Developmental Asset of the Month - FEBRUARY

YOUTH AS RESOURCES

Young people are given useful roles in the community.

This document is designed to help adults throughout Silicon Valley develop materials and activities to promote the asset of adult role models.

Newsletter Content

The following text may be used in organizational newsletters. Please include the attribution at the end of the article.

The Importance of Youth as Resources

People of all ages want to feel that that they make a contribution and play a meaningful role in their community, whether at home, at school, or in the neighborhood. Research shows that youth who feel valued and useful 

have higher self-esteem, a greater sense of personal control, reduced delinquency, greater social and personal responsibility, reduced substance abuse, and better social skills. 

Most youth in Silicon Valley don’t feel that they have opportunities to contribute to their community. In Project Cornerstone’s 2011 survey, only 53% of 4th- 6th graders and 35% of 7th-12th graders reported that they are given useful roles. To help address this  problem, February is Youth as Resources month in Silicon Valley. This asset focuses on including youth in decisions that affect them and creating participation and leadership opportunities where their contribution makes a difference.

The following discussions can help youth recognize opportunities

 to serve as resources

· What would you like to share with adults about your experiences in  your home, school, neighborhood or faith community?

· Who are some adults that you could talk to about making positive changes?

· How will you know when these changes happen?

· How would you like to be recognized for your contribution?

 Keep in mind that serving as a resource doesn’t have to be a large effort. Adults can help youth serve as resources simply by asking them to share their opinions, skills, or knowledge, such as how to play a game or use technology such as text messaging. Remember, it’s important that young people’s efforts be recognized and celebrated! Be sure to create opportunities to show that you value each individual’s unique contributions.

This article was provided courtesy of Project Cornerstone’s Asset-a-Month program. For more information, visit www.projectcornerstone.org.  

 Activities

For families

· Hold family meetings. For example, one meeting can focus on discussing which kinds of tasks each household member is best at and enjoys the most. Then, review everyone’s current chores and make changes based on each other’s skills and interests.

· Involve children in planning events such as holiday celebrations or trips. For family events, young people can help plan menus and cook, or plan games and activities for younger children; for vacations, they can research destinations and activities.

· Ask children what they do or don’t like about their daily routines, and find ways to improve them.

For all adults

· Ask a young person to teach you something new—a game, a hobby, 

      a computer skill, etc.—or to share their favorite music or YouTube videos with you. It’s empowering to be able to introduce adults something that they don’t already know.

· Ask a young person for advice on solving a challenge or completing a task. You’d be surprised at the quality of suggestions you receive. 

· Be sure to notice young people’s contributions and talents in every aspect of their lives.

· Help a young person find age-appropriate opportunities to serve as resources in their community. For example, many cities and towns have a youth advisory committee or other group of young people who provide input regarding issues affecting youth.

For adults who work directly with youth

· Does your organization allow young people to sit on boards and committees that affect its mission and programs? Including youth input at the highest levels not only creates valuable opportunities for young people but also helps your organization ensure that it’s in touch with the needs and desires of the youth you serve.

· Be sure to create opportunities for all youth to feel like valuable resources. For example, a county sheriff’s office found that youth with low grades wanted to volunteer in the community as much as better students, but the community rarely asked those underachieving students to contribute. All young people deserve the opportunity to feel that their opinions and contributions are valued.

At school or in youth programs

· Create leadership and contribution opportunities in your classroom or programs. Groups such as student council, playground peace monitors, traffic safety patrol, and others are great ways for young people to feel like their contributions are valued, especially if they have some responsibility in making decisions for the group. In younger grades, classroom responsibilities like line leader help students feel like their contributions make a difference to the class. Middle and high school students can even help interview new staff and participate in school improvement teams.

· Invite students to share their opinions and suggestions about activities, and incorporate their suggestions in the future. Give young people choices about which activities they take part in.

· Encourage young people to write letters to the editor, to companies, or elected officials to share ideas or express opinions. Help them develop and share constructive suggestions to address their concerns.

About the Asset-a-Month Program

The goals of the Silicon Valley Asset-a-Month program are to help align adults

throughout our diverse community in their efforts to promote positive youth

development by fostering developmental assets. For more information about the

Asset-a-Month program, contact Project Cornerstone at (408) 351-6482 or 

info@projectcornerstone.org. 

Reverend Felecia Mulvany, D.D.

President Sacred Foundation, Inc.

www.sacredfoundations.net

staff@sacredfoundations.net

Phone/Fax 877-877-4275

Synchronized Meditation for Syria and ISIL

Each of us carries in us a spark of the Divine.  Each time we blend these sparks in a prayer of intent we have the ability to create an alchemical spiritual moment. James Twyman is offering all who choose to participate such a moment.

Thank you Reverend Thomas Garry Reverend Doti Boon for sharing this opportunity with us.

Reverend Angela DeBry, D.D.

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here       Synchronized Meditation for Syria and ISIL Monday, February 1 Final Update                 Millions of people will join together to prove the power of synchronized prayer   This is a final update so you have everything you need to join us for the meditation. To begin, the time of the vigil is as follows:   7AM Pacific US Time 10AM Eastern US Time 3PM London Time 5PM Israel Time 4AM (Tuesday) Auckland Time For The World Clock Click Here    (There was some confusion from an email sent two days ago. These times are correct.)   James Twyman and the Religious Leaders Will be within eyesight of the ISIL villages   Thanks to The Abrahamic Reunion here in Israel, James will be joined by Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders on a hill overlooking the villages where so many Syrians are suffering. They will be putting themselves at risk to inspire YOU to join us for just 10-15 minutes of focused meditation at the time listed above. All you need to do is to FEEL the energy of peace, as if it is already present in Syria (This is the critical component to this type of prayer). Then visualize children in Syria being fed, people living in peace, and the government stable and serving the needs of all its citizens.    It's Worth A Try   Most people believe they are powerless in the face of such violence. This is a simple way millions of people can add their energy to a positive solution for this humanitarian crisis. It has been proven over and over through other studies.Maharishi Effect Now we have the chance to demonstrate the power of our joined meditation and prayer. Please join us at the designated time, and share this with everyone you know.             James Twyman 503-278-7331 JamesTwyman33@gmail.com Follow: If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click here:  Unsubscribe James Twyman 4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd. #177 Portland, Oregon 97214 United States (503) 278-7331

January 2016 Asset of the Month Adult Role Modes

Developmental Asset of the Month – January 

ADULT ROLE MODELS

Parents and other adults model positive, responsible behavior

When we reflect back on the experiences that shaped us when we were young, we often remember a special adult in our lives. It might have been a teacher, coach, older relative, community member, or other caring adult that made a big impact on us. We see these role models as being important in shaping our lives. And that’s no surprise—research shows that positive adult role models have a tremendous impact on young people and can have the following benefits:

• Higher levels of self esteem

• Reduced use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs

• Improved high school graduation rates

• Greater aspirations and expectations for their careers

Unfortunately, many youth in Silicon Valley don’t have the adult role 

models that they need to thrive—in Project Cornerstone’s 2011 survey,  

only 52% of 4th-6th graders and 30% of 7th 12th graders reported the presence of positive adult role models in their lives. To help address this problem, 

January is Adult Role Model month in Silicon Valley.

A positive role model doesn’t have to have any special skills—you don’t have to be a sports hero or a billionaire for youth to look up to you. In fact, most youth who said that they had role models identified them as caring friends and relatives. Every single one of us has the potential to make a difference in the lives  

of young people—all that matters is being willing to take the time to get to know a young person and let them get to know you, and to share your experience and knowledge. The following discussion topics can help young people recognize the role models that influence their lives:

• What’s the difference between a hero and a role model?

• Are celebrities like sports stars, actors, and musicians good role models?  

  Why or why not?

• Which adults whom you know do you admire? Why?

• What have you learned from adults that has helped or inspired you?

• What would you like to be able to talk about more with adults?

Activities For all adults

• Make a point of talking about people you admire or who had a positive influence on you, and why. Ask a young person to do the same.

• Share stories and experiences that reflect positive values, such as when a friend treated you with honesty or a coworker behaved responsibly. This can help young people develop a better understanding of their own values and how to act in different situations.

• Take the time to pass on your special skills. Youth often appreciate the opportunity to learn new skills, even if they’ve never been exposed to them before.

• In conversation, provide opportunities for youth to discuss their view of the world.

• Model integrity by following through on any commitments that you make, especially with young people.

• Demonstrate positive responses to difficult situations, such as offering a sincere apology when appropriate, or trying again when you fail to achieve a goal. 

Activities for adults who work directly with youth 

Adults who work with young people are potential role models; it’s up to you to demonstrate the positive behaviors that will be expected of adults:

• Model hard work, a positive attitude, and respect for others. Avoid making negative comments about coworkers, sports teams and players, and others with whom you compare yourself or compete.

• Be sure that you and your staff “walk your talk” by modeling respect 

and trust among coworkers. At school or in youth programs

• Throughout the month, discuss the importance of role models and  

what qualities are important

• Have youth make a role model collage: First, have participants collect or create pictures and drawings of their role models. Then, have them cut out words or phrases that describe these role models from magazines and newspapers, or write the words or phrases themselves. Finally, glue the images and words onto construction paper or poster board, and hang the collage where the youth can be inspired by their creation each day.

• Help youth identify the difference between positive and negative role models in the media: First, hang two pieces of newsprint or poster board on the wall. Label one “Positive Role Models” and the other “Negative Role Models.” Hand out different kinds of recent magazines and newspapers, including teen, news, sports, and entertainment magazines. Ask youth to cut out pictures of news-makers and celebrities, and tape or glue the pictures under the appropriate category. Discuss who they chose and why; whether some of the people could appear in both categories; and how to judge whether a celebrity or  news-maker 

is a good role model.

• Discuss ways that the youth can be role models for younger children at school or in the program, and create opportunities for the older youth to spend positive time with the younger children, such as reading together or  

working together on projects.

This article was provided courtesy of Project Cornerstone’s  

Asset-a-Month program.

Project Cornerstone is the Silicon Valley initiative to train and mobilize adults countywide to intentionally develop healthy, caring, and responsible children and youth. For more information, visit www.projectcornerstone.org. 

Reverend Felecia Mulvany, D.D.

President Sacred Foundations, Inc.

www.sacredfoundations.net

staff@sacredfoundations.net

Phone/Fax 977-877-4275

Developmental Asset of the Month – December

FAMILY SUPPORT

A child's family provides high levels of love and support.

This document is designed to help adults throughout Santa Clara County develop materials and activities to promote the asset of adult role models.

Newsletter Content

The following text may be used in organizational newsletters. Please include the attribution at the end of the article.

The Importance of Family Support

Family support refers to the ways that parents, siblings, and extended family show love, encouragement, and comfort to each other. Families are the cornerstone of the social support system for youth. A 2011 survey of Santa Clara County youth reveals that while younger youth generally experience and are aware of family support, teenagers do so much less often: 88% of 4th-6th graders reported family support while only 69% of middle- and high school students reported the asset.

Because adolescents require greater autonomy and independence than younger children, effective family support for older youth takes a different form than in earlier years; however, their need for their families is still strong. Adults are challenged to find a balance between giving youth the support they need to navigate their adolescence and the independence they need to develop as individuals.

In their book, Parenting Teens with Love and Logic, Foster Cline, M.D. and Jim Fay discuss the transition from parenting younger children—who typically require guidance and firm limits—to parenting adolescents, who benefit most from the freedom to make their own decisions within the boundaries of safe, reasonable limits. According to Cline and Fay, effective parenting in the teenage years requires clearly communicating expectations and consequences while allowing youth to make their own decisions and “own” the results…even if their choices are not the ones that we would have preferred.

The following discussion topics can be used to open a dialogue with young people about the ways that they experience family support:

• Does your family provide support in a way that’s meaningful and easy for you to recognize? Why or why not?

• Do you and your parents treat each other with the same kindness and dignity that you’d expect from your friends?

• Does your family do things together on a regular basis? Are there any activities that you’d like to share (or be willing to share) with your family?

One of the most important things to realize about providing family support to older children is that they need the love and support every bit as much as younger children do, even if they claim that they don’t. Although it can be challenging to remain connected to preteens and teenagers, the benefits of doing so are immense.

This article was provided courtesy of Project Cornerstone’s  

Asset-a-Month program.

For more information, visit www.projectcornerstone.org. 

 Activities

The activities below offer a starting 

point to help build and strengthen 

the asset of family support.

For families

• Make family rules together, and agree on rewards for following  the rules and consequences for breaking them.

• Try to eat at least one meal together every day, and set aside at  least one evening or weekend day for the family to spend together  in a pastime that everyone enjoys or finds valuable. Make the  effort to maintain these traditions and rituals even if your children  complain about them when they’re older.

• Be sure to recognize your children’s unique talents and  encourage their interests, even when they don’t match yours.  For example, if they’re interested in animation, check to see if  there’s a convention or film festival in your region that you 

 can attend together.

• Look your children in the eyes when you talk to them, and give  them all of your attention in conversation.

• Be empathetic about their struggles and concerns—  no matter how silly or trivial their problems seem to you, they  

 are significant to your children.

• Praise your children for doing a good job and point out when  

 they’re being helpful.

• At least once a day, try to express that you appreciate and  

 care about your children.

• Be affectionate, but respect their space; older children especially  may be uncomfortable about displays of affection in front 

 of non-family members.

For all adults

• Talk with young people about their families and point out the  ways that the children are supported and loved. Similarly,  

 when you speak with parents, take the time to notice and praise  

 their efforts at providing family  support for their children.

• If you’re an employer, help your staff provide emotional  support for their families through release time, sick leave, and  creating a positive environment where employees don’t feel that   having children is a liability at their job. 

• Sponsor activities and events in which the entire family can participate—for example, a picnic or carnival instead of a happy hour. 

In schools and youth programs

• Deliver a unit on families to help young people appreciate  

 and respect all kinds of families.

• Schedule events that bring families together, like open  

houses or family game nights.

• If possible, schedule speakers and workshops on family  

life and associated issues.

• Be sure that your staff recognition and acknowledgment of non-traditional families in which a child’s primary caretakers  

may not be their biological parents.

Resources

• Project Cornerstone’s Take It Personally is a six-week workshop for adults that focuses on ways that parents  and all adults can be more effective and intentional in building  assets in young people’s lives. For information on scheduling  

Take It Personally at your site, 

contact Project Cornerstone at (408) 351-6482.

• “Family camps” are a great way for families to spend time together in a relaxing outdoor environment. Check with your city, YMCA, or faith community to see when family camps are offered.

• Some good books about providing meaningful support to  older children include Parenting Preteens with a  Purpose: Navigating the Middle Years by Kate Thomsen, M.S., C.A.S.;  Why Do They Act That Way? by David Walsh, Ph.D.;  How to Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk  by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish; and Parenting at the Speed of Teens,  published by Search Institute.

About the Asset-a-Month Program

The goals of the Silicon Valley Asset-a-Month program  

are to help align adults  throughout our diverse community in their efforts to promote positive youth development by fostering developmental assets. For more information about the Asset-a-Month program, contact 

Project Cornerstone at (408) 351-6482 or info@projectcornerstone.org

Reverend Felecia Mulvany, D.D.

President

Sacred Foundations, Inc.

Spiritual  Center and School of Divinity

staff@sacredfoundations.net

www.sacredfoundations.net

Phone/Fax 877-877-4275

Developmental Asset of the Month – November

POSITIVE CULTURAL IDENTITY

Photograph by Reverend Steve Waites

Young people feel comfortable with and proud of their identity, including but not limited to disabilities, ethnicity, faith/religion, family status, gender, language, and sexual orientation.

This document is designed to help adults throughout Silicon Valley develop materials and activities to promote the asset of adult role models.

Newsletter Content

The following text may be used in organizational newsletters. Please include the attribution at the end of the article.

The Importance of Positive Cultural Identity

It is important for youth to feel that they belong. Positive identity brings   

self-assurance, a sense of belonging, a positive view of personal future,  

and better success in school.

Developing a positive cultural identity—a critical element of personal identity—can be difficult for young people, especially when they may be bridging

more than one culture. The way that youth are treated in regard to their  

ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender directly affects their ability to develop a positive personal identity. 

As adults, it’s critical that we model recognition, understanding,  

and celebrating all cultural identities, including the cultures to which we and/or our children do not belong.

Sharing and celebrating different cultural identities increases self-esteem and promotes cultural competence among all young people.  

The diversity of Silicon Valley is a benefit to our youth as they are exposed to many different cultures.

Photograph by Reverend Steve Waites

The following discussion topics* can help families talk about their cultural identity:

• What is our cultural background?

• What are some things that you value about our culture?

• What are some things about our culture that you would like  

 other people to know?

• Do you know anyone who’s from a different culture?  In what ways are your cultures similar and different?  Do your cultural differences make it difficult to be friends?  How can you share your cultural differences in a positive, nonjudgmental way?

 *Adapted from the Canadian Child Care Federation’s  

“Supporting Our Children’s Social Well-Being…It’s a Team Effort!” workshop

This article was provided courtesy of Project Cornerstone’s Asset-a-Month program. For more information, visit www.projectcornerstone.org. 

Activities

The activities below provide ways to build a positive cultural identity in youth.

For families

• Make sure that your children learn the story  of where they come from—including both

family history and the history of their heritage—from an early age.

• Even very young children are aware of racial  and cultural differences among people.

Address the issues of stereotypes, myths, and  cultural differences in a positive, age-appropriate manner.

• It’s normal for young people to explore different aspects of personal identity, including cultural identity. Children, whose parents promote a positive cultural identity, while allowing them the freedom to explore, tend to develop a healthy personal identity.

• Some elements of a child’s identity—such as sexual orientation—might not be shared in common with the rest of the family. Parents should make special efforts to ensure that everyone feels understood, respected, valued, safe, and loved within the family.

For all adults

• Serve as a mentor for youth from your culture. They will benefit from learning how to successfully maintain a positive cultural identity from someone outside their family.

• Help your children maintain a positive attitude about school, and make sure they know that you will be their advocate to resolve any problems or challenges that they encounter.

• Adults should be careful to strike a balance between celebrating the youth’s difference and including the youth as part of the group as a whole. Sometimes, focusing too much on a youth’s differences—no matter how good the intention—can further isolate youth from their peers.

In schools and youth programs

• Support home languages as much as possible. Children who are bilingual in their home language and English tend to maintain a positive connection with their families and cultural communities.

• All students need to be valued and appreciated for their unique characteristics regularly. Be aware of the cultural diversity in your classroom or program, and try to understand its dimensions.

• Make a personal effort to learn about the culture of the youth in your classroom or program. For example, students from cultures where children are not expected to ask questions of adults may have difficulty letting you know when they don’t understand the lesson. Help students understand the culture of your class or program without devaluing their cultures of origin.

• Young people can discover and share their cultural identity through lessons and projects that highlight their cultures and experiences while engaging them in active learning. For example, develop lessons and activities around the gifts that different cultures have given the world, and discuss how “cultural borrowing” allows everyone to thrive.

• Sometimes even the most innocent activities can be exclusionary. For example, a celebration of “Crazy Hair Day” may exclude youth whose religion requires that they cover their heads. Be sure that your planned programs and activities take everyone’s culture into account.

Resources

• Project Cornerstone’s Los Dichos  

program provides a literature-based 

parent engagement curriculum 

and comprehensive asset-building  

training in schools throughout Silicon Valley. 

This program provides opportunities for parents from different cultures  

to build a positive cultural identity in their own children and others 

from the same culture while building greater cultural competence for the entire class. For more information, contact Project Cornerstone at (408) 351-6482.

• Families with multiracial children can face unique challenges in helping their child develop a positive cultural identity. Many resources are available online for families to support multiracial children: 

· American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry  http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/multiracial_children 

· Parenting by Strengths website  http://www.parentingbystrengths.com/multiracial_children_and_youth/. 

• Families who have adopted children from other cultures may face  

unique challenges in promoting positive cultural identity. Several resources exist to support multicultural families, including:

· http://transracial.adoption.com/interracial/racial-cultural-identity.html,  which offers parenting tips to help develop stable, happy  children with a strong sense of cultural identity.

About the Asset-a-Month Program

The goals of the Silicon Valley Asset-a-Month program are to help align adults throughout our diverse community in their efforts to promote positive youth development by fostering developmental assets. For more information about the  

Asset-a-Month program, contact Project Cornerstone  

at (408) 351-6482 or info@projectcornerstone.org.  

Reverend Felecia Mulvany, D.D.

President, Sacred Foundations, Inc.

Phone/Fax 877-877-4275

www.sacredfoundation.net

staff@sacredfoundations.net

New Addition to the Associate of Divinity Program!

9 Life Altering Lessons: 

Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled, Kala Ambrose

ISBN 1934588032 Available on Kindle

For thousands of years, a select few attended ancient mystery schools and temples around the world. These schools taught the nature and destiny of mankind, the magical universe in which we reside and revealed powerful secrets regarding universal natural laws. Inscribed above the entrance to one such mystery school in ancient Greece were the words: "Man, Know Thyself." This simple phrase could take a lifetime to fully comprehend. Do you "remember" who you are and why you are here? It was these topics and others which were explored by brave souls who were willing to delve into the transformational teachings of the esoteric mystery schools.

In 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery School Unveiled, esoteric teacher Kala Ambrose brings some of the most important and relevant lessons to the modern world. Man still seeks answers to universal mysteries and desires to know their true nature and destiny on this earth. In this book, Kala discusses many of the ancient mystery school topics, which are designed to stir the soul, awaken the mind and reveal long forgotten memories of past lives in these schools, as well as inspire you to explore the magnificence of who you really are. Discover

your destiny and divine purpose in this lifetime, which is more than most living today can imagine! Kala takes you on a journey of self-discovery while discussing topics such as: The Long-Forgotten Destiny of Your Soul, The Hermetic Axiom of As Above So Below, Alchemical Transformations of the Heart, Body, and Mind,

The Self-Realization of "Man, Know Thyself,"

Enigmatic Journeys from Neophyte to Initiate of a Mystery School,

Transformational Teachings of Consciousness and Self-Realization,

Universal Truths from Ancient Esoteric Wisdom, Exploring the Magical Universe in Which We Reside, and Awakening to Your Divine Self and Sacred Power.






9 Life Altering Lessons offered by Kala at The Academy of Mystical Arts, taken from Kala, meets the requirement for A206 for those students who wish to study directly with Kala. As always the course taken directly from Sacred Foundations in book form is available from our catalog online.

All of Kala’s courses at The Academy of Mystical Arts http://exploreyourspirit.com/academy, 

meet Sacred Foundations, Inc. CEU requirements for ministers. 

For instructions on how to enroll for CEUs, please click on Partners on the Partners in Education Tab at www.sacredfoundations.net