Share about a Super Hero you know!

If you are here, you probably saw the Champions coloring book featuring 15 real-life super heroes for kids. Share your story of a super hero for kids by adding a comment to this post. Thanks for stopping by!

Children First Ice Cream Social

The Children First Ice Cream Social is Sunday, May 18, 2-5 p.m. at Wolfe Park, 3700 Monterey Dr., St. Louis Park adjcent to the St. Louis Park Recreation Center. Festivities include FREE Sebastian Joe's and kosher ice cream cones, entertainment & family activites. In case of rain, the event will be held inside the Rec Center.

Entertainment in the Wolfe Park Ampitheater:
2 p.m. Introduction of Super Heroes
4 STAR - junior high rock-n-roll band
3 p.m. Meadowbrook Drumming Circle with Stan Kipper & Chico Perez
4 p.m. Popcorn Oasis - senior high rock/jam band

Actvities include a moonwalk, face painting, crafts, temporary tattoos and a kids garage sale.

PIck up a free copy of the Super Heroes coloring book!!!!

Real live super heroes clad in red capes will be on hand for the premier of the coloring book that features their legendary actions that support children. What does it take to be a superhero? Recognizing the important landmarks in young people’s lives, seeing them off at the bus stop on the first day of school, playing tuba with them in the school band or promoting empathy through community service projects. These are some of the actions that are featured in the coloring book.
Nominations were sought in the community and these 15 were selected from the 120 people nominated.

The featured superheroes and assets they promote are:
• George Bickham who works at the Kids Connection program at Perspectives Family Center. Asset: Interpersonal
Competence
• Mila Castillo, a 2nd grade teacher at Park Spanish Immersion School. Asset: Cultural Competence
• Frank Johnson, the principal at Peter Hobart Primary Center. Asset: Achievement Motivation
• Merrie Marinovich, a neighbor in the Minikhada Vista Neighborhood. Asset: Caring Neighborhood
• Madelon & Ali, seniors at Benilde-St. Margaret’s School. Asset: Sense of Purpose
• Siar Nadem, police officer, St. Louis Park Police Department. Asset: Adult Role Model
• Neil Newman, Cantor Emeritus, Beth El Synagogue. Asset: Religious Community
• Peggy Rick, coordinator and parent educator, St. Louis Park Community Education. Asset: Family Support
• Elliott Royce, volunteer, St. Louis Park Junior High and resident, Parkshore Place. Asset: Other Adult Relationships
• Steve Tharaldson, teller, Citizens Independent Bank. Asset: Community Values Youth
• Ann Thomas and Sue Wolfe, parent volunteers & founders, Day One back-to-school celebration. Asset: Bonding to
School
• Mark Zembryki, interpretive naturalist, Westwood Hills Nature Center. Asset: Youth Programs
• Sabina Zimering, holocaust survivor and author of Hiding in the Open, A Holocaust Memoir. Asset: Equality & Social
Justice

Children First Ice Cream Social

Sunday, May 18
2 -5 p.m.
Wolfe Park
3700 Monterey Dr.

Don' miss the excitement of the 15th annual Children First Ice Cream Social. Have a free Sebastian Joe's or kosher ice cream cone, enjoy entertainment and participate in family-friendly activities including a Kids Garage Sale.

New this year...Meet the Super Heroes!!!
Fifteen people who use their powers to build asset in young people are featured in the first-ever Children First super heroes coloring book. Come to the Ice Cream Social to pick up your copy. You can have the super heroes sign your book and have your photo taken with them.

Entertainment in Wolfe Park Ampitheater
2 p.m. - 4 STAR junior high rock band
3 p.m. - Meadowbrook Drumming Circle with Stan Kipper & Chico Perez
4 p.m. - Popcorn Oasis senior high rock/jam band
Thanks to St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts and St. Louis Park Parks & Recreation for sponsoring the entertainment.

In case of inclement weather, the Children First Ice Cream Social will be held in the Rec Center.

Summary of April 29 meeting

Missed the quarterly gathering? Here’s a summary.

Asset Champions shared their successes:
- Becky from Westwood Hills Nature Center. One thing the Nature Center focuses on is the asset of "safety" after discovering from the young people who visit the nature center that having a safe outdoor experience is important to them. Becky has talked at a staff meeting about assets and why they are important. Then before the summer camps, she reminded staff about the importance of supporting kids while they teach about nature. She attached a list of the assets, highlighting the ones that their program touches. She includes 10 examples of how to connect with youth in their volunteer newsletter. Her ideas come from Search Institute's "150 Ways to Show Kids You Care," publication.

- Bob from Nurturing Our Retired Citizens (NORC) wrote an article for the organization's newsletter. He pointed out how teens and seniors are natural allies and how the rest of the population views them, (they dress funny, people worry about how they drive, etc.) He has talked to folks at Lenox Senior Center about events including promoting the Children First Ice Cream Social. He has also distributed copies of Search's "150 Ways" to NORC board members.

- Marjie from Aldersgate United Methodist Church kicked off activities with the Mayor, dressed in his red cape, and a teen member of the congregation, performing the "Asset Champion Man" skit at a Sunday service. (Photo above.) She has trained the church's 8-member staff and provided training at the adult education hour. There is an Asset a Week in the bulletin. After 40 weeks, they plan to have someone share an asset example in their Joys & Concerns during services. They also had each member write a commitment to touch the life of a child on paper handprints. The handprints are posted in fellowship hall as a reminder to how many lives they can reach. This summer, youth will be paired with Faith Partner adults. These relationships will not be solely faith-based, but will work toward the asset of "Other Caring Adults." She shared Search Institute's book "What Young Children Need to Succeed," written by Jolene Roehlkepartain that gives many practical asset-building examples.

Jennifer runs the Aquila Service Club which began in 2007 with the vision of providing 1-3 graders an authentic service learning experience. This year the Service Club grew from 15 to 40! They have been meeting since late fall and have done many amazing projects. Their projects include making things for and spending time at Golden Hills Living Center, organizing and successfully carrying out a school supply drive for an orphanage in Honduras, cleaning the Aquila camps on Earth Day, and visiting STEP to learn about the wonderful services they offer residents of St. Louis Park.

Lee-Ann, a teacher at Park Spanish Immersion, started a stepping dance group for students at the school that is comprised primarily of male students.

Sarah from the City/School Volunteer Office, shared opportunities for people, young and old, to volunteer during the summer Parktacular celebration.

UPCOMING EVENTS
• Children First Ice Cream Social, Sunday, May 18, 2-5 p.m. at Wolfe Park by the Rec Center. Volunteers are needed to help with set up and clean up, work at the Children First table handing out coloring books and scoop ice cream.
• Parktacular Parade, Saturday, June 14, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Children First will have a convertible with people walking along side it handing out coloring books. Our super heroes have been invited to join us, and you're invited too!
• Dr. Peter Benson, President, Search Institute, presentation on his new "Sparks" research, on Thursday, September 25, 7 p.m. Save the date!
• Healthy Communities Healthy Youth pre-conference session focusing on the Asset Champions Network will be held in St. Louis Park on Wed., November 5. This is Search Institute's national conference and the first time they have offered an off-site session. Watch for more info.

7 more champions!

Seven more Asset Champions have been trained in the last week. Welcome to the Network: Sarah, Citizens Independent Bank, Ann, Neighbor, Angela, Park Nicollet Foundation, Merrie, Neighbor, Pam, St. Louis Park Police Department, Lindsay, Cedar Manor Intermediate Center and Jennifer, AAA Minneapolis

April 29: Asset Champions Network meets

There is a quarterly gathering of the Asset Champions Network on:

Tuesday, April 29
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
AAA Minneapolis

Thanks to Asset Champion organization AAA Minneapolis for hosting this meeting in their new community room.


At the meeting Asset Champions will:

-Connect with other Asset Champions,
-Hear examples of what others are doing,
-Share, brainstorm and get input from one another and,
-Learn of some exciting Children First developments.

Junior High Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

Check it out! The Junior High Eyes after-school photo club took photos of asset builders in their lives. Click here to see.