Mixed martial arts bout between James Gabert (top) and Jose Rodriguez, Ring of Combat 3, Morristown, NJ, June 7, 2003

I shot Ring of Combat 3 on old-fashioned negative film, hence the funky, retro colors.

Mixed martial arts bout between Tom Muller and Erik Certo, Ring of Combat 3, Morristown, NJ, June 7, 2003

Grappling bout between Chris DiPaolo and Mike Wojcik, Ring of Combat 3, Morristown, NJ, June 7, 2003

Of all the great and positive things people have said to me throughout my life, I can still very clearly remember the things said to or about me that weren’t so nice, were untrue, and were hurtful.

It’s a strange thing that we often choose to give more attention to or remember clearer the ‘bad’ things.

If you are a person who believes the mean, hurtful, or untrue things people have said to you or about you, please stop.

If you are the person who is doing the speaking of those unhelpful words, please stop.

Choose kind words.

I’ve spoken on this before, but do you ever notice comments from people on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube that are just uncalled for and malicious? Usually left by a follower who has never met the person who posted it? It is comical to me but to me it’s sad.

Sad, because it says so much to me about the commenter, they are most likely projecting some negative thought or feeling they have of themselves, maybe because someone said it to them and hurt them.

Words and the feelings and emotions that accompany them are contagious. 

Check your self-talk. Your inner voice molding doesn’t end at childhood. Watch what you say to yourself, what you call yourself, and what you choose to believe and focus on. If it hurts, but it is in fact true, (like that you are impatient or have bad breath) work to fix those things. If, however, you are called dumb or even tell yourself you are dumb, immediately tell yourself the truth. While you may have done something that wasn’t very smart, the action was dumb, you, the person aren’t.

Speak to yourself and others in a way that will help them grow and will build them up. If there’s nothing kind to be said, say nothing.

Several in the Canadian media and the general public have become interested in trans youth.  It’s probably inevitable that many opinions and emotions have circulated as a result.  I’m concerned that some of the attention surrounding trans youth and kids is distorted by the (perhaps unintentional) omission of some important distinctions.

The medical profession has long recognized that gender dysphoria often first occurs in youth and childhood, and formalized this in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-III) in 1980 with a specific diagnosis for adolescents.  Treatment at that time often took the form of aversion-type therapies, but because these seemed to result in increased distress and self-harm (and not unusually transition in adulthood, anyway) it became necessary for that treatment to be rethought.  As years passed, it became increasingly obvious that when there is a strong gender identity issue, undergoing puberty to become a sex that one does not feel is appropriate to them can have a tremendous negative toll on a youth’s emotional well-being.  That puberty is also accompanied by major body changes, some of which could be impossible to overcome in adulthood, if that person inevitably transitions.

It’s important to recognize that the process for trans youth that I’m speaking of is not “sex change” and surgery.  This is often the conclusion that people jump to, but the reality is that newer treatments merely delay puberty until it is certain whether further changes like hormone therapy must be undertaken… typically after age 14.  German singer Kim Petras is thought to be the first youth to have undergone surgery at the age of 16, in 2009.  Since then, a youth in the U.K. has done so as well, and there was an unconfirmed rumour that someone in Europe had full GRS at age 14, but surgery at this age is very rare, if it occurs.    By the time this decision is made, a teen has typically had several years of living as their identified gender to determine if the decision is right for them.

Youth transition does not start simply because a child wants to crossdress on occasion or because they like dolls or trucks.  It happens when there is a strong and persistent identification that clearly indicates that there is something deeper than the usual experimentation phase which most kids go through.   If a child or youth exhibits a clear and persistent identification to express themselves as a gender contrary to their birth sex, in an obvious 24/7 manner, then arrangements are made to allow the child to live accordingly.  Although this social transition and accommodation in schools is gleaning much of the attention, the fact is that accommodation is really not a new phenomenon.

What is new is the use of puberty-delaying drugs, which is credited as having been pioneered by Dr. Norman Spack, at the Children’s Hospital Gender Management Services Clinic in Boston, in 2007.  If accommodation proves to be an appropriate way to alleviate emotional distress, parents and doctors might then consider pharmacologically delaying the effects of testosterone or estrogen which would otherwise typically trigger puberty.  Even at this stage, everything is reversible, in the event that a youth changes their mind.  It isn’t until hormone therapies are started that changes occur, and that generally happens after there has been much time to consider the consequences, and the youth is able to make a mature and informed decision.

This process is undertaken carefully, with a desire to approach things in a balanced way that neither encourages someone to follow a path if they don’t need to, nor waits until a self-destructive event occurs to prove necessity.  Even so, Dr. Spack states that nearly a quarter of his patients have already engaged in serious self-harm before coming to him.

As these stories break, it is sometimes alleged that parents and medical professionals are participating some kind of agenda which might influence youth to become trans.  Yet the objective of transition is to do what is necessary in order for a person to be at peace with themselves — sometimes that doesn’t include surgery, and doesn’t necessarily follow a specific formula, but is for the individual to determine.  Likewise, trans-inclusive equality and anti-bullying education does not “encourage” someone to become trans (unless they’ve already been experiencing a gender identity conflict in a persistent way).  Instead, it acknowledges in an age-appropriate way that trans people do exist, and are deserving of the same respect afforded to anyone else.  This is for the benefit of those trans youth who do exist — either openly or in hiding — and who need to know that they are not alone, nor are they “freaks” of some kind.

The same is typically true of parents and medical professionals, who usually don’t come to a decision to assist a child to transition very easily.  Parents and doctors who form a transitioning youth’s support network ARE very much thinking about the needs of the child when they make that wracking of a decision.

National Public Radio (NPR, a semi-public broadcaster in the U.S.) previously compared aversion and affirming practices.  People wanting to know more should read the contrasting accounts told in this piece.

(Crossposted to Rabble.ca)

It is an expressive art shared and enjoyed by the majority. It may be played through various mediums, during sacred ceremonies, in public or private. The tone, beat, cadence, lyrics, and instruments may be different, but, it is music nonetheless.

The creation of and listening to music keeps you creative, improves your health, comforts, excites, and adds ambience.

Every life has a soundtrack.

Enrich your life experience; add, diversify, and create music.

Even if you’re the only one who ever hears it.

Click to enlarge flyer.

The City of Santa Clarita, in partnership with the Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita, is offering a free workshop to educate parents on how to help protect and guide their children from the dangers of bullying.

This free event will be held on Tuesday, June 11, from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Canyon Country Community Center, located at 18792 Flying Tiger Drive in Canyon Country.

For more information about the Stop Bullying event, visit DVC-SCV.org.

A training day looking at how to ensure that the children’s and youth work we run is accessible for all, developing greater understanding of special/additional needs, discussing some ideas to help inclusion work for you, and exploring what additional resources are available to you.  This interactive session includes a set of take-away notes to help you get started.

Mark Arnold is Chief Operating Officer for Urban Saints, a national children’s and youth organisation, and has been involved in children’s and youth work for over 20 years.  He has a passion for inclusion and for bringing people together to share ideas and experiences. 

Where: Christ Church, Christchurch Road, Winchester SO23 9SR
When: Saturday 19 October 2013
                10.00am to 4.00pm
Cost: £10 per person, bring your own packed lunch

For more details and to book, contact Lesley Grimm
T: 01962 737315
E: lesley.grimm@winchester.anglican.org

In late May, nearly 900 athletes and spectators participated in this Spring’s Youth Sports Flag Football and Softball championship games that were held at Central Park and Newhall Park.

The NFL 5-on-5 Flag Football program held the City Championship Games at Central Park and featured teams from the Minor, Major, and Senior Divisions.

This was followed by the Softball City Championship Games for Minor Boy’s and Girl’s and Major Boy’s and Girl’s Divisions held at Newhall Park.

All games included player introductions, music and play-by-play announcing to create a special, “big game” atmosphere for participants. At the conclusion of all championship games, 1st or 2nd place trophies were awarded to teams in recognition of their outstanding season.

For more information about the City’s Youth Sports Program, visit Santa-Clarita.com.

No one?

Me neither.

I have heard the quotes, stories, and metaphors about how you build your character by going through tough situations, how struggles are good, and pearls are formed by the irritation of the sand so in essence, know that the tough and rough parts of life are turning you into something beautiful.

I’ve heard lots of them!

And you know what stinks?

… It’s ALL True.

Keep at it. It will be worth it and you will grow stronger in the midst of it.

In a manner similar to the presence of multiple city- and district-wide reengagement programs in Colorado and New Jersey, Open Doors launched its first three local programs in 2012-13, and each is generating successes for local youth and lessons for other aspiring programs. May 20 meeting attendees gleaned those lessons and met in teams to consider the opportunity to join the statewide program network.

Notably, and somewhat distinct from dropout reengagement approaches in other states, Washington State’s Open Doors programs combine the dropout outreach and assessment functions with alternative education on site.  Open Doors programs must offer academic instruction, case management, counseling, resource and referral services, and the opportunity to enroll in college courses tuition-free if the program provider is a college.  Sue Furth, program coordinator, noted that financial motivation can match the drive for youth development: a state cost study found $250 million savings to public coffers, per 600 reengaged former dropouts.  With more than 30,000 students coded as dropped out over the past three years, statewide, the total savings from effective, scaled-up reengagement could become huge.

The three initial Open Doors Reengagement Programs differ in their sponsorship, consistent with the policy framework, which allows school districts to enter into interlocal agreements with a qualifying organization.

• GRAVITY High School operated by Education Service District 113 represents a consortium model involving 25 school districts and more than 220 students in a large region southwest of Seattle.
• The Kent School District operates iGRAD in partnership with Green River Community College, in the South Puget Sound area.  iGRAD offers three high school diploma options — students can earn a diploma from the Kent district, the state, or a GED — at its convenient location in a shopping mall.  Green River CC professors teach GED courses four days per week.  iGRAD offers classes in three different segments during the day — morning, afternoon, and evening, and also offers classes online.  Currently iGRAD serves 500 students, plans call for the program to double in size soon.
• The Gateway to College program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology also qualified as one of the first three Open Doors programs, the only one directly operated by a technical college.  The Institute has developed interlocal agreements with 23 school districts to operate as what Washington State calls an accredited special purpose high school. Some 200 on-track students may enroll in the Institute directly.  Another 200 start in Gateway to College.  Regardless, students experience hands-on technical training, and dual credit earning opportunities. Gateway students receive more intensive case management. Students may earn one of three types of diplomas – a regular high school diploma, an adult high school diploma, or a diploma simultaneous with an Associate’s Degree (via Washington HB 1758).  To date, the Institute is seeing 60% fall-to-fall persistence.

The first three programs – which Washington’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction hopes will soon be joined by others — also exemplify a comment that state superintendent Randy Dorn made at the meeting.  Noting that the statewide extended graduation rate (4-, 5-, and 6-year graduations) is 80%, “the next 5% will cost more, and will require a relationship.”

A yearbook at a high school in NY listed a couple as the “cutest” couple.  This couple was not a normal one, but a homosexual one.

Two boys, Brad Taylor and Dylan Meehan are photographed embracing in the yearbook.  The photo has gone “viral” according to some sites.  Some are applauding this as a sign that “progress” is taking place.

In my opinion, this is a disturbing trend.  People are not being taught the dangers of the homosexuality subculture.  Homosexuality used to be a mental illness according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM.  It wasn’t until the 1970′s-1980′s that it was removed after politicking took place.

Not enough research was done regarding homosexuality and whether or not it is truly a mental illness.  One of the signs of a mental disorder is anti-social behavior.  This is not the anti-social word you may be thinking of.  Anti-social behavior means disobeying the norms of society.  In other words,  homosexuals were not seen as a threat to society as a typical psychopath.  Because of this, homosexual was slowly weened off the list as being part of “normal” human behavior.

Unfortunately, this was a time where psychology was still developing.  Cognitive psychology was relatively new and in its infancy. Genetics research was not even as advanced as today.  Research in genetics shows that there is no homosexual gene.  This was not known over 30 years ago.  Homosexuality was quickly removed and no thought given to its origins thereafter.  We are left asking questions and demanding evidence, and to these we receive replies such as, “you’re a homophobe,” “we are normal.”

Today, homosexuals have the highest rates of mental illness.  Some say this is because of gay bullying; however, African Americans have been bullied since the foundation of America and their rates of mental illness do not even come close to those of homosexuals.  Obviously, bullying or other forms of harassment is not the cause.  There is something deeper.

The approval of this homosexual couple is disturbing in that this abnormal behavior is given the stamp of approval, if you will.  Biologically speaking, a homosexual couple is not compatible.  That is the first area we should focus on when questioning the validity of homosexual relationships.  Naturally speaking, they serve no purpose other than to appease sexual desires.

Our clergy must speak out against this in the pulpit and educate our people.  Their silence can be interpreted as an approval of homosexuality.  This is why parents are not working hard enough to prevent their children from falling into this deviant behavior.

Source:

http://www.wric.com/story/22495267/cutest-couple-at-ny-high-school-is-2-boys

http://www.wlox.com/story/22492629/cutest-couple-at-ny-high-school-is-2-boys

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/gay-cutest-couple-at-ny-high-school-draws-attention-online-but-little-notice-at-school/2013/06/04/f1c93386-ccde-11e2-8573-3baeea6a2647_story.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2334948/Tumblr-post-gay-teens-voted-high-schools-cutest-couple-shared-100-000-times-just-24-hours.html

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/04/gay-cutest-couple-at-ny-high-school-draws-attention-online-but-little-notice-at/

Company founder Ramin Bastani created the app after he was slapped in the face when he asked a girl if she had been tested for any sexually transmitted infections or diseases, his goal was to take the sting out of the normally uncomfortable conversation.

The way the app works is it allows users to access their test results online and send them to another person using a link via text message. The link then vanishes after it has been sent, so this is kind of like Snap Chat for the STD conversation, the person sending the link doesn’t have to worry as much about their personal results being shared with the entire world.

The Los Angeles Unified School District has been introduced to this app and told to use it as they see fit. LAUSD has spoken to their students and realized that teens are interested and open to using the new form of technology.

With such a deep interest in the app it’s hard to make the claim that kids these days are too reckless with their bodies. Maybe all of these PSA’s have finally started to work.

It was a day of reflection, sharing, and an attempt to envision a world different than the one we inhabit today. Filmmaker John Richie screened a section of his film Shellshocked and answered questions. Youth wrote letters to someone in their lives that had been touched by gun violence, and then shared their letters with another crew member.

Crew members were invited to create two kinds of trees: an unhealthy tree that maps systems of violence in New Orleans and beyond;  and a healthy tree that maps systems of individual and community-wide success, peace and happiness. Youth were encouraged to identify the roots of both trees, brainstorm what sustains the roots and helps the trees grow (the trunk), and what sort of leaves or fruit are produced by each foundation. As leaves fall from the trees and touch the earth, they become the soil that nourishes the roots, creating a system that is reinforced and recirculated over time.

Tree of Life

Tree of Violence

William Mupo from the Health Department at the Mayor’s Office shared the city’s plan to address violence, and listened to youth recommendations on what they think the city should do.

Grow Dat youth answer the question: What can the City do to improve New Orleans?

1. Create more job opportunities.
2. Make the physical environment nicer.
3. Identify people involved in crimes and provide them with resources to change.
4. Improve the NOPD.
5. Intervene to try to stop retaliation killings.
6. Create preventative solutions to violence: counseling, medical care, etc.
7. Create a safe community place for teens and children.
8. Create new teen activities in the city.
9. More funding for after school programs.
10.  More things like Grow Dat.
11.  Rebuild the movie theater and malls in the East.
12.  More parks.
13.  Improve the school system.
14.  Raise age range for park ball.
15.  Build new, safe, and fun communities in the East.
16.  Improve public school buildings and resources.
17.  Stop selling guns (so people are unable to get them).

This blog is part of a set of social media and physical communities envisioned to tap into the opportunities and challenges facing this new generation.

It is about using cultural creativity for the NZ youth to build a community and economy that thrives on invention of sustainable alternatives

   Economy and business

Competing in existing industries and technologies is competition on price with advantage to the largest scale and most mature organisations and cheapest resources. You have to at$tract corporations and investors by giving them maximum profit through least safeguards on society and environment.

New industries are based on disruptive technologies and niche markets. Innovation comes from small businesses and creative environments. For new technologies there is no direct competition and therefore much more profitability. In the long run these new technologies become major and early adopters have the advantages of having taken the lead. A good example of this dynamic is Germany who was an early adopter of many green economy initiatives and now have a green energy economy employing more than half a million people.

Creativity 

is required to come up with new structures to adjust to the challenges and opportunities facing us. Play is a powerful contributor to psychological resilience.

 Sustainability

Old industries built on fossil fuels will be in decline as the price goes up, the impact is very broad across transport, energy, manufacturing, even agricultural inputs like pesticides and fertilizers. The current direction set is quickly destroying the life support systems on earth and need to be replaced by innovative new alternatives. Older generations are often unable to come up with those due to the ideological mindsets that limit learning and thinking.  Markets have existing for thousands of years but have been redefined in the last few decades in a way where maximum consumption and the maximum movement of money has become the goal, with minimal concern for what is consumed or what direction the money flows. This dynamic is supported by people being scared of non-market based society as the only other perceived alternative, but this is a false dichotomy.  The dynamic of maximizing growth through consumption feeds affluenza where people believe and feel they exist to consume and therein seek happiness, they feel disconnected and insecure and try to address it through the status of what they own.

  Community

People have always lived in communities and we are hardwired to find our meaning and happiness there. Creative communities have always been the leaders in change. A life of connection and shared purpose is infinitely more fulfilling than living for the sake of consumption. Break through innovations are the cumulative result of lots of creativity. Creative communities share their inspiration.

Change  There are two phases to improved design in complex situations: Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of current structures needs to come first, the innovation in creating new structures that work better. Creativity in sharing information can cause the massive amount of information available to become more accessible.

Ecology 

Connections between seemingly unrelated problems need to be understood. This is increasingly known as ecological intelligence. The scientific field most empowering in understanding such complex interactions is systems theory – the essence of which can be taught quickly if done creatively. Much of it is already adopted in public conversation e.g. affluenza is self reinforcing feedback loop where people who define themselves through consumption and seek happiness and security therein need to consume increasing amounts as their sense of disconnection, unhappiness, and insecurity increases.

You.    Everyone had a creative side and things they care about more than others. Everyone has a unique contribution to make. Some enjoy research, explaining,  summarising, creatively expressing, some enjoy innovation, some enjoy other aspects of community building. The youth have an instinctive yearning for this, but our current society often does not tap into that and it then often ferments inside and later atrophies.

Thriving because it refers to true health and prosperity of the whole organism and community not just success or wealth in a narrow sense. Hiving because it refers to the community and cooperative aspect.  ’Thrive Hive’ was taken, here is an interesting view on thriving and hiving

Communication technology

There are great new learning and communication technologies in the digital world that speeds up this process a lot.  It is up to new generations who pull all this together to create a new culture and new economy.  This blog hopes to have contributions from many around that.

We need to socialise a more balanced form of fun, one that combines skill development, social interaction, exploration and hard challenges. This powter from game developers show the different angles.
The crucial missing part is creativity. Select to zoom in

 What do you think?

Would Weebly.com or Jux.com be good places to continue this exploration?  Can youth branches of political branches be a good place for this exploration?

What would you like to be focused on?

Cheers, Ruan (Wellington)

Credits:

• Sustainability designed by Lemon Liu from The Noun Project
• Create Database designed by Ilsur Aptukov from The Noun Project
• Graphic Design designed by Anna Weiss from The Noun Project
• Infographic designed by Sébastien Desbenoit from The Noun Project
• Infographic
  designed by Rob Gill from The Noun Project
• Ecology
  designed by Thibault Geffroy from The Noun Project
• Tablet designed by Luis Prado from The Noun Project

Each year Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers come close to an accident – in the field, in livestock pens, in grain piles. Youth in rural areas are not excluded from this. To help teach youth safe on farms and rural communities, a Progressive Agriculture Safety Day was held in Geneva on May 30, 2013 for area 2-6^th grade youth. The program was coordinated by the local WIFE (Women Involved in Farm Economics), Fillmore Central and Shickley FFA Chapters, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Fillmore County, and several other local businesses and organizations provided funding.

Topics taught included sun safety, fire safety, internet safety, teamwork/leadership, chemical look-alikes, kids get arthritis too, grain safety, underground utility safety, tractor safety, and agricultural awareness. Nearly 50 older youth and adults volunteered their time to make the event happen.  In addition to these hands-on sessions, youth received a first aid kit to take home, flashlight and a “goodie bag” with educational safety materials reminding them what was learned. Progressive Agriculture Safety Day was conducted through the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, so each participant and volunteer received a t-shirt from Progressive Agriculture sponsors. Special thanks to sponsors for making this event happen at low cost to the youth!

At the conclusion of the day, youth expressed that they had a great time and learned safety tips that may someday save their or someone else’s life.

Youth Program: Dig into Reading - The Berthoud Community Library District will be hosting summer reading for all ages!  Adults will enjoy “Groundbreaking Reads”, while teens get “Beneath the Surface”, elementary readers will “Dig into reading” and we will grow healthy readers in the “Family Garden”.  Call and ask which program is right for you and your family, 970-532-2757.

The dig into reading program is designed for grades 1-5 but all are welcome to come to the summer events sponsored by the Berthoud Community Library District.  All events listed below will be held at the Berthoud Community Center, Wednesdays at 2 pm.

6/5/13  Rocky Mountain Puppets

6/12/13 Denver Zoo

6/19/13 Dino Girl Show with Ann Lincoln

6/26/13  Dig into stories with Katy Little

7/3/13 Akimbo Music

7/10/13 Spin, Pop, Boom: Mad Science

7/17/13 Unraveling Ancient Egypt

7/24/13 Playground Theater

7/31/13 Eli and the Skittish Pickles present: MudSINGers!

8/7/13  Salida Circus

Teen Program: Beneath the Surface summer - All events will be held at the Berthoud Community Library on Tuesdays at 2 pm.

6/4/13  Jeopardy and Whose book is it anyway? - Join us for two fun game shows where you are the contestants!   First, show off your knowledge and bring your team to victory with Jeopardy!  Next participate in our library version of the dating game; can you guess the book characters?

6/11/13 Draw Deep into the Ocean – Tweens and teens attending this free workshop will dive deep into the ocean while learning how to draw an oceanic scene.  Instructor Lisa David DeMattei will guide students step-by-step teaching them how to draw creatures from the sea.  Art supplies provided.

6/18/13 Steampunk style in dress, literature and music - Come dressed in your best steampunk style; late Victorian plus steam engine accessories.  We will discuss where this style originated, as well as the books and music that promote it.

6/25/13 Make your own jewelry - We provide the materials, you bring the creative talent!

7/2/13  B.A. Zombie (Dead academy) - Make up artists from the Dead Academy will bring their skills to Berthoud teens, so come be a zombie with us!

7/9/13  How to survive a zombie apocalypse - Explore the truth behind the fiction and get some real survival tips!

7/16/13 Down and Dirty Writing - Unearth artifacts from the past to inspire your writing in this workshop with Pam Martin.

7/23/13 Lights, camera, audition - Terra Taylor Knudson will present a workshop for teens on the In’s, Out’s & How To’s of Auditioning for Stage & Screen.  This energetic, fun and interactive workshop will run through all of the basics on how to audition for stage, TV and film.  By focusing on the fun, this workshop helps to eliminate the nervous butterflies that can get in the way of doing your best in an audition. Exercises with cold readings, introductions, tongue-twisters, and camera tests, as well as answers to questions about headshots, submissions, agents and more!

7/30/13 Underground Berthoud - Join Mark French, history columnist from the Berthoud Surveyor, for a deeper look into Berthoud’s mining past.  Touch the past at this fun and interactive workshop!

8/6/13  Book to film club: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan - Pick up a copy of the book when you sign up (anytime after you register).  We will discuss the story and then we will meet at a theater in Loveland to enjoy the film together.

Adult Program: Groundbreaking Reads - This year we will only be hosting two programs for our adults, but you won’t want to miss these!

07/11/2013 2pm – Downton Abbey fans: Traditional English low tea with expert Laurie Thoma – Downton Abbey trivia games and prizes!

8/02/2013  2pm – Abe Lincoln, Mark Twain & the Civil War! A historical portrayal by Dave Ehlert of Branson, MO

08/17/2013 4pm - To end our Summer Reading in style, we would also like to invite all of our participants to an end of Summer Reading Karaoke Party on August 17 from 4-6pm.  Join us for singing, food, games and fun in the sun!

We hope that you can join us for our programs and as always, we welcome any questions or comment you might have.  You can call us at (970) 532 2757, email at berthoudcommunitylibrary@gmail.com or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter!

Dare to Read, Read to Dream

This is a list of all of our story extenders for our Summer Reading Program Family Activities along with a link to our catalog to see if the item is in stock or available at one of our sister libraries within our consortium!  If you have any questions, you are always welcome to give us a call at 9970) 532 2757 or you can email us at berthoudcommunitylibrary@gmail.com, tweet us, facebook, or – of course – respond to this blog!

Alejandro’s gift 

Anansi and the moss-covered rock 

Bring the rain to Kapiti plain 

Cat in the Hat (the)

Chair for my mother (a)

Corduroy 

Empty pot (the) 

First strawberries (the) 

Goldilocks and the three bears 

Goodnight moon 

Grandfather’s journey 

Guess how much I love you 

Hooray, a pinata! 

Horton hears a who! 

Hush! 

If you’re happy and you know it…

It looked like spilt milk 

Iitsy-bitsy spider (the) 

John Henry 

Joseph had a little overcoat 

Leo the late bloomer

Love you forever 

Mama, do you love me? 

Peter’s chair 

Pigs aplenty, pigs galore! 

Pretty brown face 

Rough-face girl (the) 

Runaway bunny (the) 

Sam who never forgets 

Sip, slurp, soup, soup

Squiggle (the) 

Story of Ferdinand (the) 

Sylvester and the magic pebble 

Talking eggs (the) 

Ten, nine, eight 

Time for bed 

Very hungry caterpillar (the) 

Where the wild things are 

Why mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears 

The things you can talk to me about. Forgot to add cats.

We heard about the beauty of creativity and freedom from Danielle Andrews; the creation of something from nothing from Lauren; the epidemic of terminal happiness from Amy Hetherington; the idea of working in a team to achieve shared vision from Kevin Kadirgarmar; and the simplicity of changing one person’s world from Alpha Capaque. Whew! Quite a day indeed.

Danielle Andrews had balloon animals, magic and laughs. Win.

I always come away from TED^x events with a mind full of possibilities and a heart full of hope. My mind reels with the endless thoughts and ideas that have been imparted on me, which I hope to use to change my own life. Although all of the speakers today had different stories and experiences, there are common threads that go beyond their shared youth and location:

Listen to your inner voice. We all have at least one. It’s really important that we listen to what is going on inside us, and really pay attention to it. It’s all to easy to get caught up in the humdrum of daily life, but it’s often that little nagging voice that we should really be listening to. It’s the source of truth for each of us. It’s where we find our goals, our dreams and our inspiration. As Danielle said, “believe in yourself and take a leap of faith. Even if you don’t succeed, you will have learnt something about yourself.” Truth.

Abbey Rose, deliriously delicious music.

If you have an idea, share it. There is a bloody good chance that someone else shares your idea, your vision.  Talk, talk, talk. Starting a conversation is the best way to start a movement and get things happening. You will meet like-minded people who share your passion, and you will grow your idea, your plans and your change. As Lauren shared today, if you let your idea/passion/creativity be organic and gain momentum of its own accord, it will become much more than you could ever have imagined.

Miss Lauren Moss herself. Our fearless leader breaking it down about organically growing an idea.

Be generous. With your happiness, with your idea, with your creativity, with your passion. People want to see you succeed, and more importantly – people want to come on that journey with you. Take them, let them be part of the process and enjoy the journey together. You will inspire people and they will naturally want to come on the journey you are going on. This is the essence of being a true and natural leader.

The amazing Kevin Kadirgamar, occasionally referred to as Ghandi.

Learn from mistakes and celebrate successes. Both are equally important. I will never forget a local educator telling me that mistakes aren’t failures and downfalls; they are “excellent mistakes” and a chance for us to learn. Look to these times and find the opportunity in them. And when things do go well, celebrate the heck out of them! High fives all ‘round! There is nothing more important than being proud of what you (and your team) have achieved. After all, it’s not the destination that’s important – it’s the journey. And a celebration is always a time for reflection and renewed vigour and passion to move forward.

The hidden disease. You can’t tell, but Amy Hetherington is suffering from terminal positivity. And she infected all of us!

Well, I feel like I’ve probably dished out enough cliché’s for now. It feels like everything the speakers at TED^xYouth@Darwin said today was from some ground-breaking, history-making speech that someone said long ago. Indeed, our young people have such wisdom and profound insight into their worlds that we must listen to each other, learn and share. I’m looking forward to next time and hoping that I will find the courage to hop on that red dot myself!

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