The Charmm'd Foundation
485 E. Half Day Rd, Ste 200 - Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
Phone: 847-883-9932 - Fax: 847-883-9960 - email: contact@charmmdfoundation.org
485 E. Half Day Rd, Ste 200 - Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
Phone: 847-883-9932 - Fax: 847-883-9960 - email: contact@charmmdfoundation.org
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| - Chapter Four: Our Current Focus and Future Path - "The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs." -Vance Havner _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Since 2005, we have provided high quality learning opportunities for the staff members in Lake Forest, New Trier and Zion-Benton High Schools.
Buy-in and ownership of this initiative continually build as more adults are realizing this initiative will be here for the long run and they personally,
can help create this culture change. Each school creates a yearly action plan where short and long term goals are being implemented. Workshops
are held around leadership and other topics identified in their action plans. Coaches visit each school throughout the year to help them with the
process. This all provides a framework for the schools to develop their goals.
This year we began working with seven elementary and middle schools and they are off to a wonderful start. Their current focus is to learn about
Character Education and Social Emotional Learning. They are also beginning to identify and/or solidify the core values they would like their school
to be known for and take the first steps towards creating a plan of action.
IN THE COMMUNITIES SUPPORTING LAKE FOREST, LAKE BLUFF, NEW TRIER AND ZION-BENTON HIGH SCHOOLS:
In 2008, The Charmm’d Foundation hired a Director of Community Development who is responsible for bringing interested community members
together to create the type of place in which they would like to live, work and play.
This work is just beginning to take place and is following the same grassroots approach that we have with the school personnel, allowing each
community to create its own path and thus, its own culture change. We have been and will continue to be there to raise awareness to this work,
provide facilitation and guidance, bring people together and strategically offer financial assistance.
In the future we hope to create skill-building workshops that teach skills such as active listening, problem solving, conflict resolution and team
building. These workshops will be offered to all interested community adults, from parents to community leaders. To make this happen, we will work
closely with a targeted group of individuals in the community to focus these workshops on the community needs.
"We know the most important role of the bus driver is to get our children to and from school safely. But after viewing a workshop aimed at bus
drivers, I realized just how much influence they can have on my child. Our kids start and end their day on the bus. Educating the drivers on
the importance of their positive attitude and actions can have a profound impact on the quality of our children's day and ultimately their entire
educational experience."
~ Debi Pomerantz, parent, Highland Park IL
THIS TAKES TIME!
We believe this multi-year initiative may begin to show signs of improvement in 3 – 5 years and take anywhere from 5 – 10 years before a true
culture change takes place.
Success relies on each individual taking steps to make this happen by first creating the change in them and then empowering them to become even
better at the calling they have chosen. Each will need to take a look at their own actions and, while doing so, continue to teach, empower AND
model the positive social skills they already demonstrate so well and improve upon those that are not as polished. This is very personal work,
which will improve an individual’s life as well as all those around them – co-workers, students/customers, family and community.
FOR SUCCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY
The Charmm’d Foundation will help to strategically finance this initiative for up to ten years in a community with the hopes that in that time frame,
the baton will be passed over to community members themselves who will take over the responsibilities to keep the change alive. Continued
financing throughout this process is based on our partners living up to the responsibilities they have agreed upon. For the schools, this
agreement is created annually. For the communities, each agreement is created based on its breath and scope.
We continue to see wonderful work being done and we want to support these communities as best we can. With this in mind our focus is on being a
valued community resource helping to support the work the communities are doing.
To make this happen, we strategically plan to:
• Create community awareness of this work
• Provide collaborative opportunities as much as possible
• Help to empower those we work with
• Promote and offer opportunities for leadership development
• Offer high quality learning for adults
• Strategically work towards long term sustainability
• Have the Charmm’d staff walk the talk
We are so pleased to be able to work with our communities and look forward to many years of partnering together.
Buy-in and ownership of this initiative continually build as more adults are realizing this initiative will be here for the long run and they personally,
can help create this culture change. Each school creates a yearly action plan where short and long term goals are being implemented. Workshops
are held around leadership and other topics identified in their action plans. Coaches visit each school throughout the year to help them with the
process. This all provides a framework for the schools to develop their goals.
This year we began working with seven elementary and middle schools and they are off to a wonderful start. Their current focus is to learn about
Character Education and Social Emotional Learning. They are also beginning to identify and/or solidify the core values they would like their school
to be known for and take the first steps towards creating a plan of action.
IN THE COMMUNITIES SUPPORTING LAKE FOREST, LAKE BLUFF, NEW TRIER AND ZION-BENTON HIGH SCHOOLS:
In 2008, The Charmm’d Foundation hired a Director of Community Development who is responsible for bringing interested community members
together to create the type of place in which they would like to live, work and play.
This work is just beginning to take place and is following the same grassroots approach that we have with the school personnel, allowing each
community to create its own path and thus, its own culture change. We have been and will continue to be there to raise awareness to this work,
provide facilitation and guidance, bring people together and strategically offer financial assistance.
In the future we hope to create skill-building workshops that teach skills such as active listening, problem solving, conflict resolution and team
building. These workshops will be offered to all interested community adults, from parents to community leaders. To make this happen, we will work
closely with a targeted group of individuals in the community to focus these workshops on the community needs.
"We know the most important role of the bus driver is to get our children to and from school safely. But after viewing a workshop aimed at bus
drivers, I realized just how much influence they can have on my child. Our kids start and end their day on the bus. Educating the drivers on
the importance of their positive attitude and actions can have a profound impact on the quality of our children's day and ultimately their entire
educational experience."
~ Debi Pomerantz, parent, Highland Park IL
THIS TAKES TIME!
We believe this multi-year initiative may begin to show signs of improvement in 3 – 5 years and take anywhere from 5 – 10 years before a true
culture change takes place.
Success relies on each individual taking steps to make this happen by first creating the change in them and then empowering them to become even
better at the calling they have chosen. Each will need to take a look at their own actions and, while doing so, continue to teach, empower AND
model the positive social skills they already demonstrate so well and improve upon those that are not as polished. This is very personal work,
which will improve an individual’s life as well as all those around them – co-workers, students/customers, family and community.
FOR SUCCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY
The Charmm’d Foundation will help to strategically finance this initiative for up to ten years in a community with the hopes that in that time frame,
the baton will be passed over to community members themselves who will take over the responsibilities to keep the change alive. Continued
financing throughout this process is based on our partners living up to the responsibilities they have agreed upon. For the schools, this
agreement is created annually. For the communities, each agreement is created based on its breath and scope.
We continue to see wonderful work being done and we want to support these communities as best we can. With this in mind our focus is on being a
valued community resource helping to support the work the communities are doing.
To make this happen, we strategically plan to:
• Create community awareness of this work
• Provide collaborative opportunities as much as possible
• Help to empower those we work with
• Promote and offer opportunities for leadership development
• Offer high quality learning for adults
• Strategically work towards long term sustainability
• Have the Charmm’d staff walk the talk
We are so pleased to be able to work with our communities and look forward to many years of partnering together.