thejourney

2012 International Youth Worker Exchange Trip Highlights

Oh Canada! Fifteen Hoosier Journey Fellows now have Canadian friends and memories that will last a lifetime. We want to share some of the highlights of the experience with you.

• Attending the Tenth Triennial International Child and Youth Care Conference: Inspiring Resilience - Building Capacity Through Self-Care, Personal Growth and Lifelong Learning (Including the Journey crew presenting a Journey Renewal workshop that had about 75 folks participate). 
• Meeting Youth Workers from Canada, the United States, Australia and other countries around the world.
• Hearing Dr. Bruce Perry, founder of The Child Trauma Academy, speak on brain trauma in abused and neglected Children.
• Hiking in the beauty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
• Visiting the magnificent Columbia Icefield, breathtakingly beautiful Lake Louise and majestic Banff National Park.
• Riding the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain for a sunset dinner together with Journey Fellows. 
• Immersing ourselves in Canadian culture by living with families in Calgary.
• Shadowing youth workers at a variety of organizations in Calgary and learning about the programs and the youth workers' work lives.
• Planning a return trip with our Canadian friends for 2013. 

Please, share in the memories of the trip with this short video!

  

In 2013 you will have a chance to meet these Canadian Youth Worker as they come to Indiana for a visit. And we hope you will consider going on the 2014 International Youth Worker Exchange to New Zealand and Australia!

Yep, you heard if right - New Zealand and Australia, so start saving those pennies. 

 The Traveling Fellows!

It's Time For The All Journey Leadership Symposium

Hello Journey Fellows,

 It’s September – yea, I know it’s hard to believe and The All Journey Leadership Symposium is just a week away! Download 2012 Agenda Public pdf

So take a deep breath and just imagine yourself sitting in the rocking chairs on the porch at Country Lakes, staring out at the lake – AHHH!

We are expecting you!

 Here are the rest of the retreat details for your leisure reading:

  RETREAT THEME: "Always on the Journey”

 Activities might just include:

-- connecting and reconnecting with old and new colleagues

-- learning ways to lead a “healthy and well-being” life

-- talking on the porch

-- clearness triads

-- canoeing

-- celebration at the Old Finn Homestead

-- walking in the woods

-- getting hard-pressed to relax

-- conversations about who we really are

-- dancing

 DATES:

 Wednesday, Sept. 12^th to Friday, Sept. 14^th

 TIMES:

 Start: 10:00 AM EST Wednesday, September 12th

End:   3:00 PM EST Friday, September 14th

(NOTE: Underwood, IN is on the same time as Indianapolis.)

 

If you are planning on arriving on Tuesday night and staying on your own dime, you simply need to let Melinda know this week.  You can pay Country Lakes when you arrive.

LOCATION:

Country Lake Christian Retreat Center

815 Country Lake Road

Underwood, IN 47144

(The Retreat Center is located just 20 miles North of Louisville, off of I-65).

Phone: 812-294-4789
Fax: 812-294-4790

Website: http://www.countrylake.org

 PREPARATION AND WHAT TO BRING:

 1) As usual…here’s encouragement to get done whatever you need to get off your plate, in order to (a) be present fully at the retreat AND (b) have an easier return post-retreat

  2) When people ask where you are going, tell them you are going to a three-day leadership symposium and then frown a bit and shake your head (be careful not to smile)

 3) Weather allowing, we will be spending time outdoors in both day and evening hours, so bring appropriate jackets, shorts, layers, etc for unpredictable Indiana weather.  No formal dress is necessary or appropriate for this retreat. 

 4)  The Clearness Triads. Remember “open honest questions” – Download Honest Open Questions Handout For Journals -  a chance to get clarity on something you have been experiencing or something you have been thinking about for your yourself or your future. 

 5) Car pool – Download Participant info for Carpooling Find out who will traveling to Country Lakes from your area – why not reach out and see if you could ride together – fun way to pass the travel time.

Other Packing Reminders

    ___your folding chair

    ___your journal

    ___your notebook

    ___yourself

    ___maybe a CD player or IPOD

    ___your story stick….if you want

    ___your guitar (etc.) because this is why you got it…to play

    ___fishing pole and gear (if desired, for lake fishing)

 

MOBILE CONTACT INFORMATION:

 Janet – 317-440-7260

Tom – 317-698-4411

Melinda – 260-224-1014

 

 Watch your email next Monday for last minute instructions..  Email us with any questions. 

 

See you there

 

Tom, Janet and Melinda

Congratulations and Thanks to the "Frozen Mobs" for Making Thank A Youth Worker Day One To Remember

A special thanks to all who participated to make the 2012 Thank A Youth Worker Day (TAYWD) Freeze-Flash mob an awesome celebration of youth workers in Indiana.

We are sure that awareness w as raised about the profession and we are hopeful that new connections were made among youth workers and with media and the public.

A special thanks to Coleen Hamrick, Therese Miller, Cierra Olivia Thomas-Williams, Vera Gaston, Parri Black, John Brandon, Debbie Zipes, Marta Fetterman, Julie Whitman and Jen McKinney for their leadership.

 

Below are mentions and links to video and articles for each of the sites where we have them.  If you have additional media, please share!

Lafayette

Lafayette photos and video provided via The Journey

Lafayette photos and video provided via CASA

 

Indianapolis

  

 

  

 

 Evansville

 

 Newspaper article on Tristate homepage.com

Columbus

Columbus video via Advocates for Children

Bloomington

Radio interview with Cierra Olivia Thomas-Williams and Kelly Frank

 

 Michigan City

Youth Worker Vera Gaston in Michigan City freeze-flash mob

Fort Wayne

Video featuring Jen McKinney in Fort Wayne

Feature in Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

 

Also, check out Cool People Care to see what they sent out to their network and even sign up for their daily email.

 

The 3rd Triennial All-Journey Leadership Symposium! (this means you)

How excited are we to announce that registration is open for our All-Journey retreat this fall on Sept 12-14 at Country Lakes Christian Retreat Center.

Every three years, we chime the bowl and gather EVERYONE--student, NewPro and Executive fellows (yes, this means Explorers, Trailblazers and Navigators) for a big retreat.  It's time to sharpen your saw and expand your network, and have some fun along the way.

What's the schedule?  Now THAT is funny. We'll convene on Wednesday at 10am and end around 3pm on Friday.

Sure it's going to include grounding....sure, it's going to include connecting...sure, it's going to be inspiring and motivational.  Haven't you been in need of some individual reflection time AND some new and old friends?

It's the Journey, larger than you've probably experienced.

So...the smart kids will be going to this link to register this week AND make sure it's on their calendars.  Remember, this is YOUR professional and personal development time.

If we push the limitations of space in the main lodge at Country Lakes, we will use the facilities across the lake for overflow...so register early to get a comfy bed.

More info to follow...

Tom

Freeze-Flash Mob to Celebrate International Thank A Youth Worker Day

On May 3^rd, We will be calling awareness to International Thank A Youth Worker Day by getting a little crazy (!).

In various cities around the state, youth workers and their friends and colleagues will be participating in a “freeze-flash mob” in public locations.

How it works:  Youth workers will gather in each city at the determined location close to noon.  At 12:05 local time, everyone will freeze for five minutes, holding the sign/poster that announces Thank A Youth Worker Day.

At 12:10, participating youth workers will “go about their business”—and we hope that means, having lunch with each other and celebrating AND talking with local media to spread the word that each day in Indiana, youth workers are tirelessly working to make sure Indiana young people are cared for, grow and develop.

Below are the participating cities and locations:

Columbus – Commons by Scotty's (The Lobby of the Commons if rain) 12:05 ET Lead: Therese Miller (email: theresem "at" apowerfulvoice.org)

Lafayette – Courthouse Square (Inside Courthouse if rain) 12:05 ET Lead: Coleen Hamrick (email: chamrick "at" tippecanoe.in.gov)

Bloomington – Courthouse Square (College Mall if rain) 12:05 ET Lead: Cierra Olivia Thomas-Williams (email: mwh.ppc "at" gmail.com)

Michigan City – Lighthouse Place Outlet Mall (Walmart if rain) 12:05 CT Lead: Vera Gaston   (email: vgaston "at" mcas.k12.in.us)

Evansville – Four Freedoms Monument on Riverfront (Old National Bank Lobby if rain) 1:05 CT Lead: Parri Black (email: pblack "at" youthfirstinc.org) 

**Important change of plans/time for Evansville’s Thank a Youth Worker Day Flash Freeze Mob:  There is a prayer service for World Day of Peace at the Four Freedoms Monument from 11 AM – 12:30 PM on Thursday, so we need to move the time of our event.

12:15 PM – Meet for Lunch at the Firefly at Old National Bank downtown

1:00 PM – Gather at the Four Freedoms for the Five Minute Freeze Flash Mob (which will be videotaped and loaded to YouTube – and hopefully we’ll get some media coverage, too)**

Indianapolis – Monument Circle (Circle Center Mall Food Court if rain) 12:05 ET Contact: John Brandon (email: john.brandon "at" mccoyouth.org)

Ft. Wayne – Downtown Courthouse (Lobby of the City County Building if rain) 12:05 ET Lead: Jen McKinney (email: jen.e.mckinney "at" gmail.com)

 

To participate, please arrive by 11:30 am and bring your own printed copy of this flyer. 

All youth workers are invited.  Please bring a business card to leave with organizers.

Janet, Melinda I will be with the most current group of Journey New Pros in Lafayette Indiana

Tom

You Oughta Be In Pictures - Journey Fellows Star in Youth Work Video

 

With the help of Rodrigo Cardoso of Motion Color Sound and with the support of the Indiana Bureau of Child Care, we recently produced a video for Indiana YouthPro Association to highlight the importance of having competent youth workers.  You might notice, among a few other great youth workers, 2008 Executive Journey Fellow Maureen Grey of AYS, Inc. and Andrew Black, 2011 Journey NewPro of the Indiana Afterschool Network starring.  Please no autographs, they are busy adjusting hair and makeup.  Congrats to everyone involved.  And please feel free to download and distribute the video as you see fit.

Melinda Bowman Joins The Journey Team as Executive Assistant and Event Coordinator

Hi! I am both pleased and excited to introduce myself as the newest member of The Journey.

My name is Melinda Bowman and I am the Executive Assistant and Event Coordinator.

If there is anything you ever need please, don’t hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an Email. I am busy learning all of the different aspects of The Journey and each of your inquiries teach me something new.

Tom and Janet have asked me to share a little bit about myself, where I’ve been, and why I am here. So, the short version:

I was born and raised in Huntington, IN. I attended Ball State where I majored in Elementary Education.

After college I moved to Charleston, South Carolina where I spent a year serving with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. My teammates and I traveled around the Southeastern U.S. doing everything from tutoring to trail blazing. One of our projects took us into an Inner City Elementary school for eight weeks where I fell head over heels for the students in my classroom.

When my volunteer year was over I stayed in North Charleston and accepted a position teaching fourth grade at a school in one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods. It was a challenging year, but a fantastic one at that. I realized immediately, that my students had needs that I couldn’t meet as a teacher. I instantly began rethinking my role as it applied to youth. I felt called to be part of their lives outside of the classroom.

I moved back to Indiana and was hired as the Campus Minister at church serving Ball State Students. The job allowed me to give back to an organization that influenced my life beyond words during college while attending Graduate School. I received a Master of Leadership Development with a focus on Not-For- Profit organizations.

I made the move to The Journey because I believe so strongly in the mission to build up and renew youth workers. I am excited to see what unfolds in my life as a result. The Journey is working hard for all you real life saints who make incredible differences in the lives of young people every day and I commit myself to assisting you in any way possible.

As for what I do when I am not at work, well I like spending time with my family and friends. My roommates and I have two energetic dogs who keep me pretty busy. When I’m looking for relaxation and renewal I go camping, cook, read, garden and volunteer. (Not all at the same time of course J )

I am honored to join The Journey team and am looking forward to getting to know the many faces and stories that fill its mission and make up its history. I can’t wait to meet you and help you in reaching your goals with the youth of Indiana. Don’t be a stranger, introduce yourself today!

 

Hi! I am both pleased and excited to introduce myself as the newest member of The Journey. My name is Melinda Bowman and I am the Executive Assistant and Event Coordinator. If there is anything you ever need please, don’t hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email. I am busy learning all of the different aspects of The Journey and each of your inquiries teach me something new.

Tom and Janet have asked me to share a little bit about myself, where I’ve been, and why I am here. So, the short version:

I was born and raised in Huntington, IN. I attended Ball State where I majored in Elementary Education. After college I moved to Charleston, South Carolina where I spent a year serving with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. My teammates and I traveled around the Southeastern U.S. doing everything from tutoring to trail blazing. One of our projects took us into an Inner City Elementary school for eight weeks where I fell head over heels for the students in my classroom. When my volunteer year was over I stayed in North Charleston and accepted a position teaching fourth grade at a school in one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods. It was a challenging year, but a fantastic one at that. I realized immediately, that my students had needs that I couldn’t meet as a teacher. I instantly began rethinking my role as it applied to youth. I felt called to be part of their lives outside of the classroom.

I moved back to Indiana and was hired as the Campus Minister at church serving Ball State Students. The job allowed me to give back to an organization that influenced my life beyond words during college while attending Graduate School. I received a Master of Leadership Development with a focus on Not-For- Profit organizations.

I made the move to The Journey because I believe so strongly in the mission to build up and renew youth workers. I am excited to see what unfolds in my life as a result. The Journey is working hard for all you real life saints who make incredible differences in the lives of young people every day and I commit myself to assisting you in any way possible.

As for what I do when I am not at work, well I like spending time with my family and friends. My roommates and I have two energetic dogs who keep me pretty busy. When I’m looking for relaxation and renewal I go camping, cook, read, garden and volunteer. (Not all at the same time of course J )

I am honored to join The Journey team and am looking forward to getting to know the many faces and stories that fill its mission and make up its history. I can’t wait to meet you and help you in reaching your goals with the youth of Indiana. Don’t be a stranger, introduce yourself today!

 

Another Journey Staff Member Leaves to Follow Her Dreams

As some of you know, we have said "farewell for now" to our most recent Journey Coordinator and Executive Assistasnt, Lindsey Baker. 

She has left us in Indiana to take on the job of Director of Women's Basketball Operations for The University of...wait for it...Hawai'i.

I guess if there's one thing we can say about our staff and fellows...if you stick around for any length of time, there is a good chance you will find yourself living the life of your dreams.

Best wishes to Lindsey as she pursues the work of her passions and purpose.

Here the link to the related press release: 

http://hawaiiathletics.com/news/2011/7/15/WBB_0715113424.aspx

 

"Sittin Here on Capitol Hill"

The US Senate Office Building was the site on capitol hill for the recent National Collaboration For Youth Stakeholders Meeting.  For many years, Janet and Tom have participated as members of the National Human Services Assembly.

The meeting was a chance for CEO's and Policy Directors to network and talk strategy when it comes to supporting young people in the United States.

The meeting was chaired by Kathy Cloninger, CEO of Girl Scouts USA and included conversations led by Karen Pittman, CEO of Forum for Youth Investment; Jim Gibbons, President & CEO of Goodwill International, and Cathy Tisdale, CEO of Campfire USA.

Check out the youth-focused policy agenda Building a Brighter Future

The Journey Brings Renewal to IAN / DOE Conference

On February 28, Tom and Janet facilitated a two hour experience of renewal for out-of-school time professionals at the 2011 Summit on Out-Of-School Learning. 

Fifty-five professionals packed in at the end of the day to hear about The Power to (really) Make A Difference: Renewing You.  Instead of a powerpoint presentation, they got a chance to interact, reflect on their own practices and make commitments to pay attention to their own lives so they can be better for children.