Dress the Part!

The Key to back-to-school shopping is planning and prioritizing properly, before you grab some cash and go. Follow these simple tips:

Take Inventory of what you already have.

Get rid of all the clothes that are too small, worn out, or simply put, no longer used. Donate gently used clothing to charities or take them to a resale shop and get a few bucks to buy new clothes. This creates a clear view of what you actually need.

Create a list.

You have to make a plan and execute it, with your list, you can put together your shopping needs by the type of stores you need to visit and effectively accomplish your task efficiently. This will help you alleviate the problem of buying clothing you do not need.

Make a budget and stick to it.

This will give your teen an understanding of what you can buy (ignore the whining and pleading). With financial barriers in place, you can teach money management skills on how to shop smartly. If there is an expensive item that your child must have, compromise with them by suggestion they pay the extra expense from allowance or with their own earnings.

Sales, coupons and special promotions.

With the economy being in such a crunch, many businesses are offering many sales, coupons and special promotions. Sign up on websites for stores that you frequent, and you won’t be disappointed at some of the deals they offer for going back to school and in general.

Dress code.

Many schools enforce dress codes to discourage clothes that are too skimpy, sexual, or suggest gang membership. Girls should avoid spaghetti straps, low cut tanks and jeans. Boys should avoid “sagging” and colors that are associated with gangs.

Spread your shopping around.

Start early buying items periodically and during the first few weeks of school. It will help you with your budget and gives your student time to see what their peers are wearing. Therefore you can make necessary wardrobe adjustments during later shopping trips and gives you the opportunity to check out sales.

Look out for marketing strategies geared towards children.

Teens and tweens (ages 9-12) are a very lucrative group for retailers and advertisements. They are a target of a steadily increasing market for what fashion looks are cool. As a parent, don’t ignore them, listen to what they say and talk to your child about how media influences what we want and think we need.

Never the less, have fun shopping for school, think smart and cost efficient!! Use that time to bond with your child about what him/her are thinking or feeling, you may be surprised.

BACKPACK DONATIONS

Project P.I.N.K is requesting donations of backpacks and school supplies for low-income families. Please assist us providing our future with the essentials to succeed this school year.

Donations are needed by Aug. 20!!!!

Our organization is reaching out asking local businesses, entrepreneurs and community leaders for donations of backpacks and school supplies. Monetary donations are also encouraged so supplies can be purchased in bulk. Our goal is to provide 50 low income families with both backpack and school supplies to assist school aged children with starting a successful school year. By providing children with backpacks filled with school supplies, families can use their money to buy food and pay for rent! We also wish to see students head back to school confident and fully prepared.

For more details on how to donate backpacks and school supplies, please email Project P.I.N.K at info@GoProjectPINK.org. We will be hosting a rally on the final collection day!

We look forward to seeing you there!

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR

Be Supportive
Parent Should Help the Student Make the Transition: Plan to take your child to visit the new school or classroom before the first day of school.

Early Bird Gets the Worm
Wake them up early enough to get up on time so they are not tardy! Even if that means waking them up 15 or 30 minutes earlier than they used to wake up.

Get Plenty Rest
Be sure your child gets a good night's sleep. Set a routine bedtime and head to bed earlier than summer days!

Eat Breakfast Daily
Eat a good breakfast every morning, don’t let children skip breakfast. Take advantage of the breakfast programs offered by most schools!

Be Prepared
Have them prepare all of their things the night before, including clothes or uniforms, socks, shoes, hair accessories, backpacks, homework assignments, etc.

Meet with your child’s teacher(s) to discuss your child’s special needs.
Take a picture of your child to the meeting. Teachers are more likely to take a personal interest in your child and remember your child’s special needs if s/he has seen a picture of your child.

Make a List of Important Things About Your Child.
Make a list of the five most important things that the teacher(s) need to know about your child. Explain why these things are vital to your child’s success. Leave a copy of the list with each teacher.

Prepare to Deal with Potential Problems Early.
If your child is in general education classes, prepare for the teacher(s) who wants to see how your child “gets along” before making any changes in the way they run their classrooms.

Resolve Old Concerns and Issues.
Try to resolve these issues and concerns before your child begins to have problems this year.

Go to your school’s Open House.
In addition to giving you another chance to meet with your child's teachers (and make a good impression), teachers often explain their classroom rules during Open House.

Get a bound notebook.
Use the notebook as a “contact log” to send messages to the teachers. Write a sentence of two to the teacher(s) every day.

Be Encouraging
Praise your children, encourage them, use positive reinforcement, work with them closely, let them know that you are available to help if needed.

HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR!

Perceptions

According to the internet, perception is defined as the following: 
-Perceiving: the process of using the senses to acquire information about the surrounding environment or situation 
-Impression: an attitude or understanding based on what is observed or thought

-Powers of observation: the ability to notice or discern things that escape the notice of most people

Searching the web found that one of the way to stretch our mind is to improve our perception. Our mind offers us our senses to perceive and understand the world. Yet, how many of us really go through each day with our senses on full alarm in every second? What you see? What you don’t see? And what you think? Judging others is an act of enormous pride. This should be understood. When you render judgment on another, you have taken upon yourself an awesome responsibility for making the correct judgment ….because after all, is your judgment truly necessary. She has a mugshot, but is she a criminal?

So for about a year now, my Project P.I.N.K team has been a full time commitment. Our team works strenuously to make our organization astounding and on Day 456 nothing has changed. Project P.I.N.K has been both a motivating and enlightening experience; and as the organization grows so do we. Being a positive role model is never an easy task, but it is possible! I have bad days. I have breakdowns and want to share not-so polite words. I also have even worn things that were a little risqué just for the sake of being fashion forward. I also make mistakes. I once read that:

In order to be Old and Wise,

One must first be Young and Stupid!

 As I meet with others and mentor young women, I am always intrigued. Our conversations are always funny! The most interesting topic was the internet.

1)     What’s on the internet?

2)     Who said what on the internet?

3)     Who’s doing what on the internet?

4)     New trends/fashion on the web!

5)     Am I on the internet?  (www.GoProjectPINK.org)

With the recent flood of blogs, photography, social networking, internet and mass media, I advised my mentees I am on the internet and all I can say is that: “It is very important to be knowledgeable of how you are perceived and say this from personal experience. “

Imagine this: “You are in a job interview and the hiring manager asks to see your Facebook page?”

While this scenario may never happen, what if it did?!?

1)     What is on your page? …and is it appropriate?

2)     Does it reflect who you are and what you stand for?

3)     Would you add your boss, mother or pastor as a friend?

4)     Or in our case, what if a mentee wanted to add you on Facebook or follow you on twitter?

5)     Are you proud?

6)     Do you represent those things you say you do? “Actions Speak Louder than Words”

For those also struggling with self-image and perception, here’s an awesome site for coaching. (http://www.mtstcil.org/skills/image-3.html)

Celebrities may BIG MONEY for coaches to assist with self image. Our services are FREE!

Improving Your Self Image

Improving your self-image, like improving any skill, takes time and practice. Developing good self-esteem involves encouraging a positive (but realistic) attitude toward yourself and the world around you and appreciating your worth, while at the same time behaving responsibly towards others. Self-esteem isn't self-absorption; it's self-respect.

By working from the inside out (focusing on changing your own way of thinking before changing the circumstances around you), you can build your self-esteem. The goal of this positive thinking is to give yourself a more positive self-concept, while seeing yourself honestly and accepting yourself, and removing the internal barriers that can keep you from doing your best.

Positive Thinking

There are many ways a person can change negative thoughts and self-criticism to more realistic and positive thoughts. Focusing on all of them at once may be overwhelming, but focusing on a few at a time and reminding yourself of these positive approaches regularly can change your self-esteem.

Positive Thought Strategies

• Avoid exaggerations.
• Sometimes putting a stop on negative thinking is as easy as that.
• Accentuate the positive.
• Accept flaws and being human.
• Accept imperfections.
• Don't bully yourself!
• Replace criticism with encouragement.
• Don't feel guilty about things beyond your control.
• Don't feel responsible for everything.
• Do feel responsible for your feelings.
• Treat yourself kindly.
• Give yourself a break.
• You can choose how to interpret comments and events, so try for the more positive interpretations.
• Try not to hang on to painful memories and bad feelings - this is a surefire way to encourage negative thoughts and bad moods. Your past can control you if you don't control it. If you can, forgive past wrongs and move on. (Don't forget that forgiving yourself is an important part of this process, too!)
• Focus on what you CAN do, not what you can't.

Using just one or two of the above strategies on a regular basis can greatly increase your positive self-image and self-esteem. Making these internal changes will increase your confidence in yourself and your willingness and ability to make external changes and improve your life.

College Bound ....

As many students prepare for college and/or next level experiencing beyond high school. It is imperative that we explore our options. After high school, I was not ready for college. I honestly did not apply to college until mid August. I was not intrigued with the idea of just completing 12 years of school and returning for 4 (or more years). College was expensive and I had no money. College just seemed like massive headache to pursue. I was more interested in finding a job and working! Well... turns out with the help of CYD, I was able to learn the benefits of attending college, earn money and work! City Year also provided housing within miles of the work area.

City Year Detroit was a life changing experiencing! It provided me with both the opportunity to work and earn money for college. It also provided me with a unique confidence that encourage me to believe that ALL my dreams were possible. I had the pleasure of meeting lifetime friends and mentors. I attended several workshops and travelled the world. Most importantly, I was able to make a positive impact in the lives of other. Over 5 years later, I am still using monies from AmeriCorps to help with college experiences.

Here is more about the organization, found at www.CITYYEAR.org

City Year corps members are as diverse a group as the communities they serve. We’re looking for you if you want to give back, work alongside a diverse group of people and are ready to change the world. Our corps members must also meet these eligibility requirements. To participate, you must:

• Have a college degree or have attended some college, have a high school or diploma or GED, or be willing to earn a GED
• Be able to dedicate 10 months to full-time service
• Be between the ages of 17 and 24
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident alien
• Have served no more than 3 terms in another AmeriCorps, NCCC or VISTA program
• Agree to a background or security check

Previous experiences with service, tutoring, mentoring and leadership help strengthen candidacy.

As a City Year corps member, you can expect to be challenged both personally and professionally. Your City Year will be demanding – so you’ll have to be strong, disciplined, and committed to serve 1,700 hours over a 10-month period. However, your year as a City Year corps member will also be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. You will have the opportunity to:

• Pledge to serve schools and communities
• Be a role model, tutor and mentor to kids 
• Plan and run after-school programs
• Coordinate and lead community service projects
• Engage citizens to volunteer
• Be inspired by your teammates, an energetic and idealistic culture and build friendships that will last a lifetime
• Develop leadership skills, by leading and following
• Prove that young people can change the world

City Year corps members come from all over the United States to serve in one of 21 U.S. locations. Some choose to serve at a location close to their hometown, while others decide to relocate to new cities.

Please check it out!!!