THE PEN CONNECTION
March 2016

In This Issue




PEN Youth S.T.O.R.Y. Award
Last year we instituted this award, which is given to one youth at each grade level: Elementary, Middle and High School.  Selected youth will be awarded a cash prize and recognized in
our newsletter and
on our website. 

For Details & Information, click HERE,
 
NOTE:  Deadline for submission is 3/21; winners will be contacted by 4/1.
 
    
This is an exciting time of year! PEN is busy getting ready for its inaugural black tie gala, A Night at the Oscars, on April 24th from 5:30 to 10:00. Strut your stuff on the red carpet, enjoy great food, listen to the sounds of 3 different entertainers, and have some fun with our silent and live auction before you dance the night away! Go to pen-gala.eventbrite.com to get your tickets today.

We have had an exciting month, with our documentary series at Cinebarre drawing big turn-outs, and several schools working with us to address the needs of their families. We are so grateful to be able to link our community of parents to support and services that empower them in their parenting. Keep an eye out for our event in April, The Other Side of Cannabis. This is a very informative film on the impact of marijuana use on developing youth. Several of our local teens, parents and providers are featured in this film. If you want more information on how to approach conversations with your child in lieu of the changing marijuana law, this is a must see!

Given our big gala, we will not be hosting our annual PEN luncheon. However, we will be honoring our volunteers and welcoming all parents to come out and join us at The Kitchen Next Door on Monday May 16th, from 5:00-9:00. Please be sure to tell your server that you are with Parent Engagement Network, and they will donate 50% of the proceeds to PEN!
 



Shelly D. Mahon, PhD
PEN Executive Director


PEN EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS 

- - - click on below underlined word/s for web or document link - - -
  
March Events --------
 
 

- - -  EVENT IS SOLD OUT   - - - 

If you would like to be put on our waiting list (in case of cancellations), please contact [email protected]


  
4/7 - The Other Side of Cannabis 
Negative Effects of Marijuana on our Youth 
This is an independent film project created by ordinary citizens with no political or economic affiliations or interests, geared toward educating our society about the harmful effects of marijuana on our youth.
PRESTIGIOUS PANELISTS (most of whom are local people who were interviewed in the making of this film):  Avani Dilger and Natural Highs Youth, Dr. Don Misch-Executive Director at Wardenburg Health Center at CU, and from iThrive:  Deb Roberts-Executive Director and Colt Smiht-Lead Teen Facilitator.
REGISTER HERE 




 
                 
   ***  A Night at the Oscars  ***

JOIN US FOR THE PARENT ENGAGEMENT NETWORK'S
Inaugural Black Tie Gala!
APRIL 24th, 2016
         5:30 PM - Hor D'oeuvres | Cocktails | Silent Auction 
 
Adrienne Bulinski, 
Award Winning Motivational Speaker
 
6:30 PM - Dinner | Keynote | Live Auction
8:00 PM - Dancing
Featuring our Special Guest and Keynote Speaker:
Adrienne Bulinski, Former Miss Kansas and Theatrical Performer

REGISTER HERE 
  
 
Please consider sponsoring this incredible event.  For more information, click HERE.
Please consider donating to our auction.  Click HERE. 
 
Help us to make this a spectacular event for you and our community (participate in planning, auction items, marketing, and inviting your family and friends). 
Contact: Shelly Mahon at [email protected]

 
** Please note that the Gala will take the place of our annual luncheon.**


 
* * * Save the Dates * * *

4/2, Saturday, 8:30am - 2:30pm
Provides education, awareness, and resources on depression awareness and suicide risk reduction.
Registration Deadline:  3/25, register at  
 
4/26, Tuesday, 6:30 - 8:30pm
TRANSITIONING:  From High School to College  
Monarch High in school library  
more information to follow (contact [email protected])

Past Events -------- 
 
The Mask You Live In showed in February at Boulder High School and gathered over 200 attendees throughout Boulder County.  The esteemed panel shared their expertise and compassion while discussing "America's narrow definition of masculinity". 
   
Breaking the Silence showed in February
at Cinebarre Theater in Louisville, drawing over 50 attendees to learn more about "topics of gender and sexual diversity". 
 
 
Kathy Valentine
Click here for this year's PEN Documentary Series
in English or in Spanish.  

Scholarships are available for any paid event - just click on scholarship ticket and indicate number of tickets needed.

CEU's are available for educators - please register through BVSD Avatar AND the PEN registration site to expedite processing.  
 
 Contact Kathy Valentine, 303_810_6456

SCHOOL TEAM EVENTS and HAPPENINGS


Another FUN PEN Event . . .  
5/16, Monday, 5-9:00pm
Enjoy a Great Meal, Support PEN, and Celebrate the End of the School Ye
ar! 
Next Door Community Pub - The Kitchen  - 5014U Night
1035 Pearl Street in Boulder
Click for -
Happy Hour Menu (until 6pm) 
They will donate 50% of sales from participating tables to PEN. 
For more information, click
HERE. 
 

For a full list of PEN events and to register go to  www.penbv.org/events 
 
Questions? Contact Kate Spector or Paula Nelson
        


PEN COMMUNITY COLLABORATORS  

Collaborator News and Links






Sherry Lewis, Licensed Professional
 Counselor
Success Strategies 4 Kids
Friendship, Feelings, Family:  Skills for Life


4/5, 6pm Reception;
7pm Program
 








FREE
An Interactive Conversation
with Parents & Teens
3/10, Th, 6:15-8.30pm
at New Vista High School Parents and teens and anyone in the community are welcome to attend.
 
 
Broken: My Journey from Addiction to Redemption and Beyond
William Moyers
(son of Bill Moyers) 
4/28 - 6:30 p.m. registration, presentation at 7:00 p.m.
followed by Q and A
at
C.U. Wolf Law School Courtroom 




 

STARTS 3/14 for 8 weeks 
Monday nights, 6-7:15pm  
 
For parents of children
age 8-13
 
Location:  at InReach,  
311 Mapleton in Boulder 
   






   
 
Association for
Community Living
Thank you to ACL  
for opening  
their home to PEN  
and allowing us to share  
office space!
 
 
CenterStage's
Tapestry Theatre Company
3/12
1:00 - Performance, Silent Auction, Dessert
6:00 - Dinner, Performance, Paddle Raiser
Tickets
 



Boulder Psychological Services





Supporting Resilience, Grit and Social-Emotional Skills for Students and Parents
4/7, 7-8:00pm, Register




Bringing Forth Personal
Coaching and Counseling 
 
Events





Annual Gatekeeper's Event
4/2, 8:30-12:30

 






SPAN is hosting a screening  of the documentary
3/10 at 5:30 pm
at their office.




 

Special Education Parent Support Center

3/31, 6 - 8:00pm
Twice Exceptional Learners
 
SEAC 2015/16
4/13 , 6 - 7:00pm

 Common Sense Parenting
March - June classes 
 
 
 
 
Student, Family and
Teacher Training
 
4/2, 10am - 3pm
Register by 3/22
for discount

Meditation Tip of the Month
Staying Balanced
During the Seasonal Change

   


YouthRoots is a local nonprofit that teaches students how to make the world a better
place while developing their
leadership and life skills.

Youthboard
Leadership Opportunity
All students who are passionate about making  
a difference should  
apply HERE 
DEADLINE 4/11
Contact: Fawnda Hathaway or 303-523-2070. Click here
for details.


Precision Hugs - Helping the Community
 
Precision is giving away a furnace to those in need every month - read more hereEvery month Precision donates $1000 to a local charity or good cause. 
Please nominate PEN
  
Thank you for participating in these programs which support PEN:
 
PEN participates with FlipCause 
 

This "button" appears on each PEN website page.  When you click on on this button, there are two choices - "Donate Now" or "Shop to Support" PEN.  The Shop button brings up about 100 different places (such as Amazon, Target, Expedia, Orbitz, Office Max etc.), and PEN receives a percentage of your purchase from each vendor.

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Parent Engagement Network 
6310 Bruntwood Court
Boulder, CO 80303