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Celebrating Life & Health-Volunteers NEEDED!!

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There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life — happiness, freedom, and peace of mind — are always attained by giving them to someone else.” ~Peyton C. March

Celebrating Life & Health is the area’s largest community health fair that offers attendees 100s of free medical tests, services & products to ensure their good health and identify potential risk-factors.

The event has grown like…… never before (5000+ people) & we are expecting an even larger turnout this year due to the continued poor economy, loss/cut of health insurance or no health insurance for a great number of people in our community.

The growth of the event puts us in need…we are in need of volunteers to help in a variety of capacities the day of the event.

Volunteer by yourself, with friends, with family or in groups…but please volunteer! There are morning & afternoon shifts…Bring the Whole Family!!

This year’s event takes place on Saturday, April 16, from 10am – 3pm.

To volunteer – please contact the Levin Family Foundation directly @ 937-223-5433;
email- [email protected] or register online at www.levinfamilyfoundation.org.

If you can’t volunteer but would like to help by being a sponsor or know someone that would like to sponsor the event…please contact Debbie Fox @ 937-223-1669.

Thank-you for your consideration…Without your help the event cannot continue to grow…Without your help 1000s of people will go without…

Nick Clooney – George’s Dad and So Much More (Win Tickets!)

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Nick Clooney(The following was submitted by Tamera Geesling of the Junior League of Dayton)

Besides having a famous son, Nick Clooney has earned his own reputation as a legend in the broadcasting biz.  Nick is an award-winning journalist, author and television personality and will be in Dayton on April 7, 2011, to speak at the Junior League of Dayton’s Town Hall Lecture Series.

Reporter, Journalist, Television Show Host, Author, Activist – Nick Clooney has worn many hats during his distinguished career.  He has accumulated numerous awards and honors for his work, including three Emmy nominations for his work researching and introducing “golden era” movies for the American Movie Classics (AMC) channel and was named one of the “best in the business of television news” by the  Washington Review of Journalism.

In addition to hosting the The Nick Clooney Show, he garnered national attention for his coverage of the 1977 Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire in northern Kentucky.  Clooney continued to focus on hard news, and helped the ABS affiliate, WKRC-TV, become a solid #1 in local news rankings.

Clooney is also known for having a son who has achieved success in the acting and directing fields.  In 2006, Clooney and his son, George, travelled to the war-torn region of Darfur and filmed the documentary, A Journey to Darfur. The film has been shown throughout the world and was released on DVD in 2008, with proceeds donated to the International Rescue Committee.

The Town Hall Lecture Series is sponsored by its media partners, ThinkTV and Times Community Newspaper.  The Nick Clooney lecture is presented by Freund, Freeze & Arnold: A Legal Professional Association.  To date, the Town Hall Lecture Series has raised over $1.8 million to support local JLD community programs, such as POWER (Program of Wellness Education and Resources), a children’s advocacy program in partnership with The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, and the Holiday Hunt, an annual tradition of the Dayton Holiday Festival.

Tickets are $31 each (plus handling) and can be ordered by calling 937-228-3630 or online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.  Doors open at 9:00 a.m. and the lecture begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Schuster Center in Downtown Dayton.

DaytonMostMetro.com has a pair of FREE TICKETS to give away – simply fill out the form below and then click the Facebook Recommend button in the Social Share section.  As soon as we get at least 50 FB “recommends” then we’ll draw a random name from the entries.  Please make sure your mailing address is correct as we’ll be mailing the tickets to the winner, and make sure you are available at 10am on April 7 for the event.  Good luck!

The Junior League of Dayton is an organization of women who are committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.  For more information about the JLD and its community programs, visit www.jldayton.org.

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Young Professional Night at DPO

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Like the famous quilts made by an isolated African-American community in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, composer Michael Daugherty’s work is a patchwork of various crosscurrents intertwining American guitar rock and southern folk music with contemporary classical music to “create a colorful and unique tapestry of sound.”  This Thursday March 24 and Saturday March 26 at the Schuster Center in Downtown Dayton, guitarist DJ Sparr joins Neal Gittleman and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra as the audience discovers how the iconic rock instrument fits into the classical setting with Daugherty’s “Gee’s Bend” for Electric Guitar & Orchestra as well as works by Enescu and Dvorák.
DPO is offering a special discount for the 3/24 8pm show to anybody in one of Dayton’s young professional groups (Generation Dayton, Dayton Bar Association/Young Lawyers, updayton, Dayton Ballet Barrre and “40 under 40” winners) – great seats for only $12 plus $2 appetizers starting at 6pm and a “Take Note” talk at 7pm before the show.  Call 228-3630 and mention your YP group to get your specially-priced tickets.

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Need a Garden? Then Grow With Your Neighbors!

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Gardening can bring a community closer together. Learn about available opportunities at http://www.metroparks.org/gwyn.

If you’re a renter like me, you may look upon homeowners with envy for their ability to cultivate and grow their own fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Urbanites with a lack of available green space probably feel my pain, too. So what’s a veggie-loving city slicker/tenant to do? Grow With Your Neighbors.

This program, founded in 1986, helps those without land become more self-sufficient and promotes healthy lifestyles by providing space where patrons can grow their own food. “Originally called Dayton Urban Gardens, this movement emerged as a way to encourage creative use of vacant land, Brother Ed Zamierowski served as the first coordinator,” says GWYN Manager Luci Beachdell. ““Today, the program is centrally managed at Wegerzyn Garden MetroPark as a program of Five Rivers MetroParks. Our goal is to promote local, neighborhood development, especially in low-income areas, by turning vacant land into a resource for food production and neighborhood beautification. By establishing a network of neighborhood gardens, the program encourages the development of new gardens and offers assistance to existing ones.”

Eating local is a hot topic. Urban agriculture has exploded on the local scene, with 40 community gardens (including hundreds of plots at Wegerzyn Gardens and Possum Creek MetroParks) open in 2010 and another eight slated to open in 2011. So chances are, wherever you live, you’re close to a community garden. “But Val,” you might be saying, “I don’t exactly have the world’s greenest thumbs. I’m lucky if I can keep a cactus alive. How do you expect me to cultivate produce?” GWYN’s got you covered. The program has built-in support of managers and volunteers willing to lend their time and talents to assist the horticultural-impaired. “We love to help new gardeners get started,” Beachdell says. “From planning to tilling to building beds, we want to give gardeners the know-how they need to be successful and self-sustaining.” In addition to available free or at-cost gardening programs offered through Five Rivers MetroParks, there are also several community garden “road shows” in which MetroPark horticulture experts are on hand to answer questions.

It’s never too early to introduce kids to the concept of local foods. First Lady Michelle Obama is helping shine the spotlight on gardening and incorporating more fruits and vegetables in our diets, especially for children. The City Beets program operates out of Wegerzyn’s community garden to educate youth on gardening and leadership skills as they grow their own produce, then preserve or prepare their goods to be sold at the PNC 2nd Street Market. “We also work with schools interested in creating a school garden in the same ways that we work with new and existing gardens. We help them plan and prepare, and do some basic gardening run-throughs,” Beachdell says.

You, too, can make others envy your giant gourds when you visit http://www.metroparks.org/GWYN.

Another great benefit of community gardening is neighborhood improvement. In addition to the beautification of transforming a former vacant lot into an attractive and productive garden, GWYN gardeners frequently donate excess crops to local food pantries, giving the gift of good health to others.

Now that you’re out of excuses, put down the Cheetos and pick up a shovel. You, too, can become a gardener and live a life more nutritious and delicious. Contact Luci Beachdell if you’re interested in taking a plot in a community garden near you, or info on how to start a community garden in your neighborhood.

Baskets for Bottoms Diaper Drive Kicks Off!

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DAYTON — Social media philanthropists CultureMASH have announced their next big social good initiative: Starting Saturday, March 12, the group will launch Baskets for Bottoms, collecting diapers and other baby-related toiletries to benefit The Mustard Seed Foundation.

Baskets for Bottoms will run approximately one week with many available drop-off locations. All items collected will be donated to The Mustard Seed Foundation, a local nonprofit that serves disadvantaged, teen mothers ages 13-21 and their children who are at or below the poverty level. The Mustard Seed Foundation provides its programs and services to all counties throughout the state of Ohio and accepts teen mothers who are in state or county custody or have been referred by other service agencies. “For many of these girls, we’re their last hope between a good life and a life on the street for them and their babies,” says founder Shondale Atkinson. “We are trying to break that cycle of poverty and show these girls that they can be the difference in the lives of their children. But we can’t do this alone; we’re very grateful for the contributions of individuals and organizations in this region who are committed to making the Gem City truly shine.”

Collection Items

Diapers

Toiletries and Baby Wipes

Diaper Creams

NO MONETARY DONATIONS.

These businesses have taken a step toward improving the lives of impoverished young women by signing up to be a drop-off location:

Tim Horton’s – 150 Monarch Lane – Miamisburg, OH 45342150

Skyline Chili – 8906 Kingsridge Drive  – Dayton, OH 45458-1619

Airport Toyota – 1180 West National Road, Vandalia, OH 45377

Living Word Church – 926 East National Road. Vandalia, OH 45377-3202

The Ohio Coffee Company – 46 West 5th Street Dayton, OH 45402-2310

Fresh Ideas Hair Design – 1464 West Main Street  New Lebanon, OH 45345-9772

Coins4Me 38 W. Franklin St. Centerville OH

The Wine Loft @ The Greene – Beavercreek, OH

Each Baskets for Bottoms drop-off site offers a chance for donors to win a prize! Check out the CultureMASH Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/CultureMASH) for details.

Doing Social Good and A Chance to Win One of the Following!

$50 Jewelry Gift Card – Coins4Me
10 $5 GC – Skyline Chili
1 Year of Free Oil Changes – Toyota Airport
$75 Gift Card to Cake Hope and Love
and more!
To learn more about The Mustard Seed Foundation, or to find out how to contribute to their mission, visit www.themustardseedfoundationofdayton.org or on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/themustardseedfoundationofdayton.

About CultureMASH

Founded in 2010 by Shana Douglas and Carla Weis Hale, CultureMASH is a team of creative young professionals in all facets of marketing and new media using their talents to give something back to the community. CultureMASH will train and assist organizations in using the latest tools to broaden and captivate their audience. Though not entirely focused on “e-charity,” the real-time web has become a sustainable means of marketing for the nonprofit sector. When used efficiently, social media can heighten awareness, help with promoting causes and boost fundraising so organizations can continue to have an impact and further their missions. Through use of creative talents and sound strategic thought processes, CultureMASH believes these messages will be amplified beyond the social network. By organizing communities both on and offline, a rejuvenation of volunteerism and involvement is ahead. CultureMASH is the bridge that will connect organizations back to the community to wage true advocacy campaigns.

Hunks & Heals and Beads, Oh My!

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Vince Corrado, 2009 Best Legs Champion

It takes a real man to strut his stuff in a pair of high heels and Clothes That Work (CTW)  has been lucky enough to repeatedly count on some truly philanthropic guys in our community.  On Tues, March 8th photographer Andy Snow will be doing a photo shoot, capturing the contestants for the 20111 Online Best Leg Competition at The Wine Loft at The Greene. Last year’s online contest raised over $4000, one $5 vote at a time, to allow CTW to continue to empower job seeker with clothing and confidence.

Friends and fans of these hunks are invited to join the fun and start the voting for our 2011 Hunks in Heels as we host a kick off party from 5 -7pm. Admission is $20 per guest and will include appetizers, 2 glasses of wine or beer, and 2 mardi gras bead necklaces (it is Fat Tuesday, after all).  Guests can award the beads to their choice for best legs!  Additional beads (votes) will be available for $5 each.

Confirmed Hunks include:

Marty Beyer, Partner, Sebaly Shillito + Dyer

Ron Burdge, Attorney, Burdge Law Office

Sean Costello, Assistant IP Manager, Freund, Freeze & Arnold

Sherif Hedayat, Owner at Erratic Media Group

Richard Kaiser, Marketing Strategist at Penny/Ohlmann/Neiman

Bill Pote, Publisher at DaytonMostMetro.com

Kevin Round, General Manager of the Dayton Racquet Club

Troy Singer, P&G Relationship Manager at Hooven-Dayton Corp

Bryan Suddith, Executive Director, Greater Dayton Chapter at A Kid Again

Mark Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Partner at Elements IV Interiors

CJ Webster, Regional Sales Manager at LexisNexis Group & Generation Dayton Representative

and more being added every day!

If you know a hunk we need to include just send us an email and we’ll see what we can do to recruit them.    Can’t make the party on Fat Tuesday?  Don’t worry- we’ll have the online voting up soon after the party for you to check out Dayton’s Best Legs!

Be sure to put May 14th on your calendar for the actual Hunks in Heels race held on the square at The Greene.  Last year we had over 150 hunks competing, we expect even more this year!

In the meantime, enjoy highlights from last year:

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YP Roundup – Here Comes the Spring

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Wow – a few days into March and I’m just publishing this now.  I guess that’s what happens when February is the shortest month and the sun starts luring people (me) outside and away from computers.  Anyway – just in time for First Friday (btw: check out the fab listing of galleries, bands, outdoor rec events and more on the event calendar) – here is a shortened edition the YP Roundup.  Since you’ve got the handy-dandy DMM calendar, this Roundup will start to feature just one or two events each week from our great local YP organizations.  Check out organizational Web pages or the DMM calendar for a more comprehensive list.

March is the month that launched the Young Guns vs. Old Pistols for the Wright-Patt Junior Force Council.  Not on Base?  Keep up with their events on their new Facebook page.  Want more info on YP events behind the gates?  Check out the story on DMM.

Week One:

Check out First Friday.  Some really cool opportunities there include a story telling session, live music in a music store, a new art exhibit (or two), zumba, an 80’s skate party, a bike ride, and general frivolity and fun.

Join the Dayton Ballet Barre at Norton’s on Sunday, March 6 for… ballet? NO!  It’s to get in the mood for March Madness.  They’ll be watching OSU take on Wisconsin.  They don’t call it the “big dance” for nothing – of course the Ballet Barre is getting into that action.

Week Two:

Wednesday, March 9 gives you a chance to join the members of HYPE for lunch at Kanoe Cafe.  It’s an informal lunch to meet a few new friends and learn about upcoming HYPE events.  RSVP by March 8 to guarantee your spot.

Wednesday night brings you the chance to check out Lucky’s Taproom, the Oregon District’s newest tavern, with the Dayton Creative Syndicate.  This Happy Hour brings together professionals from design, copy writing, and other creative fields for a good time.

Week Three:

Get the Montgomery County Economic Update when Generation Dayton hosts Commissioner Debbie Lieberman on Tuesday, March 15 for the Business and Breakfast Speaker Series.  A free event to attend (breakfast at your cost) with good friends and great information.

Week Four:

On Thursday, March 24 JumpstART is going to campus for a great deal on String Theory featuring the Richter Uzur Duo at UD.  Of course, it’s not a full Flyer experience without first checking out Milano’s for some great food and drink specials as well as some great door prizes.

On Saturday, March 26 the American Heart Associate answers the call for YPs who wanted to be included in the Dayton Heart Ball (without the Heart Ball price).  Join them at the Red Heart Lounge After-party!  Geared toward YPs, it’s a chic event that offers a discounted rate, food, dancing, wine/beer, red carpet photos and a chance to mix and mingle with other YPs making a difference in the lives of others.  Contact [email protected] for details.

AND:

Other great events tagged for YPs in the region include the Dayton AMA presentation on how to turnaround a downtown, a healthy and tasty wine/yoga combo, and the chance to bring your friends together to Bowl for Kids’ Sake.

“Like” some YP pages online, keep an eye on the DMM calendar and let us know here if you’ve got other great YP events coming up!

Generation Dayton’s Featured YP

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Shawn C Neff

Every month, Generation Dayton, the YP organization affiliated with the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, features a YP of the Month.  This month – meet Shawn Neff.

Name:  Shawn C Neff

Title: Collections Analyst

Organization: Security National Bank

Community Involvement : Generation Dayton, JumpstART, Habitat for Humanity, Wayne Ave Corridor Committee, Downtown Street Buzz. I’ve volunteered with several businesses to re-build playgrounds in under privileged areas.
Hobbies and Interests:  I love giving back to community, especially when children are involved. To see the excitement on a kid’s face when you’re helping to re-build an old playground is well worth the hours of work that goes into it. I also enjoy a good beer, fine wine and great conversation.(That sounds like a cheesy pick-up line, but it’s the truth)
What do you love about Dayton?  I really enjoy living downtown. Within a 10 minute walk I can be at either Riverscape, Schuster Center, Oregon District, or catch a Dragon’s game. There is always something going on.

Visit the GenD page for more info on Shawn and all he’s doing for the Dayton region (seriously, this dude is IN-Volved).  http://generationdayton.org/featured.php

Kudos to GenD for sending props out to their great volunteers and active members!

American Heart Association Sing Your Heart Out [GALLERY]

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Participants at the "Sing Your Heart Out" belt out a tune at Therapy Cafe on Thursday, Feb. 26.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. and WHIO-TV’s Brittany McGraw lent their voices to a good cause Thursday Feb. 24 for the 2nd “Sing Your Heart Out” fundraiser held at Therapy Cafe.

The event was an effort to to raise funds and awareness in the fight against heart disease in children and childhood obesity.

Attendees donated money to the American Heart Association for a chance to rock-out to their favorite songs, karoake-style in front of the packed house Thursday night.  If you missed out and still want to contribute, visit http://www.heart.org/daytonohheartball for information about the upcoming 16th Annual Stars of the Heart Ball (March 26), a red carpet affair benefiting the American Heart Association.

For now, see if you spot any familiar faces singing’ to the oldies:

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11th Annual Crown Jewels Hat Show [GALLERY]

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All eyes are on Natasha Williams as she sashays down the aisle during the 11th Annual Crown Jewels Hat Show on Feb. 26.

Books & Company at the Greene hosted the 11th Annual Crown Jewels Hat Show on Feb. 26 and the 300-plus spectators in attendance were treated to a hat and fashion show featuring women from the 2011 Crown Jewels of Dayton calender, as well a few new faces.

The event was everything you’d expect from co-founder Sharon Davis Howard: some strut, a little sass, and a lot of class!

Participants included Generation Dayton’s Jennifer Rettig, Maha Kashani and Jen Cadieux,  news personality Natasha Williams, Deb Norris of Sinclair Community College and a host of other prominent area women (and the first male) strolling down the catwalk.

The event was flashy, fun and fabulous!  For more fun with Crown Jewels plan on attending the Derby Day Brunch on Saturday, May 7th at Brio.

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YPs at the Base – Serving those who serve

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Serving the YPs who Serve

It’s the largest single site employer in the whole state.  Its history has been witness to early Wright Brothers test flights and a military installation that dates to World War I.  It’s an obvious asset to the region for the Air Force Museum (fingers crossed for the shuttle) as well as cutting-edge technical, aerospace, and research advances.

I have sung the praises of the Base and understood its major importance in both the economic viability of our region and for aerospace technology worldwide (you can thank my engineering husband who just broke a world record for his work on a scram jet engine for that one), but I never really got the differences of the alphabet soup that is WPAFB (be it AFIT, AFRL, NASIC, WISK or LMNOP).

Here I am – trying to be an info liaison for YP groups in the region.  Hopefully this blog is a resource for people who want to get involved, YP orgs who are looking for potential collaborations, or anyone who’s just curious.  And I’ve advertised Base events like monthly socials for the Young AFCEAns, volunteer opportunities through the Junior Force Council and discussions by the WP Networking Association.  But you know what – I still didn’t really get it.  Oh – you mysterious base with your numerous gates, haunted hotels, and alien ships in hiding – I am here to learn about the resources for the YPs behind the gates.  So – this is for anyone who has asked a new friend, “So – where do you work?” and your eyes glaze over a little bit when they answer “the Base.”

The Young AFCEAns

Why am I talking to them first?  Well – I thought they might be a pretty good “gateway” to the Base since members of the Young AFCEAns can work on or off Base in any contracting organization that has a relationship with the Base.  Also –  they are the YP arm of AFCEA (The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association) – so you can guess that they have a pretty informative Web page.  I was able to gather information on the people served and the benefits for the Young AFCEAns.  At least I thought I had them figured out, until I talked to Casey Weinstein, the local chapter president and figured out that they are so much more.

YACs get together for social opportunities

The Young AFCEAns (also known as YACs) are AFCEA members under the age of 40.  But they are also a distinct unit within AFCEA.  Sure, they network with fellow professionals and are active in the chapter, but they also work together as YACs to mentor at schools, host tech events and judge local science fairs.  They take advantage of specific mentoring activities available only to YACs – career development, leadership development, and access to senior leaders in the field (the kind of access that otherwise wouldn’t be available).

Anyone CAN be a YAC, and Weinstein encourages all YPs to check them out.  So many businesses in the region, even if they don’t deal directly with the government, partner with other organizations that do contract with the government.  And maybe you’re not in IT, but Weinstein tells the story of a marketing associate who started coming to YAC events because her company was considering expanding into the IT market.  The networking and social opportunities through YAC proved helpful, informative, and even fun.

YACs at a Dragons game

When I asked what exactly they do and who they serve, Weinstein explained that they’re an advocacy and networking association focused on information technology and the government – most members are government employees, contractors, or people who want to break into the industry.  And for anyone who thinks “IT” is a little broad, I asked Weinstein for some specifics:  they have members who produce modeling and simulation software, build web applications, create hardware and software sharepoints, and they feature many service providers (like database administrators).

The most popular events for local YACs are the monthly networking events.  They feature free food and drinks (always a plus), and they provide a great atmosphere for YPs in the industry to network with one another, local businesses, and senior leadership in the industry.  Weinstein also highlights their outreach work with local universities.  With the support of Senator Brown’s offices, the YACs have been featured (along with other YP groups) on campus panel discussions.  Many college kids may not know about the numerous opportunities in the region for IT and aerospace contracting work, so YAC makes a major effort to get the word out.

Weinstein is especially proud of the relationship YAC has with the AFCEA chapter.  Although YAC exists as its own unit to attract new members and offer professional development opportunities, their members are fully integrated into the local chapter.  The past YAC chair is now the membership chair for AFCEA and Weinstein chaired the AFCEA Valentine’s Ball  – the major fundraiser for AFCEA that provides scholarships for local high school and college students.  The chapter taps the YACs to be involved on a larger level, and they show respect for a job well done.  They just sent Weinstein to San Diego to accept the Distinguished Young AFCEAns Award (one of only 15 globally!); the chapter flew him out, picked up the tab, and provided him with a great opportunity to meet a lot of new people.

The YACs are there to hook young professionals into the thriving aerospace industry in our region, and Weinstein has a very strong perspective of life in Dayton.  He explains, “More money comes through WPAFB than any other military installation in the world (other then the Pentagon).  There is a lot of growth and opportunity in the region because of the growth of the industry. Dayton is the place to be for someone in this profession.”

While the Young AFCEAns are reaching out to everyone to highlight the opportunities of the aerospace industry.  There’s another group on Base that’s reaching out to serve a pretty specific need.

Wright-Patterson AFB Junior Force Council

The Wright-Patt JFC works to offer programming relevant to all YPs on Base, but it’s only part of a larger YP involvement structure in place.  Individual Junior Force Councils exist for many programs or directorates, and those smaller JFCs often host their own events.  For example, the Air Force Research Lab’s (AFRL) Propulsion Directorate launched an outreach program to address the lack of new engineers through volunteers who visit local schools to increase student interest in STEM careers.  Or there is the Air Force Material Command (AFMC) Junior Force Council that hosted a tour for its members.  Many of the directorates across Base offer professional development and networking opportunities through individual Junior Force Councils (JFCs), and each JFC sends a member to sit on the collective Wright-Patt JFC.  It’s a nice structure – people at the local level determine what meets the needs of their members, but their voice rises up to the overall JFC to make sure there’s open communication and the WPJFC can meet larger needs.

The Young Guns / Old Pistols Cycling Race

I spoke to Kristy Roberts – president of the WFJFC.  Locally born and raised, Roberts completed her undergrad and MBA at Wright State before joining the Base in a contracting career.  In leading the WPJFC, she works to provide networking experiences for civilian and military (enlisted and officer) YPs across the Base who have 10 years of service or less.  These events provide participants the opportunity to interact with one another and senior leaders whom they may otherwise not meet.

Since the smaller JFCs focus on the happy hours, industry-specific events, and directorate-specific programming, the WPJFC only hosts approximately two or three large, Base-wide events per year.  Launching soon is the popular “Young Guns vs. Old Pistols.”  This is a wellness/sporting competition between the JFC members and senior leaders on Base.  Over the course of three months, they compete in 6 events.  Other major events include a golf tournament fundraiser and open tour of the Base for regional YPs.

Also in the works is a potential speaker series.  Although most WPJFC events are limited to Base personnel (mostly due to the fact that the rest of us can’t get through the gates – except a great story I’ll tell you sometime when I accidentally just zoomed right by the guards, but I digress…  ), Roberts is hoping to open some of these speaker events to the wider YP community.  Roberts also shows her “Dayton Girl” colors as she advocates on Base for YP events regionally.  She has started a regular communication with JFC members to inform them of opportunities in Dayton for both social and professional networking.

At a very basic level, the WPJFC provides an opportunity for YPs to figure out how the base works.  Roberts tells the story of when she sent an email out to a large group of people.  First on the list is the person that the email was most relevant to.  Sounds logical, right?  Not with Base logic – the strict chain of command is so important to military protocol that it must be followed even in sending an email – you address it to the highest officer first and then go down the list in level of seniority.  Things like that aren’t obvious to employees (especially civilian) new to the Base, so the JFC provides a friendly atmosphere to learn the ropes.  And it’s not just about the “rules.”  The AF culture is a different beast – if civilians better understand it, they can better communicate within it and learn how to succeed.

The Base respects the work of the WPJFC and their goal of “preparing the leaders of tomorrow.”  Participants in the JFCs are able to claim “alternate duty location” while at JFC events (meaning they don’t have to take leave or time off from work).  Senior leadership at the Base appreciates the work of the WPJFC as they bridge the gap between new recruits and more seasoned AF employees.

The Bowling Award Ceremony for the YG/OP

Roberts shares what she believes is the most important aspect that the WPJFC offers its members – opportunities to develop their own relationships with senior leaders.  Mentoring is such an asset, and Roberts praises the mentor she has met through JFC events.  Mentors provide insight into other areas on Base and can even help put the daily battles into perspective as YPs are advancing in their careers.

I asked Roberts what she hopes for as she plans the next year of WPJFC programming.  Her goal is to involve more enlisted and military YPs.  She explains that the career paths of civilians are defined differently than the career paths of their military colleagues, so the military YPs haven’t always seen the need to take advantage of the professional development and mentoring opportunities that are offered.  Roberts hopes to change that and create a WPJFC where everyone is represented and active.

Thanks!

It was a great opportunity to learn a little more about who’s who and the different organizations that serve the many YPs on Base.  I was unable to speak to anyone from the WP Networking Association or the Company Grade Officer Program – two groups that serve a fairly specific constituency on Base.  Still, I’m appreciative of the time and information Weinstein and Roberts shared with me.  The Base may be a different world, but we all have the same needs, and it’s great to hear that these leaders are making it happen for YPs on Base.

On the Set – Film in the Making at the Mustard Seed Home

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Written by CultureMASH Staff:  Shana Douglas, Natasha Baker, Valerie Beerbower

CultureMASH, an organization launched late last year is a group of young professionals in the Dayton region who have united to use their professional talents and expertise to give something back to the community. They set out on this mission after seeing the astounding impact social media can have in creating awareness and building community. Though technical aspects apply when building a campaign driven for results, the basic fundamentals of branding still apply. The success of any mission relies on awareness and the key factor in enhancing that awareness is reaching your audience through all mediums as well as connecting people emotionally to the cause.  

In only a few months, the vision of Shana Douglas and Carla Weis Hale has rapidly unfolded through a multitude of projects including The Mustard Seed Home, the groups first official pro bono marketing campaign.  Earlier this year, the CultureMASH team uncovered some alarming and disheartening statistics about teenage pregnancy, generational cycles and economic distress directly related to young mothers both regionally and nationwide. In working with The Mustard Seed Home and seeing the impact this home could have, the team decided the only way, the best way to capture the remarkable work being done to empower young women and stop the cycle was to film a mini documentary.  Filming of this production is made possible thanks to the talents of CultureMASH staff members, Sean Coffman, Cindy DeVelvis, Melissa Cales, Valerie Beerbower and Executive Producers Shana Douglas and Carla Weis Hale.

The Mustard Seed Home

Every day, social services help thousands of Dayton-area individuals seeking assistance to feed their families, make ends meet, or shelter themselves from the cold. But not everyone gets the help they need.

While thousands of people are getting assistance, teenage mothers are falling through societal cracks. Too young to be adults, too old to be children, these young women have been stranded by social workers whose hands have been bound by bureaucracy. Their options are grim–homelessness, hunger, a life of uncertainly for themselves and their babies. Often, these unskilled, high-school drop-outs turn to unseemly sources of income–crime, drugs, prostitution.

For children raised in such an environment, this lifestyle is the norm. Those children then grow up to become participants in this terrible cycle, another generation of youth quitting school too early, becoming parents too early, and losing hope too early. But there is a way out of this cycle.

The Facts

The Mustard Seed Foundation, Inc. (TMSF), a nonprofit organization founded in 2007, is on a mission to fill those societal gaps through which these young women fall. The organization, created by Shondale Atkinson, empowers teen mothers and their children to achieve their highest potential. “The main goal of TMSF is to provide young women ages 13-21 with transitional housing and supportive services,” Atkinson explains.

Shondale Atkinson - Founder, The Mustard Seed Home -Photo Taken By Melissa Cales

TMSF accepts teen mothers who are in state or county custody or have been referred by other service agencies, and the need in this county is critical. In Montgomery County, teen pregnancy and child abuse and neglect among teens living below the poverty level continues to be an unchanging issue.

The area needs programs that offer teen mothers an opportunity to rebuild their lives. “We are the only residential parent facility in the state of Ohio,” Atkinson says. “Right after we became licensed, we had 33 referrals come through our doors. My goal is to empower young parents to take control over their lives and the lives of their child.”

A Personal Connection

Atkinson knows what it’s like to feel as if the rest of the world has turned its back on you. A child to a young mother and product of social services, she eventually became a teen mom herself.

“I was born into foster care. My mother had four other children removed by social services already. My siblings and I were constantly shuffled around between foster homes and the care of my mother, who would get clean from time to time and petition to reunite with her children. Even if we were in a good foster home that was stable, we had to leave when our mother wanted to have us home.”

Eventually, Atkinson’s mother would relapse, and she and her siblings would be put back into foster care. “The social worker was more of an advocate for my mother than for us kids. I didn’t have an advocate. I didn’t have someone to show me what my options were and help me make the best choice for me, and that’s got to change,” Atkinson says. She later became pregnant when she was 17 and, without a stable home or alternative housing options, she was separated from her child in the foster care system.

Meeting the Need

Atkinson knew that in order to make a positive change in the lives of these young urban women, she needed to take action. “Children who grow up in the system do the best they can; you just grow up,” she says. “My siblings and I were eligible for a lot of services that we simply didn’t know about. That’s one of the main reasons why I founded TMSF. I never realized I had a say in what kind of home my child could be placed. We want to educate these young parents on their options.”

Services offered through TMSF are necessary to supplement the social services gaps for these young mothers. “If young lady is homeless and a mother at age 13, she cannot go to St. Vincent, she cannot go to the YWCA because she will be separated from her baby.” Atkinson explains. “These girls are too young to access adult services, but too old to take advantage of children’s services.”

TMSF fills that gap by preventing homelessness among teenage mothers, preventing repeat pregnancies and completing education goals, whether that’s obtaining a high school diploma or going on to post-secondary education.

Often, young mothers who want to keep their children and raise them in a safe and loving home are thwarted by barriers and obstacles. The cost of childcare makes it virtually impossible for uneducated mother with no family support to complete her education or hold down a job. “Our main goal is to break the cycle of poverty for this generation. Everything that teenage mother needs is right under TMSF roof,” Atkinson says.

Residents of TMSF receive opportunities they might not have had through social services–and definitely wouldn’t enjoy living on the streets.

  • Parenting classes
  • Life skills coaching
  • Educational advancement
  • Food and baby supplies
  • Mentoring

TMSF also strives to bring a sense of community and support among its residents.  “They bond and gain a sense of family that they’re never experienced,” Atkinson says. “The girls have to shop for their food as a family and we sit down at a table to eat together.”

Preventative Measures

An equally important function of TMSF is the pregnancy prevention outreach program Atkinson has designed. “It’s like a real-life ‘Teen Mom’ in-service. We want to measure our success in terms of fewer teen pregnancies, eventually breaking that cycle of poverty,” she says.

Currently, TMSF partners with the Boy Scouts, touring schools twice weekly. Focused on abstinence, the program is supplemented with self esteem-building dialogue.  “We want these girls to know that they’re worth waiting for love, and they don’t need to give away their bodies to feel appreciated and accepted.”

The Bigger Picture

The plight of these young women might be easy to ignore, but Atkinson can quickly remind those who turn a blind eye that cyclical, generational poverty isn’t just an “urban” problem–it’s everyone’s problem. “Teenage pregnancy carries a high cost in social and economic health for the mother and children,” she says.

Tax dollars provide financial care for the mother and twice over for her baby. With two or three kids in the system, the costs can rise to as much as $8,000 a month.

Because teen moms aren’t ready to give birth, special prenatal care is required. In addition, their babies are more likely to be born premature, have low birth weight and have developmental delays. Teen moms are less likely to complete their education, can’t find or hold down a good job, and that many are required to go on welfare and tax payers continue to shell out more to support them and their babies in the system.”

Nationally, it costs an average of $9 billion annually to care for these families. Education, prevention and support for current teen moms are the best ways keep families strong and keep kids out of the system.

Get Involved

You can be a part of this positive change. TMSF is always in need of baby care items, such as diapers, clothing and food and monetary donations are always appreciated and put to good use.  Just a single $2,500 annual family sponsorship covers everything from bus passes to field trips, diversity training, financial literacy, child care items and more – everything the mothers need for an entire year.

TMSF survives thanks to the incredible work done by its volunteers. “Teenage moms need positive role models; they really need positive women in their lives,” Atkinson says. “
The Mustard Seed Foundation employees have experience working with the teen mother population. Staff members have training and certifications in the areas of: emergency housing, social work, family advocacy, teen conflict resolution, child abuse prevention, crisis counseling, victim advocacy, community health, parenting and teaching.

Shondale Atkinson’s lead-by-example attitude demonstrates what it truly means that all it takes to make a difference in your world is to have faith just the size of a mustard seed and cultivate that into something bigger than yourself.

The Film

Production of the film by CultureMASH is well under way. Both Shondale Atkinson and CultureMASH hope that through this film the home can continue it’s mission by creating more awareness about both the need for TMSF and the positive results in our community such services provide.

Special thanks to Editors: Leah Moon and Elizabeth Willis

CROWNS Hat Show Celebrates 11th Anniversary

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Back by popular demand, the 11th anniversary edition of the “CROWNS Hat Fashion Show” is returning to Books & Company Saturday, February 26, 2011 at The Greene in Beavercreek.  Sharon D. Howard, event founder and producer will emcee this program, a tribute to the African American women’s tradition of wearing extraordinary hats to church services.

Serving as our models will be women from African-American churches from all over the Miami Valley, who will model their own hats.  Be prepared to see gorgeous creations!  You won’t find prettier hats anywhere.  Also participating will be celebrity models from throughout the Dayton area, including Beavercreek Council Member Vicki Giambrone, Trotwood Mayor Joyce Cameron and Montgomery County Commissioners Debbie Lieberman and Judy Dodge.  Guest escorts will be Kettering Mayor Don Patterson and WDTN’s Jim Bucher.

The “CROWNS Hat Fashion Show” will begin promptly at 3:00pm; it is FREE and open to the public.  Arrive early to get the best seats because this is typically a “standing room only” event!  Books & Company at The Greene is located at 4453 Walnut Street.

For more information about the CROWNS Hat Show, call (937) 572-8001 or (937) 429-6302.

Fairy Godmothers wanted!

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Going to the Senior Prom is the highlight of mostly every student’s high school experience, especially for girls.  There is nothing more fun for girlfriends to do then to going shopping for dresses made of chiffon, sequins and rhinestone jewels and then go looking all around town or out of town for the perfect shoes and matching clutch purse.

It is a magical time in every high school girl’s life and one of her most memorable. For one night, she is Cinderella. It is a night that every girl should experience but may not due to financial constraints. Like Cinderella, some girls need a fairy godmother to make this dream come true.

Fairy Godmother Project

Therefore, Clothes That Work, in partnership with the Dayton Chapter of The Links, Inc, is hosting the Fairy Godmother Project.  This project allows women to be a fairy godmother to underprivileged local high school girls by donating new and gently used prom gowns, shoes and accessories for the girls to wear. The goal is to make the girls feel like princesses for this very special occasion!

Be a part of the Fairy Godmother Project! Clothes That Work is accepting donations of dresses, shoes and accessories until March 11, 2011 at the following locations: Clothes That Work (1133 S Edwin C Moses Blvd, Suite 392,  Monday – Friday 9am -3pm), The Oakwood Florist (2313 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, Ohio 45419) and Lutheran Church of Our Savior (155 E Thruston Blvd., Dayton, Ohio 45409).

Clothes That Work

The girls will be fitted for their dresses and shoes while eating cake and drinking punch on March 12, 2011 at the Clothes That Work offices.

Last year’s highlight was hearing from the father of one of the beautiful young girls. As the daughter was packing up her dress the father came over and said:

“Thank you for doing this. I had been going crazy trying to figure out how I was going to afford to send her to the prom and thanks to you I don’t have to worry anymore. Today you have not only made my daughter feel like a princess, but you’ve made me feel like Prince Charming.”

For more information contact: Lacie Sims, Marketing & Events Manager, 937-222-3778 x150, [email protected]

Kelly-Fields is New Updayton Executive Director

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Kelly-Fields Joins Updayton Team

Last week, the advocacy organization dedicated to the attraction and retention of young talent, Updayton, announced the hiring Yvette Kelly-Fields as Executive Director.  This is a big step for the (previously) all-volunteer initiative that grew out of DaytonCREATE and hosts the annual Young Creatives Summit.  (Yvette is also a contributing writer here on DaytonMostMetro.com)

Updayton is grateful for support from numerous businesses and organizations that place high value on young talent retention.  This new position of an Executive Director was made possible by the Southwest Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE).

I used this opportunity to speak to Scott Murphy (one of the original DaytonCREATE catalysts who formed Updayton) and Kelly-Fields.  These Q&As give us a little insight to the group as well as some fun facts from the woman who will be stepping in to help lead the charge.

First – a little background from Scott Murphy:

Murphy Works as Steering Committee Chair

What inspired the creation of Updayton?

There was a model that was presented to us during the DaytonCREATE launch that highlighted a group in Syracuse that had worked to get young people engaged in their city and give them a greater voice in things that were happening in the Syracuse area.  Over the past several years they’ve hosted an annual Summit to do that.  We liked their model, but we really liked the attitude they took with the community: “young people are important, we care about our community too, so you better listen to us.”  But more so, we saw the talent potential here, the economic opportunity that local universities offer, and we saw that too many folks were leaving the region coming out of college.  We were missing an opportunity to grow economically.  That more than anything spurred the development of updayton.

Are the needs of these young creatives really different than the needs of anyone else?

First of all, we focus on a younger demographic because looking at census data from communities across the country, it’s young people that are making the decisions about moving.  In their 20s people are more likely to make a major move than any other time in their life – they don’t have roots yet; so we have to be working harder to keep them here.  However, to answer your question, to a certain extent, of course needs change with age.  Someone who already has a graduate degree isn’t as likely to be looking for opportunities to continue their education.  Similarly, a good school system is probably going to be much more important to someone who has a child.  That said, certain things are going to be important to everyone regardless of age: a vibrant city, strong communities, good job opportunities and a city that is welcoming of diversity.

How are you different from the other young professional organizations in the region?

Well, we’re not a young professional organization.  We don’t have membership.  Additionally, what we do is very project based.  We look for ways to get young people engaged in the region through implementing initiatives that will help address their needs.  We also continuously solicit feedback – through surveys, through focus groups, through the annual Summit – to make sure that we understand what things are really important to this young, talented demographic and then advocate for those things to local leadership.

What activities have you done to foster that connection between young people and the region?

A few different ways.  Through our periodic email blasts, through our various social media outlets, we try to make our demographic aware of the many things that are going on in the region.  It can be a little difficult to find stuff at times, even for folks who know a lot about the region… but it’s there and you just have to look a little harder – so we try to make it easier.  Second, just through the action plan process – through implementing initiatives based around topics that young people care about, you’re going to learn more about assets and amenities in the region.  Personally, I know that’s been the case with me – getting involved with updayton, I’m much more aware of things that are here than I was when I started a few years ago.  Finally, if young, creative people see their input is being heard and valued by local leaders, then young people are going to appreciate the Dayton region that much more.

What do you hope to achieve by hiring an Executive Director?

We want to grow the organization – that’s why we hired an Executive Director, and we think Yvette is going to do a great job.  We want to get involved in more things and have an impact in more areas of the region.  There are decisions that are being made every day here in the community that impact issues that young people care about, and we want to play a greater role in influencing those decisions.  We want to do more in implementing the recommendations we’ve made for the community over the past couple years – specifically, promoting acceptance of diversity, connecting job seekers to employers, growing urban vibrancy, and strengthening our neighborhoods.  We think having an Executive Director is going to enable us to do that.

Kelly-Fields to Work with Steering Committee in 2011 Summit Planning

And now to learn a little more about the vision of Kelly-Fields as the new Executive Director:

Why did you want to a part of Updayton?

For the last few years, I have had serious concerns about where the next generation of leaders was going to come from for the Dayton area. …  (Updayton) already provides the platform and opportunity for young professionals to become meaningfully involved in solving problems in the community. (Young people) are learning how take an idea from concept to realization. They are gaining invaluable skills that they can build upon to tackle many of the problems facing this city. I believe those are the individuals who will be running this region in the near future and I wanted to be a part of that dynamic.

What do you think you can offer as an Executive Director?

Over the last twelve years, I have had the good fortune of working for a number of stellar nonprofits and with some great nonprofit leaders. As a result, I have a gained a great deal of experience in fund raising, project and volunteer management, community and public relations and relationship building.

My goal is to bring all of those skill sets to the table to move Updayton towards the vision the steering committee has established. This includes increasing community partnerships, raising the visibility of the organization in the community and securing cash and noncash resources to support Updayton projects.

What do you see as the biggest obstacle for the region in attracting and retaining young talent?

The biggest obstacle is being able to show and demonstrate to young talent that they can build a full and satisfying life for themselves and their future families in Dayton. When they look at Dayton, do they see access to employment with upward mobility or the viable option of entrepreneurism? Do they see sufficient, affordable choices to live? What about opportunities to socialize in diverse settings in varied parts of the community? Is there ample opportunity for civic and community engagement?

I have found that in this community, and I believe that the key for young talent finding it is through exposure to what Dayton has to offer through work by initiatives and organizations like Updayton.

What do you look forward to most as you start this new position?

The thing that immediately impressed me about Updayton is the tremendous community support it has. Everyone I talk to thinks is a great organization. I look forward to expanding its visibility and reach into the community.

And now for a little insight on Kelly-Fields as a Daytonian.

What’s your favorite place to go or thing to do in Dayton?

My family and I love going to the festivals. Last year we went to the Greek Festival, the City Folk Festival, the Black Cultural Festival, Oktoberfest and to the Chocolate Festival. We also enjoy Urban Nights. We always go to Wright Dunbar for ribs by Smokin Joe.  These events are always so much fun for my family.

What’s the best advice your parents gave you?

The best advice I got was to treat everybody right. You never know who you are going to need for help. It is important to maintain good relations with as many people as possible so when I need assistance with something I do not have to pause when I pick up the phone to call them or stop short of saying hello when out in public.  Conversely, if someone who has not treated me so well, I still maintain friendly relations.  I have found this advice has served me well.

Favorite restaurant or hidden gem?

I have several but my true favorite is Evan’s Café on North Main Street. I am addicted to the Baked Potato Soup, the Mandarin Orange Salad and the Jamaican Chicken Salad. When I cannot go there, I make a beeline to Coco’s. I love the grilled cheese sandwich with Tomato Bisque topped off with the Crème Brule.

Who inspires you?

It may sound corny, but my mom and dad inspire me. They told me that whatever I set my mind to I could achieve it. So far, it has worked.

What phrase do you hear coming out of your mouth too often?

I once went to an event, where after a very unusual performance, the emcee said, “That’s something different.”  Whenever I come across a person or a situation that I cannot describe, I say, “Well, that was something different.”

Learn more and get involved with UpDayton:
Web site: http://updayton.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/updayton?ref=ts
Take the Updayton Survey: http://updayton.com/survey/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/updayton
Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/updayton/

Disclaimer: I am involved on the updayton steering committee as the communication chair.  Also, the current version of DaytonMostMetro.com was created in part by a volunteer group formed from the first Updayton Young Creatives Summit in April 2009.

Impress your significant other AND help a great cause…

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While the event isn’t until next month, here is a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day – a dinner made by a top local chef at a private home and after-party, all to support a great cause.  Introducing the Doors of Compassion – a unique fundraising event for Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region!  On March 19, over 20 private homes in Oakwood and Kettering will be hosting dinner parties, with some of the area’s elite chefs preparing a different culinary experience.  Afterward, all dinner guests will be invited to the After Party Twenty One One at a beautiful Oakwood home to enjoy a decadent dessert buffet, coffee bar and after-dinner drinks.  The after party will feature Kim Faris of Lite 99.9 as emcee and “Rodney The Band” for live entertainment, as well as a live auction for guests to bid on gift packages and raise funds for Ronald McDonald House families in need.  There will also be raffle prizes, including Marco Bicego jewelry provided by James Free Jewelers.

The chefs come from the region’s finest restaurants and catering companies, including a couple we’ve featured here on DaytonMostMetro.com in our Dayton Dining 10 ?’s series.  Here is the lineup:

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region is a fantastic organization that provides a temporary home-away-from-home for families of critically ill, hospitalized children and supports efforts that improve children’s health within our region.  Their beautiful facility is located across from Dayton Children’s Medical Center, and it helps families who come to the hospital (or any local hospital serving pediatric patients) from outside of the Dayton Region – 468 families in 2010.  Families have access to private guest bedrooms, four kitchens, a playroom, library and more.  When you think of sick children receiving hospital care, you don’t usually think about the burden placed on the families of those children, but RMHC does and goes above and beyond to make sure their extended stays in Dayton are as comfortable as possible – with no cost to them.

DaytonMostMetro.com is proud to be a Dinner Party Sponsor for this event, and we hope that our readers will consider making reservations today, as there are only so many seats available; with the popularity of the participating chefs, seats are going quickly.  This is a great fund raising event, a great opportunity to network with other influential people in a private dinner setting, and a chance to experience some delicious culinary magic by a top local chef… not to mention a great way to impress your significant other this Valentine’s Day.

More information on the Doors of Compassion Event can be found here, along with package prices and other sponsorship opportunities.