June 2008
It's almost Summer! Every other month, we send out our One Maine One Portland Coalition e-newsletter which highlights positive youth development, parental monitoring tips, upcoming community activities & opportunities for involvement. Please feel free to email us your program updates and/or events--we love to spread the word about the GREAT things going on in our area and beyond!
Email Amanda
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Parents Ask:
"Who is
this kid?"
"For every
parent of a teenager who has wondered 'Who is this kid?' a new web
site from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America aims to make answering the
question easier."
"Through
video, humorous interactive segments, role-playing and advice from experts,
parents and caregivers can learn how adolescent brain development explains
'normal' teen behaviors, impulsiveness, rebellion, high emotions and risk-taking
and how to use this new information to connect with teens."
"'A Parent's Guide to the Teen
Brain' is the first in a series of new interactive products the
Partnership will introduce at drugfree.org this year as part of a major new
effort to champion parents and help them prevent and address drug and alcohol
abuse among their kids and in their families."
Check it out!
www.drugfree.org/
teenbrain
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Time To Talk on Yahoo! Groups
Don't forget to check out Portland's "Time To Talk" on Yahoo! Groups.
"Share talk tips, ask
questions, get support and learn how to have positive conversations
with your teens to keep them healthy and drug-free."
Click the icon below FMI!
Would you like more info about "Time To Talk?
Want postcards for your upcoming events?
Email Amanda
or call 756-8053 FMI
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Highlights from Around Maine
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The Kindness Center
Change your heart, change your life, change the world...
"Without warning Biddeford, Maine experienced a tornado of kindness...Residents were lifted up and spirits were tossed into
unfamiliar territory as Michael Chase of the Kindness Center churned up a whirlwind of "100 acts of
kindness in 100 minutes. At ground zero, the back of his truck parked behind city hall in the
small downtown area, Michael dispensed from a large board 100 kindness
cards containing action items for the volunteers to complete. Young
kids handed out flowers and balloons to strangers and passers-by, who,
often wanted to help with the kindness challenge themselves." Read More from helpothers.org
Click Here to Read More about The Kindness Center & Upcoming Events The Telling Room:
"I Carry it Everywhere" Book Release Party"The Telling Room is throwing a book release party! I Carry  It Everywhere
will make its debut as the 2008 Telling Room anthology--a yearlong project that involved over 400 students [which include Rickey from Deering Reconnecting Youth] and dozens of volunteers and
supporters. It's time to celebrate and congratulate." Come to the SPACE Gallery at 538 Congress St. Doors at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $5 (all ages).
 for
a dollar for dollar matching grant from the Ollie Fund of the Maine
Community Foundation."
Read More...
"The
Momentum logo was designed by Deering High School student, Meaghan
Maurice, the winner of a citywide contest. For more information on how
to purchase a brick or about the work of the Skatepark Planning
Committee, visit www.portlandmaine.gov/skatepark." Project AWARE Natural Highs--As one teen puts it, "Things to do that don't hurt you but are fun." Check out Natural Highs
"Untold Stories"--Untold Stories is a dramatic movie created by the Project AWARE Players
to raise awareness about bulling and harassment. The DVD will be
available for communities as an educational tool beginning in the Fall
of 2008. More About "Untold Stories"
Summer Film Institute--Beginning in the summer of 2008, Project Aware will offer a one week
summer institute for video production and acting. Addressing one
pressing issue, the youth involved in the institute will produce a PSA
designed to raise awareness and make a difference in the community. Find Out More! 5th Annual Latino Soccer Tournament! The City of Portland's Minority Health Program (Public Health Division, H & HSD) invites you to the 5th
Annual Latino Soccer Tournament for two great days of artistic soccer wizardry,
cultural entertainment and diverse ethnic food. Information
about health services such as HIV/STD prevention and breast and cervical health
will be available. Additionally, major
health care providers in the greater Portland
area like Portland Community Free Clinic, Maine Medical
Center, Mercy Hospital, Ingraham and volunteers and will
be on hand to provide valuable health
information. Click Here to View the Flyer in EnglishClick Here to View the Flyer in Spanish
Spurwink Music Program Rocks On "Four years ago teacher Jeff Shaw arrived at the Spurwink School to
start a music program. It's already getting national attention. 'Our program,' says Shaw, 'is less about music theory and music history
and more about just creating positive experiences for kids through
music. That's our goal here. If I can get a kid to smile a little bit
and maybe get past some of those walls they have up around them I feel
like I'm doing my job.'" Click Here for the WCSH6 Story & Video |
National Events & Publications
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 CASA's "Family Day"" A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children™ - A national initiative to
remind parents that what your kids really want at the dinner table is
YOU!" This year's Family Day Celebration is September 22, 2008. CasaFamilyDay.orgGet the conversation started with the " Family Dinner Box of Questions!" With questions like, "What qualities do you look for in a friend?," and "If you were in charge of the music for your family vacation, which songs would you select?" this " Family Dinner Box of Questions" will be real hit! Click Here FMI About the "Family Dinner Box of Questions"(A portion of the proceed from the "Family Dinner Box" are donated to CASA) "The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor youngpeople in middle
level and high school grades for outstanding volunteer service to their
communities. Click the icon for a list of the 2008 honorees. This year two Maine youth were honored"
Read about 8th Grader Chad Worster (Bangor Daily News)
Teens Openly Chat About Drugs
and Alcohol Online, Study Finds"Caron Treatment Centers, a nonprofit alcohol and drug treatment center in Pennsylvania,
commissioned a study by Nielsen BuzzMetrics to see what teens talk
about online." Click Here for the Study Details (PDF) "Ashley Duffy, 18, knew her parents wouldn't tap into her online journal so
she wrote freely about her drug use. She was at parties with people who had drugs.
'Kids are really open says she used the Internet to contact
her dealer and connect about it. I see posts from other people describing a
night on acid or whatever,' says Duffy of West Chester, Pa., who underwent
treatment and says she has been drug-free for 16 months. 'I think they think
their parents are clueless. And I guess they are.'" Click Here for the Related Article & Details from USA TodayTaste for Quick Boost
 Tied to Taste for Risk "Health researchers have identified a surprising new predictor for risky
behavior among teenagers and young adults: the energy drink. Super-caffeinated energy drinks, with names like Red Bull, Monster, Full
Throttle and Amp, have surged in popularity in the past decade. About a third of
12- to 24-year-olds say they regularly down energy drinks, which account for
more than $3 billion in annual sales in the United States." Read More from the NY Times |
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