News and Events

June is a month of celebration for many families, and here at The Family Place we have a lot to celebrate! Our Families Learning Together program has finished another successful year and last week participants and staff gathered for an afternoon barbecue to applaud the young parents who have shown an abundance of commitment, energy, creativity and resilience!

One of our favorite traditions is handing out awards to every participant. We try hard to recognize the specific skill set each participant brings to the program and to celebrate every victory, large and small. Here, with names removed to protect privacy, are the 2013 Families Learning Together Awards!

This participant is steady and reliable with near perfect attendance since beginning the program in September. She came into the kitchen not knowing how to cook, but has been an eager learner, trying lots of new recipes and developing quite a repertoire. She also gladly jumped into the sewing class where she proved relentless at testing our ability to diagnose and fix the sewing machines, earning her the championship title for sewing machine incapacitation. She put her creativity to work on the FLT Gingerbread house and was instrumental in assembling the many gingerbread houses that went out to the community. After completing the smoking cessation class, she went without smoking for a full two months – and we know that she can quit for good when she’s ready. For her sense of humor and her calm, steady presence, I present the Steady As She Goes Award.

This participant is almost a different person than the one who joined us in September. Once quiet and very reserved, she has come out of her shell to show a keen sense of humor and a caring heart. She is quick to understand concepts in the classroom and ready to help others. She has discovered her artistic math talents with drawing and patterns. And she is a baker extraordinaire. From baked goods for the Gingerbread Festival to celebration cakes and desserts, she is always ready with a sweet treat. And, she was a huge hit with her childcare cooking classes. I’m glad to present the Kitchen Goddess Award.

Despite some recent struggles in her personal life, this participant is always an active participant when she’s here. She has uncovered a hidden talent for geometry and is putting her creativity and artistic talent to work in math class. She always works hard to understand every aspect of what she is learning. She is a loving mom, who consistently has everything her children need for childcare and is always excited for bonding time. She willingly stepped to manage the kitchen when Margo was out and the planned coverage fell through – and did a fantastic job while making it look easy. She puts on a grumpy exterior, but will usually give up a smile, making her, as one staff put it, “the grumpiest happy person” we know. With her wicked sense of humor, she can always be counted on to lighten up the mood. For her straightforward, tell it like it is approach, I present the No Nonsense Award.

Although this participant joined us later in the year, she quickly proved to be a dedicated hard worker. With her movie star smile and a kind word for everyone, she easily became a part of the group despite just a bit of initial shyness. She learned the ropes in the jewelry studio, making jewelry, learning how to purchase materials and acting as a great salesperson at our Farmer’s Market booth. She obtained her learner’s permit and successfully completed the driver’s ed class to earn her driver’s license. She remained steadfastly focused on her primary goal: graduation. When transportation and childcare looked like they might be obstacles, she worked hard to find solutions so she could continue in the program and end the year with a high school diploma. Proving that hard work does indeed pay, she became the first official graduate through FLT’s newly accredited alternative education program. It is with great pride that I present the Persistence Pays Award.

Another late entry to the program, this participant has had near perfect attendance since joining FLT in April. She is patient and able work through frustrations with grace. She successfully completed a chapter on Geometry (which had been a struggle for her in other education programs) and gladly stepped in to help her fellow students when they struggled. She is devoted to her son, sticking with breast feeding for six months despite some struggles and frustrations along the way. She is a super addition to the childcare worksite, where she can often be seen on her hands and knees playing with the kids (and sometimes getting a little dirty in the process). She has maintained sobriety for 14 months. She displays a positive and optimistic attitude and always remembers to thank those who help her. I am pleased to present the Miss Congeniality Award.

This participant is constantly striving to make life for herself and her family better. She is learning more about herself as a learner and is getting better at communicating her learning style to her teachers. She eagerly seeks out help and is always willing to listen to feedback and consider ways she can improve. She’s worked through many challenges this year, not the least of which has been being on time for her van pick up – but she’s made remarkable progress in her ability to be ready on time and to get to FLT. She is learning to laugh at herself and finding new ways to advocate for herself and her daughter. While often hesitant in her abilities, when she gets up the courage to try something new, her effort and enthusiasm are impressive. She led a homeroom discussion on stereotypes and the ways they can be hurtful and is a dedicated student. I am pleased to present the Continuous Improvement Award.

This participant first came to FLT four years ago, and has popped in and out of the program a couple of times since then. This year – despite several challenges – she finished the full FLT year, something she was not able to do her previous two times in the program. She was a valuable part of the kitchen team this year – pitching in on whatever task she was assigned. Her journey with us has been somewhat reminiscent of the story of the tortoise and the hare. But, like that tortoise, she has slowly pushed on toward some impressive accomplishments – better negotiation skills, an improved ability to stay calm and in control when upset, her learner’s permit, and last, but certainly not least, her GED. I am glad to present the Slow But Steady Award.

Our newest participant has become a valued member of the FLT community even though she’s only been here a couple of months. She is patient and precise in her schoolwork, determined to thoroughly understand the subject matter being taught. She has become a leader in the classroom, demonstrating a positive attitude and a superb work ethic. She quickly became a superstar in the childcare worksite and is highly in tune with her son and his needs. She sought out help to obtain what she needs for the upcoming birth of her second son. For her steady and gentle presence, I present the Calm, Cool and Collected Award.

This participant has shown great ability to define a goal and work toward it. She saved money monthly so she could move up on the Good News Garage list – and that effort earned her a car. She moved into her own apartment and is a great mom to her feisty toddler. She has maintained her sobriety for 16 months and is a reliable friend and helper to other participants. Her creativity was on display with her work on the FLT Gingerbread House and she has been a reliable presence at the front desk. She might be our most stubborn and second grumpiest participant, but she has been steady and dependable since entering FLT last spring, with a near perfect attendance record. Though she hates to admit it, she has great people skills. And while she isn’t always so sure, we know she is ready to move on to bigger and better things. I am proud to present the One We Are Kicking Out Award.