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I'm with those who are voting for Spark at this point in time. In my
view, it is a powerful approach to asking the "how" of building
assets. And through studying Peter Benson's new <i>Sparks </i>book,
I'm learning practical ways to use the skill in my everyday life. It's
amazing how much I'm learning, day by day. <br>
<br>
I'm so happy you're doing this project. Because I've read several
versions of the <i>Sparks</i> book and watched the concept unfold and
reach greater clarity, I'll make a few comments here for your
consideration. <br>
<br>
<b>A comment about sparks</b><br>
Your three examples of sparks are great! They make me smile because
they affirm such a range of passions. For the Sparks approach, I assume
you will give a definition that includes the key definitions from the
book. Noting your examples: Spark, for example, helps to give one a <b>sense
of purpose</b>. However, a person may have many <b>gifts</b> but not
have a strong Spark around all of them. I have interviewed many young
people with many gifts (for any one young person, ranging from music to
sports to drama to working with little kids to you name it), but they
can identify one or two that really are their sparks, the ones for
which they have a passion, the major one or two that help them want to
make the world a better place. <br>
<br>
<b>About leadership and spirituality</b><br>
Both of these are worthy topics as well, and I appreciate your linking
youth to resources on those questions. I appreciate your thoughts
about leadership, Colleen. One might also frame your son's outstanding
work in athletics as his Spark. <br>
<br>
One thought about spirituality. Your one question about "when you feel
most spiritual" assumes that one never feels spiritual in a mosque or
synagogue or church or temple. No doubt you will be asking other
questions that do include those young people who, like some of our
youth emcees at the HCHY conference, told me that "my religion is my
biggest spark." And for them that meant life in their
congregation--one, for example, who remembers every Sunday School
teacher she ever had, and describes her congregation as a place where
"we really take care of each other, and everybody is into everybody
else's business." Clearly, others felt that spiritual essence in
meeting Nobel Peace Laureates, and others in playing the piano by the
hour, so I really opt for the broader definitions and examples as you
are suggesting, without excluding formal religious affiliations. <br>
<br>
You are doing a great work! I would buy these posters for all the
neighborhood youth who work with me in my gardens, as well as for my
grandsons, and children and grandchildren of friends. It's a great
"upper" for all generations. I thank you! Shelby Andress<br>
<br>
Barbara Bridgwater wrote:<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="blue" face="Arial"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: blue;">My
preference is #1. “Spark” is the updated
version of “bloom where you’re planted” and I believe it’s essential
that each
young person perceive that their particular skills/interests/talents
are vital,
useful and appreciated in our world.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="blue" face="Arial"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: blue;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="blue" face="Arial"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: blue;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><em><i><font size="2"
face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Barbara</span></font></i></em></st1:PersonName><em><i><font
size="2" face="Arial"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> Bridgwater</span></font></i></em><i><font
size="2" face="Arial"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic;"><br>
<em><i><font face="Arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Community
Youth
Champion</span></font></i></em><br>
<em><i><font face="Arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Youth
Count</span></font></i></em><br>
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><em><i><font face="Arial"><span
style="font-family: Arial;">PO Box</span></font></i></em></st1:Street><em><i><font
face="Arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> 566</span></font></i></em></st1:address><br>
<em><i><font face="Arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Floyds
Knobs, IN 47119</span></font></i></em><br>
<em><i><font face="Arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Tel
812-923-1160</span></font></i></em><br>
</span></font></i><a href="mailto:barbara@youthcount.com"
title="mailto:barbara@youthcount.com"><font size="2" face="Arial"
title="mailto:barbara@youthcount.com"><span
title="mailto:barbara@youthcount.com"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">barbara@youthcount.com</span></span></font></a><br>
<a href="http://www.youthcount.com" title="http://www.youthcount.com/"><font
size="2" face="Arial" title="http://www.youthcount.com/"><span
title="http://www.youthcount.com/"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">www.youthcount.com</span></span></font></a><font
size="2" color="blue" face="Arial"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="blue" face="Arial"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: blue;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><font
size="2" face="Tahoma"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;">
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:hchylist-bounces@lists.search-institute.org">hchylist-bounces@lists.search-institute.org</a>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:hchylist-bounces@lists.search-institute.org">mailto:hchylist-bounces@lists.search-institute.org</a>] <b><span
style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </span></b>Alison Dotson<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Tuesday,
December 30, 2008
6:28 PM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:barbara@youthcount.com">barbara@youthcount.com</a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cc:</span></b> Healthy
Communities Healthy
Youth<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> HCHY List:
Youth Mini
Poster</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span
style="font-size: 12pt;">Greetings!<br>
<br>
We at Search Institute Press are developing a small poster for youth,
one that
they would like to hang in their locker at school or on a bulletin
board at
home. <br>
<br>
I<st1:PersonName w:st="on">'</st1:PersonName>m looking for feedback on
the
content of the poster. We<st1:PersonName w:st="on">'</st1:PersonName>ve
come up
with three possible themes, and I would love to know which poster you
would be
most likely to buy for the teens in your life. Will you read the
following
examples and vote on your favorite? Thanks!<br>
<br>
<b><u><span style="font-weight: bold;">Theme #1: What Is Your Spark?</span></u><br>
<br>
Examples of "sparks" that would appear on the poster are: </b><br>
Building furniture<br>
Acting <br>
Taking care of stray dogs<br>
<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">And questions the poster may pose
are:</span></b><br>
<font color="#330099">How do you use your <b>gifts</b> <b>(I
propose you use spark here)</b> to make a difference in the world?<br>
Who supports your sense of purpose? <b> (Readers may not connect "sense
of purpose" with "spark." I propose making it more unidimensional, and
building the understanding of spark throughout each statement. For
example, for the Sparks Cards for the Annual Conference, I think we
asked, "Who supports your spark?" In my interviews with youth, they
immediately "got" it, and you noticed the same witness during the
Annual Conference afternoon assembly when youth identified their spark
and also the person who supports their spark--is their "spark
champion.".) </b></font><br>
<br>
<b><u><span style="font-weight: bold;">Theme #2: Anyone Can Be a
Leader</span></u><br>
<br>
Examples of questions the poster may pose are:<br>
</b>How do I bring out leadership in other people?<br>
How can I inspire people to come together?<br>
How do I respond to bullying?<br>
<br>
<b><u><span style="font-weight: bold;">Theme #3: Make a Difference</span></u><br>
</b>Sections will include the environment, social justice and
equality, and
spiritual development.<br>
<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">An example from each section:</span></b><br>
<i><span style="font-style: italic;">Lather, rinse, don<st1:PersonName
w:st="on">'</st1:PersonName>t
repeat. </span></i>Shortening your time in the shower by only two
minutes saves
10 gallons of water.<br>
Learn more: <a
href="http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wtd/waterconservation/tips.htm">dnr.metrokc.gov/wtd/waterconservation/tips.htm</a><br>
<br>
<i><span style="font-style: italic;">Speak up.</span></i> If
classmates or
friends are telling offensive jokes, say so. Tell them that you
appreciate good
jokes, but what they<st1:PersonName w:st="on">'</st1:PersonName>re
doing is
perpetuating stereotypes. <br>
Learn more: <a href="http://tolerance.org/teens">tolerance.org/teens</a><br>
<br>
<i><span style="font-style: italic;">Find your spirit.</span></i>
Spirituality is
shaped both within and outside of religious traditions, beliefs, and
practices.
When do you feel spiritual? On nature hikes? While playing piano, or
nurturing
a child? Creating a piece of art?<br>
Learn more: <a href="http://spiritualdevelopmentcenter.org">spiritualdevelopmentcenter.org</a><br>
<br>
<br>
Please let me know which one you like best, Theme #1, Theme #2, or
Theme #3. We
want this to be a poster that really speaks to teens, and your opinion
is so
valuable!<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<br>
Alison<br>
<br>
<br>
-- <br>
Alison Dotson<br>
Assistant Editor<br>
612-399-0232<br>
<br>
DID YOU KNOW?<br>
<br>
There are lots of ways to stay connected with Search Institute:<br>
<br>
The Search Institute Flickr Page<br>
View photos from the 2008 Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth
conference.<br>
<br>
The Search Institute YouTube Page<br>
Watch videos of Peter Benson and other speakers. Subscribe for updates!<br>
<br>
The Search Institute Facebook Page<br>
Network with leaders in positive youth development.<br>
<br>
The Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth Facebook Page<br>
Get to know other asset builders around the world.<br>
<br>
Just click to:<br>
<a href="http://www.search-institute.org/content/links">http://www.search-institute.org/content/links</a><br>
<br>
Don<st1:PersonName w:st="on">'</st1:PersonName>t forget to sign up for
monthly
newsletters.<br>
<a
href="http://www.search-institute.org/content/enews-letter-archives">http://www.search-institute.org/content/enews-letter-archives</a><br>
<br>
We want to hear from you! Tell us your story.<br>
<a
href="http://www.search-institute.org/what-kids-need/assets/assets-in-action">http://www.search-institute.org/what-kids-need/assets/assets-in-action</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
I. Shelby Andress, Inc.
8020 Wynnwood Road
Minneapolis, MN 55427
Phone 763-513-5900
Fax 763-513-5994
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:sandress@visi.com">sandress@visi.com</a>
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