2010 Journey Fellowship New Pros

Upcoming Retreat: August 31-Sept 2

Hello New Pros,

Janet and I have just returned (along with our new “Joy”, Lindsey) from a retreat with our Executive fellows.  We were at Country Lakes, where our first retreat was held.  It was a great retreat, and has us thinking about OUR upcoming time together.

Whew!  There sure seems to be a lot of change within the group: new places, new jobs, new travels etc.   This retreat will give us a chance to do a couple of things: (1) take a breather together and reflect on all that has been happening within our group and (2) understand more deeply the youth work that is integral to our juvenile justice system in Indiana.

So for now, here are some of the details you’ll need.

Retreat Dates:    Tuesday, August 31st – Thursday, September 2, 2010

Retreat Start:     10 AM,  Tuesday, August 31^st

Retreat End:       3 PM,  Thursday, September 2^nd

Location:        Camp Tecumseh – The Leadership Center (http://www.camptecumseh.org/tlc/)

12635 W. Tecumseh Bend Road
Brookston, IN 47923

Directions:      Attached is a PDF with directions to Camp Tecumseh from various starting points around the state

Lodging: The rooms in the Tecumseh Leadership Center are arranged camp-style, with bunk beds and shared bathroom space (separate facilities for men & women).   Please note that you need to bring your own towels and linen.

Phone Numbers for your cell phone:

Camp Tecumseh Leadership Center:       765-564-2898

Janet Wakefield:                                 317-440-7260

Tom Plake:                                          317-698-4411

Lindsey Baker:                                     317-213-5458

 

What to bring:

>  Your Journey Binder & Journal

>  Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing.   NOTE: Some activities will require time outdoors, so bring layers and sneakers (closed-toed shoes)

>  Bed Linens (fitted sheet, comforter, pillows) + Washcloth & Towel

>  Morning option activities (i.e. yoga DVD)

>  Music on your iPod to play during breaks and relax-times

>  Personal care items and toiletries

>  Your unique wonderful self

 

This should start us for now.  Please…

--check you email next week and Monday before the retreat for any further or last-minute instructions

--if you know of an email address that has changed, please look at the TO: field of this email and let me know if any corrections need to be made

We can’t wait to see you all…

Post Chicago...post

Hello New Pros,

Wow, I don’t know about you, but it’s taking a little while to recover from our adventures.  Even now, Janet, Joy and I are looking forward to our next…

In the meantime…

 1. The link to the photos I have so far is in the upper left hand corner of this page…let me know if you have some photos you want to upload and I’ll invite you via Picasa:

  2We’ve posted some resources from After School Matters (some of the handouts) for your future use.  You can also find them on this page in the column to your left.

3.  Also at this site, we’ll be starting to add the youth worker profiles.  You might see one for Timmy Template posted to the left right now…ignore that one.  We’ll send you a message when we have the profiles online.

Tom, Janet, Joy

PS –remember you can always find this page by going to thejourneyonline.org  homepage and clicking the link in the upper right corner: “I’m on the Journey”

Chicago Here We Come - Info You Can Use

Hello New Pros,

 

We’re just days away from Chicago, and it sounds like some of you could really use it.

Here are a few items in no particular order…also, be sure to check your email or the web site to see if there are any last, last minute instructions as late as Sunday night.

--For everyone meeting for the Kendall Cake Tour 2010 on Monday morning in Hammond (half the group is coming). 

We are meeting at 11 am Indianapolis time (10 am CST or Chicago time) at the Boys & Girls Club at 5840 Calumet, Hammond, In 46324

 (from the south, Take I-65 North to interstate 80/94 West to the Calumet exit and head north to the club) 

We’ll be talking, connecting, touring and meeting other youth workers in the area.   Our plan is to visit a couple of places before lunch, visit one place after lunch, and be on the road into Chicago no later than 3:30 local time.

--At the bottom of this email, please find some tips our photographer sent along about taking a good photo.  Remember we’ll be taking photos on Tuesday evening – professional head shots for your future use

--  Advice for the big city: remember as you’re packing to bring $20 or so in cash, just in case you get lost in the city, need to take a cab, see something you need to buy, etc.

 --In case you don’t already…Please bring your photo ID with you, as you will need it to get into After School Matters

 --The Cenacle doesn’t have hair dryers or alarm clocks.  If you find either of these helpful…bring them with you.

 --Contact Numbers for you and to leave with your “people”

 Cenacle Retreat and Conference Center

773-528-6300    (Crystal Chan at x218 has been our contact)

Tom Cell:         317-698-4411

Janet Cell:       317-440-7260

Joy Cell:           317-518-5353

--For those of you needing more direction about what to wear…here is what I’m thinking for myself:

-----Monday in Hammond:      Dress / casual:  trousers and nice shirt

-----Tuesday at Cenacle:         Jeans or shorts and casual shirt

-----Tuesday photos:                Suit and tie for one shot,  collared or casual shirt for second shot

-----Wednesday downtown:    Dress / casual:  dress trousers and collared shirt (no casual jeans or shorts)

-----Thurs bike and library:     Shorts and collared shirt, something comfortable, but nice enough to meet people and make a good impression

Hope this helps…looks like for Monday and Wednesday, it will be a little more dressed up, as we’re visiting people and places….

---

Info for headshots on May 4th:

• Wear solid colors, not prints.  The shots are going to be mostly from the shoulders up so remember that when picking out your top.  It's best to keep it simple and professional, try to avoid trendy.  Avoid white as the background will be white.
• Wear your hair like you would wear it normally.  Girls, try to avoid pony tails or up do's, unless that is how you want to be portrayed. Guys - however you normally wear it would be best
• Girls - make sure to wear makeup, you want to look as professional as possible to avoid any trendy, colorful makeup.  Something natural but still feels like you.
• Girls - if wearing jewelry, again try not to make it too trendy.  You want these to appeal to all types of people.  Especially earrings, avoid dangling ones. 

 

More Chicago Site Visits to Consider

Mikva Challenge (civic engagement work with high school students): Contact: Brenan Smith (312) 332-5810

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (youth organizing) Contact: Mehrdad Azemun (312) 332-7360, ext 214

Umoja, Contact: Mariah Neuroth 773-534-8877

One Week from the Windy City

Hello fellows,

It’s just a little more than a week before our retreat to Chicago.  Woo Hoo!

Here are several pieces of information, suggestions and a couple things we need for you to do in preparation:

 ·     Vote by absentee ballot for the primary election in Indiana, since you will be out of the state on that Tuesday (although you COULD vote at 6am on May 4 if you’re still at home and heading out)  You can download an absentee form here:  http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/files/ABS_1_2007_08_24_09_revision.pdf    At this late date, you’ll probably need to fax it to your county office listed on page two of the form.

Please fill-out the travel questionnaire at this link ASAP:   http://www.formstack.com/forms/?951789-2HYh5EbWqf         This will help us make recommendations and plans to help with travel.

 ·     Make final connections with the agencies / youth workers you are planning on visiting on Wednesday.   The survey above has a couple questions about that.  (Please complete the survey asap, even if you haven’t made your agency visit arrangements yet).  Be sure to let your guide know how things are going, and also feel free to email for help as needed.

·      To help with all our planning, we will be sending out a more detailed schedule of our retreat next week.  But for your continued planning purposes, here are two important times to note.  (1) For those of you joining us for the Monday tour with Kendall and others in NW Indiana -we are meeting at 11am Indy time / 10am Chicago time at an address you will receive next week   (2) For everyone still arranging your Wednesday afternoon agency connects:  You should be able to schedule something as early as 1:30 Chicago time (in other words, we will be done with lunch on Wednesday in time for you to make a 1:30 if need be)

We will be taking professional photographs of everyone during the retreat.  We have arranged that everyone will be able to get professional head-shots taken on Tuesday evening.  Every professional ends up needing this kind of thing for resumes, speaking at conferences, your LinkedIn profile, etc.  Although we’ll send some more info about this next week, our intent is to take a couple of different posed shots that might be handy to you in the future:  (1) a head shot of you dressed formal (business) and professional (suits, ties etc.) and (2) a more casual professional head-shot that might be you in less formal attire.  Be thinking about what you might bring to wear for these.  Remember, these photos are for YOU to use in the future.

       What to pack / wear:  During our retreat, we’ll have times for just about every type of clothing.  We’ll be in the retreat center on Tuesday, so casual is OK.  We’ll be taking pictures on Tuesday eve, so see the note above.  We’ll be visiting agencies on Wednesday, so comfortable professional would be good for Wednesday – wear something that helps you represents The Journey, your own agency , and The Journey well, yet is still comfortable and not too formal.  On Thursday, we’ll be riding bikes…so casual / sporty is ok, even though we’ll be visiting a program at the library.  Don’t hesitate to email the group with questions you have about dress, as I know some can get anxious about exactly what to wear. 

      Our rooms at the Cenacle will be single rooms but the bath and shower is shared and down the hall.  We’ll be in floors by gender.  So plan for your robes and shower kits accordingly.

In addition to your clothes and toiletries, please remember to pack your binder and journal, as we’ll use both on occasions during the retreat.

This retreat has a lot of logistics and details that can be a bit overwhelming.  As you think of questions, please email them and we’ll send out a FAQ if it makes sense.  Also connect with your guide group and each other as we prepare to have a whole lot of fun and learning in the Windy City.

 Cheers,

 Tom

Chicago Site Visits

Ideas for Chicago Site Visits

(Please share any possible Chicago connections that you may have- Email Janet@thejourneyonline.org)

Journey New Pros Chicago Site Visit Possibilities

Metro Family Services

Provides a wide variety of youth and family services including Community School Partnership Programs, Children in Crisis Services, Youth Violence Programs and Latino Youth Programs

Suzanne Strassberger – Contact
312-986-4000 

One North Dearborn, 10th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602 
www.metrofamily.org

 

Chicago Freedom School

The Chicago Freedom School Center for Social Change provides after-school programs that promote young people getting involved in social change.

Alex Poeter – Contact
312.435.1201
AlexPoeter@gmail.com

719 S. State St., Suite 3N
Chicago, IL 60605
www.chicagofreedomschool.org

312.435.1203 (fax)

 

Chicago Youth Centers

Chicago Youth Centers invests in youth in underserved communities in Chicago to help them discover and realize their full potential.  Wide variety of programming for underserved communities.

Holly Aker – Contact
Coordinator of the President and Special Events
Ph: 312.913.1700 ext. 424
holly.aker@chicagoyouthcenters.org

Chicago Youth Centers
218 S. Wabash Avenue, Suite 600 
Chicago, IL 60604
http://www.chicagoyouthcenters.org/

 

Street Level Media
Neutral Ground, Street-Level’s Multimedia Center offers after-school and summer programs to youth ages 8-22. Street-Level offers various media production workshops.

Steve Evans, Program Coordinator - Contact:
Ph. (773) 862-5331

Street-Level Youth Media
2459 W. Augusta Blvd. 
Chicago IL 60622
http://www.street-level.org  

Radio Arte

Radio Arte, 90.5 WRTE-FM, is a Latino-owned, bilingual, youth-driven public radio station that works to advance the voices of our multi-layered society. Radio Arte does this by promoting socially conscious journalism, providing media-literacy training; and creating programming that showcases music, issues, and events that are not featured prominently by mainstream media.

Tania Unzueta - Contact
Director of Youth Training and Community Programming
Journalism and Media Training Program, youth internships, community collaborations
312.455.9455×203
tania@radioarte.org

National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W. 19^th  Street
Chicago, IL  60608
http://radioarte.org/

Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (JISC)
The center where youth come when they are arrested and then processed into the court system or referred to partnering agencies.

Commander Robert Hargesheimer – Contact
Telephone: (312) 747 3934

Juvenile Intervention and Support Center
3900 S. California
Chicago, IL  60632
https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/Online%20Services/Youth%20Services/Juvenile%20Intervention

Chicago’s Child Advocacy Center

Uniting public, private, and community partners to ensure the safety, health and well being of abused children - The diverse staff of the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center works closely with the children and families to provide support and hope. In a culturally sensitive environment, these professionals serve as intake coordinators, court and family advocates, mental health counselors and specially trained forensic interviewers, all working as a team to bring hope and healing to Chicago’s abused children.

Kathy Grzelak, M.A., L.C.P.C - Contact

Director of Programs
Phone: 312-492-3700 
info@chicagocac.org

 

Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center 
1240 South Damen Avenue 
Chicago, Il 60608

 

Metro Chicago YWCA

The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.  Has childcare provider training and a center on sexual violence education  and intervention

Chief Program Officer
Loren Simmons - Contact
Ph: 312-372-6600 or info@ywcachicago.org

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago 
360 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 800 
Chicago, IL 60601

Chicago here we come!

Hello all you dynamite Journey New Pros!

Hope you are enjoying this weather – WOW – SPRING right into Summer!!

And the NCAA Final Four is in Indy this Easter weekend – Bless those Butler Bulldogs!

Chicago Here We Come!

I know everyone is anxiously looking forward to our next retreat in the “Windy City!”

Dates and Details (All times will be Central Time since we will be operating in that time zone):

Monday, May 3 – Optional Tour of Youth Serving Organizations in the Gary region – Meet at 12:00 CT for lunch and to begin the tour – Place TBD

We will be coordinating this with Kendall Marten.  Should be fabulous!!!!   I think there are 6 or 7 New Pros who said they could add on this extra day.  We will confirm this with everyone later.

Tuesday, May 4, 10:00 am Ct until Thursday, May 6, 2:00 pm CT

Place:  Cenacle Retreat and Conference Center, 513 Fullerton Parkway, Chicago, IL 60614
phone:  (773) 528-6300

 http://www.cenaclesisters.org/chicago-retreat-conference-center/

So are you ready to experience youth work in the “Windy City?”

Tuesday:  We will spending most of the day at the Cenacle in retreat – time and space to slow down, reconnect and relax   

Wednesday:  A day in Chicago connecting with Youth Workers and youth serving organizations

Thursday:  A morning bike ride along lake Michigan, meeting staff and touring the Children’s Museum at Navy Pier, lunch and closing circle

Your challenge for Wednesday afternoon:

What type of youth serving organizations would you really like to see while in Chicago?  Well here is the exciting news.  YOU GET TO DECIDE WHERE YOU and YOUR GUIDE GROUP BUDDIES GO!!

On Wednesday, May 5^th we will be spending the day out in the city visiting youth serving organizations.  The morning of May 5^th we will be hosted by a youth serving organization in the loop area of Chicago.  We will have lunch together and then you and your guide groups will  have the opportunity to visit youth serving organizations of your choice. 

Your guide group will determine which youth serving organizations you would like to visit and make the arrangements to go there on Wednesday afternoon between 1:30 pm and 5:30 pm. 

What types of programs would you like to learn about?  What dynamite youth worker colleagues would you like to meet?

We are inviting guide groups to decide what types of youth serving organizations they would like to have a chance to meet the youth workers there and learn more about their programs.  This is a great opportunity for you to learn how to network and connect with other youth worker colleagues – a skill that will come in handy the rest of your career.  You may have some Chicago connections or ideas already.    If not, we will begin to post possibilities on the group site at www.renewal.typepad.com/2010_newpros   You can choose from some of the ideas there, and your guides may be able to offer suggestions as well. 

Your guide group can decide to go as group or divide up into pairs depending on their interests.  We don’t want any of the New Pros going solo so you will have to discuss this as group and see what common interested you may have.  There will probably be time to make one or two site visits in the afternoon depending on the location of the sites.   You will  have four hours to do site visits – 1:30 pm until 5:30 pm.  We will have lunch in the loop area so there should be lots of public transportation options for you– when you make your arrangements for site visits you should be sure to take location into consideration and consider how you will get there from the loop – we can help you figure this out.

We are hoping each New Pros will make at least one call to an organization to see what is possible even if you ultimately don’t decide to go there.

So on your next guide group call, come prepared to start the planning process for this exciting afternoon in Chicago.  We would like all site visits arranged by April 23^rd if all possible.

Wednesday evening we will gather around 6:00 – 6:30ish for dinner at a place yet to be determined but probably somewhere close to Michigan Avenue.  After dinner we plan to go to the top of the Hancock building for desert and then. . . .etc. etc.

If you have questions, please let us know.   Make this afternoon be everything you had hoped it would be.

Warmly 

Janet and Tom

PS:  We will of course have great weather for all this – smile – who is in charge of the weather???

One

 The time is fast approaching for our very first retreat together.  On February 23rd we will all meet for the first time at Country Lakes Christian Retreat Center, a favorite meeting place of ours located near Scottsburg, Indiana (off of I-65 near Louisville).

Our agenda will be focused on three things (a) building your own community with your fellow youth workers, (b) learning about all of the requirements and opportunities the Journey Fellowship for New Pros has to offer and (c) immersing yourself further in your own career, your profession as a youth worker and your self as a leader in this world.  Don’t be surprised if you learn some things about yourself in the process. 

We will eat all our meals together (they will all be provided) and our agenda will extend from the morning into the nighttime.  There will be the occasional hour or two for solitude and free time, but for the most part, we will be spending the entire time with each other.  As will be the case for all retreats, don’t schedule or plan to attend other outside activities during our retreats.  You really will not have the time.

The following will fill you in on the basic details for our gathering.

(1)  TIME:  Our first retreat is from 10AM Tuesday, February 23rd until Thursday, February 25^th at 3 PM.  We like to make the most of our short time together so please plan on arriving by 9:30 to give yourself time to check in before the meeting.  We’ll have the coffee / tea waiting for you.

(2)  PLACE:  Country Lakes is a large retreat center with comfortable rooms and large meeting space.  It will be a wonderful place for us to relax, retreat and use for our home base together.

Country Lake Christian Retreat Center ( http://www.southeastchristian.org/countrylake/index.aspx )

815 Country Lake Road, Underwood, IN 47177

 

(3)  HEADS UP: 

• Even though comfortable and casual is the dress for this retreat (think “cozy”), please pack a change of dress casual clothes that would be appropriate to wear if we went out to dinner or on site visits to youth-serving agencies in the area.  Nothing too dressy is necessary for our retreat.

• It will be winter(!). And we will likely be spending some of our time outside – even if it’s cold… and snowing…or windy. (I don’t know what we’ll do if it’s ALL those things.) So, bring clothing that you could hike in, throw snowballs in, and still remain dry and fairly warm.

• Get in the habit of checking your email the day before our retreats are to start.  If there is any last minute information we want to get to you…it will likely be in your email box.

• Monday Arrival: There is usually the option to arrive the night prior to our retreat starting.  However, we are unable to absorb the associated fees. Room rate is $60.00/person. If you’re interested in coming early, please email joy@thejourneyonline.org no later than Wednesday, February 17 so Joy can reserve a room for you. You’ll be able to pay Country Lakes directly for your room when you are at the retreat. 
  

Last…we encourage you to call or email the other fellows and work out carpooling – a great way to get acquainted.

 

Important Contact Numbers in case of emergency or need to contact us on February 23-25:

 Tom Plake cell:  317-698-4411 

Janet Wakefield cell:  317-440-7260

Joy Brown cell: 317-518-5353

Six

Greetings Journey Fellowship New Pros,

First, another note of congratulations!  Congrats for what?  Well, you did manage to find time to get nominated, beat procrastination and fill out an application, get buy in from your organization and get selected for The Journey Fellowship for New Professionals in Youth Work.  That's a lot.
 
Perhaps you're asking yourself:  What have I gotten myself into with this Journey thing?  (I think that's a great question to ask).
 
And even though I don't know the details that will be true for you (you'll be on your own Journey, so to speak)...
 
I can say from over eight years of experience with Journey fellows...the probability is extraordinarily high that 2010 WILL BE A PHENOMENAL YEAR FOR YOU!

Although you will be receiving more information about our first retreat at the beginning of February…

Here are a few explanations and suggestions about the inaugural year of this program you might find helpful:

• As you continue to plan and schedule for 2010, a gentle reminder to make sure that all of our retreat dates are on your calendar.  February 23-24-25 is our first retreat at Country Lakes near Scottsburg, IN (near Louisville, KY).  Of course, remember to allow for travel and transition time before and after each retreat.  You might even consider traveling to the retreat site and staying overnight, the night before our retreat.  Fellows in the past have elected to do so at their own expense, but found it worth it.  You’ll receive more info about this next week.

·         Please consider carpooling to retreats.  Look over the list of fellows traveling from your area and consider reaching out and offering (or asking about) a ride together.

• Courtney Stepp, The Journey Coordinator will be emailing you to ask about some of your personal preferences.  Anytime the Journey Coordinator asks for anything, know that it is important for our planning purposes and our desire to have your retreat experiences be good ones.
• Your organization (your supervisor) will be receiving a $500 check within the next couple of weeks.  The check was referenced in your application, and is meant to support your organization as it supports your participation in the program.  For example: If your agency needs to hire extra help to fill-in during your absence –this is what the money is for.  However, there are no restrictions on how the money is uses… only that it make life easier on your organization to have you participate.  Please give your organization a heads-up that this check will be coming in the mail.

• You've already begun to receive our weekly "Connections" email.  We send it most every Friday to the entire Journey community.

• In the interest of scaring some of you over the age of 25: we currently have a group on facebook for your group:  The 2010 Journey Fellowship New Pros.   If you are already on facebook, please join.  If you haven't joined facebook yet, but can see the future coming...we encourage you to join the rest of us who are learning about social networking and using facebook to stay in touch on behalf of ourselves and young people.  It really is easy to join. 

• If you have aggressive email filters in place, please make sure that the email addresses tom, courtney and janet all @thejourneyonline.org are able to get to you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me directly (or call me 317-698-4411).  Again, you will be hearing from us again about our first time together in February. 
 
On behalf of Janet and Courtney too, I hope the rest of your month is filled with meaningful work and people who love you.

Kindly,
 
Tom Plake
Chief Experience Officer
The Journey