Selfish Giving: A Reason to Help Others
By Judith Ashley
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| Judith Ashley |
I've worked in the
social service field for about forty years. During this time I've seen miracles
happen because someone genuinely cared about another person. One of my beliefs
is If I want the world
different, I need to step up and do something. The population I believe that will make the most positive impact on the
world of the future is young. So this month I'm reminding you about
the needs of "at-risk-young people". For my world to be a safe place
I enjoy, some of them have to have some help here and now. I’m highlighting three
local non-profit programs that work to help young people with challenging
backgrounds make a difference now so they will continue making my world a
better place. I know there are similar programs where you live. Check around –
help the youth in your community have the foundation they need to grow into the
leaders of our future.
Free Arts Northwest provides arts experiences which empower under-served youth
to find their creativity, passion and voice. Through arts education,
collaborative projects and ongoing mentorship, Free Arts NW cultivates
individual artistic exploration while strengthening youth participants’
connection to their community. Free Arts NW is more than a creation of art. The
art serves as a catalyst for youth to feel pride in their work, receive public
recognition and get involved in their community.
June 11th is the Premiere for the films created during
the annual Spring Break Film Camp. KBOO radio http://kboo.fm/content/summerfestivalsandfreeartsnw featured
the program in a recent broadcast. Free Arts NW touches the lives of youth. One
of them, Sierra, tells how Free Arts NW has touched her life: http://vimeo.com/62140796
Project POOCH is a dog rescue
organization with a twist........unlikely to be adopted dogs are taken from
local shelters to the kennel at MacLaren, Oregon State's Youth Correctional
Facility in Woodburn. Youth in the program there work under the guidance of
knowledgeable mentors to train and rehabilitate the dogs. In the process, the
young men are rehabilitated, learning many valuable skills and lessons, not
least of which is the power of positive change. In the twenty years POOCH has
been in existence, not one of the youth involved in the program has
re-offended. Project POOCH is a win for the individual and his family, a win
for the dog, a win for the family who adopts the dog, and a huge win for
society!
To participate in this program the
young men must meet certain criteria. They are taught to work with the dogs in
socialization (being around other dogs and people) and obedience training. For
the time they are together, each are lavished with unconditional love – for
both the dog and the teen, this may be their first experience. Project
POOCH can be found online at POOCH.org. Thank
you for your support! You can get involved either through a financial donation or check
out their website to see if you qualify to adopt a dog.
Kinship House supports special needs foster and adoptive children in
becoming part of healthy, loving growing up homes. Our outpatient child and
family therapy helps children with mental health challenges and their loving
parents learn the skills they need to be there for each other for a
lifetime. We provide a unique blend of essential mental health
services to children and families during all stages of foster care, placement,
and adoption. Therapists at Kinship House are experienced and effective in
helping children and families create stable growing up homes. Learning to trust
adults can be a difficult task for children who have built a thick wall of
distrust as a way of protecting themselves from abusive adults. A warm and
welcoming place, Kinship House is located in a neighborhood. For more
information and to donate www.KinshipHouse.org
Copyright 2014 Judith Ashley - www.judithashleyromance.com
