OOXXOOXOXO Workshop

Pardon me while I gush about Workshop (check out the video). Shana's back in the summer swing of it for her last year as a Peer Leader (volunteering over 300 hours a year). It's her fourth year,

(here are a few shots from Summer '09)

as Miley Cyrus

with BFF Wade

Bat Girl

Some of the gang

but she was a "participant" for many years before that. This summer will be full of more responsibilities for her, more leadership, more calling the shots, more involvement in the running of the three-day training this weekend and the week long sessions all summer and the four-day wrap up at Hawley Lake in August, culminating with her "Exiting" ceremony. It's been exciting to see her step up to the plate so far, getting involved with some pretty deep issues already with some of her peers. She's also still learning  from her mentors, like the totally amazing, I wish half of the things that came out of my mouth were as meaningful, Dr. Franny. This summer there is also a new team leader, just graduated from college and back to Workshop after being away for several years. She remembered Shana from way back when and has gone on to do some pretty amazing things with her life. Hard-to-impress Shana came home the other day and said, "That's what I want to do with my life," so the fact that they will be spending some intense time together for the next three months is a good thing. You can't buy that. Shana's been pretty lucky and seems to have learned more from what not to do over the years. Workshop allows the kids to really let all of their feelings out. She's seen and heard some pretty traumatic stories. Abuse, depression, addiction, divorce, death, illness, peer pressure, boy-girl and parent-child relationships, school problems and more are some themes that circle through their days as they learn to go out in to the world and successfully deal with whatever is thrown at them. It's truly an amazing experience and, believe it or not, a lot of fun, too. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with soccer camp and swimming lessons, God knows we've done that, too, but this is a one in a million program that I know is changing the world. Check it out and sign up the kids for a week this summer. You'll be glad you did.

Golf? Send $$$$$$$

I know nothing about golf. Nothing. Mark Twain said "Golf is a good walk, ruined" and that seems just about right to me. But for a good cause, I just signed up to participate in the Workshop for Youth and Family Golf Tournament (well, I may just ride around in a cool cart, I know I'm good at that). It's Friday, April 9 and it's always a good time hanging out with Workshop people. There's Dr. Franny up there at last year's event. She is absolutely one of the brightest people that I have ever met. She has dedicated her life to this program and made an incredible positive impact on thousdands of kids and families over the years. So, get out your checkbooks. Send in some cash. Volunteer. Sign up for a tour. Send your kids in for a half-day or week long workshop this summer. It will change your life. You'll lose weight, you'll win the lottery, your face will light up, your atttude will improve and your kids will never, ever talk back to you again. I promise. Well, maybe just the last one, but isn't that enough?
workshopsaz

Donation Pledge

Sculptures Under The Stars

Jeff Zinchke Studio

The incredible Dr. Franny and the Workshop gang (Workshop) threw a big party for some of us who have helped throughout the year (even though we should be thanking them!). It was a great year and Fran told me how she keeps hearing wonderful stories of how the the kids continue to move into the community, spreading the lessons learned over the summer.We gathered at fellow Workshop parent Jeff Zinchke's home/studio. Wow. What a guy. I have driven by his house at least a hundred times (right on 64th and Cholla) and always wondered what kind of crazy person lives in there and how angry the neighbors must be due to all of the funky lawn sculptures. But after tonight, both Shawn and I are ready to move in. Check out his website for just a taste of his work (lots of public art around town and all over the new W hotel). He goes a mile a minute, describing all of his pieces from paintings, wood sculptures, umbrellas, furniture and so much more. I would love to fill our house with his art. There are works in so many different mediums, just like at workshop, so many different kids and leaders, interacting in an extraordinary way that somehow, in the end, makes total sense.