Starr News Spring 2017

NEWS

Vol. 77 • No. 2 Spring 2017

Night of Starrs & Stand Tall Award Resilient Communities Project Mastery and Circle of Courage® Donor Spotlight: Patricia Schaefer Youth Assistance Program Trauma Practitioner Conference

Starr News

starr commonwealth leadership Officers

Board of Trustees

Elizabeth A. Carey President Chief Executive Officer

Craig Carrel, Chair (2008 – 2020) President and Partner Team 1 Plastics Albion, MI

Dudley N. Spade Chief of Staff Thomas F. Tate Chief Operating Officer

Honorable John Hallacy, Immediate Past Chair (2009 – 2018) Circuit Court Judge 37th District Court Battle Creek, MI Lawrence Givens, Secretary (2010 – 2019) Blackmond and Givens, Inc. Southfield, MI Stanley Allen (2014 – 2023) Configuration Engineering Wells Fargo & Company Des Moines, IA Scott Bennett (2010 – 2019) Senior Vice President Wealth Management UBS Financial Services Birmingham, MI Doug Clark (2013 – 2022) Executive Director Donor Marketing U.S. U.S. Office of Development Cru International Mill Creek, WA

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

Trustees Emeritus

President Emeritus

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

Dr. Martin L. Mitchell President Emeritus Coldwater, MI

George D. Goodman Executive Director (Retired) Michigan Municipal League Ann Arbor, MI Dr. Russell G. Mawby Chairman Emeritus W.K. Kellogg Foundation Battle Creek, MI Honorable Eugene A. Moore Chief Probate Judge (Retired) Oakland County Pontiac, MI

Mary E. Rutan (2013 – 2022) Human Resources Director (Retired) Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

William K. Stoffer Chairman and CEO (Retired) Albion Machine & Tool Co. Albion, MI

Erick Stewart (2009 – 2018) President Stewart Industries LLC Battle Creek, MI

Honorary Trustees

Bruce Vande Vusse (2009 – 2018) Attorney Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. Southfield, MI

Diana Starr Langley Montecito, CA

Dr. 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

Anne Willson Dupré Granddaughter of Floyd Starr Toronto, Canada

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

Starr News Spring 2017 Volume 77 • No. 2 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

Table of Contents

President’s Letter

3

Night of Starrs and Stand Tall Award

4

Resilient Communities Project 6 Mastery and Circle of Courage® 7 Donor Spotlight: Patricia Schaefer

8

Youth Assistance Program 9 Trauma Practitioner Conference 10 Honor and Memorial Gifts 11 2

Spring 2017

president’s letter

F

Perseverance or each of us, we can find an example in

ed and proud by my own in-

our own lives when persevering was re-

ner satisfaction. This is what

quired. Whether it was in school with a

success is: not doing it per-

topic that was hard for us, or at work when

fectly, but learning to build

we did not know if we could succeed, or in a rela-

mastery, especially through perseverance and through

tionship that seemed broken and without a future. In

obstacles and challenges.

addition, many of us learned, from teachers, parents, coaches or friends, that if we tried, and kept trying, we just might make it work. We might pass the test, improve our skill, or meet a challenge head on.

At Starr Commonwealth, we know that the four universal needs of our youth (and of ourselves) are Belonging, Mastery, Independence and Generosity. That to be whole, these needs must be fulfilled. We work each day

We also learned that failure happens. A lot. To all of

on healing the pain, repairing the broken needs and

us. That challenges and obstacles can appear to block

ensuring each young person has the support and the

our way forward. We also learned that giving up leaves

opportunity to try… to improve… to Master. As they

us feeling hopeless and even broken. Alongside failure,

continue their life journey into the world, as adults,

many of us found that continuing to put forth effort, to

parents, and contributors to society, this opportunity to

keep working and trying, to persevere, would allow us

persevere will be vital to their own life success. It is an

to take that failure and make it worthwhile. To make it a

honor to help build their skill, strengthen their resilien-

success. To be able to say, “I did it!”

cy and cheer them on.

I still struggle, every day, with my own desire to do ev-

As you read this edition of the Starr News, know that

erything right and to be a success. To plan, to strategize,

your support, your interest and your perseverance allow

to implement, to care, to drive, to support, to solve, to

our youth to master their futures. Consider those that

envision, to never fail. However, I know from personal

helped you build your future and in their honor, con-

experience as well as all of the lessons of those I have

tribute to Starr Commonwealth at www.starr.org/do-

watched, learned from and loved, that this desire is fu-

nate or with the enclosed envelope. You can make your

tile and impossible to achieve. That to learn, to improve,

investment in a future society where we all continue to

to Master… is the true calling for each of us. To be just a

contribute and persevere.

little better than yesterday. To persevere and know that “I can” is more meaningful than “I did it”.

Sincerely,

Mastery. That sense that each day I have an opportunity to build my competence. I can take on new tasks, find success through my own trial and error, and be motivat-

Elizabeth Carey, President and CEO

3

Night of Starrs

O

L to R: Dr. Randy Davis, Elizabeth Carey and Dr. Sheryl Mitchell

n Wednesday, April 19th, Starr held

Cottage. Originally the home of Floyd Starr and the

its first Night of Starrs celebration – a

first boys of Starr Commonwealth, Gladsome Cottage

fundraiser dedicated to honoring educational leadership within the Albion

and Marshall communities. Despite a rainy start, the evening turned into a successful event that we hope to hold for years to come!

4

has been restored to the way it looked when it was first built, with furniture, artwork, and china placed where it would have been in Uncle Floyd’s time. Guests were treated to a brief history of Starr’s campus from Arlin, and were invited to become “a part of the Starr

The night began with a VIP reception for guests who

Commonwealth” by touching Uncle Floyd’s jade bowl,

purchased Platinum tickets, hosted by former pres-

a tradition started by our founder and inspired by the

ident of Starr Arlin Ness in the historic Gladsome

jade’s porous nature that absorbs oil from skin.

night of starrs

The Night of Starrs was open to the rest of ticket hold-

Oakland County, all in city government. Both awardees

ers an hour later, and refreshments were served while

have done great things for their cities individually,

guests mingled and participated in activities, which

and support the continued efforts to bring Albion and

included a raffle and wine pull. The wine pull was sponsored by Starr staff, who donated wrapped bottles of

Marshall together to become one united community.

wine for guests to purchase. These sold out fast, and

A highlight of the program was definitely the perfor-

raised over $500. For our raffle, we had a Schuler’s Made

mance by Amaya Lattimore, an Albion resident who

in Michigan basket, a night at Firekeepers Casino, and

had the distinct honor of singing alongside Kathy Bates

a pair of diamond earrings donated

on television. Amaya sang “Climb

to the event, and three lucky raffle

Every Mountain” a cappella, and the

winners were made very happy when

applause following her song made

they took home their prizes at the

the lights in the auditorium flash.

end of the night!

The program ended with remarks

We kicked off the program with

from Judge John Hallacy, the outgo-

words of welcome from Elizabeth

ing Chair of Starr Commonwealth’s

Carey, the president and CEO of Starr

board, and Craig Carrel, the incom-

Commonwealth, followed by our

ing Chair. Hallacy encouraged the

co-chairs of the event, Ian GilyardSchnaitman and Joe Caron. Ian, the

audience to close their eyes, and

owner of Quality Engraving, spoke

“imagine someone who positively

about how proud he is of the work

The Starr Stand Tall award

that Starr continues to do for kids in the community while Joe, Director of Sales and Marketing at Schuler’s Restaurant, made a point to personally thank each organization and individual who sponsored our Night of Starrs.

During the program, we presented the Stand Tall award to two important figures in the Albion and Marshall communities. Dr. Randy Davis is the Superintendent of Marshall Public Schools and has a long history of working with children, including over 22 years at Starr Commonwealth in successive roles throughout the or-

affected your life. It could be your mother, father, teacher, friend. Now

imagine twenty years from now – who will be thinking of you when they are asked that question?” This wonderful and touching thought was a great way to end the program – by reminding everyone in the room that they can have an impact on someone’s life.

Everyone in that room did have an impact on Starr – because of them, we raised over $30,000 during our Night of Starrs. We would like to say thank you to everyone who bought a ticket to the event, contributed their time

ganization. Dr. Sheryl Mitchell currently serves as the

to organizing the night, or made a donation. With this

City Manager of Albion, but her service to community

money, we will continue to make positive impacts on

began in Detroit and expanded throughout Wayne and

the children in our care. F

5

Resilient Communities Project For the past several years, Starr has been

and vulnerable selves while showing em-

proud to help with the important work of

pathy to those around them.

bringing together our local communities

Derek Allen, Director of the Starr Global

of Albion and Marshall. During the clos-

Learning Network and project lead for the

ing of Albion schools and the merging of

Albion-Marshall Resilient Communities

the youth from Albion into the Marshall School District, Starr collaborated with Albion College to host a Youth Symposium to facilitate the kids learning about diversity and building relationships. Recognizing the positive impact of the first symposium, similar programming has been planned and executed each year since, in order to help students get to know one another and learn to work together in the classroom.

Building on the successes of the children who attended these symposiums, Starr has been integral in creating the Albion-Marshall Resilient Communities Project.

With this project, the hope is to help the adults from both communities enter into a dialogue with one another and build a strong sense of unity and healing.

This project is bringing members from the Marshall and Albion communities together through field trips,

Project, has been moved by the reception in the community. “At our kickoff open house, we had more than one hundred people from both communities, of all different stripes and backgrounds, who came together to say yes we can. We can come together, overcome our differences, and build a world-class school district and set of communities where our children and families can flourish.”

In the end, we hope that the Albion-Marshall Resilient Communities Project will build a sense of unity between the communities, allowing them both to become a more vibrant place where all people have the opportunity to flourish. If we can make this change among the adults, we can help to heal historic wounds and end rivalries.

If you are interested in attending one of the Albion-

movie screenings, book discussions,

throughout

events, you can find them on their website

dialogues the

at www.amrcp.org or

year.

on their Facebook page.

These events are designed

If you have any ques-

to create safe, yet brave,

tions, please feel free to

spaces, which will allow

email info@starr.org or

community members to

call 1-800-837-5591. F

be their most authentic An Albion-Marshall Resilient Communities Project gathering at Starr.

6

Resilient

Communities Project’s

fellowship,

the arts, workshops, and structured

Marshall

Mastery and the Circle of Courage® GEN ER

NCE DE N

IND EP E

The goal is for personal growth; you only need

Y ER

MA ST

When it comes to Mastery, children are given the opportunity to learn by listening to and observing someone who already understood and mastered a skill or technique. A person with greater ability is seen as a model for learning, not as a rival. By removing the competition, everyone is able to learn and grow at his or her own level.

to be better than you were the day before to achieve Mastery. This is an innate drive for humans – we want to be able to solve problems that stumped us previously. When a child masters a skill, you can see the accomplishment on BEL their face. That is the Mastery portion ON of their Circle being strengthened.

NG GI

The Circle of Courage® model is the philosophical foundation for the way Starr works with the youth in our care. Developed from the cultural wisdom of the Lakota people, the Circle of Courage® demonstrates that belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity Y IT OS are the universal needs all people require to be emotionally well. Only when these four needs are met are our circles complete.

As children watch and learn new things, their desire to achieve grows. They become more confident in their own abilities, which encourages them to branch out into new areas of learning. Soon, these children are leaders in their own right, helping others to master a skill that they al-

ready know.

By building children up, we help them to complete and mend their Circle. When all four universal needs are met, children are able to flourish. F 7

Patricia Schaefer

has been giving to Starr Commonwealth for so many

Advisory board, the Indiana Humanities Council, and

years even she does not remember the catalyst be-

her local Community Foundation.

hind it. “I don’t even remember – it could have been a presentation or a mailing – I’ve just plain forgotten how it all started!” she said on a recent visit.

Pat started her connection to Starr as many others do – with small yearly donations to the annual fund.

Regular annual donors are the backbone of the annual fund, which helps support and sustain many of Starr’s long-standing programs. These regular donations have been steady over the past four decades.

Pat’s career was as an audio-visual librarian and library director. Her passions outside the library center around music, education, writing, and the arts. Starting as a librarian and being a personal collector of art glass

Because of her love for the arts and her dedication to Starr, Pat made the decision to become more closely involved in Starr’s Brueckner Museum, which has housed its fine arts collection and programming for the past 63 years. She has made a 3-year pledge for a gift that helps offset the costs for redevelopment of the building, which is necessary to maintaining the next 100 years of fine arts programs. These plans are under way and we hope to share them soon so that others may become involved in helping upgrade our fine arts programs of the future.

As an important participant as we move forward in

sculpture, she is a patron and member of many organi-

the redevelopment of the Brueckner Museum, you can

zations including the Indiana Nature Conservancy, the

make a gift to Starr at www.starr.org/donate or contact

Ball State Foundation board, the Johns Hopkins Library

the Starr Advancement team at 517.629.5591. F

Donor Spotlight 8

Mastering Skills with the Starr Detroit’s

Youth Assistance Program Mastering social skills is key to feeling confident and comfortable in new situations. Starr Detroit’s Youth Assistance Program (YAP) recently engaged several students at Sabbath Middle School in the River Rouge School District in a sit down lunch with fully set tables.

affects others’ perception of you.

Along with familiarizing these young men with the experience of fine dining, this exercise also helped them build up their self-esteem. After the activity, all the young men said they felt

This activity was designed by

much more comfortable about

Youth Assistance Program coun-

sitting down to a meal with fam-

selor Laytoya Lambeth, who has

ily, friends or even strangers. One

a gift for developing activities

young man said he would use his

that hold young people’s atten-

newfound skills on a date, since

tion while introducing behaviors

he had never taken someone out

and attitudes that can improve

to dinner. They all wished that

their lives. The students involved

they had more “hands on” activ-

learned a variety of useful dining

ities like this one.

skills that they may not have had

Starr Detroit’s in-school Youth

the chance to experience be-

Assistance Program once again

fore, including picking the right utensil, passing food, and engaging in appropriate conversation.

Students at Sabbath Middle School

Throughout this experience, Ms. Lambeth discussed with the young men the importance of being able to hold conversations, using correct etiquette in social situations, and how the way you act

scores a win for our teens. By helping them feel comfortable and confident in new situations, we

are building them up and encouraging their Mastery, one of the four universal needs in the Circle of Courage, the model of positive youth development on which all Starr programs are built. F 9

Childhood Trauma Pr

Dr. Caelan Soma, presenter

Derek Allen, presenter

Nancy Moore and attendee

This summer, the Starr Global Learning Network invites

caring professionals from the United States and Canada.

you to attend the 2017 Childhood Trauma Practitioners

Counselors, social workers, teachers, probation officers,

Conference. The available trauma-informed and resil-

play therapists, private practice therapists, spiritual lead-

ience-focused courses at this conference are designed to

ers, nurses – anyone who works with children and families

help professionals who work with children, adolescents

can benefit from this conference.

and families understand and learn new ways to alleviate the effects of trauma. The conference will be held on July 11-14 at the Macomb ISD Education Center in Clinton Township, Michigan.

Some courses available at the conference are Trauma Informed Schools, Healing the Experience of Trauma, and Children of Trauma, which provides the foundation of childhood trauma and the impact it has on emotions, be-

The Starr Global Learning Network includes The National

havior, learning and relationships. These courses include

Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC) and

Continuing Education Credits for professionals and can

Reclaiming Youth International (RYI), both of which have

count towards TLC Certification.

trained professionals teaching courses at the conference.

TLC is committed to equipping professionals and caregivers with the right tools to help guide children, adults, families, and communities through the devastating effects of trauma. RYI is dedicated to the development of programs and strategies to serve children and youth who are in conflict in family, school and community.

Beside the professional certification, Starr Global Learning Network staff believe that the most important thing that attendees can get out of this conference is practical tools such as strategies and activities that can help the children and families they work with feel better. “The best part about TLC training is that we don’t just provide the ‘why’ but also the ‘how’,” says TLC Director Dr. Caelan Soma. “Our

This conference has been held annually since the mid-

goal is to equip as many professionals as we can with

90’s, and is well attended by both school and clinical child

knowledge. We want to share what we know about how

July 11-14, 2017 Macomb ISD Education Center Clinton Township, Michigan

www.starr.org/2017 10

The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children

The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children

actitioners Conference

Starr Albion Prep attendees

Hands-on mindful activities

Friends at the conference

trauma influences us all, but more than that, we want to

Last year, over 300 professionals attended from all over the

teach professionals how to interrupt the impact and fos-

United States and Canada to become TLC Certified Trainers

ter characteristics of resilience so that children can thrive.

and to become more trauma informed, and we hope to ex-

We believe we are making significant changes with each

ceed that number this year. To learn more about the 2017

professional we reach because we know that professionals

Trauma Practitioner’s Conference or to register for courses,

will go on to positively influence the lives of many children

please visit our website at www.starr.org/2017. F

over the course of their career.”

Honor & Memorial gifts The gifts reflect the period from 2/1/2017 - 4/30/2017. 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:

DINAH DURUSSEL Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Benson

WILLIAM MACKIE BLACK Mr. Darrell J. Black

JASON MAHMOUD IBRAHIM Ms. Mary Ann Ibrahim

DR. ALAN M. ROBERTSON, MD Ms. Dorothy B. Mayer

ARLIN AND BARBARA NESS Mrs. Carla Harker

RALPH CAREY Mrs. Ruth Carey and Dr. James Crowfoot

PATRICIA KING Sequel Youth Services of Albion, LLC

JOHN SCHRAM Mr. and Mrs. John W. Schram

ADAM S. SZYMANSKI Ms. Sandy LaCross

LEONARD ELLISON III Ms. Clida Ellison

JOANNE F. MILBURN Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Tate

HAROLD AND ARLENE SEIFERT Mr. and Mrs. Mike Mulnix

CONCETTA FALCONE Mr. John Falcone

DONALD E. POTRAFKA Mr. and Mrs. Derrill Stephens

WILLIAM FLOYD STARR Mr. and Mrs. Randy R. Neumann

JULANNE FALCONE Mr. John Falcone

SMOKEY LLOYD PRICE Ms. Denise Price

PAMELA WINGERTER Mr. and Mrs. Bob Rowbotham

ALBERT GUTIERREZ Mr. Raymond Opezzo

MARILYN REED Ms. Norma A. Pitts

W. DEAN WARD Mrs. Peggy Hamilton 11

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

Going Green!

One of our most well-known quotes from founder Floyd Starr is “beauty is a silent teacher.� He used this phrase to explain why he chose the lakeside plot of land in Albion on which to start his organization; he wanted a beautiful place to reflect the inherent beauty of his kids.

Born out of this dedication to keeping our planet beautiful, Starr is going more green in 2017. We will publish two beautiful printed editions of the Starr News in 2017 and all four issues this year will be available on our website, social media, and via email!

We here at Starr care about our planet, and we truly believe that keeping it healthy for future generations is important.

If you would like to receive Starr News through email, please sign up at www.starr.org/starr-news-email. To read past issues of Starr News, please visit www.starr.org/news-center.