST WAS THE BEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO ME. I KNOW MANY OF YOU OUT THERE ARE A PART OF JUVENILE REVIEW BOARDS, AND BECAUSE THIS WAS MY FIRST OFFENSE I WAS SENT TO THE ONE IN MIDDLETOWN. THE PAPER I HAD TO WRITE AS PART OF MY LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM I WAS REFERED TO, HELPED ME FIGURE OUT WHAT MY GOAL WAS AND HELPED ME GAIN A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK ON LIFE. BUT WHAT REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR ME WAS WHEN THEY STARTED TO ASK ME TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS WITH THEM.
RIGHT BEFORE MY FIRST PRESENTATION WHICH WAS WITH A GROUP OF TEACHERS DURING A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY I WAS REALLY NERVOUS. I WAS ASKED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT BEING (OR NOT BEING) IN HIGH SCHOOL WAS LIKE FOR ME WHILE MR. CARBONELLA WAS PRESENTING ON THE 40 DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS. I WAS NERVOUS BECAUSE I REALLY THOUGHT NO ONE WOULD SEE ANY VALUE IN WHAT I HAD TO SAY AND THAT THE TEACHERS WOULD JUST STARE AT ME LOOKING BORED LIKE I USED TO DO TO THEM ALL THE TIME. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED AND AS A RESULT I FINALLY SAW SOMETHING IN MYSELF THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE (AND I EVEN MADE TWO PEOPLE CRY).

I'VE NOW PRESENTED IN FRONT OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, AND SAT AS A PANELIST ON THE STAGE OF THE BUSHNELL NEXT TO MEMBERS OF THE U.S .HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. I'VE ALSO BEEN A MENTOR AT MY OLD MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND ON ADVISORY BOARDS FOR MY YSB AND FOR REPRESENATIVE JOHN LARSON. AND IF ALL GOES THE WAY IT SHOULD, THIS SPRING I WILL HAVE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND HOPEFULLY BE ENROLLED IN A COLLEGE FOR NEXT FALL.

BUT IMAGINE IF I DIDN'T GET ARRESTED.
WHERE WOULD I BE?

WHO WOULD I BE?

WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IN ME, WHEN I DIDN'T BELIEVE IN MYSELF?

PLENTY OF PEOPLE HAD ALWAYS TOLD ME WHAT TO DO, BUT WHO WOULD HAVE SHOWED ME? AND THERE'S A REAL IMPORTANCE IN THAT. BECAUSE KIDS LIKE ME OBVIOUSLY WANT TO SUCCEED BUT WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW HOW. AND EVERY DAY PEOPLE EITHER BURY US OR BUILD US UP BASED ON THEIR EXPECTIONS. THESE ARE THE SAME EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU GREET KIDS WITH EVERY DAY AND REINFORECE THAT YOU THINK HIGHLY OF US OR YOU DON'T.

TWO YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN MYSELF UP ON THIS STAGE AND NOT THAT I COULD EVER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, BUT THAT I WAS NOT EVEN CAPABLE OF DOING IT IN THIS FIRST PLACE. BUT BECAUSE OF THE YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU I MET PEOPLE WHO SAW SOMETHING IN ME THAT I COULDN'T SEE IN MYSELF. BUT WHY SHOULD WE WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO HIT ROCK BOTTOM BEFORE WE REALIZE THEY NEED HELP. HOW MANY KIDS LIKE ME FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS BECAUSE THERE'S NO STABLE FOUNDATION AT HOME AND NO ONE ELSE REALIZES HOW IMPORTANT JUST ONE CARING ADULT CAN BE IN OUR LIVES. AND THAT ONE ADULT CAN CHANGE HOW WE VIEW OURSELVES AND GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THAT NEW VISION OF OURSELVES INTO ACTION. SO THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE SOME KID THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS GIVEN UP TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE ABOUT TO GIVE UP ON THEMSELVES, I WANT YOU TO ENVISION THEM UP HERE ON THE STAGE AND HELP THEM BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES IN A WAY THAT I'VE LEARNED TO BELIEVE IN ME.

Halloween Party at I Have a Friend Youth Center

2011-11-02T15:56:00.002-04:00

Here are some pictures from Dragons In Action's 4th annual "Haunted Hallway" Halloween Party at the I Have a Friend Youth Center.

"You Might Want to Change the Channel"

2011-10-21T16:45:00.000-04:00

Typically, I do not informally "blog" on this site but something from last night is still bugging me a little. After a long day that started early and ended late I went with my girlfriend to grab a bite to eat at a resteraunt downtown. As we sat down I just happened to be sandwhiched by a friend of mine from college at one table and on the other side were two young boys (with their mom of course) who I know from volunteering at Macdonough School. Well, halfway through the meal we noticed that one of the boys was glued to the tv screen watching footage on one of the 24 hour news channels of what appeared to be a lifeless and bloodied Moammar Gadhafi. I was able to find a waitress pretty quickly and we got the channel turned to the (unfortunately Yankee-less) world series and life went on. But it did make me question the need to run footage like that especially given the time of the evening (approximating 8PM). Understanding the significance of the event that just took place, what is the value versus the impact it could have on the countless number of young children who either knowingly or unknowingly were subjected to these pretty gruesome images. Is that even a consideration as a show like this and other news shows are being produced? When we talk about being an asset builder and particuarly an intentional one, it is about being aware of your surroundings and trying to always model the right behavior. That also continue on to mean modeling the right behavior even if you might not think or know a young person is around. Could it have been as simple as someone asking for the channel to be changed just because a child might walk in and see it let alone already be staring at it?

It's really import for communities to do really great and really big things for young people. Funding programs, building schools and the like are huge cornerstones to a community's valuation of children. But we shouldn't discount the small everyday ways we can make a difference. Often in our presentations we talk about the importance of just saying "hi" to a teen if you see them on the street and how just that simple recognition of them can really make an impact. Apparently changing the channel can too...

This weekend, spend some time be extra mindful of your behavior and surroundings. Try to catching things you are doing or that are happening around you and challenge yourself to be extra vigiliant at being a role model. Maybe you'll catch something, maybe you wont, but you can say you spent the weekend being an asset builder and to me that means a lot.

Thanks for all you do and have a great weekend.

Asset Message of the Week - Reading for Pleasure

2011-10-21T16:44:00.002-04:00

Here's Melissa's Asset Message of the Week regarding "Teen Read Week" that she sent via email on Tues. Since the week is basically over, let's just say every week should be "Teen Read Week" right? ;)

As I was trying to decide what to focus on for this week's Developmental Asset Message, an email came through from Ann Buchanan, the wonderful Media Specialist at Middletown High School. The email introduced Teen Read Week, which sounded interesting and I decided to look into it further. Annually, the Young Adult Library Services Association celebrates Teen Read Week during the third week of October. This is a time for parents, educators, librarians, and other caring adults to encourage the youth in their lives to read for fun. As we know from the Developmental Asset survey that was administered in 2006, only 21% of our teens in grades 7-12 stated that they read for pleasure. It is up to us as a community to help improve that statistic. Reading can be fun, relaxing, free and give our kids a safe activity to take part in. Reading for fun can also translate into better performance at school.

Some suggestions for encouraging reading with teens are:

• Visit the public or school library with a teen to attend a program or to check out books.

• Set aside time each night for your family to read.

• Give books or magazine subscriptions to your teen.

• Share your favorite book with a teen.

• Model a love for reading to the teens in your life.

To find out other ways that you can celebrate Teen Read Week in Middletown and also help instill a life long love for reading and learning in youth visit:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teenreading/trw/trw2011/home.cfm

2011-10-19T16:38:00.001-04:00

The Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Council is offering mini-grants for prevention and/or youth development programs and events. Each grant may fund an organization up to $1,000 for their efforts to help young people stay away from risky behaviors such as drugs or alcohol. The application can be found on our website and the deadline is November 18th at 4:30pm. If you have any questions please feel free to contact co-chairs Justin Carbonella (860-854-6030 / carbonellaj@mpsct.org) or Felicia Goodwine-Vaughters (860-852-1080 / fvaught@rushford.org).

If anyone is interested in joining the group the next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 29th at 3pm at the Middletown Youth Services offices located on 372 Hunting Hill Ave.

Youth In Government Program Seeking Applications

2011-10-11T18:47:00.001-04:00

The Middletown Youth Services Bureau is currently recruiting for the 2011-2012 City of Middletown Youth in Government program. This is a program which gives students the opportunity to sit on various boards and commissions throughout the city (such as the Board of Health and Parks and Recreation Commission). Although these are non-voting seats, the students are encouraged to actively participate in the decision making process and have their voices heard. The students chosen to participate in this program will be sworn in by the Mayor at the November Common Council meeting. We are hoping to have representatives from all our Middletown high schools participate in Youth in Government this year.

On our website you will find a copy of the application (in both word and pdf form), a description of the program, as well information on the participating boards and commissions). Please share these documents with any students who you think are interested in politics and/or making a difference in their community. Please also inform students that the deadline for applications is Friday October 21, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. We will also drop off a packet of information to each high school.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Melissa Robinson or Justin Carbonella at (860) 854-6030 or email Melissa at robinsonm@mpsct.org.

This is an empowering opportunity for students to have their voices heard in the community!!!

Asset Message of the Week

2011-10-05T13:01:00.002-04:00

I am dedicating this week's asset message to an amazing young man that I met just over 2 years ago. At the time he was struggling both in and out of school and was headed down a dangerous path. However, over the last few years he has made a commitment to make changes in his life and as a result has made significant growth. Leon has gone from having the potential to be a "statistic" to being a leader amongst his peers. Like most of us, he still needs support in his life and still struggles at times, but I admire the young man that he has become and the barriers he has and continues to cross in his long journey towards success. The Leon I met two years ago was failing every class and missing almost 50% of the school year but the Leon I know now is earning credits and moving closer towards graduation. The Leon I met two years ago would have laughed at me if I asked him to talk in front of an audience of adults or volunteer in his community but the Leon I know today has spoken in front of hundreds of people and has moved people to tears.

His relationship with us took time to develop. When we first met, one of the first things he said to me was “I appreciate you trying to help me but I’ve heard this all 100 times and honestly no one has really helped”. To Leon at the time, there was no value in the adults in the world as he believed they saw no value in him. Like many young people who come from challenging situations his anger was usually directed at anyone and everyone around him. He was guarded and rude and the easiest things to see was his constant scowl and baggy/sagging pants. Over time, we found him to be incredibly articulate, thoughtful, and self-aware; a young man who wanted better for himself but had no idea how to find success within his daily life. As his strengths and talents started to lead the way, many of his problems and deficiencies were corrected on their own. He began to attend school more regularly, earning credits and repairing so many relationships with school staff who once saw him as a nuisance and now see him as an asset.

Well, I am proud to say that this Friday, Leon will be receiving the "Youth Leader of the Year" award at the Connecticut Youth Services Association's Annual Conference. This is the second year in a row that a Middletown teen is receiving this award, which is an amazing accomplishment.

Below is an excerpt of the nomination letter for Leon which was written by the Middletown YSB's director, Justin Carbonella:

"Leon’s defining moment came in June of 2011 when as part of Rep. John Larson’s Congressional Youth Cabinet he was asked to speak at an event held at the Bushnell celebrating the 200th birthday of Harriet Beecher Stowe. As a member of one of three panels that day, he sat alongside many state leaders, including school superintendents, experts on social justice issues and more than ten members of the Congressional Black Caucus who joined us from all over the country (not to mention a US Senator as well as other dignitaries in the crowd). Leon’s presentation on economic injustice was so powerful it was welcomed by the day’s only standing ovation and became without a question the proudest moment I have experienced as Youth Service Bureau director."

As Leon continues to both succeed and struggle as he finds his way, his story is a true testament to the power of Developmental Assets. When we focus on the strengths that youth have rather than their deficiencies we remind young people that they have things to be proud about. And as we look to raise our expectations for ALL of our community’s youth, I assure you that they will rise to the challenge…we’ve seen it time in and time out for so many of the teens we’ve worked with.
As Leon stated at the end of his speech: "you can either invest in my success now or pay for my mistakes later." I say we try for success.

For more information on Developmental Assets, please visit http://www.search-institute.org/ or http://www.assetpromise.org/

NEAT Candidates Forum

2011-10-03T09:34:00.001-04:00

This Wednesday, October 5th, NEAT is hosting a Meet the Candidates event at 7 pm at the Green Street Arts Center. This event is open to all Middletown residents and will be an informal way to meet the people running for local office in the November 2011 election (we're almost there!). There is no panel and no speeches, just informal conversations about the issues. Candidates will be wearing name tags that identify them, and NEAT will supply materials that give you biographical info on everyone (with pictures if we can).

This is your chance to be heard! If we don't come out and talk to the candidates they can't know how to represent YOU.

NEAT will supply some "cheat sheets" of questions that you may want to ask candidates...just to get the ball rolling, but bring any questions or concerns that you might have and you'll have a chance to talk one-on-one with any candidate in attendance.

This event is typically well attended by candidates.

Full dinner (not pizza!) will be provided and there will be childcare for the kids. Please spread the word to your distribution lists, if possible.

This event is for anyone who lives in Middletown.

Call with questions 860-456-4845 or email Izzi Greenberg at izzi@neatmiddletown.org

MHS Parents Needed

2011-10-03T09:19:00.002-04:00

(Was asked to pass this email along)

Hello All:

I have been asked to formulate a list of parents who might be interested in meeting with the MHS NEASC Accreditation Review Board on Sunday, October 30th at 1:00 pm. The review board would like to meet with a group of 40 parents in two separate groups to discuss their views and perceptions of MHS. They have a list of prepared questions covering curriculum, community relations, school climate, student teacher ratio, communication, physical infrastructure etc. This is an opportunity to provide constructive feedback/criticism to the review board which will make its recommendation/findings to the BOE. MHS must then respond to to the recommendations within a timely manner to maintain its accreditation.

Attached is a letter describing the format for the day. I do not know the second meeting date at this time. It will likely be within days after the first meeting.

I am extending this invitation to you because I know many of you are involved at MHS and care deeply about its future. You have a knowledge base to work from and you will be fair in your judgement. The school would like to include a diverse group of MHS parents/guardians on the review panel. If you know of people who might be interested in serving on the panel, please forward them this email message. Interested parents/guardians should contact me (lschuerholz-winters@maect.org) and Andre Alphonso at alphonsoa@mpsct.org

Thank you for your consideration.

Lisa Schuerholz-Winters
MHS PTA/Partnerships

Help Us Celebrate Middletown's Asset Builders

2011-09-23T11:25:00.001-04:00

The Middletown Youth Services Bureau as part of its efforts to promote the 40 Developmental Assets in our community will be looking to celebrate the work asset builders throughout Middletown. An asset builder can be many things, but most importantly they are someone or some group that is improving the lives of young people in our community. Individual asset builders can be parents, teachers, coaches, business owners, youth workers, neighbors, and/or young people themselves, while we can also take time to celebrate organizations, groups, and programs for the work they do with young people as well. They may be our most celebrated champions or our unsung heroes.

Preference will be given to those that are directly working within the 40 Developmental Assets framework and initiative however basic knowledge of the initiative and framework are not required. We will also be looking at how the nominee focuses on the core notions of the initiative; a focus on the strengths of young people, the importance of relationships, being a consistent role model and building assets on purpose.

Here are the basics:

· Individual nominations must be of a person who works and/or lives in Middletown.

· Groups/Organizations can serve people outside of Middletown but their nomination must focus on what they do specifically in Middletown.

· The deadline for submissions is October 17th at 4:30pm. Electronic submissions can be sent to carbonellaj@mpsct.org or hand delivered to the Middletown Youth Services Bureau located at 372 Hunting Hill Ave.

· Each nomination should be no more than 400 words and include the cover letter in its submission.

· Although many asset builders touch on multiple assets, please identify at least one of the eight asset categories that this nominee builds (listed on application).

· Winners will be selected by a panel of Middletown teens.

· Winners will be celebrated at an upcoming community event and featured on our website: www.assetpromise.org.

Developmental Assets represent 40 common sense building blocks that all young people need to grow up healthy and successful. Each asset represents a relationship, opportunity or value that we as a community can help ensure all young people receive. As its been proven both locally and around the world, the more of these assets young people have the less likely they will be to engage in risk taking behavior and the more likely they will be to engage in positive indicators.

For more information about the Developmental Assets initiative in Middletown please visit our website: www.assetpromise.org. And while you’re there, feel free to make a promise to support our youth.

A copy of the above introduction and the nomination cover letter is available online via Scribd.com and can be found HERE.

Asset Message of the Week

2011-09-22T12:58:00.001-04:00

(Hello eveyone, Here is our latest Asset Message of the week written by our Youth Worker Melissa Robinson, MSW. Hope you enjoy it and pass along this message to others as I think it is a really valuable one. And as always, please visit http://www.assetpromise.org/ to learn more about how we all can support Middletown youth and consider making a promise yourself.)

Good Morning,

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. For this week's asset message, I wanted to share a story of purposefully building assets:

All last week a young man at WWMS had been telling me that he was writing me a letter as part of an assignment in Mr. Geary’s class. He wouldn't give me any more information beyond that but when I got to work on Friday, I found a letter in my mailbox as well as one under my office door from another student. Apparently the assignment was to pick a staff member from the previous year and write them a letter letting them know why you appreciated them. Each letter talked about how I had made some sort of difference in their lives and specifically noted different things I had either done or lessons learned from spending time with each other.

For those that know John Geary, an 8th Social Studies teacher at WWMS, this kind of activity coming from him is probably not a surprise to you. A friend of the YSB and an asset builder before we brought developmental assets to this community, he has always been known for his habit of doing little things that make a big difference (most notably sending cards to former students when he sees their name in the paper for making the honor roll or dean’s list in college).

In a perfect, preach what you practice moment, he allowed for his students to write these small notes to staff members as a way of showing their appreciation that might often go unmentioned. He even went the extra mile with the students and had them deliver the envelopes to the mailboxes as well as offices. This great asset building exercise from Mr. Geary's class touched on several of the assets including: other adult relationships; caring school climate; adult role models; bonding to school; and caring.

Personally, I was so touched. After thanking both students for their letters and letting them know how much I appreciate them as well, it was clear that they had gained satisfaction from writing this letter as well and intentionally thanking someone for being in their life.

It goes to show "what is common sense is not always common practice". How often do we appreciate others in our lives "just because" or how often do we encourage the youth in our lives to intentionally appreciate others just because?

As this story is a nice reminder of purposefully building assets, consider taking this message one step further and encouraging the children in your life to let someone know that they are appreciated. Not only will they make someone else’s day in doing so, but will find the joy in making others feel good as well.

Developmental Asset of the Week - Support

2011-09-16T15:02:00.000-04:00

I hope you all enjoyed your summers! Now that the school year is moving ahead, I would like to start sharing our weekly Developmental Asset Message again. As a reminder the Developmental Assets are 40 values, experiences, and qualities that help kids succeed. This first message was adapted from Search Institutes, "Ideas for Educators" and focuses around the importance of family support in our children's lives. In our 2006 survey of over 1,500 teens, 68% of Middletown youth report that their family life provides high levels of love and support. Although this is one of our higher rated assets, there is definitely room for growth in this area. Please feel free to share this newsletter with others as well.

Family Support (one of six assets within the Support category of the External Assets)

Quick Tips...
• Send an e-mail to each parent once a semester that highlights something the student did well.
• Host a classroom event where parents can come see their students in action, such as a “family fun night” with games based on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
• Create an assignment that allows students to draw on a parent’s area of expertise. • Create an assignment that encourages students to share a family experience or encourages family cooperation in order\ to complete the assignment.

Bringing School and Family Together
Addressing the idea of family support is less about taking an active role in every student’s family life than it is about allowing space in your classroom for it. Students who experience this asset are more confident, more secure, and more willing to take on intellectual challenges. They are able to express greater empathy and kindness toward others and are less likely to be aggressive or troubled.

Think of creating opportunities for student/parent connections. Give the students a chance to share their concerns in a letter for parent-teacher conferences. If you work with journaling, occasionally use prompts that help a student examine his relationship with his family. For a creative writing piece, have students retell a favorite family story or try to capture the essence of their family in a metaphor.

In essence, open up your classroom to provide students with a way to bring their home and school together.

Teachers Need Support Too
In the same way that your students thrive when they’re experiencing positive relationships at home, so do you. In the same way you encourage your students to make time for their families and friends, you need to heed this advice in your own practice. You don’t marginalize these important relationships for your students, so you shouldn’t for yourself either. How will prioritizing your family and friends affect your evenings? Weekends? Vacations?

This week, be purposeful in making time for your family and friends. Note how increasing the amount and quality of time you spend with them affects your energy and performance in school.

Announcement from RWAF

2011-09-16T14:43:00.002-04:00

Please don't forget to join Ryan Woods Autism Foundation's September Parent Support Group tomorrow, September 17th from 12:00 Noon - 2:00 p.m. Dr. Mindy Otis, Supervisor, Special Education, Middletown Board of Education will be our guest speaker. Location: 100 Riverview Center (lower level) back of the Middletown Police Station Parking: City of Middletown Garage; walk downstairs and across the street to our PERMANENT location. Refreshments provided. Discussion Points & Q&A: • Process of how a child is labeled Special Ed • What age can a child be unlabeled Special Ed (if he/she wishes) • IEP Process • Aging out process • What happens leading up to graduation • What happens after graduation • Job Coaching Process • No Child Left Behind

Amazing Grace Needs Your Help!

2011-09-06T16:11:00.002-04:00

Dear friends of Amazing Grace,

Yikes! We’ve weathered hurricane Irene, but it’s been pretty tough for many of us. Hopefully your power has been restored and life is beginning to get back to normal.

What this emergency does, too, is to remind us once again how crucial good friends are. Neighbors helping neighbors with food, water, a bed, a hot shower, and even a place to charge up electronics.

At Amazing Grace we face another emergency- a RED ALERT: we simply don’t have enough food to distribute to the 900+ households who come to the pantry every month to feed their families. That’s about 100 more households each month this summer than in 2010, for a total of over 29,000 items of food given away EACH MONTH! Many of our shelves are alarmingly bare.

So we turn to our friends - YOU - to help stock the shelves.

Many people and organizations have been incredibly generous this summer, and for this we are profoundly grateful. But food supplies are dangerously low and some days we have had to scale back the number of items each family is allowed to select.

So, in the midst of this natural emergency, please remember the RED ALERT at Amazing Grace and do whatever you can to help.

Please send on this notice to all your networks – at work, at your faith community, to your organizations and friends. We appreciate all food donations – large and small.

Food can be delivered to Amazing Grace Food Pantry at 16 Stack Street in Middletown’s North End (on the street behind Macdonough School) from 10am – 5pm on Mon/Wed/Fri and on Saturdays from 9am – 1pm. Call 860-347-3222 for more info.

If you are looking for us...

2011-08-19T10:58:00.002-04:00

here is our new contact info:

Middletown Youth Services Bureau
372 Hunting Hill Avenue
Middletown, CT 06457

phone: 860-854-6030
fax: 860-854-6028

Pics from our Book Mobile Tour

2011-08-18T11:40:00.001-04:00

Yesterday YSB staff including myself and Leah Maille, our MSW intern Chrichton Stewart, and our Board Chair and BOE Director of Grant Services Elizabeth Nocera got to the take the Book Mobile out for a spin around Middletown. We made stops at Wesley School and visited the Parks and Rec campers, Snow School, the neighborhoods of Dadario Rd and Santangelo Circle, the Highlands, West Lake Community Center and Smith Park. Along the way we were met by the principals of some of the schools of the areas we visited including Joe Cassella (Wesley School), Jim Gaudreau (Snow), and Enza Macri (Lawrence).

It was a great time making new friends and building community, while also putting new books in the hands of Middletown students. At the end of the day we were told that the Book Mobile has distributed over 3,500 books over the course of the summer. For more information on the initiative here's an article from the Middletown Press from earlier in the summer. Thanks to the Middletown Schools Association for their help and allowing us the chance to participate!

Summer Research Presentation

2011-08-16T14:29:00.000-04:00

For the past four summers we've held a summer leadership program that focuses on teaching teens research skills and letting them pick a topic of importance to them so that they can put their new investigative tools to the test. This year the group, which named themselves Y.E.S. or Youth Empowering Society, took on the role of "mentors" within schools and how and why some kids have them and some don't. They had learned that having a mentor was a strong protective factor for Middletown students when looking at academic achievement and felt that even though the topic was a difficult one to tackle in six weeks (or rather the three they had left in the program by the time the selection process had come) it was too important to not do. They explored several key factors such as race, age, and sex as potential barriers for building relationships between students and school staff. To see what they found out, just follow the slideshow below...

YES Presentation

middletown youth services' photostream

2011-08-16T11:11:00.002-04:00

middletown youth services' photostream on Flickr.

Wilderness School Opportunity

2011-08-09T13:19:00.000-04:00

Fall opportunity at the Wilderness School:

WILDERNESS SCHOOL 3-Day Hiking Course
Dates of Program: Friday, September 9 - Sunday, September 11, 2011
Location: Wilderness School, 240 North Hollow Road East Hartland, CT

Contact Information: Bonnie Sterpka, phone (860) 653-8059, fax. (860) 653-8120 bonnie.sterpka@ct.gov

Course Dates The course will start Friday 9/9/11 at 5:00 p.m. at the Wilderness School in East Hartland, CT. The course will end on Sunday 9/11/11 at the Wilderness School at 3:00 p.m.

Pick up/drop off: There is a scheduled pick up in Hartford (Hartford Armory, 360 Broad St.) on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and the van will return to Hartford on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

Who can enroll: Youth between the ages of 13 and 15 may apply. Priority will be given to students who attended the Summer Adventure Program. Students need to have a desire to attend Wilderness School and should not be required to attend. This course is designed to be an introduction to Wilderness School Expeditions and students who do well are encouraged to apply next summer for a longer Expedition.

Activities offered: This program will be a hiking and camping experience so participants should be prepared to hike over mountains, carry a back pack, sleep under a tarp at two different campsites, cook food over a camp stove and be here for the duration of the experience. We will camp at the Wilderness School on the first evening and then the group will be driven to the northwest corner of CT to hike and camp on the Appalachian Trail.

What to bring: A clothing list that includes guidelines on how to pack is available on request. Participants will need a pair of hiking boots for this experience, but most other items can be supplemented by the Wilderness School.

How to Enroll:
Parent/Guardian or Referring Agent should call the Wilderness School to start the process with a telephone pre-screening (ask for Bonnie Sterpka).

Complete the Enrollment Forms (available on request).

Students will be accepted when all enrollment criteria has been completed and approved.

Cost: The cost for the program is $360.00 and will include up to 2 follow-up days over 6 months. Funding assistance may be available on request.

Sincerely,

Bonnie S. Sterpka, MS

Enrollment Coordinator

(860) 653-8059

Asset Promise Campaign

2011-07-13T14:19:00.001-04:00

Asset Promise Campaign, a set on Flickr.

Some pics of YSB staff/students walking around downtown Middletown hanging up posters, giving out pins and building community.

Afterschool Challenge Grant RFP Available!

2011-07-12T12:47:00.000-04:00

The Middletown Youth Services Bureau Advisory Board through the City's Youth Services Bureau (YSB) has released the application for the 2011-12 Educational Incentives Challenge Grant.

This Request For Proposals (RFP) is to solicit program activities from community agencies and organizations that support the goals of the Educational Incentive Challenge Grant (EICG), as well as enhance educational opportunities directly or indirectly. This grant is looking to fund program activities for children in Grades K-12 that help support at-risk, under-represented students who traditionally are not involved in programming outside the regular school day. These activities may be of academic, recreational, cultural, physical, psychological, and/or emotional benefit to the child.

The RFP document includes all guidelines, timelines, and directions for the narrative that will assist in the development of a proposal and can be found on the YSB website, www.middletownyouthservices.org or one may follow this link to go directly to the YSB's EICG page.

There will be a non-mandatory bidder's conference held on Wednesday, July 13st at 10am in the Middletown Board of Education's Conference Room A (please RSVP at carbonellaj@mpsct.org). The deadline for submission is August 10th at 10am.

Asset Message of the Week - Reading for Pleasure

2011-06-22T11:44:00.000-04:00

ONLY 21% OF MIDDLETOWN YOUTH REPORT THAT THEY READ FOR PLEASURE 3 OR MORE HOURS PER WEEK
Today is officially the first day of summer! With that said, unfortunately statistics show that youth in Middletown are not reading for pleasure as much as we would hope. Summer is a wonderful time to help the children in your life learn to enjoy reading. Below you will find several resources to help kids feed their brains this summer!!!!

MIDDLETOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS/RUSSELL LIBRARY OPPORTUNITIES

Summer Reading Programs start June 21- At Russell Library

One World Many Stories
(Summer Reading Program for 3 years to entering 3rd grade.)

Beginning Tuesday, June 21, kids are invited to come in to the Russell Library to get started on the One World, Many Stories summer reading program. For every five books you read you’ll earn a sticker and a small take home prize. After 25 books you earn great prizes from local merchants and a free book. Being read to counts! There will be great programs as well as lots of reading fun. Come and see where books take you this summer. http://www.russelllibrary.org/kids/kids_events_progs.html

You are Here: An Around the World Summer Reading Adventure
(Summer Reading Program for entering 4th grade and up.)

There are many activities for you to choose: from creating a new family tradition to blogging book reviews online, there's something for everyone. Along the way you will win prizes, as well as a chance to win a raffle prize. When you complete a category you will win a prize and earn a raffle ticket and a chance to win one of the raffle prizes. If you have any questions about the program or need help finding a book, please feel free to ask a librarian.

...
BOOK MOBILE: The Book Mobile will be driven by our school Principals every Wednesday starting June 29th. See the schedule below…..this is an opportunity for students to get free books!

WEDNESDAYS
June 29, July 13, July 27, August 10
9:30 am Hillside Laundromat, 11 Hillside Ave.
10:30 am Woodbury Circle, Summer Hill & Maplewood Terrace Neighborhood
11:30 am Macdonough School, 66 Spring St.
12:30 pm Salvation Army, 515 Main St.
1:30 pm Traverse Square Neighborhood & IDELLA HOWELL CENTER 44 Hamlin St.
2:30 pm Stoneycrest Dr./Rose Circle
3:30 pm Plaza Dr.

WEDNESDAYS
July 6, July 20, August 3, August 17
9:30 am Wesley School, Wesleyan Hills Rd.
10:30 am Wadsworth St. in front of Snow School
11:30 pm Long Hill & Daddario Dr.
12:30 pm I Have a Friend Youth Center, 309 South Main St.
1:30 pm Burgandy Apartments, Grandview Dr., Faith Christian Assembly of
God Church, Beacon Hill & the Highlands, Highland Crescent - Ball Field
2:30 pm Smith Park on Country Club Rd.

Visit: http://www.middletownreads.wikispaces.com/ which is a wiki page set up with information on other programs and reading incentives for students through the summer. Students are being asked to read at least 15 minutes per day during the summer and log their reading. At the end of the summer those that read the most will be entered into various drawings. There is also a project based contest on the page where students can win a Kindle!

...

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Borders “Double-Dog Dare” - Beginning 6/1/11, kids 12 and under who read 10 books can fill out the form and bring it to a Borders or Waldenbooks store by 9/5/11 to get a FREE book (select titles available)! see details at: http://www.borders.com/online/store/MediaView_doubledogdare

Barnes & Noble “Imagination’s Destination” – Beginning 5/24/11, kids in grades 1 – 6 who read 8 books and fill out the downloadable passport with the places they visited for each book, can turn in their passport to a Barnes & Noble store by 9/6/11 for a FREE book (select titles available). http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/

HEBuddy “Summer Reading Club” – Kids who read 10 books (younger children can have their parents read to them!) can mail in the completed form by October 1st for a FREE T-Shirt! http://www.hebuddy.com/content/pdf/readingclub.pdf

For more information on Developmental Assets please visit http://www.search-institute.org/ and don't forget to visit http://www.assetpromise.org/ to make a promise to support youth in our community.

Have a wonderful summer everyone!

Melissa

Yesterday's Teens and Technology Presentation

2011-06-17T16:54:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we had the opportunity to present our Teens and Technology presentation to the entire student body of Keigwin Middle School. It was a lot a fun (and a bit tiring) and the students seemed to take away a lot of information on a subject that many of them would already consider themselves pretty expert at. The discussion included the changes in digital technology, privacy issues, and cautionary tales that were aimed at both raises awareness and broadening perspective while constantly promoting safety. We want to thank Keigwin Principal Tracey Koff for being the first administrator in the district to have their student body be part of this important discussion.

Asset Message of the Week - A Focus on Coaches

2011-05-05T13:54:00.002-04:00

Since 1983 May has been observed a "National Physical Fitness and Sports Month". In fact the focus for this week is "Let's Move in School". This is an opportunity to acknowledge physical activity as an integral part to a healthy and productive life for youth and adults and celebrate participation in sports and hundreds of physical activities. Below are two websites that are great resources for ideas on getting kids up and moving!

http://fitness.gov/index.html

http://www.letsmove.gov/

I thought it would be fitting for the month to thank coaches for all they do for our youth and share the resource below.....feel free to pass this along to any coaches you may know.

Asset-Building Ideas for Coaches
Coaches teach young people not only the rules and strategy of games but important lessons about life as well. You can help young people develop confidence and self-esteem, help them learn to resolve conflicts peacefully, teach them ways to take care of their health and well-being, and help them develop skills for communicating with others. Here are a few ways coaches can be asset builders:

Learn the names of all the players on your team and call them by name. Make a point to talk at least once with each player each time you practice or play.
Create and maintain a positive atmosphere. Two top reasons young people participate in sports are to have fun and to spend time with their friends. It’s not all about winning.
Focus on helping players get better, not be the best. It will reduce players’ fear of failure and give them permission to try new things and stretch their skills.
Know that highly competitive sports can often cause a great deal of stress for young people. The intense pressure that goes along with trying to be the best can sometimes lead to unhealthy outcomes such as substance abuse and/or eating disorders. Be careful not to push young people too hard and learn about the warning signs of possible problems.
Care about your athletes’ lives outside of the sport and show them that they are valuable people as well as team members.
Adapt your teaching style and language to the players’ age level. Young children do not always know sport terms. Use words and concepts they understand. On the other hand, older youth may be more successful when they understand the big picture of what they are trying to accomplish as well as the specific skills or strategies needed.
Set goals both for individuals and for the team. Include young people in setting these goals.
Catch kids doing things right. Be quick to praise a player’s efforts. The best feedback is immediate and positive.
Use the sandwich method of correcting a player’s mistake. First praise, then constructively criticize, then praise again.
Always preserve players’ dignity. Sarcasm does not work well with young people. They may not always remember what you say, but they always remember how you said it.
Insist that all team members treat one another with respect. Then model, monitor, and encourage respect. Have a zerotolerance policy for teasing that hurts someone’s feelings.
Be specific about a code of conduct and expectations for athletes, parents, spectators, and team personnel.
Encourage athletes to do well in school and to be motivated to achieve.
Respect other activities and priorities in athletes’ lives. Avoid conflicts with their other commitments and respect their need for time with their families.
Find ways each child can participate, even if he or she is not particularly skilled in the sport.
Listen to and encourage your athletes’ dreams, concerns, and desires—sportsrelated or otherwise.
Develop leadership skills in young athletes by giving them opportunities to lead practice drills and develop a team code of conduct.
Take time at the end of practice to have the group offer positive comments about each player’s performance that day. Make sure no one is left out.
Split up cliques on the team by mixing up groups for drills or scrimmages.
Plan a community service project for the team. It teaches players to give something back to the community.
If you have an end-of-season gathering, take time to say a few positive things about each player. Avoid Most Valuable Player awards and other “rankings.” Focus on the relationships, the improvement of the team, and the unique contributions of each player.

Developmental Assets® are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people. From Pass It On! Ready-to-Use Handouts for Asset Builders, Second Edition.Copyright © 2006 by Search Institute®; 612-376-8955; 800-888-7828; http://www.search-institute.org/. This handout may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). All rights reserved.

The link below provides a printable version of the above information if you would like to share the information with coaches you know:

http://www.assetpromise.org/uploads/pdf/resources/11-IdeasForCoaches.pdf

middletowneye: The Teen Center @ The Salvation Army-Grand Opening...

2011-05-05T09:40:00.000-04:00

http://middletowneyenews.blogspot.com/2011/05/teen-center-salvation-army-grand.html?spref=bl: "Representatives from The Salvation Army, The Liberty Bank Foundation, local politicians, local agency leaders, and local Salvation Army don..."

Middletown United Fathers Celebration

2011-04-28T18:18:00.001-04:00

(via Larry Owens)

Dear Middletown United Fathers, Incorporated Supporter:

Middletown United Fathers, Incorporated mission: To provide information and support service to young men of color, other youth who lack mentors and to serve as a resource organization for households headed by women. Middletown United Fathers, Incorporated started in 2008 with a Father’s Day Celebration. We believe fatherhood is an ordained position; this is why we seek “to be the answer to a child’s prayer”. We know you value fatherhood, children and the wellness of the Middletown community just as much as we do, this is why we ask you to support Middletown United Fathers, Incorporated mission. We thank you in advance for your contribution as well.

In order to tell the Middletown United Fathers Incorporated story, we are planning a celebration banquet on Friday, April 29, 2011 at Chapman Hall on the campus of Middlesex Community College. Mr. Irod Lee, M.S, Director of Academic Support will be the key- note speaker. Festivities will begin at 5:00 p.m.

Asset Message of the Week

2011-04-26T14:41:00.001-04:00

Every Saturday Kevin Wilhelm, Executive Director of the Middlesex United Way writes a weekly column for the Middletown Press. If you haven't seen it, this week's column is dedicated to Developmental Assets and making promises to support youth. For this week's asset message I would like to share this article with you. The Middlesex United Way provides a generous amount of funding to support work around Developmental Assets both in Middletown and surrounding towns. Thank you Kevin and the United Way for continuing to support this initiative.

http://middletownpress.com/articles/2011/04/23/news/doc4db228722fedf981625527.txt

For more information on Developmental Assets please visit http://www.search-institute.org/ and hopefully after reading this article, if you have not already done so you will be compelled to make your promise to support Middletown youth at http://www.assetpromise.org/.

MCSAAC Looking for Teen Actors

2011-04-26T14:38:00.000-04:00

(From Betsey Chadwick of the Middlesex County Substance Abuse Prevention Council - edited from recent email)

Dear Friends of MCSAAC –
We are reaching out to all the area high schools in search of teen talent for the CT Dept of Health funded project on tobacco education. I thought I’d send them you folks as well to ensure as much exposure as possible. Any kids you know who “love the camera,” send ‘em over!

Contact Info
Betsey S. Chadwick, Director
Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council
393 Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
860-347-5959
www.mcsaac.org

Explore the Teen Brain Tomorrow!

2011-04-26T14:11:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder why teens act impulsively? What in the world are they thinking when they make poor choices? Why do they act that way? How can adults talk to teens?

Come find out on Wednesday April 27th from 6-8 at Middletown High school in the second floor lecture hall. How Are They Wired? Understanding the Teen Brain; A Path To Better Communication.

MSAPC Lecture Series: The Teenage Brain 4/27

2011-04-21T13:19:00.000-04:00

MSAPC Lecture Series Chris Brown

Josh Hamilton and Personal Responsibility

2011-04-21T12:44:00.001-04:00

By now many of you have heard of the incident that happened about a week ago when Texas Rangers all-star Josh Hamilton tried to score from third on a foul ball pop up near the third base dug out. As Hamilton slide home attempting to avoid the tag he broke a bone in his arm and will miss up two months of the season. How does this apply to asset building you ask? Well, after the game when asked about the play, Hamilton promptly blamed his coach in a move that was received with a good deal of scrutiny from the press and others in the sports world. In his words:

“It was just a stupid play. I definitely shouldn’t have done it. I listened to my third base coach … The whole time I was watching the play I was listening. [He said], ‘Nobody’s at home, nobody’s at home.’ I was like, ‘Dude, I don’t want to do this. Something’s going to happen.’ But I listened to my coach.”

As many of us know, teenagers' brains aren't necessarily wired to make great decisions and on top of that sometimes issues of personal responsibility are followed by poor choices (hence the famous response "If Johnny jumped off a bridge would you jump off too?"). What this example gives us is a very teachable moment in discussing how we respond to making mistakes. Hamilton was in no way forced to go; was he given some poor advice, probably, but the base coach did not push him off the bag. He made the decision to go himself and obviously needs to take some ownership over that. He later apologized, but still gave those working with young people something great to go on.

Here are some questions you may to ask a young person in relation to this issue or just as part of any conversation:

What is personal responsibility?
How often are you given advice that you think is bad for your peers/adults?
What do you do when someone is telling you to do something that your gut tells you not to?
What is the best way to handle a situation in which you were wrong or made a mistake?
Why is important not to blame others for your own actions?

The Power of Words

2011-04-19T15:47:00.001-04:00

This was recently passed on to me by good friend David Blumenkrantz and really shows the power of words, particularly in changing behavior. This particularly impactful when thinking about the words of one of our student presenters who tells a story about something asked him and the negative consequence on his life. At the time he was a struggling 9th grader who would show up do school but do little else in terms of effort and participation. He was finally approached by one of his teachers that asked him "why do you even show up to school?" The student openly recognizes that the teacher was probably trying to be supportive and that their words were meant to be somewhere in the realm of "you're already here, why not try?" But that was not what he initially heard or realized and when asked the question, he thought about it and his answer helped lead to him dropping out. He is now a regular presenter in our Developmental Assets presentations and is involved in a number of leadership activities both in and out of school. But for a time when he needed our help the most, someone chose the right notion but the wrong words and the consequences were very significant.

So if anything, let the video and this story remind me us that "language is consciousness" and how we can be more thoughtful in the way we communicate with each other over the course of the day (and particuarly toward our young people).

Development Asset Message of the Week

2011-04-11T18:27:00.001-04:00

POSITIVE IDENTITY

Our identities are always in a state of flux. Depending on what’s currently happening in your life, you may feel confident or unsure, optimistic about the future or pessimistic, that you have some control or little control. These changes are normal for adults as well as children. What’s important, however, is what a person’s identity is like most of the time. People who have a strong sense of self still maintain that sense even when difficulties arise. They continue to be hopeful, optimistic, and believe they can make a difference, even when circumstances seem to be trying to persuade them otherwise. While identity is partially determined by genetics, adults still have a lot of influence on bringing out the best in children. The ways you respond children's successes, mistakes, actions, and words help build either a sense of positive or negative identity. Children whose home, school, neighborhood, and community see the best in them are more apt to bring out the best in themselves. The choice is ours. In short, Love children, and children will learn to love themselves.

4 Assets of Positive Identity

Search Institute researchers have identified four positive-identity assets that are crucial for helping young people grow up healthy.

Personal power—child feels he or she has control over things that happen to her or him.
Self-esteem—child reports having a high self-esteem.
Sense of purpose—child reports that her or his life has a purpose.
Positive view of personal future—child is optimistic about her or his personal future.

Age-Specific Ways to Encourage Positive Identity Formation
0-1 • Love, respect,and accept children unconditionally.• Delight in each child’s unique personality. • Create positive interactions.

2-3 • Focus on the behavior; do not blame children when correcting their inappropriate behaviors. • When children sayphrases such as “Me do it,” let them. • Create an atmosphere that is loving, supportive, and affirming so that children enjoy and feel good about their environment.

4-5 • Encourage children to take pride in their cultural heritage. • Break new tasks into small,manageable steps that children can master without becoming too frustrated. • Use positive and encouraging phrases around children. For example, say “Let’s try it” instead of“That won’t work".

6-10 • Respect the decisions children make. • Focus on children's strengths and encourage her or him in these areas. • Encourage children to seek out answers and solutions when they face obstacles or difficult times.

11-15 • Encourage children to explore and experiment within her or his areas of interest and ability.• Expect children to experience ups and downs of self-esteem during these years, and for it to increase as he or she gets older. • Avoid comparing children with others.

16-18 • Continue to support teenagers as they struggle with issues and questions of identity. • Show teenagers the positive possibilities in her or his future. • Delight in teenager’s talents, capabilities, and discoveries.

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."
~ Judy Garland

President's Bullying Summit

2011-03-14T17:30:00.003-04:00

A lot of talk has come out of the President's Bullying Summit held last week and of his new website stopbullying.gov. I found this video of a panel held during the summit to be pretty interesting (you can skip the first 9:20 seconds which is mostly fluff and introductions). The website mentioned has a lot of good information (almost too much) which can be found HERE.

As bullying becomes more and more a priority for everyone, I think its important for all of us to become better versed on research and to take a look at the issue from a broader perspective. Bullying is not a new problem but its now one we care about much more as a society. We are also facing new challenges in terms of technology (namely cellular communications and social media) and in the law (zero tolerance policies for violence in schools) which add additional and somewhat more complex dimensions to the issue. I hear so many people say "fight the bully, that will stop 'em" but what is different now is that school fights are criminal and that the bully victim would be arrested. Its also difficult to lecture to young people about their online usage given the perspective that this is not something we were forced to face with and can easily say "well I wouldn't respond that way..." or "why do you even need a facebook in the first place?".

Obviously there is no silver bullet or handful of magic beans that will make "being mean" go away, especially go away overnight. That is why I appreciate one of the panelist's comments on looking at the broader picture and focusing on the relationships and climate (16:20 mark). He notes that in emphasizing those two things you model the behavior you'd like to see, open up lines of communication between youth and adults, and help build resiliency among young people so that if bullying does happen they are more more adapt at working within the system or handling it themselves.

Fodder for the Bullying Discussion

2011-03-10T16:51:00.000-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

This special aired on Dateline last Sunday and provides "a hidden look" into today's life as a teen. The premise was to take a handful of ordinary teens and place them in staged scenarios with trained actors to see how they would respond. While some question the authenticity and intention of such an "experiment" (which is an interesting read in and of itself), I at the very least see it a grounds for one of many conversations we all need to be having on the issue (no one conversation/video/story is going to solve the problem by itself). You can find the rest of the video from the special here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600

New Poster Series Released

2011-03-08T16:47:00.002-05:00

City Hall entrance

In our most recently collaboration with our favorite design firm co:lab, we have two new marketing materials that we are super excited to share with the community to promote ASSETPROMISE.ORG. The most notable is our new poster campaign, which features the "See Me" slogan used for our asset video. There are a total of 7 different posters, each feature a different student and unique slogan at the base. We hope that as you travel around the city you'll be seeing more and more of them. Our first poster series with co:lab, which also involved local photographer Sandy Aldieri, resulted in an award winning campaign and we hope this can have a similar impact on the community.

We also have a set of three postcard fliers that we will be leaving at different business and offices and hope you'll be coming into contact with them soon as well.

Community Health Center Administrative Building

Something I Hope I Never See Again...

2011-03-08T16:38:00.001-05:00

...is a caterpillar being needed to clear the multiple feet of snow outside my office (or from anywhere for that matter). I'm not a snow guy and this winter just about put me over the edge, so here's to a dry March and the welcoming of spring (which includes baseball season).

Middletown Press Articles on Bullying and Work of YSB

2011-03-08T16:33:00.001-05:00

The YSB was highlighted in two recent Middletown Press articles around the issue of bullying. The first covered the broader topic of cyberbullying http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2011/02/14/news/doc4d58a657d4b96284192407.txt

This article garnered a lot of national attention and brough us in touch with several folks who are highly interested in the topic. Nancy Willard who runs the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use added us to her google group forum which has tons of information on resources, programs, policy, and even just philosophies on the issue. It has been a tremendous resource. We've also been in contact with Emily Bazelon who writes for Slate.com and the New York Times Magazine and is currently researching a book on bullying. She attended our social media presentation and has popped into our bullying program at the middle school. With an issue as complex as bullying and cyberbullying, its been great to have the new resources supporting our community efforts.

The 2nd covered our teen researchers presentation on the same topic http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2011/03/04/news/doc4d705b50b6730576523851.txt
but I'll follow that with another post on that ;)

Congrats to Jordan

2011-03-08T16:21:00.000-05:00

On Jan 23rd we gave our 40 Developmental Assets presentation to a group of around 15 Woodrow Wilson faculty and staff. During the presentation on of our volunteers Jordan a junior at MHS participated in his first prestentation. He spoke about the change that has occured in him since he has graduated from middle school and encouraged teachers not to give up on kids who may appear to not care and act obnoxiously. Quoting that "Rome wasn't built in a day" he explained that having people believe in him over the last few years has helped allow him to mature and find way to contribute to his community. The Men At School program was noted as a big contributer to his success. He did a great job and we were so proud of him.

Mx. United Way Partners Breakfast

2011-03-08T16:07:00.003-05:00

The Middlesex United Way held their annual funding partners breakfast this morning and announced the new funding procedures for next years funding cycle. The good news is that they are projecting funding levels to be close to last years. The UW is the primary funder for Middletown's 40 Developmental Assets initiative and the reason we've been able to do some great stuff over the last several years, which includes our new site http://www.assetpromise.org/ and our video below.

Also during the meeting the Middletown YSB was mentioned multiple times for our outcomes and for our work as a partner, which really made us proud because we regard our partnership with the United Way so highly. It was a very nice way to start off the morning...

YSB Awarded Police/Youth Mini-Grant (Top 3 Submission Statewide)

2011-03-08T15:49:00.002-05:00

Several weeks ago we were informed by the Youth Development Training and Resource Center at The Consultation Center that our submission for their "Reaching for Respect" police and youth grant program was not only selected by found itself in the top three submissions statewide. It was noted so highly for for what the YDTRC described as:

· clear youth input and more extensive youth involvement

· opportunity for meaningful police involvement and ongoing relationships

· effective strategy to engage youth and police

· opportunities for youth leadership roles

This mini-grant is funded by the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, and our project will be one of five new youth-serving organizations around the state who are all working on this important issue. While the main goal of the project is to build better relationships between police and youth, it is also looking to reduce the disporportionate number of minority youth represented in the juvenile justice system. Middletown's project will revolve around connecting police and youth through conversation, most notably through a series of bullying workshops to take place at MHS in which school resource officers will be attending. The first of the workshops was held over Feb vacation and looked to empower teens to be solutions when observing bullying situations in school or online (pictures below). Dragons In Action is also currently working on identifying other ways in which we can get teens and police to sit down and learn more about each other.

Quiet Online, Busy Offline

2011-03-08T15:30:00.000-05:00

So with only 5 posts since Feb 1, we've definitely not been the presence we've like to be on this blog. Fortunately the reason we've been so quiet is because we've been so busy with a number of great projects, events, and other successes. Over the rest of the week I hope to catch everyone up...thanks for being patient!

middletowneye: Macdonough Video Club Wins Recess Rocks Contest

2011-03-08T15:24:00.001-05:00

middletowneye: Macdonough Video Club Wins Recess Rocks Contest: "The Macdonough School Video Production Club at Macdonough Elementary School in Middletown and a fifth-grade student from Lisbon have b..."

Smartphone pictures pose privacy risks

2011-03-01T18:26:00.000-05:00

Just another thing to think about as we share information online...

middletowneye: One Man's Trash is Another Man's...Costume?

2011-02-22T15:38:00.000-05:00

middletowneye: One Man's Trash is Another Man's...Costume?: "In an effort to start replacing the props and costumes that were lost in the recent roof collapse of the Oddfellows storage space at 505 ..."

Asset Message of the Week - Cultural Competence

2011-02-07T22:08:00.001-05:00

48% OF MIDDLETOWN YOUTH REPORT THAT THEY HAVE A KNOWLEDGE OF AND COMFORT WITH PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT CULTURAL/RACIAL/ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS

We are living in an increasingly diverse world, which is a wonderful gift. Our children attend schools with others who are much different than they are. The challenge for parents is ensuring that children learn to accept and respect differences, thus making them more productive adults. But, where do we start? Children don't come with instructions, but they do come with open minds. Much of what they learn about respecting differences comes from their parents and other adults around them.
Consider the following suggestions:

Start with us. Children listen to what we say and watch what we do. So as adults, we must deal with our own diversity deficits, so that we can lead by not just saying but also by doing.

Get out of our comfort zone. Teaching our children to accept differences may require that we seek out cultural activities that are out of our community and explore the value in diversity. It is not enough to simply visit cultural events and eat ethnic foods. Instead, we must make a deliberate effort to get out of the familiar and show our children we mean it. Accepting differences should be how we live our lives. We should make an effort to surround ourselves with those who are different from us.

Listen and respond. When children ask about differences, start by listening to the question they are asking and the language they are using. If in asking questions about differences they are using hurtful or stereotypical language, explore with them why such language is hurtful. Explain in an age-appropriate manner why stereotypes don't tell the whole story

With all that said, this is the perfect month to start teaching youth how to embrace diversity. February is Black History Month; a time set aside for the remembrance of the struggles undertaken and to celebrate the contributions and achievements of African-Americans throughout history. Regardless of our ethnic or cultural background, we can all celebrate the achievements laid out by those who came before us, those who helped build this great country.

The story behind Black History Month begins with Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a historian who is frequently called the "Father of Black History." He created the Association for African-American Life and History (ASALH). Later, in 1926, Dr. Woodson and the ASALH created Black History Month.

If you are looking for some events going on in Connecticut to celebrate Black History Month, check out this link.

The following is a thought on this issue from one local teenager:

"It is important to have cultural competence because you can hurt a person’s feelings when you make fun of or bully them about the way the look or act because they have a different culture. A person’s culture is where he is from, his families foods, language, traditions and religion. You should not be prejudice of different cultures, and instead of judging people because you are unfamiliar with some things they may do, you should learn about their culture."----Woodrow Wilson Middle School 7th Grader

Legislative Breakfast to Support Funding for Youth and Families

2011-02-03T11:28:00.001-05:00

Joint Middlesex Coalition for Children -- Middlesex Area Interagency Council

Rescheduled 2011 All-County Legislative Breakfast:

Protecting Children and Families

Thursday, February 10, 2011
8:00 AM - breakfast
8:15 - 9:45 AM - program
Chapman Hall, Middlesex Community College
100 Training Hill Road, Middletown
Weather cancellation, if necessary, by email.

Legislators Invited Representing towns in Middlesex County
Rep. Christie Carpino Cromwell, Middletown
Rep. James Crawford Clinton, Killingworth, Westbrook
Senator Eileen Daily 10 Middlesex County towns
Senator Paul Doyle Cromwell, Middletown
Rep. Marilyn Giuliano Old Saybrook, Westbrook
Rep. Gail Hamm East Hampton, Middletown
Rep. Matthew Lesser Durham, Middlefield, Middletown
Senator Edward Meyer Durham, Killingworth
Rep. Linda Orange East Haddam
Rep. Joseph Serra Middletown
Senator Andrea Stillman Old Saybrook

Note: One House and one Senate seat in Middlesex County are open. They will be filled by special elections on February 23. If it's your district, BE SURE TO VOTE!

Community Speakers
Dr. Stephanie Rosener
Sharon Thomas
Patricia Dowling
Mike Bartley
Henry Fernandez
Patricia Charles. Ed.D
Patti Vassia
Azure Smith
Colleen Schmelter
Justin Carbonella
Leon Chandler

More is at stake in this year's legislative session than for 15 - 20 years. Be part of the solution!

Asset Message of the Week - Interpersonal Competence

2011-01-31T17:11:00.001-05:00

44% OF MIDDLETOWN YOUTH REPORT THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE EMPATHETIC, SENSITIVE, AND HAVE POSITIVE FRIENDSHIP SKILLS

Interpersonal competence can be tricky even for adults, especially since some people’s emotions are easier to read than others’. Yet, young people who practice the skills of being in touch with their own needs and feelings and know how to appropriately express their feelings are more likely to understand and deal with the feelings of others. Building interpersonal competence is a lifelong process. Each relationship and each interaction allows young people to practice, learn, and master the skills of empathy, sensitivity, and friendship building.

People who are able to communicate, tend to be friendly, sensitive, caring and are naturally people you want to surround yourself with. How can you build this asset in youth that you know? The most obvious way would be to model being sensitive, being a friend, and having empathy for others. I know, personally, I have many of the same characteristics as my father. Although I look nothing like him, I have a lot of the same inner characteristics as he does. He modeled integrity, honesty, responsibility, caring for others, and so much more. Ask your self, who modeled these characteristics for you when you were a child/teenager. What was it about that person that you looked up to and what can you do to be that person for a child now.

Some thoughts to talk about/teach youth:

Stress that it’s not okay to just “drop” or gossip a friend
Making sure children are connecting with people in person and not just through the computer/cell (texting).
Treat others (including your children) the way you would like to see them treat others.
Encourage youth to get involved in activities that may draw out interpersonal skills (such as volunteering at the local food pantry or joining a team.

“Our feelings towards our friends reflect our feelings towards ourselves.” -Aristotle

"Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything." -Muhammad Ali

middletowneye: Black History Extravaganza

2011-01-31T17:05:00.000-05:00

middletowneye: Black History Extravaganza: "Girls Inspired For Total Success( Gifts) a club at Middletown High School is hosting a Black History Extravaganza celebrating Fashi..."

Dating Violence and Jersey Shore

2011-01-31T16:58:00.000-05:00

I just found a really interesting article from the website loveisrespect.org which details an incident on a recent episode of MTV's Jersey Shore. With the following that this show has and they way many teens look up to these reality stars, this allows the episode and this debriefing to be a great discussion point to have with young people about healthy relationships.

From MTV.com

The specific article can be found here: http://www.loveisrespect.org/2011/01/28/dating-abuse-on-jersey-shore-let%e2%80%99s-talk/

Shovel Teams Needed to Help Seniors

2011-01-31T16:39:00.003-05:00

With more snow on the way this seems like a great idea to build community and help teach our youth about service to others...

(photo from Hartford Courant)

The Middletown Press is organizing teams of volunteers to help dig out seniors. Members of the community are being asked to lend a hand and shovel out walkways and entrances to area seniors' homes. Individuals or groups are welcome to participate. Call The Middletown Press at (860) 347-3331, ext 222 or 235 to volunteer or email editor@middletownpress.com with your information.

The Middletown Press also invites elderly or disabled residents who need help in digging out to call the newsroom at (860) 347-3331, ext 222 or 235. Middletown Police invite residents to call the department to request wellbeing checks on elderly and disabled neighbors. Call the Middletown Police Department at (860) 344-3200.

PEPP Program Empowers Parents

2011-01-26T13:18:00.000-05:00

Worrying About Problems in your Community?

Help Change Them

Turn Your Concern for Children into Action

Learn The Skills to Make this Happen

Find Out About the

People Empowering People Program

The People Empowering People Program Trains People Like You to

Help Youth & Adults in Your Neighborhood

Let’s talk about how you can share your talents, ideas and time, you have more to offer than you think!

Dates: Fridays, February 25 through May 6th

Time: 6 pm to 8 pm

Location: Community Health Center’s Family Wellness Center

635 Main St., Middletown

For Further Information Contact:

Donna Marino

860 638-1462 or Email: marinod@mps1.org

Refreshments Will be Served Child Care Will Be Provided

Sponsored By: Middletown Public Schools in Collaboration with the State Department of Education, PIRC & the Parent Trust.

Workshop Tonight is Postponed

2011-01-26T12:23:00.000-05:00

Due to the cancellation of all afterschool and PM activities for the Middletown Schools tonight's presentation "The Bully's Playground: Teens and Technology" has been postponed until its snow date of March 2nd.

The next workshop is the series is "Your Online Identity: Its Possible Consequences" which focuses on how the creation of online profiles through social media and its relation to our right to privacy and the affiliations we keep (school, work, etc). As we start to share more and more, how will that online presence impact us? There will also be a presentation by the Middletown Police Department on the issue of sexting and how it relates to the law.

The "Skins" Debate

2011-01-24T10:48:00.000-05:00

By now you may have heard about MTV's "Skins" which just premiered last week. The controversy stems from the nature of the show, which originally was aired in the UK with this version being "Americanized", that focuses on teens doing a lot of not fantastic things. Above is a clip from Anderson Cooper of two panelists arguing for the show's depiction of young people as a means of addressing real issues and against, noting that glamorizing these situations does little progress dialogue and further negatively impresses our children. Which do you believe?

Winter Blues for College Students

2011-01-13T12:43:00.002-05:00

http://www.courant.com/health/hc-web-chat-coping-with-post-holiday-depression,0,1635420.htmlstory

Not sure how these things work, but the Courant is running a chat on helping college students cope with post holiday blues. Check it out on the link above...

Asset Message of the Week - Planning and Decision Making

2011-01-11T17:12:00.000-05:00

ONLY 28% OF MIDDLETOWN YOUTH REPORT THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLAN AHEAD AND MAKE CHOICES

As adults, we want to protect the children in our lives from the dangers lurking in the world around them. In some ways we can shelter them by what we do and what we say and how we step in at key moments to defend them. But we all know that a cute little baby will eventually be a teen dealing with teen aged problems and beyond our ability to totally protect. Teaching children good decision making skills at an early age can be the best protection we can ever provide.

Helpful Hints to Help Kids Build Planning and Decision-Making Skills:

• Encourage a daily to-do list. Checking off items can be satisfying.
• Remember that when children know how to plan, they’re more apt to make their dreams come true.
• Celebrate children’s progress and accomplishments when they make well thought out decisions.

Teach by example. Model your own best decision making skills where children can watch and learn.

Teach children the steps to decision making:
Define the problem - Make sure to focus on just the facts and not how you are feeling about the issue.
Explore the choices - Brainstorm all of your choices
Understand the consequences - Make a pros and cons list.
Make a decision - Pick one
Try it out.

Evaluate and learn from the decision - If it was the wrong decision, look at the process and see what went wrong.

Don't solve their problems. Too often, adults want to be in the "fix it" mode and try to solve problems for children. Rather than making a decision for children, help them make it themselves. And then don't bail them out if things go wrong.

Be there before they decide. When children are younger, be around them enough so you can help them think things through before they make a decision. Talking children through the process before is a lot easier than helping them repair a mistake later. Remember, they will learn more from a little trial and error than they will if you make every decision for them. Having strong problem solving and decision making skills as children will help them learn what they need to be strong decision makers in their adult life.

Resources:

The Life-Smart Kid: Teaching Your Child to Use Good Judgment in Every Situation by Lawrence J. Greene. This book provides practical ways to help young people develop decision-making skills. (Published by Prima Publishing.)

"A good plan is like a road map: it shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there."
--H. Stanley Judd

Another Social Media Cautionary Tale...

2011-01-06T12:23:00.000-05:00

Its common sense, but like the developmental assets, maybe not common practice...As we continue to find out what our usage of sites like facebook mean, we continue to urge folks, especially teens, to continue to be mindful of how we are interacting with the internet.

Asset Message of the Week - Restraint

2011-01-05T18:13:00.000-05:00

ONLY 34% OF MIDDLETOWN YOUTH FEEL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT BE SEXUALLY ACTIVE OR TO USE ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS

Parents want kids to have restraint and to not engage in risky behaviors, such as alcohol, drug use or premature sexual activity. But how do you get kids to value restraint in a culture that values indulgence?

A few suggestions to help communication about this issue with children:

Avoid simply labeling these activities as bad. Instead, explain the consequences of these behaviors. Work on building assets with your children. Keep them informed and be open to their questions. Encourage self-care and, of course, be a role model.
From an early age, teach kids that it’s important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Then model that value by drinking responsibly, behaving appropriately, and not using drugs.
Be clear about boundaries and values. Most teenagers are relieved to have boundaries. Explain why you feel the way you do, and encourage questions/discussion.
Look for opportunities to respond to what’s in the media regarding sexuality, alcohol, or other drugs that doesn’t directly involve your child or your child’s friends. Ask for your child’s opinion and discuss your thoughts with them. We just posted an interesting article on the media's impact around this on our blog (Read: Sex Ed and Snooki here). The article notes some great tips around this issue.

Its also important to note that one key indicator on a young person's ability to restrain from risky behaviors is how many of the 40 Developmental Assets they have in their lives. For example, we found in our 2006 survey of Middletown students grades 7-12 that students with the highest level of assets (31-40) engage in approximately 1 of 24 identified risky behaviors as opposed to those with the lowest (1-10) who engage in 9 of the 24!

Other Resources:

Saying No Is Not Enough: Helping Your Kids Make Wise Decisions about Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs: A Guide for Parents of Children Ages 3 through 19 by Robert Schwebel, Ph.D. This book guides parents in how to listen and what to say to their children when approaching tough topics. (Published by Newmarket Press.)

"Self-discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don't control what you think, you can't control what you do. Simply, self-discipline enables you to think first and act afterward."

~Napolean Hill~

White Out Night News Clip

2010-12-30T08:45:00.002-05:00

White out number of drunk drivers: wtnh.com

Asset Message of the Week - NYE Edition

2010-12-29T22:06:00.003-05:00

We are days away from New Years Eve and 2011, an annual celebration of the year that has passed and a look forward to the one ahead. It is a night to gather with friends and family and often times make a resolution to improve a certain aspect of our life. Some of the more popular resolutions every year include eating healthier; excercising; learning to better manage stress; quitting smoking; and getting out of debt. This year, I would like to encourage you to considering going to www.assetpromise.org and including a resolution that will improve the lives of a child or children around you. You would be amazed at what kind of difference you can make throughout the year by committing to one simple promise!

middletowneye: 5th Annual White Out Night on Main Street

2010-12-29T21:54:00.000-05:00

middletowneye: 5th Annual White Out Night on Main Street: "Tonight the Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Council (MSAPC) hosted its 5th annual White Out Night to raise awareness and prevent peop..."

It Started as a Skateboard...

2010-12-23T16:18:00.001-05:00

...or maybe a board game and ended up as somewhat of a Christmas miracle. As I've mentioned before I mentor a 2nd grader at Macdonough School ever Friday during lunch. As the holiday approached I thought it would be nice to buy him a small present but before I did figured it would be respectful to ask his grandmother if that was ok. While we discussed the potential present, the conversation moved to how difficult a time she was having buying for all three of her grandchildren. We decided from there that maybe I could get a gift that all three brothers could use and I told her I would let her know that weekend what I got.

A trunk full of presents from some great people.

Later that day I figured it wouldn't hurt to send an email out to the Greater Middletown Mental Health Collaborative to see if others wouldn't mind helping out too. Earlier in the month, we actually discussed helping out a family or two so I figured the response would be ok. Turns out the response was amazing. Before it was even 8pm, less than three hours after the email went out, I had four promises to give. The next morning I had an 8am meeting and by 9am had over $100 in donations. An hour later I had an email from someone at DCF who would donate an extra skateboard that they had collected. Someone at Juvenile Court said they had talked and would gather presents and food for a meal. Another email promised $50, another $100. When it was all said and done, this group had collected over $400 in donations plus an entire meals worth of food and fixings. It was incredible, I had to recruit Dragons In Action to help wrap all the items (which they were more than happy to do).

When I was telling someone the story of what happened, she put it into perspective for me, "We always assume there's nothing out there, that no ones will care, and its not worth trying. What we should do is always expect a surplus. People will help, you just have to ask."

I know there are many who may go without this holiday, but it was nice to know that it will be one less family because of the generosity of this group who just needed an email as a call to action. I should also thank programs like the Salvation Army, the City's Parks and Rec Dept, Woodrow Wilson Middle School's "Wish List" and so many others that turn a potential stressful time for families into something special.

DIA helping out with the wrapping of presents...

Asset Message of the Week - Holiday Edition

2010-12-23T15:47:00.000-05:00

I wanted to take this time to thank you all for everything you do to support youth in our community and assuring that all kids are growing up healthy and successful! From a smile to becoming a mentor for a young person, everything you do makes a difference! So, continue to do what you do and I wish you all a wonderful holiday season filled with much health and happiness! - Melissa Robinson

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS A GREAT TIME TO BUILD ASSETS IN CHILDREN

Which holidays do you look forward to most? Which ones do the children in your life? Holidays and special occasions—when they work well—bring people/families closer together. Even holidays that aren’t perfect can be transformed into ones that mean a lot to family members.

Did You Know?

Families that celebrate holidays and special occasions are more likely to raise kids who have a strong sense of identity, are healthy, have close ties to family members, and succeed in school.

The more meaningful older teenagers felt their family rituals were, the more likely they were to have a strong sense of themselves and be able to handle the stresses of going to college freshman year.

DIA Toy Drive for I Have a Friend Youth Center - 2008

Families that share the preparations for a family holiday are more likely to continue traditions.

Teach Kids About Giving During the Holidays

Leave even a small gift-giving budget to go shopping for a child in need. You can purchase gifts in your kids' names. They'll feel good about making a difference in someone else's life.

Get Your Older Kid Involved During the Holidays

Turn your teen's iTunes obsession into a holiday help. Have him/her make an mp3 playlist for the holiday meal. It's a good way to keep your kid actively involved in the family gathering. Plus, sacrificing one aspect of the meal shows your kid not only that you care, but also that you trust with him/her with responsibility.

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Wishing you happiness.
-- Helen Keller

For more information about Developmental Assets, please visit www.search-institute.org and don't forget to go to www.assetpromise.org to make your promise to support Middletown youth.

White Out Night - 2010

2010-12-21T11:45:00.002-05:00

For the fourth year, the Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Council is hosting "White Out Night" along with local youth from Middletown High School's Dragons in Action, Woodrow Wilson Middle School's Rams in Action, and Keigwin Middle School's Cougars in Action. The students have been working hard to prepare for the event which is aimed at promoting safe driving on the New Years holiday by making posters and decorating t-shirts with safe driving messages on them. The event will be held on Wednesday, December 29th at 5:30 on Main Street in Middletown. The students will march up and down Main Street with information on the importance of being safe! Come out and support your local youth!

Sharing Holiday Cheer

2010-12-21T11:31:00.003-05:00

Woodrow Wilson Middle School has started a new program this year called PRIDE period. During this time at the beginning of the day students have the opportunity to work together on various projects, activities, and discuss various issues that affect teens with the support of two staff members. I have been lucky enough this year to work with a great 8th grade teacher, Ms. Sherman, and her language arts class on a daily basis. The kids decided they wanted to focus their time on some community service projects throughout the year. The first project they are working on is for the holidays! They have made holiday cards, snowflakes for decorations, and collected cans to send a basket of Mrs. Fields brownies and cookies to the nurses, patients, and families of a neonatal hospital unit. These are pictures of the students cashing in the cans this morning at Stop and Shop! I am extremely proud of them and hope they are of themselves as well! Happy Holidays!

Internet Plays the Good Guy in this Bullying Story

2010-12-16T11:57:00.002-05:00

photo from cnn.com

A while ago I found this really cute story about bullying that seemed to have a happy ending. People who know me and are aware of the work we do, know how hard we've worked around issues of cyber bullying and our attempts to get a lot of this stuff off the internet. Our biggest issues have been around facebook pages made specifically to compare and make fun of students. We've been very critical of slow response time (or even trying to get a response at all - and we're not alone) and so in some respect the internet has not been our friend around this issue.

However, in the story below, we have an example of how a community of people rallied around a young girl who was being teased at school for being different. The amount of support she's received is impressive and possibly a difference maker for this student. So as I will probably continue to demonize certain aspects of "the internet" as we continue to combat issues of teens and technology, here's at least one example of it being our friend...

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/12/09/katie.starwars.geek/index.html?hpt=C1

Sex Ed and Snooki

2010-12-16T11:33:00.001-05:00

I usually try to stay away from sex and sex education on here as it may sometimes be a sticky topic but I thought this was a well written article about feminism and the age of "Snooki" (seen above). With reality television dominating the airwaves and the rise of their stars as role models for our young people, it puts added emphasis on asset builders to make sure that a more pro-social perspective is being put out there. Things like fighting (verbal and physical) and promiscuity make for good "reality" tv but in real life make for very difficult lives and the more its out there, the more the line between the two gets blurred. Hope you enjoy and it catch the very practical tips for modeling and conversation (especially about decoding the media) towards the end.

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/16/sex-ed-in-the-age-of-snooki/?hpt=C2

Asset Message of the Week - Responsibility

2010-12-14T18:34:00.002-05:00

62% OF MIDDLETOWN YOUTH REPORT FEELING THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACCEPT AND TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

In Raising a Responsible Child, authors Don Dinkmeyer, Ph.D., and Gary D.McKay, Ph.D., point out four keys to instilling the value of responsibility in your child.

Key #1—Let them do it. Too many adults do tasks for children, instead of letting them do them. Why? Some adults think kids are incapable of accomplishing the task (which is true if they’re never given the chance to learn). Also, our busy lifestyles can keep us from taking the time to let children master skills.

Key #2—Expect it to take time. The best time to teach children responsibility is when you’re not in a hurry. Children will become discouraged, self conscious, and uncooperative when they sense they are being rushed, or are not living up to an adults expectations.

Key #3—Ask, don’t demand. Begin by asking your child to help you with something, such as doing laundry. Do it together. Gradually teach your child so that they can do it by themselves.

Key #4—Use consequences. When your child does not follow through with something that he or she is solely responsible for. Let natural and logical consequences occur.

Three ways to help your child become more responsible:

1. When you make a commitment, follow through. If you are unable to for some reason, take responsibility.

2. Create a chart of family chores, listing everyone’s responsibilities.

3. Don’t rescue children if they do something wrong. Let them accept responsibility and face consequences.

"It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities."

~ Josiah Stamp

"If you want your children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders."

~Abigail Van Buren

For more information on Developmental Assets, please visit www.search-institute.org and don't forget to go to www.assetpromise.org to make your promise to support Middletown youth.

Missed a Milestone; Happy 200th Post

2010-12-08T15:47:00.000-05:00

Apparently we missed a milestone on the blog but our teen driving safety post was our 200th post. Just wanted to thank everyone that is visiting, over the last two months (Oct & Nov) we've have over 2,600 visits to the page!

"Beware of the Urkel": The Battle Against Boys and Sagging Pants

2010-12-08T12:53:00.001-05:00

Not that I endorse this idea or am a fan of humiliation as a form of behavior change, I thought it was a very interesting (and apparently effective) attempt to get young men in schools to stop "sagging" their pants. Although the origins of where sagging, or wearing your pants well below your waist, have been debated over time, there is obviously a strong connection with pop culture over the last decade or so.

So one school in Salt Lake City started to "attack pop culture with pop culture" and decided to channel the 90's TV character Steve Urkel in doing so. Whenever a young man is found to have their pants too low, a staff person equipped with plastic ties, hikes up their pants (as high as their armpits) and ties them up there. Over time, the school has seen an 80% drop in "urkels" and students who once thought it was a joke, learned to take the threats very seriously.

To get the full story you can click on the link here: http://www.click2houston.com/video/26044896/

I'm interested in what others think, so please feel free to comment...

Asset Message of the Week - Integrity

2010-12-07T14:34:00.000-05:00

64% OF MIDDLETOWN YOUTH REPORT THAT THEY TELL THE TRUTH "EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT EASY...

Unfortunately, cheating and dishonesty are more prevalent in our children than we would like. In a survey of 3,370 high school students, about 9 out of 10 said that cheating is common at their school. The number one reason for cheating: It’s not a big deal. Yet honesty is a big deal. Of youth surveyed, 64% say they believe it is important to tell the truth even when it is not easy. And there’s a difference between girls and boys: 70% of girls say they value honesty, whereas only 58% of boys do. To instill the value of honesty,we need to talk about it, model it, and explain why honesty is an important value.

EASY WAYS TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO VALUE HONESTY
1. Encourage each family member to make a personal commitment to tell the truth. Honestly acknowledge feelings. Honestly admit to successes and mistakes.
2. Don’t overreact if a child tells you something you don't agree with. Children may lie if they fear your reaction.
3. Work together to come up with rules about honesty and the consequences for dishonesty.
4. Make sure to acknowledge when a child tells the truth about something, especially if you know it was difficult for them.

MODEL HONESTY - MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOU SAY IS WHAT YOU DO....
1. Correct the situation immediately when clerks give you too much change.
2. Be honest with sales people. Instead of making an excuse, say, “No, thank you , we're not interested.
3. Admit when you’ve fudged the truth and apologize.

A FEW CLOSING THOUGHTS:

"A true friend will tell you the truth to your face, not behind your back." - Sasha Azevedo

"No man has a good enough memory to make a successful liar." - Abraham Lincoln

I hope you all enjoy your week. For more information on Developmental Assets, go to http://www.search-institute.org/ and don't forget to visit http://www.assetpromise.org/ to make your promise to support Middletown youth.

Teen Safe Driving Awareness Week (Dec 5-11)

2010-12-06T08:00:00.004-05:00

(from our friends at !MPACT, who speak annually to our MHS junior class right before their junior prom)

December 5-11, 2010 is Teen Safe Driving Awareness Week in Connecticut. Attached is the Official Statement signed by Governor Rell, which recognizes the work of our organization, Mourning Parents Act, Inc., for its efforts in promoting safe teen driving.

It is a time to remind teens and parents of the need to follow Connecticut's graduated drivers licensing laws and to urge teens to exercise responsible behavior while driving or riding in a vehicle with other teens. You are in the unique position to have the best opportunity to send this important safety message to the youngest and most inexperienced drivers on the road.

Please take the opportunity to promote safe driving during the week. You can encourage students to enter the DMV video contest on safe driving. Details can be found on the CT DMV website at: www.ct.gov/teendriving. You can reach out to our organization, Mourning Parents Act, Inc. (!MPACT), to present our free safe teen driving program at your school. Details can be found on our website at: http://www.mourningparentsact.org/. Additional information can be found in our brochure, which I have attached for your easy reference. Making some notice of safe teen driving each day of the week in the morning or afternoon announcements would be a constant reminder about its importance.

Thank you for your assistance in communicating this important safety message to Connecticut's most vulnerable drivers. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to arrange a presentation by our group, or if you have any questions. !MPACT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization run by volunteers who have suffered personal loss due to teen driving crashes. We offer !MPACT's teen driving safety program to high schools throughout New England at no charge.

Sincerely,
Sherry Chapman
President
Mourning Parents Act, Inc.
860-209-7070

Leadership Through Paper Planes

2010-12-03T16:59:00.001-05:00

One of the activities today required our group to pair up and create paper planes. The object (as seen above) is to fly your plane the furthest. Middletown had one group make it to the finals for the entire crowd of 150+ and finished third overall (although the real lesson was teamwork and making sure the entire "team" gets recognized as opposed to one leader). Here are some pics and video of the excersise.

Today's Couty-wide Developmental Assets Training

2010-12-03T16:47:00.001-05:00

Today we have the pleasure of bringing ten students from Middletown High to a county-wide workshop on developmental assets. The event was funded by the Middlesex United Way and coordinated by Rushford and MCSAAC and brought together over 150 young people from each of the 15 communities in Mx. County. The students learned about the developmental assetframework, the principles of leadership, and how to create an action plan. Below are some videos and pictures from the day.

Looking at how assets promote healthy behavior and protect against risky ones

Taking the asset checklist

Leadership activity 1

More leadership activities

Writing letters to an adult who "was there for them." A very emotional excersise for our group.

End of the day group pic (we'll work on the boy's smiles..,)

Developmental Asset Message of the Week - 11/29/2010 - Integrity

2010-11-29T16:26:00.001-05:00

67% OF MIDDLETOWN YOUTH REPORT THAT THEY ACT ON THEIR CONVICTIONS AND STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS RIGHT

Do the children in your life act on her or his convictions and stand up for her or his beliefs? Having integrity can take a long time to learn, but the more a child practices this, the more likely she or he will develop this crucial value.

Talk to kids about what integrity means, and what it means to stand up for your own values. Ask them who they see as having a sense of integrity, and who they think backs down from their values in the face of adversity.

Applaud and support family members when they “do the right thing, even when it’s hard.” Maybe your child stepped in when another child was being teased. Or maybe your child admitted to cheating on a test—even though she knows the entire class cheated and she was the only one who got into trouble for her honesty.

Having values doesn’t mean much if you can’t stand up for them—an important lesson to impart upon children. Everyone’s values and beliefs are tested at some point in their lives, and it takes strong conviction to stand up for them in the face of adversity. Help children prepare for these times by encouraging them to have integrity, and set a good example by standing by your own beliefs, even when it’s hard.

Conversation Starters on Integrity:

• What does integrity mean to our family?
• When is it easy to act on your beliefs? When is it difficult? Why?
• What happened the last time you stood up for or spoke out about what you value? How did it make you feel?

Just recently we posted something on our blog about integrity, coaching, and high school sports which you can find HERE.

Further Research

"One cannot have integrity without also displaying a measure of honesty,” says Stephen L. Carter in his book Integrity. Yet, he contends that integrity is more difficult than just being honest. Carter’s three steps of integrity are:

1. Take time to discern right from wrong.What do you believe? What do you value?
2. Get involved in what you believe and value. Do something about it.
3. Admit publicly what you believe and value while acting on what you say.

“Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.”
~Spencer Johnson

"Integrity is what we do, what we say, and what we say we do.”
~Don Galer

For more information on Developmental Assets, visit http://www.search-institute.org/ and don't forget to also visit Middletown's own http://www.assetpromise.org/ to make your promise to support our youth.

Middletown Press Story on the Chamber's Mentoring Program

2010-11-29T10:34:00.001-05:00

(I just started this program this year, working with a 2nd grader at MacDonnough and its been terrrific. If you are having even the slightest thought about getting involved, call the number below and give it a try.)

Mentors: Showing children the way

Published: Monday, November 29, 2010

By Julie Anne Rancourt, Press Correspondent

MIDDLETOWN - Since its inception in 1992, the Middletown Mentor Program has helped thousands of children navigate the difficulties of growing up by forming lasting friendships with caring adults.

There are currently 56 children matched with mentors in 11 schools throughout Middletown, while fourteen children are waiting to be matched with mentors. A disproportionate amount of those – thirteen children – attend MacDonnough Elementary School, as administrators recognize the benefits of the program and more mentors become interested in helping the most disadvantaged students.

Jon Romeo, Principal of MacDonnough Elementary School, said, “It’s great for us to have positive role models. We’ve had some high profile mentors, such as the mayor, and it just lights up the children. It’s the highlight of their week when the mentors come in.”

Mentors usually meet their student once a week for lunch or during recess time to talk, play a game or just share some time together.

Romeo recounted a time when, following the Kleen Energy explosion, a student recognized the mayor on television and remarked, “Eli’s mentor is on TV.”

In addition to the mayor, the mentor program has attracted retired individuals, members of the Middletown Police Department - including former Chief Lynn Baldoni and current Acting Chief Patrick McMahon – members of the Middletown Fire Department, and community leaders from across the city.

Marc Sadinsky, a salesman for Intel Corporation, has been involved with the program for 14 years, mentoring five children in five different schools.

“The kids don’t care about titles, they just want someone to spend time with them,” Sadinsky said before giving newcomer Matt Pugliese some advice.

“The kids are cool, just have fun.”

Sadinsky recently ran into one of the first boys he mentored on Main Street. He said it was surreal to see this boy who is now 6 feet 4 inches tall and 20-years old.

The student Sadinsky is mentoring now is a little shy about discussing his troubled family life, and the mentor isn’t meant to be a councilor, so they vary activities such as having lunch, going to the school library or gym and just spending that time together each week. Sadinsky said he found out through the evaluation forms that the students and mentors fill out every year that the highlight for the student last year when Sadinsky brought McDonald’s lunch for them both.

“I don’t eat that stuff, but that was really cool for him, so I made an exception,” Sadinsky said.

Oddfellows Theater Managing Director Matt Pugliese recently joined the mentoring program and was surprised to find out that his student was adjusting to life with a cochlear implant, which Pugliese’s mother also had. The student is learning American Sign Language and Pugliese was pleased that he could help with that process.

“This was a genuine opportunity for two people to get to know each other,” Pugliese said.

Hal Kaplan, who coordinates the program, which is a joint effort between the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Education, said he listens to what the mentors tell him in matching them with students. There are never enough mentors for all the students in the program and they have especially have difficulty attracting men to be mentors.

Jeffrey Cohen, from WNPR, met his student before he entered the mentoring program through a hiking club. With his work schedule, it’s difficult for the pair to meet during lunch, so they meet one morning a week, usually to play basketball, checkers or check out bugs.

“We started doing homework, but it wasn’t much fun and he’s really into bugs. And you’re not a teacher, you’re not a social worker, you just come and hang out. You don’t need a certain skill set, it’s mostly about consistency,” Cohen said.

The journalist has two young children, the oldest of which will be entering kindergarten next year at the school.

“The schools are the focal point of the neighborhood and this is a great way to become involved in that community and, as a perspective parent, evaluate the school,” Cohen said, adding, “And it’s important to model that behavior for my kids.”

Sadinsky also said his children, a junior in high school and an eighth-grader, think it’s cool that he spends time with his student.

Sadinsky summed up the mentor experience by saying, “It’s fun, you make a difference, and that to me is just great.”

For those interested in the program, they can call (860) 347-6924.

News Coverage from Monday's Bullying Conference

2010-11-24T16:59:00.000-05:00

The Gov's Prevention Partnership forum on bullying received some great news coverage, which included pieces from MHS Junior Antanisha Outlaw's presentation. Not sure how to embed this video, so you'll have to watch it on NBC 30's site using the following link:
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/station/as-seen-on/Trying_To_Beat_School_Bullying_Hartford-109975464.html

You can also find a full article on the event on the Courant's website HERE.

Another Conference, More Great Info

2010-11-23T23:21:00.001-05:00

Today I attended the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Adivosry Committee's Children, Youth, & Police Conference. It focused on sexting, cyberbullying, and the importance of laughter. Looking forward to sharing a number of great resources with you all soon.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.2

Support MHS/Xaxier Game as HS Game of the Week

2010-11-22T17:25:00.001-05:00

Taken from Middletown Press

Please visit NBC 30 at the link below and vote for the Middletown High/Xavier Game on Thanksgiving as the Dunkin Donuts High School Football Game of the Week!

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local-beat/Dunkin-Donuts-High-School-Football-Game-of-the-Week-112510-Week-11-109748629.html

Middletown Student Presents at Capital Today

2010-11-22T17:18:00.002-05:00

MHS Jr. Antanisha Outlaw (1st row, last on the right) at today's bullying conference.

This afternoon the Governor's Prevention Partnership hosted "Bullying in the Classroom...and the Chatroom" in the state legislative building. The presention featured keynote speaker Kevin Jennings from the US Dept of Education, and also included a panel of young people affected by bullying, state policy leaders, and local stakeholders, who have experienced success in tackling the problem. Of interest, was that one of our own, was a member of this esteemed panel.

Antanisha Outlaw, a junior at Middletown High School, was asked to speak on behalf of her role as an ally or an active bystander in a bullying situation here in Middletown. She was one of two students on the panel who spoke from that perspective. Ms. Outlaw noted finding a friend in tears and immediately getting them help from the administration while also confronting the aggressors directly, questioning why they would want to cause such harm to another student. The crowd included over 600 people scattered through out the building and I can't tell you how proud I was to accompany her there today. She made our entire community proud!

Assistant Deputy Director Jennings who also serves as the Director for the Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools (the deptarment in charge of school climate and bullying) offered a fantastic presentation on the issue of bullying which can be found HERE. There was a lot to digest and I look forward to sharing more info with you all soon.

Asset Message of the Week 11/22 Equality and Social Justice

2010-11-22T16:53:00.001-05:00

53% OF MIDDLETOWN YOUTH REPORT PLACING HIGH VALUE ON PROMOTING EQUALITY AND REDUCING HUNGER AND POVERTY

As we watch the images on television of people starving or suffering from a terrible injustice, the pictures may stir something within us. But that stirring can easily be lost once we turn off the television and walk away. Kids who are concerned about equality and reducing hunger and poverty may or may not know what life is like for those who suffer from these conditions, but they do discover that it’s a good idea to care for people—all people. They care about people they don’t know,who live a world away and who may have many critical needs. They want to do something to make the world a better place.

IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ONE PERSON TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

On a cold December night in 1983, 11-year-old Trevor Ferrell saw a TV newscast about people living on the streets. Those images stirred a compassion deep within Trevor and he pleaded with his parents to take him to downtown Philadelphia so he could give his blanket and pillow to the first homeless person he met. In ensuing weeks, with the help of family, classmates and neighbors, Trevor made nightly trips into Philadelphia to distribute food, clothing and blankets to the needy. Through hundreds of generous citizens and businesses, this little "campaign" soon grew into places to stay and an entire array of services. The dream and compassion of one small boy has taken on a life of its own and become an integral part of the vital services offered to the estimated 24,000 homeless of Philadelphia. For more information about Trevor's Place, visit http://www.trevorscampaign.org/

As many of you know, we have a widely used food pantry in this community called Amazing Grace. Their Families Feeding Families program might be a great way to sustain this message with a young person...

Three additional ideas for building this asset within your family could be:

1. As a family, discuss your views about equality and social justice. Choose one cause to follow and help.
2.Together, write a letter to the editor about a social issue that concerns you.
3. Model this asset by continuing to care for all people.

"When one helps another, both gain strength.” - Ecuadorian proverb

"Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable." -Anon.

Congrats to Oddfellows...

2010-11-22T07:07:00.001-05:00

For having a terrific finale of their RUR show. Very cool set and story and all the young people were great. I didn't feel comfortable taking a picture during the performance but here's a shot of Jeffrey Allen welcoming the nearly sold out crowd.

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A Day in Meetings

2010-11-19T16:22:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a pretty busy day for me but one that I think does a nice job of answering the question of what does a YSB do? So here was my day in meetings:

9:45am - Children's Coalition Meeting (focusing on parent engagement and empowerment-pic below)
10:45am - Children's Coalition Advocates Meeting (discussing the election and possible implacations for youth)
12:00pm - Meeting with two CT Youth Services Association representative to discuss the Middletown Court District's Juvenile Justice reform iniatiative (called the LIST) which this YSB is coordinating
3:00pm - Chaired the Juvenile Review Board (program we coordinate for first time juvenile offenders)
5:00pm - Middletown Youth Services Bureau Advisory Board (where we discussed the issue of cyberbullying on facebook.com)
6:30pm - Middletown High School PTA/Partnerships Meeeting (where I prepped two students to make a presentation on Dragons In Action on my behalf because I needed to be at...)
7:00pm - Wesleyan Univesity/Sorpotimist Club - Developmental Assets presentation

The day allowed us to engage in juvenile justice, mental/behavioral health, youth development, community coordination, capacity building, youth advocacy, youth empowerment, parent enagement/involvement, bullying, technology, legislative politics, state-wide reform, among other issues and roles.

All in a honest days work...have a great weekend everyone!

Children's Coalition on Children Panel facilitated by Donna Marino

(I also got to poke my head into this great assembly held at WWMS by NASA called FMA Live which was really impressive and a great way to promote math and science to kids)

Photoshoot for our new Posters

2010-11-19T16:01:00.002-05:00

On Monday, we teamed back up with our friends at Co:lab and with photographer Derek Dudek to take some more pictures of Middletown youth as part of our Developmental Assets campaign. The photos will be used for flyers that will be posted around the community. Here are some pictures of the pictures being taken...

the fast paced life of a photoshoot!

Congrats to Student Presenter

2010-11-19T15:57:00.000-05:00

A big thank you/congratulations goes out to Amelia T. for presenting during our latest Developmental Assets presentation. Although this happened almost by accident (Amelia was attending the MHS PTA/Partnerships meeting initially, then came to join me at Wesleyan), her presentation was fantastic. She discussed her involvement with Upward Bound and how although she wasn't asked formally, she heard what the opportunity was all about and sought it out herself. It helped example that many young people look forward to challenges and we shouldn't assume, based on a profile or hunch, that someone might be/or not be interested in something. Although not meeting the profile because of how shy she is, Amelia spoke how the program has changed her life and helped her be much more prepared for college than she ever thought she'd be.

A special thanks to the Middletown Soroptimist club for inviting us to join them and have a great discussion around supporting Middletown youth.

ps just to clarify...the bright square on the wall is our presentation and not a supernatural portal to another dimension which it kind of looks like in the picture...

Parent Leadership Program Seeking Recruits

2010-11-18T14:32:00.001-05:00

The Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) enables adults (parents and extended family) to become leading advocates for children. The cornerstones of the program are respect, validation, and a belief that when the tools of democracy are understood, the public will actively engage in civic life.

This is not just a program it is a life changing experience. Students finish their PLTI classroom experience with the knowledge and power needed to prepare themselves as community leaders.

It is a process. You never really end the program. It becomes a way of life.

Selection

Students will be selected for each class with consideration given to how their participation will enhance diversity, strengthen the learning process and provide a unique perspective. Interviews will start soon.

Who should attend?

Parents, grandparents or other adults who wish to improve the lives of children, families and communities.

The Middlesex County Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) will be holding three information sessions on the following dates and places: Thursday December, 2, 6-8 PM; at PEACE, 616 Long Hill Road, Middletown, CT; Thursday December 9, at Middletown Adult Education, 398 Main ST., Room 207, Middletown, 6-8 PM; and lastly Tuesday, December 14, 6-8 PM at Perk On Main, 6 Main St. (Rte 17), Durham.

If interested should contact: John E. Robinson, Coordinator; at (860) 638-1463 or e-mail me at robinsonjohn@mps1.org

Oddfellow's RUR - Trailer

2010-11-18T12:06:00.000-05:00

As we promoted MHS's Alice in Wonderland a couple days ago, please don't forget that Oddfellows Playhouse is also offering up some teen drama with their version of RUR this weekened. The show is offered both Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm.

"If You Wouldn't Show Your Grandma..."

2010-11-16T15:31:00.001-05:00

"...then don't put it on-line"

An interesting story of a high school cheerleader suspended from the team because of a picture she posted on facebook. I really like the advice of the reporter at the end, using one's grandmother as a litmus test to what we should be sharing with the universe (or at least on facebook). Whether you believe the notion that the beer bottle wasn't in her hand during the time the picture was taken, I don't believe that to be a grandma approved picture particuarly from someone who is underaged and still in high school.