SALUTE PART TWO - Our Guiding LIght - November 8 at Macy's in Chicago

Life Directions is committed to young people and young adults "at risk". We want to prevent their dropping out and stepping into violence.

This has been the dream of Life Directions since Novemvber 1973. To sustain the mission we put in place ways to ensure the roots of the vision of "peers inspiring peers" are supported with on-going strength.

Each year we salute a person who has been part of such an effort. This year Victor Dickson has been chosen by the Corporate Members of Life Directions. He joined us in 1995 in Chicago, when he was regional director for Sprint. Now he is the Chief Ministry Officer of Family Harvest Church in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.

In Life Directions he is the vice chairperson of the National Board of Directors. His steady and consistent leadership continues to inspire his peers, the follow board members, to turn obstacles into opportunities in a very practical way. His passion for young people to be excellent and be ready to make peace possible through working for justice has become part of the fabric of Life Directions.

Join us on November 8th. Register on line at http://www.lifedirections.org/ or call 773.265.5806

Salute Part One - Our Guiding Light - November 8, 2010

Our Chicago Board of Trustees chose Jim Reynolds, President and CEO, Loop Capital Markets. His Life Direction radiates to young adults from 13 to 35 and beyond -" You are responsible for your future. You're not a victim, unless you want to be."

Life Directions' work among young people in Public Schools promotes the value of self-responsibility.

• Our achieving peers in the High Schools and the community challenge their less achieving peers in word and in action.
• "There is no room for blaming anyone for my situation in life. I am tired of naming others and shaming them by what I say and not do."
• The Guiding Light Award represents such a challenge!

Jim Reynolds represents the natural expression of such a value. He embraces diversity among peoples as he takes charge of his career path. He made school work for him. He moved into the business world, navigated through the challenges, turning obstacles into opportunities.

We congratulate Jim Reynolds for accepting our Guiding Light Award to be given to him by Ray McCaskey, the Co-chair of Life Directions in Chicago. We will begin gathering on the 7th floor at Macy's in the loop beginning 5:30 PM on November 8th. Merri Dee, as our EmCee, will call us to dinner at 6:30 PM.

We hope those who come - those who know Jim Reynolds as a leader - will enjoy the group of young people and the young adults in their 20 and 30s who will represent over 30,000 young adults from 13 through their 30s. We hope to have this evening support our programs to reach more young people at risk of not being ready to complete college, if they wish.

Call or e-mail me, if you want more information - jphelps@lifedirections.org - 773.265.5806

Some of my reflections on "Waiting For Superman"

It is a very revealing and challenging documentary.

I thought of the young people with whom we connect throughout the year. I was amazed at the insightful awareness of the documentary.

• The young people who don't win the "lottery" were very disheartened. It was sad to see them after they lost.
• The presentation of the issue of tenure was very confrontive. It seems we need to find a better way to ensure justice for the teachers and the ability to develop & reward great teachers.

Working in Public Schools that are neighborhood-based for the most part and among the poor, I have been in the very settings that are presented.

I came away from the documentary with a heightened awareness of readying young people to make the school they are in work for them. God bless those who are breaking and fixing the system. In the meantime, we want to deepen our resolve to focus on young people being self-responsible and doing what they need to do to be ready for college and/or a qualitiy career, no matter what they are given by teachers and administration.

Reflections on Life Directions "Work In Progress"

Our first blog wants to encourage all, who receive and reflect upon our journey, to join us with your reflections and suggestions.

We have been walking the walk to engage the lives of youth and young adults since November 1, 1973. The ebb and flow has been amazing.

For our initial entry I want to thank those who are part of where we are.

• In Detroit, our city of origin, the Board of Trustees will be meeting this coming Monday evening to celebrate coming out of our own recession to look forward to growing the branches that are now stronger due in great part to the quality pruning from January 2008. Thanks to the board, to Bonnie Remenapp and Sister Rosalie, to all the self-supporting people beginning with Judith MacDonald, the eldest of the Elders - December 16, 1973.
• In Chicago, our second city, the Board of Trustees are in the midst of "Stepping Up and Stepping Out". Our "Salute To Our Guiding Light - Jim Reynolds" are inviting all to come to Macy's on State and Madison on November 8th to celebrate the work of 21 years that has impacted over 30,000 youth and young adults. Thanks to the board, to Van Bensett and Sr. Gilda Marie and Brian Entz, to all of the self-supported people beginning with Nelson Carlo, the eldest of the Elders and Ray McCaskey, our fearless leader.
• In Tucson, our city in the Southwest, the Board of Trustees are to meet on October 18. They are partnering with the Life Directions Community Action Circle with the leadership rooted in the Mendoza family. Thanks to the board that is searching to sustain our entry into Sunnyside and Apollo and the Tohono O'oldham Nation. We especially thank Raul Nido, the chairperson of Life Directions in Tucson, who opened his arms to go "out of box", not to return since May 1997.
• In Marion County, our city in the Northwest, the Board of Trustees is seeking to establish a way to build capacity with a way that is sustainable. The Life Directions' Community Action Circle is seeking to nurture the roots of our work, so ably planted by Dr. Leo Rasca-Hidalgo. We are deeply grateful for the leadership of Mr. Kevin Mannix that is practical, purposeful and visionary! Begun with amazing leaders in 2002, we are gratefully building with their legacy.

Our Central Support Team is made up of Sr. Rosalie Esquerra, OP; Bonnie Remenapp and Fr. John Phelps, C.Ss.R. We were presented to the National Board members at our "Face-to-Face" National Board Meeting on August 27, 2010. We officially began on October 1, 2010, a famous day that remembers how silence leads to solidarity that is self-sustaining beyond what revenue reduces!

Our motto over the past year has been "We cannot lose our way when there is no road!"

Looking forward to your comments.