Monday, September 23, 2013

Support LifeROOTS at the Harvest Festival!

LifeROOTS is pleased to join forces with Galloping Grace Youth Ranch in their seasonal fund raiser, a much expanded version of their very successful Pumpkin Patch project which you may have seen at Irving and Coors in previous years.

September 27th - October 31st
Open Daily, 9am-6pm
Santa Ana Star Center
3001 Civic Center Circle NE
Rio Rancho, NM 87155

You can help support LifeROOTS by:

VOTE FOR US! We've built a fabulous hay bale sculpture, which you will see at the Pumpkin Patch. Ours is one of six competing for the GRAND PRIZE, and we NEED YOUR VOTE!  Each vote is $1.00 with a 5 vote minimum, and the funds are divided between LifeROOTS and Galloping Grace!  Vote Early and Vote Often!

GET YOUR HOLIDAY DECORATIONS! Order pumpkins and outdoor decorations from our website - pick them up at the Pumpkin Patch or the Menaul offices!  We share net revenues from these too!

SIGN UP TO COMPETE! Here's your chance to compete for all the glory of your chosen sport, or all three!  Enter contests for accuracy with footballs, basketballs, and soccer balls!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE, BUY YOUR PUMPKIN OR ENTER THE CONTEST!

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Love Us? Like Us on Facebook!

We believe it’s important to stay closely connected to our supporters and what better way than through social media! We’re constantly posting updates online and communicating with our wonderful supporters. Please consider finding us on Facebook to stay up-to-date and connected to LifeROOTS.

Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends, upload photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.  Now you can learn more about us through Facebook, too! If you have a Facebook, we’d appreciate you fanning us at Facebook.com/LifeROOTSNM and posting this as your status - “I’m a proud supporter of LifeROOTS!  They are empowering lives and shaping futures!  Find them on Facebook or visit their website: www.LifeROOTSNM.org!”

Kathleen Cates Honored by YWCA as One of 2013’s “Women on the Move”

LifeROOTS CEO Kathleen Cates has been honored as a “Woman on the Move” by  YWCA New Mexico.  Kathleen was one of thirteen New Mexicans selected for this honor, presented at the YWCA 27th Annual Women on the Move Awards.

The Women on the Move Awards are given in recognition women who work for social and racial justice and the empowerment of women.  Kathleen was selected from 36 final nominees for this award, with the 13 winners honored at the awards banquet.

The award is an important recognition for Kathleen and for LifeROOTS, in recognition of the important work being done to help increase the quality and quantity of services to help people with disabilities.  In recognizing the 2013 Women on the Move, Amy Whitfield, president and CEO of YWCA New Mexico, noted the importance of the award and the honor bestowed upon each recipient by being named a “Woman on the Move.” 

“"These women join a prestigious group of women who have shown courage in paving the way for future women,"  Whitfield had noted.  “The diverse group of women chosen for the honor are also generous with their time, accomplished in their professional and personal lives and benefit the community with their achievements.”

LifeROOTS congratulates Kathleen on this honor and important recognition, and thanks her for her continuing contributions to help “empower the lives” and “shape the futures” of those with disabilities.

LifeROOTS Seeking Donations of Art Supplies - Donations Would Help Unique Programming for Both Children and Adults

LifeROOTS is seeking donations of all types of art supplies to help in our unique community programming.  Specific art supplies needed included paper stock, stickers (any and all kinds), water colors, acrylics, canvas or canvas boards, paint brushes, jewelry wire, plastic beads and mixing trays.

“Our innovative art programming continues to be an important way to help the people we serve gain both skills and self-esteem through art,” says Kathleen Cates, LifeROOTS CEO.  “Any   donations, whether simply some extra art supplies people may have around the house, or a corporate donation of supplies, would be greatly welcomed, and greatly appreciated by the children and adults in our program who will benefit from these added resources.”

Donations can be dropped off at LifeROOTS at 1111 Menaul Boulevard NE in Albuquerque, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or sent by mail to the attention of Kathleen Cates at LifeROOTS.   In addition, people can also call 505-255-5501 if they would like to schedule a drop off of items, or for more information about program needs and ways to help.

Board Member Profile: Jeanne Vigil

LifeROOTS is pleased to announce that Jeanne Vigil, Vice President at U.S. Bank, has been named to the Board of Directors.

A Vice President and Treasury Management Payment Consultant at U.S. Bank in Albuquerque, Ms. Vigil brings extensive experience in the financial industry to the Board. She began her banking career in 1989 specializing in commercial products support and sales. She maintains industry certifications of Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) and Accredited ACH Professional (AAP). In addition to serving on the LifeROOTS Board, she also serves as Secretary of the Board of the Domestic Violence Advocacy Center and participates in the United Way’s Women in Philanthropy program.

Ms. Vigil, who lives in Albuquerque, will serve on the LifeROOTS Board’s Finance Committee. We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Vigil to the LifeROOTS Board and look forward to working with her in this important role.

For more information about the LifeROOTS Board and ways you can get involved, call Kathleen Cates at 505-255-5501.

“Love And Logic”® Seminars Provide Simple Solutions And Practical Techniques To Help Parents

LifeROOTS is pleased to continue to offer parents a unique opportunity to learn some valuable parenting skills geared to help today’s parents raise responsible kids – while also having more fun in their role as parents.

The program, Love and Logic®,  is being offered at LifeROOTS as a five week program that meets once a week, and is open to parents with children of all ages.   The Love and Logic program provides a practical and entertaining parent education group, and is based on a philosophy founded in 1977 by Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, MD.   Love and Logic is the approach of choice among leading educators, parents and other professionals worldwide, and is a trusted and used successfully for more than 30 years

The LifeROOTS “Love and Logic” program is led by Sandy Silverman, LMHC and Sarah Lancaster, LMSW, both who are trained facilitators for the Love and Logic program.  It is a program geared to make parents laugh, remember their own childhood, and learn this powerful parenting philosophy.  The group teaches parents easy techniques for common parenting issues, as well as provides parents with the opportunity to share their parenting struggles and give feedback on the implementation of the new techniques they’ve learned.  Specific topics and issues addressed in this thought-provoking, interactive program include answers to these day-to-day parenting challenges:
  • How to handle disruptions at meal times
  • How to get children to stay in their own bed
  • How to end temper tantrums
  • Is there a way to discipline my oddler in public without creating a scene?
  • How to get children up and about in the mornings
  • How to stop whining and bickering
Many local parents have already benefited from the Love and Logic program offered at LifeROOTS – the program has become so popular among Albuquerque parents that it is now being offered six to eight times a year. 

For more information about the next groups, and additional information about this groundbreaking parents program and how you can benefit, contact Sarah Lancaster at 553-5331, or our main office at 505-255-5501.

LifeROOTS Groundskeeping Services: Transforming Yards … While Transforming Lives of Those With Disabilities!

Our Groundskeeping/Grounds Maintenance Services program continues to grow and expand at LifeWORKS. In addition to offering people with disabilities opportunities for meaningful employment within the community, our Groundskeeping/Grounds Maintenance Services program provides people with dedicated workers committed to a job well done – and benefits all involved. Through this program, building managers, property owners and homeowners save time and money, and people with disabilities are able to provide a valuable service through their hard work.

In addition to the numerous groundskeeping contracts LifeWORKS has with some major companies and organizations in New Mexico, our LifeWORKS groundskeeping team also is helping local residents throughout the region beautify and care for their yards. This summer, LifeWORKS groundskeeping team members were out in full force helping to add “life” to some local yards – garnering thanks, and praise, from many local residents who witnessed first-hand how LifeWORKS worked diligently, and skillfully, to help transform their yards.

One local resident summed up her experiences with the LifeWORKS Groundskeeping Program this summer – and shared photos of the great work done by the team.

“My yard was a big grey mess... full of grey rocks and absolutely no life. After meeting with Matthew from LifeWorks, we discussed my budget and my wish for a pretty yard with color. Not only did he come back to me quickly with a drawing and ideas, but he came up with great solutions that fit my budget. Work started on a Monday with six workers showing up led by Chris, the landscape architect and every one of them worked from early morning until late in the day removing the ugly grey rock. Working from home, I had the benefit of listening to their conversations that involved Chris teaching the workers about how to do things, how a drip system is installed, showing them how to easily move rock, dig holes for plants … and everything else that goes into creating a beautiful outdoor space. After only a week, my yard went from a boring gray mess to a beautiful outdoor oasis that instantly enhanced my property – all within my budget and within the time frame they promised. Best of all, not only did I gain a beautiful new yard, but I gained a great deal personally -- knowing that I gave six great guys an opportunity to learn and work.”

For more information about LifeWORKS Groundskeeping/Grounds Maintenance services and how your company, organization – or your own backyard – can benefit from our team of dedicated and skilled groundskeepers, call us at 505-255-5501 or visit us at www.liferootsnm.org/businesssupport.

Our Mobile Food Cart Continues to Bring New Opportunities to People with Disabilities

The “Feed Me Now” program continues to not only provide jobs and personal growth for those with disabilities, but is being embraced by a number of local companies. At the Whitener Law Firm in Albuquerque, in fact, employees eagerly await the arrival of the “Feed Me Now” cart each week – not as much for the opportunity to enjoy the beverages and snacks from the cart, but for the opportunity to talk and interact with the LifeROOTS employees they have gotten to know as a result of this important program.

As part of the Career Discovery program at LifeROOTS, the “Feed Me Now” program centers on a mobile food and drink cart – stocked and staffed each day by people with disabilities. The program began by having the cart, and LifeROOTS clients, travel throughout the LifeROOTS offices to help them learn important skills such as change making, customer service skills and social interaction. Seeing how successful the program was in helping people with disabilities thrive and learn important life skills, the program continued to expand – and now, the “Feed Me Now” cart travels daily to a number of local businesses throughout the community eager to be part of this exciting program that helps so many people.

At companies that have embraced the program such as the Whitener Law Firm, the “Feed Me Now” program has been successful on so many levels – and has proven to be a win-win for all involved.

“When I was approached by LifeRoots about allowing their food card to visit our office, I believed that we were going to help those who participate in the program,” recalls Leanne Duree, Chief Financial Officer at the Whitener Law Firm. “The truth is that we are the ones who benefit from the weekly visits. Everyone from LifeRoots who has been to our office demonstrates determination and work ethic, something we can all learn from.”

Others at The Whitener Law Firm share Leanne’s sentiments about the benefits of this unique program, and how much they enjoy the opportunity to talk to the Feed Me Now employees each week.

“All of us at the firm look forward to the food cart every Thursday. Every person who has visited our offices from LifeROOTS is an inspiration,” notes Matthew O’Neill, owner and attorney at Whitener. Legal Assistant Raelina Marquez agrees, noting that “The ladies that visit our office every Thursday truly brighten my day.” Kyra Thompson, Legal Assistant, further notes that “It’s wonderful to see a program that cares so much about their participants and the way the organization benefits people with disabilities. By participating in the Feed Me Now program, Whitener Law Firm and its employees have had the pleasure of watching the individuals grow in their job skills. When the snack cart arrives, we are always greeted with a bright smile, which in turn, brightens our day. “

For more information about the Feed Me Now program, and ways to get involved, contact Gwendolyn Kiwanuka at 255-5501 or gwendolynK@liferootsnm.org.