Thursday, October 30, 2014

The Homestretch
“A compelling take on a heartbreaking issue."
 Youth Homelessness in Chicago

Please come to a screening of one of this year’s MUST SEE FILMS.

The Homestretch follows the lives of three young people - two of whom are clients of  Chicago's Teen Living Program (TLP) - as they persevere in the of face extraordinary challenges and defy the odds to create hopeful futures for themselves.
Date:  Sunday November 16, 2014

Time:  4 – 6 PM   
            (Doors open at 3:30, and show will begin promptly at 4:00)

Location:   The Glen Art Theatre
                    540 Crescent Blvd.
                    Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
                    630-469-1976

RSVP to Nicole at nmeunier@teenliving.org or 312-568-5700 ext. 226 

Please bring socks or snacks for TLP’s holiday drive!



 November is Homeless Youth Awareness Month!


THE HOMESTRETCH, a 90 minute documentary film is premiering at The Glen Art Theatre.   This documentary will help put faces on those trying to overcome youth homelessness in our area… so please take advantage of this documentary screening to learn more!

Trailer for this documentary can be found at:  http://vimeo.com/77430311

 
For more information on ending Youth Homelessness in Chicago please check out:  Teen Living Programs www.tlpchicago.org.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Community Event on Heroin Addiction




HGNA Presents 

Coach Joe Ehrmann




HGNA is hosting Joe Ehrmann, a former NFL player and author, this Sunday from 7-8 p.m. at Downers Grove North. The presentation will be a  very inspirational message for anyone who works with youth (especially coaches) – to ensure we are building people for the future and not just focusing on the win. 

As a part of its parenting series, HGNA is honored to host Coach Joe Ehrmann for this one-time event while he is in town working with the Chicago Bears!  Whether you are a coach, parent, teacher or director of a student activity, Coach Joe Ehrmann has an important message for you. 
A former NFL player, founder of Coach for America, and named by Parade Magazine as "The Most Important Coach in America," Coach Ehrmann travels the globe to share his inspirational message of instructing and mentoring with empathy and integrity -- and the very important role of coaches and influential adults in the lives of young people.
REGISTRATION NOTE: High school students are FREE.  Send an email to info@hgna.org with student's name to reserve a seat. Student ID required.



HGNA challenges the negative images and information bombarding girls today, while offering support 
and education to their parents.  For more information, please go to:  http://www.hgna.org/


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Former GPS speaker Dr. Christine Carter shares a Happiness Tip and reminds us to
"Find Something to Love About the Moment You Are In Right Now"

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 When I drop my kids off at school in the morning, I ask them one question: "What are you going to 
do today?" They always answer, usually without rolling their eyes and sometimes with actual enthusiasm: "HAVE FUN!!" 

Having fun, to me, is the most important thing. Yes, I want them to learn and be respectful and kind and everything else, and no, I don't want them to have fun at the expense of other people or by breaking school rules -- obviously. But when it comes down to it, I know that if they are having fun, they will learn better, and make better friends, and in general, be a delight to their teachers. 

And there is always fun to be had, even in the more boring or trying aspects of school, or, as the case may be, work. Or life. Finding something to love in every situation isn't about complacency, it's about accepting the full truth of the present moment. It's about focusing our minds on the positive aspects of a situation, and then reaping the benefits of doing so. 

A friend recently faced a nerve-wracking medical procedure for a serious illness. She was terrified, and having a hard time finding something to love about the situation, which included the possibility that she might not recover. But here are some things we came up with:

She felt love and gratitude for the people supporting her -- her doctors and nurses, her husband, her friends.She felt hope and gratitude because there are treatments for her illness (and super thankful she has health insurance).She felt deep gratitude (again) just to be alive. She came to see her fear as a part of her profound will to live.Finding something to love even in very difficult situations involves acceptance of (and even surrender to) things that we didn't choose and perhaps didn't want. But instead of just pointing to the ways that a situation is hard or wrong or bad, or focusing on the things that we'd like to change, we can transform a situation by also acknowledging the positive aspects of a situation. The key: seeing that we would not get to experience these positive aspects, at least in the same way, without the difficult bits. 

Seeing this fuller picture -- accepting both the good and the bad in a situation -- is a solid tactic for feeling happier and more more fulfilled. The positive emotions that arise when we identify what we love are tremendously functional. Gratitude, love, hope, optimism, compassion, awe -- these emotions all make us healthier, happier, and more satisfied with our lives. 
  
Take action: Have fun today. If not that, find something to love about the situation you are in.