5 People You Meet In Heaven

Mitch Albom wrote the book, The Five People You Meet in Heaven.  His book was transformed into a movie of the same name.  In this book, Eddie, a war veteran, feels that his life has been meaningless as he has spent his days in the dull routine of repairing the rides at a seaside amusement park.  However, when he arrives in heaven he meets five people for whom he has had a profound impact.  He also meets a large group of folks who he affected less directly than the others. 

 Have you ever wondered what 5 people you might meet in heaven—people for whom you have made a difference.  Perhaps one of them will be your own mentor and role model.  While they certainly impacted your life, you changed them as well.  Each of you recognized your own unique gifts and talents because of the connection.  We know that every young person needs and deserves a positive role model and mentor.  It is essential as we all struggle to navigate a world that is yet to be determined.  We live in a time of ambiguity and a positive role model and mentor can be the most essential part of staying grounded and on track.

Like Eddie in the story, you might also meet a large number of people that you have impacted more indirectly.  While you might not be able to be a mentor or role model for the youth directly, you can support the efforts of those who work with youth daily.  Your financial support will help Entrusted Legacy provide training and coaching for these dedicated youth workers.  We need you and the children need you.  You can make a difference in the life of a child.  Donate at www.entrustedlegacy.com.  

Entrusted Legacy--2013

179 Educators

3,723 Youth

23 Afterschool Sites

5 Communities

3,902 Total Reached

Thanks to You---100% participated at No Cost

Rediscovering Hope—Our Greatest Teaching Strategy

Richard Curwin wrote the book, Rediscovering Hope—Our Greatest Teaching Strategy, over two decades ago, but the message is still relevant.  While I agree that “hope is not a strategy,” I do believe that it is an essential ingredient for people to move from where they currently are into a brighter and more meaningful future. 

In his book, Curwin spends some time discussing the meaning of “at risk.”  We all have our definition for this, but it boils down to youth being “at risk” of dropping out of school and not achieving their full potential.  Instead of spending time on what “at risk” is, Curwin devoted space to what causes youth to be “at risk” beyond the typical things we identify.  He begins by sharing that youth begin to be “at risk” the first time they feel unwelcome at school or in an afterschool program.  They begin to be “at risk” when they feel that there has been an attack on their dignity. They sense other youth are valued and appreciated while they are not.  They start to be “at risk” when they are labeled and cynicism sets in when youth believes, “What’s the use?  No matter how hard I try, I’m not good enough.”  Once the seed has been planted, the feelings and actions that become synonymous with “at risk” begin to manifest, the spiral down speeds up.

What can we do to mitigate this spiral and transport youth from “at risk” to “in opportunity?”  We have to believe that afterschool programs are for kids, all kids, and that when we support them it begins first by building a relationship with them.  We must let youth know that we value them for who they are and that we believe they have something important to contribute.  We must help them begin to HOPE again.

Hope is not one of those “one size fits all” things.  There are different kinds of hope.  Hope can mean dreaming or wishing for something to happen that is beyond our control.  This kind of hope is like passive perseverance.  In other words, I hope this happens but I’m not really doing anything about it to make it so.  When we cling to this type of hope if something concrete and wonderful happens, then we can consider ourselves fortunate or maybe even lucky.  A second kind of hope is based on faith, the deep down inside you feeling that things will turn out all right.  This kind of hope too, is beyond our control with the exception that we believe it can be so.

The third kind of hope involves taking some sort of action—or being proactively perseverant  I think of the story of former astronaut Jose Hernandez who applied 12 times to be an astronaut----the first 6 times with passive persistence and the last six with proactive persistence.  When hope resembles this, it becomes actionable, and with actionable hope we have great possibilities.  One person commented, “People with hope chase rainbows and sometimes catch them.  Those without hope see little reason to try.  They do not believe that rainbows can be caught and that even if a rainbow could be caught, it would be nothing more than colored mist.”  Positive role models and mentors give substance to rainbows. Hope gives youth the courage to be a rainbow chaser. 

Please join with Entrusted Legacy in promoting hope; hope that is about forming a positive future.  It is proactive when we begin to orient ourselves to this future we have imagined.  It is the beginning of our future self and of being convinced we have the capacity to become so much more than we are.  If you are not able to work directly with youth to support them as a role model and mentor, then support someone who is.  Invest in the future by investing with Entrusted Legacy.  Contact us at support@entrustedlegacy.org or by going to our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org  

Reflecting on the Year

During 2013 Entrusted Legacy had an opportunity to try out several strategies to enlist the support of people across the country and the world to ensure that afterschool professionals are well-prepared to be positive role models and mentors for youth.  Some strategies were very successful—Kayla’s Campaign, crafting a grant-win plan, and figuring out how to enlist the support of individual donors.  This lead-up work has prepared us to launch into 2014 with a solid Business Plan and plenty of opportunities to make a difference in the lives of both adults and youth.  We would encourage you to check us out at www.entrustedlegacy.org and become part of our noble cause.  You may not have the time to be a role model and mentor for youth but you can support someone who does have that time.  Be part of what Margaret Mead calls, “small number of thoughtful, committed individuals” and help us change the world.

Our vision and mission have stayed the same.

Our Vision

·         A cadre of well-trained people forming the nucleus around which learning organizations are built

Our Mission

·         Holistically train adults who work with youth to be a positive role model and mentor for youth

Our Goals

·         We will service 100 Million Youth and 20 Million Adults by 2023.

·         We will prepare youth workers to instruct, support, encourage, motivate, and develop youth by being positive role models and mentors.

·         We will engage everyone in helping us level the playing field for youth.

·         We will uncover an individual's talents, skills, passions, and interests; preparing them to make his/her unique contribution to the world.

Entrust your legacy with us.  Contact us at support@entrustedlegacy.org, by calling (661) 322-3437, or going on line at www.entrustedlegacy.org and donating now!

Building Resilience

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity.  It is what helps us get up and keep going.  It is discovered by being persistent and remembering that you must never give up.  Persistence has also been identified as “stick-to-it-iveness”, “grit”, determination, resolve and tenacity.  No matter what you call it, it is an essential ingredient in building the resilience needed to keep on keeping on, especially when things aren’t going well.  There is an expression, “from adversity, steel” which helps us to realize that adversity is not unusual nor is it a deal breaker.  Adversity is to be expected and the way to overcome it is through persistence.  And when you make it to the other side of the adversity, you will be resilient and that much better prepared to handle the next challenge that comes your way. 

Resilience is also essential if Entrusted Legacy is going to reach its goals.  When we set our goals and declared them to the world we were also inviting the support of all who can hear us whether verbally or through writing.  We asked them and now you to join forces with us to ensure that our mission-driven cause could be accomplished. 

At Entrusted Legacy we made the commitment to ensure that no youth would “fall through the cracks” because he/she did not have a well-trained and positive role model and mentor to help and support them find the road to resiliency through perseverance.

We still need help from everyone to reach our goals.  Please join with us to make a difference in the world.  Go to our website and invest in this cause.  You can find Entrusted Legacy at www.entrustedlegacy.org  We need you.  Entrust your legacy with us.

Recipe for a Productive New Year

Entrusted Legacy is a non-profit committed to making a difference in the lives of youth through the role models and mentors that work closely with them.  Entrusted legacy began in our hearts years ago.  There was a time when we were satisfied to make a difference with the youth that we actually worked with ourselves.  As educators this was between 25 and 35 youth each year, and we were pleased.  And then we “advanced” and we realized as an educator with administrative responsibilities we could reach even more youth—say 700-800 hundred a year, and this thrilled us.  Then, we realized that through the power of the internet it would be possible to harness the commitment of millions to change the lives of one-hundred million youth and the twenty million adults who work with them, and Entrusted Legacy was born. 

Here is the recipe to make this dream a reality:

Ingredients:

·         One vehicle to provide laser focus (the Entrusted Legacy organization and website)

·         Many caring adults who will commit to sponsoring the training of role models and mentors (YOU)

·         A small monthly financial commitment from each of those adults (Price of a single latte)

Directions:

Mix well and share with afterschool professionals to ensure they are well-trained to be the positive role model and mentor they desire to be and youth deserve.

Help us to help youth!  Entrust your legacy with us.  Make a difference in the lives of youth everywhere.  Go to our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org and simply click on the “Donate” button and sign up to support this cause.  Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Being a Role Model for a Group of Youth

A positive role model is someone who others look up to and admire.  A role model is someone that others want to emulate.  Simply through “being”, a role model is inspirational and motivational.  Others can see the possibilities of themselves in the role model.  A role model demonstrates self-confidence but is not overbearing and arrogant.  A role model is humble and grateful for the opportunities he/she has had. 

It is challenging enough to be a positive role model one on one, but for afterschool professionals, being a role model to a group of young people—maybe 15-20 of them, is not unheard of.  So what are some things that a positive role model can consider when working with a group of youth? 

Remember that there are always eyes and ears paying attention.  How you respond to youth when they are the least deserving will speak volumes to those who are watching.

Learn to take a few minutes each day to connect personally with each youth.  Whether this is during check in when you are initially greeting students for the day or as you make your rounds during homework, look each youth in the eye and ask a question that is relevant to that youth. 

Celebrate the successes of your youth.  Chart your praises so you can be sure to include everyone during the course of several weeks.

Walk your talk.  Nothing is as important that what you do rings true and authentic to the words you say.  Young people do research to see if adults say what they mean and mean what they say.  As a positive role model, you need to “pass this test”.  If you make a mistake, own it and apologize-- youth understand that no one is perfect!

Finally, share with youth the thinking you do when making decisions.  This will help them to understand that good choices aren’t necessarily easy for anyone plus they will begin to understand how to think critically.

Entrusted Legacy’s work is to provide the staff development that role models who work with groups of youth need to be successful.  Help us to help those who are changing the future.  Invest now!  Check out our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org and contribute to our work.

Make A Difference

In the United States there is long history of philanthropy and giving.  There are so many ways that each of us can make a difference.  Whether we give of our talents, our time, our money, or our connections, we have the opportunity to change the world.  If you go back into the 1800s you can find the founding of the United Way.  In began in 1887 when a Denver woman, a priest, two ministers and a rabbi recognized the need for cooperative action to address their city’s welfare problems.  More than 125 years later, United Way is still focused on mobilizing the caring power of communities and making a difference in people’s lives.

This need to make a difference in the world has been captured often throughout our history and has inspired generations of America to be part of the solution.  In 1961 young people flocked to the Peace Corps and in 1990 Teach for America launched. In 2007 George Bush’s reference to Points of Light resulted in a non-profit foundation and in 2010, Entrusted Legacy was born.  What all these non-profits have in common is that they provide a platform for people to give back.

Learn about our story and the work that we do.  Please join with Entrusted Legacy and support our efforts to train and develop strong role models and mentors for the more than people who work with youth in afterschool and summer programs.  Check out our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org or by contacting us at support@entrustelegacy.org

Youth As Assets—A Fundamental Point of View

How do you see the young people that you know?  Do you think of them as possibilities or pains?  Maybe if you’re honest, you think of them as both.  Young people, in our opinion, can certainly be both.  Certainly they are the possibility of the person they will become and the contribution they will make to the world.  They are also the possibility of the contribution they can make in the present.  And of course, they can be a colossal pain as they challenge everything we do. 

Let’s first think about young people in a “future” state.  As they develop the skills they need to navigate the world successfully, those possibilities become closer to reality.  In the future we would like to see youth transform into young adults who realize Maslow’s Hierarchy and are safe economically, emotionally, and physically, build strong relationships with friends, family and colleagues, and accept the responsibility for giving back to the community in which they live.  If they achieve this they will be self-actualized.  Each young person has gifts and talents to be developed, and unleashing that potential is part of the work we do each day with youth.

They also have the possibility of accomplishing a great deal in the here and now.  I recently saw an interview with a young man who responded to an inventor’s challenge and designed and developed a device that would keep parents from leaving a small child or infant in the car.  During the interview the boy commented, “If I can save just one life then it will be worth it!”  This young man is not the only youth who has made a difference during youth.  Our programs can work on developing and honing skills by actually having youth utilize those skills in service and community projects.

Then of course we can’t avoid considering that youth can certainly be a pain.  One of the ways that they are best suited to demonstrate this attribute is through challenging the status quo and the “why” behind what we are doing and want them to do.  I am reminded of the story of the Christmas ham.  The girl wants to know “why” her mother cuts off the end of the ham before baking.  The mother responds that this is how her mother (the girl’s grandmother) always fixed the ham.  When the grandmother arrives for dinner she says that the girl will need to ask her great-grandmother who will arrive soon because she simply continued the procedure her mother (the great-grandmother) had used.  When the great-grandmother arrives and is asked the question about the ham she responds, “I don’t know why your mother and grandmother cut the end of the ham off, but I did it because my pan was too little.”  This story is a classic example of both the status quo (something we do simply because it is the way we’ve always done things) and the challenging that youth do which requires us to look at our own habits and procedures with a more critical eye. 

As a positive role model and mentor for youth we have the opportunity to support the view that youth are assets to be given an opportunity to shine.  Help Entrusted legacy support the training and development of youth leaders so they are well prepared to guide youth.  Contact us at support@entrustedlegacy.org or by logging on to our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org

Donate, Change Today!

The difference between yesterday and today’s youth is that today, many youths lack the positive role models to help them recognize their unique potential. I’m sure sometime in your life, you have had a mentor of some sort guide you to the successful adult that you are today. Why not continue this trend of guidance with today’s youth?

Entrusted Legacy, a non-profit dedicated to finding the necessary resources to help adults become mentor’s to today’s youth, wants to ensure that every youth has someone they can look up to. And not just someone who makes a brief appearance in their lives, but rather, somebody who will invest in today’s youth by helping them recognize their potential and guiding them so they can grow into successful adults.

There are many ways that you, a reader of this article, can help Entrusted Legacy fulfill our commitment to today’s youth. Some of the ways that you can help might be to just share this article with colleagues. You can also inform somebody about the cause by directing them to our Facebook Page and help us raise 250 likes, follow us on Twitter and help us gain 200 followers, volunteer your time, OR you can donate on our Indiegogo's Donor Page or our Website's Donor Page.

Because there are so many different ways to get involved, you are in no way obliged to donate any monetary items to our non-profit organization. But, I feel motivated to tell you that the monetary donation we ask from you will neither bankrupt nor burden you. Rather, the donation we ask for is just this, a donation. If you feel inspired, motivated, interested, or driven to donate, let it be from your own volition. If you are drawing blanks as to what is “appropriate” for a donation, allow me to help you by informing you how your donation invests in the success of youths.

·         $50 donation allows 1 staff member a full year’s worth of curriculum. This is the equivalent to $4.57/month OR 1 Venti Starbuck’s Latte/month!

·         $200 provides a staff member with access to the staff development training program for the year

·         $500 provides an entire school site staff with the staff development program and curriculum for the year.  

During these past few years alone, education across the nation has experienced many drawbacks. The decline in funding for education has come with many disadvantages such as: fewer staff members, 

cutting after-school programs, getting rid of art programs, an inability to offer necessary school supplies, and even forcing some schools to shut down completely. While your donation to Entrusted Legacy will not solve the education crisis in America, it will help.

Entrusted Legacy, as previously stated, has a commitment to make a positive impact on the youth in California and programs across the nation. Your donation, therefore, would help Entrusted Legacy by funding training and supporting the adults who work with today’s youths in these programs. If you are not convinced of our purpose yet, think of this—local after-school programs provide youth with a safe place to be after they have been released from school.

When a school experiences a budget cut, the first programs to go are usually after-school programs. In order to operate at a high capacity and have a strong sustainable program, staff development implementation is paramount to making an after-school program into a long lasting, thriving, legacy.We can't do it alone. With your help, you can support this mission to provide youth with well-equipped, positive adult role model.

Entrusted Legacy-IRS Tax #27-2049633

Donate, Change Today

Image courtesy of Scott Barlow

The difference between yesterday and today’s youth is that today, many youths lack the positive role models to help them recognize their unique potential. I’m sure sometime in your life, you have had a mentor of some sort guide you to the successful adult that you are today.

Why not continue this trend of guidance with today’s youth?

Entrusted Legacy, a non-profit dedicated to finding the necessary resources to help adults become mentor’s to today’s youth, wants to ensure that every youth has someone they can look up to. And not just someone who makes a brief appearance in their lives, but rather, somebody who will invest in today’s youth by helping them recognize their potential and guiding them so they can grow into successful adults.

There are many ways that you, a reader of this article, can help Entrusted Legacy fulfill our commitment to today’s youth. Some of the ways that you can help might be to just share this article with colleagues. You can also inform somebody about the cause by directing them to our Facebook Page and help us raise 250 likes, follow us on Twitter and help us gain 200 followers, volunteer your time, OR you can donate on our Indiegogo's Donor Page or our Website's Donor Page.

Because there are so many different ways to get involved, you are in no way obliged to donate any monetary items to our non-profit organization. But, I feel motivated to tell you that the monetary donation we ask from you will neither bankrupt nor burden you. Rather, the donation we ask for is just this, a donation. If you feel inspired, motivated, interested, or driven to donate, let it be from your own volition. If you are drawing blanks as to what is “appropriate” for a donation, allow me to help you by informing you how your donation invests in the success of youths.

·         $50 donation allows 1 staff member a full year’s worth of curriculum. This is the equivalent to $4.57/month OR 1 Venti Starbuck’s Latte/month!

·         $200 provides a staff member with access to the staff development training program for the year

·         $500 provides an entire school site staff with the staff development program and curriculum for the year.  

During these past few years alone, education across the nation has experienced many drawbacks. The decline in funding for education has come with many disadvantages such as: fewer staff members, cutting after-school programs, getting rid of art programs, an inability to offer necessary school supplies, and even forcing some schools to shut down completely. While your donation to Entrusted Legacy will not solve the education crisis in America, it will help.

Entrusted Legacy, as previously stated, has a commitment to make a positive impact on the youth in California and programs across the nation. Your donation, therefore, would help Entrusted Legacy by funding training and supporting the adults who work with today’s youths in these programs. If you are not convinced of our purpose yet, think of this—local after-school programs provide youth with a safe place to be after they have been released from school.

When a school experiences a budget cut, the first programs to go are usually after-school programs. In order to operate at a high capacity and have a strong sustainable program, staff development implementation is paramount to making an after-school program into a long lasting, thriving, legacy. We can't do it alone. With your help, you can support this mission to provide youth with well-equipped, positive adult role model.

Entrusted Legacy-IRS Tax #27-2049633

Article by: James Ringer 

Empowerment

What if you had the capacity to empower youth to exceed beyond all expectations?  What if you had the opportunity to empower role models and mentors for youth to be a guide for those who come to them looking for support?  What if you could impact the lives of youth and change the path a family is on?  What is you could unleash the power of a person to excel and reach his or her unique potential and share his or her unique talents and passions?

With Entrusted Legacy you have that opportunity.  We are committed to train adults to be personally and professionally effective.  Our efforts are focused on adults who work with youth.  We believe that developing positive role models who effectively demonstrate the capacity, character and competency to practice the advanced citizenship required in a global society is essential. 

Systematically we teach adults to routinely demonstrate and practice prevention strategies with youth, rather than waiting for problems to occur and having to implement intervention strategies. As the saying goes “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of intervention”. Educating youth in this way makes this metamorphosis of becoming a self-reflective adult an empowering instead of an enabling process. Just as caterpillars turn into butterflies, our youth will turn into adults, and our efforts will help them to become contributing members of society—teachers, ministers, bankers, construction workers, doctors and nurses, entertainers, service-industry professionals, and certainly parents of the next generation.

For us, it is not a question of “if” you get involved, but rather a question of “how” will you get involved. Entrust your legacy to us. Volunteer your time, give financially or introduce us to others who might be interested in doing the same.  Impact the lives of youth everywhere. The greatest education in the world without the ability to implement successfully is futile. Join us as we empower current and future citizens.

Impact

Entrusted Legacy (ETL) is a non-profit that is working to be sure that every youth has a positive role model and mentor.  We believe that most adults who work with youth, would like to fill this role, but are often unclear about how to do this.  ETL believes that one of the best ways to ensure the number of role models and mentors needed by our youth, is to prepare afterschool professionals to accept this role.

Being a role model begins through building relationships with youth that demonstrate the adult is interested in spending time with the youth, will be there for them to support them and help them make good choices, and ultimately believe in the unique possibilities the young person has.  Role models and mentors must have high standards for themselves and high expectations of those they mentor.  ETL works with partners like Southern California Edison, Consult 4 Kids and private donors to make this happen.  Recently, one person who benefited from this support commented, “I don't know if you know just how much of an impact you have had on my life (career.)  You have redirected my path, confirming to me that YOUTH DEVELOPMENT really can make an impact on our youth if we are dedicated to the systems and processes it takes to follow through with all the training you provided to me.” 

Join with us so we can continue supporting the growth and development of those who work with youth.  When we invest in one adult, the number of youth they will touch in a lifetime is exponential.

You can learn more about us by viewing our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org or contacting us at support@entrustedlegacy.org  

Entrusted Legacy’s Work

Entrusted Legacy’s bottom line is to holistically train adults to be personally and professionally effective.  ETL’s efforts are focused on adults who work with youth. Developing positive role models who effectively demonstrate the capacity, character and competency to practice the advanced citizenship required in a global society, is our quest. Entrusted Legacy is committed to the notion that “it takes a village” to positively influence the choices our next generation of adults make. From pre-schoolers to young adults, we must provide opportunities for youth to prepare and practice for the real adult world.  

When youth are involved with a well-trained role model and mentor, they are being prepared to be a self-sufficient adult who can build positive relationships with family, friends, and colleagues, and practice advanced citizenship by giving back to the community. Educating youth by example makes the metamorphosis of becoming a self-reflective adult an empowering instead of an enabling process. Just as caterpillars turn into butterflies, our youth will turn into adults, and our efforts will help them to become contributing members of society—teachers, ministers, bankers, construction workers, doctors and nurses, entertainers, service-industry professionals, and certainly parents of the next generation.

With the support of Southern California Edison and Consult 4 Kids, Entrusted Legacy has provided the DowneyASPIRE program with both online and face-to-face training.  We captured this training through pictures.  

Each person has a unique contribution to make to the world and certainly people cannot be duplicated. However, this ETL system of education, complete with best practices employed to unleash the power of youth, can be endlessly replicated. For us, it is not a question of “if” you get involved, but rather a question of “how” will you get involved. Entrust your legacy to us. Volunteer your time, give financially or introduce us to others who might be interested in volunteering time, giving financially or better yet, do all three! Impact the lives of youth everywhere. The greatest education in the world without the ability to implement successfully is futile. Join us as we empower current and future citizens.

Check out our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org or by contacting us at support@entrustedlegacy.org

ASPIRE Program in Downey

Entrusted Legacy’s bottom line is to holistically train adults to be personally and professionally effective. ETL’s efforts are focused on adults who work with youth. Developing positive role models who effectively demonstrate the capacity, character and competency to practice the advanced citizenship required in a global society, is our quest. Entrusted Legacy is committed to the notion that “it takes a village” to positively influence the choices our next generation of adults make. From pre-schoolers to young adults, we must provide opportunities for youth to prepare and practice for the real adult world. Systematically we teach adults to routinely demonstrate and practice prevention strategies with youth, rather than waiting for problems to occur and having to implement intervention strategies.

This year with the support of Southern California Edison, ETL was able to bring a comprehensive staff development system to the ASPIRE afterschool staff in Downey, California. “The goal of ASPIRE is to provide a fun, positive, and safe learning environment. The program operates school days only from school dismissal until 6 p.m. ASPIRE students are provided with homework assistance, enrichment components on enhancing educational skills, and encouraging healthy life choices. The enrichment program is geared to be fun and educational for both the elementary and middle school sites.”  Michelle Jenny from ASPIRE had this to say:

“Consult 4 Kids is an important website for the afterschool field. Being able to provide technical assistance to staff at any time is invaluable. With less time and resources for in-person training, this website fills the void. Being able to assign videos or to have staff explore on their own provides flexibility. We are so grateful to Consult 4 Kids, Entrusted Legacy, and Southern California Edison for their contributions to make it possible for ASPIRE to use the website’s services. We hope to continue this partnership and hope to have funds in the future to be able to purchase this on our own.” 

On March 16, 2013, Entrusted Legacy sponsored a face-to-face training for the ASPIRE staff.  Stay tuned for pictures and comments.