High Risk Girls Create a Film

I just came across this item I found interesting. Passion and commitment run through all successful ventures.

This project was inspired from the real-life experience of this project’s director, Tara Veneruso:

“Many years ago, I was an at-risk youth, and was spiraling downwards with drugs, self-destructive behavior and the next planned stop - jail. A vice-principal at my school saw the dangerous direction I was headed and stepped in to change my life by ‘hiring me’ to make a documentary for our school. I want to give back to the spark that gave me my life – a successful directing career in the film industry.”

Youth Sports: Cheating, Arguing, and Overall Abuse

Here's the good, the bad, and the ugly about what parents and coaches have been teaching youth in sports programs across the country. From a survey by the National Alliance for Youth Sports.

National Alliance for Youth Sports: "What makes much of these findings even more frightening are the explanations given for them.

Fourteen percent of all youth surveyed claimed that cheating was acceptable behavior, and 32 percent said arguing with officials is just part of the game.

Unfortunately, the responses from the parents and coaches were not much better. Of the coaches surveyed, 7 percent claimed to allow cheating, 8 percent encouraged players to hurt opposing athletes, 33 percent admitted to yelling at players for mistakes, and 20 percent admitted to making fun of less skilled players.

Thirteen percent of parents admitted to criticizing their child’s athletic performance, and sadly, 4 percent of the athletes recalled a coach hitting, kicking, or slapping them.

This study is in line with an unfortunate growing trend in youth sports today, one that favors the win-at-all-cost philosophy over fun, participation, and safety."

Use the link to read the whole article.

Teaching mediation skills to parents helps siblings resolve conflicts

Here's a press release that suggests additional services that mediation centers can offer --

"Children whose parents were trained in mediation skills had better conflict-resolution skills than those whose parents did not receive training. That's the finding of a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario and published in the May/June 2007 issue of the journal Child Development.

The study examined the effects of parents' mediation of sibling conflicts on children's conflict understanding and resolution skills. Mediation is a conflict management technique in which a neutral third party (in this case, the parent) intervenes in a conflict to help the people in the dispute reach a mutually satisfactory solution."

Read more, including the long-term benefits: Teaching mediation skills to parents helps siblings resolve conflicts

Photo by Mandus

Opportunities for Out-of-School Youth

IF YOU PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT, THE ACE ALWAYS WINS!

Out of Work? Out of School? Out of Options?

New York Center can help!

ACE stands for Achievement in Career and Education.

The ACE Program, an out of school youth program funded by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, provides young people aged 17-21 with a second chance at education. We work with the Continuing Education Department at the College of Staten Island to provide GED classes to our students, as well as career counseling and work readiness skills.

Young people who are interested in obtaining their GED, are looking for direction and are highly motivated to succeed should contact the ACE Program! We work closely with students and their families to ensure their success and we provide support, counseling and all of the tools necessary to become a well rounded, working individual.

ACE Program staff, as well as the staff at CSI, work with all students to guide them into college enrollment, vocational training, and job placement. You can always count on staff for support and resources. If you need it, we’ll find a way to get it for you!

IF YOU ARE UP TO THE CHALLENGE ,GIVE US A CALL!
718-947-4051
718-947-4063

Some of the crew at ACE -- Come talk with us. We can help.

One of Ours -- Outstanding Student Award! Bravo!

From Hilton Worrell, Personal Advocate in our new program for out-of-school youth:

We are on our way! Last night Jennifer and I had the pleasure of attending CSI’s Commencement Ceremony and I must say it was a nice experience. Not only were people honored for achieving their goals no matter what they were, it was also a ceremony to acknowledge the efforts put forth by those who have not quite made it yet. I personally did not feel any distinction between a college grad, GED recipient or newly enrolled ESOL/GED student.

To top the wonderful evening off, one of our ACE students, Nwachi Hartley, was honored for most improved student. The professor of his class gave the best speech of the night outlining his work and commitment to Nwachi and all of our students while highlighting their accomplishments.

This was captured in our first “NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT A STUDENT IN OUR PROGRAM “ We are very excited and expect more of the same in the future just a bit more frequently. The best thing about the evening was that our students left there with a renewed sense of purpose which we hope becomes contagious. Jennifer and I already feel it. Go ACE!!!!

Adults lauded for pursuing GED's

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

By ANDREW MINUCCI

ADVANCE STAFF WRITER

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As graduation caps are being tossed into the air at high school commencement ceremonies across the nation, the Adult Learning Center at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook took time to honor its 650 adult students who never received their diplomas as teens, for a variety of reasons.

“Raise your hand if you're a parent," said Staci Weile, the program's director, and countless hands shot into the air in the dimly lit Williamson Theater. "Now, raise your hand if you're a single parent ... if your child is in school ... if you have a full-time job ... if you came from another country ... if you left school to work." As hands were raised and lowered, the message became clear: These students had extra hurdles to clear on their educational path.

For Park Hill resident Nwachi Hartley, who received an outstanding student award, taking a class with Professor Huntley James helped him achieve more than just his GED.

When he first came to my class, his hand-held Playstation received more attention than I did," said James, as a beaming Hartley clutched his certificate next to the podium, "The road from there to here has been long and hard."

“It was a really hard process for me," said Hartley, soaking in the praise from his family, who turned out for the event.

Arcadia Ramirez's decision to return to school brings her dream of earning a teaching degree a step closer. Ms. Ramirez, a maintenance worker at Notre Dame Academy, Grymes Hill, where her daughter is a student, also received an award in recognition of her outstanding achievement.

The Adult Learning Center aims to give students, 17 and older, a chance to go back to school and earn a GED or learn English as a second language. Currently the program has nine basic education classes for students reading at a first-grade level, five GED classes, 10 ESL classes and two classes for those wishing to improve their existing language skills.

Before departing the podium, Ms. Weile offered a final message to the packed auditorium in the form of a quote by educator John Dewey: "Education is not a preparation for life; education is life itself."

Catch Renowned Mediator and Author, Kenneth Cloke, in New York City!

Don’t Miss This Opportunity.

Where: Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
When: June 14, 2007 from 1:30PM-5:30PM

The Crossroads of Conflict - A Journey into the Heart of Dispute Resoltuion
Training with Kenneth Cloke

Presented by the New York State Dispute Resolution Association

One of the greatest challenges facing mediation is how to wed seemingly divergent process styles, and a wide range of areas of practice and supportive disciplines. Join Kenneth Cloke as he leads you through an intensive training exploring the hidden unities that connect the many diverse mediation practices.Participants will learn the fundamental reasons for adopting a holistic, pluralistic and eclectic approach to mediation styles, and develop the ability to utilize each as the circumstances warrant. Dr. Cloke will guide participants towards synthesizing and integrating the full array of methods, practices, models and theories into an internally consistent set of linked tools. Training attendees will develop new ways of understanding and transforming the chaos and developing the mindfulness demanded by challenging mediations. They will gain a diverse set of tools draw from different disciplines and styles, which will enhance their practices.

Networking and Wine Reception at the Manor: 6:00PM-7:30PMF
ollowing Dr. Cloke's training, we invite you to join us at The Manor at 73 8th Avenue for wine, hors d’ oeuvres and refreshments. This is a great opportunity to network with Dr. Cloke, other ADR professionals and enjoy an evening out with friends and colleagues.Kenneth Cloke’s daily work over the last twenty-five years has been as a mediator, arbitrator, judge, teacher, trainer, coach, and speaker on a wide range of conflict resolution issues, both nationally and internationally. During that time he has worked with thousands of people in conflict, including doctors and nurses, supervisors and employees, divorcing couples, teachers and school administrators, labor and management, lawyers and clients, parents and children, neighbors, community activists and political leaders, siblings with deceased parents, home buyers and sellers and people who commit crimes and their victims. Dr. Cloke is the Director of the Center for Dispute Resolution in Santa Monica , California . He is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker and leader in the field of conflict resolution, consultant to hundreds of Fortune 500 companies, and a published author of many journal articles and several books. Dr. Cloke is currently an adjunct professor of law at Pepperdine University School of Law.

Pricing (6/14)
$95 - Members (NYSDRA or ACRGNY) and CDRC staff/volunteers (reception included)
$115 - Non Members (reception included)
$25 - Networking reception only


Register now online at:http://nysdra.kintera.org/kennethcloke

ACR Greater New York’s Annual Conference
June 15, 2007 from 8:30AM-5:30PM
Finding Quality: Promoting Excellence in Dispute Resolution

Dr. Cloke will as be featured as the Keynote luncheon speaker during ACR Greater New York’s Annual Conference on June 15, 2007. The conference will feature 15 workshops throughout the day, morning plenary session on mediator accreditation, luncheon keynote presentation, ADR Achievement award presentation honoring Theodore A. Levine and Safe Horizon Mediation Program and a networking wine reception following the conference.

Visit Conference Home Page(pricing, workshop details and registration)