Beading The Odds: What A Difference One Person Can Make!

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

Beading The Odds is the inspiration of a friend of mine, Juanita Garnow. After retirement, Ms. Garnow made the decision to become a volunteer. She has always been a strong supporter of animals, having at least two dogs as pets at any one point in time. 

Initially she volunteered with Project Pooch, a non-profit group that rescues abandoned and abused dogs and works with Oregon’s Juvenile Justice system. Young men at McClaren School for Boys apply for the opportunity to have a dog assigned to them. These young men are responsible for the care and training of their dog. Upon ‘graduation’, the dogs are adopted by vetted families. This program’s impact on young men has been profound. Less than 1% of the youth involved in Project Pooch have reoffended.

However, as awesome as Project Pooch is, that program isn’t what this post is about.

Through her volunteering with Project Pooch, Ms. Garnow learned there were youth at McClaren who self-identified as Native Americans. She offered to teach them beading techniques so they could connect at a different level to their heritage.

That’s how Beading The Odds came into being. Ms. Garnow single-handedly has raised money to purchase supplies, garnered donations of beads and equipment, invited other beaders to join her on Sundays when she meets with these young men and teaches and encourages and supports them in their work. She also takes their finished projects and sets up tables at various functions in order to sell the necklaces, bracelets and earrings the youth create.

Recently, Ms. Garnow had a table at The Gathering of the Guilds, a large event where members of various craft guilds sell their wares. Although there were a couple of other people who helped out, for the most part it was Ms. Garnow selling the items. Over the weekend of The Gathering of the Guilds, Ms. Garnow work brought in just under $1,000.00 in sales and donations. These funds go directly into accounts the youth have at McClaren. All of Ms. Garnow’s time, effort, energy, enthusiasm and encouragement are donated.

Last year, while selling at The Gathering of the Guilds, a woman from Washington state stopped by. She was excited to see if she could get this type of program started in her state.

What I’m excited about is hearing the stories of the changes these young men are making as they find someone who is committed to them learning a new skill, something that they can use to help support themselves when they are released or that they can use to make gifts for family members and friends. Underneath it all, they know that Ms. Garnow is there because she cares about them as individual young people.

She is a volunteer and receives no remuneration for her time. Her payment is seeing them gain new skills, grow in confidence in using those skills, become thoughtful about how these skills can fit into their life after release. Sunday night or sometime on Monday we talk. I hear the exuberance in her voice as she tells me how her time teaching the art of beading to these young men fills her heart. The joy and happiness she feels infuses her words and wraps around me. When we part, I’m uplifted because I know that her work makes a huge difference in the lives of each of the 12 young men currently in Beading The Odds. I’m not surprised this is one of the most popular programs offered and that there is a waiting list.

If you are interested in learning more about Beading The Odds, donating material, or making a contribution, please contact me at JudithAshley@comcast.net and I’ll forward your email to Ms. Garnow. 

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

© 2016 Judith Ashley

"Throw Away Children"

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women's Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

This month the Genre-istas have the topic of "Real Life Heroes and Heroines". Although most of us write something on topic, a few of us don't and that's perfectly okay. We hope you check back often during the month to learn about real life heroes and heroines. Remember, Genre-istas come from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States (actually from Alaska to the Carolinas in the U.S.).

Of course there are the women and men we read about every day in the newspapers and see on television, the ones whose lives are depicted in “based on true incidents/lives” movies.

Not taking anything away from any of those heroines and heroes, I’ve another point of view based on fifty years of working in education and social services.

Take the young man in high school who showed up every day to my class and even got permission to come to my class when he had other classes to attend. I met him about twenty years later. That’s when I learned about the alcohol abuse and domestic violence that was the norm in his family or origin. He’d found a different path for himself…not an easy path by any means. He had a good job, loving wife and children and great English Spaniel dogs (yes, I’m a dog lover). What he had to overcome in order to manifest that which he did not have as a child was enormous.

Another every day heroine is my neighbor who volunteers every Sunday at the state school for boys i.e. juvenile prison. She got involved when she retired and wanted something to do with her time. First she volunteered with Project Pooch and that’s how she got to know the incarcerated teenagers. She teaches them beading. The program is called “Beading The Odds”. My neighbor not only teaches them beading (and there is a wait list to get into her Sunday afternoon class), she writes grants for donations, sells their jewelry and other items at local craft fairs, etc.

I know from my years of working in child welfare that it makes a big difference to these young people to see people who are Not getting paid to help them show up. The fact that she does show up is, in itself, healing to them. Helps them see that adults can be trusted, can be caring and concerned.

When I was a case worker, I had a young girl who also overcame the odds and eventually found a loving husband, raised three great girls and made solid supportive friends.

 The fact that she keeps in touch with me at all means a great deal.

At this time of year, many politicians are eager to share their humble beginnings to show that they are just like everyone else. I’ve yet to hear one of them talk about being beaten, locked in closets, raped or starved much less abandoned to fend for themselves as a teen.

Gabriella (due to be released summer 2016) is about one of those ‘throw away’ children who lived on the streets because that was safer than being home with her mother. Not only does she have the basics of food, shelter, etc. to figure out but she also has to find her way past the shame of being one of the ‘throw away’ children, find the right to love and be loved in spite of (or perhaps because of) all that she endured and survived and overcame.

I encourage you to look around you and to see the ‘throw away’ children. Know that what makes a difference is for someone to see them and believe they can have and are worthy of a good life.

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

© 2016 Judith Ashley

What A Difference One Person Can Make!

By Judith Ashley

Beading The Odds is the inspiration of a friend of mine, Juanita Garnow. After retirement, Ms. Garnow made the decision to become a volunteer. She has always been a strong supporter of animals, having at least two dogs as pets at any one point in time.

Initially she volunteered with Project Pooch, a non-profit group that rescues abandoned and abused dogs and works with Oregon’s Juvenile Justice system. Young men at McClaren School for Boys apply for the opportunity to have a dog assigned to them. These young men are responsible for the care and training of their dog. Upon ‘graduation’, the dogs are adopted by vetted families. This program’s impact on young men has been profound. Less than 1% of the youth involved in Project Pooch have reoffended.

However, as awesome as Project Pooch is, that program isn’t what this post is about.

Through her volunteering with Project Pooch, Ms. Garnow learned there were youth at McClaren who self-identified as Native Americans. She offered to teach them beading techniques so they could connect at a different level to their heritage.

That’s how Beading The Odds came into being. Ms. Garnow single-handedly has raised money to purchase supplies, garnered donations of beads and equipment, invited other beaders to join her on Sundays when she meets with these young men and teaches and encourages and supports them in their work. She also takes their finished projects and sets up tables at various functions in order to sell the necklaces, bracelets and earrings the youth create.

Recently, Ms. Garnow had a table at The Gathering of the Guilds, a large event where members of various craft guilds sell their wares. Although there were a couple of other people who helped out, for the most part it was Ms. Garnow selling the items. Over the weekend of The Gathering of the Guilds, Ms. Garnow sold just over $1,000.00. These funds go directly into accounts the youth have at McClaren. All of Ms. Garnow’s time, effort, energy, enthusiasm and encouragement are donated.

While selling at The Gathering of the Guilds, a woman from Washington state stopped by. She was excited about what Ms. Garnow was doing and said she wanted to see if she could get this type of program started in her state.

What I’m inspires me is hearing the stories of the changes these young men are making as they find someone who is committed to them learning a new skill, something that they can use to help support themselves when they are released or that they can use to make gifts for family members and friends.

Underneath it all, they know that Ms. Garnow is there because she cares about them as individual young people. She is a volunteer and receives no remuneration for her time.

Her payment is seeing "the guys" gain new skills, grow in confidence in using those skills, become thoughtful about how these skills can fit into their life after release. Sunday night or sometime on Monday we talk. I hear the exuberance in her voice as she tells me how her time teaching the art of beading to these young men fills her heart. The joy and happiness she feels infuses her words and wraps around me. When we part, I’m uplifted because I know that her work makes a huge difference in the lives of each of the 12 young men currently in Beading The Odds. I’m not surprised this is one of the most popular programs offered and that there is a waiting list.

If you are interested in learning more about Beading The Odds, donating material, or making a contribution, please contact me at JudithAshleyRomance@Gmail.com and I’ll forward your email to Ms. Garnow.

Judith Ashley, the author of The Sacred Womens Circle series, writes romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nourish the soul. You can learn more by visiting her website and her Windtree Press author page.

Selfish Giving

Selfish Giving: A Reason to Help Others

By Judith Ashley

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 11^th 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 

Shout Our For Charity!

By Judith Ashley

This month the Genre-istas are giving a Shout Out For Charity! You may be asking yourself what the connection is between Charity and Romance. My answer: Off the top of my head I can’t think of a situation in which Charity is inconsequential. From my perspective, something is missing from a person's life. There is a hole somewhere in their life they can't fill but Charity can. The underlying purpose of Charity is to make things better. The people, places, pets, things are better for the Charity’s involvement.

 

I like to think that reading romance novels has a positive affect; that the time spent in that fictional world frees them from the immediate challenges in their lives. And, for that moment in time when they are drawn into that fictional world, when they know that no matter what the problems the characters face, there will be a happily-ever-after ending. For those minutes or hours, their lives are better. 

 

I'm Shouting Out for the Three Charities below because I know they make the world a better place.

 

Free Arts Northwest provides arts experiences which empower underserved youth to find their creativity, passion, and voice.  Through arts education, collaborttive projects and ongoing mentorship, Free Arts NW cultivates individual artistic exploration while strengthening youth particpants’ connection to their community. Free Arts NW is more than a creation of art. The art serves as a catalyst for youth to feed pride in their work, receive public recognition, and get involved in their community.

Please take a moment and hear from the youth directly. Meet Sierra. She was one of Free Arts NW first youth participants and she will tell you how Free Arts NW has touched her life: http://vimeo.com/62140796

 

Project Pooch partners unwanted shelter dogs with incarcerated teens. 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. When the dogs are ready, they are matched with people looking for a pet and the young man knows he’s been successful. 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. To learn more go to www.Pooch.org

 

Kinship House provides 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