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Will Your Youth Commemorate Black History Month?

By Nicki Sanders | Feb 9, 2012 | Comments Off on Will Your Youth Commemorate Black History Month?

Over the last few years, I’ve heard many arguments about whether there is still a need for Black History Month.  The other argument is whether Black History Month creates separatism instead of ethnic pride.  We don’t need Black History Month when have a Black family in the White House right?  I disagree.  I am of […]

Why Should I Stay In School?

By Nicki Sanders | Feb 7, 2012 | Comments Off on Why Should I Stay In School?

  In his 2012 State of the Union address, President Obama asked states to consider increasing the minimum age for a student to leave school to 18. How do we keep youth engaged and motivated?  Teens are unique and their educational experiences should be unique as well.  The cookie cutter approach to education leads to […]

Foster Teens: Handle With Care

By Nicki Sanders | Feb 1, 2012 | Comments Off on Foster Teens: Handle With Care

Resilient – rebounding; recovering readily from adversity; returning to its original form after being stretched or bent   Do you recall your teen years with favor and joy?  For many of us adolescence was a challenging time.  Acne, raging hormones, peer pressure, and uncertainty plagued many of us.  Although we may have had the body […]

Is There Safety In These Numbers?

By Nicki Sanders | Jan 31, 2012 | Comments Off on Is There Safety In These Numbers?

I have always been told that there is safety in numbers.  Whether taking a late night bus ride, going to a night club or simply taking a tour of a new city the mantra is still the same – it’s safer to be a part of a group.  Does this still ring true when we […]

A Teen’s Life Is Worth Documenting

By Nicki Sanders | Jan 26, 2012 | Comments Off on A Teen’s Life Is Worth Documenting

What does “A Teen’s Life Is Worth Documenting” mean to you?   For a child in the foster care system it probably means those words that are written about them in their personal file.  You know the file that precedes them at every meeting, placement, and court hearing.  The file that attempts to explain the […]

Am I Really A Jack Of All Trades?

By Nicki Sanders | Jan 24, 2012 | Comments Off on Am I Really A Jack Of All Trades?

Many of us we are skilled in a variety of areas.  Our culture has taught us to multi-task like our lives depend on it (often times it does).  Throughout my career and definitely as an entrepreneur I have felt like a jack of all trades and a master of none on many occasions.  I have […]

How Do They Feel In Your Office?

By Nicki Sanders | Jan 19, 2012 | Comments Off on How Do They Feel In Your Office?

When you visit a kindergarten classroom what do you see?  You see student’s work all over the walls.  When you enter a dentist’s office you generally find a variety of magazines and pictures of healthy mouths. When you walk into a teen health clinic you expect to see pamphlets and brochures related to health issues […]

Let’s Start A New Year’s Day Tradition!

By Nicki Sanders | Jan 17, 2012 | Comments Off on Let’s Start A New Year’s Day Tradition!

Many people are compelled to donate gifts to children and youth in foster care during the Christmas holiday season (myself included).  After the Christmas gifts are barely opened we shift our focus to how we will usher in a new year.  A new year exemplifies a new chance to start fresh, another opportunity to change […]

How Will Your Youth Serve?

By Nicki Sanders | Jan 12, 2012 | Comments Off on How Will Your Youth Serve?

In our work world, evidence-based practice and evidence-based research are King.  Objectives, outcomes, and goals are commonplace.  In my supervisory role I stress that we have to have proof that we are doing really works.  I am a huge proponent of civic engagement and so as I was thinking about the upcoming Dr. Martin Luther […]