Thoughts on the Newtown Shooting

All of us at Kids 'n Kinship are deeply saddened by the events of the shooting in Newtown, CT, last Friday.  To see so many young lives cut short along with their teachers' seems so horribly wrong. When tragedies like this occur, it’s easy to focus on the negative aspects: grieving the many who have died, being afraid of copycat shooters, feeling horrified that anyone would be this heedlessly destructive of human life (especially children’s!). However, there are also stories of heroism and compassion surrounding events like this. News is surfacing of the teachers who were heroes that day.  Consider 27-year-old Victoria Soto, who urged the children in her classroom to hide in closets and cabinets, saving their lives, though losing her own.  Consider the many who have responded with compassion by sending cards to the school, wearing the Sandy Hook Elementary school colors in honor of the those who died, and more. 

While there has been, and no doubt will continue to be, much debate about gun control and mental health issues in the wake of this tragedy all in an effort to prevent others, I encourage you to focus on the more positive aspect of doing something (whether through a formal program or informally to strengthen and support youth.  Today's children and youth need the guidance of adults to wade through these difficult times.  We all need to do our part to teach children empathy and kindness, values, and how to cope when their emotions and circumstances seem out of control.   You don't have to have the answers to questions that arise from this tragedy, kids just need people to talk to, people to support them through this, people to teach them other ways to deal with our challenging world. Be a friend to child.

Here’s an article with some tips on how caring adults can help children in the wake of the shooting:

http://safety.macaronikid.com/article/407864/coping-with-the-connecticut-tragedy

For more information on Kids 'n Kinship, go to our website: www.kidsnkinship.org

To find a mentoring program in your area, go to http://www.mentoring.org/get_involved/become_a_mentor

Vote for Kids 'n Kinship in Merchants Bank Community Giving Contest!

Kids 'n Kinship is one of a selected few organizations to take part in a Merchants Bank Facebook Contest on Community Giving!  People can vote on their favorite non-profit  for Merchants Bank to donate funds to.  Almost 50 children are waiting for mentors through Kids 'n Kinship currently.  Please help us compete for funds in order to match them and support the 69 children who are currently matched!  You can vote 3 times a day, (PLEASE DO!) from today through December 15th.  THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

To get started, Like Merchants Bank .

http://www.facebook.com/MerchantsBank and then go to the Community Giving tab as seen below

1.  Click on the Vote now button, shown below.


2. This screen will appear, explaining the purpose of the campaign and campaign rules. Click the "Sign in to vote!" button to cast your vote(s).



3. The first time you vote you'll need to go through a couple steps to set the app up on your Facebook. Click on "Go to App". You will then be asked to "Allow" the app to work on your Facebook. These two steps are only necessary the first time you login.


4. This screen will appear, confirming your are Signed into the app.



5. You will be presented with a scrolling voting screen. Scroll to the nonprofit organization you wish to cast a vote for and click on "Vote," as shown below.


6. You are allowed 3 votes per day which you can do right in a row. If you have already voted 3 times in a day and you try to vote again, you'll simply be presented with this message, encouraging you to come back tomorrow.
 

Help Derek apply for jobs and colleges!

I met this young man recently and was struck by how mature he is, as he is asking for help applying to colleges and getting a job.  He really cares about his family and since his dad died, he tries to be the man of the house.  However, he is a bit socially isolated with his peers because they just don't understand him.  He really needs an adult friend, couple or family who understands loss to hang out with and have fun outside the house.  Could you be a friend to Derek?  All it takes is just being there for a youth in need.

First name:  Derek 

Age:  16

Interests:  He enjoys playing games, watching movies, reading, cooking, & crafts.  He also loves animals and spending time with his baby cousin. He’s in 10^th grade and likes science & math. 

Personality/Characteristics:  Derek is caring and smart.  He lives with his mom and sisters and doesn’t have a guy role model in his life.

    

Goals/Dreams:  Derek wants a mentor to have an extra person to talk to.  He would like to go to the zoo, parks, bowling, mini-golf, or museums, as well as get advice on job applications, college, & cars.

Looking for: A guy mentor to hang out with and talk to.  He's open to couples or families too.

For more information about Derek or mentoring a child in Dakota County, MN, check out our website: www.kidsnkinship.org or attend our next information session on Tuesday Dec. 4, 6:00-6:45 pm at the Burnhaven Library in Burnsville.

Enjoy skiing? Be Isabel's mentor and show her how!

Winter is fast approaching!  It's a great time for winter sports, like skiing and sledding, both of which Isabel enjoys!  It's also a great time to make a difference in a child's life.  Sign up today to include a child in your holiday festivities and in your family life!  We have almost 50 kids waiting for someone to step up and befriend them.

First Name: Isabel

Age: 11

Interests: She enjoys roller-blading, bike riding, swimming, sledding, art & craft projects, playing games, cooking & baking, and watching movies.  She also likes sports, especially volleyball & basketball.

Personality/Characteristics: Isabel is outgoing and friendly. She lives with her single mom and older brother & sister.  She’s in 5^th grade and her favorite subject is math.

Goals/Dreams: She wants to learn how to ski.

Looking for: She wants an individual, couple or family to mentor her and give her advice on how to deal with bullying.

Attend an information session to learn more: Thursday November 15, 6:00-6:45 pm at Wescott Library in Eagan! For more information and other dates, go to our website: www.kidsnkinship.org.

Kids 'n Kinship receives Bob Dayton Quality Mentoring Award!

From Left to Right: Rita Younger, Jan Belmore, Janet Lekson,

 Ingrid Henry

Last Sunday, Kids 'n Kinship received the Bob Dayton Quality Mentoring Award for achievement at the lovely Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota Awards Celebration.  Kids 'n Kinship was 1 of only 4 programs in the state to be recognized with an award that night.  It was such an honor to receive this award! 

This award honors Bob Dayton whose vision led to engaging community leaders in developing the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota (MPM) and a statewide plan to connect all youth in Minnesota with caring quality adult mentors.   MPM now supports 140,000 mentoring relationships in Minnesota and is a nation-wide leader in quality mentoring, having instituted the Quality Mentoring Assessment Path (QMAP) tool for mentoring programs to evaluate their process and procedures on national researched-based standards of quality.  Kids 'n Kinship executive director, Jan Belmore, served on the QMAP committee to assess these standards as they were being developed.  Kids 'n Kinship is an Expert Partner with QMAP, having achieved 100% implementation rating on these best practices and standards.

For more information on MPM go to their website: www.mpmn.org

To learn more about Kids 'n Kinship, the youth mentoring program in Dakota County now celebrating 40 years, go to our website: www.kidsnkinship.org

Join us for 13th Annual Bowlathon! Guest Blog by Rita

 

Autumn is here; the leaves are falling, the kids are back in school . .   Give yourself a treat and come bowl with us!  Kids 'n Kinship mentoring is looking for community groups, sports leagues, students and businesses to have a great time at the 13th Annual Bowlathon on November 4th. 

There are lots of ways to be involved:

• Have your group or your company name on a lane for $200.00

• Donate an item or gift certificate for our  Silent Auction

• bring four bowlers with pledges totaling $100.00 and bowl with us on November 4 or a date you choose

Kids ‘n Kinship will recognize sponsors in our newsletter, website, Facebook page and at the Bowlathon. 

register at:   kidsnkinshipbowlathon2012event.eventbrite.com  

 

Questions?  call 651-686-0990 or email:  rykinship@aol.com

 

Put some fun in your fall and join us at the Bowlathon!