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February 2024 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& FEBRUARY 2024
TEEN ESTEEM+: SUPPORTING WHAT MATTERS TALKING TRASH MOST -- OUR CHILDREN, OUR FUTURE Tired of having nothing to do on Saturday mornings? Yeah right. Wanna
By Jody Morgan
Celebrating 30 years of service this year, Teen Esteem now includes a “plus” in its logo signaling the nonprofit’s commitment to reaching every member of the community concerned about the wellbeing of our youth. Teen Esteem+ (TE+) brings lively interactive presentations to students K-12 and offers workshops to parents and community groups to provide resources they can use to help young people overcome anxiety and depression, reject risky coping mechanisms, and make positive choices leading to personal success.
pick up someone else’s trash? Huh? Care to make our world a cleaner place? Sure, maybe. Then, please join in once-a-month to pick up litter in Danville. Small actions like picking up a piece of trash can greatly impact our community and environment.
Last year, inspired by the Walnut Creek Cleanup Crew, a group from Community Presbyterian Church, Danville, approached Cal-Trans to see if they could adopt the three freeway on/off ramps to keep them litter-free. In March, they got the approval to move forward. Monthly teams are now organized to tackle the El Cerro, Diablo, and Sycamore ramps in rotation. By helping at these cleanup events, not only is litter removed from our streets and public spaces, but it also prevents it from entering our waterways and harming wildlife. TE+ speakers gather before doing classroom presentations. L to R Trevor, Wendy, Erica, Kyndra, and Chelsea. Photo courtesy of TE+.
“The impossible just takes a little longer,” Kellie Elliott replies when asked for a phrase that characterizes her approach to new endeavors. In May 2022, Elliott joined Teen Esteem+ as CEO prepared to build on the firm foundation established by Linda Turnbull who launched the organization in 1994. Recipient of Diablo Magazine’s 2019 Threads of Hope Award, Turnbull continuously updated programs to address each trending temptation for children to engage in harmful activities leading to heartache. She remains actively involved as a member of the Board. “I am humbled to be part of this amazing organization -- such a chance to serve what really matters -- our children, our future, the people of this community,” Elliott says. “I want to get better each day and I am instilling that same desire within the organization.” With an enthusiastic and talented team addressing each of Kellie’s three major goals, phenomenal results are being achieved. First, to enhance communication through the non-profit’s digital footprint, a new website was launched providing additional digital resources. Rebranding as Teen Esteem+ signifies emphasis on reaching students K-12 and parents -- not just teens. Second, reaching more schools and students is a central goal. In 2021-2022, TE+ reached 10,635 students. In 2022-2023, TE+ reached 18,116, a 70% increase. Elliott
See Teen continued on page 8
See Trash continued on page 4
SRV GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society (SRVGS) was organized in 1985 to provide its members with resources, assistance, and educational opportunities that help them successfully research their ancestry. The group publishes a monthly newsletter and offers monthly meetings of small groups with common interests to discuss their specific areas of research. SRVGS also provides resources ranging from a large selection of reference books to information on local genealogical libraries. You are invited to join the next meeting on Tuesday, February 20th, AM 10 - noon via ZOOM, with a presentation by Margaret “Peg” Kapustiak titled How Can “Historical Context Genealogy” Help My Family History? Your family’s genealogy often meshes with the local history of various towns, cities, and countries. We will provide you with websites and other sources to help seek local history and uncover details about your family. To join in the Zoom talk, learn more, or become a member of SRVGS, visit srvgensoc.org. For questions, email president@srvgensoc.org.
The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville
Volume XXIV Number 2
Volume XV Number 2
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