Whole Child… Whole Community! March 24, 2009

Cliché or Calling? “It takes a village to raise a child.”

The Village… “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” Nelson Mandella

Our Common Bond Children are 30% of the world’s population, and 100% of our future.

Can We Be All Things for All Kids? School systems are not responsible for meeting every need of their students. But when the need directly affects learning, the school must meet the challenge. Carnegie Task Force on Education of Young Adolescents (1989)

Meeting the Needs of The Whole Child

Our Vision

Professional Learning COMMUNITY Community: Common Character, Similarity, Likeness, Community of Spirit “This kind of community is founded on mutual respect, concern, caring, reliability, and commitment to a common, larger cause.” - Blankstein, 2004

When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more. –Anne T. Henderson and Karen L. Mapp, A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family and Community Connections on Student Achievement Family Friendly

Developmental Assets The asset concept is simple and based on common sense: young people need positive external supports and internal strengths in order to succeed in life. And, most important, they need people to help nurture these assets. And everyone can be an “Asset Builder.”

The Missing Pieces… Assets, according to our kids… A Caring Neighborhood…………………35% Valued by the Community………………20% Adult Role Models……………………….27% Neighbors take responsibility…………..44% Places High Value on helping others….38%

Hope? Reports that “My Life Has Purpose… 54%

Hope! Hope Transforms Hope Encourages Hope Heals Hope Empowers Hope Motivates Hope Nurtures, Inspires and Builds

Kids at Hope “I believe in me, because you first believed in me!”

Ready For K PALS Back to School Celebration Wellness Center B&G Club Summer Lunch Whole Child in Action Back Packs for Kids Kids at Hope

Hopeful HappyWhole A Community of Hope Happy people are hopeful people Hopeful people are happy people Hopeful and happy people are Whole Whole people will exceed their potential

The Greatest Assets “You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality.” Walt Disney

The Roseto Story Characteristics: Immunity to heart disease –Smoked and drank wine freely –Couldn’t afford olive oil – cooked primarily in lard Crime Rate –Virtually zero Applications for Public Assistance –Virtually zero Back-Breaking Labor in the in slate quarries

Healthy and Happy They took care of their own – generations Elderly as “the Supreme Court” The Whole Community Celebrated: Social Clubs, Church Festivals, Evening Strolls Mutual Respect, Cooperation and a “kind of joyous team spirit” “People are nourished by other people” Sense of support = less stress

The Connection In Roseto, “…they worked toward a common goal… …a better life for their children.”

Thank you!