I
IOI071130
Mix-It-Up
still in the news
National
Mix-It-Up Day was Tuesday, November 13 where
thousands of kids across the country chose to sit in
a different seat at lunch to add something new to
their thought process about students from cultures
different from their own.
Columbus,
Hardaway, Northside, Carver,
Shaw, Kendrick, and Spencer
students participated in Mix-It-Up this year. It's a
program in its fifth year of operation and the MCSD
has joined other schools across the country to make
it a significant and culturally enriching
experience.
WTVM
ran a great story about Columbus High School's lunch
effort that proved to be a positive experience.
Students were asked to mingle with students they
normally wouldn't sit down to have lunch with. Most
students have their favorite places to sit.
"Usually with people of the same interest I do
and since my interests vary as my tables vary,"
said Senior Jarrett Smith.
"This
was different for me because as a senior I sit
around with the same people everyday. I don't
know many people outside my class," said
Columbus High Senior Catherine Rush.
Vicky
Partin with One Columbus says starting at a young
age can help students as they transition into
adults. "Most young people in the
cafeteria get in their clicks and people from
their own cultures. We hope this day raises awareness
and helps them meet and greet new people," said
Partin.
"We
want them to realize our school is pretty much a
make up of the world with different ethnic
backgrounds and cultures," said Assistant
Principal Dr. Marvin Crumbs.
Just
over 4 million students from 10,000 high schools
across the country participated.
*******
On
November 11, the Ledger Enquirer's Chris
Johnson got an email from the Southern Poverty
Law Center where the Mix-It-Up project is part
of their tolerance.org programming.
Chris
has an interesting perspective on "Mix It
Up," and the many interpretations that are
possible, but concludes that for the schools (and
for adults), it's a great idea.
We
think he's right.
**********
Morris
Dees, nationally known author, activist, and
attorney who is founder and Chief trial cousel for
the Southern Poverty Law Center is the keynote
speaker for One Columbus' Fourth Annual
Recognition Dinner Janaury 24, 2008 7:00 pm
Columbus Iron Works Convention and Trade Center
Tickets are
available from WTVM, Fourth Street Missionary
Baptist Church and The Family Center.
**********
Watch
"Rev's Place" at 5:00 am
Sunday morning on Fox 54. I talk with Rev.
Roberson about One Columbus, or programs, and
the 4th Annual Recognititon Dinner.
************
As
we work on making the next generation better than
ours, here is Part 2 of the Human Capital
Developer's Dialogue:
Making It Work for Teens
|
|
Dialogue:
Making it Work with Teens
(Part
2)
|
|
|
This
is the second and
final article in
our series of
pointers on how to
dialogue with
teens. Following
are seven more
tips on building
stronger
relationships with
teens.
If you missed the
six tips provided
in the first
article, you can
find them on our
website.
Once at the
homepage, click
"E-newsletters"
and then click the
article dated
10/16/2007.
The first six tips
were:
1) Let teens
know you are
willing to listen
2) Use
questions
sparingly
3) Be
accessible
4) Try not
to be defensive
5) Give
straightforward
advice or feedback
on important
issues.
6) Use
family meetings to
full advantage
|
- SHOW
INTIMACY,
DEMONSTRATE
LOVE.
As
children get
older, they
may shy away
from public
and private
displays of
affection.
But as parent,
realize that
teens are
still kids
inside; they
need the warm
feelings of
belonging that
come from good
touches and
hugs.
Make a habit
of hugging
your children
often and
saying,
"I love
you."
- GIVE
LOTS OF PRAISE
AND POSITIVE
FEEDBACK.
In the
workplace, one
concept often
taught is to
manage by
walking
around.
The idea is to
catch
employees
doing
something good
and then
praise them
for it.
The same
applies to
teens.
Teens need to
hear that they
do things
well. They
need to know
that you love
them for who
they are, as
well as for
what they can
do.
- GIVE
THEM
RESPONSIBILITIES
WITH EVERY
PRIVILEGE.
In real life
hardly
anything of
value is free.
Children must
learn this if
they are to
grow into
fully
functional and
contributing
members of
society.
Otherwise,
spoiled kids
grow into
spoiled adults
who lack the
maturity
needed to
positively
negotiate and
stand up for
their needs.
- TEACH
THEM TO MAKE
DECISIONS.
As teens
mature, allow
them to
participate
more in
decisions that
affect them.
Discuss their
options and
counsel them
on the
consequences.
Once done,
allow them to
accept the
consequences
of each choice
they make.
- TEACH
THEM TO DEAL
WITH
INFORMATION.
Teach them to
think
critically
about what
they see and
hear.
Encourage them
to ask
questions and
dig deeper --
even of adults
-- but always
in a
respectful
manner.
In addition,
teach teens to
sort out and
prioritize
information.
Doing so helps
them learn to
set priorities
in other areas
of their
lives.
- MAKE
THEM EARN WHAT
THEY WANT.
Teens are
often guilty
of wanting it
all right now.
They see what
their parents
have, or what
others have,
and they want
it for
themselves all
by the time
they're 20.
Help them see
the value of
patience and
the
gratification
that can come
from not
getting every
want satisfied
instantly.
Do so by
helping them
evaluate the
differences
between their
wants and
their needs.
- TAKE
TIME TO RELAX
AND HAVE FUN.
Teens today
are involved
in so many
activities
that many have
organizers to
keep up with
their
appointments.
It is not
unusual to
hear teens
lament that
time moves too
fast.
Teens need to
learn positive
ways to manage
stress.
Help your
teens
understand the
value of
slowing down
and spending
time with
their family.
Doing so helps
build
relationships
that last a
lifetime.
|
|
|
|
When
you find yourself
drifting toward
silence or
violence, stop and
ask yourself:
"What results
do I really
want?"
Then behave as if
you really do.
|
|
|
"If
you put fences
around people, you
get sheep."
William
McKnight,
Former
3M CEO
|
|
If
you want one year
of prosperity,
grow grain.
If you want ten
years of
prosperity, grow
trees. If
you want one
hundred years of
prosperity, grow
people.
Chinese
Proverb
|
|
When
you find yourself
in the middle of
an important
discussion, don't
focus merely on
the what.
Also watch for the
how. Learn
to see content and
process. As
you watch process,
pay close
attention to how
well your tactics
are working.
Pull yourself out
of the
conversation,
analyze your
actions, and make
adjustments.
|
|
|
|
|
A
"Leadership
Moment" is
designed to give you brief
tips to help you become
more productive. You
can find all the previous "Leadership
Moment" emails on
our website under
E-Newsletters.
Human
Capital Developers is a
consulting company
specializing in leadership
and organizational
development. At
Human Capital Developers, "Excellence
is the Expectation!"
To learn more about us,
visit our website.
|
|
|
|
************
One
Columbus Annual Meeting is
set for Monday, December 3, 2007 at 11:00 AM in the
ANNEX
Contact:
Pastor J. H. Flakes, Jr., Chair
One
Columbus Board Of Directors
706-324-2055
