ArVoices/News
From the Desk of the Executive Director
August 22, 2011
Today I am celebrating the health and well-being of our organization, Arkansas Voices for the Children Left Behind. We are celebrating our 17th year, if we count the birth of the 32-member coalition that came together to plan the annual Mothers in Prison, Children in Crisis public awareness event that emerged as a 501 ©3 organization which will be 10 years ago next January 2012.
Despite the Great Recession, our organization continues to thrive and serve the families and children impacted by incarceration or other criminal justice involvement of the parent. Our donor base has remained the most important support we have, along with the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the Brookdale Foundation. We are grateful and express our gratitude by continuing to provide the most well-design, cost-effective, research-based programs and services for our families and children.
We seek more supporters by doing the best job for our families and providing training and education to those who need to better understand the needs of these families, and we do so throughout the state and nation.
I am excited to share that I have been invited to attend the United Nations Discussion Day on Children of the Incarcerated in Geneva, Switzerland on September 30, 2011. This event is part of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a treaty that goes unsigned by only two nations, the United States and Somalia. The Quaker UN contingent will be my hosts and we will present the book, What Will Happen to Me? by Howard Zehr and Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz to those present in a photo collage.
I will keep a journal of the week and share with Arkansas Voices website readers upon my return.
Again, our thanks goes to all who support our work. For you we are very grateful indeed.
Peace,
Dee Ann Newell
.
Beautiful Book for Sale from Arkansas Voices: What Will Happen to Me?
Arkansas Voices offers the recently published book, What Will Happen to Me?, by Howard Zehr, PhD. and Lorraine Stutzman Amsutz, MSW, for sale. The cost is $15.00 plus shipping. The proceeds of the sale of this book go directly to support services for children of incarcerated parents and their caregivers.
The Executive Director of Arkansas Voices was a consultant to Dr. Zehr and Mrs. Amutz in the development of the book. Many of the portraits and stories by the children are from clients of Arkansas Voices.
DIVA DAY in August for Young Ladies of Arkansas Voices
DIVA Day is being offered to the young ladies of our programs by an enterprising young lady, Ashtone Dixon. A half day of “Make Me Prettier” will be held in early August and includes manicures and hairstyling by a local salon, along with a fashion show and healthy snacking.
Mindful Communication Workshop
Sponsored by Arkansas Voices and the Arkansas Restorative Justice Coalition
Time, Place and Date: Thursday, July 21st at 5715 Kavanaugh Blvd, Little Rock, in the downstairs Yoga room at Caracalla Spa.
Cost: $100 per person for a 9-3 workshop by Jean Handley, a mediator and Restorative Justice Practitioner and trainer from Memphis, TN.
Only 20 slots are available in order of receipt.
Contact Dee Ann Newell at (501) 366-3647.