Mothers for Mothers: A Project Created in the Landmark Self-Expression and Leadership Program

Group offering help to mothers

Volunteers assist by tackling tasks

From: Sun Sentinal South Florida
By Laura Burdick-Sherman

Mothers need as much help they can get as far as Joelle Smith is concerned.

And that’s her vision for a newly created organization, Mothers For Mothers.

“Every mother needs assistance with watching their kids; either they can’t afford it or don’t know who to ask,” said Smith, of Sunrise. She and her husband, Daryl, have three children younger than 6.

She said she came up with the idea while on maternity leave from her position as drama teacher at Ramblewood Middle School in Coral Springs.

With time on her hands and motivation to do something meaningful, Smith participated in a self expression and leadership class at the Landmark Forum in Dania Beach.

“The course teaches how to live your possibilities out of life,” she said. “We had to create a community project to help us learn how to live a better life, and I came up with an organization.”

Using her life as inspiration, Smith’s idea for the group is to help mothers with the numerous tasks of motherhood.

“I said I want to support and assist other mothers, and just by talking with people, I realized if we all take a stand and do one thing for someone else, it can happen,” she said.

After several more leadership classes and with the help from Pediatric Associates in Sunrise and neighbors and mothers at the Little Gym in Plantation, Smith has garnered a team of 50 volunteer helpers.

The group has already helped Marie Gonzalez, 60, of Lauderhill, who is now taking care of four grandchildren between 1 and 6 years old.

“It’s a big help. I had a lot of problems with school for the oldest because I was always late to take him to school. I’m slow and not well myself, by the time I get the four ready, I’m late. Now, someone takes him to school, and the teacher is happy. They offered me to do laundry. They sent me lunch, and give me stuff for the kids,” she said.

Another recipient is a single mother with two young children — one of whom requires monthly surgeries. A volunteer helps with meals and baby sitters, Smith said.

“Our biggest hurdle is getting us out there as a source for mothers because they’re very resistant even though they need it. Mothers want to do it all,” Smith said.

Smith has a supply of baby formula, diapers, laundry detergent, microwaves, and baby furniture, cribs, dressers and a stream of eager volunteers. She’s looking for mothers who need help.

For more information about Mothers For Mothers, call 954-465-5413.

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Self-Expression and Leadership Program Participant Laura Fiori Creates A Reading Project For Kids That Helps Build A Kitchen At A School In Mexico

Kids Hit the Books to Build A Kitchen

From WCAV- Alexandria Virginia

Elementary school students at Greer and Stony Point are hitting the books to help poor students in rural Mexico build a kitchen at their school.

The second graders have read 2,000 books. They hope people and businesses will donate $5 for each book read. They want to raise $10,000 to build a kitchen for a poor school in rural Mexico.

The Read A Book – Build A Kitchen Program gets kids reading and inspires them to help other kids in need.

“This opportunity to connect with Mexico and give back something was truly a meaningful event for every student,” said Greer Elementary Assistant Principal Lisa Molinaro.

“It makes me feel good because they are finally going to have a chance to feel good as us,” said second grader Caleb Bow.

“I am glad that they can have a great kitchen, and I wish they can have a yummy food,” said second grader Mariko Ogino.

The students are still at work raising money. To make a donation and for more information about the program, go to www.FeedTheHungrysma.org.

Donations are tax deductible.

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Landmark Education Graduate Jennifer Kramer Raises Money for Special Olympics Each Year By Taking an Icy Plunge

Really big chill: Polar Plunge’s top fund-raiser has warm heart

From: the Chicago Sun-Times
by Rummana Hussain

On Sunday morning, Jennifer Kramer will throw on a Dopey costume and run into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan.

Some of her girlfriends, dressed as the remaining Seven Dwarfs, will follow close behind.

“We tried to recruit a male Snow White but that didn’t work out,” joked Kramer, who’s on target to be the biggest individual fund- raiser in the annual Chicago Polar Plunge, benefitting Special Olympics Chicago, for a second straight year.

As of Thursday, Kramer had collected $4,700 — a record amount any single participant has raised in the Polar Plunge’s seven-year history.

Kramer also set a record last year, bringing in $4,474.

“It’s so not about winning,” Kramer, 36, said of raising the most cash. “But then again, how great is it to instill the competitiveness for the Special Olympics?”

Kramer, a native of Wauconda, grew up in a family that stressed charity and often delivers clothing, toys, books, and school supplies to a Mexican orphanage.

She first became interested in the Polar Plunge five years ago when she met Maureen Dillon, a former Special Olympics swimmer and basketball player with Down syndrome.

“I’ve always been profoundly interested in helping the less fortunate, especially children with special needs. [Meeting Dillon] cemented what I had felt all along,” said Kramer, a sports development director with the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, one of the many Polar Plunge partners.

Kramer, of Old Town, wore street clothes at her first Polar Plunge. But each year since, she, like hundreds of others gathered at the North Avenue Beach festivities, changes into a costume before dipping into the bone-chilling waves that feel “like millions of needles piercing your skin.”

She’s donned snow fairy and gladiator outfits in the past.

Kramer’s contributions alone, officials said, are enough to cover costs of smaller Special Olympics competitions.

“She’s very spirited and very generous,” said Susan Nicholl, Dillon’s sister and executive director of Special Children’s Charities, the fund-raising organization for Special Olympics Chicago. “We’re so lucky to have her.”

POST SCRIPT
From the Again this year, Jennifer Kramer was our top fundraiser collecting a very impressive $7886.47! Jennifer (on the left) and her friends dressed as the 7 Dwarves and added great energy to the day’s festivities!

Visit Chicago Polar Plunge

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Landmark Self-Expression and Leadership Project in Canada to Raise Money to Fight Maleria in Africa

Mother’s Day Bowling Event to Raise Money to Purchase Bednets

From: Canadian Broadcasting Company

More needs to be done to fight malaria, one of the biggest killers of children in Africa, advocates said Wednesday in support of a bed-net fundraising campaign.

For several years, African governments have marked April 25 as Africa Malaria Day, to raise awareness of the devastating effect the disease has on the continent. The infectious disease kills one million children in Africa a year, with 3,000 children dying daily.

Abuk Pearson from Darfur beat the odds for African children by surviving malaria.
(CBC)
Mosquitoes tend to bite at night while children are sleeping, but bed nets can help. UNICEF studies suggest proper use of insecticide-treated bed nets can cut transmission in half, and reduce under-five mortality from all causes by up to 25 per cent.

Canadians are responding to the Spread the Net campaign launched last year by MP Belinda Stronach and satirist Rick Mercer.

Under the motto “Ten bucks. One bed net. One life,” the campaign aims to send 500,000 bed nets to Liberia and Rwanda over the next two years. UNICEF will distribute the bed nets.

“I give 10 bucks, I can prevent a child from getting sick or dying,” said Nigel Fisher, president and CEO of UNICEF Canada. “That’s impact.”

Startling statistic
Campaign posters declare that a child dies every 30 seconds, a statistic that startled Laurie Hunter of Oakville, Ont.

“It’s such a simple, low-cost solution to children dying,” said Hunter. “I see my kids tucked into bed safe, and I think as a mother it’s hard to believe.”

Hunter and her friends decided to host a bowling-for-bed-nets fundraiser on Mother’s Day, aiming to raise enough money to buy 1,000 nets.

Spread the Net ambassador and Liberal MP Glen Pearson from London, Ont., said it was easy to have his malaria treated in Canada, but the treatment is not readily available in Africa.

“It can be beat, and it has been beat in our family’s case,” Pearson said of his adopted daughter Abuk, who was underweight and infected with malaria in Darfur. She was not expected to survive.

Last year, Pearson discovered Abuk’s twin sister and older brother were also alive. The family now plans to adopt Abuk’s sibilings, who also have malaria, saying she has the right to live with her own family.

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Landmark Education Graduate Ameet Maturu brings New Yorkers together in the First Annual Great Squash Cook Off.

The Great Squash Cook Off

From: The Park Slope Courier
By: Mathew Moll

While millions around the country are focused on a game to decide football supremacy, the local squash world will be lining its stomachs, preparing to crown its own champion.

Twenty contestants are slated to compete in The Great Squash Cook-Off, a community-based “Iron Chef” inspired contest, on Feb. 4 at the V-Spot – a vegan restaurant – located at 156 Fifth Avenue in Park Slope.

“This is a chance to bring people in the community together and support seasonal eating,” said Ameet Maturu, whose company The Intuitive Cook organized the event. “We hope people will more become aware of what is available naturally this time of year.”

On the Food Network’s “Iron Chef,” the contestants are assigned one ingredient from which to cook a gourmet meal. Maturu’s version is to take one seasonal ingredient, make one dish, keep it local and keep it vegan. Which according to the American Vegan Society, means only products from the plant kingdom are allowed. No meat. No dairy.

Maturu, 28, described seasonal eating as people incorporating the season’s natural harvest into their diets. This, according to Maturu, supports local farms, benefits the body, and helps consumers connect with the origins of food.

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About 30 contestants submitted recipes and short anecdotes describing how they created their dishes. Judges selected the 20 contestants who were chosen on how interesting the stories were and the simplicity of the dish.

Members of the public will also be able to attend and vote on their favorite dish. The V-Spot is scheduled to open its doors at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 4 to the public. Admission to the cook-off is $15.

The winner will be awarded $200 cash prize and the dish will be featured on the V-Spot’s menu where it will remain for at least the winter, but with the possibility of becoming a permanent item.

They’ll compete in one of three categories: soups/stews/chilis, entrees and sides, and desserts.

“Winter squash is available naturally this time of year and provides many of the vitamins the body needs to survive the winter,” said Maturu.

Danny Carabano, owner of the V-Spot, saw the contest as a chance to have a new event at his nine-month-old restaurant.

When Maturu and Carabano met through a mutual acquaintance their interests complemented each other like tempeh and tofu.

The V-Spot is in its nascent state searching for new ways to reach what Carabano called a growing vegetarian population in Park Slope.

“When Ameet and I met he already had the cook-off in mind,” said Carabano who worked for six years as a teacher while he saved to open his restaurant. “After we spoke it just made sense.”

Carabano, who has a palate for cooking, and wears faded jeans and a T-shirt is a restaurateur, sous chef, promoter and waiter.

Carabano said limited dining options motivated him to open a vegan restaurant, and Maturu’s idea seemed like fun, even if he has only made squash soup.

“Yeah, I generally don’t make squash,” said Carabano. “So I am interested in trying new dishes.”

Maturu moved to New York City from San Francisco to study at the Institute of Interactive Nutrition, where he became a holistic health counselor. At Maturu’s new business, The Intuitive Cook, he advises his clients on diet, nutrition, and lifestyle. The idea to combine one of Maturu’s favorite shows, “The Iron Chef,” with his professional career was an ideal way for Maturu to meet members of the community and cook with them.

But culinary combat with dishes with names such as Three Sisters Chili and Three Sisters Stew, the event may prove to be more about camaraderie than clashing; more about the history of dishes than the histrionics the Food Network’s reality show provides.

The same panel of six judges, Carabano, Maturu, Kala Lea, co-owner of Smooch, an organic restaurant in Fort Green; Vikas Khanna, a restaurant consultant and owner; Anna Lappe, the author of Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic; and Isa Chandra Moskowitz, author of Vegan with a Vengeance will judge the dishes based on taste, presentation, and ease of preparation.

“We want something other people in the community can make,” said Carabano.

“The idea of this event is to help people get more connected with their food, and to others who enjoy cooking,” said Maturu.

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Landmark Education Graduate, Best Selling Author and Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, Ben Zander Interviewed on Canadian Television

Landmark Education Graduate Ben Zander, best selling business author and conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Symphany was interviewed on Canadian Televsion. He is show leading a seminar for musicians in Toronto Canada and speaking about leadership, transformation, Landmark Education and The Landmark Forum.

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Landmark Education comes to URI, offers new learning experience – News

Landmark Education comes to URI, offers new learning experience – News

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Landmark Education Graduate Project Uses Improv Comedy to Contribute to Survivors of Sexual Assualt

Using Improvisational Comedy to Bring Laughter and Light Heartedness Back Into the Lives of Survivors of Sexual Assault.

Andrea Howe used the Landmark Education Self Expression and Leadership Program to create an organizations called “Living Out Loud”. A survivor of sexual assault herself, Andrea had come a long way in her healing proccess and wanted to contribute to other women with a similar experience.

Living Out Loud workshops use the vehicle of improvisational comedy to help survivors who are ready begin to bring laughter and light-heartedness back into their lives.

Listen to an iterview with Andrea Howe on Washington Post Radio

Living Out Loud Website

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Landmark Education Self-Expression and Leadership Project Gives Senior Citizens a Thrill by Taking Them for Motorcycle Rides

Landmark Self Expression and Leadership Project called G.O.P.A.T. (Giving Old People A Thrill)

New Zealand Self Expression and Leadership Program Participant Max Vodane created a project that brought the Ulysses Motor Bike Club together with the St. Andrews Retirement Community. Bike Club Members took Senior Citizens from St. Andrews for rides on Motorcyles.

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Landmark Education Graduate Ginna Goodenow Creates Project to Raise Money to buy Prosthetic Limbs for Kids

Limbs For Life

From 9NEWS NOW Washington D.C.
If there was ever a pitch for a cause, Jessica Rogers knows how to hit it.

“Some kids that don’t have legs and arms, they’re gonna get money for them to get fake legs and arms.”

“How important is that?” asks 9NEWS NOW reporter Emily Schmidt.

“That’s really important because you want to feel like everybody else.”

So does Dayton, a kid who runs the bases in 12 seconds flat with out the help of legs. Margaret Wesley wants to see him running even faster with a prosthetic.

“When I look at kids playing ball, I see kids who have a chance to do what I’ve done as an amputee.”

A bus accident took her leg when she was 18; a prosthetic leg gave freedom in return. But it is not cheap. Jerett’s dad, Craig Coleman, says his son’s braces are 5000 dollars for each quickly-growing leg.

“Insurance says every three years, but he’s seven, and on his fourth pair.”

Ginna Goodenow says, “These kids deserve to live happy, normal, free lives. And prosthetics are important for them to be able to do that.”

So Saturday morning on the national mall, kids of all abilities are invited to come get their kicks in any kind of a sport and benefit a nonprofit group called “Limbs for Life.”

“They provide limbs at very low costs. For 1500 dollars they can achieve what 30 thousand may cost someone else.”

Jessica’s own prosthetic legs are getting fixed right now. She knows what they give her and what others think when she goes without.

“They probably think, ‘oh my gosh — her legs. She doesn’t have any…ugh!’ But really, I just had surgery on them, haven’t you had surgery before?”

These kids can outrun adversity now; imagine what would happen if prosthetics took them to the next step.

The second Annual Kicking For Kids Who Cant is going to be held on October 7th, 2007.

See Addtional Coverage of the project on Fox News

Visit the Kicking For Kids Who Cant Website

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