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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| Emotionally Strong. Character Rich. |
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| - Chapter One: Our History - Imagining...Stronger Communities. Better Lives. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
In 1998 our founder came to the realization that her kids were being influenced by both the positive and the negative behavior of those around
them. After realizing that the behavior her kids were seeing came from adults and kids (who model adult behaviors), she began taking a hard look
at herself. While she knew she was a great role model in many ways, she also saw room for improvement.
The question then became:
After years of research, thoughtful study and volunteer work, The Charmm'd Foundation was created in 2005. Our name represents the founder
and the people most influential in her life – her two kids and her parents. The Foundation’s focus was to reach out to communities and help them
create the kind of places where they want to live and work. We feel that the most sustainable way to change the culture of a community is through
the self-awareness, character education, and social emotional learning of the individuals in those communities. Then those individuals can take
ownership of the change in their communities as a whole. By developing relationships with leaders in the community, parents and other
community members, we provide the resources for them to meet those goals and facilitate this cultural turn-around. All of this is done at the
community’s pace and with their own vision.
Character Education and Social Emotional Learning are the building blocks of our work. Character Education (CE) is the focused learning and
modeling of core values such as respect, responsibility, perseverance and empathy. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the social, emotional and
life competencies that need to be learned to demonstrate these core values. These include self-awareness, social awareness, self-management,
relationship skills and responsible decision making. We need to practice the social and emotional skills in combination with enhancing character
values to impact change in a community’s culture.
In 2006, we created the teach, empower AND model* initiative to focus on these disciplines. While our initiative focuses on the community as a
whole, our initial entry point was the staff in the public school system. In 2003 state mandates created for Character Education and Social
Emotional Learning demanded programs for teachers to help students build emotional intelligence. However, Charmm’d realized that there was
no emotional development directed
to the adults on the staff for their own personal growth. How could a complete change in school environment happen if the adults were lost in the
gap?
We set out to fill that gap by focusing on the adults in the school environment. Their self-awareness and personal growth in combination with
programs geared toward the youth ensure the total infusion of character values that help to create stronger communities and better lives.
This year we expanded our work to include all sectors of the community so they too can better themselves in an effort to better the community.
Our efforts are concentrated in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, New Trier Township and Zion-Benton Township.
At The Charmm’d Foundation, we know that each strand of rope represents a person or organization who wants to be involved in building
something strong – that’s why it’s part of our logo. Through cooperation, collaboration and partnerships, each strand that is added builds a
stronger rope so that everyone benefits. We look forward to helping create communities with citizens that are confident, responsible and
successful.
* To learn more about the teach, empower AND model initiative click here!
them. After realizing that the behavior her kids were seeing came from adults and kids (who model adult behaviors), she began taking a hard look
at herself. While she knew she was a great role model in many ways, she also saw room for improvement.
The question then became:
After years of research, thoughtful study and volunteer work, The Charmm'd Foundation was created in 2005. Our name represents the founder
and the people most influential in her life – her two kids and her parents. The Foundation’s focus was to reach out to communities and help them
create the kind of places where they want to live and work. We feel that the most sustainable way to change the culture of a community is through
the self-awareness, character education, and social emotional learning of the individuals in those communities. Then those individuals can take
ownership of the change in their communities as a whole. By developing relationships with leaders in the community, parents and other
community members, we provide the resources for them to meet those goals and facilitate this cultural turn-around. All of this is done at the
community’s pace and with their own vision.
Character Education and Social Emotional Learning are the building blocks of our work. Character Education (CE) is the focused learning and
modeling of core values such as respect, responsibility, perseverance and empathy. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the social, emotional and
life competencies that need to be learned to demonstrate these core values. These include self-awareness, social awareness, self-management,
relationship skills and responsible decision making. We need to practice the social and emotional skills in combination with enhancing character
values to impact change in a community’s culture.
In 2006, we created the teach, empower AND model* initiative to focus on these disciplines. While our initiative focuses on the community as a
whole, our initial entry point was the staff in the public school system. In 2003 state mandates created for Character Education and Social
Emotional Learning demanded programs for teachers to help students build emotional intelligence. However, Charmm’d realized that there was
no emotional development directed
to the adults on the staff for their own personal growth. How could a complete change in school environment happen if the adults were lost in the
gap?
We set out to fill that gap by focusing on the adults in the school environment. Their self-awareness and personal growth in combination with
programs geared toward the youth ensure the total infusion of character values that help to create stronger communities and better lives.
This year we expanded our work to include all sectors of the community so they too can better themselves in an effort to better the community.
Our efforts are concentrated in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, New Trier Township and Zion-Benton Township.
At The Charmm’d Foundation, we know that each strand of rope represents a person or organization who wants to be involved in building
something strong – that’s why it’s part of our logo. Through cooperation, collaboration and partnerships, each strand that is added builds a
stronger rope so that everyone benefits. We look forward to helping create communities with citizens that are confident, responsible and
successful.
* To learn more about the teach, empower AND model initiative click here!
In a nutshell: Charmm’d is there as a conduit for learning and growth
opportunities, a support system, and as an organizer of those resources.
opportunities, a support system, and as an organizer of those resources.
| What can be done to help teach, empower and model positive character traits so that all individuals in a community can better themselves and all the lives they touch? |
Chapter Two: Our Staff Mission and Goals