Macomb County Employees Donate Proceeds From "Casual Day"
Leaps
and Bounds Family Services (LBFS), recently received a check for over
$1500 from the generous donations of Macomb County employees.
Casual
day at the County of Macomb is a monthly event, where, in exchange for a
small donation, employees can ‘dress down’ for the day. All proceeds
raised are presented to area non-profits selected by the Macomb County
Board of Commissioners.
“We
are grateful to the employees of Macomb County for their very generous
contribution to Leaps and Bounds,” said Denise Dorsz, executive director
of LBFS, “people continue to be generous and demonstrate a willingness
to support worthy causes, even when times are economically tough.”
Proceeds from the donations will be used for the continuation of our adult and youth programs.
Leaps and Bounds Partner with Lincoln High School to Implement the Kingian Nonviolence Program
This past
summer, Kezia Curtis, Leaps and Bounds Family Services Youth Program
Coordinator, participated in the International Nonviolence Summer Institute Center
for Nonviolence & Peace Studies (Level 1) at the University of Rhode
Island.
The training engaged
participants from all around the world for two weeks. All involved were submerged in Kingian
Nonviolence, learning types/levels of conflict, Principle and Steps of Kingian
nonviolence, 4 major Nonviolent Campaigns, Social Justice Models of Change, and
reading (Pilgrimage to Nonviolence, Letter from the Birmingham Jail,
Transformed Nonconformist, and Tough Mind Tender Heart.Kingian
Nonviolence goes beyond basic problem solving in teaching that nonviolence is a
way of life.
The core principles of
Kingian Nonviolence alters your way of thinking in teaching you to be
courageous, to be positive/nonviolent in mind and body, keep your goals in line
with the community you want to have, and to remember that justice always
prevails. When conflict does arise
through Kingian nonviolence students have the skills to identify, de-escalate
and solve conflict at its root. In doing
so creating a win-win solution for all parties involvedThe Center
for Nonviolence & Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island was
founded by Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. Ed.D to support a community that would
engage in teaching, research, and service related to conflict
reconciliation.
They are proud to offer
trainings in Kingian Nonviolence- the nonviolent principles and strategic steps
for creating nonviolent social change developed from the teachings of Dr.
Martine Luther King Jr. Through education and training that seeks to
institutionalize and internationalize nonviolence as a process that promotes
the establishment of a global beloved community. Specifically, the center engages in activities
and projects that fosters mutual understanding among people, in which
nonviolent processes are used to reconcile conflicts and to build peaceful,
sustainable, and inclusive communities that promote human, and economic and
social justice for all.
This program
will be facilitated by Kezia at Lincoln High School in ten week cycle with
meetings held 4 mornings a week for 50 minutes each session as part of the
daily school schedule. Visit our Youth Programs for additional information.
Leaps and Bounds Family Services Offers No-Cost Work Training Program For Young Adults
Leaps and Bounds Family Services (LBFS) in
partnership with the Macomb / St. Clair Workforce Development Board
(M/SC WDB) is pleased to announce the launch of “REACH” - a new Youth
Employment & Training program.
As
an approved provider of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Leaps and
Bounds new “REACH” program provides WIA-eligible young adults with the
information, encouragement and support required to achieve their
academic and career goals. The year-round program offers job skills
training, leadership development, work experiences, individual tutoring,
study skills training, mentoring and guidance services.
WIA is a federally funded program designed to improve the skills of our local workforce by
increasing their work readiness, occupational skills, and by connecting
them to jobs in industries with the greatest demand for workers.
The
LBFS “REACH” Youth Employment & Training program specifically
targets at-risk youth from low-income families that are faced with
barriers to education and employment. Applicants
must be between the ages of 19 and 21 and a resident of Macomb
County. There is no cost to participate. The program is offered free of
charge through funding by the Macomb / St. Clair Workforce Development
Board. In addition, LBFS offers eligible participants access to other
free community programs including on-site Child Care Provider Training,
GED Preparation and other supportive services such as emergency food
pantry and individual counseling.
“We
are grateful that Leaps and Bounds has been identified as a WIA
resource to address the needs of workforce development for the
economically disadvantaged and unemployed young adults of our
community,” said Denise Dorsz, executive director of LBFS. “The addition
of this program adds to the variety of options offered as part of our
educational programs and services. Participation in the “REACH”
program will help assure young adults greater success and opportunities
in their future. We look forward to engaging the local business
community to partner with us through WIA paid internships and job
shadowing.”
To determine eligibility and enroll in the program, please contact Beth Calcaterra, WIA Youth Program Coordinator, at bethc@leapsnbounds.org or call 586-759-3895
Leaps and Bounds Family Services Accepted for Pepsi Refresh Grant for the Month of January 2011
Leaps and Bounds Family Services Announce its 14th Annual Community Service Award Dinner & Silent Auction