Hand Up, Not a Hand Out

There are a number of different “Hand Up Not A Hand Out” programs that you can subscribe to.  The Downtown Sacramento project is focused on reducing panhandling in downtown Sacramento by encouraging compassionate folks to donate to a trusted provider who will support the hungry and the homeless.  The Stand Down Program in San Diego works with homeless veterans which focuses on giving veterans a safe haven until they can reconnect with the world.  The federal Lifeline program is there to help families stay in touch, especially in these challenging economic times.  All of these programs are filling existing needs.  They are intervening in the lives of people who need support and a hand-up.

Entrusted Legacy takes a look at this challenge from a different vantage point:  prevention rather than intervening once something has gone awry.  Entrusted Legacy is interested in proactively supporting the development of role models and mentors so youth can make the connections needed to build resiliency and grit.  The work being done around the importance of non-cognitive skills (Paul Tough—How Children Succeed) confirms our belief that these two essentials supports the full development of young people and that the best place to develop those non-cognitive skills is with a caring role model and mentor.  

Entrusted Legacy has partnered with Consult 4 Kids to provide a comprehensive staff development program tailored for their needs.  Entrust Your Legacy with us.  Invest today in the future of all of our children and youth.  Find out more about Entrusted Legacy on our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org   Help us to support those who work with other people’s children every day be an outstanding role model or mentor.  

Bringing Will to the Table

A recent article was posted that shared a young man’s perspective that formal education had not served him well—in fact he didn’t believe that he had learned anything important at school.  He spoke about the influences outside of the school system and how he had capitalized on opportunities to learn on his own. 

This article brings two things to my mind.  One is a question for the young man and the second a question for the system.  For the young man I would ask, “What about the system kept you from bringing the “will to learn” to the table when it is clear that you weren’t “anti-learning” as you engaged in learning in out-of-school spaces?  An easy response is that the classes didn’t seem relevant (although he did attend school for quite a while), but I also wonder about the connections he did or did not make with the adults at the school.  We know how important relationships with a positive role model and mentor are for youth.  What relationships were in place during his school experience?  Finally, were the classes more than irrelevant?  Were they also lacking rigor or so challenging that this young man could not feel successful?  More questions than answers, but I am curious.  Certainly bringing “will” to the table is essential, but when that “will” is spent in other learning activities, the question becomes, why not here at school?

For the school system I would ask what efforts were made to build the non-cognitive skills (those that we know are predictors of success beyond academic achievement)?  Is there anything being done to consider all aspects of a young person—social, emotional, physical, as well as cognitive?  Did anyone get to know this young man and his hopes and dreams?  Did the 3 R’s—relationships, relevance, and rigor come into play?

Out-of-school time can offer the 3 R’s through staff that are positive role models for mentors and youth.  This is an essential ingredient to success.  To ensure that out-of-school time staff members are prepared for this essential role, Entrusted Legacy has partnered with Consult 4 Kids to provide a comprehensive staff development program tailored for their needs.  Join with us as we work to share this system with all out-of-school time providers.  Entrust your Legacy with us.  Make an investment in the future by going to our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org and clicking on the “donate” tab.

Changing the Learning Experience for Youth

What sort of experience do we want youth to have in our afterschool and other out-or-school time programs?  The Learning in Afterschool and Summer Principles capture this clearly—learning that is active, collaborative, meaningful, develops skills and broadens horizons.  Experiences for youth that embody these principles are key to closing the opportunity gap and creating citizens of the world.

The challenge is this—to be able to ensure that those experiences are provided, out-of-school time staff must be well prepared to be positive role models and mentors and understand the dynamics of working with youth.  Staff must be professional, focused on safety, understand how to manage the many different environments of out-of-school time while supporting positive behavior choices and implementing a fair and consistent discipline system.  These leaders must also understand holistic instruction how to manage transitions and debriefing the learning, and internalize the difference between direct and tell and questioning to connection. 

Entrusted Legacy is partnering with Consult 4 Kids to provide access to web-based training that is written, audio, video, and complete with a tracking system.  Help us to reach all of the out-of-school time professionals by investing in the future.  Go to our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org and join with others to make a difference and leave a legacy.

Leaving a Legacy—Why Is That Important?

When you are young one of the last things you are thinking about is leaving a legacy.  Your focus is on the here and now—the living you are trying to make and the lifestyle you are eager to create.  What if there was a way to also create a legacy that you probably wouldn’t even notice?  There is!  Did you know that if you began investing a dollar a day when you are 21, you will have every opportunity to give over $20,000 to support a cause and something you believe in during your lifetime?  And when your investment combines with the investments of others, the power of working together makes a difference.

Entrusted Legacy gives you a way to make a difference in the lives of youth by seeing to it that the adults who work with them are well prepared to be a positive role model and mentor.  Every investment of $60 has the potential of reaching over 300 youth, and that is a conservative estimate of the ripples that are set in motion.  Begin building your legacy today.  Invest on our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org 

Win an iPad by Getting Involved with ETL's Winter Raffle

Each day, millions of children attend after-school programs. These are places that they can attend for help with homework, engage in enrichment activities, connect with friends and have a safe place to be until their parents get off of work.  After-school programs become a home away from home for many young people and their families. 

After-school programs are funded by state and federal programs, and there is only so much money to go around.  Entrusted Legacy, along with Consult4Kids, has made it our goal to ensure that the adults that so generously give their time work and volunteer in after-school have the training, materials and support necessary to be the best educators and role models they can be. 

We need your help!  Every year we hold the Competent Adults, Capable Kids Fundraiser!  This annual fundraiser is a win-win for everyone involved - A chance to win fabulous prizes and a help a worthy cause.  All raffle proceeds directly fund training and support for California after-school programs.  This year we are holding a fundraising event to accompany the raffle! Visit us on December 14 for food, fun and fundraising.

Here’s how you can get involved:

• Purchase raffle tickets!  Enter for your chance to win prizes like… a trip to Cancun or a gift pack of signed children’s books, and more!
• Sell raffle tickets!  The top seller wins an iPad!
• Volunteer at the event!
• Share the Competent Adults, Capable Kids Fundraiser with your friends, family and co-workers!  For every person you refer to sell raffle tickets, you will receive $5 worth of tickets FREE!
• Invite your social media followers to Like and Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

 If you’d like even more information, please call us at 661.374.0717! 

Ticket Sales will begin on November 1st, 2013.

Sign Up Now:

The Importance of “A Little From A Lot”

There is an old adage that states, “Many hands make hard work light.”  This thought is absolutely correct.  It is very difficult to do things alone, to ensure that change occurs, to make sure that every t” is crossed and every “i” is dotted.  But when we work together, the load is easier to carry and the impact we make together is stronger and more intentional than when we work alone.

Entrusted Legacy combines your investments with the gifts of others to make a strategic difference in the lives of role models and mentors for youth.  When each person does just a little -- the cost of one cup of coffee each month, collecting change in a cup, or agreeing to an investment of one dollar a day, the results are exponential!  The best part about these small investments is that it doesn’t alter your lifestyle while it is building your legacy.

One of the beneficiaries of Entrusted Legacy support says, “The training I received was invaluable and I am often reminded of how lucky I was to have been able to be a part of it. I will continue to apply the valuable teachings to every aspect of my life."

Join with us to make a difference.  Trust your legacy with us.  Go to the Entrusted Legacy website at www.entrustedlegacy.org today and invest in the future!

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.