May / June 2001 Virginia Vobejda, Editor

Letter From The Director
Did You Know?
Donate Your Miles
New Research Reaffirms What We Already Know
Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar
Volunteer News - Volunteer Appreciation a Great Success
Volunteer Training Calendar
Volunteer Opportunities
Kids Corner
The Effects of Television Violence on Children - From a Teen's Perspective
Creative Ways to Support The Conflict Center

Letter From The Director Dear Friends, I never cease to be amazed at springtime in the Rockies... one day summer and one day winter! I do love the seasons in Colorado. We are very busy this time of year. School programs are very active and we have lots of teens in out Choices and Challenges programs. We also are working with many parents and child care providers. It is so very important to all our futures how these young lives are formed. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are always a reminder for me that it is the values we carefully plant and nurture that give our children the foundation to become the future peacemakers of the world. It is through our daily parenting that we teach them to have either gentle hearts and kind words or the aggressiveness we see so often. All children are learning conflict and anger management from birth, either nonviolent or violent solutions are modeled, daily, in our homes. There is no more important job than parenting and grand parenting if we really care about peace in our lives. Hats off to all Moms and Dads, who provide much needed parenting and grand parenting. Hats off to all Moms and Dads, the original peacemakers. Sincerely, Elizabeth Loescher Executive Director   WE NEED YOUR HELP! We're looking for a donation of Frequent Flier Miles from American Airlines or US Airways to help cover the cost of flying our speaker in for the 5th Annual Ambassador of Peace Award Event scheduled for Monday, October 29th. Please contact Heather at 303-433-4983 if you can assist. Thanks for your help.	Did You Know? The Conflict Center has a library. The Conflict Center's resource library is for kids and adults and is full of books, curriculum, magazines, audio tapes and videos ready for you to use at work or at home. This resource is available to the general public, Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Most materials can be checked out free of charge. There is a fee of $5.00 per week for videos. How can you best use this wonderful resource? You're welcome to stop by anytime during business hours to browse on your own. Or you can set up an appointment and one of our staff will give you a quick tour and then point you in the right direction to find the materials to meet your needs. There are books and magazines related to conflict management, parenting and other topics related to nonviolence and peacemaking. Who uses The Conflict Center library? For instance, maybe you have a friend who is having problems with her/his children. One of the videos in the library devoted to improving listening skills may provide an excellent way to learn new parenting skills and help the family resolve its conflict at home. Another example may be a situation at work where there is conflict between departments. Books and magazine articles highlight courses of action you or your managers might take to handle the problem. Many teachers and other professional working with children and youth also use the library to find curriculum and other materials to assist them in teaching conflict and anger management skills and approaching many other challenging topics with their students. We invite you to stop by and take a look around.
New Research Reaffirms What We Already Know Nourishment, Care, Stimulation and Warm Loving Relationships Form Children's Attitudes
Research on the brain is changing approaches to learning, and especially, the attitudes of parents and educators. Non-invasive methods have given insight into brain circuitry and how it evolves. The importance of the environment on brain development reveals the impact nourishment, care and stimulation have on not only the unborn, but the newborn and adults, as well. Social and emotional settings influence all ages because interaction with the environment is a requirement for proper brain development. Children and adults need to observe and question the environment around them if they are going to grow and stay alert. Early care and nurture affect how people develop, learn and handle their emotions. Strong attachment to a warm, loving adult can go far to protect a child from trauma in everyday life. When pursuing new adventures, children and adults thrive on warmth, companionship and a friendly environment that encourages learning.	Early brain development is shaped by the child’s social environment as much as the physical care the child receives. An adult’s ability to control emotions is largely shaped by early childhood experiences. Studies show the positive effects that classical music, massage and limiting TV time has on the development of the child’s brain. Use this checklist to evaluate how well you are doing at creating a healthy environment for your family. Eat A Balanced Diet? Exercise On A Regular Basis? Get Enough Sleep? Play Games With Your Children? Read To Your Children? Listen To Music With Your Children? Research proves that the more you exercise the better your body feels. The same is true of your brain. The more you feed and exercise your brain, the healthier, happier and smarter you are going to feel. Use this information to create a healthier environment for your family.
Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar
2001 Garden Party and Tour Sunday July 1st 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Tickets are only $12 8 Gorgeous Gardens are on tour in Northwest Denver Come support The Conflict Center and enjoy a wonderful afternoon tour of charming NW Denver gardens. All within a 2 mile radius of The Conflict Center. To order tickets call The Conflict Center at 303-433-4983. A Special Thank You To the sponsors of our Third Annual Conference on Reducing the Cost of Conflict in the Workplace. "Conflict Management for Supervisors" Kaiser Permanente Hall & Evans Advantage HR Solutions US Relocation Preemptive Worforce Solutions CUE Littleton Alternative Dispute Resolution	2001 Ambassador of Peace Award Event Monday October 29th 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM Doubletree Hotel 3202 Quebec Street Tickets From $100 ($75 is tax deductible). Please join us for a special reception, dinner and book signing. Award Recipient Barbara Coloroso, M.A. Well-known parenting expert, international speaker and author of many books and tapes on effective teaching and parenting, including "Kids are Worth It!" and "Parenting With Wit and Wisdom:. For over 30 years Ms. Coloroso has had a positive impact on the lives of thousands of families. Keynote Speaker James Garbarino, Ph.D. Author, expert and pioneer in understanding the inner life of youth. Dr. Garbarino will outline the steps that parents, teachers, and the general public must take to keep children safe. Author of "Lost Boys", his new book, "Parents Under Siege", will be available at the event.
Volunteer News - Volunteer Appreciation A Great Success Tea sets, cakes, flowers and springtime flourished as TCC volunteers gathered for our 4th annual appreciation party at The Conflict Center celebrating our accomplishments in 2000. Mary Ann Tarpey presented Liz Loescher with a “check” in the amount of $72,440, the value of volunteer hours served in 2000. Everyone applauded this incredible contribution which supports the vital educational programs of The Conflict Center. The event highlight was the presentation of Annual Volunteer Recognition by Liz Loescher and Vicki Braunagel, The Conflict Center Board President. Our year 2000 honorees, whom we honor with great pride, are Mary Ann Tarpey, Laura Griego and Reading For Peace. Special thanks to the Volunteer Program Committee and to all who worked so energetically to make this day memorable. Isabel Alvarado Bailey, Cary Leher, Karen Brich, Meghan Lynch, Mary Zinn-Stewart, Emily Dangel, Sue and George Mitchell, Mary Ann Tarey, Heather Polak, Laura Griego, Carol Clark, Patricia Laverty, Ann Stewart, Liz Loescher, Robert and Cooper Leher, Will Burt and Cheri Ferbrache and a special contribution from US Relocation.	Volunteer Training Calendar Volunteers, supporters and friends, call Heather at 303-433-4983 to reserve your seat for... Volunteer Introductions June 12, Tuesday 6-8 PM July 26, Thursday 3-5 PM September 12, Wednesday 6-8 PM Learn about our organization, programs and volunteer opportunities. If our regularly scheduled orientations do not fit your schedule, you are invited to contact Mary Zinn-Stewart to schedule a session. Volunteer Button alert! It's up! It's Colorful! Please enjoy our new display of volunteer buttons incredibly engineered and created by TCC staff member, Jennifer Guy and TCC volunteer, Carol Clark. With need for displaying over 150 buttons and incorporation of children's artwork, this was a challenging feat. We hope that all volunteers wear these buttons with pride whenever making a contribution of their time on behalf of The Conflict Center. In the building or at other sites, please don your World's Best Volunteers button. Be sure to visit the display the next time you are in the building.
Volunteer Opportunities Lansing Elementary School Peace Day Wednesday, May 30th Family Peace Day at Rude Park Saturday, June 9th Garden Tour Sunday, July 1st Ambassador of Peace Award Dinner Monday, October 29th
Playground Conflict Managers Board of directors Resource Library Staffing Theatre Benefit Organize Materials for Teaching Staff Data Entry	Record Maintenance Teaching Volunteer Training Walk the Talk Reading for Peace If you are interested in volunteering, call Heather at 303-433-4983 or Mary at 303-265-8622.
Kids Corner
Here are some thoughts for kids to take care of your body and your brain. As a growing, learning person you need exercise to stimulate the growth of your body. Remember that exervise, especially outdoors, good food, and plenty of sleep and a healthy environment will help make you happy, smart and healthy. Do you sometimes feel bored? Here are some ideas for keeping your brain growing and healthy too. the more you use your brain the less bored you will be. What else can you think of? do an experiment and try not to watch TV every time you feel bored. Used your brain to think of something else to do. Do you feel different?	Listen to music (and dance too) Read a book or magazine Write a letter Write about what you did today or make up a story Sit outside and notice everything around you Check out your neighborhood recreation center Ask your parents if they need help with anything Take a walk around your neighborhood See if there is someone in your neighborhood who needs help Make up a new game Start a new hobby or project Ride your bike or go roller blading or skating Draw or color a picture Call one of your friends to talk
The Effects of Television Violence on Children From a Teen's Perspective This essay was written by 13 year old Reyna Cordova in response to an article she read regarding the effects of television violence on children. Her essay brings us all unique perspective and awareness.
The American Academy Of Pediatrics (AAP) reports the average child watches 4 hours of television a day. The AAP recommends that limiting the child’s viewing to only 1-2 hours per day and that children under 2 years should not watch television at all. The AAP feels that too much TV can negatively affect brain development. In this essay, I’ll give you my opinion on a few of the issues regarding children and television. The more violence children watch on TV, the more likely they are going to act in an aggressive way. Ok, I agree with this statement to a degree. I once saw my nephew, age 6 at the time, hit his 5-year- old sister with his play sword after watching the “Power Rangers” on TV. Small children have not yet learned to differentiate between what is “real” and what is “pretend”. Seems to me that this is where parents should step in and educate their children on what is appropriate behavior and what is not. I also believe that it is the parent’s responsibility to know firsthand what their children are watching on television. Television is so addictive that the average child watches TV 4 hours a day, 28 hours a week, 1,400 hours a year and 18,000 hours by the time they graduate from high school! Going to school from Kindergarten to the 12th grade only takes 13,000 hours. More than 54% of all children have a TV in their bedroom. When asked whether they want to spend time watching TV or with their father, the majority picked watching TV.	Every time you see violence on TV, in the movies, video games, comic books or other forms of violent entertainment, ask yourself these questions. Who will be sad? Who will cry? Who will pay for the damage? Who will clean away the mess? Who will fix everything that was broken? Who will be scared to go outside? How will this affect their families? In conclusion, as you can see, there is a tremendous amount of violence in this world. Even if the family is completely free from violence at home, parents should still consider that every time the child watches TV he or she learns more violent acts. I think parents should reduce the amount of TV watched by their kids and monitor the degree of violence in the shows they do watch. Parents also need to remind their children about the real-world consequences of violence so their children will remember who gets hurt and what it feels like. Thanks to Reyna for her essay and the powerful insight she brings to the issue of how violence in the media affects children of all ages.
Creative Ways to Support The Conflict Center
How to Win Even When You Lose $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ If you play the lottery save all your non-winning Colorado Scratch game tickets, write your name, phone number and the name of your favorite non-profit group (we hope it’s The Conflict Center) and drop the tickets in one of the special boxes. Between April 20 and May 28, 2001, special lottery drop-boxes will be located across Colorado in participating Albertsons, King Soopers, Safeways, Cub Foods, City Markets, Circle Supers, Super K-Marts, Steele’s Markets and Toddy’s. The Colorado Lottery Charity Drawing will be held on Saturday, June 30, 2001, at the Greeley Stampede. Five non-winning Lottery Scratch tickets will be drawn, and the five qualified non-profits listed on those tickets, as well as the individuals who submitted the tickets will win cash prizes. First Place Organization $10,000 Individual $1,000 Second Place Organization $5,000 Individual $500 Third Place Organization $2,500 Individual $250 Fourth Place Organization $2,000 Individual $200 Fifth Place Organization $1,000 Individual $100
Fly Frontier Airlines Next time you fly, go on Frontier Airlines and identify yourself as an affiliate or friend of The Conflict Center. The Conflict Center will receive 4.5% of the ticket price and another 5% will be provided in future travel credits for The Conflict Center staff. To take advantage of the Carefare Program you must call Frontier Airlines reservations directly at 303-371-7171 or 1-800-243-6297 and identify yourself as a Carefare traveler affiliated with The Conflict Center. The Conflict Center’s Carefare number is S600208. Your ticket will be issued electronically, with a confirmation receipt, which can be faxed to you if you wish.	Leave A Legacy A local effort called Leave A Legacy has been organized and is designed to encourage and assist individuals leave some part of their estate to charity. Only 30% of Americans die with a will and only 6% include a charitable bequest in their wills. People can continue to make a difference in their communities with a little planning. Gifts may be in the form of money, property, an investment or a percentage of an estate. Leave a Legacy is sponsored by the Colorado Planned Giving Round Table, US Bank, Rose Community Foundation, The Denver Foundation, Bank of Cherry Creek, the National Society of Fund Raising Executives and Colorado State University. For more information contact Ronnie at The Conflict Center or call Leave A Legacy at 303-544-2300.