Special Olympic Maryland Challenges Athletes And Volunteers

Maryland Special Olympics even has programs for the youngest athletes.

Just about everyone has heard of Special Olympics and may even be familiar with the world games and the national games. But Special Olympics also goes down to the State and local levels, bringing the good feelings, for those with intellectual challenges and their families, right down to the communities where they reside. Not only that, but various events occur throughout the year to help raise funds and offer opportunities for participation.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND fulfills the role of bringing Special Olympics to Marylanders. That creates opportunities for a lot of participation. Two of Maryland's special athletes, Candace and Elaina, were highlighted for weight loss by utilizing a healthier lifestyle.



Candace chose a naturopathic diet, which is based on eating foods that are close to their natural states, and she has lost 23 pounds. She does admit that following the diet wasn't easy, since she was mainly eating salads, without any meat. In the long run, though, it may have been worth the effort, as she proclaimed, "That was hard, but at the same time I was happy with the results."

Elaina used the Weight Watchers system, along with exercising every day, and she has lost a total of 55 pounds. She pointed out, "I was at a point that I was happy, but I just wasn't that happy about how I felt about my body image." Not only was it about how she felt, but she also set a goal of being able to run a half marathon.

She also admitted that she was looking for a long term change, rather than a quick weight loss. In fact, Elaina also has recommendations for others who are trying to lose weight, "For any woman who is thinking undergoing a diet and wants good foods to eat and an exercise routine, don't listen to all those commercials because you never know - a lot of them tend to be a 'quick fix' or are more dangerous to you than they are good for you." It certainly looks like this young woman did her research with her health in mind. Candace also added her advice, for those attracted to extreme dieting or struggling with an eating disorder, "Stop dieting. Stop whatever you are doing to harm yourself and just live your life. Live your life to the fullest."

A young volunteer, Annie Dolan, had signed up to help with Over The Edge, an event in which volunteers and athletes rappel down the side of a 16-story building in Bethesda. She was given the assignment of belay, holding the ropes tense so that climbers who slip won't fall very far. It's an important assignment that keeps the event safe for participants. She was given safety training before the climbers started and learned how to clip the line caribiners to the ground and then clear them when the climber arrived on the ground.

Elaina (left), Candace (right), two young women who lost weight the healthy way.

Ms. Dolan was still surprised that she was given so much responsibility, but she drew on her experiences as a leader in her school career. She said, "As a leader that day I had to encourage the athletes to be brave and step off the edge and do what they had been taught while descending." But then the tables were turned when she was encouraged to take the descent herself. The same things that she had been doing for the athletes were done to keep her safe and secure. And when she got back on the ground, she received the same reception as she completed the activity, following the motto of the Special Olympics, "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

It's the volunteer's turn to make the descent at Over The Edge.

Thanks for information from this article on Special Olympics Maryland by Hannah Boudreau: http://www.somd.org/uncategorized/special-olympics-maryland-athletes-redefine-healthy/; this article on Special Olympics Maryland by Annie Dolan:  http://www.somd.org/uncategorized/get-over-it/; and the above link.

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Telling The Environment's Story In The Voices Of Youths

Youth hands-on environmental activities become part of their story.

Have you ever learned something so important to you and your life that you just wanted to shout it from the mountain-top? Maybe, the whole world could hear you! With today's technology, that's not just fantasy, but reality. If only you could get enough people to notice.

Actually, Susan Silber had a similar vision after working for twenty years in the field of environmental education, taking youths into the field for direct contact with natural settings. It resulted in her putting together an online platform, NATURE'S VOICES PROJECT, where students in grades 6 to 12 could tell their stories about their experiences in environmental education. It's a place where they can share the powerful impact of being in contact with nature when they undertake an activity for the first time that gives them an appreciation of just how vital it is to be aware of always thinking and acting in environmentally sensitive ways.



Ms. Silber explained, "99.9 percent of the time these many and varied experiences had a positive effect on young people, many of which were life-changing. The outcomes were as varied as the experiences; some programs improved academic performances; others calmed students down through direct experiences into nature; others improved children's health and reduced obesity rates. After creating, coordinating, and raising funds for these environmental education programs and others for more than two decades, I have become acutely aware that despite the immense and varied benefits these programs give our youth, our schools, our communities, and the planet, they remain underfunded and undervalued.

Since it first started, the web platform has become financially sponsored by the Green Schools Alliance. Also, every year, Nature's Voices Project holds a Student Stories Contest, in which student writers describe how they were transformed by an experience with the environment.

Students from the Green Schools Initiative also are part of Nature's Voices Project.

Last year's Grand Prize winner was Eden Vitoff from Chicago, Illinois. In his story, Eden recalls when he first became interested in the environment when he was in seventh grade and then what inspired him to create the Green Lyfe Network, which helps students throughout the State of Illinois connect with environmental projects. As he explains, "We are the first generation to see the effects of climate disruption and the last generation that can take action to solve it."

Eden's story as a poster presentation.

Thanks for information from this page on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/susan-silber-natures-voices-project/;  this page on Nature's Voices Project: http://www.naturesvoices.org/2016-contest-winners/; and Eden's story, found here: http://www.naturesvoices.org/the-power-of-youth-my-environmental-journey/.

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Addressing Environmental Issues For A Healthier Community

A view of the Salton Sea.

Located in the southeast corner of California, Imperial County provides much of the produce that feeds the United States. Bordered by Arizona and Mexico, this area is home to a diverse and multi-ethnic population. But behind the diversity lies a high unemployment rate, the highest of any County in the US.

With a number of residents living with disadvantages, an organization came into being in 1981 to help those living in the area to access the services they needed to improve their lives. Such things as health services, community service programs, environmental justice, civic participation, advocacy, capacity building, and even research. That organization is Comite Civico Del Valle, Inc. (CCDV).



A large part of CCDV's programming involves environmental justice, which is intertwined with healthier living. The work in this area is so pioneering that CCDV has the largest air quality monitoring network in this country. In fact, that is what brought the notice of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which formed a partnership with CCDV.

Humberto Lugo, CCDV's Policy Advocate, stated, "They wanted to find a way to support us and how we can expand the monitoring or include more monitoring because of this crisis we have at hand." The area of which Mr. Lugo speaks is the Salton Sea, which is receiving less inflow, causing a higher concentration of salt in the water, and then drying the sea bed. With a higher salt concentration, the Salton Sea becomes less of a resource for drinking water, not just for humans, but also for local wildlife.

For CCDV, working with the DiCaprio Foundation will provide needed funds, including $100,000 of the $20 million grant going to expand their air monitoring program. Mr. DiCaprio explained his involvement, "This utter lack of leadership by officials who choose first to preserve their short term political power rather than insuring the livable future on our planet means that we must all do more now than any other time in human history."

Air monitoring equipment used near the Salton Sea.

Mr. Lugo added, "It's important for people to know the issues of the Salton Sea, because this is not just a localized issue, this is going to affect most of southern California if this continues receding so rapidly the way it's going because of these wind borne events." With the passage of AB 1617 by the California assembly, the planned expansion of the air monitoring network would bring the area into compliance with the law's requirement of air monitoring systems in high pollution areas.

Mr. Lugo issued a reminder that air quality and the drying of the Salton Sea are climate change issues; that's what is driving so much evaporation of the sea and affecting air quality.

Best asthma management practices discussed in CCDV's Asthma Academy.

Thanks for information from this Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pg/comitecivicodelvalle/about/?ref=page_internal; this article television station KSWT: http://www.kyma.com/news/local-organization-partners-with-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundation/624527768; and this page from Salton Sea COEE: https://www.saltonseacoee.org/

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Support For People With Intellectual Challenges; Peace Of Mind For Families

Some of Penn-Mar's clients volunteered with the pets at Pet Valu.

Those who have developmental disabilities have a much brighter world available to them than existed in this country some sixty to seventy years ago. There is the opportunity to stretch to the fullest of their capabilities and to participate in the mainstream, with the help of supporting others. One organization that plays a large role in the lives of more than 350 individuals each year is PENN-MAR, with a footprint in both Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Penn-Mar came into existence in the 1980s, a product of the efforts of a group of parents with children who had developmental disabilities, and who were worried about those children's future. Penn-Mar, over the years has provided the support and a network beyond the family, widening the horizons of the people it serves and offering security for the day when families can no longer provide direct support themselves.



As many of these nonprofit organizations do, Penn-Mar has those who work directly with its clients, known as Direct Support Personnel (DSP). Let's take a look at one of these employees. Steve Nyabuti came to the US from Kenya, with his family, about seven years ago, and has worked at Penn-Mar for five years. This 28-year-old young man had just started college when he found out about Penn-Mar and applied for a job. He now works to support four men living at a residence in White Hall.

Sometimes, when you have a direct service position, like Steve has, you can wonder who is learning more, you or the people you serve. For, Steve, indeed, has learned more about himself and become more mature. Patience definitely is a trait that he has developed, since it can be hard to understand what some of the men are trying to communicate, so it's a process of repetition and listening a little harder and more closely, until understanding is reached.

Steve said, "It's been a great experience. Working with John, Chris, Evan, and Richard has given me an opportunity to grow as a person. My life in Kenya was very different. When I look at the 22-year-old that I was, I don't see the same person I am today. I've learned a lot from them."

Steve Nyabuti works with one of his residents.

Like many others who work as DSPs, Steve does struggle to make ends meet. Many of those who do this type of wonderful work don't receive that much more than minimum wage. That makes it a struggle for him and his co-workers to pay rent, much less afford college. So, Steve does increase his work hours when he can. And, that degree he's started in actuarial science? He'll be completing it, come this spring.

Time for harvesting fall flowers at One Straw Farm.

Thanks for information from this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/pennmar/about/?ref=page_internal and this blog article: http://www.penn-mar.org/2017/09/a-life-changing-experience/.

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