Take Advantage of Parks & Rec

The Mecklenburg County Parks and Rec Department coordinates so many programs that slip right past me. Last weekend I volunteered for the Senior Games, which is part of the US Olympics program and feeds from the county level into the state competition and on to the nationals. Reader, you too would have been amazed with these athletes, ages 55 and up. I helped at the long jump (both standing and running), and the athletes ranged from those who had never tried before to those who had had track scholarships to state universities. One woman did the 5,000-meter walk and looked like she barely broke a sweat. What an inspiring day. Events ranged from croquet to track-and-field to badminton and basketball. There is also an arts competition in the Senior Games. If you are 55 or older (or know people who are), I encourage you to check out the Mecklenburg County Senior Games by clicking here. If you want information on the national program, click here.

The volunteers were really fun, too--I worked with one young woman who had run track at UNC and was now volunteering through Hands-On Charlotte; a woman who used to volunteer through Wachovia and continues her commitment even though Wachovia no longer sponsors the event; and a woman who heard about the games through the Marion Diehl Senior Center and came to help. Additionally, there was a group of senior cheerleaders who stopped by (I think on the way to their competition, although I could be wrong about that) and chanted some cheers for some jumpers. Lots of good fun and totally different from the people I see every day.

Today, while on the Parks and Rec website (who needs full-time employment when you can search the web for activities for other people to do?), I noticed that Coke is sponsoring a Dads-and-Kids 6-week Kickball League at Park Road Park. There is a "kickoff" event this Saturday (May 2), and the season starts on May 16. I thought this was a cool idea. Here's the Coke link and here is the Parks and Rec link.

Finally, there is a Scavenger Hunt on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway this Sunday (May 3). Here is the blurb:

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and Charlotte Sports Cycling host a scavenger hunt on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway to educate and encourage people to use the greenway as a means of pedestrian transportation and exercise. There are many daily errands and tasks you can accomplish on the bike using the greenway and neighborhood streets. Join us for this adventure on May 3rd from 1pm to 3pm. All you need to bring is your bike and a bag to carry your prizes. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Not recommended for children with training wheels.

You can link to the site by clicking here.

To Do: Check out the Mecklenburg County Parks and Rec website often for fun activities for you and yours.

Whither testing?

Even though my children are not in the CMS system, I am tempted to attend the Mecklenburg Citizens for Public Education event on Thursday, May 14, at Queens University, entitled "Leading Our Schools: Understanding School Testing and Accountability." I just don't get testing. I don't mean I necessarily think it is a bad idea--I just don't understand what it proves about the individual schools or the individual students or trends or... so yes, as you can see, this program is designed for people like me!

Here's a description of the event:

Standardized test scores have become the universally accepted measure of how well our schools are teaching and our students are learning. But how does one make sense of ABCs versus AYP? How do North Carolina accountability measures differ from the federal No Child Left Behind standards? And how is testing data applied to reform classroom instruction?

Please join MeckEd for a community workshop to better understand the basics of school testing and accountability, the rewards and consequences associated with school and district-wide performance, and how testing and accountability inform CMS administrative and school board staffing, operational and policy decisions.

Click here to go to the Mecklenburg Citizens for Public Education web page and learn more about this new and interesting nonprofit. I'm really impressed with its leadership and vision. Poke around the site and see what the organization has to offer you. Here are it's goals:

• Build a cadre of exceptional educators and community leaders who will positively affect student academic achievement.
  
  
• Effectively address, as a whole community, the impact of high concentrations of poverty on students’ academic success.
  
  
• Pursue proven strategies to engage parents as active participants in their children’s academic success.
  
  
• Build community partnerships around family literacy to eliminate associated academic risk factors.

To Do: Click here to find out about the Mecklenburg Citizens for Public Education event on May 14. Get it on your calendar!

Birthday Blessings

Did you catch the article in today's Charlotte Observer about the nonprofit Birthday Blessings, which provides parties and presents for homeless children in Charlotte? What a great concept. I know that there were many times in my own life that I felt like I didn't fit in or had the wrong clothes or didn't know that you were supposed to bring a treat to share... imagine what it must be like for homeless children.

The Observer's website-for-moms, MomsCharlotte.com, sponsors a big party to benefit Birthday Blessings on Sunday (April 26) at Oogles-n-Googles in downtown Pineville. Click here for the details. The party is free, but you are strongly encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift for a child to contribute to Birthday Blessings. (As an aside, I think this website is doing good things!)

Here is a statement from the founders:

Birthday Blessings began as a family outreach project in the fall of 2005, with a desire to bring happiness to underprivileged children while also providing a meaningful and hands-on service opportunity for our own young children. As we considered how we could work together to help make a difference in our community, we began thinking about homeless children and the sadness and emotional challenges they face. Knowing how important birthdays are to our family, we decided to help homeless children celebrate their birthdays; an idea built upon the belief that every child, no matter the circumstances, deserves an opportunity to feel the joy and value of being recognized on his or her special day. Today, with the help of numerous volunteers and supporters Birthday Blessings continues to grow, bringing joy and support to hundreds of homeless children every month.

~Amy & John Cervantes, founders


I think that sums up how we all feel about passing along a sense of joy AND responsibility to our own families. I really admire the Cervantes for going the step beyond and creating such an ambitious program.

Birthday Blessings provides monthly parties at the following locations: Salvation Army Center of Hope, Charlotte Emergency Housing, The Shelter for Battered Women, Blessings in the Storm, Turning Point of Union County, The YWCA, and Hall House. Additionally, Birthday Blessings partners with A Child's Place to provide classroom parties and gifts for homeless children within the CMS system (2,749 as of March 2009).

Birthday Blessings is always looking for volunteers, in-kind sponsors, and underwriters. What a great program to partner with for your own child's party--have each child bring a gift for a homeless child! And for all those adult birthday parties where you put "your presence, not your presents, required"--ask for a gift for a child instead!

To go one step further, consider these volunteer opportunities: for $35, be a Classroom Party Sponsor; Adopt-a-Party at a shelter, providing decorations, food, cake, and goody bags for all attendees; create a Themed Party-in-a-Box with your Sunday School class or book club (or whatever) to present to a shelter group for one of the monthly parties.

This paragraph (about volunteering at the Birthday Blessings offices) sold me right here. I think it really speaks to the "it takes a village" aspect of this program:
The Birthday Blessings office is a family-friendly environment. Young children are welcome and encouraged to come and volunteer alongside a parent. For our youngest little "helpers" we also have a dedicated playroom. At-Home moms who are looking for some volunteer work are welcome to bring their little ones along!

To Do: Visit the Birthday Blessings website. Count your own blessings.

How do you feel about workplace giving?

Check out the article in today's Charlotte Observer about workplace giving for Mecklenburg County employees. Citizens and nonprofits have the opportunity to weigh in about the annual campaign, currently offered for the United Way and the Arts and Science Council only. I admit to some conflicted feelings about this issue. In theory, I like both agencies. In practice, I resent being told how to give my money (notice how I am personalizing this even though this particular survey would not affect how MY family is solicited!).

Since the county has been nice enough to ask, I think we should all participate! Click here to take the survey.

To Do: Take the online giving survey by Wednesday, April 8.