Giving Hope Again Magazine Vol 2

Connecting Resources because we are stronger together!

Giving Hope Again is a bi-monthly magazine designed to connect community resources and highlight national service-based nonprofit organizations because we believe together we are stronger.

OUR MISSION

Giving Hope Again is an organization aimed at improving the livelihood of those living in, around, and interacting within our communities. We are an open-minded organization aimed at finding innovative and effective ways to reach out to those in our community who have been affected by the perils of life; in an effort of GIVING to those who have been discouraged some form of HOPE, so that they may learn to dream AGAIN!

CONTACT INFORMATION

Giving Hope Again is a publication of PurposePals, LLC. The information in this publication is presented in good faith. The publisher does not guarantee accuracy or assume responsibility for errors or omissions.

Copyright 2023 © Giving Hope Again. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in part or in whole, without expressed written consent of the Publisher is prohibited.

Giving HopeAgain Programs and Initiatives

Giving Hope Again offers a variety of community initiatives that address specific challenges in our communities. Visit our website for information about how you can be a donor or volunteer.

Like A Rock

This initiative focuses on improving the lifestyle of those living with cardiopulmonary disorders. According to the CDC, Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The Like A Rock program aids in providing cardiopulmonary health awareness and education pertaining to fitness and heart-healthy diet guidelines.

Resource Center

The resource center provides citizens with free computer access, internet access, printing services and classes for resume writing, economic development, self-empowerment etc. The center also focuses on linking citizens with resources for mental, social and economic assistance services.

Let’s Eat

Giving Hope Again has assisted in providing lunch, breakfast and dinner to the homeless populations of our communities. Over the past three years in addition to the meals provided when available, GHA has an annual Father’s Day lunch, Christmas and Thanksgiving Day breakfast for the people of the Parramore Community in Orlando, FL. This initiative was recently expanded in 2020 to provide a New Year’s Day dinner as well.

Let’s Talk About Us

This Initiative is to educate youth from third to 12th grade on topics including social skills, mental Health, financial Literacy and selfconfidence.

Seeing a need to have open and honest dialogue in various communities

“Let’s Talk About Us” was developed. This initiative provides discussion panels where citizens can freely discuss the pressing issues of our community. Past forums have included discussions on politics, physical health, mental health, and economic development.

AMustard Seed of Hope

Sometimes, it is as simple as giving a kind word, a willing ear, a smile or maybe even a hug. Other times, it is as great as giving someone food, shelter, a job or even the ability to create a fresh start in life.

Team Giving Hope Again

“The suicide passed a judgment. Society does not care to examine the judgement, but in defense of itself as is, condemns the suicide.”

-Robert E. Neale

Suicide is a complex topic that can often be difficult to discuss. Yet, it is a serious issue that has long-lasting effects on everyone involved.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2021, over 48,000 people died by suicide. The number of fatalities equates to one death every 10.9 minutes. In addition, millions more Americans have seriously thought about committing or attempted suicide in their lifetime. This means that raising awareness is more critical than ever.

There are several different factors that increase a person's risk of suicide. Understanding the risk factors and addressing warning signs with empathy and compassion can go a long way. According to the American Psychiatric Association, things that can cause an increased risk of suicide include:

Substance abuse

Experiencing trauma

Mood disorders

Chronic pain or other physical illnesses

Exposure to suicidal behavior or an incident in the family

Previous suicide attempts

Talking with your loved one about their experiences can provide them with the support they need. While not everyone is willing to open up, having someone to listen and talk to can make a huge

difference.

If you notice any of the warning signs of suicide, you may need to help your loved one seek mental help.

These warning signs include:

Frequently talking or writing about death or suicide

Expressing that they have no purpose in life or reason for living

Increased risky behavior, such as drug or alcohol use.

Dramatic mood changes

Anti-social tendencies

Encourage your loved one to connect with available resources and reach out to friends or family. Always take warning signs seriously and let your loved one know that you care. If you think your loved one is at immediate risk, do not leave them alone.

Coping with the Loss of a Loved One

Coping with the loss of a loved one due to suicide isn't easy. According to the University of Texas at Austin Counseling and Mental Health Center, the circumstances surrounding the loved one's death can make processing the loss difficult. Many people

struggle to find answers or second-guess their actions. This can have a huge toll on your mental health and people who lost a loved one due to suicide are often more at risk for having suicidal thoughts.

Developing healthy coping mechanisms and getting support can help you process the grief. This step can be difficult if you find yourself having a lack of motivation. Don't be afraid to talk through your thoughts with a local support group, mental health professional, or friend.

Try to find ways to honor your loved one. Tell stories to your friends about some of your fond memories or revisit places where you were happy with your loved one. Some people enjoy making scrapbooks or putting together photo albums so they can remember happier moments.

During this time, it is important to remember to take care of yourself. It's okay to take a short break from social events, spend a little extra time in front of the television, or practice some extra self-care if you need to. Remember, everyone processes grief a little differently. Once you are ready, try to find ways to distract yourself and get back into your regular routine.

While September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, there are things we can do all year long to raise awareness. Everyone needs to understand the warning signs and take mental health seriously. Encourage the people around you to talk about their struggles or emotions.

If you are concerned about someone's mental health, encourage them to utilize resources such as calling the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Individual states may also have additional resources and crisis counseling.

By Ronda Shirley, MBA, MS, LMFT

"No. I don't think I'm available anytime soon to hang out with you." This is exactly what Anna, one of my long-time clients who has been struggling with feelings of loneliness, said when she cut off her toxic friends.

But during that time, Anna met a new friend, someone whom she can say that she has a healthy relationship with. How did she know?

There was a time when Anna wasn't in the mood to talk. Having told her new friend about her mood, she respected Anna's feelings and gave her some space. Anna's new friend always asks if she's mentally strong enough to listen.

These are just a few instances where Anna and her new friend show what a healthy friendship is. Anna has never felt more secure or at peace since she cut off her toxic friend and gained this new friend.

What Can We Learn From Anna's Experience?

Anna's story proves that healthy friendships are important for mental health. Sometimes we don't realize how much the people around us affect our mental health.

A healthy friendship is one of the most important things you can have in your life. Mental health is a complex and often misunderstood topic, but having healthy friendships can have a profound impact on your overall well-being.

A secret to having a healthy friendship is to show your love and affection for your friends. Start this by buying them a gift

from our shop. From inspiring notebooks to t-shirts, we've got everything you need to show the importance of your friendship to them.

Why Are Healthy Friendships So Important For Mental Health?

Here are three reasons why healthy friendships are so important for mental health:

Friends provide support during tough times. There are times in our lives when we need friends to lean on. Whether you are going through a personal crisis or a difficult situation at work, good friends will be there for you. When you need it most, they'll be there to offer sage advice and a shoulder to cry on.

Friends help you stay connected. Numerous studies show that people who have strong social connections are happier and healthier. Feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression can be mitigated by friendships.

Friends can challenge you to grow.

Another important aspect of a healthy friendship is being pushed to be your best self. They push you to learn new things and grow as a person. Additionally, they hold you accountable and motivate you to improve.

Friendship is one of the most important things in life. If you are lucky to have good friends, cherish them and nurture them. They might be the key to a happy and healthy mind.

Want to know yourself more? Take our FREE 4Ps (peace, passion, pleasure, and purpose) quiz to help you figure out which of the 4Ps is missing in your life right now.

Ronda D. Shirley is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Central Georgia. She is a practicing therapist and clinician in Macon, Georgia, where she runs her own business under the name Shirley Therapeutic and Consulting Services. Ronda specializes in challenging and restructuring negative cognitive processes to help her clients identify their fears and redirect them toward achieving healthier mental health and fulfilling relationships. Know more about Ronda by visiting the STACS website.

Whether you are going through a personal crisis or a difficult situation at work, good friends will be there for you.

By Chanda Johnson

In life there are just some of us that are so used to being the support for everyone; the one that everyone goes to for help and advice, they listen to everyone's problems, and they are always a helping hand. Society often titles them as "the strong one." We never see them cry nor shed a tear. Yes, I must admit that they're strong, but even the strong

ones need support and help from time to time, because they get weak too.

No matter who they are or how strong they are, at some point in life situations begin to take place and things change. The devil may decide that they're having too much fun and that he wants to come and shake up they're life a little, disturb their peace. Nevertheless, at this point "the strong one" is overwhelmed. However, they hold it in and don't tell a soul. What they’re used to is working through their problems silently and they just keep going, but at the same time they're thinking who can I talk to or go to?

Everyone around them is always calling them with their problems, so how can they help them fix theirs when they can't even help themselves.

So what is next?

"The strong one" is holding it in until it leads to depression, stress, sadness, or tears. All of those horrible things we don't want to see our loved ones go through. It leaves them out here lonely, because they still haven't figured out what to do. When they eventually decide to call on someone

they thought they could talk to, usually that person is negative or just wants to talk about their own situations. They didn't even have time to just listen. This only leaves them feeling even more loss and alone. This is definitely a tough situation and something we don't often think about. However, it is extremely important that we check on our loved ones. I realize that this is a hard role to play to have to be the one to check on a person that is not at their best. It's TRUE though, there are days when even the strongest person needs a listening ear, a hug, or a shoulder to cry on. It's sad to say, but sometimes they may not ever reach out to you so there are a few signs that you should look for. Be sure to note that when these signs occur don't ignore them, but get up and check on your friend, rather it's inviting them out to dinner or hanging out, talking over a nice and relaxing bottle of wine, or maybe a simple phone call.

Listed below are 6 signs you should look for to determine if you should be concerned about your friend and check on them.

1. They don't quite sound or look the same.

2. Social Media posts are unusual.

3. You haven't heard from or seen them in a couple of days.

4. They've switched up their normal routine.

5. Sudden weight loss or gain.

6. Bad breakups.

Let's just keep in mind that this is a serious situation and we have to love each other and be here for each other as well. The way that the economy is set up now, this makes things even more complicated. So even the strong are NOT okay. Everyone needs help or someone to talk to when times get ruff, so try to be that person. Listen, encourage, and motivate them. With suicide rates growing substantially over the last couple of decades with both men and women. We don’t want this to have to be the situation or thoughts of people that we love. So be sure to take time to check on the strong even if it’s just a phone call.

Chanda W. Johnson is a newly published author of a children’s book “Generation Next: A Journal of Life”, a blogger, and an entrepreneur. She is a leader and loves to encourage and motivate others. Being a registrar at a charter school gives her time to mentor and encourage students of all ages. During her spare time she loves spending time with her children, networking, traveling, attending church and worship, promoting, crafting, singing and listening to music, reading, and blogging. By writing her prayer is to touch the hearts of those who read her words, to inspire and motivate them.

Founder Tina Green is the founder of Bridgingheart, a non-profit organization that takes in youth who have aged out of foster care.

Bridging Hearts provides resources such as job placement, mental health, education and mentorship.

The organization started in May 2022 with a vision to ensure every emancipated youth has a home.

The Founder, Mrs. Green, is a survivor of the foster system and sex trafficking. Because of her past experiences it is important to the organization to provide a safe space to youth once they have been emancipation while figuring out their next steps in life.

Bridging Heart is located in South Elgin, Illinois

Bridging Heart

Bridgingheart.org

Boyz 2 Men with Purpose

Founded by: Delvin Smith

Established: May 2020

Location: Love Center Church

1220 N. Carpenter Rd Titusville, Fl 32796

Our Purpose: Imagine a young man that can understand and drive his financial future, or a young man who has the academic support that will allow him to pursue college. If not college, he is able to develop a trade or skill he can take away with him and build upon. This is our program ensuring boys and young men are knowledgeable in areas of health, wellness, skill, talent or trade, full existence, and self-confidence with the ability to carry out their dreams and goals. We build boys to men with purpose!

Our Why: On the spiritual side, as a pastor I have seen the decline in men in the church. So I wanted to be able to bridge the gap between the church and the world. Therefore young men come to the program without being in a church setting, but still being taught faith base principles. As a barber I have seen young men constantly being incarcerated and the one question I ask them was, “ Why do they keep getting in trouble or doing things that lead to trouble?” and the main answer is, it’s all I’ve seen. No one has taught me better. They say if one fight we all fight. That’s when I realized

generational curses are taking out our next generation. And unless someone does something to change the narrative the cycle will continue.

There are many struggles that our young men face and one of the struggles is incarceration, which puts a derogatory label on them and in them. Often when they try to do better, doors seemingly will not open, but we know there is a key to change. We seek to establish alternatives and options to what life normally can give.

Our Mission: Empowering through love, being present and consistent while reaffirming good and healthy habits

Donna Bruce Unlimited Inc.

Donna Bruce is the Founder and CEO of Donna Bruce Unlimited INC, of Baltimore, Maryland. Donna Bruce Unlimited INC was born in 2022 after the death of her son, who struggled with mental health and substance misuse. Donna Bruce has kicked down many open doors in her community for others to begin to heal. Donna Bruce has testified on legislation laws in Maryland for Human Trafficking Survivors to have their criminal records vacated "True Freedom Bill Act of 2020". Donna Bruce took that and all her experiences to help others learn new ways to cope with grief, anger, stress, and other traumatic issues plaguing our communities. Donna Bruce Unlimited INC's vision is to restore and heal those impacted by trauma through life skills education and arts. Donna Bruce Unlimited INC offers overall healing in untraditional ways. We offer Peer Navigation Services: Under the supervision of an RPS, individualized person-centered navigation recovery support, mental health, and much more. Cosmetology workshops allow women and young adults to learn a skill and take control of their appearance while building self -esteem and confidence. Healing of Art teaches a feeling of self-exploration, discovery, and strength through coloring, music, or learning calming colors. Recovery of Dance: Involves movement to connect the mind, Body, and soul to build self-esteem. We Envision a World of Healing. "Healing Through Arts."

It isn't always easy to "forgive and forget," but it can be an important part of the healing process. When someone we love betrays our trust or mistreats us, it can cause an array of emotions. While ignoring the issue and avoiding the person can be easy, it isn't always the best course of action. Learning how to forgive and process your emotions can help repair and strengthen strained relationships.

Why Should You Practice Forgiveness?

The biggest reason why you should practice forgiveness is that it is the first step in repairing your relationship. If a person wants to apologize to you and atone for their actions, they cannot do it unless you are ready to trust them and accept their apology.

Allowing your loved one to make amends and take accountability for their actions can also help you to feel safe around the person again. If you are harboring negative emotions around the person, it can make you both uncomfortable, causing further strain on the relationship.

In addition to helping you repair a relationship, forgiveness can actually improve your mindset and keep you from hanging on

It isn't always easy to "forgive and forget," but it can be an important part of the healing process.

to negative emotions long-term. For you to make a choice to forgive a person, you need to do some work on yourself. This means working through strong emotions like guilt or anger.

Decide What's Best for You

As you work through your emotions, it is important to decide what your best course of action is and set your boundaries. Acknowledge what happened and consider the other person's intentions. If they didn't mean to hurt you and the issue you have was minor, the best course of action could be to cool off and then simply tell them your feelings.

If the issue you have is a little more complex, don't be afraid to take time for yourself before confronting the person. Communicate that you need some time to heal. This will show the person that you are interested in repairing the relationship.

During your time apart, practice self-care or talk to a trusted third party, such as a therapist, about the situation. This can help you to reflect and work through your emotions before deciding how you want to address the situation. The last thing you want is to hold a grudge or encourage repeated behavior by not

confronting your loved one.

How to Cope When You Cannot Forgive

There are many reasons why you may not be able to forgive your loved one, and that is okay too. If you had to cut communication or your loved one is no longer around, sometimes writing your thoughts on a piece of paper can be a great way to start the healing process. Recognize the emotions you have and set healthy boundaries for future relationships if necessary. Therapists and guidance counselors can have the tools you need to learn effective coping mechanisms, get rid of the negative emotions surrounding the situation, and help you look toward the future.

By Javaris JT Yarns

Greetings, family, and welcome back to The Empowerment Corner- Where we teach you how to do better every day.

In my last article, I encouraged you to practice self-love every day to boost your self-confidence. I also asked you to find out what you truly wanted out of your life, business, and professionally. Did you find out? Be honest.

Listen, life is full of situations that test your faith and confidence. Therefore, today I am encouraging

you to train your brain to remain optimistic. Learn to think more positively and become more optimistic about your life and future. Here is why, if you feel helpless or like everything is out of your control, you will never be able to improve your life, increase your self-confidence or experience true happiness. Therefore, you need to train your brain to remain positive about the future and optimistic about everything, big and small.

Now is the best time to train your brain since you have the opportunity to be completely focused on something that will provide you with a positive outcome. We just started a new year, and I am almost certain you have made big plans and goals. I am all for new year, new me, but understand that you have to take action to develop a new, more improved version of yourself.

Every day we are faced with numerous challenges and situations that can cause us to be very negative. However, an elder told me once, "I only have a bad day when I want one". Your brain is capable of phenomenal things, but you have to believe that, internalize that, and release those limiting beliefs you have. Who told you that you were less than others, you would never amount to anything, or that you were not going to be successful? Whoever told you those foolish things does not know what you are capable of. Honestly, remove them from your life now because where you are going, you do not need that type of negativity in your space.

Let me leave you with this. You are here because you have a purpose. There is a specific vision that you have to fulfill. This is the first time anyone else has been assigned to the task that you need to complete. It is time for you to take responsibility and be great. I know life is tough sometimes, and making it through can be even tougher. Despite that, you can always do better no matter what your age or situation. There is always greater and better. You are worth the best life has to offer, and being positive and optimistic provides you with the fuel necessary to reach your full potential.

Javaris “JT” Yarns is a published author, Founder and CEO of Edify and Empower, mastermind behind the Do Better Brand and the developer of the empowerment corner. Edify and Empower is a leadership coaching and consulting business that helps leaders increase their self-confidence.

JT created Edify and Empower and the Do Better Brand because I saw a need for empowerment not just hope and motivation.

By KT Thompson

I can still remember the untouchable feeling of raw power coursing through me the day I counted out $47,000 from a drug deal I had just been involved in. It felt like becoming a first-time father in 1989 or scoring my first Touchdown for the Lake Mann Tigers in 1981 as an 11-year-old kid. The clock is ticking! In a short 8-year period, I had gone from a wide-eyed kid trying to find my way in this world to a drug-dealing father trying to take the path of least resistance. My introduction to the drug trade came many years after my introduction to my first love, sports. Especially Football, Basketball, and Baseball (in that order). The clock is ticking!

When you are a young child, economics isn't as important as playing with your friends, learning the latest dance moves and songs, and running around doing kid things. Most of us kid's born in the '70s and '80s were told that "you are a child, so stay in a child's place. Or "stay a child for as long as you can." Many of us were so far behind on learning about earning power, paying bills, and everyday economics that we would take low-paying jobs that we were overqualified for just to catch up. The clock is ticking!

As a young teen, I was able to steer clear from doing or selling drugs. Crack cocaine had hit the lowincome Black and impoverished neighborhoods like an Atom bomb. But thanks to still having a praying Mother, Grandma, and community, I never got involved with it as a young teen. That wasn't the case for many of my friends close in age to me. The clock is ticking!

By now, I had aspirations of earning a College football scholarship and then making it to the NFL one day. The drug and gang culture of the mid to late '80s took off, taking a lot of teens on one Hell of a ride to jail, prison, and the graveyard. In 1987 I got into a rift with a gang member who shot me in the abdomen. It almost effectively ended my career aspirations of becoming a College or professional football player. The clock is ticking! 2years later, in 1989, I played an entire season of high school football and was offered several scholarship offers. 1989 was the year I graduated high school, but also the year my first child was born. Not only was I an adult now, but I was responsible for and expected to help financially care for a little girl I had fathered. I had some serious decisions to make about life, economics, and now being a parent. The clock is ticking!

Many of my closest friends, who had come from poor, destitute one parent households just like mine, had entered the drug trade while I was on the football fields practicing and playing High school games. They were now driving nice cars, wearing expensive jewelry, and

dressing in name-brand clothing. After conducting several campus visits to colleges in North and South Carolina, I narrowed my choices to 3 schools. I never made it to any of the 3 colleges because the lure of making money like my friends was now more enticing than waiting for 3-4 years of college playing for free to try and make it to the NFL. The clock is ticking!

I started selling drugs in 1989. I started being a large-scale distributor in 1990. I had a great 2-year run where I made the most money. Barely missed an extensive 25-man Federal indictment in 1992 and was caught and indicted in 1997. The clock is ticking. I was sentenced to 113 months (9 years and 5 months) at Coleman Medium federal prison. While in prison, I got back closer to God. Went into prison knowing that I was a father of 3, and found out that I was actually a father of 8, with 7 different women. No matter where you go or how far or fast you run, your past will always catch up to you. I Did a lot of reading books. Decided that I could write books. The clock is ticking!

I was released from prison after doing 8 ½ years in 2005. I began trying to find employment and get into the lives of the children that I fathered. Made plans to work a job to earn enough money to publish my first book idea. Getting released from prison was not the second chance that people made it out to be. The clock is ticking! Most jobs that were willing to overlook my past were rugged physical labor jobs that required punishing your body

through grueling manual physical labor. I drove for a moving company for 6 years before I was let go because I injured my hip and wasn't an asset to the moving company anymore. They changed me out like a spare part on a broken-down machine. I knew that I had to come up with a business plan to work for myself after that experience. That's when I finally decided to finish my first book and go ahead and get it published. The clock is ticking!

I have been out of prison now in 2023 for 18 years. I am active in all 8 of my kids' lives and am the grandfather of 13 (8 boys and 5 girls). I am the Author of 3 published books, a mentor, a motivational speaker, and a community activist. I will continue to live my life trying to help steer young folks away from making bad decisions that could land them in prison. I have kept my faith in God and remain close to all of my family members and support system. All because I know that, The clock is ticking!

KT Thompson speaking to a group of youth.

We’re Stronger Together!