Kamuli's Conservation Initiatives

Supplies that have been helpful to local residents.

In the Kamuli District of Uganda, the once-forested lands had become degraded, just flat-lands with no trees. Sadat Kalindi happened upon this area, along with Daniel Twite. Mr. Sadat is a professional environmentalist and he was concerned about the forest that had already disappeared, and continues to disappear at an alarmingly rapid rate.

Both Mr. Sadat, now Executive Director, and Mr. Twite got together and founded NATURE FOR LIFE CONSERVATION INITIATIVES (NALCOI), with a plan of restoring the forest to that flat-land area of Kamuli. This organization undertakes projects within the areas of environmental conservation and protection, food and nutrition security, and sustainable livelihoods.


Some of the early projects involved rehabilitating spring water resources, providing climate change education in local schools, and assisting with mitigating disaster risk. Of course, along with these efforts came the planting of tree seedlings in forest areas that had been denuded, providing more stable soil, protection of water sources by reducing runoff, and maintaining soil fertility in surrounding areas.

Forest restoration, even today, represents an important part of NALCOI's work in preserving indigenous species of plants and animals. Working with Plan International and the Kamuli District government, climate change education has become an important part of the school curriculum, producing knowledgeable students with environmental savvy. Education is also provided in the areas of sanitation and hygiene, helping to preserve safe water sources.

NALCOI is actively involved in the Kamuli District.

At the grassroots level, NALCOI is working with sixty marginalized and vulnerable families to help them develop environmentally sustainable enterprises to increase their families' income and food security. An important part of the effort is fund-raising to help provide needed supplies for families in need. Also, the group welcomes volunteers, especially those with the type of background which will help further their organizational goals.

Seedlings are important for restoring denuded forest areas.

Thanks for information from this article by Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/kalinda-sadat-nature-life-conservation-initiatives/; and the above link.

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Harbour School's First

Celebrating student leadership success.

THE HARBOUR SCHOOL, which is a nonpublic school for students age 6 to 21, is located in Owings Mills. The school serves youth who have learning disabilities, emotional problems, some types of autism spectrum disorders, and multiple disabilities.

These young people have an accomplishment that no other group has matched. They became the first school to win the LEAD2FEED WORLD HUNGER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM challenge, not just once, but twice, two years in a row. This program promotes leadership among students, while also addressing the issue of world hunger through service learning projects.

High school English teacher Siri Llamas has been helping the school team, Harbouring Hope For Hunger, with the various activities that the group has organized. The entire school followed through with healthier eating by everyone chomping down on an apple, at the same time that students at other schools around Maryland did the same, in order to promote the concept of every Maryland child being able to eat a healthy breakfast.

Then there were all of the activities for Hunger Awareness Week. They invited speakers from Maryland Food Bank, Bea Gaddy Center, Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, and Maryland Hunger Solutions. In partnership with Golden Ring Middle School, students collected more than 200 pounds of food and delivered all of it to the Maryland Food Bank.

This year students wanted to do something that would contribute to hunger solutions in different parts of the world. Together, they wrote a booklet, What Can I Do?, which contains various resources and suggestions, which they distributed to various schools around the world. With student research, the booklets were filled with resources and data that are specific to the areas in which the schools are located. Their big project involved designing a board game and comic strip specifically for elementary and middle school students. They even used a 3d printer to make the game's playing pieces.

The schools that received these special items are located in Denmark, France, Israel, Norway, and Japan. One of the biggest surprises for students was when they received a letter from the Prime Minister of Denmark thanking them for their involvement in this project.

As the winners of the challenge, the students of The Harbour School received $25,000 in each year that they won. Since the mother of their teacher, Ms. Llamas, has benefited from the services of Meals On Wheels, the students were more than happy to donate their winnings, both times, to MEALS ON WHEELS OF CENTRAL MARYLAND.

Members of The Harbour School family with the $25,000 check.

So, with two wins under their belt, are the students at The Harbour School willing to rest on their laurels? No, indeed! Students are busily at work planning just what activities will take place this year to increase awareness of the need to end world hunger.

Two participants in the Village Health Fair with diagrams of the new nutrition recommendations.

Thanks to information from this press release from The Harbour School: http://www.harbourschool.org/files/2114/4137/8939/Lead2Feed_2015_Press_Release_.pdf; and the above links.

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Apprentice-Like Challenge For Charity

Some of the coats collected by City Year volunteers.

Just about anyone, who is connected to mainstream media, is aware of the reality show, The Apprentice. During the program, participants become very competitive in trying to meet the program's challenges.

But when a similar challenge was issued by CITY YEAR GREATER MANCHESTER to young volunteers, there was a different spirit cultivated. They were given just £40 from the group's Christmas activity fund, and their task was to take the money and negotiate as many deals as they could in just two hours to supply those living on the streets or in temporary housing with the essentials. The spirit of cooperation and kindness was visible.



They went into the stall market in the North Quarter for everything from scarves, gloves, and blankets to sleeping bags. Grace Fajebe said, "I encouraged one of my teammates to talk to a market owner and he gave us a beautiful coat. When we asked him for his name for recognition, he said it was fine." Shannon Danino exclaimed about the marketer she contacted, "He literally kept piling the clothes on!"

All of the items that these young volunteers collected have been donated to MUSTARD TREE, which provides a number of services to people who are homeless and/or marginalized. Out of the original monetary stake, £20 was left over, and has also been donated to the charity.Volunteer Jacob Mahoney reported, about his experience, "It was a fun challenge. Mustard Tree is an excellent cause and we were warmed by the generosity of the retailers we received donated items from. By working together, we hope we can make a difference and change lives."

What volunteers at City Year Greater Manchester do.

City Year Greater Manchester just started in the fall. It recruits youth age 18 to 25, to provide a year of service to work on reducing educational inequality. These youth are mentors, tutors, and role models for students in areas of Manchester and Salford, where the children come from families experiencing deprivation. In return, volunteers are able to determine a career field and develop leadership skills, while making an impact in their community. What they're doing is similar to what some US youth do when they take a year off from studying and going to college, while they travel and look for opportunities to help others throughout the world.

Christmas decorations all ready for a celebration for those served by Mustard Tree.

Thanks for information provided by Nisha Kotesha from Good News Shared: http://goodnewsshared.com/2016/01/13/young-volunteers-entrepreneurial-skills-christmas-funds/; and the above links.

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Program Provides Leadership Skills

Isha, participating in one of the programs, does a skit about a solution for animal cruelty.

Three new grads, young women with idealism and passion, coming from Ohio State, and out to make a contribution. That describes the threesome of Shelby Kretz, Aditi Bansal, and Sheila Maina. They didn't have far to look. The need was there in their college city of Columbus.

Looking to help the young, the threesome founded 1GIRL, a nonprofit that gives low-income middle school girls experiences in leadership development. Utilizing the background of college women, this organization provides a leadership curriculum that helps to develop the skills and confidence of the participants in order to become successful leaders. The additional benefit is allowing the girls the ability to lead successful lives.



The carefully arranged curriculum provides discussion opportunities, guest speakers, lessons, and fun activities that give the girls the development tools that they need to become confident and passionate about their leadership skills.

According to Shelby, "Women are far behind in education and leadership roles. Empowering women leads to stronger economies, healthier families, and more stable societies." The college women act as facilitators, providing a leadership example to the girls and showing where their new leadership skills can take them.

Within a year of its founding 1girl was ready to expand to other areas of Ohio, such as Kent, Cleveland, Dayton, Akron, and Cincinnati. Just recently, Shelby moved to California. With the help of the USC School of Social Work, research is being completed in fall semester prior to the launch of 1girl in Los Angeles.

A group of girls graduating from the program.

Meanwhile, various fundraisers are in progress to raise the money required to continue the work of 1girl. Last month, a team from NAVIGATOR MANAGEMENT PARTNERS competed in the Columbus Lip Sync battle and won $1,000, which they turned over to 1girl.

The fund-raiser in which Navigator Management Partners participated.

Thanks to information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/shelby-kretz-1girl/; and the above links.

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How To Stop Those Swirling Negative Thoughts

Just about everyone has been in a job interview. Have you ever been in one and blurted out an answer to the HR person interviewing you and then the recrimination starts? No, it's not from the interviewer; it's from that thought nag in your brain. It's your thoughts that come up, "Now, why did you say that?" and "Oh no, I've just blown the interview!", or even, "If this gets around, no one will ever hire me."

These types of responses and the thoughts that follow tend to happen when you're under pressure, like during that job interview. But here's the thing - thoughts aren't facts. Those screaming negative thoughts that assault your brain don't automatically turn into acts, either.



These cascading thoughts become a sort of self-punishment, whirling around in your brain, telling you what a screw-up you are. And more of those types of thoughts spawn even more, until you begin to believe that you've never done anything right, and are only capable of ruining your life and everyone else's in the future. Again, remember that thoughts aren't facts.

It's time to disrupt those negative thoughts with gentleness, even though that gentleness can be hard to find amidst the whirling negative thought machine. That's actually when thinking about the biological process of breathing can come in handy. Let the thoughts come; don't fight them. Focus on breathing, the flow of air in and out.

Focus on breathing can help you find out what is driving the thoughts and provide the calm of mindfulness. That anxiety and pressure that led you to blurt out an answer and then succumb to the negative thoughts can be calmed down. Focus on breathing helps reduce the pressure you feel, and allows you to focus again, so you don't end up undermining yourself.

That can also help place a more realistic perspective on what did occur. A mistake isn't the end of the world. You can learn from it, and might actually stop yourself the next time you feel the impulse to blurt out an answer. The harsh, self-critical thinking does not help; it hurts. You can even make a plan to focus on your breathing before you walk into a pressure-filled situation, allowing you to make more thoughtful responses. Mindful breathing can really lead to more positive experiences.

Thanks to information from this article by Elaine Smookler at Mindful: http://www.mindful.org/stop-negative-thoughts-from-getting-you-down/.

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A New Location On The Agenda

One of the pizzas available at Fleet Street location.

The BAGBY RESTAURANT GROUP has several locations throughout the Baltimore region, with different names and various ambiances. The food comes locally from its own Cunningham Farms, located in Cockeysville, MD. That means fresh produce, eggs, pork, and lamb are on the menu daily.

Now, over in Owings Mills, northwest of Baltimore, a new mixed-use development project is underway. The Bagby Restaurant Group is involved in a big way. In a first for this company, the plan is to open a liquor store, Foundry Row Wine And Spirit, in a 9,000-square foot space. The store will join such other retailers as anchor store Wegman's, a DSW shoe store, Panera Bread, and Smashburger's.



At the time their store plans were announced, CEO Chris Becker said, "Anytime you can be next to a Wegman's that has the potential of doing anywhere from $80 million to $120 million [in sales] - I think they range from on their locations - it's always tempting. And based on everything we looked into, it looked like a good move."

The company already had five restaurants in its portfolio and the plan was to add a wine store into the mix. But, Mr. Becker is planning that the store will have the added hospitality that is so much part of the restaurants already in the Bagby family. Mr. Becker explained, "We are trying to establish something a little different and give it an actual brand. Most places you don't really see liquor stores develop that so we're going to have the opportunity to have a great feel of a space with a nice brand." That actually could come about, with plans for the store to hold wine, beer, and cheese tastings, along with other special events, once the construction and store opening have occurred.

At the same time, Bagby is also planning to expand locations occupied by its quick service pizzeria, Bagby Pizza. Originally opened in downtown Baltimore, with a second one opened in Pikesville this past August, the brand has been so successful that the company decided to add another pizzeria to its holdings at Foundry Row.

Chef John Hufnagel at Ten Ten American Bistro, a more upscale restaurant.

This new Bagby Pizza will occupy around 2,000 square feet and be able to seat 35 customers. This one will be modeled on the quick-service Pikesville model, with less casual dining space than the original downtown location. Construction is to begin in June of this year, utilizing reclaimed wood and recycled materials, with an opening planned for the fall.

Artist's rendering of Foundry Row development project.

Thanks to this article from Baltimore Business Journal: http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/blog/charm-city-flavor/2015/04/bagby-restaurant-group-to-sell-wine-and-spirits-at.html; this article from Baltimore Business Journal: http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/blog/charm-city-flavor/2015/08/bagby-pizza-to-open-foundry-row-location-in-2016.html; and the above link.

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Music Support For Vulnerable Youth

Participants engaged in bucket drumming.

Many who have worked in mental health facilities have awareness that many types of therapeutic interventions are utilized in treating those who have emotional illnesses. One type of intervention involves the therapeutic use of music, which helps in expressing feelings or relieving dark moods.

In Portland, Oregon, Ian Mouser was working in two different settings with both youth in foster care and youth facing mental health challenges. He became aware of how music and songwriting could contribute to building relationships and, perhaps, transform lives. So, he founded MY VOICE MUSIC (MVM), which provides youth ages 5 to 17 with opportunities to write, record, and release their own songs. For those youth facing crises, the organization provides support to cope, heal, and thrive through music.



Monica Metzler works for My Voice Music as a Programs Outreach Coordinator. It is her function to help schools and youth programs arrange for a young musician, or the organization itself to come onsite for programming. Monica can utilize her background as a musician, performer, recording engineer, and singer-songwriter to contribute to her work. She has also been developing free workshops for adolescents with chronic and terminal illnesses, along with those who have emotional issues. She explained, "Music is a positive therapeutic tool that teaches youth how to release emotions in a healthy, productive way. Having access to a program that involves mentoring, self-reflection songwriting, and a supportive community helps build confidence and coping mechanisms."

These workshops are available for youth in ninth through twelfth grades, who have diagnosed chronic illness, terminal illness, or mental illness. Participants keep a weekly journal, participate in percussion jams, receive instrument instruction, and learn songwriting techniques. There are even sessions with guest musicians, and opportunities to perform and record their music. The conclusion of the workshop is a performance highlighting their compositions, which is open to the public.

Middle school students participating in music activities.

The larger organization, My Voice Music, serves a wider range of youth, beyond those who have particular vulnerabilities, or are thought of as high-risk. Each year since its founding, MVM has served approximately 2,000 youth in various program settings. Over 100 volunteers donate countless hours as artists, instructors, and fundraisers. They have won recognition both inside and outside of Oregon in spreading the arts throughout the State.

Celebrating the last day of Rock Camp.

Thanks for information from this article at Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/monica-metzler-music-workshops-teenagers-chronic-terminal-illness/; and the above link.

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