ParticiPant UPdateJuly 18, 2012

Keeping you Informed, Empowered and Prepared

Develop Your Awareness: Tips For Noticing Daily Gifts and Opportunities - Part 2

Busyness. Task-driven days. Limiting habits and routines. Each of these things can dull our sense of curiosity. They can stifle the wonder we feel about the world around us. And that robs us of some of the joy and energy we could be getting from daily life. So a little reprogramming may be in order. Try these exercises to sharpen your awareness skills. They should give you a greater sense of appreciation, make you feel more connected to the good life, and help you to start each day with a fresh perspective that keeps you inspired.

1. Play Photographer.Try this experiment. For two weeks carry a camera around with you, in your car or in your purse. Make a point of taking photographs of items of interest or scenes of beauty. Even if you only take one photograph each day, you will become more tuned in to your surroundings. And, that should quite naturally develop your sense of awareness and appreciation for the interesting components of your world, your life.

2. Nurture Your People Connections.Make a point of interacting to a greater degree with at least one person each day. Get to know your local hardware or garden store attendant who always has helpful advice. Chat people up. Send out good energy. Each day is full of opportunities to increase awareness. Feel more connected. Meet the interesting and diverse people who populate your existence.

3. Grab Opportunities to Help Others.Too often even when we notice things we might do to help others (friends, coworkers, clients, strangers) we fail to take action. If a toy drops out of a baby carriage run it to the mother who didnt notice losing it. Assist an elderly person with opening a door. Small helpful efforts can mean a big difference in how successful you feel at the end of the day. You may end up making someone elses day and your own as well.

Adapted from copyright 2006 Melissa Wadsworth

Making the Most of Your Celebration SpeechesSpeaking at Celebration is an opportunity for you to showcase your professional skills and talents. To allow your colleagues to speak as well, please limit your remarks to 1-2 minutes. Remember it is not mandatory that you speak, but its great practice!

Here are some tips for a stress-free talk:

Write down and think about what you want to say and practice it. Even though the speech will be short, it will be easier if you practice what you would like to say.

The most effective acceptance speeches are those in which the recipient offers genuine thanks for the award or tribute; briefly praises those who helped him or her qualify for the award; describes what the award personally means to him or her; thanks the audience again and sits down.

Visualize yourself speaking. Imagine yourself walking confidently to the podium as the audience applauds. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful.

Dont apologize for being nervous as most of the time your nervousness doesnt show at all. If you dont say anything about it, nobody will notice.

Your nervous feelings will dissipate if you focus your attention away from your anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience, not yourself.

Realize the audience and your classmates want you to succeed!

Mark Your Calendars

AUG2

Celebration! 5:45-7:30 pm at Harriet Island Pavilion

JUL23-27

Evaluation Week

JUL30-31

Workshop Week - See schedule on page 5

JUL26

Offices close at 11:30 am and reopen at 8:30 am on July 27.

AUG6 First day of classes

Employer Services: New Community Outreach Training Opportunity

TCR! Community Outreach Training is a new program that will give you an overview and introduction to community outreach work. You will learn industry terminology, explore various community-based positions, and learn how to interview for a career in community-based work. You will have an opportunity to have a short job shadowing experience with TCR! or one of our nonprofit community partners.

WEEK 1 July 24, 26, 27

9:30 am - 12:00 pm

TCR! Minneapolis

WEEK 2 July 31, August 2, 3

9:30 am - 12:00 pm

TCR! Minneapolis

WEEK 3 August 6-10

Up to 6 hours of job shadowing

TCR! or nonprofit partner

WEEK 4 August 13-17

Up to 2 hours of interview practice

TCR! Minneapolis

Must be an F2, F3 or Advanced participant. Space is limited, so sign up TODAY!

Education Extra: The latest class updates at TCR!

So You Think You Know Everything?

Peanuts are an ingredient in dynamite. The word racecar, kayak and level are the same left to right or right to left.

The sentence the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog uses every letter of the alphabet.

Coaches CornerWhere are you? Seems like a question that would be easy to answer, but think of it in terms of your beliefs, thoughts, feelings, actions and outcomes. Where are you?

Coaches will ask this and many other probing questions to help you figure out where you are in the pursuit of your goals and dreams.

So where are you? Do you have a plan? Are you working through obstacles and yet still moving toward your destination?

Remember, if you dont know where you arelikely you wont know where you are going and if you dont know where you are going, any road will get you there.

Our new Career Portfolio will be available starting the August session! This portfolio will help you bring together the documents and information you need to tell your story as a perfect candidate for the job you want. You can begin gathering your materials now. Begin with your mid-term and end-term evaluations as well as your cover letters and resumes.

Remember more: Take notes and look them over soon after taking them. Studies show that if we review our notes within 24 hours of a presentation, we retain much more of the information presented and we have a useful reference. Good note-taking contributes to your value as a promotable employee.

Want to own your own home or have enough money to live on after you retire? Financial Literacy class can help make these things possible. This course will be offered again during the August session. See your coach for details.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! Course Surveys will again be offered during Week 8. In the past year, we have made major updates to our program based on feedback weve gotten from participants, and we look forward to hearing about your experience and your ideas.

Bonus BucksWho can make money by referring somebody to Twin Cities RISE!?

Any of the following in good standing:Active participants Final placement participants TCR! Alumni New participants (They will receive their money after theyve signed an Accountability Agreement for their second session.)

I want to refer somebody. How do I do it?

Your name must be listed on the application before the start of the session. Its up to you to keep track of your referrals.Your referral must be a new applicant.Your referral must be admitted, attend orientation, and attend classes for at least one week.

What do I get in return?One Referral = $25Two Referrals = $50Three Referrals = $100Four Referrals = $125

Melanie Williams AJS class traveled to Faegre Baker Daniels law firm on July 2 for a mock interview session. The volunteers were impressed with their professionalism and cheerful attitudes. Congrats!

Internship Insight: Why the Internship Program?

Think in advance about what you want from your internship experience and define your internship goals. Assess the reason why you want an internship, taking into account your strengths, weaknesses, and expectations.

Think about the way you work best. Do you value flexibility? Value hard work? Do you want to learn a specific skill or need to fill in an employment gap to enhance your resume? Are you available to invest 10-16 hours a week and add an additional class to your already busy schedule? Are you in good standing with the TCR! Core Program and at least a Foundation 2 Participant? Good attendance? Exercise good time management skills? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you are an excellent candidate for the internship program!

An internship with TCR! is a great way to see if your current training experience can become one way of getting your foot in an organizations door, gives you hands on experience, network, as well as evaluate if your plans in a specific career track are realistic.

Please contact Shereese Turner at sturner@twincitiesrise.org for more information.

Empowering U Monday 7/30-Friday 8/3 - 9:30-12:00, St. Paul Keith Simons

Continue down your path of Empowerment by applying the skills built in Empowerment Foundation and Empowerment Framing to create an impact on your community through Empowering U. 5 days of participation in this workshop and your commitment to action qualifies you to receive a $50 Target gift card. Maximum 25 spots available.

Branding Yourself WorkshopMonday 7/30 - 9:30 -12:00, MinneapolisCharles Cox, Jr. & Ronald Buford

You know product brand names like Adidas, Gucci, and Pepsi, but have you ever considered creating your own personal brand for your job search? In this workshop, you will learn how your brand can be a direct reflection of how well you manage the business of life. You will also discover how your brand is connected to your purpose and opportunities can be created or destroyed as a result of your brand. Lastly, you will find out to negotiate for a position through your brand. Job Log Workshop Monday 7/30 - 1:00-3:00, St. Paul Mike Bell or Wednesday 8/1 - 6:00-7:30, Minneapolis Scott Barr & Bill Bridgeman

In this workshop you will learn how to focus and effectively track your job search process through the creation of a job log. Our instructors will teach you what a job log is and how to create your own to use in your current job search. Fiscally Fit WorkshopMonday 7/30 - 6:00-7:00, St. PaulKaren Carey-Bonner of Greater Frogtown Community Development Corporation

Fighting over money? Need to fix your credit? Looking at bankruptcy? Baby needs shoes? Facing foreclosure? Find out how to address these issues and more at this Fiscally Fit Workshop!

Child Support Workshop Tuesday 7/31 - 9:30-12:00, St. Paul Heidi Kuschel of Ramsey County Child Support Services

Find out about the child support process from paternity up to the enforcement of court orders. You will also learn how you can file a motion with the court if you believe you have had a change of circumstance since the courts last order was established. Healthy Homes WorkshopTuesday 7/31 - 1:00-2:15, Minneapolis Rachelle Peleska of Sustainable Resources Center

This workshop is designed to help draw the connection between health, energy efficiency, and housing by taking a holistic approach to identify and resolve problems that threaten the health and well-being of our families. You will receive materials (radon kits, roach baits, etc.) and gain practical tips on how to make your home green, healthy and energy efficient!

Discrimination in the Workplace and Knowing Your Rights WorkshopWednesday 8/1 - 9:30-12:00, St. Paul Alyssa Wetzel-Moore of City of St. Paul

This workshop will provide an overview of the Saint Paul Human Rights Ordinance and federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment and other areas such as housing and public accommodations. We will discuss what you can do if you believe you or someone you know has been discriminated against. Finally, we will go over the complaint and investigation process of the Saint Paul Human Rights Division and the possible outcomes of an investigation.

Health & Wellness Workshop Thursday 8/2 - 1:00-2:15, MinneapolisMelanie Richie of Neighborhood HealthSource F.I.T. Program

Need family meal planning made simple and healthy recipes? Learn nutrition and activity tips, and even participate in a special workout practice session. Come dressed for hands-on activities and 15-30 minutes of fun physical activity.

Workshop Week Schedule July 30 August 3