| |
Paula
Monahan
Publisher
"Follow
your passion
to live your dreams."
|
On
Homelessnes
At the
end of a long workday our thoughts turn to the journey home
– a place where we find comfort, hope and
an opportunity to recharge ourselves. Having a
place to call our own is an ideal that many of us not only
aspire to reach, but one that we sometimes take for granted.
And yet,
as we return to our own homes each day, homeless
men, women and children living in overcrowded temporary
shelters struggle to keep their families
together. Imagine what it would be like to share living
quarters with three or four other mothers and their children.
Homelessness isn't a socio-economic condition that
exists only in far away countries—it is right
here—in our own towns.
In the
fall of 2003 I visited a homeless shelter for women and
children run by the Salvation Army in downtown Raleigh.
The Director of Social Ministries
at the shelter gave me a personal tour of the facility.
We talked about why some families end up at the shelter
and how the shelter works to get them back on track. Seeing
the living quarters where they slept reminded me of the
communal living arrangements at summer camp.
It takes
a special kind of person to work with the homeless
day in and day out. Patience, understanding and
a desire to help others are requirements needed for the
job. Jerrilyn Johnson of Project
Hope (Winston-Salem/Forsyth County) is our
featured North Carolinian for this month. As you read her
story, you'll understand her determination to help
those women and children in need.
With
the holidays only a few months away, I
hope you will remember the families living the shelters
in your own towns. Below are just a few
ideas for how you can make the holidays brighter for families
in need:
•
Take up an office collection and purchase gifts
for a family in need
• Ask neighbors to come together as a
neighborhood to purchase gifts or food items for a needy
family
• Within your own
family, put together a plan for giving small gifts or
food items and ask your children what they would like
to do as a family project
• Have your child's teacher talk
with her class to develop a giving project for the whole
class to participate in
Talk
with your own children when appropriate about what it means
to be homeless. In
Mommy, Are We Homeless?
Johnson writes a story about a homeless girl, Molly, and
her family. Molly learns to smile again as she makes new
friends. She is able to understand the meaning of homelessness
and dreams of moving back into a home of her own. Johnson
wrote this beautiful story to spread awareness,
sensitivity and advocacy for homeless individuals.
Help
Jerrilyn raise the level of awareness of homelessness by
purchasing Mommy, Are We Homeless?
Simple to read and beautifully illustrated, this book would
make a nice addition to your child's classroom or schoolroom.
To purchase Jerrilyn's book,
see the link in the story.
Congratulations
to Doris Barksdale, motivational consultant for
the Carolina Hurricanes, who was recently
honored with Diplomate Status
by the National Institute of Sports Professionals
at their National Convention last month in San Antonio,
Texas.
Barksdale,
a certified counselor and member of the association
for four years, was asked to be a presenter at
the fourth annual convention, which took place June 18-20
at the Marriott Hotel. Her presentation, entitled "Counseling
from and for the Soul", received glowing evaluations
from the NISP's Division of Counselors.
Barksdale,
who has been with the Canes since the move to North Carolina,
was recognized for her many,
many years of working with sports figures, corporate executives
and government officials.
"It's
an honor to be recognized by your peers," said Barksdale.
"The support and response to my presentation
was really something. It was almost overwhelming."
Until next month,
I hope you'll be @your
best self!
Paula Monahan |
A
resident
of
Raleigh,
North
Carolina,
Paula
Monahan
is
a
past
President
of
the
American
Marketing
Association,
Triangle
Chapter.
With
over
fifteen
years
of
experience
in
sales
and
marketing,
Paula
is
putting
all
of
her
learned
skills
and
talents
to
good
use
in
this
online
publication
for
women.
As
a
way
of
reaching
out
and
connecting
with
women
from
a
variety
of
backgrounds,
her
goal
is
to
create
a
networked
community
of
online
women
readers
who
value
inspiring,
insightful
and
empowering
content.
Linda
Ray