Equip Them to Thrive, Not Just Survive

Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

LifeSmart Publishing

Second Presenter's Institution

LifeSmart Publishing

Third Presenter's Institution

NA

Fourth Presenter's Institution

NA

Fifth Presenter's Institution

NA

Location

Plimsoll

Strand #1

Social & Emotional Skills

Relevance

Many young people leave high school NOT fully prepared for the challenges of adulthood and independent living. The reasons are varied and complex. However, the ramifications of this deficit are felt on both an individual and socioeconomic basis. U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, summarized it well: “…preparing young people for success in life is not just a moral obligation of society but also an economic imperative.”

We believe three elements are necessary to address this growing life skills deficit:

1. a comprehensive vision for an honorable and productive life

2. effective and practical guidance to help students develop the social and emotional “soft skills” that will enable them achieve that vision, such as character, healthy relationship-building, time management, self discipline, resilience, decision-making, and more.

3. the personal leadership skills needed to navigate key arenas in their lives such as academics, the work force, and personal finances.

Brief Program Description

Learn creative ideas for equipping teens with a positive vision for their life, and empowering them with the leadership strategies and soft skills that will position them for success. Suitable for educators, administrators, and mentors; all attendees will receive a complimentary What I Wish I Knew at 18 leadership/life skills curriculum.

Summary

We are proposing a workshop that provides attendees with a philosophical framework as well as practical and creative ideas for equipping teens at risk with a healthy life perspective and a strong personal leadership foundation. Participants will learn ways to engage students through personal story, self-reflection, role play, group discussion, self-assessments and inventories, peer evaluation, journaling, and much more.

The framework and strategies learned in this workshop can help educators, educators, and mentors be on the cutting edge of closing the "life skills gap" and equipping youth at risk by helping them:

  • Achieve their missions of preparing students to succeed as independent adults who will make wise decisions
  • Develop productive young adults who can live with integrity and impact in the various settings of their lives

Whether one is an educator, administrator, mentor, or in some other form of leadership with young people, the presenters of this workshop believe it is vital to spend time getting to know kids, understanding who they are and utilizing a relational platform to connect with them and increase their ability to learn and achieve. If this does not happen, the risk is not only losing these students from our schools and programs, but losing the hope that they will ever reach their full potential.

Attendees to this workshop will learn effective strategies for developing and leveraging a relational platform with students at risk, based on the power of personal story and the shared life wisdom of admired and honorable leaders. Participants will also be provided with a complementary hands-on, practical, and easy-to-use curriculum that can be used either comprehensively as a full leadership and life skills course, or to supplement other curriculum and models.

Evidence

The curriculum developed by the presenters is used extensively throughout the United States and Asia as a leadership and life skills-building curriculum. It covers 23 of 40 Developmental Assets as identified by the Search Institute, builds 14 of the 21 Workplace Readiness Skills identified by Virginia Employers, meets 51 NASAFACS National Standards and Competencies, and is acclaimed by educators, counselors, mentors, business leaders, and parents. It was also recently adopted by the State of Washington as part of its Jobs for Washington Graduates program for students at risk statewide.

Biographical Sketch

Dennis Trittin, President and CEO of LifeSmart Publishing, and Arlyn Lawrence, Co-Author and Curriculum Director, are the authors of What I Wish I Kew at 18: Life Lessons for the Road Ahead, and Parenting for the Launch: Raising Teens to Succeed in the Real World. During his 28-year career as a successful investment manager and senior executive with Russell Investments, Dennis researched and evaluated thousands of investment leaders worldwide, giving him a unique perspective to share the strategies and practices of successful people. Co-presenter Arlyn Lawrence is an author and global seminar leader who has served families and educators in numerous organizations, and is also a frequent writer and speaker on the topic of character, personal development, and relationships for children, young adults, and their families. Together, Dennis and Arlyn focus on training the next generation with the leadership and life skills they need to succeed.

Keyword Descriptors

Leadership, Life skills, Social emotional learning, Soft skills, Life perspective, Job skills, College and career preparation, Independent living

Presentation Year

2017

Start Date

3-7-2017 1:00 PM

End Date

3-7-2017 2:15 PM

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Mar 7th, 1:00 PM Mar 7th, 2:15 PM

Equip Them to Thrive, Not Just Survive

Plimsoll

Learn creative ideas for equipping teens with a positive vision for their life, and empowering them with the leadership strategies and soft skills that will position them for success. Suitable for educators, administrators, and mentors; all attendees will receive a complimentary What I Wish I Knew at 18 leadership/life skills curriculum.