TAWAS CITY Serving the Children of the World is the Kiwanis organizations slogan, and the local Tawas club has maintained this motto for nearly 75 years.

Whether providing scholarships to students, or serving as a source of comfort to children enduring long hospital stays, the Tawas Kiwanis Club assists young people through a variety of avenues in addition to giving back to the community as a whole, via multiple service projects.

This branch is part of Kiwanis International, an organization which has served children for more than 100 years.

Longtime member Ken Cook who serves as both president and treasurer said the Tawas club was chartered in December 1945, with Secretary Kim Leet adding that the group is currently comprised of 19 members.

Cook and Leet were joined for the interview for this story by Tawas Kiwanis Club board members Tony Johnson and Jan Rockwell, as well as immediate past president Dave Lesinski.

Of their various projects, Johnson says the clubs Run By the Bay 5k event is one of its biggest fundraisers.

The race is set to enter its 14th year this summer, and will be held in East Tawas on Saturday, July 11.

Leet said another large fundraiser is the sale of gourmet nuts, for which Cook noted that they bought two pallets this year.

Thats 160 cases, Lesinski pointed out.

Six cans per case you can do the math, Johnson added with a laugh.

He said the Tawas Kiwanis Club also raises money through hot dog sales, while members are stationed at art shows and other events during the year.

As for how the proceeds raised are then distributed and used, Cook first explained that the club has two separate accounts.

We have whats called a service project account, and then we have an administrative account, he said. Any money that we raise in the community goes back into the projects.

Cook said the members dues and some other minor revenue go into the administrative account, which takes care of all of their international dues, Michigan district dues and any other kind of overhead expenses, such as supplies, sending officers to conventions and so on. So we spend no money of the publics in that area.

As a result of the Tawas Kiwanis Clubs fundraising efforts, they have been able to make such contributions as a sizeable donation toward the playscape at Tawas City Shoreline Park.

In another example, Johnson says the group keeps in contact with Tawas Area Schools to find out what the needs are for those in the district, and Kiwanis has provided hygiene products, school supplies and other essentials for students in need.

He added that scholarships have also been offered if, say, there are problems with accommodating field trips. We can help fund those field trips for students.

Educational scholarships are given out by the club, as well, to assist students with some of their expenses as they head off to college.

Additionally, Kiwanians have offered a helping hand to the young people of the community who are considering a career in law enforcement, with Lesinski noting that the club sends students to the Michigan State Police Law Enforcement Career Academy.

Cook said the members also support various childrens hospitals throughout the state, via annual contributions to the Kiwanis of Michigan Foundation.

He explained that these children may be dealing with anything from cancer, to severe accidents or other issues which require extensive rehabilitation.

Either way, Cook said the youngsters have to contend with being in an unfamiliar environment, not attending school and more, which is quite an adjustment. Therefore, the money raised by the clubs goes toward personnel costs and the programs that help distract the young patients during this time.

Its not really going toward the medical care, its going toward the psychological care, he pointed out.

According to the Foundation, Michigan Kiwanians contribute more than $200,000 each year to help hospitalized children by supporting non insurance reimbursable activities promoting childrens recovery. The support the Foundation provides can take many forms, but it is all designed to ease the anxieties and speed recovery of hospitalized children.

Aside from monetary gifts, the Tawas Kiwanis team also gets hands-on with their efforts. And, chances are you have seen at least one of the structures the club has been a part of during your travels in the community.

For one, members donated the materials and physically constructed a pavilion and picnic tables for those at the Iosco County Medical Care Facility.

A pavilion in Shoreline Park was also donated and built by the local Kiwanis crew.

Further, the club is responsible for the kiosk which can be spotted in Shoreline Park, as well as the one along the bike path on US-23, across from Tawas City Walmart.

Cook shared that the structures were originally built as informational kiosks. And we would put businesss names in there and where they were located on the map for the public to view.

This has shifted a bit over time, and the small buildings are now more like historical kiosks, with photos and information on the communitys bygone days.

Theyre really nice pictures, too, they really are, Rockwell commented.

Another familiar sight which the Kiwanians are behind is the sign located near the intersection of US-23 and M-55, listing all of the local service clubs and welcoming passersby to the area.

Lesinski and Cook spearheaded the actual construction of the sign, then reached out to the involved service clubs, which all chipped in on the project.

Another thing we do is volunteer our time to help the Michigan Salvation Army, Cook went on.

He said the Tawas Kiwanis Club always takes one weekend a month, pre-Christmas, to staff the town with its members for bell ringing to raise money.

This year, the weekend we did it, we collected just under $3,200, Cook said. And we passed that right on to Salvation Army.

When it comes to their hands-on work, Kiwanians arent afraid to get a little dirty, either, as was the case during their inaugural Tawas River Cleanup event in 2018.

The public was invited to join in, as the group used kayaks and canoes to collect debris from the bottom and the banks of the water.

There are a number of ways to learn more about joining the club, for those looking to get involved and give back to others.

While many people have hectic schedules that only seem to get busier each day participation in the group is flexible and can be tailored to accommodate the needs of the club member.

Were not asking for a lot of time, said Lesinski.

He added that, for the average person, if the Kiwanians took just several hours of their time a year, it would be a lot.

The club doesnt have a super strict schedule, and members dont have to log X number of volunteer hours in X number of months. However, people obviously have to show up and put in some work in order to be a member.

For example, it was mentioned that Kiwanians wont get penalized for missing a meeting here and there.

Although, that being said, if you dont attend you wont know whats going on and youre really not doing any good to yourself trying to do a service to the community, Cook stressed.

The twice-a-month meetings often feature guest speakers, as well, from a range of different groups and organizations.

If you care about kids, thats what Kiwanis is; the whole thing is about kids, Lesinski said, as to why people should consider joining. And I dont know a group where you can give as much time, or as little time, to help the community kids. To me, its just a simple thing.

Kiwanis is all about kids, agreed Rockwell. And thats something thats sometimes not really pushed, to where people understand that kids need help. And we always could use help.

Beyond the altruistic aspect of what Kiwanis offers, theres a social aspect to it, too, Johnson added.

He said the group has lunch a couple times a month, they try to get together during the holidays, they gather for summer picnics and take part in other social events.

As for the current members, many are involved in the community in other ways, beyond being Kiwanians.

Leet, for example, serves as vice chair of the Tawas City Zoning Board of Appeals, while Cook is the city mayor. Lesinski is a forerunner for the Knights of Columbus, and Johnson is president of both the Oscoda Area Schools Board of Education and the Iosco County Community Foundation, just to name a few.

Cook said that when many of the Kiwanians were kids themselves, there were Little League coaches, school board members and others who were putting back into the community. And its our turn.

When asked about their favorite activities as club members, If its got anything to do with food, Im in! Rockwell joked.

Clearly the club clown, he also said he has been a Kiwanian since Moby Dick was a minnow, and is one of the longest standing members of the organization.

Cook shared that Run by the Bay is his favorite fundraiser because, generally speaking, there are a lot of families involved.

He said people often check in with the club to see when the event is going to be held each year, because theyre coming to visit their families in the area and want to arrange their trip around the 5k.

So theres a lot of family things connected with that event, said Cook, adding that it also turns out to be a great fundraiser.

The Kiwanis website lists the following, as the best reasons to join the organization:

The opportunity to help: We believe that those who give the most are the happiest. There is nothing more beautiful than individuals who reach out to make other peoples lives beautiful. It teaches us the value of service to others and shows us how important our contributions are in making this world a better place most especially for the children.

Personal growth and development: Membership provides education in human relations and personal development. Being in service to others develops good character in every person. It gives us experiences that teach and develop us to become better individuals.

Make friends and be part of something great: Being a member allows one to take part in the many activities and projects we create. We have a great group of members who enjoy spending time with each other for the betterment of our community.

For anyone wanting more information, or looking to join Kiwanis, Johnson recommends stopping by The Buckhorn Inn during one of the groups meetings.

They gather at the venue, located on M-55 in Tawas City, at 12:05 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, and all are welcome to attend.

Further details can also be found by visiting https://tawas.kiwanisone.org, sending an e-mail to kenbcook@gmail.com or contacting Cook at 362-4412.

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Kiwanis puts children at the forefront of its outreach efforts - Iosco County News Herald

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A fading North Star Many people are feeling lost in their careers. Trying to navigate a VUCA world an environment that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous creates a lot of opportunity for confusion and distress.

Feeling lost is perfectly normal. It is a sign that you are evolving as an individual in spirit and mind.

But it also highlights a lack of direction when it comes to your career path, not enough training to perform your job, or the job isnt what you were expecting it to be all of this while the demands of the world around us are changing rapidly.

Executive coaching will include more learning centred around carving out a career path and cultivating a dream life through challenging current thinking and possibilities.

Fear takes a front seat for women The key issues facing Arab female leaders in the region are a lack of self-confidence and interpersonal confidence. They often place little value on having an authentic personal brand; and they arent visible enough in the local, regional and global business communities.

Women should develop business acumen in their field of work to help boost their confidence in the workplace.

Working with an accredited and certified coach could also help craft a personal brand. Many women underestimate the importance of personal branding in the office, which helps make you more visible to leaders and decision-makers.

Mental toughness factors will become a go-to for executive coaches in this decade

Sharing your key achievements and volunteering to speak at business events is another simple way of being seen, so by working with a coach, you will be much better equipped to do this.

VUCA world gives rise to mental toughness The concept of mental toughness will take off in 2020. Based on the complexity and difficulty with which we all live,there will be more time dedicated as individuals and teams to optimise this mindset focus.

Shifting from mentally sensitive to mentally tough is the biggest determinant of success for leaders.

It will help leaders deal with issues such as how to correct team dysfunction and improve management skills for the team. Mental toughness factors will become a go-to for executive coaches in this decade.

AI goes mainstream in 2020 Unsurprisingly, the ways in which trainings are facilitated has adapted to accommodate a new generation of workers who are digitally-savvy.

Were starting to see artificial intelligence adopted in pretty much all businesses, and coaching is no exception.

In 2020, we will see a continuation of eLearning courses being integrated into our development strategies which are more individualised to the learner.

The industry hs been playing around with VR for the last year or so, so this will only become more prevalent as we move into 2020. Training in 2020 must align to the way we learn in a hi-tech world through a more customised approach.

Tunnel vision is key Employees have many distractions that impact their ability to be productive. A popular approach used in workshops is called activation energy and it trains people on how to minimise distractions by making themselves harder to reach.

This means turning off email and phone notifications and even wifi all together if its helpful to you while you are concentrating on a task.

Expect to see an increase in millennials registering for workshops on innovation, entrepreneurialism and career guidance

Taking time out is also critical to reflect and to use the time we have to work on less transactional and more planning objectives.

Helping employees combat distractions and limit social media use during the day (where its not your job) to be as productive as possible, will be an ongoing theme in 2020.

Training future entrepreneurs A rising trend among younger learners is that they are very interested in how they manage their career from a portfolio and fractional perspective, as they can often have a side hustle outside of their main workplace.

For this younger generation, they are keen to partake in training because the goal is to get the most out of the experience during their short time with the company, with a view to potentially doing something more entrepreneurial later.

In 2020, people are clearly much more willing to work 80 hours a week for themselves, than 40 hours for someone else.

Personal development is of utmost importance to the younger workers so expect to see an increase in millennials registering for workshops on innovation, entrepreneurialism and career guidance.

Developing future Emirati leaders In 2020, we will see the continuation of government and semi-government entities hand-picking their local talent and offering them one-to-one performance and career coaching programmes.

We have seen these entities choosing people who exhibit leadership skills and competencies, and giving them tailored training designed to drive their career growth, enabling them to become the future leaders of their respective nations.

Building a holistic coaching culture This is key for individual and organisational performance and success. In 2020, well see a continued demand to develop internal executive coaches at the junior and middle-management levels.

There will also be a continuation of sourcing credible accredited, certified and business-oriented coaches with a proven track record of corporate experience to enhance productivity, maximise performance, and accelerate growth for senior management and C-Suite levels.

About the authors

Gaj Ravichandra and LeilaRezaiguiaare co-founders ofKompass Consultancy

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The professional development trends to watch in 2020 - Training Journal

Traditional forms of leadership don't make sense in the modern workplace. Leadership today isn't a charismatic person leading their employees. Instead, it's a collaborative and diverse team that shares ideas.

Today, it's common to work with people from different parts of the country and the world. More companies offer remote jobs andwork-from-homeoptions. The availability of computers, electronics and increased internet penetration creates greater work flexibility.

You're very likely to interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Team members, vendors and customers will come from different locations and time zones.

Leaders need to adjust not only to a more diverse workgroup, but also to changing employee expectations.

People today are no longer satisfied with a job that just pays the bills. People want meaning and purpose in what they do. They want to participate in designing their work environment for a more fulfilling life.

These changes and challenges mean that leadership needs to be more flexible. It fact, putting some of the responsibilities into the hands of one's team can be the most effective way to meet these new changes.

Empowering your team to lead itself is a subtle form of leadership. There's potential in this type of leadership for people to be proactive and work in the way they feel best.

Let's explore practical ways that you can help your team lead itself while meeting your business goals.

Team members who have a personal stake in your goals and business successes will put in more effort. They are more likely to seek unique and helpful solutions to problems, and embrace company values.

You can create a greater connection between team members and your company by building a community. A community can create a sense of belonging and also foster loyalty.

It's possible to build an online community on amembership platformor by using messaging hubs. A community can be a place for your team to interact with each other and have discussions.

This is especially helpful when you have remote workers. An online community can enable team members from around the world to feel engaged. They'll be on the same page when it comes to company information, and they get to know their peers.

When your team members feel connected, they're more willing to take on responsibility and grow your business. You will also create a collaborative environment where your team members support each other.

Giving people the means to share their ideas empowers them to come forward with creative solutions. Your team is your best source of ideas, because they know your business and also interact with your customers.

By fostering innovation and encouraging co-workers to be creative, you develop a culture of innovation. A work culture that encourages innovation and creativity creates greater engagement and satisfaction. Your team will see that their work is meaningful and that they help shape your brand.

Creating outlets for idea generation in your organization impacts your business in a positive way. You'll find ideas for new product developments, which will lead to business growth.

Timely and meaningful feedback is necessary to nurture leadership. Feedback makes it possible to identify when something isn't working and to fix it. It's also a way to reinforce a job well done.

Feedback is necessary to accomplish business goals. It can also enable you and your team to support each other. Regular one-on-ones and team meetings are essential for staying on the same page. Your team can inform you where they need help, and you can give them the right support. Help them by giving ideas, or by providing access to tools and assets.

Also, spending time with each team member gives you the opportunity to understand them better. When you give your team feedback, you're creating the opportunity for them to learn and grow. You can provide them with the perspective and support they need to close a sale or deal with an unhappy client.

Feedback also helps your team make information-backed decisions that help your business grow.

It's important to not only give feedback but to receive it too. Create afeedback formto streamline your communication. Accepting feedback from your team empowers them and gives them a say in the working of the company. They'll be more invested and will be willing to improve how they work.

A practical and effective way to develop leadership skills in your team is to offer them training opportunities. Bringing in experts to teach your team members valuable skills can increase their effectiveness at work.

It's important to help your team develop skills in areas that are different from what they already do. Leadership is less about technical details and more about the bigger picture. Having broaderinterpersonal skillsandthe ability to handle conflict leads to better interactions at the workplace.

Provide your team members with training in communication and personal development. Such skills, along with marketing, negotiation skills, and other skills, helps them develop strong leadership abilities. You'll find you can delegate more responsibilities to promising team members. It also shows employees that you recognize their potential.

You can also train your team directly by acting as a mentor and by providing resources. Share helpful content, such as thought leadership articles, or give them access to online courses and tools. There are many ways you can give your team the right training and guidance to create leadership abilities.

When your team does a great job, it's important that you celebrate it. Recognizing your team gives them a boost and makes their work appear meaningful.

Showcase some of your team's best work to the rest of the organization. Use your communications channels to offer praise. You can make it part of your companynewsletter or highlight peer accomplishments during a meeting.

Appreciating your co-workers is important because it shows that you're listening. After all, monetary compensation is not the only thing that matters. Your team members care about growth and recognition.

Today's workforce wants to feel like they're doing meaningful work. Giving them positive feedback and recognizing their efforts creates increased work satisfaction. It can build a drive to do more. You'll build loyalty and motivate people to do their best.

Empowering your employeesto develop leadership skills does not mean that you're abdicating your role as a leader. It's about creating a workplace that encourages proactive behavior and self-sufficiency.

Your brand is only as strong as the people behind it, which is why giving your team the ability to take charge wherever possible will grow your business.

It's also helpful to create greater work flexibility to get the best from your team. They can manage their time effectively while meeting their tasks.

Work flexibility in the form of remote work also benefits your business you can save on office space and operations costs. It also boosts loyalty;95% of companiesthat hire remote workers find higher employee retention rates.

Empowering your team has powerful benefits for your business. Support them in having more autonomy at work, and you'll create a strong workspace.

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Benefits of Empowering Work Teams to Self-Lead - Business.com

Machon Bina Seminary in Israel, which provides its students with the experience of a lifetime and the tools to grow and develop into their unique selves, is going into its 5th year. Full Story

Machon Bina Seminary, which provides its students with the experience of a lifetime and the tools to grow and develop into their unique selves, is going into its 5th year.

The Machon Bina program was designed around the students providing an environment where each can further develop her unique self and strengthen her identity and commitment to a life guided by Torah and Chasidus.

It is the details and the nuances of the Machon Bina program that fosters this growth classroom learning (discussions, text-based, small group learning, farbrengens and other modalities of adult learning) and hands-on/ minds-on/ souls-on projects.

Through this blend of learning and projects, students gain deep and meaningful insights into life as a Chabad woman, and hone their strengths and learn new skills for living a full and purposeful life. The program will help them develop the mindsets and tools for life as a woman, wife, mother, and Shlucha, or wherever life takes them.

Seminary is a gap year of sorts for our young women the year between the authority of high school and the autonomy of adult life. Where they move the rewards and discipline measures of school to their intrinsic motivation that guides their decisions, says Mrs. Shosh Rabinowitz, Director.

Young adults need to gradually move from that authority and extrinsic motivation to that autonomy. They need to be in a setting that proactively provides the context so that they can become more experienced in perspectives seeking, communication, collaboration, creative problem solving, priority and time management, all within the Torah and Chasidic lens, Rabinowitz says.

That is what the student will get in Machon Bina a seminary program that is fully immersive, a well-developed context for personal development in all facets of life.

Machon Bina staff is led by Rabbi Elisha Shapira, Menahel Ruchani and Mrs. Shosh Rabinowitz, director.

Staff includes Rabbi Baruch Kaplan, Rabbi Yoav Rubinsohn, Rabbi Elchonon Cohen, Rabbi Y.N Wichnin, Rabbi Dovid Beitsh, Rabbi S Newman, Rabbi M.M Karasik, Mrs. Rivkah Chanin, Mrs. Chedva Braun, Mrs. Nechama Pewzner, Mrs. Hindel Swerdlov, Mrs. N. Zeiler, and Dr. Channi Schwartz.

Girls and parents can visit the following link to find all the necessary info and to find the steps to register: http://bit.ly/MachonBinaCentralPage

Applications will be taken till Yud Shvat. After all the forms have been received, we will conduct interviews over the Chof Beis Shvat weekend iyH in NY.

With any further questions feel free to e-mail [emailprotected]

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Machon Bina Seminary in Israel Entering its 5th Year - COLlive - Chabad News

Home Features A better daily commute is possible just ask residents in these cities

Rush hour on Harbour Bridge, Sydney. Getty Images.

Public transport plays a vital role in cities around the world, connecting people to their jobs, schools and communities. The best systems are fast, clean, comfortable and efficient, reliably moving millions of people from home to work and back again every day.

But in many developing regions, inadequate public transport depends heavily on ageing fleets of diesel buses and other outmoded technologies. The cities that rely on these technologies are handicapping themselves in several ways. Their patchwork bus and van routes lack the capacity to serve all of the people who could benefit from public transport, often at relatively high fares. Their older buses spew particulate pollution that damages public health and generate carbon emissions that contribute directly to climate change.

Cities with inadequate public transport are also limiting peoples economic opportunities by making it harder for them to travel from their homes to wherever the best jobs are available. The burden of those lost economic opportunities falls particularly heavily on the poor, who may not be able to afford private alternatives or to move to neighborhoods where more jobs are available.

Fortunately, new technological solutions are making clean and efficient mass transportation available in more and more cities around the world. In developing and developed economies alike, these solutions are improving peoples quality of life, saving them money and expanding their career opportunities even as they reduce pollution and contribute to the fight against global warming.

In Jakarta, a sleek new light rail network, the Jabodobek LRT, is now taking shape and will soon link many of the far-flung corners of the dense Indonesian capital city to its bustling centre. When the first phase is completed in 2021, two new lines will cover more than 43km. In the second phase, a third line will be added, and the system will span 83km and 41 stations. I know this project well because my company, ABB, will provide the highly efficient traction motors used to drive the state-of-the-art driverless trains, which are expected to relieve traffic congestion and vehicle emissions in one of the worlds largest cities. The city is making a bold investment in developing technologies that are marked by a high level of energy efficiency and lower carbon output.

The remarkable new transport network in La Paz, Bolivia, represents a more novel approach to urban mass transport. The capital city is in a spectacular mountain valley in the Andes, more than 3,000 meters above sea level. To address the challenges of smog, overburdened roadways and steep ascents, the city has built the worlds largest urban cable car network. Since 2014, high-speed electric gondolas have begun to connect parts of the capital city that were once virtually isolated from each other. A system of 10 cable car lines and more than 30 stations now connects the city center to major suburbs like El Alto, opening up new job options to tens of thousands of low-income residents. The system builds on many of the cable car technologies first pioneered by ABBs predecessor company in Switzerland more than a century ago. We still provide many of the motors, drives and power converters used in some of the newest and most advanced gondola and funicular systems in the world.

Delhi provides another impressive example of how modern transit networks can revolutionize the daily routines of the billions of people who live and work in the worlds largest cities. The Delhi Metro, which opened the first, short section of its network in 2002, takes the long-established approach to urban transport, using electric trains in tunnels and on elevated tracks to connect densely populated urban corridors. The system, now the 12th-largest in the world, is distinguished by its use of the very latest equipment and adoption of best practices from other cities. For example, the metro incorporates automatic train control, in which sensors and centralized automated controls are used to prevent conflicts between trains operating on the system. While the cost has been significant, it has revolutionized the way people get around in Indias capital. Delhis metro system is now regularly ranked among the worlds best for reliability and customer satisfaction.

More than half of the worlds population now lives in towns and cities, and the United Nations predicts that the global urban population will increase to about 5 billion by 2030. Urbanization is expected to give rise to continuing economic growth and new opportunities for personal development and cultural innovation. But without clean and efficient transport networks, these potential gains could be undermined by increases in air and noise pollution, congestion, time wasted in traffic, and negative impacts on public health, wellbeing and economic opportunity.

As the leaders of the world work together to develop solutions to the challenge of global warming, it is more urgent than ever to invest in transport technologies that can save our planet as well as our urban environment. These technologies are available today, and the time has come to put them to use not just in a fortunate handful of cities, but in all of the worlds great metropolises.

Morten Wierod, President, Motion Business, ABB. This article was first published as part of Davos 2020.

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A better daily commute is possible just ask residents in these cities - The Mandarin

Between 2006 and 2016, 3354 marriages involving children aged 16 and 17 were registered in England and Wales

When most people think of child marriage, they imagine an appalling practice that happens far from our shores in developing nations. Many have no idea that itis legally happening here in England and Wales.

Payzee was just 16, growing up in a suburb and preparing for her GCSEs when her father arranged her wedding. All she wanted was to pursue her dream of university; she didnt fully understand the consequences of marriage. Not wanting to upset her father, she secretly hoped the marriage would be stopped. However, within a year Payzee was married, pregnant and experiencing domestic violence. By 18, she was divorced. Today, she is battling to overcome the lifelong harms caused by her child marriage.

UNICEF defines child marriage as any formal marriage or informal union between a child under the 18 and an adult or another child. Yet the law still permits child marriage under the age of 18 in England and Wales through the legal exception of parental consent. This law, which was originally intended as a safeguard, dates back 90 years to a time when living together or getting pregnant out of wedlock was socially unacceptable. Times have changed. Today there is much better understanding of domestic abuse and the manner in which abusers can coerce family members into acting against their will.

By raising the minimum age for leaving education or training to 18, Parliament has rightly recognised that childhood should be safeguarded as a time for learning and personal development. To ensure that every child can fulfil their potential, we must now legislate to outlaw child marriage.

Childhood should be safeguarded as a time for learning and personal development

At present, the only way for a child to prevent their marriage is to report that they have not consented so that the marriage qualifies as forced. Putting the burden on children to have to recognise the marriage as forced and speak out is wrong and can endanger the child. In too many cases children simply decide to remain silent and suffer the consequences.

By allowing child marriage we are failing to protect children from domestic abuse and coercive control. It should be a crime for family members and faith leaders to sanction child marriage. This would send a clear message that marriage is a solemn undertaking between two consenting adults, and that it is not possible for a child to consent to such a bond.

As part of its international development work, the UK government promotes girls access to education, and recognises that a key element to this is ending child marriage. The UK even successfully campaigned for a UN commitment to end child marriage by 2030. Yet current law is undermining the UKs important international work. This was demonstrated when a Bangladesh government official cited our governments hypocrisy when it lowered its minimum age of marriage.

We are working with a growing coalition of lawyers and organisations from the Safeguard Futures: Ban Child Marriage campaign, calling for a change in the law in England and Wales to revoke all exceptions allowing marriage under 18 and to make child marriage a crime. This campaign is led by IKWRO, who co-chair the Girls Not Brides global campaign, and co-chaired by Karma Nirvana, FORWARD and the Independent Yemen Group. The coalition includes Human Rights Watch and specialist community organisations from across England and Wales, including Savera UK in Liverpool, The Angelou Centre in Newcastle, and The Wish Centre in Blackburn, as well as the LGBT+ anti-violence charity Galop, the Muslim Womens Network and the anti-modern slavery group Freedom United.

Sarah Champion is Labour MP for Rotherham and Pauline Latham is Conservative MP for Mid Derbyshire

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Sarah Champion and Pauline Latham: We must end child marriages in the UK - PoliticsHome.com

Hip-hop recording artist, TEDx speaker, founder of the Live Your Legacy Academy and creator of the Unauthorized Biography Series, is coming to the Milwaukee area on Thursday, Jan. 30.

He is Shaun Boothe. And the 30-something Toronto native will bring a chapter of the Unauthorized Biography Series to the stage in this series to present the history and biography of some of the worlds most iconic figures as told through rap songs. Repackaging History Through Hip-Hop features Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Bob Marley, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, Terry Fox and Malala Yousafzai, among others. Each chapter of the series focuses on one influential figure through the use of documentary-style music videos.

Boothe spent 10-plus years in the recording industry, sharing stages and opening for the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Lauryn Hill, Talib Kweli and Snoop Dogg. His desire to educate, motivate and entertain led him to create the Unauthorized Biography Series, which deals with themes of overcoming challenges, diversity, leadership, redefining masculinity and more. Earlier in the day, Boothe will hold a workshop for students at South Milwaukee High School (adjacent to the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, where he is appearing).

As Boothe highlights on his website, ShaunBoothe.com: The power of hip-hop is in the stories we choose to tell. Our stories can either build us up or tear us down. Boothe is all about the build-up. Come see for yourself.

How did you first come up with and then develop the ideas for theUnauthorized Biography Series?

The idea for the series was inspired by Nas, one of my biggesthip-hop influences as a kid. Back in the day, he released a song that celebrated one of his heroes, Rakim. It wasnt one of his most popular songs, but I loved it. When James Brown passed away, over a decade ago now, I wanted to create a similar song celebrating The Godfather of Soul.When I completed the song, I knew it wouldn't be a full representation of James Brown if I didnt also showcase all the dance moves and theatrics he brought to the stage. So, we created a video to go with the song. The response was so strong that it only made sense to continue with more bio songs and make a full series out of it.

How did you choose the people you use in the series?

At first, it was just an opportunity to celebrate my heroes. Putting the spotlight on others instead of myself, then release it to the public. As things evolved and I started to use the bios in schools, things got a bit more intentional. In choosing who I would do next, I really started to think about the life lessons and messages that could be drawn out from the lives of certain cultural icons. A criterion started to develop. It wasnt just about celebrating fame or monetary success. I started to get clear about why these people were my heroes and the principles, values and mindsets they had.

How do you identify with the figures you rap about in the series?

As beautifully unique we all are, in the same breath, we are all so similar. We all go through similar experiences. We all face challenges, insecurities, resistance. We all have adversity in our lives we have to overcome. The stories of the icons in my series are pretty universal to the human experience, as extreme as they may be. Especially when we dive deeper into the person and not just the persona. One of my goals is to humanize the icons in my series. Celebrate them, yes, but not put them on a pedestal to the point they arent relatable or accessible. Theyre just regular people who achieved extraordinary results in their livesand so can all of us. We all have that same level of greatness within us. There is something magical about storytelling where we naturally map everything back onto our own lives. Theres a little Pac, MLK, Bruce Lee, Malala, Muhammad Ali in all of us. Because we are all one. We love hearing the stories of great people because, on some unconscious level, it reminds us of our own greatness. Our own human potential.

Who are your influences in your work? Music?Motivational Speaking? Others that have played a role in your life?

So many. As I mentioned, rappers like Nas inspired and influenced me creatively. Tupac. Kendrick Lamar. Artists who carried a message in their music. I connected with that. I grew up valuing lyricism, wit, metaphors, cleverness, creativity... That was important to me. Jay-Z, Andre 3000, Kanye. So many hip-hop artists like that embodied those qualities and inspired me. As a motivational speaker, I never had someone who truly inspired how I speak. At first, I was more thinking about the value they gave me when it comes to my personal growth as a man. Tony Robbins was definitely the entry point for me when it came to personal development.When I decided to pursue speaking as a career, speakers like Eric Thomas definitely inspired me because that was someone I could point to that looked like me. Optics matter. At the beginning, I needed to see other successful black motivational speakers to help me believe I could do and be the same. I got online and searched for that.

Shaun Boothe appears at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, 901 15th Ave., South Milwaukee, on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call 414-766-5049 or visit southmilwaukeepac.org.

Excerpt from:
Shaun Boothe on 'Repackaging History Through Hip-Hop' - Shepherd Express

Six BYU students currently serve as titleholders in the Miss America Organization. Clockwise from top left: Sasha Sloan, Miss Greater Salt Lake; Lindsey Gill, Miss Provo; Abbie Kondel, Miss Washington; Brittney Herman, Miss Zion; Glory Thomas, Miss Orem; and Sarah Nelson, Miss Murray. (Photos courtesy of each titleholder)

It was a bucket list item for some of them, a way to pay for school for others. Regardless of how they got here, these BYU students are now the proud owners of a crown, a sash and the opportunity to represent and impact their communities.

Six members of BYUs student body are current titleholders in the Miss America Organization. Local titleholders include Lindsey Gill (Miss Provo), Glory Thomas (Miss Orem), Brittney Herman (Miss Zion), Sarah Nelson (Miss Murray) and Sasha Sloan (Miss Greater Salt Lake).

Abbie Kondel, a BYU senior, currently holds the state title of Miss Washington. Kondel participated in the Miss America 2020 competition in December.

Between school, work and titleholder responsibilities, these ladies are some of the busiest on campus. They explained how they are balancing all of the demands on their time, what they are doing to prepare and what their crown means to them.

What does someone like Miss Provo actually do? According to Gill, the job description is a lot longer than smile and wave.

Not only am I preparing for the (Miss Utah) competition itself, but Im also raising money for CMN (Childrens Miracle Network) hospitals, attending city events and promoting my social impact initiative, Gill said.

Titleholders each choose a social impact initiative an issue they are passionate about and promote awareness of in their community throughout the year.

For example, Herman started a non-profit organization called We Will that seeks to prevent sexual assault and mitigate its harmful effects. Sloan is the founder of Rise for Refugees, an organization focused on including, supporting and educating Utahs growing refugee population.

Thomas, a music education major whose platform involves spreading kindness, said the community service aspect of her title is the most fulfilling to her.

I am the citys designated helper. Whenever an organization or business needs volunteers, they turn to the Miss Orem organization to find the help they need, Thomas said. The work we do is valuable, its hard and its absolutely worth it.

Though they each enjoy serving, these women have an important competition that is quickly approaching. They will compete for scholarships and the title of Miss Utah from May 28-30 at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City. Scholarships and other awards are on the line, which can lead to stressful preparations.

Getting a stage-ready swimsuit body is no longer on their list of things to do, as Miss America made some big changes to its program in 2018, including the discontinuation of the swimsuit portion of the judging. But contestants still have plenty to prepare for.

Herman, a third-year student working toward her doctorate at the BYU Law School, explained what preparations go into an average day.

I practice my talent, the flute, for almost an hour every day. I practice hundreds of interview and on-stage questions both on my own and in mock interviews with my team, Herman said. I also practice walking like I would on stage. My classmates will sometimes catch me strutting my stuff in the hallways at school and tease me, but its critical practice.

Nelson, a senior in the Marriott School School of Business accounting program, is also diligently preparing to compete in the talent and interview portions of the competition.

In between classes youll find me in the HFAC practicing my classical piano solo for my talent, Nelson said. When Im driving in my car, Ill listen to current events podcasts and stay up to date with politics in preparation for the interview portion of the competition.

The Miss America Organization is the largest scholarship foundation for women in the world, according to its website.

The crowns arent just sparkly, theyve paid for my education, Sloan said. Ill be graduating debt-free from BYU in the spring because of the thousands of dollars Ive earned competing for Miss Utah.

Kondel entered her first Miss America local program as a senior in high school after being accepted into BYU. Though she did not win that first competition, she walked away with $2,500, nearly enough to pay for her first semester of school.

It was the perfect set up, Kondel said. I could continue to showcase my love for dance while gaining scholarship money to pay for BYU. I fell in love with the program and Ive been hooked ever since.

BYU students are no strangers to busy schedules, and these titleholders are no exception. They said one of the biggest takeaways from their experience with Miss America has been time management skills.

Ive learned firsthand that juggling multiple things is tough, especially because I also have two jobs on top of school and Miss Provo, Gillman said. If I want to be successful in each of those aspects, then effective planning is essential.

Nelson said she uses an extensive planner to keep track of all her commitments, while Herman said she has abandoned the idea of free time altogether.

I feel confident that I will look back at my time as a titleholder and recognize that I helped people, Herman said. To me, this knowledge is worth having less free time.

Kondel said that even though the job is demanding, she does not feel that it has had any negative effect on her education.

I have never felt like competing has taken over my ability to pursue my degree, Kondel said. If anything, it has only enhanced my ability to learn, connect with others and manage time.

Despite these students positive experiences with the Miss America program, they say facing stigma and stereotypes linked to traditional ideas about pageant queens is not easy.

Sloan experienced these stereotypes firsthand at a community service event last year. She said while she was helping some kids with a craft activity, one little girl turned to her mom to ask who Sloan was. Sloan remembers the mother responded, Oh, shes just someone who won a beauty contest.

My heart just sunk, Sloan said. I wanted to explain to this mother that there were so many reasons that I could be a role model for her daughter as a public figure and none of them have to do with the way that I look. We should never teach our daughters that thats the most important characteristic they have to offer.

Herman admits she used to be someone who believed these stereotypes.

I didnt begin participating in these competitions until I was older, and I admit that I had already formed some bias against the competitions and the types of girls who participated, Herman said. My beliefs and stigmas were the same ones I hear today, that women who participate are shallow, silly or even dumb. I have been so humbled to realize that I compete with intelligent, successful and talented women.

As the Miss America Organization continues to evolve, titleholders expressed the hope that peoples perceptions of the program would evolve as well.

There are no points for beauty, no parade of swimsuits, none of the traditional fixtures associated with a beauty queen, Sloan said. I wish that people understood that these women competing arent just pretty girls they are social entrepreneurs with an aptitude for civic engagement and a passion for personal development.

Nelson agrees that these stereotypes dont accurately reflect the work that titleholders do.

Its so much more than pageant gowns and a crown, Nelson said.

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Students with a sash: Cougars and Miss America - Universe.byu.edu

SUCCESS LIFE: Jonah Nyoni

WINSTON Churchill once said, A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. If you are to be successful, you need to be positively expectant. Belief systems are the building blocks for our life. This is the intrinsic wiring or our personal mental models. No one can change you besides you. The more you see life in a positive light the more you attract positive things. The reverse is equally true.

Tony Robbins, in his book Awaken The Giant Within said, Holding those limiting beliefs is equivalent to systematically ingesting minute doses of arsenic that, over time, build up to a fatal dose.

Psychological scholars will tell you that your brain cant differentiate between something you are actually experiencing and something you vividly imagine. A good example is that of Roger Bannister. Before 1954 no athlete had run a mile in less than four minutes, but on May 6, 1954 Bannister ran a mile in 3:59.4 minutes. The four minute barrier was broken and after that the four minute time tag has been broken several times by different athletes. What does that mean?

The belief that a mile can be run in less than four minutes was now in the minds of athletes and it was not a problem to translate that to physical reality. Most people would argue that their outer world is a reflection of their inner world. Your outer world corresponds with your deep seated pattern of thinking or your paradigm.

Life is not necessarily about what you want, but your sub-conscious state. That is your belief system; your inner software that regulates how your whole mental system functions, perceives and sifts things and in most times without you being aware. Belief systems can be compared to an operating system in a computer. The computer performance is mainly determined by how effective and efficient its soft is.

Belief systems create boundaries or limitations in your mind. They determine your destiny. All people are always thinking. The major factor is what you are thinking about.

Some people are obsessed with obscene, dangerous, limiting, destructive and demeaning thoughts. Television, internet entertain and control some peoples mind and that should not be the case. Not every thought that flies over your head should be entertained.

Philosopher and psychologist William James once said: The world we see that seems so insane is the result of a belief system that is not working. To perceive the world differently, we must be willing to change our belief system, let the past slip away, expand our sense of now, and dissolve the fear in our minds. Take control of your belief systems! Winning in the market place takes more than meets the eye. Success in business and leadership is governed by laws. Breaking the law has results. In this case if you break a success law, you will not be arrested, but they are negative repercussions. For the past decade I have invested in myself more than I did in all other things. I have learnt that to win I have to learn more about myself and improve.

Most people fail on their own before they can even fail in the market place. I call this the mirror principle; it is all about you. The use of the mirror is to see yourself. If ever there is something not right, you spruce yourself up. The guy you have to blame or praise for who you are, is no one, but yourself! The guy you see in the mirror might have caused most of the problems you have encountered than anyone else has.

The mirror principle scrutinises you. Who has to examine you? Its you. You are a sum total of your thoughts. It is not what happens to you that is a problem, but what happens in you. So if you change the way you see yourself, it changes your results in life. Your mind pattern is one thing you must work on; your paradigm. Your mental programme that has control over your behaviour. Who you are determines the way you see other people, what you see, how you see others, how you see the future, how you treat the past, what you do and the behaviour you flaunt. You have to work on yourself and you must start now. Here are the things to do:

Self-discovery

There is a salient question that I am asked in almost every seminar I host. The question is: How do I discover what I am supposed to be doing with my life? Some put it this way: How do I know my career? Others phrase it like this: What do I do to become fulfilled? Those three question bounce back to self-discovery? Dont ever waste time doing what you were never created for. To discover the purpose of anything, you have to ask the manufacturer. He or she has the full knowledge of the functions.

Arthur Marara an author, speaker and attorney in his book Personal Development Toolkit (2013: 53) says: You start to live the moment you discover what you are supposed to be living for. A great number of people pass through earth without knowing who they are and what they are capable of doing.

Self-Concept

Do you know that most people negatively judge themselves before even other people grade them? The issue of self-concept describes how you view yourself. This determines your attitude, behaviour and ultimately your results in life. Inferiority complex makes you see yourself lesser in value than others. Whereas confidence exudes and aura of self-worth.

Self-awareness

This is the ability to see yourself different and uniquely, special in your own way. Most people, because of low self-worth want to be other people. They want to dress the way other people dress. They emulate other people. Others dress to extremes, so as to try to express themselves and be seen.

Self-image

Your image defines your brand and what you stand for. This emanates from what you believe about yourself and your value systems. The image is what others buy into. Let me give you an example. If you fry two pieces of chicken in a pan then take one piece and wrap it in an old newspaper and try to sell it. Then take the other one and wrap it in a proper way. Which one do you think people will go for? Its obvious. Both pieces are good, but the packaging is different. So it is with people, what they see first is the packaging not the interior. Work on your image.

Self-belief

Self-belief is about what you believe about your-self. Some people believe they are rich even way before they can attain material wealth. Whereas others have deemed themselves unable, incapable, weak and useless. Belief systems are created by a number of issues that include our past experiences, what we have learnt in life and our surroundings. Positive self-belief can be shaped by an individual or though influence.

Self-honesty

This in an issue of integrity. You have to be honest with yourself first. Honestly, if you would choose a life you want to live the rest of your life, what would you be doing now? If you are to drop negative attitudes, habits or traits, what will you drop? Be true to self and enjoy. Never try to please anyone because that is akin to living a lie.

Self-responsibility

Live your own life and make it work. Some people will spend their lives thinking that there is someone who is responsible for who they are. They blame the politics of the day. They think its the economy. They think its their parents et cetera. Be responsible for your own success. Take a personal and a conscious effort to make life worth living for. After all, if you dont do anything about your life, no one else will.

Self-improvement

The last issue is that self-development cant be replaced by anything. Improve your mind, associates and your life. If your stop growing you start to die slowly. You are paid to the level of your worth. The moment you add value to yourself, you choose what the market pays you, but if your value is still low the market chooses what you are paid. So to improve your worth, you have to improve yourself.

Jonah Nyoni is an author, success coach and certified leadership/business trainer. He is the author of Inspiration for Success and Success Within Reach.

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Source, recipient and a return to class

Link:
Personal optimism and success - NewsDay

Two boys sit in a corner of the classroom discussing equal pay. One believes that men and women must always be paid the same; the other thinks that sometimes jobs can be advertised at different salaries in order to encourage people to apply for positions in fields where they are under-represented.

This is not a secondary school citizenship class but two Year 5s at the Inspire Partnership multi-academy trust in south-east London. According to Nav Sanghara, an executive headteacher for the trust, these kinds of conversations are increasingly common now that it has reorganised its curriculum to have a more global focus.

The Inspire Partnership is not the first to realise the benefits of global learning. A 2015 report by the British Council revealed a number of positive side effects, from increased pupil engagement to more confident teachers. However, it can be difficult for hard-pressed schools to include activities on global issues.

This is where CPD with a global focus can help. Partnerships with overseas schools and initiatives such as the Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning programme, funded by the British Council and UK aid, give teachers ideas on how to incorporate global learning into their daily classroom practice, rather than simply having it as an extra activity.

Connecting Classrooms, for example, uses a mix of online and face-to-face training on a range of topics. All courses focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goalsand help teachers to design schemes of work that will allow students to create solutions to real-world problems such as water shortages in Kenya. There is also a focus on making the most of overseas connections that teachers have already built themselves.

Sanghara agrees that CPD has been a key part of the trusts shift to a more global outlook. About 55 teachers from across the trust took part in Connecting Classrooms training earlier this year led by Lyfta, an educational platform that helps teachers to discuss complex global issues by using immersive storytelling.

The idea is that teachers use Lyftas interactive videos to introduce a particular topic or theme different cultural norms, for example, or gender stereotyping. These are then backed up by ready-made curriculum-based lesson and assembly plans covering 11 of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. Lyfta also offers free CPD for schools in England as part of the Connecting Classrooms initiative.

For Sanghara, the real beauty of the CPD lies in how it helps teachers to think of innovative ways to integrate these resources. We were really keen that they werent just dropped in as little activities, she says. We wanted it to be mapped out as part of the childrens learning journey.

Katie Hanson, a secondary science teacher at Culloden Academy in Scotland, has been using the British Councils Connecting Classrooms CPD to enhance her classroom practice since 2016. Learning for Sustainability (LfS) is a requirement for all teachers in Scotland, so the Connecting Classrooms training caught her eye.

We talk about how the UN Sustainable Development Goals are relevant to our situation and our classes, Hanson says. Theres a mix of primary and secondary teachers from different backgrounds, and its really good to get ideas from other places. Some of the things that come from primary colleagues are amazing, and you think, How can I develop that into my secondary science teaching?

As a result of the CPD, Hanson has felt inspired and supported to incorporate LfS into many schemes of work. She taught a class on vaccines and linked it to migration, for example, and took part in a Wind Turbine Challenge in collaboration with a school in Nepal, with each school building a turbine and sharing the results.

Its showing the pupils that what theyre learning has got a context to it, she says. Its not just bits of information you have to remember to pass a test; this is what people are working on in the real world.

Having a partnership with a school overseas can also offer a valuable opportunity for personal development, as learning support assistant Jackie Pritchard has discovered. As part of her work for Cwmcarn Primary School in Wales, she has developed a relationship with Bukaya Primary School in Uganda. The schools take on projects together currently both are planning Eco Gardens and share the results via email and WhatsApp.

Music is very important to both cultures and we often send each other recordings of concerts, says Pritchard. The schools also hope jointly to develop a library, so that pupils can research each others countries. They will build on what they have already learned by swapping questions via the teachers, ranging from what the other countrys pupils eat and how far they walk to schoolto what celebrations they have (prompting Cwmcarn to send a presentation on St Davids Day) and whether Wales has wild animals.

Its making the children think more outside of Wales, says Pritchard. Theyre thinking of the bigger picture, the world, and theyre taking those things on board as well, more than just their own neighbourhood and their own little village.

Pritchard has also taken part in a Connecting Classrooms twilight training course on how to communicate the reality of life in other countries more effectively, and the effect on local populations of climate change. Now, she has even bigger plans: Its made me realise theres a lot more I could probably do in the future. Theres a lot I could bring into the school to make the children more aware of the issues.

Overall, she says, working with an overseas partner has helped her to practice in unexpected ways, giving the children more opportunities to learn and explore through their own investigations and allowing her in a dynamic way to involve them all in their ability ranges. She adds: It helps to foster imagination in both past, present and future events, and has allowed us all to look at ourselves and grab the opportunities that are offered.

In an increasingly globalised world, working with peers from around the world is no longer an optional extra for pupils or teachers. The right training, however, can turn it from bureaucratic burden to global adventure, and the rewards are obvious. As Hanson concludes: I find that behaviour and engagement have improved. By the end of a year of working with these students, I have a very different class than I had before.

Abigail Sanderson is a freelance writer

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How the right CPD can take you on a global adventure (sponsored) - TES News