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WYOMING WINDS
November 2008
 A publication of
The Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless
907 Logan Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82001-5247
phone: 307-634-8499 fax: 307-634-9089
            email: wch@vcn.com ©1990-2008                

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National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week
November 17 through 22, 2008

Each day in Laramie County, there are thousands of men, women and children who do not have a place to call home or who are attempting to survive while living in poverty. COMEA House, NEEDS, Inc., the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless, the Cheyenne Community Clinic, and The Salvation Army are participating in National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week in order to work with the community to begin to identify and abolish hunger and homelessness in our own back yard.

In an attempt to stimulate community awareness on the issues surrounding poverty and homelessness, a public forum and panel discussion will take place at the Laramie County Public Library on November 18, 2008 in the Cottonwood Room from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Many of the causes of homelessness and poverty include domestic violence, physical disabilities, mental health and substance abuse. The public is invited to participate in addressing these complex issues at the forum which will bring greater solidarity and understanding to Cheyenne and Laramie County.

In addition to the forum, tours will be offered from 9 to 3 at the COMEA House on November 17th; at the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless on Wednesday, November 19th; The Cheyenne Community Clinic on Thursday, November 20th and Friday, November 21st from 9 to noon at NEEDS, Inc. Please take this opportunity to take a “Wish List” when you tour the facilities and find out what is in need for this holiday season. Volunteering information will also be provided.

For further information, please contact Teresa Garrido or Patti Riesland at the COMEA House at (307) 632-3174.

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Thanksgiving Dinners in Cheyenne

SALVATION ARMY - 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
UNITY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH - Noon until 4:00 p.m. at the Kiwanis Community House
WELCOME MAT DAY CENTER - 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - special foods, special volunteers
ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH - 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - pick up by horse drawn wagon at the Welcome Mat at 1:15 p.m. St. Mark's dinner is a sit-down family style dinner.

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2008 HOMELESS MEMORIAL DAY, December 22, 2008, the State Capitol Building, 12:00 Noon
     
Click on pictures to see more about Homeless Memorial Day

Thanks to Dan Clark and crew from St. Peter's Church for installing the day care
playground.

The Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless is in need of volunteers to help with the clothing closets, computer, life skills, job skills, music and art classes as well as supervise yard care,
and help build 2 interior walls. If you are interested contact Virginia at 634-8499.

Pioneer Construction has started work on the Day Care at the WCH Richards Center. Grant funds are available for the 1st two phases of construction. Funds are still needed for the other 3 phases. If you would like to donate to the construction fund, send your check marked "construction" to WCH at 907 Logan Avenue, Cheyenne 82001. Those donating to the construction will have their names listed in the day care lobby and will be honored at the grand opening of the day care.

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Bridges Out of Poverty
JANUARY 7 - 8, 2009
STRATEGIES FOR PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITIES
STRATEGIES TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES

United Way of Laramie County and Wyoming Department of Work Force Services is proud to scholarship the Bridges Out of Poverty and Applying Bridges Concepts seminars, January 7 - 8, 2009 with the support of Laramie County Community College. With the exception of a $10 per training session charge to cover lunch and incidentals, this training is totally free of charge. The training is open to the entire community and with only 100 slots available. If you sign up for this training and need to cancel please do so before December 15, 2008 so we can offer the seat to someone else.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT
To reserve your seat or seats for this valuable training opportunity, please contact United Way of Laramie County, via email: community@unitedwayoflaramiecounty.org by December 15, 2008. In your email, please provide the name or names of individuals attending. The $10 fee can either be paid in advance by mailing a check to United Way of Laramie County, P.O. Box 20301, Cheyenne, WY 82003 or collected at the door the day of the training session. If you do not have email access, please call 638-8904 to make your reservation.

Bridges Out of Poverty: (January 7-8, 2009)

STRATEGIES FOR PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITIES

This seminar gives both the social service provider and the community member key lessons in dealing with individuals from poverty. Topics include increasing awareness of the differences in economic cultures and how those differences affect opportunities for success. Bridges Out of Poverty explains the “hidden rules” and increases the participant’s awareness of the differences in cultures and how those differences impact opportunities and situations, as well as discussing the language experience that is different in the three classes.

This seminar is based on the book Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities, a collaboration between Ruby K. Payne, Phillip DeVol, and Terie Dreussi Smith. Phil's experience includes developing school based, substance abuse prevention, intervention and student assistance programs, and Terie is an experienced educator and prevention coordinator. This seminar is designed for employers, community organizations, law enforcement, counselors, health care and social service providers.

STRATEGIES TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES

An extension of the Bridges Out of Poverty seminar, this second day of training expands opportunities for discussion and interaction. Language experience, cognitive issues and barriers to change are covered in more detail, along with the skills of mediation, relationship building and mentoring. Participants also learn how to use mental models to communicate effectively, and to assist clients from poverty to learn quickly, explore options and develop future stories. This workshop introduces specific strategies for changing program designs, policies and procedures to improve outcomes. Participants use case studies and an examination of the poverty lifecycle to identify principles of change. Ms. Dreussi-Smith co-authored Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities with Ruby Payne and Philip DeVol. She is a former public school teacher with years experience. Terie served as adjunct faculty for several colleges focused on empowering adult students transitioning out of poverty.

In her recent consultant work as a grant writer and social program manager for youth-based service agencies, community coalitions and schools, Terie assisted communities to embed Bridges Out of Poverty concepts in redesigning policies and services for families and youth in generational poverty.

Terie has been and author/consultant with aha! Process, Inc. since 1997.

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Wyoming Winds is published by the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless
907 Logan Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82001-5247
phone: 307-634-8499
fax: 307-634-9089
email: wch@vcn.com
Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless, its staff or board.

Editor: Virginia Sellner.
Copyrights revert back to the author upon publication.
WCH is a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency depending upon the community for funding.
© 2008.
**In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.**