It's funny, but when I started this blog I could not stop writing on it. This summer something else happened. I got busy finishing up a few publications and I pretty left this blog to fend for itself. Funnier yet, blogs don't do well when left alone to fend for themselves. I guess I hoped that someone would contact me ~ let me know what they think about my musings in relation to their experiences.
In the meantime, I did publish. The 'Nurturing Hopeful Souls' resource with hope-focused practices and activities for working with children and youth is being printed as I write this. I have to secure an ISBN number and the cover to add to the 'Teacher Hope Initiative Story' monograph and then that publication will be ready to print. I had wonderful discussions with teachers who were attending the Alberta Teacher's Association Summer Conference in Banff in mid August. I created my first ever digital story last week and am excited about sharing what I learned with teachers and students who participate in the Hope-Focused Service-Learning program.
It has been a summer to catch up. Now it is time to gear up.
We have three Hope-Focused Service-Learning workshops planned on October 3, January 23, April 24 and a celebration wrap-up scheduled for July 2.
We have a 'Nurturing Hopeful Souls' Workshop planned for October 16. Those attending this workshop will receive a copy of the resource and will have a chance to participate in the practices and activities in a safe environment.
I am looking forward to working with the St. Albert Rotarians early in September as they step forward to mentor the new Hope Kids in the various projects that we have been building over the last four years. Funding from TD Trust in St. Albert will also help us move forward on some of the new ideas that developed since our last wrap-up meeting on July 3.
I am looking forward to the 'Principals of Hope' seminar that we have planned for February 3.
It seems that I am learning that hope is about endings and beginnings...looking forward and back.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
A Poem of Hope
I preparation for a workshop for teachers title 'Hope for Humanity', I came across this poem, composed by a young girl in Belarus, Russia, near the site of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster area.
I did not pick the title for the workshop. That was done by the organizers after we had a conversation about our Hope-Focused Service-Learning program. As I think about what I am seeing and hearing from teachers, parents, community mentors and members, students and funders about the Hope-Focused Service-Learning program, I believe this poem speaks to the many ways we can activate hope. And so I will take this poem to the presentation. In the meantime, I wanted to share it with those of you who won't be in the presentation.
One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake a dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room,
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true.
One life can make the difference.
You see, it's up to you.
I did not pick the title for the workshop. That was done by the organizers after we had a conversation about our Hope-Focused Service-Learning program. As I think about what I am seeing and hearing from teachers, parents, community mentors and members, students and funders about the Hope-Focused Service-Learning program, I believe this poem speaks to the many ways we can activate hope. And so I will take this poem to the presentation. In the meantime, I wanted to share it with those of you who won't be in the presentation.
One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake a dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room,
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true.
One life can make the difference.
You see, it's up to you.
Friday, August 1, 2008
TELUS: Building Critical Hope and Learned Hopefulness
I just have to share with you the wonderful event that Laurie, our Executive Director at the Hope Foundation, and I attended last evening. It was the TELUS Celebration of Giving event held here in Edmonton. We were invited because we received funding from TELUS last year.
Twenty different charities received a cheque from the Employee Giving program. What that means is that besides the community grants that TELUS provides every year to assist non-profits make a difference in their community, the employees also give to their charities of their choice! The mood in the room was indeed celebatory for everyone - those receiving cheques and those of us who were there because we had received previous funding. We had an opportunity to share with each other the good work that is happening in our communities. We also had an opportunity to see what happens when an organization chooses to make a real difference in the communities where their employees live and work - TELUS calls it "give where you live". I know that TELUS employees also volunteer their time in their community. That resonates for me because it is what our Hope-Focused Service-Learning program espouses. Students are encouraged to interact with and bring hope to those in their own community first. Stephen John Quaye calls that building critical hope. He states, "When students become active, their critical hope often leads to three learning outcomes that are valued in higher education: appreciation of differences, cultivation of students' voices, and connection to global society." It's also about building opportunities for learned hopefulness. Back in 1990 Zimmerman learned that those who gave back to the community were better able to envision and work toward a personally desired future.
But there is more - TELUS is donating 200 dinners to the Bissel Centre and Hope Mission in honour of the 200 guests who attended the Celebration of Giving event.
This morning I woke up feeling rejuvenated knowing that there are hopeful organizations like TELUS out there who are bringing hope both to their employees and to individuals within our community.
As I come to the end of this entry I realize that I have just repeated myself. The previous blog (image) says it all!
References:
Quaye, S. J. (2007). Hope and learning: The outcomes of contemporary student activism. About Campus, 12(2), 2-9.
Zimmerman, M.A. (1990). Toward a theory of learned hopefulness: A structural model analysis of participation and empowerment. Journal of Research in Personality, 24, 71-86.
Twenty different charities received a cheque from the Employee Giving program. What that means is that besides the community grants that TELUS provides every year to assist non-profits make a difference in their community, the employees also give to their charities of their choice! The mood in the room was indeed celebatory for everyone - those receiving cheques and those of us who were there because we had received previous funding. We had an opportunity to share with each other the good work that is happening in our communities. We also had an opportunity to see what happens when an organization chooses to make a real difference in the communities where their employees live and work - TELUS calls it "give where you live". I know that TELUS employees also volunteer their time in their community. That resonates for me because it is what our Hope-Focused Service-Learning program espouses. Students are encouraged to interact with and bring hope to those in their own community first. Stephen John Quaye calls that building critical hope. He states, "When students become active, their critical hope often leads to three learning outcomes that are valued in higher education: appreciation of differences, cultivation of students' voices, and connection to global society." It's also about building opportunities for learned hopefulness. Back in 1990 Zimmerman learned that those who gave back to the community were better able to envision and work toward a personally desired future.
But there is more - TELUS is donating 200 dinners to the Bissel Centre and Hope Mission in honour of the 200 guests who attended the Celebration of Giving event.
This morning I woke up feeling rejuvenated knowing that there are hopeful organizations like TELUS out there who are bringing hope both to their employees and to individuals within our community.
As I come to the end of this entry I realize that I have just repeated myself. The previous blog (image) says it all!
References:
Quaye, S. J. (2007). Hope and learning: The outcomes of contemporary student activism. About Campus, 12(2), 2-9.
Zimmerman, M.A. (1990). Toward a theory of learned hopefulness: A structural model analysis of participation and empowerment. Journal of Research in Personality, 24, 71-86.
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