The Character Coach

Bermuda In Bermuda for the  Building Character through Sport and Recreation Conference starting tonight and running through Saturday.  Gorgeous views are only outdone by the incredibly warm, friendly and dedicated staff of the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation here on the island and the participants at the conference.

For participants that participate in the keynote and my two sessions: Curriculum Integration and Building Partnerships, you can access the powerpoint presentations through the Department’s website within a few days. I’m also going to attempt to upload them to this blog on the Presentation Power Points Page.  The URLs for the youtube clips I used are on the Inspiring YouTube Clips page.  Shoot me an email at charactercoach@gmail.com if you aren’t able to access them through one of these resources.

CHARACTER COUNTS! graduates in Puerto Rico

Fantastic honor and opportunity in July to do a CHARACTER COUNTS! training seminar in Puerto Rico–participants from the Governor’s office and from Camera Mundi, publishing company.  Fell in love with the people and the culture and am thrilled that they are moving forward to take CHARACTER COUNTS! island wide!

Great group of MN educators now Certified through the CHARACTER COUNTS! Character Development Seminar.  This training was hosted by LeSueur-Henderson Schools.  Contact me for information about trainings available to your school or youth organization.

The last two weeks have been incredibly busy with two 3 -day trainings for CHARACTER COUNTS! but what an honor to work with these participants!  First in Lafayette, CA and then this week with a small (but mighty) group in LA.  I also had the pleasure of getting to hear founder, Michael Josephson present the Making Good Decisions module and his evolved system to not just make good decisions but to pursue the “best possible result”.

I continue to be inspired by the folks I meet across the country that come sometimes with some doubts or are required to attend–that then grasp the incredible need and potential of a comprehensive character development initiative.  I also continue to be amazed–and disheartened–at the difficult circumstances that so many of these folks are working in or are part of the lives of the youth with whom they work.

I am so, so blessed to have had the childhood I did, the opportunity to raise my children in a safe and supportive community and be surrounded with supportive family and friends.

For the months I haven’t been up-dating this blog, I’ve been out working with schools across the country and continue to be in awe of the tremendous impact that character development initiatives–done well–are making in the lives of our youth.  I have had the honor of visiting finalist schools for the Character Education Partnership’s National Schools of Character Awards.  In addition, I’ve been thrilled to conduct CHARACTER COUNTS! training at a new school that is using the Six Pillars as a foundation-not only in content and culture, but in the actual architecture of their building-as they move to open in the fall.