269.552.9899
KIRK LOWIS, M.A., CTP-E
BUILDING COMMUNITIES:
STAFF TRAINING
Guidance & Inspiration
How do we best model social-emotional learning, team building, and resilience strategies for youth? By the way we approach our own work within youth service organizations and how we relate to ourselves, our staff, our agency, and youth. These hands-on workshops will give valuable strategies and tools to connect and strengthen our own work, your team, and your work with youth.
STAFF TRAINING
Coaching for youth work professionals and nonprofit leaders
CREATING A SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING CULTURE
How do we best model social-emotional learning strategies for youth? By the way we approach our own work within youth service organizations and how we related to ourselves, our staff, our agency, and youth. This hands-on presentation will give valuable strategies and tools to connect and strengthen our own social-emotional awareness to our work with youth.
A CULTURE OF CARE AND COMPASSION: SELF-CARE THROUGH MINDFULNESS-AWARENESS
Do you ever feel stressed out or overwhelmed by your work? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Vicarious (or second-hand) trauma and chronic stress are realities of youth development work and can lead to feelings of helplessness, isolation, sleep disturbances, memory disruptions, anxiety, depression, and irritability - just to name a few side-effects. The good news is that there are things you can do to build your own resiliency while also becoming more effective at your work with vulnerable youth. This workshop will give you tools to check in on your own resiliency and mindfulness strategies to help build resiliency in you and the youth you serve.
CULTURAL HUMILITY AND RESPONSIVENESS: CONNECTING THROUGH DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND EQUALITY
What does cultural humility look like on a day-to-day basis? There are opportunities for supporting multicultural development all around us every day; they begin with our understanding and modeling of inclusion and equity practices. Bring your cultural responsiveness to a deeper level by leveraging every day opportunities to support resiliency by celebrating diversity every day.
SAFE-HAVENS: INTEGRATING TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE
Research suggests that nearly 60 percent of youth in the U.S. are exposed to a traumatic event each year. Studies also tell us that one of the most significant factors in a young person’s resiliency is having consistent access to a supportive and caring adult. Trauma-informed practices are a way to engage young people, both with and without histories of trauma, by creating safe and supportive environments and practices with the goal of helping youth thrive in the face of adversity. Take the first step in becoming a trauma-informed organization.
ARE YOU LISTENING? THE ART OF BEING A GOOD LISTENER
What does effective listening look like when working with youth? Learn about the core skills of effective listening as well as common listening mistakes. This workshop will allow you to consider your own listening skill set while diving deeper into advance listening skills which can strengthen our relationship to youth, to co-workers, and to our work itself.
MINDFULNESS-AWARENESS MEDITATION: AN INTRODUCTION
What is mindfulness-awareness practice and how can meditation help us and the youth we serve? Learn to meditate while gaining a better understanding of why meditation is helpful for youth development professionals and for the youth we serve. This hands-on workshop will provide context as while presenting a simple to follow step-by-step process to jump start your mindfulness-awareness meditation practice. Sitting practice and walking meditation will be introduced.
THE TENDER SPRIG: LEADERSHIP AS A MALLEABLE PHENONMENON
Do you want to lead your team to the next level? This interactive workshop will give you valuable insight into human behavior. Learn about how to stimulate change and growth on an individual and organizational level. Practice conflict reframing and gain a better understanding of interpersonal communication.