Starr News Summer 2018

NEWS

Vol. 82 • No. 3 Summer 2018

Building Resilience in Kids in Lincoln Park Public Schools Team 1 Plastics: Dedicated to Children and Families Stand Tall with Starr: 105th Anniversary Celebration The Power of Service with the Starr Alumni Association Donor Spotlight: Joe and Clara Stewart

Starr News

Starr Commonwealth Leadership Officers

Board of Trustees

Elizabeth A. Carey President Chief Executive Officer

Craig Carrel, Chair (2008 – 2021) President and Partner Team 1 Plastics Albion, MI

Dudley N. Spade Chief of Staff

Honorable John Hallacy, Immediate Past Chair & Treasurer (2009 – 2019) Circuit Court Judge 37th District Court Battle Creek, MI Erick Stewart Vice Chair (2009 – 2018) President Stewart Industries LLC Battle Creek, MI

George A. Goodman (2010 – 2019) Ypsilanti, MI Laura Koziarski (2013-2022) Child Advocate Battle Creek, MI Huilan Krenn (2017 – 2026) W.K. Kellogg Foundation Director of Learning & Impact Battle Creek, MI Lisa Miller (2018 – 2027) MMK Consulting Group Coldwater, MI

Stanley Allen, Secretary (2014 – 2023) Configuration Engineering Wells Fargo & Company Des Moines, IA

Randy Neumann (2013 – 2022) Vice President J.F. Daley, Inc. San Antonio, TX

Scott Bennett (2010 – 2019) Senior Vice President Wealth Management UBS Financial Services Birmingham, MI

John Thompson (2018 – 2027) VP of Marketing & Communications Albion College Albion, MI

Trustees Emeritus

President Emeritus

Michael J. Gable Human Resources Executive (Retired) Orlans Associates, PC Troy, MI

Martin L. Mitchell President Emeritus Coldwater, MI

George D. Goodman Executive Director (Retired) Michigan Municipal League Ann Arbor, MI Honorable Eugene A. Moore Chief Probate Judge (Retired) Oakland County Pontiac, MI William K. Stoffer Chairman and CEO (Retired) Albion Machine & Tool Co. Albion, MI

Arlin E. Ness President Emeritus Anthem, AZ *All Officers and Trustees can be reached at the following address and phone number: Starr Commonwealth 13725 Starr Commonwealth Road Albion, MI 49224 (517) 629-5591

Honorary Trustees Anne Willson Dupré Granddaughter of Floyd Starr Toronto, Canada Diana Starr Langley Montecito, CA

Doug Clark (2013 – 2022) Executive Director, Donor Mktg U.S. Office of Development Cru International Camano Island, WA

Starr is dedicated to the mission of creating positive environments where children and families flourish.

Starr News Summer 2018 Volume 82 • No. 3 Starr Commonwealth is a nonprofit organization serving children and families regardless of race, religion, color or national origin.

Starr Commonwealth is accredited by the Council on Accreditation.

Founded in 1913, Starr is licensed by the state of Michigan.

The Albion campus is a Michigan Historic Site.

Starr Commonwealth receives funds from social agencies, foundations, corporations and individuals.

13725 Starr Commonwealth Rd. Albion, MI 49224-9525 800.837.5591 info@starr.org Front cover: Staff and students at Raupp Elementary School in Lincoln Park, Michigan.

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Table of Contents President’s Letter

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Building Resilience in Kids in Lincoln Park

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Team 1 Plastics: Dedicated to Children and Families

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Stand Tall With Starr: 105th Anniversary Celebration 8 The Power of Service with the Starr Alumni Association

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Donor Spotlight: Joe and Clara Stewart

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Honor and Memorial Gifts

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Summer 2018

president’s letter Transformation

T

he power of transformation is one that

with them. For others, it was a positive relation-

continues to strengthen our resolve in the

ship with a teacher, administrator, law officer or

greatness of children.

community member that helped them believe.

Throughout our history, Starr has supported

The more we extend our services to profes-

thousands of adolescents during their times of

sionals and into our communities, the more we

greatest need. We have heard them say they are

see the power of personal transformation is not

not deserving of love. We have watched them

limited to the children we serve. We are con-

fight even the faintest glimmers of a positive

stantly inspired by feedback from individuals like

relationship. We have felt their distance from

Terry Dangerfield, Lincoln Park Public Schools

hope.

Superintendent, who shared how his staff “now

Like a cocoon, our staff, supporters, and services have wrapped around each child in need, creating a safe environment for them to see, feel, and believe they are deserving of love, positive relationships, and hope. Slowly, they begin to see their strengths and, like a butterfly, take flight

consider why a student is behaving a certain way, rather than simply focusing on the behavior they are displaying.” And Joe and Clara Stewart, on how Starr provided an outlet to help them transform their community, “heal the human family, and create understanding between people.”

with a newfound confidence in themselves. While

We look forward to celebrating the amazing

their greatness was always present, it just took the

power of transformation at our upcoming 105th

right nurturing environment and relationship to

Anniversary Celebration, and how together, we

help them find the courage to believe.

have the power to stand tall, to create nurturing

Hearing stories from alumni like Dr. James Pelt, George Wilson, and so many others stands as a testament to the power of transformation. For

environments for growth, and to help the next generation take flight!

Sincerely,

Dr. Pelt and Mr. Wilson, it was a judge who saw something in each of them - and a place called Starr Commonwealth that continued to stand tall

Elizabeth Carey, President and CEO

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Building Resilience

in Kids in Lincoln Park Public Schools

Kindergarten students at Raupp Elementary are learning that their teachers and administrators care about them and want them to succeed.

T

he Starr Global Learning Network began

and evaluation. The Champions of Resilience team

working with Lincoln Park Public Schools’

consists of over 25 Certified Trauma Practitioners

staff, teachers and administrators during the

and trainers who are building the sustainability of

2017-2018 school year to support their transformation

this project within the district. Through this work, all

into a trauma informed, resilience focused school

Lincoln Park Public Schools employees have become

district. Staff at Raupp Elementary, the flagship of the Lincoln Park Resilient Schools project, as well as a district-wide multi-disciplinary team called Champions of Resilience, have received training, consultation, on-site resilience coach support, progress monitoring 4

better equipped to not only understand but meet the social and emotional needs of their students, where more than 90% of students at every building are living at or below the poverty level.

Many, when hearing the word trauma, immediately

Building Resilience

think of a violent event. While trauma symptoms can

When ACEs increase, physical and emotional health

result from exposure to a violent event, those same

problems also increase, including drug and alcohol

reactions can occur from other experiences, too. For

abuse, obesity, depression, heart disease, cancer and

example, domestic violence, bullying, divorce, death,

more. Brain science advances over the past decade have

moving, and natural disasters can all be potentially traumatizing experiences. However, what matters most is not the incident itself but rather the perception of what has happened or what is happening in a child’s life. Any experience that leaves a person feeling helpless, hopeless or unable to do anything about their situation can be traumatizing.

been remarkable. We now know

While trauma symptoms can result from exposure to a violent event, those same reactions can occur from other experiences...

In many instances, there is not

how to best work with children of trauma, and we are now learning about the science of resilience that supports how fostering and nurturing resilience in even the most extreme situations can negate the impact of ACEs. Based on what we have learned about the experience of trauma, stress and the needs of students, one of the biggest changes the

just one exposure to an overwhelming situation but a

staff at Raupp Elementary has made is the inclusion

prolonged and exaggerated stress, such as exposure to

of Reset Rooms. With the Reset Rooms, students can

poverty, community violence or living with a parent/

take time to do different exercises or activities that will

caregiver who abuses substances or who struggles

help them understand what is happening when they are

with mental health issues. This is called toxic stress.

upset and allow them time and space to calm down and

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) refers to these

get back into a mindset where they are ready to learn.

experiences as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Reset Rooms help students learn to self-regulate, allow-

Students can tell staff members if they feel ready to go back to the classroom and learn, or if they need to stay in the Reset Room.

The Reset Room at Raupp Elementary and some of the activities available for students..

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Building Resilience

Students know that the staff at Raupp Elementary care about them.

Nicole Chubb, Terry Dangerfield, and Tara Randall.

ing them to become more aware of their own bodies,

they feel cares about them. Having school be a place of

emotions, and triggers, and to understand what they

safety, caring, and trust is one way to help build resil-

need to do to help themselves. In time, students are able

ience in students. “Treat every kid like they’re your

to apply these new tools in their everyday classroom ex-

own, because you would never treat your child like

perience, reducing classroom and learning disruptions.

that,” Tara Randall, the Principal at Raupp Elementary

“We must take care of our students as people before we focus on education. If their needs aren’t being met,

said when discussing the way teachers used to react to students who acted out.

there is no way we can expect them to be successful,”

“Thinking about trauma when dealing with behavior

said Terry Dangerfield, the superintendent of Lincoln

[changed] my own problem solving behavior issues

Park Public Schools.

based on each student individually,” one teacher said

In just one year, Raupp Elementary has observed decreases in overall behavioral challenges and difficulties. Between the 2016-2017 school year and 2017-18,

when asked how their approach to working with students had changed as a result of the training. “Always love children. They need us,” another teacher replied.

student suspensions were down by 80%. Comparison of

Because of their dedication to building resilience in

the Office Discipline Referrals for the two years shows

their students, the staff at Lincoln Park Public Schools

a decline by more than half. These numbers give cre-

will be honored with the Child Advocacy Award at

dence to the idea that meeting the social and emotional

Starr’s 105th Anniversary Celebration. You can learn

needs of children and helping them build resilience can

more about the event and get your tickets at www.starr.

positively affect behavior.

org/105.

Students have also said that they feel safe at their

To learn more about Adverse Childhood Experiences

school, and that there is at least one adult there who

(ACEs), please visit www.acestudy.org. F

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Team 1 Plastics Dedicated to Children and Families

T

eam 1 Plastics is a plastic injection molding

the process. Since each donor milk bottle is also printed

company in Albion, Mich. that has supported

with components of our original creed, it also serves as

Starr Commonwealth and its mission for

a reminder of how Uncle Floyd’s words still drive the vi-

many years. For their 30th

sion of the organization today.

anniversary, Team 1 Plastics

“We are proud to be a long-

held a Giving Fund campaign

time supporter of Starr

that raised money for local

Commonwealth,” said Craig

organizations, including

Carrel, the President of Team

Starr’s Albion-Marshall

1 Plastics. “Its history of more

Resilient Communities Project

than 100 years of supporting

and the Albion Community

children and families fits per-

Foundation. Recently their

fectly with our focus on being

team achieved another great

a ‘Positive Community Mem-

giving milestone: entering the Arlin Ness Giving Circle for Starr Commonwealth.

Sarah Wasil and Elizabeth Carey presenting the milk bottles to Vice President and Co-Owner, Gary Grigowski, and President and Co-Owner, Craig Carrel, of Team 1 Plastics.

Named after Starr’s third President, the Arlin Ness Giving Circle serves as a way for our organization to

ber.’ Both organizations are working hard to make Albion and our surrounding communi-

ties a better place to live and work.”

honor the commitment of our donors. For every $2,500

In June, Starr’s President and CEO Elizabeth Carey and

contributed to Starr, donors receive a milk bottle with

Director of Development Sarah Wasil presented the

one of our core values listed on it, working towards a

complete set of milk bottles to Craig Carrel and Gary

cumulative total of eight bottles and $20,000, putting

Grigowski. “This is such a memorable and exciting

the donor into the Giving Circle.

moment for Team 1 Plastics and Starr Commonwealth,”

The milk bottles themselves represent a unique piece of Starr’s history. In the early days, the food the boys on our Albion campus ate was farmed on Starr land, and the milk was supplied by our dairy cows. Boys milked

Sarah Wasil said at the presentation. “We cannot thank you enough for your commitment to Starr. Friends and supporters like you will ensure Starr will be here for the kids and families that need us for the next 100 years.

the cows, filled the milk bottles and delivered them to

If you would like to learn more about the Arlin Ness

each cottage. Uncle Floyd took pride in knowing that

Giving Circle and how you can begin earning your milk

not only did each boy receive two full bottles of milk at

bottles, you can contact us at 1-800-837-5591 or make a

each meal, but that they also played an integral role in

donation online at www.starr.org/donate. F

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Stand Tall With Starr Our 105th Anniversary Celebration For 105 years, Starr Commonwealth has held the steadfast

The 2018 Starr Alumni Association President Emeritus

belief that all children have the innate power to transform,

Award will be granted to Dr. Jim Pelt and George

to take flight, and to be bold and beautiful. To celebrate

Wilson, in recognition of extraordinary service to Starr

our 105th anniversary in a big way, and the tireless com-

Commonwealth, to its Alumni Association, and to build-

mitment of our many supporters, a celebration will be held

ing a family for alumni to continue to offer support to each

at the Detroit Zoo on Saturday, October 6, 2018.

other.

This ticketed event will feature a strolling dinner, student

The Oneness of Humankind Award will be presented to

performances, and full access to the stunning Wildlife

Joe and Clara Stewart for their devotion to philanthropy

Interpretive Gallery and Butterfly Garden. In addition, a

and their work in promoting equity, inclusion, and the

short program will be held to honor individuals who have

healing of racism within their greater community.

dedicated their lives to serving children, families and communities. The three awards that will be presented include:

We are excited to honor each award winner, to share the spirit of service, and to feel the power of one and oneness.

The Child Advocacy Award will be given to Lincoln Park

We hope you will join us for this great night of celebration

Public Schools for their district-wide efforts in building

and fly with us into our next 105 years of service!

resilience and meeting the emotional, social, and academic needs of their students.

Learn more online at www.starr.org/105, or purchase tickets at www.starr.org/105-Tickets.

ŠIllustration by Oliver Pangborn

Thank you to our early sponsors for our 105th Anniversary Celebration!

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The Power of Service with the Starr Alumni Association

T

he Starr Alumni Association has been an asset

Before becoming the Alumni Association president,

for former students for many years, providing

George and his wife visited Kutsche Cottage on a

not only a network but an emotional support

monthly basis to mentor students. “That’s when I saw

system for our youth after they leave our programs.

what I believed to be some real promising things that

While planning an upcoming Alumni Cookout, we had

were happening,” George remembered. “They had

the opportunity to talk with two former presidents of

meetings in cottages at the end of each day where they

the Alumni Association, Dr. Jim Pelt and Mr. George

would have to resolve any personal issues that they had

Wilson, about their dedication

with one another and be open

to Starr and what the Alumni

and candid about discussing

Association means to them.

problems that they had. I became quite impressed with

Dr. Jim Pelt, who was a Starr

that.”

student from 1955 to 1957, was

Both men spoke of how

the first president of the Starr Alumni Association, and worked

Uncle Floyd instilled in them a

with former Starr president

drive to give back. “The most

Arlin Ness to establish the group. “I attended Founder’s Day,

Starr Alumni and Alumni Association President Emeritus, George Wison and Dr. Jim Pelt

important thing, I would say, when we think about giving

there were some other alums, and we started talking.”

back, is that it’s always about service. Serving other

Jim said. “We started getting together once a month

people, which was what Floyd Starr was,” George said

on the Albion campus, about a half a dozen of us, and

about their desire to give back to the students.

talked about an Alumni Association.” Encouraged by Arlin Ness, who knew of Uncle Floyd’s desire to establish such a network, Jim and a large group of former Starr boys held their first formal meeting, and Jim was elected to be the first president of the association.

With this role came a position on the Starr Board of Trustees, and Jim served in both functions for eleven years. He was succeeded by George Wilson, who was a Starr student on our Albion campus from February of 1961 to August of 1962.

“George and I were very fortunate in that we knew Uncle Floyd,” Jim explained. “Students today only hear about him – they didn’t know him. He was a powerful individual. Not a big man – small in stature – but a giant.”

Dr. Jim Pelt and George Wilson will both be receiving the 2018 Starr Alumni President Emeritus Award at Starr’s 105th Anniversary Celebration. For more information including tickets to the event, please visit www. starr.org/105. F

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Donor Spotlight Joe and Clara Stewart always support Starr’s program,” said Joe. “We would always get invited to Founder’s Day [on Starr’s Albion campus], and you can’t go to the place and see what’s happening there without feeling a sense of the value it has for kids.”

Through Joe’s involvement with the Kellogg Company, the Stewart’s became more familiar with Starr and its programs, so much so that in 2001, Arlin asked Clara to serve on the Board of Trustees. She retired from the Board in 2010, but their son, Erick Stewart, still serves today.

“When I first started with Starr I was told [by people in the community], ‘oh, that’s a school for bad boys,’ and I told them that needed to change,” Clara remembers. “You don’t deal with bad boys. You help children help themselves.”

The Stewart’s commitment to the children of their community took on another new form in 1999, when Joe, along with former Starr Presidents Arlin Ness

W

Joe and Clara Stewart

hen they first came to Battle Creek in 1980, Joe and Clara Stewart knew that they wanted to do one thing: help children. Joe

started out working for the Kellogg Company as the Director of Child Nutrition, which is where he connected with Arlin Ness, then-current President and CEO of Starr Commonwealth and the organization as a whole.

“Starr is the kind of place where once you get involved in it, if you believe in the uplifting of people and children, you believe in Starr.”

“I was with the Kellogg Company and we would

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and Martin Mitchell, got together with members of the Battle Creek community to found the National Resource Center for the Healing of Racism, then called the Institute for Healing Racism (IHR). “As a black American having lived in this country,” Joe said passionately, “the whole issue of racism is perhaps the greatest weakness or disease we have. Unless we can get over that, we will continue going into the future destroying the potential of human beings for reasons we don’t even understand.” Through Kellogg and Starr, the Institute for the Healing of Racism was able to reach 1500 people in Calhoun County, creating lasting relationships among participants and opening their

Honor & Memorial Gifts The gifts reflect the period from 04/19/2018 - 07/24/2018. Donors are listed below the name of the person in whose memory or honor they contributed.

HONOR & MEMORIAL GIFTS are thoughtful ways to remember a special person or occasion, such as a birth, birthday, anniversary, graduation, Mother’s or Father’s Day, or as an enduring tribute to the memory of a friend or loved one. Extend a helping hand to the children of Starr by making your donation to Starr at www.starr.org.

In Honor of:

In Memory of:

JOHN CAREY-YOUNG Mrs. Elizabeth A. Carey

VIRGINIA BARR Sequel Youth Services of Albion

DONALD KELLEY Dr. James Crowfoot and Ms. Ruth Carey

CLARA RICHMOND Mr. Michael I. Richmond

JOHN DAVIDSON Mr. Michael E. Williams

JEAN BRITT Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ward

AL LAVIGNE Mr. Eugene J. LaVigne

“UNCLE” FLOYD STARR Mr. and Mrs. Ted Johnson

CHRISTOPHER HODDE Mrs. Susan J. Hodde

PATRICIA DAVIDSON Mr. John Davidson

VIRGINIA LAVIGNE Mr. Eugene J. LaVigne

BARBARA TOUSEY Mr. William H. Tousey

ROBERT G. MALDEGEN Mr. and Mrs. John Keane Ms. Jann Lardo Mr. Thomas Loniewski Mr. Michael J. Maldegen Mr. and Mrs. Norm Stewart Mr. and Mrs. Sean Stewart Ms. Debra VanDike

PATRICIA L. ENDRESS Mr. Richard B. Endress

DONALD H. LILJE Ms. Betty A. Lilje

NANCY STARR WISE Dr. and Mrs. Ross Van Ness

JOYCE FRANKE Mr. Tom Franke

BEN C. MORRIS Mr. and Mrs. Bill Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Duffield

KONNER AND GARRETT VOIGT Mr. and Mrs. Robert Voigt

TRISH JONES Mr. and Mrs. Ed Schoonmaker

MAX AND MAUDE GRANT Mr. Gordon P. Grant

REBECCA PERNICE Mr. Ralph L. Pernice

eyes to the ways in which inequality can be ingrained

hope with this exhibit is to teach the community

in each of us. “That kind of involvement on the part

about African culture and cultivate “Ubuntu,” which

of Starr and the IHR is focused on one of the greatest

is the South African philosophy of “humanity towards

needs now in the human family, and we particularly

others.”

need that these days, when hate and racism has become front and center,” Joe said.

To honor the many gifts this great couple has shared with our community, Starr is excited to announce that

The couple’s generosity and passion for the commu-

Joe and Clara Stewart will be receiving the Oneness

nity continues to this day with their recent donation

of Humankind Award at our 105th Anniversary

to the Binder Park Zoo to build the African Tented

Celebration on October 6, 2018. To learn more about

Camp and Zamani School. The new space creates a

the event or to buy tickets, you can visit www.starr.

unique opportunity for patrons to stay overnight and

org/105. F

learn about Africa, its history, and its culture. Their

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Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Permit #975 Lansing, MI 13725 Starr Commonwealth Rd. Albion, Michigan 49224 www.starr.org

Duplicate mailing? Call (800) 837-5591 Change service requested

Standing Tall with Starr When we asked Brembo’s Manufacturing Director, Jason Wolfe, why he decided to support Starr, he said, “When there are circumstances out of children’s control, it’s great to know there is a place like Starr there to help provide them a framework to succeed– which is why Brembo is honored to support Starr and their 105th Anniversary Celebration.”