| Appelstein Seminar Hosted By MPLI |
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While many of us were enjoying well deserved August vacations, a group of  mentoring coordinators, social workers and other educators gathered at our offices for two very special days with Charlie Appelstein. Charlie is a social worker and author who is best known for his book entitled "No Such Thing As a Bad Kid".
The seminar was designed as a train the trainer class. Attendees were instructed how to take the core elements of Strength-based interactions back to their agencies and schools to spread the word.
In a nutshell, Charlie teaches that all misbehavior is a "coded message". There are reasons some young people act out. Strength based theory stresses the need for adults to respond to this behavior, rather than react. You can hear Charlie explain Strength -based practice in a short two minute video by clicking on the highlighted hyperlink.
One thing that was apparent to all of those who attended - there is seldom a dull moment when Charlie Appelstein is in the room. Charlie had the whole group working hard on their behavior modification raps. Strength-based techniques are an important tool for all adults working with young people. The Mentoring Academy, under Franca Floro's leadership, will be utilizing many of the techniques and tools Charlie taught us in a new Academy offering available to interested mentoring program coordinators on Long Island in 2011.
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| MPLI Set To Launch "Discovering The Possibilities" |
Discovering the Possibilities |
MPLI is about to launch a new curriculum designed for 8th and 9th graders and their mentors. The curriculum helps mentors assist their mentees connect the dots between aspirational goals and the process steps necessary to reach those goals.
The curriculum was developed with funds received from a Federal Grant secured for MPLI through Congressman Steven Israel, New York (2nd Congressional District). Additionally - MPLI would like to thank the Citi Foundation for its early support of the curriculum and for recognizing the importance of helping students envision a college-bound future.
"Discovering the Possibilities" was tested at two sites this past spring (Baldwin Junior High School and the Henry B. Stimson Middle School). The curriculum has gone to print and will be made available online and in hard copy early this fall.
The Mentoring Partnership is very excited about this new tool. Many of the young people that Long Island mentoring programs serve need help taking the next step forward. As the next step forward often involves getting to college, we want to equip mentors with the best tools available to help their mentees down the path they must take in order to make their dreams come true.
Special thanks from MPLI to Steve Israel and fellow Long Island Congressperson Carolyn McCarthy for their sponsorship and support of our organization and, in particular, this grant that has helped MPLI make "Discovering the Possibilities" a reality.
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| Come Join Our Community On Facebook |
The Mentoring Partnership of Long Island is happy to announce that we've recently joined Facebook! If you are on Facebook, we'd love to have you become part of our Long Island mentoring community online.
Simply click on the Thumbs Up icon and you'll be directed to our page. Click the "Like" button and give the Mentoring Partnership your thumbs up.
Like Us Now | Facebook allows us to communicate with a broader community and to share information and mentoring stories that are more timely, visual and program specific.
Why not become our friend so you can:
- watch videos of program coordinators and social workers performing raps they wrote to help inspire kids
- get information on grant opportunities for programs and the kids they serve
- learn about America's Promise's initiative to improve high school graduation rates
- and more!
It only takes a minute to join our community. If you are not currently on Facebook, why not consider joining? The new security features that Facebook provides allow one to define their own level of "internet visibility". So if you are concerned about old high school crushes tracking you down on the Internet, you shouldn't be. Facebook allows you to be a visible presence only to those with whom you choose to be "friends". Be MPLI's friend. We're having a lot of fun with this new communication/networking tool and we think you might enjoy it as well.
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CHANGE YOUR LIFE! BE A MENTOR.
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