Edited by Summer Brill
First Teachers is a project of the Bring Me a BookTM Foundation, which was founded in 1997 by Judy Koch. The organization envisions a read-aloud culture where all families place a high priority on literacy and are actively involved in their children's education. League members on the First Teachers committee, together with the Bring me a Book Foundation, will host 20 training sessions in the community this year.
Only 50% of children in low income areas are read aloud to on a daily basis, compared to 70% of higher income children. With study after study linking brain development and literacy skills later in life to this activity in young children, the importance of reading aloud is even greater today than ever.
On August 28th, the First Teachers committee spent the day at Bring Me A Book learning how to teach parents the importance of reading aloud, how to setup a regular reading routine, how to overcome obstacles to sticking with the routine and, most importantly, how to make the activity more interesting for the children (AKA, keep their attention). The vision of the training sessions the committee will be facilitating are to empower parents and caregivers to be their child’s “First Teacher”.
Stay tuned for the fall issue of the Piper (mailed November 1st) for a suggested reading list. For more information on the Bring me a Book Foundation, including Reading Aloud Tips, visit http://www.bringmeabook.org/programs/first-teachers.html.
September 27, 2010
September 11, 2010
Spotlight on Community Projects: Done in a Year Shelter Network
Edited by Summer Brill
The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula, Inc. (JLPA•MP) will be partnering with the Shelter Network of San Mateo County to fulfill its "Done in a Year" Project. The mission of the Shelter Network is to provide housing and support services that create opportunities for homeless families and individuals to re-establish self-sufficiency and to return to permanent homes of their own. The JLPA•MP Project Committee will sponsor Lifeskills workshops throughout the year at the Shelter Network's Menlo Park and San Mateo emergency shelters. These workshops will assist homeless clients in the shelters to gain employment, if jobless, and/or help them to find a new or better-paying job if they are in transitional housing.
Working with Shelter Network staff, League volunteers will deliver life skills workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions to Shelter Network clients at the Haven House in Menlo Park and First Step for Families in San Mateo.
Carla Cravalho and Amy Hamilton are the Co-Chairs for the Done in a Year Shelter Network community project this year. They are planning workshops on the following topics: Interviewing Skills, Financial Management, How to Keep a Job and Time Management.
The next Shelter Network workshop is September 22nd, check back for an update on their wonderful workshops!
The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula, Inc. (JLPA•MP) will be partnering with the Shelter Network of San Mateo County to fulfill its "Done in a Year" Project. The mission of the Shelter Network is to provide housing and support services that create opportunities for homeless families and individuals to re-establish self-sufficiency and to return to permanent homes of their own. The JLPA•MP Project Committee will sponsor Lifeskills workshops throughout the year at the Shelter Network's Menlo Park and San Mateo emergency shelters. These workshops will assist homeless clients in the shelters to gain employment, if jobless, and/or help them to find a new or better-paying job if they are in transitional housing.
Working with Shelter Network staff, League volunteers will deliver life skills workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions to Shelter Network clients at the Haven House in Menlo Park and First Step for Families in San Mateo.
Carla Cravalho and Amy Hamilton are the Co-Chairs for the Done in a Year Shelter Network community project this year. They are planning workshops on the following topics: Interviewing Skills, Financial Management, How to Keep a Job and Time Management.
The next Shelter Network workshop is September 22nd, check back for an update on their wonderful workshops!
My New Red Shoes Gives Children New Hope
By Mandy Conner
The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula (JLPA•MP) kicked off the 2010-2011 League year with its first Done in a Day (DIAD) offering and proudly partnered with My New Red Shoes for their Pack for Pride Event on July 18 at the Nvidia warehouse. Volunteers packed nearly 3,000 gift bags filled with new shoes, school supplies, gift cards and personalized notes for underprivileged children.
Megan Olesek shared the following comment about her family’s experience volunteering with the My New Red Shoes Done in a Day project:
“It was such a great opportunity to educate my son about those less fortunate. Even though he attended a birthday party later in the day, when my husband asked at the end of the day ‘what did you do today?’ the only thing he talked about was giving new shoes to kids who didn't have them. It definitely made a big impression!”
The bags created at this Done in a Day event will be delivered to children at Bay Area homeless shelters. This event was a great opportunity for League members to include their families and to provide resources to children in need.
Amy Truel led the team of volunteers, including Michelle Altick, Kate Bowerman, Ella Duncanson, Noelle Gonsalves, Jackie Lyandres, Megan Olesek, Joy Peacock, Lisa Tayeri and Mia Wyant. Many thanks to all for their hard work!
Edited version, read the full article in the next Piper magazine November 2010.
August 01, 2010
Meet our Provisional Committee Co-Chairs: Jovita Honor and Carrie Peacock
By Michelle Hostrup and Summer Brill
(Pictured: Jovita Honor)
Jovita Honor and Carrie Peacock are the fearless Co-Chairs of this year’s Provisional committee. You can meet them at the Gatehouse at one of our open houses August 7th and 25th. Here’s a brief introduction to them below. Have a great year ladies!
Register to attend an open house online at: http://www.thejuniorleague.org/paloalto/npo.jsp?pg=event&eventid=1776.
To read more about joining The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula, check out our website: http://www.thejuniorleague.org/paloalto/npo.jsp?pg=join5.
Jovita Honor
Why did you join the League and how long have you been an Active?
I joined the league to get involved in the community in a way that worked with my busy schedule and to meet other women. I've been an active member since 2004.
What is your fondest memory from your time in the League?
Attending the Starting Line Breakfast where the JLPAMP was recognized for starting a shelter for homeless youth over two decades prior. I was not involved at all with this project but I felt very proud to be part of a group that would create a solution to a problem they noticed at the time and that now was a big part of the community services.
What most surprised you once you joined the League?
I'm surprised by the diversity of experience among the women in this league. From medical to law to technical, etc.
What are you looking forward to this league year?
I'm looking forward to working with our committee (Provisional committee) in creating a welcoming and energizing atmosphere for our Provisional’s.
What is your favorite vacation destination?
Right now I'm fascinated with Italy having visited for the first time last year and going again this fall.
What keeps you busy when you're not doing Junior League related activities?
Building and managing my Wealth Advisory business keeps me very busy. This year I'm also a volunteer on another non-profit fundraiser that has been a wonderful experience because I'm working with other friends I've met at the Jr. League as well as sustainers I had not had the pleasure of meeting before.
What is your favorite movie of all time?
A Philadelphia Story with Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart.
Carrie Peacock
Why did you join the League and how long have you been an active?
I was new to the area and wanted to make friends and learn about the community. 3 years active.
What is your fondest memory from your time in the League?
In my previous league in Texas, we did a prom dress project and supplied prom dresses to less fortunate high school girls. Seeing the girls get so excited about finding the perfect dress was very heartwarming.
What most surprised you once you joined the League?
I was surprised by how many opportunities there were for me to get involved. I was also very impressed with the structure of the organization.
What are you looking forward to this league year?
Welcoming all the new provisional’s into Junior League!
What is your favorite vacation destination?
Grand Cayman
What keeps you busy when you're not doing Junior League related activities?
Spending time with my husband and 4 year old daughter.
What is your favorite movie of all time?
Seeing that I've only been exposed to kids movies in 4 years, I would say Mary Poppins.
July 31, 2010
Get to Know Our 2010-11 League President Stefanie Bruggeman
By Michelle Hostrup and Summer Brill
Welcome to the 2010-11 League Year!
We are very excited to welcome Stefanie Bruggeman as our League President this year. She introduced herself to the League at large at our General Meeting in May, but we thought it would be fun to ask her a few questions to get to know her on a more personal level. Our first General Meeting is September 15th at 6:15pm, hope to see you there!
Why did you join the League and how long have you been an Active?
I joined the League 13 years ago seeking to make friends and work in the community, pretty much the same reasons many of us join. I can honestly say that during my years as a League member, both those things have been met.
What is your fondest memory from your time in the League?
I worked on the East Palo Alto Charter School Committee as a committee member. I taught a Character Development Class to 12, 7th-grade girls, once a week, for the year. One day, I came ready to teach and noticed that no one was participating. When I asked around, the students told me they had just come out of a state-testing session and everyone's brains were fried. We ended up talking for 45 minutes about anything they wanted to talk about. It was very loose and everyone participated. It was a great learning session. We talked more about developing character in that one class than we had all year long. I learned a lot about the serious issues those girls were dealing with. One girl's dad was in jail, another's brother had just been killed by a gang-shooting and still another was sharing her house with multiple families. It’s a day I always look back on with fondness.
What most surprised you once you joined the League?
I am continually surprised by how much I've learned over the years. I came into the League a working woman. Soon after, kids took over my life and I eventually left the job I had. The League has given me the opportunity to stay current with working trends, and skills. I feel empowered and confident by all that I'm doing and learning. When I'm ready to rejoin the working world, I will be using the skills I've learned through the League.
I'm also surprise by the number of Jr. Leaguers I run into in my daily life and in the strangest places! Where ever I'm at, I'm bound to see someone I've met through the League. I bumped into a college sorority sister, whom I hadn't seen in years, at an Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) conference this past year. We are everywhere and I love it!
What are you looking forward to this league year?
I'm very excited about the strategic direction AJLI is taking. They have launched a big strategic initiative to ensure that we stay relevant with women's lives today. Angela Espinosa is leading a Strategic Planning task force that will merge AJLI's plan with the needs of our league into one comprehensive Strategic Plan. Look for that report to be published later this year.
What is your favorite vacation destination?
Lake Tahoe! Hand down. I love the ease of being in the mountains. My favorite things to do while I'm there is hike, play on the Lake, and shop at the local boutiques and eating at local restaurants.
What keeps you busy when you're not doing Junior League related activities?
My family. I have three kids, ages 13, 11 and 9. Between their many activities and my husband's travel schedule I end up being the scheduler and chauffeur.
I also like to stay fit and love to run, take a fitness class or do yoga. I've run several half-marathons, and was on a team of 12 women who participated in a relay race that went from Napa to Santa Cruz. I'm always up for a hike at the Dish if anyone is interested!
What is your favorite restaurant on the Peninsula?
With the kids: Fiesta Del Mar II (on Castro in Mt. View), without kids: Bistro Elan (on California Ave in Palo Alto).
What 3 items would you take with you on a deserted island?
My Kindle, my family (maybe . . .) and chocolate.
Read Stefanie's President's message here: http://www.thejuniorleague.org/paloalto/npo.jsp?pg=about3
Welcome to the 2010-11 League Year!
We are very excited to welcome Stefanie Bruggeman as our League President this year. She introduced herself to the League at large at our General Meeting in May, but we thought it would be fun to ask her a few questions to get to know her on a more personal level. Our first General Meeting is September 15th at 6:15pm, hope to see you there!
Why did you join the League and how long have you been an Active?
I joined the League 13 years ago seeking to make friends and work in the community, pretty much the same reasons many of us join. I can honestly say that during my years as a League member, both those things have been met.
What is your fondest memory from your time in the League?
I worked on the East Palo Alto Charter School Committee as a committee member. I taught a Character Development Class to 12, 7th-grade girls, once a week, for the year. One day, I came ready to teach and noticed that no one was participating. When I asked around, the students told me they had just come out of a state-testing session and everyone's brains were fried. We ended up talking for 45 minutes about anything they wanted to talk about. It was very loose and everyone participated. It was a great learning session. We talked more about developing character in that one class than we had all year long. I learned a lot about the serious issues those girls were dealing with. One girl's dad was in jail, another's brother had just been killed by a gang-shooting and still another was sharing her house with multiple families. It’s a day I always look back on with fondness.
What most surprised you once you joined the League?
I am continually surprised by how much I've learned over the years. I came into the League a working woman. Soon after, kids took over my life and I eventually left the job I had. The League has given me the opportunity to stay current with working trends, and skills. I feel empowered and confident by all that I'm doing and learning. When I'm ready to rejoin the working world, I will be using the skills I've learned through the League.
I'm also surprise by the number of Jr. Leaguers I run into in my daily life and in the strangest places! Where ever I'm at, I'm bound to see someone I've met through the League. I bumped into a college sorority sister, whom I hadn't seen in years, at an Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) conference this past year. We are everywhere and I love it!
What are you looking forward to this league year?
I'm very excited about the strategic direction AJLI is taking. They have launched a big strategic initiative to ensure that we stay relevant with women's lives today. Angela Espinosa is leading a Strategic Planning task force that will merge AJLI's plan with the needs of our league into one comprehensive Strategic Plan. Look for that report to be published later this year.
What is your favorite vacation destination?
Lake Tahoe! Hand down. I love the ease of being in the mountains. My favorite things to do while I'm there is hike, play on the Lake, and shop at the local boutiques and eating at local restaurants.
What keeps you busy when you're not doing Junior League related activities?
My family. I have three kids, ages 13, 11 and 9. Between their many activities and my husband's travel schedule I end up being the scheduler and chauffeur.
I also like to stay fit and love to run, take a fitness class or do yoga. I've run several half-marathons, and was on a team of 12 women who participated in a relay race that went from Napa to Santa Cruz. I'm always up for a hike at the Dish if anyone is interested!
What is your favorite restaurant on the Peninsula?
With the kids: Fiesta Del Mar II (on Castro in Mt. View), without kids: Bistro Elan (on California Ave in Palo Alto).
What 3 items would you take with you on a deserted island?
My Kindle, my family (maybe . . .) and chocolate.
Read Stefanie's President's message here: http://www.thejuniorleague.org/paloalto/npo.jsp?pg=about3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)