Dear YDEKC friends,
I think it is safe to say that we are all having ups and downs, moments of clarity and confusion, and times when our inner voices are shouting “you got this!” or “stop being so hard on yourself!” or “just get out of bed!” I’m there, too. Some days I feel good. Some days I am struggling. And I know that there are others out there feeling the same way I am. And you know what? It just felt really good to say that in this letter to you.
Recently, Anne and I, here at YDEKC, hosted a session for our SEL School-Community Partnership Cohort that included reflecting or building personal mantras. What does your inner voice say to you when you are feeling overwhelmed? How can you turn that voice into a cheerleader? Other personal mantra ideas that cohort members shared included: remembering a song, visualizing a picture, or even just moving your body. I know personal mantras may not work for everyone. And that’s okay. It is just one strategy that can be helpful during challenging times.
Jessica asked me to write this week’s newsletter opening because folks have shared with us that SEL and wellness resources have been helpful, and opportunities to connect on a human level are now, more than ever, needed. As YDEKC’s SEL Strategy Manager, my role intersects with several projects here at YDEKC, such as curating SEL resources for our social media & newsletters. I can confidently say that there are many inspiring SEL and wellness resources popping up, and every time I see a new one, it is a precious gift. You’ll see some of the resources below in our round-up, and you’ll also see them on YDEKC’s social media (Facebook: @YDEKC | Instagram: @thisisydekc | Twitter: @ydekc).
This week, I’d like to highlight an opportunity to fill our happiness buckets. This week is Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week, led by the National Afterschool Association. It is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize afterschool professionals, youth workers, childcare providers, teaching artists — those who provide youth development experiences outside of school time. We are seeing many youth workers provide in-person services right now to families of front-line workers. We are also seeing many youth programs deliver their services online — free of charge, in innovative ways, despite the economic turmoil our organizations are facing. Join us by thanking youth workers and afterschool professionals on social media by using the hashtag #heartofafterschool. You can also re-share YDEKC posts that show a few facts and pictures about the youth development field.
Thank you for taking time in your week to connect with YDEKC through this newsletter. We hope that one of these resources or ideas we share in this weekly roundup is helpful to you. We’ve focused on activities that you can do to practice gratitude and be someone’s cheerleader. There’s also a care package for you to explore from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, which might inspire you to build a personal mantra.
With gratitude,
Mona, and the rest of the YDEKC team
Youth Development Executives of King County
ydekc.org | mgrife@ydekc.org | 206.336.6912 |