tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49963921807100606662024-03-12T19:22:38.184-05:00Street Youth MinistryStreet Youth Ministry of Austin exists to know, love and serve street-dependent youth. The first step of our mission is to notice street youth. Then we must understand their culture to know how to love and serve them. SYM spends time every day with more than 100 young adults. We provide basic services, counseling, referral to services, and Christian guidance counseling. It it a privilege to know these young people.Terry Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00693969380651894221noreply@blogger.comBlogger637125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-3921170758012998372023-11-10T06:00:00.011-06:002023-11-10T06:00:00.132-06:00Feature on Salesforce Ben<b><span style="font-size: large;">We have been featured as one of the <a href="https://www.salesforceben.com/easily-find-remove-and-prevent-any-salesforce-duplicate-records-in-depth-overview/" target="_blank">20 Most Popular Salesforce Admin & Developer Blogs 2023 on Salesforce Ben</a>. </span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtxRV5lHvqzGe7CVWCq5G29bvaue-F8r2KzvvI506iE98W6xSOCFUyy4kPI1sHomGc0exk9K8p3hHuji1oS0Qjqnt1WnnucD9MIK1uNDbjOEnKqd1hWW61uiBDsKnsfDF6fJ-ZanF-oVun5Iw0pjvZQFrRKrZyo8kiMsv1f8eZp8w86ClU1-7NFGDbS7c/s2076/Screenshot%202023-11-09%20at%209.19.19%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2076" data-original-width="1228" height="996" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtxRV5lHvqzGe7CVWCq5G29bvaue-F8r2KzvvI506iE98W6xSOCFUyy4kPI1sHomGc0exk9K8p3hHuji1oS0Qjqnt1WnnucD9MIK1uNDbjOEnKqd1hWW61uiBDsKnsfDF6fJ-ZanF-oVun5Iw0pjvZQFrRKrZyo8kiMsv1f8eZp8w86ClU1-7NFGDbS7c/w518-h996/Screenshot%202023-11-09%20at%209.19.19%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="518" /></a></div><br /><blockquote><br /><br /></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaSWscF4IjKWf0tcXZCSXzgoZ2kj3cdgpwoQiR2mG638upsf1N5cG41O43jZMBqmQQabq9M0TOneECrL847R9kIBOBcQfmQBt_rroFDX235ahitPTlvzBS94iUiWC4VzE8EnDy7ffw9fYK4xWnHBTlXYF5YDSDjZn2U7_wzbTrU7b3U4TteXVEOMatjt2/s1166/Screenshot%202023-11-09%20at%209.19.36%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1158" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaSWscF4IjKWf0tcXZCSXzgoZ2kj3cdgpwoQiR2mG638upsf1N5cG41O43jZMBqmQQabq9M0TOneECrL847R9kIBOBcQfmQBt_rroFDX235ahitPTlvzBS94iUiWC4VzE8EnDy7ffw9fYK4xWnHBTlXYF5YDSDjZn2U7_wzbTrU7b3U4TteXVEOMatjt2/w491-h493/Screenshot%202023-11-09%20at%209.19.36%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="491" /></a></div><br />Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-2123159839579156662023-08-09T13:17:00.000-05:002023-08-09T13:17:13.318-05:00Broadcast Interview on Overcomers.TV<p> </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dGebHpF0HK4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />Terry Cole is founder and executive director of Street Youth Ministry, a nonprofit public charity he founded in 2008. SYMin, as it is known, provides homeless young adults with guidance counseling that changes their lives. SYMin serves 500 people each year and has expanded regionally and even nationally. Terry’s team meets clients’ basic needs and works to reactivate faith as a resource for many of them, providing support groups and Bible studies and enabling thousands of prayer requests each year. Terry uses business principles learned in his 25 years of high-tech engineering to leverage data-driven techniques as he leads an amazing team that is trusted, encouraging, inspiring and always keeping things fresh for the young adults it serves. The ministry motto is to “know, love and serve homeless young adults.” The supporters in the SYMin network find their eyes are opened as they learn to enjoy, love and support the amazing SYMin clients, investing in better futures for each of them.Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-69023235295091428222023-03-06T12:58:00.010-06:002023-03-06T13:03:16.949-06:00Salvation Army Downtown Shelter Closure Will Force More People Experiencing Homelessness onto Austin’s Streets<div style="background-color: white; color: #3366ff; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3366ff;">I participated in the press release regarding the loss of 200 beds this month. It was organized by Central Presbyterian Church. </span>We were on the press release with a logo and quote.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS4pM0livDz-ysLxR63RH4cOy1MPqzcQfFOC5XfhWmufZPD-PYmAoabD15mX3HljUMN-VM6uD9jeaDKqHdrqHC-p42JqQWOFbtl7v5K51u8Mtsbz2PgQRVZyOENy362AetfLubTNvyAIiWG2SaDJ1mXbS1bD-WtHZaG0jRe5KJJJC1YNiwT7Ylg6km8A" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="776" height="1042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS4pM0livDz-ysLxR63RH4cOy1MPqzcQfFOC5XfhWmufZPD-PYmAoabD15mX3HljUMN-VM6uD9jeaDKqHdrqHC-p42JqQWOFbtl7v5K51u8Mtsbz2PgQRVZyOENy362AetfLubTNvyAIiWG2SaDJ1mXbS1bD-WtHZaG0jRe5KJJJC1YNiwT7Ylg6km8A=w607-h1042" width="607" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS4pM0livDz-ysLxR63RH4cOy1MPqzcQfFOC5XfhWmufZPD-PYmAoabD15mX3HljUMN-VM6uD9jeaDKqHdrqHC-p42JqQWOFbtl7v5K51u8Mtsbz2PgQRVZyOENy362AetfLubTNvyAIiWG2SaDJ1mXbS1bD-WtHZaG0jRe5KJJJC1YNiwT7Ylg6km8A" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFue1a8d08ZM5ethWq6JlqCYmOhaTF1pEK14dEqr3quEw4sdjCxq5cIzG4N_FQr1HBLqSt8MNRgfgYjIxeg8yWRMF0xSwWzzEIgxZyya9uFV5y9wA-oxyzuDA37mNup1I4Id0WtPzKScPXUDSfHWG_4pDqSCoNvf3Lt6ZrekQrQg0LjohYUWgIB2gmnQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1238" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFue1a8d08ZM5ethWq6JlqCYmOhaTF1pEK14dEqr3quEw4sdjCxq5cIzG4N_FQr1HBLqSt8MNRgfgYjIxeg8yWRMF0xSwWzzEIgxZyya9uFV5y9wA-oxyzuDA37mNup1I4Id0WtPzKScPXUDSfHWG_4pDqSCoNvf3Lt6ZrekQrQg0LjohYUWgIB2gmnQ=w640-h460" width="640" /></a></div></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: inherit;">We spoke for 5 minutes before the cameras and a mayor city staffer. The facebook link should take you to minute 23 of the thirty minute press conference:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #3366ff; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div>
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="314" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCPCAustin%2Fvideos%2F537053265236154%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe>
<div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3366ff; font-size: small;">And we did an interview with KVUE that resulted to this tiny sound bite that aired last night:</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3366ff; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="true" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.kvue.com/embeds/video/responsive/269-09482895-0f69-49d3-9273-33638b90e69f/iframe" style="border: 1px solid #e6e6e6;" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="640"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/homeless/advocates-salvation-army-city-officials-downtown-shelter/269-9fbd3635-1ea4-4840-b22c-d42b3ffe912b">https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/homeless/advocates-salvation-army-city-officials-downtown-shelter/269-9fbd3635-1ea4-4840-b22c-d42b3ffe912b</a></div>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-17141416846844397362023-02-16T12:00:00.001-06:002023-02-16T22:45:46.053-06:00Meet the 2023 Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame Members<p> </p><div class="wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents" style="color: #080707; font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; margin-top: 0px;"><ul style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-left: 1rem;"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;"><a data-level="2" href="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/welcome-hall-of-fame-mvps/#h-what-is-the-salesforce-mvp-hall-of-fame" style="transition: color var(--transition-speed) ease;">What is the Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame?</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;"><a data-level="2" href="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/welcome-hall-of-fame-mvps/#h-updates-to-the-hall-of-fame" style="transition: color var(--transition-speed) ease;">Updates to the Hall of Fame</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;"><a data-level="2" href="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/welcome-hall-of-fame-mvps/#h-introducing-the-new-salesforce-mvp-hall-of-fame-members" style="transition: color var(--transition-speed) ease;">Introducing the new Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame members</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;"><a data-level="2" href="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/welcome-hall-of-fame-mvps/#h-in-memory-of-meighan-brodkey" style="transition: color var(--transition-speed) ease;">In memory of Meighan Brodkey</a></li></ul></div><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Each year, the <a href="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/what-is-the-trailblazer-community/" rel=" noopener" style="transition: color var(--transition-speed) ease;" target="_blank">Trailblazer Community</a> gathers to <a href="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/mvp-nominations-2023/" rel=" noopener" style="transition: color var(--transition-speed) ease;" target="_blank">nominate their Trailblazer heroes</a> for the distinguished Salesforce MVP honor. While we’ll be announcing the new class of 2023 Salesforce MVPs later this month (hold on to your hoodies, folks!), we couldn’t be more thrilled to officially recognize the newest members of the <a href="https://trailhead.salesforce.com/mvp/?&utm_source=salesforce&utm_medium=blog-360&utm_campaign=trailblazer_blog&utm_content=tbc_feb23_mvphalloffame&icid=SFBLOG:tbc-blog:7010M0000025ltGQAQ" rel=" noopener" style="transition: color var(--transition-speed) ease;" target="_blank">Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame</a>.</p><h2 id="h-what-is-the-salesforce-mvp-hall-of-fame" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--c-text-primary); font-family: var(--f-primary); font-size: 1.5rem; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: -0.004em; line-height: 1.33; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-top: var(--sp-s); overflow-wrap: break-word;">What is the Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame?</h2><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">The Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame is a special community of our most dedicated long-time Salesforce MVPs. Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame members have been renewed as Salesforce MVPs for a total of 5 years and have consistently showcased the program pillars of expertise, leadership, and generosity. This special group of Salesforce MVPs has dedicated themselves to the Trailblazer Community in deep and meaningful ways for many years. In fact, the Salesforce MVP Program was created in 2010 to recognize the incredible impact many in this group were already making, whether it was breaking the leaderboard by answering 100,000 questions in the Trailblazer Community, blazing trails for women by starting the first Women in Tech Community Group, or so much more. Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame members are the ultimate connectors. You’ll find them mentoring and guiding newcomers making a career transition to Salesforce, and they’ve been helping others solve complex problems, even before we had an online space to do so! Many of the Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame members that you see below are offering their time and knowledge, free of cost to nonprofits and universities around the world. They’re creating organizations to amplify diversity and inclusion in the tech industry and are supporting underserved communities. These individuals truly exemplify what it means to be a Trailblazer.</p><h2 id="h-updates-to-the-hall-of-fame" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--c-text-primary); font-family: var(--f-primary); font-size: 1.5rem; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: -0.004em; line-height: 1.33; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-top: var(--sp-s); overflow-wrap: break-word;">Updates to the Hall of Fame</h2><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Beginning this year, Salesforce MVPs who have been renewed for 5 years are inducted into the Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame, which recognizes their incredible accomplishments and tenure of giving back to the Trailblazer Community. By elevating Salesforce MVPs to the Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame, we honor their dedication and intentionally create space for new leaders to emerge within the Salesforce MVP program.</p><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Many members of this year’s Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame class have been with the Trailblazer Community since the very beginning. In fact, prior to the 5-year term limit, many who are being inducted today were renewed as Salesforce MVPs for 10 or more years. Together, these Trailblazers created Salesforce’s spirit of “paying it forward,” established our Trailblazer Community Group program and community conferences, and forged the Trailblazer Community into the global phenomenon it is today.</p><div class="layout-astro wp-block-salesforce-blog-related-trail" style="--background-base: linear-gradient(287.56deg,#fee58e,#fffcf3); border-radius: 1pc; color: #080707; font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; margin-bottom: 3.5rem; margin-top: var(--sp-l); overflow: hidden; padding: 4.375rem 4.375rem 4.375rem 1.75rem; position: relative;"><img alt="" class="related-trail__illustration related-trail__cloud" src="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/wp-content/themes/salesforce-blog/dist/images/related-trail-cloud-layout-astro.png" style="border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 27.625rem !important; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px;" /><img alt="" class="related-trail__illustration related-trail__background" src="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/wp-content/themes/salesforce-blog/dist/images/related-trail-background-layout-astro.png" style="border-style: none; bottom: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 43.125rem !important; position: absolute; right: 0px;" /><div class="related-trail__wrapper" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-pack: justify; align-items: center; display: flex; gap: 4rem; justify-content: space-between; position: relative; z-index: 10;"><div class="related-trail__content" style="max-width: 18.5625rem;"><svg class="related-trail__logo" viewbox="0 0 345.8 82.8" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M96.6 33h9v22.6h4.8V33h8.8v-4.3H96.6zm49.8 5.3c0-5.7-3.6-9.6-10.8-9.6H127v27h4.8v-7.9h3l2.3-.1 5.7 8h5.6l-7-9.2c3.4-1.6 5-4.5 5-8.2zm-11.1 5.3h-3.6V33h3.6c4.4 0 6 2.3 6 5.3s-1.6 5.3-6 5.3zm30.8-15.2-12.6 27.2h5l2.3-5.3h11.6l2.4 5.3h5l-12.6-27.1zm-3.6 18 4.1-9.2 4.1 9.3zm25.2-17.7h4.8v27h-4.8zm20.7 0h-4.8v27h17.6v-4.4h-12.8zm38.4 12.1h-13.2V28.7H229v27h4.7V45h13.2v10.6h4.7V28.7h-4.7zm15.9 14.8h17.5v-4.4h-12.7v-6.4H279v-4.2h-11.5v-7.5h12.7v-4.4h-17.5zm36.9-27.2L287 55.6h5l2.3-5.3H306l2.4 5.3h5l-12.6-27.1zm-3.6 18 4.1-9.2 4.1 9.3zm35.4-17.7h-10.2v27h10.2c8.2 0 14.4-5.9 14.4-13.6s-6-13.4-14.4-13.4zm0 22.6H326V33h5.4a9.1 9.1 0 1 1 0 18.1z" fill="#1d3767"></path><path d="M43 82.8h.1a74 74 0 0 0 38.5-12.3 3 3 0 0 0 1.3-2.4v-6A66.2 66.2 0 0 0 42.5.2a3 3 0 0 0-2.3 0A66.2 66.2 0 0 0 0 62.2V68a3 3 0 0 0 1.2 2.4 74 74 0 0 0 40.2 12.4z" fill="#1d315f"></path><path d="M13.8 51.8a.3.3 0 0 0 0-.1L33 23.6a3.1 3.1 0 0 1 .8-.8 3 3 0 0 1 4 .8l9.5 13.8 3.5-5a3 3 0 0 1 4.9 0L69 51.6a.3.3 0 0 1 .1.3h7C70.7 17.7 43.7 7.2 41.4 6.2c0 0-11.2 4-21.2 16A59.6 59.6 0 0 0 6.8 51.8zm21.7-21.3z" fill="#8ed1f4"></path><path d="m62 51.9-8.7-12.6-4.2 6.1 4.8 6.4z" fill="#aa76b3"></path><path d="m49 45.4-4.4 6.4H54z" fill="#722a87"></path><path d="m37 32.6-1.5-2.1z" fill="#8ed1f4"></path><path d="m28 41.4 7.6 10.4h1.8l6.4-9.2-6.8-10-1.5-2.1z" fill="#aa76b3"></path><path d="m28 41.4-7 10.4h14.6z" fill="#722a87"></path><path d="M43.8 72.5a1.8 1.8 0 0 0-1-2.4L40.1 69a8.2 8.2 0 0 1-1-.5 7.8 7.8 0 0 1-2.4-10.7H6a44 44 0 0 0-.2 4.4v4.4A70 70 0 0 0 26 75a70 70 0 0 0 15.2 2l2.4-4.3zm33-14.8H44.3l-2.5 3a1.7 1.7 0 0 0-.2.5 1.8 1.8 0 0 0 1 2.3l2.7 1.2.7.4a7.8 7.8 0 0 1 3 10.6l-.5.9 4.8-.8a70.7 70.7 0 0 0 8.4-2.2l1.3-.4a70.9 70.9 0 0 0 14-6.7v-8.8z" fill="#069a49"></path><path d="m46 65-.7-.3-2.7-1.2a1.8 1.8 0 0 1-1-2.4 1.7 1.7 0 0 1 .2-.4l2.5-3h-7.6A7.8 7.8 0 0 0 39 68.4a8.2 8.2 0 0 0 1 .5l2.7 1.2a1.8 1.8 0 0 1 1 2.4l-.1.2-2.5 4.3a52.5 52.5 0 0 0 7.2-.4l.5-.9A7.8 7.8 0 0 0 46 65.1z" fill="#fff"></path><path d="M56.9 67.3h8.8l-4.4-5zM23 71h9l-4.5-5.1zm-4.1-10.4-4.5 5h8.9z" fill="#157139"></path></svg><h2 class="h3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--c-text-primary); font-family: var(--f-primary); font-size: 2.25rem; letter-spacing: -0.4px; line-height: 1.17; margin-bottom: 0.43em; margin-top: 0.43em; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Trailhead Module: Trailblazer Community Groups</h2><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">See how the Trailblazer Community helps you learn, connect, and get inspired.</p><div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link" href="https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/trailblazer-community-basics?&utm_source=salesforce&utm_medium=blog-360&utm_campaign=trailblazer_blog&utm_content=tbc_feb23_mvphalloffame&icid=SFBLOG:tbc-blog:7010M0000025ltGQAQ" rel=" noopener" style="--btn-vertical-spacing: 0.9375rem; border-radius: var(--border-radius); box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: var(--f-primary); font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.33; padding: var(--btn-vertical-spacing) var(--btn-horizontal-spacing); text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; transition: background-color var(--transition-speed) ease; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">HIT THE TRAILS</a></div></div><div class="related-trail__mock" style="border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 20, 45, 0.08) 0px 0.5rem 1.0625rem 0.125rem; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 1rem 1rem 2rem; position: relative; transform: translateY(1.875rem); width: 13.25rem;"><div class="related-trail__points" style="-webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; border-radius: 4.5rem; box-shadow: rgba(0, 20, 45, 0.08) 0px 0.5rem 1.0625rem 0.125rem; color: var(--c-text-primary); display: flex; font-family: var(--f-primary); font-size: 0.6875rem; gap: 0.375rem; padding: 0.1875rem 1rem 0.1875rem 0.1875rem; position: absolute; right: -2.1rem; top: -1.3rem;">+200 points</div><div class="related-trail__eyebrow" style="font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 0.625rem;">Module</div><h3 class="related-trail__trail-title" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--c-navy-blue); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 1.25rem; letter-spacing: -0.1px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.43em; max-width: 8.8125rem; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Trailhead Module: Trailblazer Community Groups</h3><p class="related-trail__trail-description" style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 0.625rem; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 6.3125rem; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></p><div class="related-trail__actions" style="-webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; display: flex; gap: 0.25rem;"><div class="related-trail__action" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-pack: center; align-items: center; border-radius: 1px; border: 0.3px solid var(--c-dim-gray); display: flex; height: 1.25rem; justify-content: center; width: 1.25rem;"><svg fill="none" viewbox="0 0 10 10" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path clip-rule="evenodd" d="m4.93.69.88 2.88c.04.12.16.18.27.18h2.89c.29 0 .4.38.17.56L6.79 6.04c-.1.07-.13.2-.1.32l1.12 2.96c.08.27-.2.5-.44.33L4.85 7.77c-.1-.08-.23-.08-.34 0L1.97 9.65a.29.29 0 0 1-.45-.33L2.6 6.36a.3.3 0 0 0-.1-.32L.17 4.3c-.23-.18-.1-.56.17-.56h2.89c.13 0 .23-.04.27-.18l.9-2.9c.08-.27.46-.25.54.02Z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#747474"></path></svg></div><div class="related-trail__action" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-pack: center; align-items: center; border-radius: 1px; border: 0.3px solid var(--c-dim-gray); display: flex; height: 1.25rem; justify-content: center; width: 1.25rem;"><svg fill="none" viewbox="0 0 9 5" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M4.16 4.5.26 0h7.8l-3.9 4.5Z" fill="#747474"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><img alt="" class="related-trail__illustration related-trail__foreground" src="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/wp-content/themes/salesforce-blog/dist/images/related-trail-foreground-layout-astro.png" style="border-style: none; bottom: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 7.875rem !important; position: absolute; right: 2rem; z-index: 20;" /><img alt="" class="related-trail__illustration related-trail__parks" src="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/wp-content/themes/salesforce-blog/dist/images/related-trail-parks-layout-astro.png" style="border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 2.0625rem; position: absolute; right: 213.958px; top: 3rem;" /></div><h2 id="h-introducing-the-new-salesforce-mvp-hall-of-fame-members" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--c-text-primary); font-family: var(--f-primary); font-size: 1.5rem; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: -0.004em; line-height: 1.33; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-top: var(--sp-s); overflow-wrap: break-word;">Introducing the new Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame members</h2><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">It’s time to introduce you to the dedicated, exceptional leaders and product experts who make up this year’s inductees into the Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame. Drumroll, please…</p><div class="wp-container-3 wp-block-columns" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: nowrap; font-size: 16px; gap: 2em; grid-column: content / content; margin-bottom: 1.75em;"><div class="wp-container-1 wp-block-column" style="color: #080707; flex-basis: 0px; flex-grow: 1; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><ul style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-left: 1rem;"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Adam Kramer</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Adam Olshansky</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Adam Spriggs</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Akira Kuratani</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Alex Sutherland</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Amber Boaz</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Amit Chaudhary</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Andrea Tarrell</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Angela Mahoney</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Becka Miller</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Ben McCarthy</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Bill Powell</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Brendan Conroy</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Brian Fear</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Brian Kwong</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Calvin Smith</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Carl Brundage</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Caroline Renard</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Chris Zullo</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Christian Szandor Knapp</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Chuck Liddell</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Dale Ziegler</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Daniel Appleman</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Daniel Peter</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">David Litton</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">David Liu</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Deepak K Anand</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Don Robins</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Eliot Harper</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Enrico Murru</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Evan Johnson</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Fabien Taillon</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Florence Parodi</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Gaurav Kheterpal</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Geraldine Gray</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Guillermo Pedroni</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Ikou Sanuki</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Ines Garcia</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Jackie Travieso</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Jessica Murphy</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Jitendra Zaa</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Joanna Iturbe</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Jocelyn Fennewald</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Jodie Miners</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Johan Yu</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Junko Nakayama</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Karen Fitton</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Keiko Niimi</li></ul></div><div class="wp-container-2 wp-block-column" style="flex-basis: 0px; flex-grow: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: var(--wp--style--block-gap,2em); margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><ul style="font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-left: 1rem;"><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Keir Bowden</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Kerry Townsend</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Kristi Campbell</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Lizz Hellinga</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Louise Lockie</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Maria Belli</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Mary Tagler</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Matt Lacey</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Matthew Morris</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Mayank Srivastava</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Megan Himan</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Meighan Brodkey (In Memory)</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Melissa Hansen</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Michael Kolodner</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Mike Martin</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Misty Jones</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Monica Sandberg</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Nana Eto</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Nick Lindberg</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Ohad Idan</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Patrick Connelly</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Patrick Solum</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Paul Battisson</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Peter Churchill</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Peter Lyons</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Phil Weinmeister</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Phillip Southern</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Rachel Watson</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Rakesh Gupta</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Rakia Finley</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Rebe de la Paz</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Rebecca Lammers</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Roy Gilad</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Ryan Ozimek</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Sadahiro Suzuki</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Santanu Boral</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Shonnah Hughes</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Shun Kosaka</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Stacey Whitaker</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Stephanie Foerst</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Stephanie Herrera</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Steve Molis</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Stuart Edeal</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Susan Thayer</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.5rem;"><span style="color: #0037ff;">Terry Cole</span></li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Tigh Loughhead</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Toya Tate</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Trish Perkins</li><li style="color: var(--c-nero); margin-bottom: 0.5rem;">Vinay Chaturvedi</li></ul></div></div><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Congratulations again to our new Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame members! We’re deeply grateful and inspired by the magnitude at which you share your knowledge, time, and passion. Learn more about these incredible Trailblazers and the Salesforce Hall of Fame Program on the <a href="https://trailhead.salesforce.com/mvp/#meet?&utm_source=salesforce&utm_medium=blog-360&utm_campaign=trailblazer_blog&utm_content=tbc_feb23_mvphalloffame&icid=SFBLOG:tbc-blog:7010M0000025ltGQAQ" rel=" noopener" style="transition: color var(--transition-speed) ease;" target="_blank">Salesforce MVP page</a>.</p><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><br /></p><h2 id="h-in-memory-of-meighan-brodkey" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: var(--c-text-primary); font-family: var(--f-primary); font-size: 1.5rem; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: -0.004em; line-height: 1.33; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-top: var(--sp-s); overflow-wrap: break-word;">In memory of Meighan Brodkey</h2><div class="wp-block-image is-style-default" style="color: #080707; font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="clear: both; display: table; margin: 0px auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-41360" height="400" loading="lazy" src="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/MeighanBrodkey400x400.png?w=400" style="border-radius: 1rem; border-style: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: bottom; width: 400px;" width="400" /></figure></div><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">We’d like to recognize and honor a true MVP and bright star who we recently lost, Meighan Brodkey. Meighan’s light will always shine bright in our community. In fact, the title of Salesforce MVP Hall of Fame barely scratches the surface of all she has accomplished and the lives she has impacted.</p><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Leader. Mentor. Friend. Teacher. Cheerleader. Champion. These are just a few of the words the Trailblazer Community has used to describe Meighan. She embodies what it means to be a community leader and Salesforce MVP. Nicknamed “Mother of Ohana Slack,” she single-handedly built a community of 10,000+ Salesforce professionals, who are connecting and sharing knowledge around the clock. Join us in keeping Meighan’s spirit alive by <a href="https://join.slack.com/t/salesforceohana/shared_invite/zt-1os3v5lpw-nmR~Qankl7X~Qow53TKDOg" rel=" noopener" style="transition: color var(--transition-speed) ease;" target="_blank">joining the Ohana Slack Community</a>.</p><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Meighan helped others love themselves and love what they do. Even when someone had a difficult time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, she had a way of picking them up and dragging them through that tunnel on her back, with a witty remark, and a joke to make them smile along the way. Her energy and passion were contagious. She was everyone’s biggest advocate. Her selflessness and the sheer magnitude of all she gave to others—her time, compassion, knowledge, and love—are part of every incredible story shared about Meighan. Her spirit and #trailheart will live on through the thousands of people she helped lift up.</p><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">May her memory continue to inspire others!</p><p style="color: var(--c-nero); font-family: var(--f-secondary); font-size: 16px; grid-column: content / content; letter-spacing: 0.0012em; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Have a favorite Meighan story to share? Please <a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qA_WlcRK3g_oc3ut0D-oldynNk-48nhvjoZvnS2-yGU/edit#slide=id.p" rel=" noopener" style="transition: color var(--transition-speed) ease;" target="_blank">share your story in this digital memorial</a>, which has also been shared with Meighan’s friends and family. You can also join the #ohana-slack-mother-memorial channel in Ohana Slack.</p>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-82805528792265831192023-02-16T08:00:00.001-06:002023-02-16T08:00:00.191-06:00Clients are engaging more with us!<p> </p><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-5024348922713778963imgtable" style="background-color: #feffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 15px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhc5wfORW0DoAk91hW0Qi9n6g6n2r1aE-GymXGct9pyZ2csfy8ByKebd9peO1BTt8PNp9-7fI8y8kAO8m4VgglLZhiunTAXOFPizxj7ZRCTx-XvVnj8gU9BDHa_lPx7iW5OAvPGJrFjYRIEe2ujJH9grec91J8gT2ng61UUhxGvMPWgnibDxanxhNlgrmZBDbWyTVraxaoiVq884U4QLz8Ey5dvfPw_zYPP0c33NlRMqeEe2yBBMzINxvyfmFftgN-uLwPYIUeBU9nsPCFpFYKjTQj11ssoZ84ZbvurD-qIGRLX5xpVYhFaEXNCOD0wH02hzeJw=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; cursor: pointer; display: block; outline: none;" tabindex="0" vspace="0" width="911" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> <strong><u>We are very proud of how clients are engaging with us in the new year!</u></strong><br /> We've thrown a lot of change at them in order to expand our schedule. Housing and employment are the top achievements. Getting <u>AND</u> maintaining them are so important to stability.<br /> Given the holiday season, we are also very proud of the <strong><u>self-care, stability and family reconciliation</u></strong> achievements. Lots of other great progress here. In terms of expressed goals, the same ones appear but are joined by <strong><u>college</u></strong>. Education and growth are key to recovering from the special form of American poverty that we call being a "street youth."<br /> It's not about physical relief only -- that is important. It's not all about housing, though that is important, too, For young people who have found their way to the street, self-exploration and additional maturity, healing and growth are keys. <strong><u>We are proud to be part of these stories -- each and every one!</u></strong></p><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-5024348922713778963imgtable" style="background-color: #feffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgJpuHXX39Y21YhvtjIJHW6wscSaRq8NM-AwfKn08AdwsJPtpO6zpWbpF75mLzsGiRyaiMvgZMhCRdeMVfji_bDJrwipls3_n08v1f-98FkCeBfmBzxeWoDMqIqwwwtGUH16lxJAHAEf4q3AC09qZ1_wJBxB97rBaDgnydgLYkNIRosZKXgbBrJpxtxBUirkI0A4UN6ui_PfW1ftHM4uPN5wj_3C-8XApGXkIOyZO1qzH8KvvXPd7CuFPiTJGr8vOWsslDMG01-4q0OLmAldmptH9EMZdjaHdMoktBzhcJnsY2dGE16yU1WiN7K1gLuMLhnflsZyw=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; cursor: pointer; display: block; outline: none;" tabindex="0" vspace="0" width="911" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-25141031180603971472023-02-11T08:00:00.002-06:002023-02-16T01:23:07.394-06:00New art group lets clients be creative!<p><br /></p><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-5024348922713778963imgtable" style="background-color: #feffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhdHZGAtnG-KlLcjRBN-ykQxy4krrwLOCxJ2M_D-7qhzWYLXoPTFcTeE-8MJ1s_I1Hi51r6n7R0zLaYnW0f_SVQPrg3pIijaoEW1_dBJuLk5MFGfutciPZ1INbbOQik5Epn6MUKOrE611lCQCmovcB-UdWMfV8FOB5_LATB0xLcHItJqXXMSi3gAP7jXmjga2rZOy61eC8N9hczX3lKIHJ0pKA4-WUVG9emTJTTj8HYOiEHtdU1NarNOJwW-9mOW9qPPUrhGX9Fdikg-J2L8xzRqXl8NZRjKtjuuP7eC0UJ9mQqG6zXZfdLjkSpkMn3rGHozyhA=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="999" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-5024348922713778963imgtable" style="background-color: #feffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 2px 10px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" height="266" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgPAjC9d8tD0Iy3Pn4dQSmaFyFO-lmZQvqZhCeikh-3bKQoD8HpQxfrnOHxFvitmQElk0iefer5VIPTG9POdQLq66vNoe_BnJCvn8JDxB8lhFzT92ZnAO6c1F_MNIQF6Ruki3HoEPYSl8iKldzytyOf4CLieWmtZcODGPMG0-X_-9WTkdBiMGFihnpBEnCYLY2l1PdjKa2ptxwcBoivLPYwrzDNBhaL-tuXK-iiHsRLnCYQKRi3kAXjx0co4FX7RDxSzxWeIv6immqhN_F1eO_Hc01Q3KidvrsP7e4TS5hLXaPqzbuzCJm7Pg8lvuvxMkvtJrST=w372-h266" style="border: medium none; cursor: pointer; display: block; outline: none;" tabindex="0" vspace="0" width="372" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p align="left" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> We are excited to announce the first edition of <strong><u>“Word on the Street”</u></strong> — a newspaper created by street youth, for street youth. Each edition will feature creative work by SYMin clients, plus information intended to guide anyone in need to available resources.<br /> In our first edition, beautiful paintings, clever haikus and powerful prose illustrate <strong><u>two major themes -- death and hope of life after loss</u></strong> – as when the silence and cold of winter are succeeded by the beauty and new life of spring.<br /> This winter, like many winters, our community lost a beloved friend. One client writes about how losses affected her, influenced her recovery and ultimately led her to growth, change and new life after loss.<br /> <strong><u>The content is produced by SYMin’s new “Outside the Lines” Creative Group</u></strong>, which meets twice a week in our upstairs Learning Center. Many clients find it possible to process difficult thoughts and emotions through art, making room for healing. <strong>“<u>This is therapy for me,” said one client. “Thank you for starting this group</u>.”</strong></p><div><strong><br /></strong></div>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-77247797739299268252023-02-05T08:00:00.001-06:002023-02-16T01:20:32.541-06:00Volunteers help new parents get skills they need.<p> </p><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-5024348922713778963rtable" style="background-color: #444545; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px auto; width: 1068px;"><tbody><tr><th class="m_-5024348922713778963contenttd" style="background-color: #feffff; border-bottom-color: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-width: 8px medium medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 1068px;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 1068px;"><tbody><tr height="198" style="height: 198px;"><th class="m_-5024348922713778963contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 20px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 1038px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-5024348922713778963imgtable" style="margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEh5UOyKlmVdgRaSrkABcxQ7DWJow7Hg3WbF-e6kiA59zrkmorTyOjLpLDOz-hcFvlU9jxOuct05JjWR6ptvLF7DyGmryQ_YrVNk_SF0MnW-w4VYnGjrmFCkE0JQ2YbYb5ddTkSnySyyj_9hfOYZ6i6l8os_qRpvbTqrBcZl_rni1K7NLxPSAR6ptO7pboEK9b07AzzRpJ0jEsfoXjqyjwYxgTOG3S7mCUBPA8Dugks2y8Nnz7En8QOHfIkf9wd9BZYShWG1q3BxHhmtmsKQwGV-08jHiIXPd2bpEbbTk8d6Vnli0aJN1wvOvTCj8htT7QQFVt5_=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; cursor: pointer; display: block; outline: none;" tabindex="0" vspace="0" width="999" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></th></tr></tbody></table></th></tr><tr><th class="m_-5024348922713778963contenttd" style="background-color: #feffff; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 1068px;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 1068px;"><tbody><tr height="1544" style="height: 1544px;"><th class="m_-5024348922713778963contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 15px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 1038px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_-5024348922713778963imgtable" style="margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 15px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" jslog="138226; u014N:xr6bB; 53:W2ZhbHNlLDJd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEik2C82rvE0EfIeF8KLxi29fgG26rSpwkSFcdXoewCnBvX_eJmounNo_IIRrbCJhgPXQeObWuGFUYWwKzgm-Hiel3s4-9jFHDWgGrEZe8tYHltCxgNHZqdms-Ir_yfb1buC1cLhCZn7bmDFg5bWJya1fXNxxbq1Zf_lxA6tpgy3zL9iEzZmjs9TM04CxKVzWYaIY3YnCE5X9sqDEAmUhwLL7FgYTL4Pqq7GUPlyVtE3d-kOyRKommqinNJS_kEbZPpEZ0Gmn9eDavFnippREoFKClFhSrYHcaypLPdHUhw4gut8XI2zc9ECG94TXgotVfZoFrFN=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="999" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="justify" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: geneve, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> In recent years, we’ve seen a marked increase in the number of clients who are retaining custody of their newborns. <strong><u>The need for better parenting began to surface increasingly among client goals, so we set out to discover how to help them.</u></strong><br /> We have a grant for consultants for new moms or those planning to be, so we enrolled parents at Christmas and invited volunteers to shop for modest gifts and development resources appropriate for children. The response has been very good.<br /> <strong><u>A SYMin volunteer, Jen Harold, took a list of our clients and matched a mom volunteer at her church to each one</u></strong>. They purchased and wrapped gifts of a book and a toy for each child, along with a laminated insert containing ideas for parents to use in development help and play with their children, a support gift for each parent with words of encouragement, and a Starbucks gift card.<br /> To be eligible, clients had to be active and have some type of regular contact with their children.<br /> <strong><u>One client, new mother of the twins pictured here, gushed her appreciation</u></strong>: “Thank you, Terry Cole, Suzanne Zucca, Tondra Jade Daily, and Alan Richard, for being a part of Street Youth Ministry!” she wrote. “The girls love their gifts!!!! There are so many people I would love to thank for helping me become the person and mother I am today.<br /> “Let’s start here: Without Street Youth Ministry, I probably wouldn’t have survived on the streets of Austin. These amazing people … loved me through my drug days, my sober days, my homelessness, my housed self, my sick days. One big thank you from my small little family to yours. <strong><u>I can’t wait for y’all to meet the girls in person instead of over video!!! I miss y’all dearly!</u>”</strong></p></th></tr></tbody></table></th></tr></tbody></table>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-56604054129891292682023-01-14T08:00:00.015-06:002023-01-19T21:09:39.315-06:00Scripps News - For homeless youth, sometimes finding a place to live isn't the answer <div class="container-small text-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191e23; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 900px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 900px;"><div class="story-header"><h1 class="story-headline" style="font-size: 3.125em; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span style="padding: 1px 0px 2px;">For homeless youth, sometimes finding a place to live isn't the answer</span></h1><p class="story-des" style="color: #5a5a5a; font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 5px 0px;">The goal of Street Youth Ministry, a non-profit, is not to find teenagers housing, because many of them just don't want that.</p></div></div><div class="container-small" style="background-color: white; 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height: auto; justify-content: center; line-height: 44px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; pointer-events: all; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto; z-index: 10;" tabindex="0"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="afs_ads" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; height: 1px; position: absolute; width: 1px;"> </div></div><div class="video-headline" style="color: white; font-size: 1.125em; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1.5; margin: 10px 20px;"><span style="background-color: #003593; box-shadow: rgb(0, 53, 147) 6px 0px 0px, rgb(0, 53, 147) -6px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px;">For homeless youth, sometimes finding a place to live isn't the answer.</span></div></div></figure></div></div><div class="container-small text-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191e23; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 900px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 900px;"><div class="story-hero"><div class="holder"><div class="photo-credit" style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(111, 111, 111); color: #6f6f6f; font-size: 0.875em; font-style: italic; font-weight: 600; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 30px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Rich Pedroncelli / AP</div><div class="split-story-hero-info" style="position: relative;"><div class="story-author-line" style="align-items: center; color: #404040; display: flex; font-size: 1.125em; margin-bottom: 10px;"><div class="author-img" style="border-radius: 50%; height: 39px; margin: 0px 7px 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 39px;"><a href="https://scrippsnews.com/team/chris-conte-1/" style="background: transparent; color: #003593;"><img alt="" class="thumb" height="40" loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.scrippsnews.com/images/admins/m/1674059377.png" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 39px; margin: 0px; object-fit: cover; object-position: center center; position: absolute; width: 39px;" width="40" /></a></div>Article by <a href="https://scrippsnews.com/team/chris-conte-1/" style="background: transparent; color: #003593;">Chris Conte</a></div><div class="story-share-btns" style="padding-bottom: 30px; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px;"><a class="facebook" data-share-btn="Facebook" data-share-type="facebook" href="https://scrippsnews.com/stories/some-homeless-youth-aren-t-looking-for-a-place-to-live/#" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: initial; background-size: cover; background: url("/img_new/svg-icons/facebook.svg") 0% 0% / cover transparent; color: #191e23; display: inline-block; height: 39px; margin-left: 15px; text-decoration-line: none; text-indent: -9999px; width: 39px;" title="Facebook Share">Facebook Share</a><a class="twitter" data-share-btn="Twitter" data-share-type="twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=For%20homeless%20youth%2C%20sometimes%20finding%20a%20place%20to%20live%20isn%27t%20the%20answer&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscrippsnews.com%2Fstories%2Fsome-homeless-youth-aren-t-looking-for-a-place-to-live%2F&via=newsy" style="background-attachment: initial; 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margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">January 10, 2023</div></div></div></div><div class="story-main" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(150, 150, 150); margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 26px; text-align: left;"><div class="holder"><div class="story-transcript expanded" id="story-transcript" style="position: relative;"><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">There was a time in Sadie Haas' life when she could never imagine she’d be living under a highway overpass on the north side of Austin, Texas. A tent with only a sleeping bag and a small bag of clothes are the only possessions she owns.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">"This is my first time being homeless," Haas said, while sitting on top of an upside empty milk crate.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">Through the honking of semi horns and the often deafening revving of engines from the highway above her, Haas slowly explained how she ended up here a few months ago. During a robbery in her home, she says, she was shot. Unable to work, she lost her job. Like so many Americans, she was one paycheck away from losing it all.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">"Life knocked me down 10 notches lower," she said. "No one prepares you for that. There’s no schools for that."</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">Orphaned at an early age, she had no family to fall back on. Haas is among the nearly 4.2 million young people in this country who experience homelessness in a given year.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">"No one is here to make sure things are gonna get better. No one holds your hand. You’re out on a limb by yourself," she said.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">The days out here are long, and sometimes dangerous. The nights often feel even longer. But on the streets of Austin, Texas, if you listen close enough, you can hear a bit of hope coming from the basement of a church downtown, where Terry Cole greats a small handful of teenagers who trickle in.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">"Hi, Uncle Terry! What’s up?" one of them exclaims.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">Cole has been helping this country’s youth homeless population in non-traditional ways. He’s the founder of <a href="https://www.streetyouthministry.org/" style="background: transparent; color: #003593;" target="_blank">Street Youth Ministry</a> in Austin. The goal of this nonprofit is not to find teenagers housing, because many of them just don't want that. Instead, it’s to help them get over whatever hurdle they may be facing on any given day or night.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">"Our product is guidance counseling because we want to help them change their lives when they’re ready," Cole said.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">For Cole and the staff here, their main goal is to simply get homeless youth in the door. They run everything from a food pantry to a talent night in an effort to do that. During talent night on Wednesdays, homeless youth are encouraged to get up and perform. Some sing, others dance, and others might read a poem.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">"Truthfully, talent night is about building community," Cole said.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">Sometimes young people just come here to put their feet up for an hour, and that’s okay with Terry Cole. His mission is to play the long game: whatever it takes to make that initial connection and get these kids in the door. Then over time, the goal is to work with them to maybe find a job or mental health services, or even just a new sleeping bag.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">"This is a hard age group and almost all of our clients have been thrown out of one or all social work agencies, and many of them have been thrown out of here at least once," he explained.</p><p style="font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 5px 0px;">At the end of any day, for those who are homeless, Cole says sometimes all they need is to be given a chance — no matter their age.</p></div></div></div></div>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-46837973585824035652022-12-20T08:00:00.001-06:002023-01-19T00:34:11.397-06:00Day in the Life<p> </p><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254rtable" style="background-color: #444545; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px auto; width: 742px;"><tbody><tr><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: #feffff; border-bottom-color: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-width: 8px medium medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 742px;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 742px;"><tbody><tr height="169" style="height: 169px;"><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 20px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 712px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254imgtable" style="margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjH0asTYZGPlA6TWOGvRxE4UCnkCXGh7dOQhLo2hrb_7EBRIeCFLZETxKpjXsoFINrakNCoHKL4zTLT14-buoRdO_WL-Jj2ROIBKN8JcOtxBRqs1QF_v2y4yimtSUi0eafCXex0CnzDdOOFf7bZ6AXHohoruOAcIE25g2KCLz7zndRO05wJWuAWN2-_W0mz2M-fWo0zpirNQvL4RKGWWYj13AIsky-JuqqhB3pndEjVEhC620bTsNDTq8tFhTpibAF0LHsPwq4fgIh_edL64yl8yeKMy_6jgDGLFqk9Lrm5-aZxkz1e01DKjf4aT1BHZ_qJ6EtwGw=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="665" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></th></tr></tbody></table></th></tr><tr><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: #feffff; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 742px;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 742px;"><tbody><tr height="436" style="height: 436px;"><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 5px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 342px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254imgtable" style="margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 15px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhQ-qTW5YKf3gVrinQQ2Zjk_Z9z9dGjvmTxzjuRvnv3iKVjr86YHRL4oMCwr4RLGn1v5sXTU6TyrVg_d2uZBlW8BKZqY5JzGkijLcWk8vE9V3bSWRqeHIwGavOKX0gWh_42wh7jSCXQG2dx0mk6jergM6OF18I5PAJverpo61-AFA9hLpvFXJiF-y9ZVYIncIFeHTQgCs1yviI5MxvPL6mgbKjsiT8t1y0qvtDf0-zliiqdZ-ZUkdDbycnuChTAgvDCWO-gixPqwvW7RpgAeNYERryY4Su1xx3E9fP_4YKLrIQKIrI3R4zkWuoe-zWsTSQNlOAz8w=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="291" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Tue 11/22</strong> -- Clients enjoyed a catered Thanksgiving meal with tons of food and conversation. “The best Thanksgiving ever because of this community!”</p></th><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 5px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 340px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254imgtable" style="margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 15px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhL62mdD8Guj0XznYsxXD6Pm7bkH3y0mxHj6-tfcpGy5UdJN9R4wY991KR5gRtnGl8PI0VMlO_R83BdOAZz-5SKrdLhxBLdN_OxAt6847uZtkCUZuVw4fVcemUtE7rq7_Dyf_NKFkVpISkOlkb9HKMRRwGHyUi8fFuPe8d7FiLzxsIhT4eC6aLc2n6faLZw4Ydjcr46P9aJrUDSdBzsAmVi4KMmBk-kQ46xRBqJsb3km-j7N0d9GsZrVZnr3qcVU4z7TD3T4LwzyIpQfl5X3jL_O4mn-ZRu4gEKDIEIyOcAoFY8cW0WLRjybLz2lWVMYi2HX-GMmw=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="289" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Thu 11/3</strong> -- Today on outreach we served 17 people before returning to the Drop-in Center for peer support group. A client helped lead it by providing the ice breaker and the closing.</p></th></tr></tbody></table></th></tr><tr><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: #feffff; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 742px;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 742px;"><tbody><tr height="410" style="height: 410px;"><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 5px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 342px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254imgtable" style="margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 15px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgwkieYNPelbjIABbQxlO_TB_I0Hr-KyEjw0V7mXe4XTb-u6hYbRmbWsiV60Wnqrv2xGWbV3zDow5gjwZNUOzUPJ7fT1OnwkLOA24Lht2GaFZjwF8RtbwCRNhEabI1tB3rfTMJoAwX9w5iBSRDOuKjwV9LKu7BfTyi3V2cG-XPpSCsXEejtT5206_kyrw-I0QiceS8A24LWdXEG2H6W4N1oa0tH8qzB9eqMt8QRrVpjpM-CwFxwJ7RjfiaxOre9TzfPL6W4VCZXm8rvxK_bfI48LVyZQYcFW5d6kglhTHNmsdWkCA4R9xtgKIzxfRb9ZZEo_FsUSw=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="291" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Tues 11/1</strong> -- Today clients picked up food bags, socks and underwear during our outreach to the Austin Central Library.</p></th><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 5px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 340px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254imgtable" style="margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 15px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhGrUh5MuW_VaUKwqXXMk10p8m0wW8d8ck8SldrHULuwY0Lu5ZmU9jekK610LdsSwN4Yc-JhBlwoPCs7q350ROhQT-y1zLISMuWduZaUWy2kmnIIQUA9eAB1jRA9WZFIkqYKRNkkYvafScThbTQEwFSev8HSnpT3eGtMfLOHW6m9XIMIr8RbbzpRgbtMl2DsxlD9Ms0jxUdTy9iGmTTOZmrl1CAd4FS3scKY11tLHl5QIx3WX3AS68uOxTSOGHEcurxVzAWqgoULRS8hD1XhmtacgpPsBGmEpfk7s71QX0-V3TpNPGBVzL1h5OKTkvWXR0ziigj8A=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="289" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Sun 10/30 </strong> -- We took a field trip to a Trunk or Treat and asked kids to be good Samaritans and place Band-Aids on our fake-blood booboos! Lots of fun!</p></th></tr></tbody></table></th></tr><tr><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: #feffff; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 742px;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 742px;"><tbody><tr height="562" style="height: 562px;"><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 5px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 342px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254imgtable" style="margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 15px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgzPPq0uI6An6iXcLjin_EX3eD1BOXeCMRnLWfj13qnEV7jF3vTpJUgdqKHcFL0p06KhDr6CKZfkOoQAMGLfCWw4bAtoR252F-B6WYERV2klUDC99YY2S59_AtQYVHbQOmNWW0S_T-RjScErK2pkCPyqOHu9Cugobagmtht4EdREtsmGegK0CnMki_6tjggQHFeO0xJJAebFpaP_HxMxT7avePGk01wuzUdAmZjY9BmaE1XUndwKJc8YsCadGAKmdtUOkL9-n5JIJs4weed-r4CE20qSNybZIDrc3zAc8IcDmI_tX5UWsSWn3ttJm8Zx9Ks2YVAag=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="291" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Thurs. 10/27</strong> -- Today clients met us at the Austin Central Library to pick up outreach bags and make prayer requests. They participated in on-site Bible study, followed by peer support group. They finished the day selecting items from the Sunshine Store, then some performed during Talent Night, which was a blast with solos, a sing-along and dancing!</p></th><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 5px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 340px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254imgtable" style="margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 15px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLSeQSuvPGYTwDodGi-vnS40jWJwaHGj5ZUeKWiPtsWD8T8Oan75iiV6VRuCwT2NUKJLgh_Y6zyfbYme9ROA_YxLP_E-R33b7yItvueNQpgmw4nGo_V3dRt3egW9zMCyx4dnuUJmKbyU0j2Rv8yBL9NnjwEkP3ff7dkHcaMRhjKCL6DCFhskBFqM-MjVIcGD-b4fG-PbLFTGjjjaC3cp8P0U50kTPRC80D5u_T-CaKKmEI1JmwATH-465C52ad9P-hAuyFzNQi6ZDBYDQfdR1t9lUfAUVvJFw8KyCt3Vvt3R5H3IOlXRDZ1n3va4kWD_J1pu8jlA=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="289" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Thu 11/10</strong> -- Volunteers sometimes get the best jobs! This one was able to play with the child of a client while the clinet performed at Talent Night.</p></th></tr></tbody></table></th></tr></tbody></table>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-32252303924523041062022-12-13T08:00:00.001-06:002023-01-19T00:33:03.382-06:00Counseling leads SYMin clients to brighter futures!<p> </p><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254rtable" style="background-color: #444545; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px auto; width: 742px;"><tbody><tr><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: #feffff; border-bottom-color: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-width: 8px medium medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 742px;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 742px;"><tbody><tr height="427" style="height: 427px;"><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 10px 15px 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 712px;"><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong>Counseling leads<br />SYMin clients to<br />brighter futures!</strong></p><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;"> We all know homelessness is a central issue in Austin. We focus on one small but high-potential piece: helping street-dependent young adults and their children find hope and stability.</span><br /> Diverse clients ages 28 and under find practical support and, more important, guidance counseling for the long haul.<br /> Clients are helped to envision brighter futures, then build them. They learn skills that equip them to set goals and achieve them: finding housing, re-entering the workforce and recovering from substance abuse.<br /> Clients who engage deeply in counseling perform two to four times better than those who do not. We update this calculation regularly on our website.</p></th></tr></tbody></table></th></tr><tr><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: #feffff; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 742px;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 742px;"><tbody><tr height="1059" style="height: 1059px;"><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 214px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254imgtable" style="margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 15px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi9T_u5Xz8bndrLJBbPHuBDrhyphenhyphenwmws88xkMJ_DF66Yis8H_O3F0nuVy1AyCMfzUymw2n-aRyqoepNbDnM-l67RUtMwGWEbcJHFBn6s66Qb4wUIuoGl5QvHIOmpAXfn8bBM92ztjd1bwqhwG82_erWpa0ixZgoZfsnZ1C8dMz_nfZYW4jMXIH0ABAMzKsToIHKXx11GdgyeiWOLVFQI4zSNpxItnge1QRfRfQnHd0W1rXKTkeMDfnX1Yr3rBaQLwKbmFUftBD0f41_lGTDkwjhJderNoSTPBFwJKI8FyM4Cy9_6vCob4awrjQW1EtLrLVuQ3LbkjCg=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="191" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="center" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 37px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong>Group sessions</strong></p><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> Clients have multiple weekly opportunities to engage in counseling, either one-on-one or with others, e.g. peer groups, men’s and women’s groups, Bible study and Prayer Chorus. Some are accessible in-person from multiple sites, and all can be reached on-line from anywhere.<br /> Attendance has grown steadily. The photo above was taken in the support group room of our new upstairs Learning Center, and all seats were taken!<br /><strong> <u>In October, 27 clients attended peer support groups, and we counted 75 deep conversations on impactful topics. Nineteen clients reported 59 goal completions; six new clients joined the meetings.</u></strong></p></th><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 228px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254imgtable" style="margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 15px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgT4VUCl1V4ySwTz-qpIbt4aEEG-dvn2_XJlEcMW8j27gvZNn95BCLBpaaaaUDbg4bETFOjfJQHOWH7XX-VU3543YqOtwxsxgQDCdEmnCQC_fqceZfDhEWHUDIfu7ecHZw6N390w7-macXsi_zYmqEIpQH3PsWPx5acWmyviV7UTXjQkAaFRPE_bfdlTdbV3HYDsoHojXozLsdvItA53fHx8IALZ5AGktYxf5IS_04pZz5jh3QtrOgjEMcE6k1pImfEJ6qnQS4ZMy184VOVIaKSraXaPI4LMqGHmYyb97PqhwwjOFU74zbjWLRyiypgzdwYrQoE5w=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="201" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="center" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 37px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong>Outreaches</strong></p><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> We lead staff and volunteers to outreaches in suburban Austin, the Austin Central Library, and San Marcos several times each week.<br /> We hold group sessions inside the library, and we deliver bags of food tailored to clients living either on the street or in apartments. This has opened us to new clients who cannot reach us at the Drop-in Center.<br /><strong> <u>In October, we met 103 clients on outreach, including 66 for the first time. Twenty-six engaged in deep conversations, and 15 clients accomplished a total of 36 goals.</u></strong></p></th><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 211px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254imgtable" style="margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 15px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(45, 45, 45); border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEh-w1cTVQOmQUPUQwbZEgFaGxLBplzc66D3V1kYrSmVmD3CJr-tfW85FQfssPUrOsjQahQrLAGr-ObRdR8cWyXoTfT-jMe5SaO5f3vzD9l2ro03YH9-OqU_4xqgTSAXr6RFHESu71Y-i8CF08TkontAMDP1bEG5cimrTMtRIf14l58WEPgmu_m-z-NFKSyGp4ypT5pDg-w6vaAWC32PhktOU_oohTmiYkbT74j4SJs5TW3ikbGjfdeiVndAY4L74SLEvaC7zft6RBaGVKal0gXyx5rWx4MVKhnskbE4T8MxkRCk8qrny_gid-PbNoKIeOsicPW7jQ=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="188" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="center" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: geneve, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 37px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><strong>Learning Center</strong></p><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> Our Learning Center is stocked with laptops purchased with grant money from the city and the Glimmer of Hope Foundation.<br /> Clients take advantage of two programs to earn points redeemable for above-average value rewards like laptops, tablets, smart phones, etc. Some watch videos teaching life skills, then take quizzes over what they saw to earn their points. Some engaged in “soft skills” training, a program designed by a company used by several Fortune 500 firms.<br /> Learning the skills gives clients a better chance to obtain and hold good jobs and enables them to navigate the ups and downs of employment in the real world.<br /><strong> <u>In October, a total of 10 clients took advantage of this new facility and the training, and the number is growing steadily.</u></strong></p></th></tr></tbody></table></th></tr></tbody></table>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-83691520816627228782022-12-06T08:00:00.001-06:002023-01-19T00:31:38.331-06:00"I've found my life again!"<p> </p><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254rtable" style="background-color: #444545; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px auto; width: 742px;"><tbody><tr><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: #feffff; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 742px;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 742px;"><tbody><tr height="952" style="height: 952px;"><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; padding: 0px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 712px;"><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 65px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 38px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 59px;">"<u>I've found my life again!</u>"</span><br /><span style="line-height: 43px;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal;"><b>A Christmas </b></span><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 28px;">story</span></span><br /><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal;"><b>of setbacks and</b></span><br /><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal;"><b>of triumph! </b></span></span></p><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254imgtable" style="font-weight: normal;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 2px 10px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: transparent; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi0wf6glmSNP0Xa4upfd4fV5NmXqW-SM27NaumCT4Ae0wEn63sKM5bI07NgFIZ3bbsBW1ZEnc2mmSfC_szvAnDhQs4mwA1TfEiVcD6Sl5Bht4tVOTP8t-GEyOuLwvur_sfvTUrUgoeFULUqK1Pp1DA18O5aGbJc5A6JljyX8PTNM3Pu03PpvxOVYSQQE_imcoc3FR34hdbbWc3ZasIHaarju-_PCQMyRjtzH7wS-IKPmS0ndH00PRoWZ4k3UNXjhnM0ayvczdGIpbjhLwwWqTMDocBRLcSwAZ0GGuenS01DsIwdrql1_m5BIwVdYe5zM9cF0ss5=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="271" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;"> Jackson was motivated, and he was only 18. “Do you know what motivates me, Mr. Terry?” he declared. “It’s my baby son!”</span><br /> COVID-related closures were in full force. He hadn’t been sober, wasn’t even as he spoke, but he had just gotten an ID card. As I did when I met each of our 577 clients last year, <strong><u>I wondered how things were going to go for him.</u></strong><br /> Fast-forward a few months and, unfortunately, any progress Jackson made had vanished inside a bottle of alcohol. He had adopted two other young street youth as brothers, and they too had absorbed severe setbacks.<br /> <strong><u>“Everyone in my life is a gang member, drug addict, homeless or in prison, Mr. Terry,” he told me when next we met.</u></strong> “The only family member who wants good for me is my grandmother. But I’m still gonna do it. I’m gonna leave all that behind.”<br /> Jackson returned this fall. He sat in peer support group, awaiting his turn to share. When it came, he exclaimed loudly and joyfully, <strong><u>“I’ve found my life again! I’ve found my joy again! I dance and sing in my own house! I buy my own groceries! I visit and support my son!”</u></strong><br /><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"> From a nearby chair, another group member shared similar experiences and provided encouragement to all. Two others – a couple – listened quietly, taking it all in. They had just begun the same journey and were yet to taste success.<br /> <strong><u>It’s really a gift to walk beside these awesome people as they find themselves</u></strong>. Sometimes it’s self-discovery. Often, it coincides with their discovering the Creator. It’s always beautiful to behold!<br /> We could not sustain this ministry of guidance, rebirth and growth without the faithful Creator and Author whom we celebrate this season. We also wouldn’t dare attempt this ministry without you! Merry Christmas and thank you!<br /> <strong><u>Blessings to you and yours!</u></strong></span></span></span></p></th></tr></tbody></table></th></tr><tr><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: #feffff; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; width: 742px;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 742px;"><tbody><tr height="57" style="height: 57px;"><th class="m_4696382065259994254contenttd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 15px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 712px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_4696382065259994254imgtable" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color: initial; border-style: none; border-width: medium; margin: 0px;"><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" hspace="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi93roPxMpKjBl9AkcsyCTewe14g5oHJgI5-99WJM7Ds58DnqhV3xGJHx_7mZ4am6LIIXEo2wpuVuiAdPc0vikqH_u76VGMYxh3sbr3QDv5Oe8C2xzDznJ8rN7pBDFBbKspkbXk-XXWOCUIbhs7Cxi-j_j10DYzTdeJrKxsNBhl6gRMHTlaHTsQshlZLjsrI_hFGn2ImpOIoMlvqmT_3Ah5OaxJAvoORZCr_gvyhLL7cETj2OUyU2lpRl4VGOK8JoV9PKHf8dDjgffzKhQRaHvQHSyOACThJyORSMig9ShLXh_yu_SKPyY8qGY65d-OaHeQk0_Y=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: medium none; display: block; outline: none;" vspace="0" width="215" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></th></tr></tbody></table></th></tr></tbody></table>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-20055051495075979222022-10-04T07:00:00.002-05:002022-11-27T21:41:56.903-06:00SYM--QNL Fall Sep 2022 -- Central Library Outreach<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvYsVIrIXSvT9lYGJGqY9a98ewfSKRwqR-645DgMC_aP3U1kDGYR7jHIG5A7qzazvN0nkKYd1vmjYdreijjEYlI2e8WmKcvMdhlhOQZDMO77kylYLBkpLOpi2GfF-oqexpp8Ig0hEx3X7UM0qp0NCTXMBUUVpskULIMXo6nBsKdViiSo8OnToUe7ugA/s341/unnamed%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="341" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvYsVIrIXSvT9lYGJGqY9a98ewfSKRwqR-645DgMC_aP3U1kDGYR7jHIG5A7qzazvN0nkKYd1vmjYdreijjEYlI2e8WmKcvMdhlhOQZDMO77kylYLBkpLOpi2GfF-oqexpp8Ig0hEx3X7UM0qp0NCTXMBUUVpskULIMXo6nBsKdViiSo8OnToUe7ugA/w347-h259/unnamed%20(1).png" width="347" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">We have always known that young adults need different development guidance than older homeless adults. We invite them to shop at no cost in our Sunshine Store, but changes in their lives occur through repeated, sustained guidance counseling delivered in a cost-effective mix of individualized and group interactions, including our Help Line and private messaging via text and social media.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Prior to the pandemic, we were about to launch something new. We know street youth typically have few problems getting hired, but they have great difficulty keeping jobs. They are rarely fired; rather, they quit because they lack the “soft skills” like negotiating, successful confrontation and anger management.</span><p></p>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-75350225581606793772022-10-04T00:17:00.001-05:002023-01-19T00:19:11.071-06:00SYM--QNL Fall Sep 2022<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJVrp1Wx7a3DMWGUTGuhQyj4Zi5w3tMWyB4KwnDaybrPsaOALoBdE0D5_ee_gY6C_NyUB9aM2gfIhIdOOxiWqft_GQ8a8HRYc8wBO2v7D5a3reEF4sa7M10TRH1KAdJsXko86SCVre825H2DJttrlf7xEwbPmWcH8mwNRwk8I00_jufUGwhjEj7ZNng/s323/unnamed.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="323" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJVrp1Wx7a3DMWGUTGuhQyj4Zi5w3tMWyB4KwnDaybrPsaOALoBdE0D5_ee_gY6C_NyUB9aM2gfIhIdOOxiWqft_GQ8a8HRYc8wBO2v7D5a3reEF4sa7M10TRH1KAdJsXko86SCVre825H2DJttrlf7xEwbPmWcH8mwNRwk8I00_jufUGwhjEj7ZNng/s320/unnamed.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> “Jackson,” another client, said this: </span><u style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“It’s so important that you have a place for people who aren’t yet ready. Many programs require that you’re sober and get cleaned up first.”</u><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Sometimes clients come just to take naps. This might not appear productive, but it gives them a safe place to rest, and they are greeted by a friendly, encouraging staff. Though apprehensive at first, our entire team is now welcoming the changes and seeing the fruits of their labor. They are a fantastic team, but we would never attempt this ministry without the backing of amazing supporters like you.<br /></span><p></p>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-54582747376683843592022-09-27T07:00:00.004-05:002023-01-19T00:17:01.854-06:00SYM--QNL Fall Sep 2022<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBen28w7AxCifoj8YkGjdF808PhPSYjrC2BmdhVYnh9uHm1uiF2xLSI8Y2QOtjc4-OoMTLJhDSQRiesDW7WrSbxdibsoo5M8fTDPEPifw8gOSVq-o1ljCLmh62278eqL3Jq1cp39YaadSMr645cotaxGC_ASVdFKH2Jnpvqfy0b3ED7HRal5DeMtCfw/s323/unnamed%20(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="323" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBen28w7AxCifoj8YkGjdF808PhPSYjrC2BmdhVYnh9uHm1uiF2xLSI8Y2QOtjc4-OoMTLJhDSQRiesDW7WrSbxdibsoo5M8fTDPEPifw8gOSVq-o1ljCLmh62278eqL3Jq1cp39YaadSMr645cotaxGC_ASVdFKH2Jnpvqfy0b3ED7HRal5DeMtCfw/s320/unnamed%20(2).png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">A former client I’ll call Robert told us this: </span><u style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“It’s so important that you offer the skills upstairs in the Learning Center to help people get jobs, keep them, and move up to better paying jobs. If all the homeless organizations in Austin worked together and provided different services to fit together, it could be so awesome!”</u><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Alan, one of our team members, had this to say about our new services: </span><u style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“It’s really great that we have a place where the six people who want to move forward today can go and not be distracted by the entire group of 20, many of whom are not yet ready for a change.”</u><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Our in-person events as well as our virtual groups allow clients to progress at their own pace and with convenience that makes it more likely they will engage.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> We haven’t abandoned fun engagements. Our Event Center still hosts clients in a relaxing environment several times each week. One client I’ll call Adrian was frequently observed drinking outside before we added these events. Now he attends the events because he loves playing board games with our volunteers. The other day, instead of playing games, he was filling out benefit forms.</span><p></p>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-85698938597091186622022-09-27T07:00:00.001-05:002022-11-27T21:38:55.142-06:00SYM--QNL Fall Sep 2022 <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxHQP6O710j-A6Uj-cXDWPu2-1bqHOImVyLYFCQGVUQwwlWipagCbl9cjy6_t7POQYAZvOD0d51rtV90Bq7WhRkzTk7fL50noWzMCryCX1H18hNLl2nypv_6b1CMeDPzzLx0lkXQosmkzHZsMg8mVtTfp56Ha5OBe9m_soxDX1T6BoN9R5QrGXE67jA/s397/unnamed.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="397" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxHQP6O710j-A6Uj-cXDWPu2-1bqHOImVyLYFCQGVUQwwlWipagCbl9cjy6_t7POQYAZvOD0d51rtV90Bq7WhRkzTk7fL50noWzMCryCX1H18hNLl2nypv_6b1CMeDPzzLx0lkXQosmkzHZsMg8mVtTfp56Ha5OBe9m_soxDX1T6BoN9R5QrGXE67jA/w375-h247/unnamed.png" width="375" /></a></div><br /> <span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px;">Our major changes started this fall. It was a worrisome, difficult time, but one of our clients – I’ll call her DeeDee -- sent this feedback soon afterward: </span><u style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“I love coming to groups in person. They are helping me make the decision to stay away from meth and keep sober. Thank you so much!”</u><p></p><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 16px;"> During the pandemic, we responded to public health requirements and moved to virtual and outdoor services. We also responded to the crushing need for clothing and food by people of all ages, and we relaxed our client criteria. We provided so many meals and so much clothing because we were often the only source available. It strained us beyond our capacity. As the crisis appears to have diminished, we are returning our focus to young adults only.</span>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-17961607579103709122022-08-09T09:00:00.005-05:002022-08-09T09:00:00.184-05:00 Our reach-outs in Austin, San Marcos yielding results!<p><br /></p><p align="left" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqZWO_9XJhbPzxdujh6-Mj9-HdKppfTo7A7vik0x0135dOkpWaXhUc87xEq5TWRPSSIXhYg5bKZc-7bSesHWfA85jNAKB9iIdMpR_9mSSy96qHJtgsN3g7cObYcjx-7nnZsFYAVSAbxEGkmqnMO85V76wmgQD2F77GFYiCMmIKOP8OEONWNxnayf18g/s295/SYM%201.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="295" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqZWO_9XJhbPzxdujh6-Mj9-HdKppfTo7A7vik0x0135dOkpWaXhUc87xEq5TWRPSSIXhYg5bKZc-7bSesHWfA85jNAKB9iIdMpR_9mSSy96qHJtgsN3g7cObYcjx-7nnZsFYAVSAbxEGkmqnMO85V76wmgQD2F77GFYiCMmIKOP8OEONWNxnayf18g/s1600/SYM%201.jpeg" width="295" /></a></div><p></p><p align="left" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> Thanks to your continuing generosity, we have been able to expand our services to additional locations in Austin while maintaining our outreach to San Marcos and the drop-by services we provide from our base at the Drop-in Center.<br /> Here are some examples of the impact your gifts, volunteer efforts and prayers meant to us during the month of June:</p><ul align="left" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;"><strong><u>We reached 20 clients</u></strong> on our various Austin outreaches to places like the Central Library, Skatepark and several recreation centers.Two of them engaged in the kind of deeper conversations that steer them toward making major changes in their lives.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;"><strong><u>We met with 156 clients</u></strong> a total of 955 hours to provide services from our drop-by, engaging them in 102 deeper conversations. <u>That's just in June!</u></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;"><strong><u>Fifty-four clients reached us over our Help Line</u></strong>, making a total of 137 calls that included 113 deeper conversations.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;"><strong><u>Our five group events</u></strong> -- Bible study, prayer, women's, peer support and Talent Night -- drew 34 clients over 62 hours and included 116 deep conversations.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;"><strong><u>Our outreaches to San Marcos</u></strong> reached 11 clients.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;"><strong><u>Donors of non-food items</u></strong> gave us $4,288 worth of supplies and served a total of 87 hours while doing so.</li><li style="margin-left: 15px; text-align: left;"><strong><u>Donors of food served 87 hours</u></strong> and delivered and helped sort or process $2,526 worth of food.</li></ul>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-57853127326515455232022-07-27T09:00:00.001-05:002022-08-03T22:20:47.683-05:00SYMin client's talent blooms!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-D1QQZ8P4EGMYyvwe3xBYGtSEs3Nh0A6uuuwQBZ-5CZEl6GsP97b-nfnbpVBuZ2dYL73VNP8yCbuqDJ4j7HYv6BbvmDRV2G6_iaC3R8Bp0sdwAuA2SVjWo7FszRbn8R5MGnrCQTS88iQ61WdjNcCqjq8FGulxtDh8cSGYA_g_CX_7Fkr_yEvxXq6yA/s360/unnamed%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="357" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-D1QQZ8P4EGMYyvwe3xBYGtSEs3Nh0A6uuuwQBZ-5CZEl6GsP97b-nfnbpVBuZ2dYL73VNP8yCbuqDJ4j7HYv6BbvmDRV2G6_iaC3R8Bp0sdwAuA2SVjWo7FszRbn8R5MGnrCQTS88iQ61WdjNcCqjq8FGulxtDh8cSGYA_g_CX_7Fkr_yEvxXq6yA/s320/unnamed%20(1).png" width="317" /></a></div><p></p><p align="left" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Azul was 19 when she came to Austin. She expected to get her first apartment and begin her adult life, but soon after her arrival, she encountered difficulties that eventually left her no place to go but the streets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p align="center" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong>A chance encounter!</strong></p><p align="left" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> Then one day, outside a Starbucks near the SYMin drop-by, she had a pivotal encounter: one of our staff members, Tondra, took an interest in her plight and let her borrow a sleeping bag for the approaching chilly night.<br /> Since that moment, Azul has been a familiar face in our on-line group sessions and at the drop-by, where she often visits with the team. She began to achieve goals that led her to a series of positive steps in her life.</p><p align="center" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong>A good job, personal growth!</strong></p><p align="left" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> Azul is rightfully proud of her progress and loves the benefits that accompany it: being housed, seeing a therapist regularly, and keeping a good job with a company that offers growth potential and treats her like a professional with a clean slate.<br /> Azul is an amazing poet and expresses her creativity and lived experiences through her beautiful words. We are so glad to know her!</p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXGu4Y9TJRY6wOoQ5ItYVYazg_VBsdLoUVgxab_q7Bl3-vK4UKO9siwEzxh9xhAL0wGjBeGXCZ4GKrryIu1VyyMc4C34AzMrBzLodUCYR6UbOk-ZuLYcdI3AS7SXhGs1XseHRBd4sRNjtTG4NmqlQVWEikbaV7-suX4MVCg-EI_7JSNdxrqvfUJdJRw/s733/unnamed%20(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="733" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXGu4Y9TJRY6wOoQ5ItYVYazg_VBsdLoUVgxab_q7Bl3-vK4UKO9siwEzxh9xhAL0wGjBeGXCZ4GKrryIu1VyyMc4C34AzMrBzLodUCYR6UbOk-ZuLYcdI3AS7SXhGs1XseHRBd4sRNjtTG4NmqlQVWEikbaV7-suX4MVCg-EI_7JSNdxrqvfUJdJRw/w400-h264/unnamed%20(2).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-84272737527799488832021-08-28T06:00:00.001-05:002021-08-28T10:56:28.820-05:00Days of our lives during August!<p> <u style="background-color: #feffff; color: #575757; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">(Notes from the team about client progress, events, news)</u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpU1he-rTwEeB2D0dxQnVDqs-7Et3uOTBqOde0c1YG3VZaSkeK0Kt0yUoA0TPdYeb1NdaYKe_loNuWCvzHYDVq7rkfTGE6LV37I0iWUSlhKvVjXywfy1hY13PONNPjRFR3zPEuroDu4oF/s377/unnamed+%252812%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="377" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpU1he-rTwEeB2D0dxQnVDqs-7Et3uOTBqOde0c1YG3VZaSkeK0Kt0yUoA0TPdYeb1NdaYKe_loNuWCvzHYDVq7rkfTGE6LV37I0iWUSlhKvVjXywfy1hY13PONNPjRFR3zPEuroDu4oF/s320/unnamed+%252812%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Mon 8/2 --</strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Six clients braved the rain to come for needed supplies. Thank you to volunteers Amanda Hyde and Rachel Durkin-Drga (pictured) for organizing our third floor arts room, and thanks to Keep Austin Fed for the sesame orange glazed pork, rice and veggies for clients! </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>We have begun outreach in East Austin on Mondays</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> The rainy weather today actually was a boon: We served three groups by stopping at two locations -- near the Boggy Creek Greenbelt and under the parking cover at a boarded-up Sonic near the HEB on East 7th Street. Clients included two older folks who got meals and referrals for housing through HACA.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> We served all of them meals, toiletries and canned food. </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>We explained what we do, gave out flyers and answered questions that they asked about Jesus. All reported dangerous situations and one was healing from gunshot wounds.<br /></u></strong><p></p><p><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdGF4hLHuJiXBgVVdvHn9ZtVIEoz0ZrfhBE8aNU4vpslb2TgDdN70U0GBxWx66VVeFHG9PjpWaguMu0iuGvyW1LsqJrJH6kFhugaNOWHcKgOH3mo2w-SnEhJAumXbxZJAdmWj2H6I20Jx/s377/unnamed+%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="377" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdGF4hLHuJiXBgVVdvHn9ZtVIEoz0ZrfhBE8aNU4vpslb2TgDdN70U0GBxWx66VVeFHG9PjpWaguMu0iuGvyW1LsqJrJH6kFhugaNOWHcKgOH3mo2w-SnEhJAumXbxZJAdmWj2H6I20Jx/s320/unnamed+%252813%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></strong></div><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Tue 8/3 -- </strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Today was a nice, cool, overcast day with 12 clients looking for snacks to help make it through the day. One told about maintaining housing, and another told us of prospects for a new job.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>Our men’s group today was a hybrid, with both in-person and on-line participants joining us in the newly dubbed “hideout” inside our Drop-in Center</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. All first-time participants get SYMinU (SYMin University) credits sufficient for a weekly bus pass. Great donations came today from St. Luke's of the Lake Episcopal Church near Steiner Ranch. Included were coloring books from a local Austin illustrator.</span><p></p><p><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Wed 8/4 --</strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Seventeen clients dropped by today, one of them newly homeless, to get food and learn what services were available. Thank you to Jean and Dennis Brender for generous food donations!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxIfPhekTzogpND5t5Sv-rzyHvIhyphenhyphen5DlIdTYjqqJX7SOTdnES_Rd2F1GjNEk5z_SHk4PAsCWexwvGog4yALIllyZ5G7JhryBpDJ34kuyCggpWXjvbHFlQxH0_KimIO62_oUC4TTWMXymt/s426/unnamed+%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="343" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxIfPhekTzogpND5t5Sv-rzyHvIhyphenhyphen5DlIdTYjqqJX7SOTdnES_Rd2F1GjNEk5z_SHk4PAsCWexwvGog4yALIllyZ5G7JhryBpDJ34kuyCggpWXjvbHFlQxH0_KimIO62_oUC4TTWMXymt/s320/unnamed+%252814%2529.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Thu 8/5 --</strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Today was cloudy and overcast with a little rain early, but it stopped before we closed and gave us enough time to serve nine visitors. The food bags given to some included items with pop-tops, ready to eat!</span><div><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>“Cooking with Yoly” class today taught us to make delicious tuna salad sandwiches with our camping bag supplies</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> and some very special homemade pickles! Participants shared food and cooking stories, and Terry was our tester. A tough job!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISBVr-GGhANpO69WtzVRGt6hawR-DrRvAmus7l6vY2Npb6ay-vnZRH6WwI-Eycn46SDfVljqXpbwpJOqhkGpqbCkJcoh_ebDS18FGZhob0I2aqKLntpUO18Vqq2_9zPsDK3IUXPT9A_cz/s423/unnamed+%252815%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISBVr-GGhANpO69WtzVRGt6hawR-DrRvAmus7l6vY2Npb6ay-vnZRH6WwI-Eycn46SDfVljqXpbwpJOqhkGpqbCkJcoh_ebDS18FGZhob0I2aqKLntpUO18Vqq2_9zPsDK3IUXPT9A_cz/s320/unnamed+%252815%2529.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></div><div><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Fri 8/6 --</strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Today, a mess outside greeted us when we arrived at the drop-by, but when clients realized we would not open unless it was cleaned up, they took action and did the job! Eleven of them managed to get food and service as a result. </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>One client redeemed SYMinU points for a Bluetooth wireless headphone.</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Rosie and Terry were able to connect with four clients in San Marcos</span><br /><p><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Mon 8/9 --</strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Thirteen clients came today, and one of them wants to go back to high school and turn his life around. Interns Emma and Molei made some paper fans as part of Chill Week, and clients loved them!</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>Terry and Rosie worked East Austin, spreading the word about SYMin services for young adults 28 and under.</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> At the drop-by, we gave out 20 meals, cold water and lots of clothing and toiletries. Keep Austin Fed provided meals of teriyaki meat balls, rice and veggies.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>A wonderful youth group from Christ Church of Austin joined us to learn what we do and why it matters</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. Then they helped decorate our planters and make a new trash can for visitors.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqehpqqvRCkqYiHR329zEqrJ45VrFdIjbNF86ncXuvWbW7GYcc6VAeQ_PXvuN0DSka_mueIrhE2-Fk4SLnXGDY4jL5Yj4fk6_94q_ytvGpcO29hzGdEzXct2KdbKQiocqQoHmKSUJ17nD/s453/unnamed+%252816%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqehpqqvRCkqYiHR329zEqrJ45VrFdIjbNF86ncXuvWbW7GYcc6VAeQ_PXvuN0DSka_mueIrhE2-Fk4SLnXGDY4jL5Yj4fk6_94q_ytvGpcO29hzGdEzXct2KdbKQiocqQoHmKSUJ17nD/s320/unnamed+%252816%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Tue 8/10 --</strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Today we welcomed 13 visitors to the drop-by. One received a bag with frozen meats and veggies; all were looking to fulfill daily needs, including clothing and a hot meal. Unfortunately, an illegal camp re-appeared overnight in front of our walkway, and for a time it looked like an old “skid row.” </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>SYMin will not open while camping and littering the sidewalk and walkways prevent safe access for our clients.</u></strong><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Austin Public Health gave its fifth vaccination clinic this summer for us, and five clients received their shots so they could work, not worry about getting COVID later, support their decision to turn their lives around better, and receive a small gift card as a thank you from SYMin.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Wed 8/11 -- </strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> It took a while before the clients understood we would not open for service until camps were cleared from the walkways around the drop-by. </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>We stayed closed 1.5 hours while homeless neighbors cleaned the area</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">; eight clients received food and drink once we were able to open.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Thu 8/12 --</strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Today the illegal camp was present and quite unsanitary when we first arrived at 11, so opening was delayed ‘til 12:30. We had to close early at 3 p.m. because of overcrowding at our gate with loud noise and inability to mask or keep social distance, but </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>we made sure anyone who came specifically to see us was served</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. We had two visitors in the Cooking with Yoly class; they earned enough SYMinU bonus points for weekly bus passes and helped make sandwiches for visitors too old to receive other services. </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>The team celebrated our summer intern Emma Ward and wished her good luck as she leaves to return to school, where she is studying to be a teacher.</u></strong><p></p><p><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcwqk09kCClwDNzYeBVwee5lp2om2q0TpHDrhvUi_7OVM1qGQfaz-6ePhQaRbsemsXIki3K66Yq5tD8IogqrWaQAMuj3vzN_IqoPFgq4FuNL5neNzRfdqT5hDNi488fglDBTJUIhVpJtR/s774/unnamed+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="774" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcwqk09kCClwDNzYeBVwee5lp2om2q0TpHDrhvUi_7OVM1qGQfaz-6ePhQaRbsemsXIki3K66Yq5tD8IogqrWaQAMuj3vzN_IqoPFgq4FuNL5neNzRfdqT5hDNi488fglDBTJUIhVpJtR/w400-h226/unnamed+%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /><u><br /></u></b><br /></span><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #090909; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><p></p></div>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-65172424916298762202021-08-27T06:00:00.001-05:002021-08-27T06:00:00.251-05:00Clients convert work, learning to helpful rewards via SYMinU points<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk2btE_AkZ1p8b23P2pEzCbl7sVmWPgFzMpCo7yA_YH8DZocuNJN-RX8dqRX2KeksUWy-6BacxSTGJD86h0biG3BF1fVSeBWAfnhmuPk2zlgn5iy0CWwh1jJMOgAuWBODLqIfYVRDvyau/s770/unnamed+%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="770" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk2btE_AkZ1p8b23P2pEzCbl7sVmWPgFzMpCo7yA_YH8DZocuNJN-RX8dqRX2KeksUWy-6BacxSTGJD86h0biG3BF1fVSeBWAfnhmuPk2zlgn5iy0CWwh1jJMOgAuWBODLqIfYVRDvyau/w400-h328/unnamed+%252817%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><u>We get our best ideas from clients.</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"> They want to volunteer and they want to “earn” goodies that are available only in limited quantities, so we folded these into our SYMinU experience.</span></div><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <strong><u>Clients earn points for the effort and duration of helpful tasks</u></strong> like taking out trash, sweeping sidewalks, raking leaves, breaking down boxes for recycling and cleaning up neighborhood messes. The points are redeemable for things like:</div></span><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> ● phone chargers, phone banks, and charger cables</div></span><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> ● reset phones capable of wifi calls without service or activations without contracts</div></span><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> ● headphones (both low- and mid-range)</div></span><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> ● entry level smartphones</div></span><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> ● guitars</div></span><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> ● laptops</div></span><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> ● monitors</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEXQNmVXNyheJm6xZEHFkwtYh5uq6wFEtdroKijh_z8Ee7sQeS1ccgsUQb5IoSJHygay37M29gSWI-HjH1A06G2tgcUInLjTItufGi5Dqs4bA8YtLVFlXVoacuMI1KVfhl1TjS3ACZO1b/s287/comp.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="249" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEXQNmVXNyheJm6xZEHFkwtYh5uq6wFEtdroKijh_z8Ee7sQeS1ccgsUQb5IoSJHygay37M29gSWI-HjH1A06G2tgcUInLjTItufGi5Dqs4bA8YtLVFlXVoacuMI1KVfhl1TjS3ACZO1b/w278-h320/comp.jpeg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7B8qFOOGR6BKjqFZnbvhVFB9f5L_44jagLUNoDfYmNh9XgmOyELKTXwObi6ZXSjjCYlwcN_7HN-cBLmgOc2f9le570HnFG-x4VEaEhu0FgkB0IZ5fz5pLDbcbpWgcGLDB9XJy5hPeVJh6/s378/SyminU+photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="246" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7B8qFOOGR6BKjqFZnbvhVFB9f5L_44jagLUNoDfYmNh9XgmOyELKTXwObi6ZXSjjCYlwcN_7HN-cBLmgOc2f9le570HnFG-x4VEaEhu0FgkB0IZ5fz5pLDbcbpWgcGLDB9XJy5hPeVJh6/w208-h320/SyminU+photo.jpeg" width="208" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Clients can earn points in other ways, like studying life skills on-line and passing quizzes over what they learn, but we get them started with volunteering. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><u>It’s something they love.</u></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><u><br /></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCBjugXJilgMZznVc-AXblp87p_uED8RJf1BPYL84joQlaT0it-k63EKadTdQLAEslyZfknmXCzi2LpAQ_Kdl5w69_93WV54tu-gVO8CsxSLHD_R10BtZoVB7Tx7NPsGGoXWBCLftL6D7/s1200/SYM_cover-photo-U.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCBjugXJilgMZznVc-AXblp87p_uED8RJf1BPYL84joQlaT0it-k63EKadTdQLAEslyZfknmXCzi2LpAQ_Kdl5w69_93WV54tu-gVO8CsxSLHD_R10BtZoVB7Tx7NPsGGoXWBCLftL6D7/w400-h209/SYM_cover-photo-U.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><u><br /></u></strong></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-78592933057727475992021-08-24T07:00:00.013-05:002021-08-24T07:00:00.252-05:00"Chill Week" carries a message of peace<p><br /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">From Aug. 9-14, we carried out a “Chill Week” theme, aiming to lessen the effects of the heat by focusing on snow, ice, cold treats, etc. We handed out fans, water balloons, ice cream and popsicles at the drop-by, and </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>we held Bible studies about cooling our anger and trusting fully in God -- sort of “chilling” in His capable hands</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. Some clients took these messages to heart; others, unfortunately, made less wise choices. When this happens, we enforce boundaries, including closing until clients are willing to obey the rules, which meet the needs of us and our clients. We try hard not to be the authoritarians. </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>Suggestions: Give our team and visiting clients what is critically needed -- safe and clean conditions to interact</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">.</span></p><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RO0mlKC9HtedaDEmlqWKZ1BXjRYR_O18oTPd6Ow1Hyjgnk2IBu8ZeLPvSF_nZcCS1mUOd6xjVgR_FN0SJd9wH0NnfD_gFvlxIep8Y59AWGjAhnVsgjQB0-H_Xf-KUIBKegVrKMINIaM2/s360/unnamed+%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="360" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RO0mlKC9HtedaDEmlqWKZ1BXjRYR_O18oTPd6Ow1Hyjgnk2IBu8ZeLPvSF_nZcCS1mUOd6xjVgR_FN0SJd9wH0NnfD_gFvlxIep8Y59AWGjAhnVsgjQB0-H_Xf-KUIBKegVrKMINIaM2/s320/unnamed+%252810%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Aug. 10 barbecue/game night in east Austin was held as scheduled -- a peaceful island in a stormy ocean caused by high anxiety of homeless people about the camping ban and changes, the ongoing rise of COVID issues, and the rising temperatures. Five clients, two team members, one volunteer and barbecue vendor Mrs. Val attended. One client spoke of a long-term plan for sobriety. Another’s spirit was lifted by a new fun job and relationship that feels life-giving. </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>A young family of five talked of the hope of finding permanent housing, especially with a fourth child on the way</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. A volunteer shared organizational tips and spoke of being more intentional about letting friendships grow in difficult times.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> “Jesus did not have peace following His ministry,” team member Suzanne Zucca wrote afterward. “Quite the opposite, drama and devilish schemes followed Him continuously. </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>But He WAS peace. He shushed the wind and the waves.</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> He drove out demons and healed sickness. He shifted perspectives and brought the kingdom of heaven in exchange for the hell in people’s lives.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> “We carry the person of Christ in our bodies. Our job is to abide with Him and let Him abide with us enough privately that we overflow with His love, joy and peace publicly. The beauty of this is that </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>no matter how scorching the circumstances around us may be, we have the Prince of Peace under our tent</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">, and any who choose to engage with us will enjoy the peace and rest that exist in the oasis of His presence.”</span>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-71326965389571919762021-08-22T07:00:00.001-05:002021-08-23T18:41:50.210-05:00Clients self-navigate to earn assistance in paying some bills<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TZKNePGHg9qeA4I6d5Nm-rMBBFFQbKZ9HR70qiVwzjC2ZRNbdz8is6iQINc0YKDx_1rLj_WxuXr__Su-cV5r1EfcXu5B4uVo4w3axwzqgfeIsS85hf39UxOIFyjm4psje7sv7axIzlha/s377/unnamed+%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="377" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TZKNePGHg9qeA4I6d5Nm-rMBBFFQbKZ9HR70qiVwzjC2ZRNbdz8is6iQINc0YKDx_1rLj_WxuXr__Su-cV5r1EfcXu5B4uVo4w3axwzqgfeIsS85hf39UxOIFyjm4psje7sv7axIzlha/s320/unnamed+%252811%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Thanks to one of the grants we received related to COVID response, we have funds available to help clients with their expenses for things like mobile phones and dental, medical and mental health care.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>There’s a catch: They must self-navigate to earn the benefit.</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> We want them to take ownership, so we have developed a form typical of those used for online shopping, and a tool to help them complete it. They take responsibility for filling out the forms properly. Our team acts only as advisors. A committee of SYMin volunteers evaluates each and votes to accept or reject.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><u>So far, it’s working great!</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> We’ve seen improvement as clients learn to "adult," check into their bills, look for extras they can remove, and become more independent. We love it!</span><p></p>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-56708450583910052782021-08-15T06:00:00.001-05:002021-08-26T04:51:20.019-05:00Getting clients vaccinated continues to be a struggle!<p> </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-T7bXuKAt1eiqAyswCC2YbbukPu-mDcwkug8kfdK_d1zybxQ6edX2x3COi8wM_zEhvvIViLcwgatIfR4Ax8L0zWUsygYgiJTBo1Mf4gpkHtnZ2j30eAD3xzuZF6TqdFZtoq_herJxRwec/s1080/SYM+FB+Post+Client+Thanks.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-T7bXuKAt1eiqAyswCC2YbbukPu-mDcwkug8kfdK_d1zybxQ6edX2x3COi8wM_zEhvvIViLcwgatIfR4Ax8L0zWUsygYgiJTBo1Mf4gpkHtnZ2j30eAD3xzuZF6TqdFZtoq_herJxRwec/s320/SYM+FB+Post+Client+Thanks.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Thanks to Austin Public Health, we were able to host four vaccination clinics outside our Drop-in Center in June and July, but we continue to struggle with an unvaccinated population of clients. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><u><br /></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA38lTY6CI3A3iujySy9piB6Zg2gUEoLWxtG7PhfPcCAviZsRQAqDIp7E3cgl9gyb8uTutAJ4qE8cWm9pmL-rQgZtUsHJSuBlaQMAUoJuM2nGOqtn4dtZTFPXfE3apE9MtkCmNjYwiJajp/s375/unnamed+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="375" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA38lTY6CI3A3iujySy9piB6Zg2gUEoLWxtG7PhfPcCAviZsRQAqDIp7E3cgl9gyb8uTutAJ4qE8cWm9pmL-rQgZtUsHJSuBlaQMAUoJuM2nGOqtn4dtZTFPXfE3apE9MtkCmNjYwiJajp/s320/unnamed+%25282%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><u><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><u><br /></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="text-align: left;"><u>We initially attracted 75% of the clients who visited, but the level dropped to 25% by the end.</u></strong></div></u></strong></div><p></p><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some clients still wanted to get vaccinated but have been refused at other locations for lacking IDs. We have tried to locate pharmacies with walk-in J&J but have yet to find satisfactory ones nearby, so we are calling for people who help to try to get clinics at the locations clients already frequent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxZZ1nZ7GSspW_6pTwI7Ek9UsgWgkFiK9XLhWJVEqm9MrVunKEwSHwxgl3PI1Kn1EqfV8yn1XZyJj1uKCfSwhhFc5nDDfZ1BPRwD5Vb23bY1yoB-QCFUps0PremdEz5O9-O-v839PsyQ9/s364/unnamed+%252818%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="364" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxZZ1nZ7GSspW_6pTwI7Ek9UsgWgkFiK9XLhWJVEqm9MrVunKEwSHwxgl3PI1Kn1EqfV8yn1XZyJj1uKCfSwhhFc5nDDfZ1BPRwD5Vb23bY1yoB-QCFUps0PremdEz5O9-O-v839PsyQ9/s320/unnamed+%252818%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><u>APH agreed to hold two more clinics this month, completing the first on Aug. 10,</u></strong> and ID's were not an issue. We will hold as many in coming weeks as we can. We think vaccines should be as accessible for homeless people as for others. We still offer gift card incentives for clients who bring us their completed vaccination cards!</div></span><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Another important benefit of getting clients vaccinated is that <strong><u>it will open the door to moving them back inside our Drop-in Center for counseling, peer groups, social events and meals.</u></strong> We will always observe social distancing and mask-wearing as required.</div></span>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-44938465742900266512021-08-10T06:00:00.001-05:002021-08-26T04:54:37.076-05:00New referral cards are handy help for clients<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7fEVyZQKcB8ytymockfCO2HF_IahgXPK428Jh6sMo7skajbdkUeW_5gC6_V8yqXrDS5o0ize4oI59Kgo76_qr2iRzuQZvgQkNaSbT4zHqWW00SZBbqcEvpW6wlI7306xHcaNqI0rcm7C/s371/unnamed+%25283%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="371" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7fEVyZQKcB8ytymockfCO2HF_IahgXPK428Jh6sMo7skajbdkUeW_5gC6_V8yqXrDS5o0ize4oI59Kgo76_qr2iRzuQZvgQkNaSbT4zHqWW00SZBbqcEvpW6wlI7306xHcaNqI0rcm7C/s320/unnamed+%25283%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">We’ve developed a new referral card system for topics our clients ask about most. The cards are made to hang on display hooks, and we place them in a rotation, with catchy titles and graphics.</span><p></p><p><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> For example, </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><u>for Sober Living</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">, we have an Oxford House card that gives information about what to expect there.</span></p><p><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> For </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><u>College & Careers</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">, we are developing cards for Austin Community College -- including how FAFSA works for our clients, enrolling in late start and finding college preparation classes.</span></p><p><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> We are also creating cards for the </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><u>Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center,</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> which provides IDs and coordinated assessments; and </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><u>Austin Integral Care</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">, which provides support for mental illness, substance abuse and intellectual and developmental disabilities.</span></p><p><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> We are open to other suggestions, plus </span><strong style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><u>we are happy to supply you with referral cards if you need them</u></strong><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">. Just use the link below.</span></p>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-49002843219838049822021-08-08T06:00:00.001-05:002021-08-26T04:58:32.496-05:00SYMin helps partner distribute funding<p> <span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-p4z9BCYd6M5NvUsuxF3YnSaHLqGxxOzDYwv9zh__rA5fnXYtJIGfULmFQvqFqpkh-dVJfJF0z7fFhGoALCclzA_0TyyBgrWlZTXBtsma9ubtpxh8g_oud4oihSoRv2qyjRNDW9xuJDws/s2048/sym+homeless.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-p4z9BCYd6M5NvUsuxF3YnSaHLqGxxOzDYwv9zh__rA5fnXYtJIGfULmFQvqFqpkh-dVJfJF0z7fFhGoALCclzA_0TyyBgrWlZTXBtsma9ubtpxh8g_oud4oihSoRv2qyjRNDW9xuJDws/w400-h266/sym+homeless.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Covenant Presbyterian Church, one of the SYMin's major donors, recently reached out to SYMin founder Terry Cole for guidance in distributing $100,000 in funds to organizations providing shelter and transitional beds for people experiencing homelessness.</span></p><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> "Because of Street Youth, Terry has a great pulse on homelessness in Austin and understands what services help people ...," said Covenant mission director Whitney Bell. "I wanted to hear his perspective.”</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><div><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Read about it by clicking on the link below:</span></div><div><span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://covenant.org/blog/posts/homeless">https://covenant.org/blog/posts/homeless</a></span><br /></span><div><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div></div>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996392180710060666.post-65599816203270487842021-08-02T06:00:00.001-05:002021-08-26T05:07:58.884-05:00Samples of Collaborator Help<p> <span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa_nlfBS8eRt2cmbEkIyBiVVMn8TUWEU59Z9O2YrwArKWPzs29xl7flIMxxEOqbPaCDMkXZlVnqtREfKtcz9PCqwaKC7RhviI2Lbo9nSv1xp2OkyFrMyNasAuSAw3Dlc6mB45sowGJUBm/s342/Sym+Keep+Austin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa_nlfBS8eRt2cmbEkIyBiVVMn8TUWEU59Z9O2YrwArKWPzs29xl7flIMxxEOqbPaCDMkXZlVnqtREfKtcz9PCqwaKC7RhviI2Lbo9nSv1xp2OkyFrMyNasAuSAw3Dlc6mB45sowGJUBm/s320/Sym+Keep+Austin.jpeg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">We could not have made it through the years or the pandemic without our collaborators! Believe it or not, our ministry grew during the pandemic despite the deep changes.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The potential for our wonderful ministry together is much bigger than our staff. It’s truly an awesome opportunity in front of us! Here are just a few recent examples of how our partners gave valuable material and volunteer assistance:</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> • Friends at Grace Presbyterian Church created great toiletry bags and brought them for clients.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> • Youth from Christ Church of Austin decorated our outside planters and made a new trash can for visitors.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> • Two Presbyterian church groups -- Shepherd of the Hills and Dripping Springs provided great help with Freedom Week in July.</span><br style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: #feffff; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> • Keep Austin Fed provided several delicious hot meals.</span></div>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04384025462407110959noreply@blogger.com0