Editor’s Note: In May of 2016, the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading held a Mind in the Making (MITM) Facilitator Institute for 27 individuals from 13 different agencies in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Since then, these facilitators have been presenting Mind in the Making’s Seven Essential Skills Training Modules to over 525 people throughout the Suncoast region. Due to demand, a second Mind in the Making Facilitator Institute was held in February of 2017, raising the number of local facilitators to 50.
April Glasco, the CEO and Executive Director of Second Chance, Last Opportunity, recently participated in the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading’s Mind in the Making Facilitator Institute. After completing the Facilitator Institute, April flew out of the starting gate, arranging to facilitate or co-facilitate five groups in her first three months.
Two of the groups she facilitated were held at Second Chance, Last Opportunity, one took place at Lighthouse Manasota, one at Riverview High School’s Cyesis program for Teen Mothers, and a new group is currently underway at Deliverance Miracle Revival Center Church.
April recently shared some of her biggest takeaways from the workshops thus far.
“Co-facilitating Team Crystal at Cyesis was a unique workshop for me. The Mind in the Making material proved to be a powerful tool causing growth in each of the young teen mothers enrolled in the Cyesis program. As the young women entered the classroom and began engaging in the Mind in the Making activities, it was exciting to watch as they changed their attitudes about learning. We were all strengthened in the knowledge that there is hope for the students and their babies.
They became empowered as they learned they aren’t just another statistic; they are far more than a girl who made a bad decision about having a baby while still in high school. These teen mothers learned about the important role they are playing in nurturing the brain development of their child and their knowledge. Their sense of self-worth was strengthened by attending the Mind in the Making workshops.
Team Wisdom and Team Beauty were offered at Second Chance, Last Opportunity, an organization that educates and empowers the underserved in our community. Our commitment to our clients is unwavering. Instead of handing out charity, we are on the streets, looking for, finding, and then helping people who need what we can offer — respect, counseling, training, and high expectations to help individuals meet their potential. The goal is to give people the skills and confidence that will enable them to make positive choices and build a better future for themselves and their families. The positive effect this organization has had on the people of Newtown is remarkable and demonstrable.
The Mind in the Making workshops gave these participants confidence in themselves. It is exciting to know they can now pass this confidence on to their children.
Team Fiesta was held at Lighthouse Manasota. From the beginning, we could see this group was benefitting from the 7 Essential Life Skills workshops. We saw the participants demonstrating higher self-esteem and self-confidence right away.”
Congratulations on your successes so far, April. We look forward to hearing more as Team Inspire begins and other community members register for new Mind in the Making cohorts.
