Oral Communications Class - Malden High School

http://www.malden.mec.edu/mhs/

This morning I presented at Malden High School for Mrs. Razzino's Oral Communications Class. I appreciate that Mrs. Razzino invites me back as a guest speaker and today I was pleasantly surprised when I presented with a gift of homemade
notecards from the Malden High School Art Students.

It was a large class today and they were very attenative and did a great job. It is important to get their ideas on how the class went -so here they are some of the comments and testimonials from the Malden High School students in the Oral Communications Class:

"I believe Sherri reaches out well to her audience". Portia

"I feel more confident after today, ice breakers helped me relax, becoming an expert on your topice helps you delet filler words and a well structured outline helps me get over taking center stage. Sherri did an excellent job! She really helped me on becoming a better speaker because of her tips also how she presented and connected with my classmates and I". Jeau

"I learned about postitve and negative feedback". Shakira

"I like how Sherri related to us". Kaoutar

"Sherri was very sweet and nice". Tamarre

"Very Supportive and generous" Tai

"I learned we should walk around"..."Sherri was a good speaker". Janice

"I felt that Sherri did a really good job she was supportive of each speaker". Kevin

"I feel like I learned a few new tips and tricks about presenting that I will try" Student, Malden High

"Sherri was very nice and open and not mean and funny saying "Hollar". Talela

"Sherri is lively and nice". Branslie

"Sherri is a very good speaker". Vernon

"I feel more confident because everyone got in front of the class and the atmosphere was great". Jean

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I really enjoyed presenting to the students and my hope is to be able to teach Oral Communications courses at the college level. I am taking all the steps I can to move myself in that direction.

How about YOU - what steps are YOU taking to reach the goals and dreams you set for yourself? I encourage you to keep taking those steps and move forward.

ALSO - if you want to improve your public speaking skills join Toastmasters. http://www.toastmasters.org/

AND - If you would like me to help you improve your speaking/presentation skills - just contact me at: courtjestour@aol.com

Helping YOU Take Center Stage!

My newest logo! Helping You Take Center Stage! I love the colors and the message. I am learning that it is all a work in progress and feedback really is valuable.

How about YOU? What are you working on? Are you asking for feedback on your projects?

Take Center Stage!!

Here it is my new LOGO!
I am moving away from "Find Your Platform" and replacing it with:
"Take Center Stage"!


I believe if you want to improve your public speaking skills "Take Center Stage"! because the more you are in front of others as a speaker, leader, parent, teacher or any setting - you will gain more confidence and become a better communicator.

HAWC's Survivor Story Project

I was invited and trained to be a part of HAWC's Piolet - "Survivor Story Project" this summer. I met amazing women who were able to benefit from HAWC's services to flee domestic violence. The group will meet once a month. Happy to help in any way that I can.

http://helpabusedwomen.org/

HAWC's Survivor Story Project - is an adaptation of another Domestic Violence Program called REACH to create an environment for survivors to communicate their story to the "outside world". The goal is either spoken or written so that stories can be refined so that when HAWC gets request for speaking requests we can call upon survivors the training is involved to help make the process safe and enpowering.

HAWC's Mission:

The purpose of HAWC is to create social change by taking action against personal and societal patterns of violence and oppression. HAWC provides services and support to victims of domestic violence residing in 23 cities and towns on Massachusetts' North Shore in order that they may make informed, independent decisions about their futures.


HAWC's Programs
HAWC's direct services are provided in 23 cities and towns throughout the North Shore. The main office is in Salem, with satellite offices in Lynn, Gloucester and Ipswich. Advocates are also out-stationed at North Shore Medical Center’s Salem and Lynn campuses and the Beverly police department. Our very active cadres of over 200 volunteers provide hotline support, court advocacy and support group facilitation.

SpareChangeNews Interview Pending!

Just recieved an invite from Heather who is THE HOME's PR Manager ( www.thehome.org ) to be interviewed by SpareChangeNewspaper ( http://sparechangenews.net/ ) she informed me "it is starting a bio column on interesting people and would like to feature someone who has overcome challenges because The Home has helped them". I eagerly agreed and am awaiting to be contacted by Adam Sennett! I will post the link when it runs!

Spare Change News (SCN) is a street newspaper published in Cambridge, Massachusetts through the efforts of the Homeless Empowerment Project (HEP), a grassroots organization created to help end homelessness.

The newspaper offices are headquartered in the Old Cambridge Baptist Church. 1151 Massachusetts Ave · Cambridge * (617) 497-1595 * http://sparechangenews.net/

The mission of Spare Change News is "to present, by our own example, that homeless and economically disadvantaged people, with the proper resources, empowerment, opportunity, and encouragement are capable of creating change for ourselves in society." ^[1]

The mission of the Homeless Empowerment Project (HEP) is "to empower the economically disadvantaged in Greater Boston through self-employment, skill development, and self-expression. To create forums, including those of independent media in order to reshape public perception of poverty and homelessness." ^[1]

Early history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spare_Change

The paper was started in Boston in 1992 by a small group of thirteen homeless people ^[2] and one housed advocate, Timothy Harris, who was a member and Executive Director of Boston Jobs with Peace.^[3] In 1994, Harris would go on to use the model of Spare Change News and the Homeless Empowerment Project to found Real Change, a street newspaper in Seattle.

The newspaper's first managing editor, Tim Hobson, said at its founding in 1992 that it would be "heavy on entertainment and politics as well as discussion of homeless empowerment". He also said an important goal was to "put a face on the homeless to show that we're human beings".^[1][4][5]

^----

The Mission of the Homeless Empowerment Project (HEP)

To empower the economically disadvantaged in Greater Boston through self-employment, skill development, and self-expression. To create forums, including those of independent media in order to reshape public perception of poverty and homelessness.

What We Do

Spare Change provides a locus of stability and community, and serves as a nexus of life transition for its primary customers - the newspaper vendors. Meanwhile, the publication is devoted to producing quality editorial content, which includes journalistic, fiction, creative and opinion writing, illustration, and cartooning. This commitment is meant to serve Spare Change's secondary customers, i.e., the readers themselves. Our content is almost always 100% locally produced, with much of it written, drawn and photographed by currently or formerly homeless, or otherwise low-income individuals. Finally, the newspaper serves as a resource for people in need of services such as food, shelter, clothing, employment, healthcare and legal aid, as can be found in the "Situations Wanted" and "Helping Hands" sections of the print edition.^2,3

The headquarters of Spare Change News and the Homeless Empowerment Project are located in the Old Cambridge Baptist Church at 1151 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138.

Organizational Structure

The Homeless Empowerment Project is a grass-roots organization comprised primarily of people who have either been homeless, have worked with the homeless or who wish to become active in our effort to impact the tragedy of homelessness and poverty. Our agenda of empowerment through economic and skill development opportunities is carried out in many ways, including through staff, committee and Board of Director membership opportunities.

Board, Committees and Panels

The Board of Trustees of the Homeless Empowerment Project, which meets monthly, is made up of volunteer members from many walks of life, including a minimum of three seats reserved for Spare Change News vendors. In addition, HEP has several standing committees, and ad hoc committees that guide the day-to-day functioning of the organization. HEP opens its doors to all who wish to participate in committee meetings, including the general public.

Further reading

• Friedman, Anna M.; Bensson, Anne E., "Vendor Asks Square To ‘Spare Change'", The Harvard Crimson newspaper, March 23, 2005
• Jefferson, David J. (March 11, 2010). "Spare Change's Most Insidious Myths". Spare Change News (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Homeless Empowerment Project). http://sparechangenews.net/news/spare-changes-most-insidious-myths.
• Jefferson, David J. (May 21, 2010). "18 Years of Empowerment". Spare Change News (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Homeless Empowerment Project). http://sparechangenews.net/news/18-years-empowerment.
• Kaye, Lucinda, "Spare Change: Voice of the Homeless", Peacework magazine, June 1, 1996
• Power, Stephen, "Homeless newspaper finds its place in Hub", The Boston Globe, June 24, 1993. Quoting:

"James L. Shearer was eating lunch with friends at a McDonald's one spring day last year when he heard about the idea: a monthly newspaper run by and about homeless people in the Boston area. Shearer, 34, was homeless at the time and 'a little skeptical' of the idea at first. 'The history of homeless-run projects in Boston wasn't good,' he said. 'But it wasn't just about putting money in our pockets. We were actually going to take part in solving the problem. That was different.' Yesterday, more than a year later, Shearer appeared before the City Council to accept a special commendation on behalf of Spare Change as the newspaper celebrates its one-year ..."

• Saginaw, Michael A., "IAP Activity Gives Students Chance to Help Homeless", The Tech, Massachusetts Institute of Technology newspaper, January 29, 1993. p.15. Byron H. Paladin, a founder of Spare Change News speaks about homelessness to MIT students.
• Simpson, April, "Voice of Homeless Struggles to Stay Afloat: Lagging Sales Hit Nonprofit Paper", The Boston Globe, July 3, 2005.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spare_Change

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Spare Change Guy on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHKAFz100aQ

Participate!

If you would like to get involved as a volunteer, visit the volunteer link: http://www.sparechangenews.net/content/volunteer, or email volunteer @sparechangenews.net

If you would like to sign up to be a vendor, visit the headquarters at the Old Cambridge Baptist Church (1151 Mass Ave. Cambridge, Harvard Square) for an orientation on Wednesdays at 11am.

¹If you would like to book a speaking engagement with the Homeless Speakers' Bureau, contact our office at (617) 497-1595, or email director@sparechangenews.net.

²If you are homeless or living in a shelter and in need of an apartment (e.g., just got your housing voucher), or if you would like to advertise for employment or donations (e.g., furniture), you may place a free classified ad in our Situations Wanted page. Contact editor@sparechangenews.net for details.

³If you are a service provider that caters to homeless or low-income populations and would like to list your organization in the Helping Hands section of Spare Change News, please contact editor@sparechangenews.net for details.

Golden Gavel Distinguished Royalty!

Sherri Raftery at the Golden Gavel Dinner being honored briefly as a Distinguished District Governor with my Lts Ben and Bil. I love that we were being videoed and it was on the two LARGE screens - felt like royalty (take a peek at the top right).

Alaskan Friend!

IPD31 Governor, Sherri Raftery, Territory Council General, Linus Ramey, Past International President, Jana Barnhill at the Opening Ceremonies.