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SUMMARY:Using the Feeling Wheel to Know Your Emotions
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”50px” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”column_reverse” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”podcast-sidebar” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”147768″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][nectar_btn size=”large” constrain_group_1=”yes” open_new_tab=”true” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” solid_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Subscribe Now” url=”https://www.buzzsprout.com/2099983/share” margin_top=”30″ margin_bottom=”30″][vc_column_text]Subscribe to the “Practicing Connection” monthly email to keep up to date on our latest podcasts\, blog posts and workshops. \nJoin the “Practicing Connection Community” on LinkedIn. The community is designed for people who support military families in a variety of settings both on installations and in our communities.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Listen” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][vc_raw_html]JTNDZGl2JTIwaWQlM0QlMjJidXp6c3Byb3V0LXBsYXllci0xMzkyNTAyOCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmRpdiUzRSUzQ3NjcmlwdCUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmJ1enpzcHJvdXQuY29tJTJGMjA5OTk4MyUyRjEzOTI1MDI4LXVzaW5nLXRoZS1mZWVsaW5nLXdoZWVsLXRvLWtub3cteW91ci1lbW90aW9ucy5qcyUzRmNvbnRhaW5lcl9pZCUzRGJ1enpzcHJvdXQtcGxheWVyLTEzOTI1MDI4JTI2cGxheWVyJTNEc21hbGwlMjIlMjB0eXBlJTNEJTIydGV4dCUyRmphdmFzY3JpcHQlMjIlMjBjaGFyc2V0JTNEJTIydXRmLTglMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0U=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About This Episode” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][vc_column_text](Season 4\, Episode 11) \nIn this practicast\, Practicing Connection co-host\, Jessica Beckendorf\, guides us through how to use the Feeling Wheel\, a free\, printable resource\, to help us identify what we are feeling. Knowing and naming your feelings can be really helpful for allowing yourself to feel it\, reflecting to pinpoint the cause\, knowing what actions you can take to help regulate the feeling a bit\, and deepening relationships by accurately communicating your feelings when you need to. \n“Practicasts” are shorter episodes of the podcast highlighting a specific practice to help empower us to work together to improve our resilience and readiness. \nLinks\n\nThe Feeling Wheel (PDF download) from All the Feelz\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all” el_id=”trans”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” el_class=”entry” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Transcript” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” nofollow=”true” el_class=”read-it” button_id=”read-it” text=”Read More” url=”#trans”][vc_column_text el_class=”pod-trans”][music]\nBob Bertsch: Hi\, and welcome to Practicing Connection. I’m Bob Bertsch. This is our first-ever practicast\, a shorter episode of the podcast highlighting a specific practice to help empower us to work together to improve our resilience and readiness. Each month\, we’ll continue to share our longer episodes with you\, but now you can listen each week in between those longer episodes to get inspired by a new practice on the practicast. We hope you’ll give these practices a try and find them useful. In this episode\, my practicing connection co-host\, Jessica Beckendorf\, will be guiding us through how to use the Feeling Wheel\, a free printable resource to help us identify what we are feeling. Hi\, Jessica\, how are you doing? \nJessica Beckendorf: Hi\, Bob. I’m doing pretty great because I’m so excited to be sharing this practice with our listeners. It’s a really great practice for getting to know yourself better\, and that’s one of the ways that I’ve used it myself. \nBob: Well\, I’m really excited to hear more about it. Can you tell us how using the Feeling Wheel can help us feel better? \nJessica: Yes. Not knowing your emotions can make it really difficult for you to know how to feel through an emotion. I think we’re always hearing like\, “Feel your feelings\,” but when you don’t know exactly what that feeling is\, it actually can make it really difficult for you to do that. It can make it difficult to understand what actions to take in order to help regulate your emotions a bit. \nSometimes our emotions might cause us to do or say something unhelpful or even damaging. Knowing and naming the exact emotions you’re feeling that are causing the physiological symptoms you might be having can be really helpful for actually allowing yourself to feel it. Then reflecting to pinpoint the cause\, like why you’re feeling what you’re feeling and then knowing what actions you can take to help regulate the feeling a bit. This can help deepen relationships also by accurately communicating your feelings when you need to. \nBob: Yes\, I definitely can think of times when I said something at work or at home without being aware of the emotion I was feeling\, and it maybe was not particularly helpful. How did you learn about the Feeling Wheel? \nJessica: I first learned about it from actually a multicultural awareness workshop\, but then it kept showing up in other ways. I took an emotional intelligence workshop where I learned even more how to use it. If you’re not familiar with emotional intelligence workshops\, there’s an assessment that you can take\, and my results showed pretty accurately that I’m not great at identifying my emotions. \nI’m really good at social awareness and telling what everyone else in the room is feeling modifying myself and going and helping everyone else\, but I’m not great at identifying my own emotions. This was a little surprising to me because I’m generally pretty self-aware\, but I never realized that I just labeled my emotions as good or bad without fully understanding them until I was at this workshop\, in my upper 30s. This was pretty late that I was really realizing this. \nFor example\, not long before I attended this workshop\, a colleague had been in a terrible accident which rendered them unable to work any longer. Someone who had been in the office I’d been seeing five days a week was no longer there. It was devastating to everyone at our office\, even those of us who were newer\, and I was one of the newer people. I thought I had been feeling sad about what happened\, but through an activity at this workshop that utilized the feeling wheel\, I realized that while I was definitely sad for my colleague and for their family\, what I was actually feeling that was affecting me personally was fear. \nEssentially my ground was shaky because I realized that an accident like that could happen to me or someone in my house. This was a really key distinction\, this key distinction between feeling sad or feeling fear because I wasn’t getting the support that I needed as someone who was scared. Because I thought I was sad\, I didn’t even know how to talk about what I needed. \nWhat I ended up doing was really isolating myself a little to cry and to be sad in my feelings. I didn’t even know how to talk about it\, much less actually how I was feeling. It certainly didn’t help those who were trying to support me to know how they could best support me in that moment. The feeling wheel after that became such an important tool for me and has become an important tool to the participants in the emotional intelligence workshops that I now teach. \nBob: Can you give us an example of when you might use this practice? Are we pulling the feeling wheel out all the time? Is there just certain situations where it’s helpful? \nJessica: Yes\, that’s a really good question. I would recommend starting out by using it just to identify emotions. Even if you’re confident that you know what you’re feeling\, take a look anyway and pinpoint the word. If you’re not sure what you’re feeling but maybe you recognize that you’re feeling something\, like maybe your face and neck are flushed. For me\, my neck and my chest get red and hot. Maybe your forehead is furrowed or tense and you can’t seem to loosen that tension. Maybe you’re feeling some tension in your neck\, shoulders\, or back\, or whatever physiological symptoms show up for you. \nIf you’re like I was when I started\, you might use this when you recognize that you’re feeling something\, “Bad\,” but you’re having a hard time pinpointing what kind of bad. Or maybe you’re just feeling a little lost or stuck\, that’s another good time to pull out the feelings wheel. You don’t have to pull it out\, to answer your question\, you don’t have to pull it out for every single thing. I would just start when you’re feeling these physiological symptoms and you’re not sure what to do with it. \nBob: Yes\, that sounds helpful and really right. Those times I can think of where you’re wondering like\, “What’s going on with me right now?” I’m just not sure where\, like you said\, the physiological things are coming from or just how maybe you’re feeling inside and you’re just not sure how to put a name to it. I think it’d be really great if you could walk us through the practice of using the feeling wheel. Would you mind doing that for us? \nJessica: Yes\, of course. Like we’ve been saying\, using the feeling wheel can help us practice recognizing our emotions as they arise\, and recognizing our emotions can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and better communication and deeper connections with those we work and live with. There are different versions of this feeling wheel. If you wouldn’t did a search online\, you would find many different versions. \nThe wheel that I’m using today was adopted from the work of Dr. Gloria Wilcox in 1982. Probably a lot of the ones that you see out there have been adapted from this work. This tool is arranged in concentric circles with pie slices\, breaking the circles up into different sections like wedge sections. What are considered the core emotions are located at the center. These are things like mad\, sad\, scared\, powerful\, joyful\, and peaceful. \nWith different intensities of these emotions that are located on the outer layers of the circle. We’ll provide a copy of the feeling wheel that I use in the show notes for this episode at oneop.org/podcast. All right. Now\, the first step is to have a printed or digital copy of a feeling wheel at your fingertips. There are even some apps you can download to help. Some participants in my workshops have told me that they like to keep a copy next to their desk. Others have told me that they keep a copy on their phone. Or again\, an app would work for that as well. Whatever works best for you will be perfect. \nStep two then is using the wheel. When you’re feeling something that you can’t pinpoint\, use it to identify exactly what’s coming up for you. We brought up earlier these physiological symptoms that you might have furrowed brows\, tension in your neck\, shoulders\, back\, or your face or your chest\, heating up and becoming red. Whatever it is for you. Clammy Hands is another good one. Step two is using it when you’re feeling these things. \nThird\, reflect on what happened that brought the feeling up. You find the feeling on the wheel and then you think\, “Okay\, well what exactly brought this up? What happened? Who was involved? Why is this feeling emerging in this situation?” Then finally\, when you’re ready\, and this is optional\, the feeling wheel we’re using today is organized. Once you pinpoint the emotion you’re feeling\, you can look to the wedge that’s on the opposite side of the wheel and use those emotions to find some action that you can take to help you bridge from a feeling that maybe is not very helpful to you in that moment\, to one that can be a little more helpful to you. \nOr at least to bring you to a more of a state of calm. More of a state of like\, “Okay\, I can get through this. I’m going to get through the rest of my workday. I’m going to process this more. In the meantime\, I’m going to do something that will help me allow myself to breathe through this or stay with this feeling.” A quick recap. First\, have a copy ready. Second\, use the wheel when you’re feeling those physiological symptoms. Third\, reflect on what happened\, why was that feeling emerging in that situation. \nThen\, if it’s relevant to you in the moment\, try to look to the opposite side of the wedges and find something\, an activity that you can do that might bring you a little bit more sense of calm in the moment. \nBob: That’s awesome\, Jess. Thanks so much for guiding us through that. The Feeling wheel just seems like a really helpful tool. \nJessica: It has been for me. It’s helped me to know myself so much better to get the help I need when I need it\, and it’s helped me to improve my personal and working relationships by helping me communicate more clearly. I hope this practice is as useful for all the listeners here as it has been for me. \nBob: That’s it for this episode. Thanks so much for joining us. We hope you’ll give this practice a try and share your experience in the Practicing Connection Community LinkedIn Group where people supporting military families practice the skills that empower us to work together so that we can positively impact our communities and help families thrive. You’ll find the link to the group on our website at one op.org/practicingconnection. We’re gonna be back next week with another practicast with another practice for knowing yourself better called What Lights You Up. Until then\, keep practicing. \nKalin Goble: The Practicing Connection Podcast is a production of OneOp and is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture\, US Department of Agriculture\, and the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy\, US Department of Defense under award numbers 209-48770-30366 and 2023-48770-41333. \n[00:11:38] [END OF AUDIO][/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/using-the-feeling-wheel-to-know-your-emotions-s-4-ep-11/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231102T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231102T123000
DTSTAMP:20260613T003742
CREATED:20230911T164312Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T181228Z
UID:10001384-1698922800-1698928200@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Weaving Community Safety Nets for Youth
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Research indicates that adolescents in military families have higher rates of suicidal behaviors than their non-military peers. However\, many suicides are preventable. We can intentionally build\, mobilize\, and maintain protective factors\, recognize and respond to warning signs\, and sustain a safety net of connection in our communities to better support military children\, adolescents\, and their families. \nThis webinar explores the who and how of building a safety net for youth who may be at risk for suicide. Discussions include thinking comprehensively about how communities can work collaboratively with military service providers and mental health services to support military youth and families. This presentation focuses on understanding the risk factors and warning signs\, mobilizing protective factors in your community\, and creating a collaborative support network. The presenter discusses key questions such as: Who is already involved? Who is appropriate to include? What is their role and readiness? Who can give consent? How do we get started? \nLearning Objectives: \nBy the end of this webinar\, attendees will be able to: \n\nList warning signs of suicide risk in youth\nDiscuss factors that are protective against suicide and how to mobilize them\nDescribe collaborative safety planning for a youth who is at risk for suicide\nIdentify steps toward building a collaborative network of supportive adults and services\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Presenter” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”5″ top_margin=”0″ constrain_group_7=”yes” bottom_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_8=”yes” right_margin=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/6″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”156493″ image_size=”custom” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”5px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” position_desktop=”relative” custom_image_size=”thumb” margin_top=”10″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”5/6″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Dr. Terresa Humphries-Wadsworth” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:25|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Dr. Terresa Humphries-Wadsworth\, licensed psychologist and highly experienced public speaker\, is an expert in mental health promotion\, suicide prevention and postvention\, and behavioral health crisis care. Dr. Humphries-Wadsworth provides subject matter expertise to states and territories that are working to prevent suicide among military service members\, veterans\, and their families. She has over 25 years of clinical experience providing mental health services in remote\, rural\, and urban settings and has a deep commitment to improving outcomes for individuals with suicide risk and their families.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”40″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Continuing Education (CE) Credit” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” text=”Continuing Education” url=”https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5bfocFNuNDKtg7I”][vc_column_text]The following CE credits are available for this session: \n\nCertified Family Life Educators: This program has been approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) for 1.5 CE credits for CFLEs. *Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 11/2/28  \nOneOp Certificates of Attendance are available for those interested in documenting additional professional development activities.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Photo Credit: SDI Productions\, iStock ID 1162213391[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/160005/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/iStock-1162213391-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230926T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230926T123000
DTSTAMP:20260613T003742
CREATED:20230425T173536Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251110T145453Z
UID:10001336-1695726000-1695731400@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Helping Military Families Understand the True Cost of Convenience
DESCRIPTION:About This Webinar:\nBuying a candy bar or sports drink at the gas station or an impulse purchase at the grocery store are common examples of spending leaks—dollars unintentionally spent. Meal delivery services are another example of a significant spending leak\, with Americans spending an estimated $26.5 million per year on food delivery\, including the hidden costs of food delivery that can add 36% to the bill. Since payments are digital\, a consumer often does not “feel” the true cost of the expense. When you factor in other automated transactions like streaming subscriptions\, memberships\, auto-shipped items\, and purchases influenced by “fast fashion” or trendy goods or services\, it is not surprising when service members get to the end of the month and wonder where their money went. Join this webinar to help service members understand the cost of convenience and explore strategies to stop spending leaks. \nPresenter\n \nDr. Jennifer Hunter is an Extension Professor and the Assistant Director of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Hunter is a three-time graduate from the University of Kentucky earning her Ph.D in Family Studies\, a Master of Science in Vocational Education and Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics. \n  \n  \nContinuing Education \nContinuing Education (CE) Credit\nThis webinar has been approved for 1.5 Continuing Education (CE) credits to: \n\nThe Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE) for Accredited Financial Counselors (AFC). Eligibility for CE credit will close on 9/26/26\nThe Center for Financial Certifications (FinCert) for Certified Personal Finance Counselors (CPFC). Eligibility for CE credit will close on 9/26/26\nThe National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) for Certified Family Life Educators (CFLE). Eligibility for CE credit will close on 9/26/28\nCertificates of Attendance are available for providers interested in documenting their training activities.\n\nEvent Materials\nWebinar Slides | PDF \n\n\n\n\n\niStock/Panupong Piewkleng
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/147551/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/iStock-1448148733.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230901
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230902
DTSTAMP:20260613T003742
CREATED:20230901T111516Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T023055Z
UID:10001390-1693526400-1693612799@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Starting a Food Pantry for Military Families with Monica Bassett
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”50px” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”column_reverse” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”podcast-sidebar” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”147768″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][nectar_btn size=”large” constrain_group_1=”yes” open_new_tab=”true” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” solid_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Subscribe Now” url=”https://www.buzzsprout.com/2099983/share” margin_top=”30″ margin_bottom=”30″][vc_column_text]Join us in the “Practicing Connection” community. When you sign up you’ll receive a monthly email focused on practicing connection. The email will help us establish a shared rhythm and some shared experiences in our community.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Listen” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][vc_raw_html]JTNDZGl2JTIwaWQlM0QlMjJidXp6c3Byb3V0LXBsYXllci0xMzM5MDA1MiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmRpdiUzRSUzQ3NjcmlwdCUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmJ1enpzcHJvdXQuY29tJTJGMjA5OTk4MyUyRjEzMzkwMDUyLXN0YXJ0aW5nLWEtZm9vZC1wYW50cnktZm9yLW1pbGl0YXJ5LWZhbWlsaWVzLXdpdGgtbW9uaWNhLWJhc3NldHQuanMlM0Zjb250YWluZXJfaWQlM0RidXp6c3Byb3V0LXBsYXllci0xMzM5MDA1MiUyNnBsYXllciUzRHNtYWxsJTIyJTIwdHlwZSUzRCUyMnRleHQlMkZqYXZhc2NyaXB0JTIyJTIwY2hhcnNldCUzRCUyMnV0Zi04JTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGc2NyaXB0JTNF[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About This Episode” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][vc_column_text](Season 4\, Episode 8) \nIn this episode\, co-hosts Jessica Beckendorf and Bob Bertsch talk with Monica Bassett\, founder and CEO of Stronghold Food Pantry\, a resource for military families on Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. Monica talks about how she started a food pantry on Fort Riley\, KS and how she launched Stronghold\, highlighting the role military spouses\, like Monica\, can play in supporting military families. \nLinks\n\nStronghold Food Pantry\n\nStronghold on Facebook\nStronghold on Instagram\n\n\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all” el_id=”trans”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” el_class=”entry” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Transcript” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” nofollow=”true” el_class=”read-it” button_id=”read-it” text=”Read More” url=”#trans”][vc_column_text el_class=”pod-trans”][music]\nKalin Goble: Welcome to Practicing Connection\, a podcast exploring the personal stories and collective practices that empower us to work together to improve our resilience and readiness in a rapidly changing world. Here to start the conversation are Jessica Beckendorf and Bob Bertsch. \nBob Bertsch: Hi\, and welcome to the Practicing Connection podcast. I’m Bob Bertsch. \nJessica Beckendorf: I’m Jessica Beckendorf. This year our team at OneOp has been focusing on food security for military families. We came across a news article about Stronghold Food Pantry Founder and CEO\, Monica Bassett. \nBob: Monica’s a military spouse and advocate for the underprivileged in the military community. Through her personal experience with food insecurity as a child and by connecting with military families facing the same struggles\, she’s made it her mission to ease the burden of food insecurity and shine a light on undernourishment of families. She founded Stronghold Food Pantry on Fort Leavenworth\, Kansas to respectfully supply resources to families. \nProvide actionable solutions and educate others on the crisis of food insecurity in the military. Monica was named the Armed Forces Insurance Army Spouse of the Year in 2022 because of her commitment to alleviating food insecurity\, and we are so very excited to have her join us for the podcast and for today’s conversation. Welcome to Practicing Connection\, Monica. Thanks so much for joining us. \nMonica Bassett: Thank you. I appreciate y’all having me on. \nJessica: Monica\, I’m really curious what led you to your work on food security. \nMonica: It really just started over COVID. Military families were stuck in a predicament where children were being sent home\, school was out\, spouses had to either quit their job\, try to find remote work. Things got really tight. I was in an installation Fort Riley\, Kansas at the time\, and we were also very highly deployable that soldiers were always gone. I started seeing the increased need and call to action of families needing help. They weren’t asking for money. They weren’t asking for rides. They weren’t asking for big-ticket items. They were asking for help stocking their refrigerator\, their pantries. I just started it from my garage. \nI started with our funds buying food. What I actually did was bringing it back to something that you guys mentioned in your last podcast\, community resilience. I really identified the gap– I just sort did it backwards. I identified the gap. I started with my own resources\, my family. Then the community came and they found ways that they could contribute. I had neighbors whaling down in wagons foods to stock up so that I could feed more military families\, and it became a coast-wide initiative. After that it grew to civilians wanting to contribute\, and the community wanted to take part in this initiative to help its military families. That’s really how it started. \nJessica: Wow. You started to touch on this\, but how did you know where to start? Tell me more about how you knew where to start. \nMonica: I didn’t. [laughter]\nJessica: That is what pretty much every caring community volunteer has probably ever said\, “I really didn’t know where to start. I just started doing stuff.” Tell me more about that\, Monica. \nMonica: It was a gut punch. It wasn’t something all-inspiring. It was a gut punch to have military spouses like myself asking for assistance. Asking for help in the most humble of ways. It really was something that either was going to bring you into action or face you to put the rose-colored goggles on and look the other way. Me and my family opted to just dive into it\, and it really just started with knowing what I could do personally to help. \nAfter that\, being that person that was in the forefront led others to say\, “I want to join you\,” and then the initiative grew. When I left Fort Riley\, I knew I needed to lead this program with someone who I couldn’t trust because my mission was never to start something and let it die. It has to continue and has to continue helping families. I left it with the Spouses Club there at Fort Riley and that program is still continuing now. \nJessica: Wow. One of the cool things I’m noticing in your story is that sometimes even when we start alone in something like this\, we’re not alone\, people will start to notice. We all have what’s in our circle of control the things that we actually can do ourselves. We all have a circle of influence\, but sometimes we might not know who’s in that circle of influence. \nAs people start to see what we’re doing\, that circle of influence might start to come to you\, which sounds like what happened to you\, Monica. In that same vein\, I’m really interested to know what your collaborations were like both on installation and in the community. Did you collaborate with people who were out in the community as well as on installation? If so\, tell me a little bit more about how that came about and what that was like. \nMonica: Yes\, absolutely. I think it’s very important to build bridges with our civilian community. I think that that is how military installations and military communities thrive. Because we contribute to our outside civilian installation by shopping there\, living there\, paying taxes\, buying vehicles. They want to also tie back into us. When you can build that bridge and let them be helpful to military families in the installation\, things can be very successful. What I started there\, first initially I researched all the food pantries that were civilian food pantries around the installation\, around several counties. \nI started talking to their executive directors\, I started volunteering. I started bringing groups of military spouses to come volunteer with me so that we could see the climate\, the dynamic\, how they operate\, how they service. After that\, I started bringing in our local command team. We had command spouses come out and want to see for themselves what was happening in these outside communities. How they were servicing civilians\, and possibly military personnel that also attended there. I think it’s very important to tie and to build those bridges with our outside community. \nEven now fast forward two years and Stronghold as a nonprofit\, we are bringing in organizations from civilian communities\, Kansas City\, Wichita\, Missouri\, that want to help military families\, but don’t have a tie into the military community. They’re like\, “We don’t even service your county\, we don’t even service that\, will you be an agency we can partner with?” Absolutely. If that means that I can alleviate a burden to a military family somehow\, absolutely. Let’s try to figure out how to make this work. \nJessica: Do you have a sense for how they didn’t have a tie-in to the military community? \nMonica: In the military\, we are personified by the notion of we take care of our own. That is a lot of what civilian organizations\, hospital\, agencies that help a civilian community with diapers\, and formula\, and food. Those are the notions that they have. We didn’t know this was happening in the military community. A big part of what I do as the Founder and CEO of Stronghold is get myself out into the civilian community and educate those individuals. \nBecause they had no idea that military families were living with 24% of food insecurity\, or that they do not qualify for SNAP benefits because after 6 hours and 27 minutes of me personally waiting on hold to apply we don’t qualify. Because from the get-go we’re disqualified because of the way our earnings statement is read. Which is shocking because this same federally funded program of WIC runs a completely different way with regulations and guidelines and military families do qualify for that. \nWhat I am seeing within Stronghold and with different food pantries that run and help military installations\, it’s that our highest demographic of military families needing assistance are not E1Z\, 2Z3s. They are E6s\, E7s who already have grown children in the household\, which makes sense they’re eating more. They’re more hungry. They’re living in a more active lifestyle. What they’re being able to get for their money in a grocery store is not sustaining that active lifestyle\, which in turn equals food insecurity. \nJessica: When my dad was E67\, I was a teenager and I needed money for the movies. [laughs]\nMonica: It’s sad. What you just noted right there is hard because if families do don’t have the funds for groceries\, sadly they also don’t have the funds for any actual fun that the family might have\, and activities that you would really love your children to enjoy. All those extra perks. Currently\, Stronghold is doing Pack the Backpack event next week for families because PCS season is one of the largest factors in what tilts military families into food insecurity. When you compound those expenses with a $200 back-to-school supply bill\, that it’s sometimes doubled and tripled\, that’s a huge burden. I always try to think of that. If military families don’t have the financial means to really supply that adequate food\, there are many other things that are going by the wayside as well. \nBob: Monica\, can you tell us a little bit more about how Stronghold got founded after you left Fort Riley? \nMonica: Yes. It still moves me now because who would’ve thought that something that just started in a garage an agency\, a large organization? Armed Forces Insurance approached me when I moved to our next installation\, Fort Leavenworth. They had read about some of the things that I had done at Fort Riley. They wanted to help military families\, and they wanted to tie into what we were doing. \nThey became a founding sponsor by giving me space. I have zero overhead. Stronghold has space completely donated by Armed Forces Insurance and that includes utilities and anything in their facility that I might need. That is tremendously generous and that really to me shows their dedication to want to help the military community. \nBob: Is that space on installation? \nMonica: It is. We are on Fort Leavenworth in their building\, just right around the corner from the local hospital. \nBob: How have you seen military families adapt to that or come to Stronghold? Do you have a sense of where folks who needed help at Fort Leavenworth were going previously? \nMonica: Yes. Military families here– first and foremost\, Fort Leavenworth is typically known as a very officer-heavy installation because we have the academy here. You have a lot of officers come in\, transitioning from captain to major. However\, we also hold the barracks prison on the other side of the installation\, and we hold over 800 junior enlisted soldiers and families here. That is very predominant in this installation. \nThey used to service. They used to attend services at outside organization\, Salvation Army\, Catholic charities\, things of that nature. There is always those fear of repercussions of who’s going to report me because a lot of outside food pantries they require to take in earning statements income in order to get state and federal grants. Anytime they have to identify who they are\, put down their information. \nThe first question that the director at Catholic charity shared with me was– or that they say\, “Are you going to share this with our commanders? Are you going to share this with the installation?” She’s like\, “I always have to reassure them that we will not.” Where Stronghold stands in the gap is the fact that to reassure them to make sure that we do service and help all military families. Because as I noted earlier\, our families do not qualify for SNAP. \nEven if we did require them to apply\, they would not qualify for our services if we required that. By standing in the gap Stronghold requires no earning statements. If you say that you need assistance\, if you can get past the stigma\, if you can get past the fear of repercussions and the embarrassment and you say you need assistance. Then we’re going to service you\, no questions asked. That’s truly where we stand in the gap because we are not a DOD facility. \nWe do not run the numbers up. We do not take units\, information\, rank\, any of that information\, and pass it along in the chain. We do not make them qualify by an earning statement. We are truly very unique in the space where we do fall into that gap. We have seen that in the course of five months our patrons\, and it’s bittersweet because you never want someone to need this assistance. It’s also at the same time exciting that the word is getting out that they can trust you. \nThe more names that come on and the more relationships that we build with our patrons they’re like\, “My friend told me you guys were safe. They were never reported\, so we really need some help.” Then you have families coming in saying\, “We have an emergency request because my spouse needed to leave or deploy TDY and now we have all these expenses.” The fact that they can trust you and that word of mouth is getting out there is very special to Stronghold because it means that we’re doing something right. \nBob: You talked a little bit about the stigma and I just– in the introduction\, I mentioned that Stronghold tries to respectfully provide these things. What does that mean to you and to Stronghold Food Pantry to respectfully provide this service to our military families? \nMonica: That is probably one of my biggest notions or something I keep in the forefront for me in my mission\, and it’s in the mission statement as well. Because it just means so much protecting a service member and their families anonymity and our culture is huge. This is why they don’t report that they are having issues. It is noted from the Department of Defense that one of the largest issues that military service members\, why they do not report having food insecurity\, financial difficulty\, mental health issues\, any of that is always fear of repercussions and stigma. \nThe way that Stronghold tries to protect their anonymity is they always reserve appointment times that they can have one-on-one time. They have a sanctioned time where they can come in\, they can shop\, have personal attention\, and have someone that they can talk to. Because a lot of the times they open up about various different items that are affecting their life or what brought them to this situation. \nFor instance\, an E-2 that came in\, he and his spouse were leaving a bad situation at home after high school and they join the service. He then brought on his little brother\, who is also a teenager\, became his legal guardian\, and as an E-2 you don’t have the pay to sustain another body\, much less a teenage body. These individuals were trying to be better global citizens. \nThey were trying to do better for themselves\, enroll in higher education paid by the military\, and they were willing to bring on someone else so they wouldn’t become a statistic. These are the stories at that personalized time\, that anonymity that we protect. They bring out these stories in these people. They bring out the trust and you start building these relationships. We do privatize time slots for military families to come in. \nThey can shop and they leave without bumping into a neighbor\, bumping into their NCO\, bumping into an officer or anyone else. I also do not allow any people in uniform personnel in our area\, and that includes my spouse who tries to deliver food sometimes to me. I yell at him\, “No\, no one’s allowed in here. You’re not going to spook any of my patriots because this is what’s important to them. This is how we build trust.” \nBob: What have been some of the biggest challenges in either experience on Fort Riley or Fort Leavenworth with running a food pantry on installation? \nMonica: Especially at Leavenworth because we were getting a whole operational warehouse and it’s the obstacles of weight. You’re not actually sanctioned by the Department of Defense. You’re not ACS\, MWR\, a chaplain\, you are not these entities. We are a complete outside nonprofit organization run volunteered by military spouses. That was probably the biggest thing after people started noticing that we were assisting and we were doing good. \nWe were providing services that are not provided. People are coming around. That was probably the biggest obstacle at this installation at Fort Leavenworth because we do have a warehouse. Fort Riley was a complete different beast. We did have some really phenomenal leadership there who just jumped in and said\, “What is the issue? How can we help? Let’s see this for ourselves.” “Hey\, Monica\, Come work with me and develop a task force to try to help our military families.” “Hey\, Monica\, come sit with my aide and run through this list and let’s give out some resource sheets to all our soldiers.” It really depends. Just like any organization\, whether you’re for-profit or non-profit\, whether you’re civilian or military. It always depends on the climate of your environment\, and it depends on who is working that environment. \nIt’s very different. It’s not what happened for Stronghold at Fort Leavenworth or what happened for me at Fort Riley before Stronghold was actually a nonprofit. Could be very different than what could happen for someone at Whiteman Air Force Base or in Misawa. It would be very different. It just really depends on your climate\, your environment\, and honestly your volunteers and your leadership. \nBob: You have advice for folks. Having said that context matters\, the climate matters\, what advice would you have for somebody who was interested in whether it’s working on food insecurity or another issue for military families as a military spouse? \nMonica: Yes. Recently\, within the last few months\, my email has been getting inundated with emails from various spouses. I mentioned a few of those from Misawa\, Spangdahlem Air Force Base\, Whiteman Air Force Base\, Coast Guard West Coast\, on how can you help me get through this? What are your best practices? One of the most in-depth that I helped was Spangdahlem Air Force Base. We had several Zoom conversations on here are my best practices and here’s where I would start. \nIt always starts with\, first\, get a feel for your climate because we all want to help. Military spouses we are in this community to do whatever we can for our neighbors\, but the biggest thing is– the way I mentioned at Fort Riley\, I started involving myself with outside community organizations. I started asking questions of executive directors\, what’s your percentage\, how many military families? Let me get a feel for how you run. That is always my first step for when people ask me\, how do you start this\, is you have to learn your climate. \nYou can’t just say\, “Well\, I saw five posts of families needing help\, or I need help.” I’m going do this whole pantry or this whole initiative. No\, first research the climate\, find out what resources are there\, how they operate\, maybe where the gaps are. Like maybe this resource is out there. However\, this pantry at this chaplain’s office is really only a coat closet or a cabinet\, and is only open between the hours of 8:00 and 10:00 and you have to answer the chaplain’s 30-minute questions. That already is going deter a family tenfold times. \nThey’re not going to want to answer the chaplain’s questions and sit there and be embarrassed and worry in the back of their head on who this is going to be reported to. Even though they know that that should be a private conversation\, it’s always something that’s going to run in the back of your head. First and foremost\, I always say\, “Go figure out your climate. Go find out those resources. Find out where those gaps fall\,” which leads back to your last podcast that I had listened to on your community resilience. \nThis is how you truly shape a very successful organization that can truly target and benefit your military families. After you figure out climate\, after you figure out where the gaps are or where you can contribute to them. Then you can figure out\, do you actually need a whole new service\, or can you tap into these outside resources. After that\, if then that leads you down the path of talking to garrison command and your chain command on post\, then let it be that\, but you are going armed with information. That is always my biggest thing. You need to be armed with the statistics\, the data. That’s what drives change. \nJessica: By that time you might also be armed with a whole network of other supports that are willing to step in and help if they can. \nMonica: Yes. You nailed it. Absolutely. \nJessica: That was super clear. It’s very clear that you have lots and lots of experience with this. [laughs] It is\, it is\, it’s very clear. Is there a specific practice that’s been really helpful in your work or to you individually that you’d be willing to share with us? Something that you practice maybe regularly? \nMonica: Yes\, a couple of things. As far as food pantry goes\, we practice always in that space of protecting anonymity and being able to serve our military families with dignity and respect. That leads me to the practice of whether you’re a volunteer or whether you’re a staff member or part of our board. My practice of interviewing every single person who comes through that door. Even a partner\, a donor\, I have turned away new stations\, articles being printed about Stronghold\, because anonymity and protecting our service members is always first for me. \nThat is a practice that I will never let go of despite what happens. Like I said\, I’ve turned away news stations who wanted to run stories. I’ve turned away articles because they want names\, and can we be there to film when you’re giving food out? Absolutely not. That also goes to who I bring on board. Even a general volunteer\, even someone that works within the pantry and the warehouse. If you are not in line with our mission and our passion\, because to do this work you have to have a passion for it. Not everyone who is sitting in an office for the Department of Defense\, in organizations\, at the chaplain’s office who are assigned to be a chaplain’s aid. \nNot everyone has a passion to serve military families\, and not everyone has a passion to be embedded in these stories and help them through their dark period and to be that hand up. I am very particular in who I bring in. There has to be the practice of meeting me\, of operating under me for a while before I can say\, “You can fully volunteer here\,” and it’s volunteer\, it’s for free. I’m not going to bring in anyone who can slightly break or cause amend in that relationship with our patriots. \nJessica: I’m a huge proponent of those one-on-one conversations. I really believe that through that you can not only find where there are bridges to be built\, but you can also just continue to deepen the network and deepen the supports for good work. \nBob: Hey\, Monica\, I have one more question for you\, and that is you have accomplished so much and put so much of yourself into this and your family. What do you do for yourself in terms of practice to keep going and stay healthy and do the great work that you’re doing? \nMonica: To be honest\, not much. [laughs] That is what we get into a lot\, but no. I will say something\, my volunteer time at the pantry with like-minded individuals truly helps me get through some obstacles. When we were PCSing we were stuck in a seven-week PCS for a two-hour move. It was supposed to be door to door\, but mishaps with privatized housing\, all the stuff and we were homeless\, PCS homeless for seven weeks. During that time I found a civilian food pantry and food drive to go to. I cannot explain how happy my heart was after that and how centered I felt. There is truly something that happens with giving work back to your community that is fulfilling. \nThere is data out there on what community service does to your mental sanity to help improve your wellness. From the voices of our volunteers\, one in specifically has said\, “I am so happy you exist. I’m so happy you allowed me to volunteer because this got me through the darkest time.” Because we’re building not only community with our patriots\, but we’re building community within our volunteers. We now have friends that they didn’t have before. They now have someone they can depend on. While we’re working and stocking the shelves\, a lot of the times we’re also airing our grievances and our stresses and having a therapy session within ourselves. \nI honestly have to say that a lot of that– and once the kids go back to school it’ll be a lot better too. Because right now my children go to the pantry with me and that’s not very calming. Going to the pantry really does help\, and aside from that we all like to talk to our community\, our friends that have been with us for years and have seen me go from A to Z and all the aspects. I think communication is key to help alleviate a lot of the mental anxiety and mental stress and then like a massage. \nJessica: Yes\, you got to that part at the very\, very end\, yes. No\, wonderful. That’s awesome. \nBob: Monica\, I want to thank you so much for joining us and for the work that you’re doing to support our military families in a time of need. Thank you so much for joining us and for the work that you do. It was great to talk with you. \nMonica: Thank you both for having me. I really appreciate it. Thank you for shining a light on what is happening with our military families and for Stronghold. \nJessica: That’s it for this episode. Thank you so much for joining us. You can keep up with Practicing Connection by subscribing to the podcast in your favorite podcast app. By signing up to be a part of the Practicing Connection community at oneop.org/practicing-connection. By following us on X. Our X handle is @practicingcxn\, Practicing Connection that’s @practicingcxn. \nBob: Jessica is probably mad at me for pulling back the curtain\, but an awesome job adjusting to not saying the T-word for the app that is now called X. \nJessica: Thank you. \nBob: Good job. Thank you for joining us for this conversation. We’ve really enjoyed having you here. Thanks again to our guest\, Monica Bassett. We’d also like to thank our co-producer Coral Owen\, our announcer Kalin Goble\, Hannah Hyde\, Maggie Lucas\, and Terry Meisenbach for their help with marketing\, and Nathan Grimm\, who composed and performed all the music you hear on the podcast. We hope you’ll join us again soon. In the meantime\, keep practicing. \n[music]\nKalin: The Practicing Connection podcast is a production of OneOp and is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture\, US Department of Agriculture\, and the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy\, US Department of Defense under award number 2019-48770-30366. \n[END OF AUDIO][/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” disable_element=”yes” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text] \nSUBSCRIBE NOW \nJoin us in the “Practicing Connection” community. When you sign up you’ll receive a monthly email focused on practicing connection. The email will help us establish a shared rhythm and some shared experiences in our community. \nListen\n\n \nAbout this episode\nThe Food Security Hawaii Working Group is an amazing cross-sector collaboration to address food security issues military families are facing\, In this episode (Season 4\, Episode 6)\, Bob Bertsch talks with Arletta Eldridge Thompson\, Health Promotion Coordinator for the 15th Medical Group for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam;  Lorna Souza with the Hawaii Air National Guard Airman and Family Readiness Program; and Kina Mahi\, Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships for the Hawaii Foodbank about the challenges families in Hawaii are dealing with and how people are collaborating to address them. \nTranscript\nKalin Goble: Welcome to Practicing Connection\, a podcast exploring the personal stories and collective practices that empower us to work together to improve our resilience and readiness in a rapidly changing world. Here to start the conversation are Jessica Beckendorf and Bob Bertsch. \nBob Bertsch: Hi\, and welcome to the Practicing Connection podcast. I’m Bob Bertsch. I am really excited for this episode. We’re going to be talking about an incredible collaboration to address food insecurity among military families in Hawaii. Unfortunately\, Jessica won’t be here for this conversation\, but I do want to acknowledge all the work that she did to make this conversation happen. Thanks so much\, Jess. Wish you were here. \nThis year\, our team at OneOp has been focusing on food security for military families. Molly Herndon\, learned about the work our guests today are doing in Hawaii. When Molly passed this information on to Jessica and me\, we knew we had to find a way to get these folks on the podcast. After many emails\, a couple of video calls\, at least one approval process\, maybe more\, one that I know about\, I’m really happy to welcome our guests\, Kina Mahi\, Lorna Souza\, and Arletta Eldridge Thompson\, to the Practicing Connection podcast. \nWelcome\, everyone. I think we’ll start with some introductions. Arletta\, can you tell us a little bit more about yourself? \nArletta Eldridge Thompson: Hi. Thanks for inviting us. We’re really excited to be here. I’m Arletta Eldridge Thompson. I’m the Health Promotion Coordinator for the 15th Medical Group for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is a joint base with Navy/Air Force. We represent the Air Force side. I’ve been working for the Air Force for about 27 years\, and this is my sixth installation to work for. I’m really excited that this is taking off like it has. \nBob: Thanks\, Arletta. Lorna\, could you share a little bit about yourself with our listeners? \nLorna Souza: Sure. Aloha\, and mahalo for having us. My name is Lorna Souza. I am actually with the Hawaii Air National Guard Airman and Family Readiness Program. We are also located on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Hawaii\, at least the main part of our Hawaii Air National Guard\, so that’s why we’re part of this community. Then we also have GSUs\, or Geographically Separated Units\, on three of the other islands\, so the island of Kauai. Also\, the Hawaii Island\, which is our Big Island\, we have a unit there. Then Maui\, so we also have a unit on Maui. \nYes\, here to support any way we can and take care of our airmen. Mahalo. \nBob: Thank you\, Lorna. Kina\, could you introduce yourself? \nKina Mahi: Aloha. My name is Kina Mahi. Thank you so much for having us today. I’m the Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships for the Hawaii Foodbank. The Hawaii Foodbank has been fighting hunger and food insecurity in Hawaii for 40 years. We’ve been lucky enough in the last year to join up with this food insecurity working group with Arletta and Lorna and several others because we believe nobody should go to bed hungry\, but we also are really dedicated in ensuring our military personnel who are serving don’t have to struggle with basic fundamental rights like food\, and we mean healthy food too. Mahalo. \nBob: I’m going to ask you to share with us again\, because before we jump into the working group and the incredible collaboration that’s going on\, I think it’s really important\, when we talked earlier a couple of months ago\, that we set the context a little bit for food systems and food security in Hawaii. Because it is such a special place and might have some unique benefits\, challenges\, just characteristics that we wouldn’t see here in the continental United States. \nKina\, can you maybe start that conversation for us? What makes the food system in Hawaii so unique? \nKina: Sure. Well\, at any given time\, the island of Oahu has less than a week of food supply on it. 80% to 90%\, depending on who you ask\, of the food that we all consume is imported. At one time\, our island sustained a population of a million people just within the sustainable cultivation of our āina\, which is our land here. Now we have a really different food system\, and as I’m sure you’ve all seen at the grocery store\, wherever you are\, prices have continued to go up and up and up. \nWe have this unique challenge of being the most isolated land mass on the planet and relying on boats that bring us our food. We have so much potential to rely more on our land to provide our food\, but that’s a longer conversation. We also know how when people are moving here to serve\, or when they’re assigned here\, it’s a big shift to see the prices that are here compared to prices elsewhere. It’s not just on a macro level we have some food system challenges\, but also on the individual family level when you’re making that adjustment\, it can be really hard. \nArletta: I can say on the active duty side that it is a shock when they come here because they expect everything to be the same as it was on the mainland\, and then when they transfer over here\, they’re totally unprepared. One of the things that we did with our working group is figure out ways to prepare them ahead of time in trying to get them to understand that they need a financial appointment before they leave and that they can figure out what their finances are before they leave\, then also start paying off as many bills as they can and start stockpiling a savings account. Because once they get here\, trying to do a savings account is really difficult because it’s so expensive\, and they’re going to have to rely on that because there’s a honeymoon period of about six to nine months. \nBecause the first thing is once they get the assignment\, it’s like\, oh my gosh\, it’s the best assignment in the Air Force\, or whatever military branch\, and they don’t realize that once they get here\, it’s not what they thought. I try to tell people early on\, I’m like\, okay\, here’s what you need to think about. There are two Hawaiis. There’s tourism Hawaii that they’ve been marketed to and the beauty and all that sort of stuff\, but then there’s the reality of living in Hawaii\, which is the other Hawaii. \nThat’s what I’m trying to prepare them because they don’t have a choice. Once they get here\, they can’t leave. I mean\, a spouse can leave. They can send their spouse back to the mainland or their children back to the mainland\, but that active duty or even that Guard member\, they can’t leave. They’re here. We have to prepare them the best we can for the environment that they’re living in. Hopefully\, some of the best practices that we come up with can be utilized on the mainland\, or also prepping a member to go overseas. \nBob: Lorna\, what kinds of challenges are your airmen facing and their families facing in the Hawaii Air National Guard regarding food security? \nLorna: Yes\, so it’s the same thing for our members. It is very expensive to live here. Cost of living is high. People are leaving constantly\, getting priced out of paradise and actually going to the mainland. Our local youth are starting to go to college there. Of course\, they end up staying there and not coming home\, and then before you know it\, the parents are following them. A lot of our local people can’t afford to live here\, so they’re moving to the mainland\, which you called continental United States. [chuckles]\nYes\, cost of living is very high here in Hawaii. We have multiple families living in one house\, so we have grandparents\, parents\, and children. Of course\, grandparents are watching the grandchildren\, and then the parents are going to work. I also noticed in the last few years\, we had a paradigm shift where actually now our parents are caring for our grandparents\, our elderly. Not only the stress and struggles of living in Hawaii or in the paradise that we have here\, but they can’t afford certain things\, and food is one of them. \nAnything that we can do for our families\, if we can help them with the food\, and then they can pay for the medical bills\, they can pay for the medication that they need for their grandparents\, or we call them kūpuna\, it’s going to help. \nArletta: I want to hop in and piggyback off of what Lorna said. Not only are they living two- well\, three\, maybe four generations in a house\, most everybody in the house has at least two jobs. When you’re looking at the Hawaii Air National Guard\, they have their normal regular job and then a part-time job\, and then the National Guard on top of that. \nBob: Yes. It sounds like very challenging context for our families to be dealing with\, but the working group that you guys put together to start to address that kind of stuff\, how did that all begin\, Arletta? Where did this idea even spring out of and how did you get it started? \nArletta: Gosh\, this was way back before the pandemic\, October of 2019. Airman and Family Readiness on the Hickam active duty side noticed that– It was started with Drew [unintelligible 00:11:00]. He noticed that when people were coming in for the Air Force Aid Society\, those are emergency loans and grants that people can apply for if they need money for certain things. Usually it’s a car repair or something to that effect. One of the things that he noticed when people were coming in to ask for those loans and grants was they were needing sustenance\, they were needing food. Instead of asking for the grant or the loan\, which I think they can only get maybe one time or it’s a limited time\, he opened up a cabinet with two doors and it was a food pantry. That’s how we started. \nThen once we had that food pantry\, I hopped on board to help him advertise it because as a health promotion coordinator\, I know that if you can get people to donate healthier items\, that’ll change their diet. Then not long after that\, the chaplains over at the Hawaii Air National Guard opened up the Pono Pantry. Pono in Hawaii means balance. They started theirs. It was a little shed out in their parking lot\, [chuckles] and they left it open 24/7 so people could go in and get what they needed. That’s how our food pantry system opened up. \nThen when we were moving forward\, but Jayme Alexander\, she took over the Flight Chief position at the Airman and Family Readiness Center\, and she noticed the same thing Drew did\, only she expanded it by like 1\,600%. Instead of one cabinet; ended up being four. She noticed that there was an extreme need. This was during the pandemic\, so that’s when she expanded it. Well\, the working group happened because our wing commander’s wife at the time– We had expanded to the Airman’s Attic\, and the Airman’s Attic is like a thrift store\, it’s like a free thrift store. They noticed that people were coming in for clothing and things like that\, so they set up a little cabinet at the Airman’s Attic. \nThe wing commander’s wife\, who’s the head person over on the Air Force side\, she noticed that people were taking a lot of food items from the Airman’s Attic\, so she approached me and wanted healthier items. One of the things I had mentioned to her was\, once you reach to the point of you’re getting food at a food pantry\, healthier items are not on your list of to do. I mean\, you’re just wanting to survive. That would fall to us to provide those healthier options so that they could have those. That’s how the working group started was I said\, what we need is to get together as a group and be able to create that type of environment. That’s how the working group started. \nIt’s changed its name three times now. It was the Team Hickam Food Insecurity Working Group. Then I believe it was Laura Kay from the Hawaii Foodbank had said that we are in a unique situation on Oahu as that we have all four services plus the Coast Guard on this island. It was then that I was like\, you know what? We can’t just say this is just an Air Force thing. We opened it up to all services\, and we have representatives from all services that attend this working group. Recently\, we just changed the name again to the Food Insecurity Working Group Hawaii because now we cover the whole state of Hawaii because as Lorna said\, we have assets on outer islands and we are actually servicing those assets\, so it made sense to change the name again. \nHow we ended up being kind of multi-service. In August of last year\, I had a phone call from USARPAC\, which is US Army Pacific. They asked me if I was doing anything on the food insecurity side. I’m like\, well\, yes. The more we got the talk\, they have a– General Flynn is very\, very interested in food insecurity\, and so they piggyback off of us. They ended up attending the working group\, back when we were Team Hickam\, and now they’re like very staunch at showing up every meeting\, they give a lot of input. Not only is our working group dealing with things that happen in Hawaii\, but also across the Pacific we’re having impact. That’s exciting as well. \nBob: Kina\, how did Hawaii Foodbank get involved? \nKina: Hawaii Foodbank has been partnering with the Armed Services YMCA for several years now. Hawaii Foodbank– The way food banks work is like a funnel. The food comes into us from retail donations from the Safeways and the Costcos in our community who have excess\, and also from USDA commodities\, and then also from our community member donations. We do purchase food as well\, especially we like to prioritize from our local farmers and producers. The food funnels in\, and then we funnel it out through a network of community partners like ASYMCA. We have three sites. \nArletta mentioned it\, and I mentioned it\, we really like to focus on healthy food. The number one thing people are asking for is fresh produce. That is the thing that is not affordable\, that is the thing that goes away when a family is struggling. That’s the stories we hear. We partner with ASYMCA in three different locations at three different bases to do monthly distributions where we really focus on produce. We bring\, and we will bring the– We have the refrigeration at the food bank\, so we come out and can do a bigger distribution at a time. \nWe would like to do more. There’s always more to be done. I think this is where we like to partner with very creative folks like Arletta\, who’s thinking about community gardens. A community garden or a family garden may never meet all of your produce and vegetable needs\, but if we can start to- in addition to what we bring on a monthly or a biweekly basis from the food bank\, if we can start to change mindsets and build skills and understand how we can also go back to some of the values that sustains a population here at one time\, if we can go back to some of those values and practices\, we do think it also makes a difference for people. \nBob: Yes\, it’s really great to hear some of the systems approach to preventing food insecurity\, and awesome that you guys are working on that. Lorna\, what kinds of other things is the working group working on? [chuckles] The working group working on. What’s typical of a meeting of what kind of conversations come up? \nLorna: Well\, I think the nice thing about this working group\, it’s various organizations that are coming together\, not only military. We work with the community so much\, and everybody brings their little piece of what they’re doing\, what’s coming up in the future\, the programs that are available for our members or for our service members. That really brings us together and helps us. Then if we have an issue\, we work together on how to resolve it\, or how to take care of just little items that might be challenges we might be facing. \nIt’s a great way to come together and see what’s out there to bring these resources to our members. It’s a really giving group of people too. Arletta said about pono. Pono means righteousness and balance and doing what’s right. That’s exactly what this team does\, is we’re just trying to make sure that everybody gets the information and gets the resources that they need so that they can have a better experience here in Hawaii. \nAlso too\, what we do is we have some volunteer experiences for our members. Not everybody’s having struggles with food\, but they want to help out\, so we do have volunteer opportunities with the food bank. We do that monthly. Then also\, we go up to a farm\, Waihe’e farm. We actually go there and clean up the farm\, make sure that we help them with their taro or kalo\, which actually turns into poi. If you’ve been to Hawaii\, you might have had some poi. That’s the root that you make poi from. It’s a big industry here and very expensive\, so any way we can help to cultivate the taro or the kalo. \nWe go out there\, and we help them with their farm and better their progress of growing this product. Then also\, other products they have. They have watercress there. They have ‘ulu\, which is breadfruit\, and different other local fruits that we can distribute to our community. \nArletta: Actually\, the reason that’s important is because if you look at the bigger picture\, and this is one of the things that you have to give Hawaii credit for\, is they’re trying to go back to the sustainability that they had before modern times. That’s how they sustain themselves. It also gives a hands-on view to everybody on where their food comes from. They could very easily be repeated at farm– You see these sorts of things on farms on the mainland\, people going and volunteering and helping. I had a friend of mine in Missouri that just volunteered to help pick a farm that creates her CSA\, her community support box that she gets. That food\, because it was extra\, went back to the food bank. \nThese are things that we can promote having people understand where their food comes from\, and you’re able to have a hands-on. Hawaii just happens to be unique in the fact that it’s part of their underlying culture. We care about the āina\, or the land\, and so that’s something that’s really important. \nLorna: Yes. Actually\, we started going to the Waihe’e farm because after COVID\, they lost so many sales that they were thinking of shutting down. We got a group of volunteers together and simple things like taking the weeds out of the taro patch or the kalo patch\, and just making sure that the water is flowing from the– The water is wai\, so the wai is flowing from the streams\, taking the weeds out of that in the streams and making sure that everything is flowing correctly. We’re able to clean up their taro patches and production has been better. \nJust little things of getting people together to help out these farmers so that they can produce. It’s going to\, of course\, drizzle down to us and we’re going to end up getting the benefits of it. Poi\, which is made from kalo\, is very expensive and it’s because the lack of the product\, the kalo. This way\, we can actually help them and in turn\, we’re helping ourselves because of reduction of price for poi\, which is one of our staples. \nBob: That’s awesome. I think it’s really great to build that connection back to where your food comes from. It sounds like there’s a lot of great stuff happening and great communication happening. I’m just wondering if\, when the working group was either being formed\, or where you were trying to get your feet\, were there challenges or barriers that you guys encountered in trying to get this set up and to get everybody at the table? \nArletta: I know for me\, the big challenges was trying to get– It’s one thing to have a working group and to be able to move forward\, but when you look at the big picture on the military side of the house\, you have to have leadership involved. You have to have leadership understand that this is an issue. When you look at the big picture\, both on the active duty side\, and the Guard\, and Reserve side\, and the Secretary of Defense said it\, food insecurity is a readiness issue. \nWhen we look at the overall picture\, if you have a military member that can’t afford or doesn’t have the resources to sustain themselves\, then that puts them at risk for\, A\, not doing their job; B\, worrying about their family; C\, becoming a security risk because they become a possible target for our adversaries to offer them money for food. That’s not something that we want. We can’t tolerate that. That’s a no go. The thing for me was trying to get leadership to understand. I am partly there. Not everybody– \nThe first thing\, and I heard this a lot\, is\, “Well\, you make good money. I don’t understand how you are having trouble.” What we found early on was you can be food insecure at any rank. All it takes is one major life event to knock you off the fence. You can have a Lieutenant Colonel seeking food at a food pantry. This isn’t something that is just low-ranking airmen with a lot of kids\, although it is a lot of that. It’s across the board\, and getting leadership to understand that this stuff has been lurking in your ranks for decades. \nThis is not a new problem. This is something\, yes\, the pandemic probably aggravated a little bit\, but when I first started doing research on it– The reason I started doing research was because Major Kevin Watanabe\, the IMA to the PACAF\, Pacific Air Force’s nutrition consultant\, couldn’t go to his base in Alaska during the pandemic\, so he dropped in my lap. I had him for a month\, and I ask him to give me ideas for nutrition\, because nutrition falls to me\, I am not a dietitian\, he is\, and to give me nutrition ideas. \nThe garden was the first idea\, and we’ve been sustaining that garden since October of 2020. The second or the last idea that he gave me right before he left was\, “Check into SNAP and WIC. You may be looking at only low-ranking airmen with a lot of kids\,” so I did. What I found out was this is like the military’s dirty little secret. It’s been happening for years. Nobody’s really been talking about it. That’s how we evolved into where we’re at is once I figured out the issue\, then it’s my responsibility\, because it’s readiness issue\, is to bring it to leadership’s attention. Once leadership gets an idea that this is an issue\, then we can move forward\, and we can actually do a little bit more than what we can just by ourselves. \nMy medical group commander\, who is in charge of our clinic\, she was the first one I got on board. Then she said\, I want this brief to all the group commanders\, and so we were able to take that forward. We still have a lot of work to do because we only targeted a small group of our commanders. The goal is to get them all to understand. Once everybody’s on board and everybody’s aware of it\, they can see those pockets where they can actually make a difference and things they can do. \nThat’s the big thing with leadership is you have to give them action items\, things they can do that is realistic\, in their wheelhouse. You can’t give them the overarching thing and say\, “This is our problem\,” and give them nothing to do. They operate by\, “Give me the reason\, tell me what’s going on\, and then give me something to do.” Right now that’s probably the biggest challenge is being able to get leadership to understand. We’re getting there. It’s not perfect\, but we’re a lot further than we were two years ago. \nI think that with the Secretary of Defense highlighting this\, that it’s made it easier for more commanders to understand. We’re seeing that on the USARPAC side\, the US Army Pacific side\, is they have a senior leader that’s highly engaged. I think that they can make a lot of difference just at that big level. \nBob: Lorna\, did you see similar things in terms of having to get buy-in from leadership on your side of things? \nLorna: The Pono Pantry was actually started by the chaplain program during the COVID situation here in Hawaii\, the pandemic. The chaplains put everything into motion. They got approval and everything. I was not part of that\, but I’m telling you\, with our leadership at the Hawaii Air National Guard\, we have no resistance there. They all would continuously ask if we need any products in the Pono Pantry. Obviously\, we have different needs on the Hawaii Air National Guard side. Rice\, SPAM [unintelligible 00:30:03] diapers\, stuff like that that we need\, and it just flies out of our pantry\, but the leadership continuously supports the program. \nOne thing that we do find is a challenge is having the members come out. That’s why we have it where it’s anonymous. You can come at any time. We do have hours to the open facility\, but we can coordinate with them. They can come in the evening or early morning\, and we’ll have the products available for them. Then we also work very closely with our first sergeants\, and we have them out and about\, finding out where the needs are and then trying to fulfill those needs by providing them the food source. \nIn the future\, this– We just started hurricane season and preparedness is a big part of hurricane season. We’re making sure that we have enough supplies in there\, and we’re going to\, hopefully\, put together some bags of starter sets with maybe a few food items\, some toiletries. We just got a big donation of toiletries\, so toiletries in there\, and just get them started. \nArletta: Yes\, Lorna brings up a really good point. I think the big piece of this that everybody misses is the disaster piece. There are two emergencies. One is the individual person’s emergency and getting a crisis\, and then your goal is to get them stabilized and then help move them forward. The piece that I don’t think we’re talking about enough is the mass disaster piece. For us\, it could be a hurricane. We just went through the Red Hill water crisis where we had some fuel tanks leak into the water system\, and that threw us off. We learned a lot during that water crisis as to what’s going to happen during an emergency. \nSee\, for our members\, and even Lorna’s airmen during an emergency\, those members have to keep on working. It’s not like they can stop and take care of their family. The mission goes on\, so you have to prep them ahead of time so that they can weather that disaster. We learned a lot of lessons during the Red Hill water crisis in the fact that we’re not as ready as we could be. That’s one of the big things that our working group has actually been looking at on a big scale is\, how can we prepare members for an emergency? \nOne of the things that you’re told when you get here is to have two weeks’ worth of food stockpiled so that in case of emergency\, you can fall back on that because 90% of the food is imported here. Unfortunately\, I can’t think of a single person that’s probably as prepared as they should be. That’s one of the things that we’ve been talking about. Maybe somehow educating members to prepare their kit before they leave the mainland. That way\, the government will move it here\, it will be in place\, and they don’t have to worry about the expense once they get here. \nThat’s in the infancy stage\, but that disaster preparedness is a huge thing. Because in a disaster\, the goal is- we’re not there yet\, but the goal is for the active duty or even the military in general\, Guard\, Reserve\, to take the pressure off of the Hawaii Foodbank because in a disaster\, their people are the people of Hawaii. If we can somehow self-contain and prepare those members to be able to be self-contained and to move on with their mission and not have to worry about going out and getting food\, we take that pressure off of the Hawaii Foodbank and they can concentrate on the other people in Hawaii. We’re not there yet\, but that’s one of our ultimate goals. \nBob: Kina\, can you talk about that a little bit? I think there’s a couple things that are really striking me. Just this idea of being here on the mainland\, we have the same risks\, potentially\, of- not the same\, but similar risks of disaster and being prepared for that\, but it’s such a different ask for me to be prepared and have that food in the pantry for two weeks or longer\, or whatever\, than it is for the people of Hawaii. \nThe other thing I’m interested in your comment on is just what Arletta just brought up\, about this relationship between Hawaii Foodbank serving the people of Hawaii\, but knowing that our military families are in need and how that gets discussed and balanced out for you guys. \nKina: Yes\, those are two really big\, really good questions. Let me start with the disaster piece first. If we look at what’s in our warehouse\, and if we think about having to have enough food for everybody on Oahu in the event of a massive disaster\, it’s a day\, maybe. It’s not enough. We are talking with our Department of Emergency Management at the county level\, and with our Hawaii Emergency Management at the state level. There’s a lot that we can do\, both systematically and individually\, to be prepared. \nWe have an internal plan that we’re working on at the food bank. A big part of our plan is also working with the agencies\, with the ASYMCAs and with the other 200 agency partners who run food pantries and soup kitchens to make sure that they have some stockpiles\, that they’re strategically placed around the island\, what we’re calling precovery pods\, with MREs in them\, so in the event that Waianae is cut off from– Farrington Highway that goes out to Waianae often gets cut off for a car accident\, let alone a disaster. That there are places that are going to be hard to reach that have at least some level of preparedness. \nI think one of the things we talk about a lot is how much– If you look at the narrative\, like have your emergency preparedness kit done\, you might get a flyer in the mail. So much of the messaging falls on the individual person or the individual family to get prepared\, but we also have to be prepared as a community and as a state. These are the conversations\, I think\, we’re having in the working group\, how we do that. How we both encourage at the individual level\, but also when a disaster strikes we’re all in it together\, so how we make sure that it’s the communications and the infrastructure that’s in place to do that. \nWe don’t have the answers\, it’s a work in progress\, but it is one of the key pillars\, key priorities that we’re working at\, at Hawaii Foodbank. Because it’s a when. It’s not an if\, and we all know that. COVID was its own disaster of sorts that we learned a lot from. I think we’re trying to apply some of those lessons- not lose those lessons and apply them to thinking about natural and weather-related disasters that we’ll hit. \nOn the second question\, it’s a bigger and harder question around the relationship with the military in Hawaii. I’m not speaking out of turn to say it’s a complex– We are in occupied territory that was controlled by our Indigenous population\, and that’s a complex relationship. On the other hand\, it’s not either or. I have Hawaiian family who served in the military. Hawaiians have a history of military service back to Kalākaua’s days. It’s Hawaiian people who are serving in the Air National Guard\, right\, Lorna? \nI think we\, Hawaii Foodbank\, try to get past the either/or\, us/them narrative\, and nobody should go to bed hungry. You can say\, especially kids\, especially kūpuna\, elders\, especially people serving our country\, but it’s actually\, especially no one. I think that it’s finding these intersections of partnerships where when we come together and link\, we can all do better together. \nI guess maybe if I could say one more thing leading from that\, Arletta and Lorna talked a little bit about the challenges\, but also there’s some really special things about being on an island. All the challenges we have are not unique to other places\, but we’re just closer together. Lorna’s comment about the leadership being so supportive\, I think we have that really in spades here in Hawaii. We are an inspiration for other places. \nAt the Hawaii Foodbank\, we’re part of a cohort of other food banks who serve military families. Colorado\, Savannah\, Georgia\, there’s a handful of food banks across the nation. We asked Arletta to come talk to the group about this working group because what she and her partners have done in creating this all-branch\, all-collaborative\, islands’\, statewide organization of people is pretty tremendous\, and everybody else was blown away. It gave a lot of ideas- not just concrete ideas\, but inspiration and hope for what is possible. \nBob: What I’d like to do is ask each of you about advice you would give to someone who maybe is feeling the need for this on their installation\, in their community\, that you know there’s other people out there working on this issue\, you know it’s an issue for the people that you serve. \nI’ll start with Arletta and then Lorna. What advice would you give to someone who is on installation or working with Guard or Reserve and wants to engage with civilian organizations on the issue of food security for military families? \nArletta: It’s actually a partnership amongst several. I started my relationship with the Hawaii Department of Health\, the public health department. That was a link that was made through Major Watanabe\, but that’s how I fully understood how to deal with the food issue on the healthy side of the house. Reaching out to your public health departments\, reaching out to those local food banks. I think there’s been a roadblock for a long time. It’s like we can’t talk to you because of security issues. I think that we’re all in the same business and all in the same game\, and I think that we can talk to each other and share data and things like that\, and I think that we can help each other. \nI know on the health promotion side of the house\, look at those areas that you’re reaching out to your cooperative extension. Great\, great information on gardening\, recipes\, how to cook. Those are all skills that\, on a military installation\, I think that we need to teach. We need to teach about foodways\, we need to teach about farmers’ markets\, CSAs\, all that stuff is an education piece because it all feeds into that food ecosystem. Because the goal– I know one of the goals that we have here is to try to stretch that food dollar as far as we can. \nBy stretching the food dollar\, it’s buying local\, preventing food waste\, cooking with your scraps. A lot of the stuff that goes into the trash\, that’s edible food\, and there’s a lot of organizations across the country that are actually working on those sorts of things. I was recently\, last week\, at the American College of Sports Medicine meeting. I was able to wander around a Denver park that was near Union Station\, and I stumbled upon the Denver Urban Garden. Which I have a garden. I got a lot of ideas from there. There are agencies in the community that can help you meet those goals. \nAnother thing that you might think about is encouraging breastfeeding in the workplace. That’s an education piece that a lot of people haven’t addressed\, and that feeds right back into our food system as well. Reaching out to those outside partners that can help you. Every places has a little different agency\, but like I said\, the extension\, the public health department\, the local food pantries\, your sister services. I’ve learned so much from the Army side\, and the Army has learned so much from me. Just because you happen to reside in the same place\, you’re not two different services. We’re all one Department of Defense. \nThat would be my advice. \nBob: Lorna\, do you have advice from the National Guard perspective? \nLorna: Sure. I think you have to just set some goals. What do you want? How do you want to get there? Then talk about your ideas. You have to start having the conversation with your leadership\, community organizations. You can talk to other bases. Call us. It doesn’t have to be big. You can actually start small if you wanted to. \nEducation is really the piece too. Of course\, you want to educate the community and our leadership on some of the things that we need in our community or for our members. Schools\, educate the children. [unintelligible 00:44:10]. They are the ones that are going to take it home\, so tell them how you can be more sustainable\, or teach them how you can save on groceries using coupons\, or whatever it takes. Yes\, set the goals\, talk about your ideas. Then also\, it does not have to be huge. Start small. It’ll always grow. \nPeople want to help each other. In the Hawaii community\, like was said earlier too\, we support each other. Even we don’t only care for our kūpuna\, or our elderly within our family\, we actually help our neighbors. We take care of each other. We help our neighbors to make sure they’re okay. During a hurricane\, we walk over to our neighbor’s house\, especially if they’re elderly\, and say\, “Hey\, are you okay? Do you need food? You need us to clean out your house?” Or whatever is needed. We make sure that they’re taken care of. \nOnce you start that conversation\, I think everybody [unintelligible 00:45:09] and will be part of your team will gather. \nBob: Thanks\, Lorna. Kina\, we’ll end with you. Do you have advice for that person who might be in a community food bank or food pantry who knows there might be a need for military families and some opportunities to engage with National Guard or a military installation\, do you have advice for how to get started? \nKina: I think reaching out to your local food bank is a really good start. Then I think for everybody\, whether you’re at a food bank\, or whether you’re in the military\, or you’re a civilian\, helping to reduce that culture of shame and stigma. Everybody needs help sometimes. We’ve all needed a hand up in our life\, and so if we can create the kind of programs that are centered around helping each other\, reciprocity\, giving back. \nI heard a great quote from someone in our community like\, no matter how hard you have it\, you can always help give blessings to other people. If we take that spirit\, that connection in our community as part of the work we’re doing around food insecurity and health\, then I think that goes a long way. \nBob: I want to thank you guys so much for the incredible work that you are all doing\, and for sharing it with us today on the Practicing Connection podcast. Kina Mahi\, Lorna Souza\, Arletta Eldridge Thompson\, thank you so much for joining us. \nLorna: Thank you. Mahalo. \nBob: I want to thank our listeners for joining us for this conversation as well. Thanks again to Jessica. She made this whole conversation possible with her hard work. We’d also like to thank our co-producer\, Coral Owen; our announcer\, Kalin Goble; Hannah Hyde\, Maggie Lucas\, and Terry Meisenbach for their help with marketing; and Nathan Grimm\, who composed and performed all the music you hear on the podcast. We hope you’ll join us again soon. In the meantime\, keep practicing. \n[music]\nKalin: The Practicing Connection is a production of OneOp and is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture\, US Department of Agriculture\, and the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy\, US Department of Defense under award number 2019-48770-30366.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/starting-a-food-pantry-for-military-families-with-monica-bassett-s-4-ep-8/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AdobeStock_246027822-scaled.jpeg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230701T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230701T133000
DTSTAMP:20260613T003742
CREATED:20230701T110002Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250228T015923Z
UID:10001358-1688194800-1688218200@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Hawaii's Food Security Collaboration for Military Families
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The email will help us establish a shared rhythm and some shared experiences in our community.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Listen” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][vc_raw_html]JTNDZGl2JTIwaWQlM0QlMjJidXp6c3Byb3V0LXBsYXllci0xMzA3NjM4MiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmRpdiUzRSUwQSUzQ3NjcmlwdCUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmJ1enpzcHJvdXQuY29tJTJGMjA5OTk4MyUyRjEzMDc2MzgyLWhhd2FpaS1zLWZvb2Qtc2VjdXJpdHktY29sbGFib3JhdGlvbi1mb3ItbWlsaXRhcnktZmFtaWxpZXMuanMlM0Zjb250YWluZXJfaWQlM0RidXp6c3Byb3V0LXBsYXllci0xMzA3NjM4MiUyNnBsYXllciUzRHNtYWxsJTIyJTIwdHlwZSUzRCUyMnRleHQlMkZqYXZhc2NyaXB0JTIyJTIwY2hhcnNldCUzRCUyMnV0Zi04JTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGc2NyaXB0JTNF[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About This Episode” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][vc_column_text](Season 4\, Episode 6) \nThe Food Security Hawaii Working Group is an amazing cross-sector collaboration to address food security issues military families are facing\, In this episode\, Bob Bertsch talks with Arletta Eldridge Thompson\, Health Promotion Coordinator for the 15th Medical Group for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam;  Lorna Souza with the Hawaii Air National Guard Airman and Family Readiness Program; and Kina Mahi\, Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships for the Hawaii Foodbank about the challenges families in Hawaii are dealing with and how people are collaborating to address them.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all” el_id=”trans”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” el_class=”entry” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Transcript” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” nofollow=”true” el_class=”read-it” button_id=”read-it” text=”Read More” url=”#trans”][vc_column_text el_class=”pod-trans”]Kalin Goble: Welcome to Practicing Connection\, a podcast exploring the personal stories and collective practices that empower us to work together to improve our resilience and readiness in a rapidly changing world. Here to start the conversation are Jessica Beckendorf and Bob Bertsch. \nBob Bertsch: Hi\, and welcome to the Practicing Connection podcast. I’m Bob Bertsch. I am really excited for this episode. We’re going to be talking about an incredible collaboration to address food insecurity among military families in Hawaii. Unfortunately\, Jessica won’t be here for this conversation\, but I do want to acknowledge all the work that she did to make this conversation happen. Thanks so much\, Jess. Wish you were here. \nThis year\, our team at OneOp has been focusing on food security for military families. One of our colleagues\, Molly Herndon\, learned about the work our guests today are doing in Hawaii. When Molly passed this information on to Jessica and me\, we knew we had to find a way to get these folks on the podcast. After many emails\, a couple of video calls\, at least one approval process\, maybe more\, one that I know about\, I’m really happy to welcome our guests\, Kina Mahi\, Lorna Souza\, and Arletta Eldridge Thompson\, to the Practicing Connection podcast. \nWelcome\, everyone. I think we’ll start with some introductions. Arletta\, can you tell us a little bit more about yourself? \nArletta Eldridge Thompson: Hi. Thanks for inviting us. We’re really excited to be here. I’m Arletta Eldridge Thompson. I’m the Health Promotion Coordinator for the 15th Medical Group for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is a joint base with Navy/Air Force. We represent the Air Force side. I’ve been working for the Air Force for about 27 years\, and this is my sixth installation to work for. I’m really excited that this is taking off like it has. \nBob: Thanks\, Arletta. Lorna\, could you share a little bit about yourself with our listeners? \nLorna Souza: Sure. Aloha\, and mahalo for having us. My name is Lorna Souza. I am actually with the Hawaii Air National Guard Airman and Family Readiness Program. We are also located on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Hawaii\, at least the main part of our Hawaii Air National Guard\, so that’s why we’re part of this community. Then we also have GSUs\, or Geographically Separated Units\, on three of the other islands\, so the island of Kauai. Also\, the Hawaii Island\, which is our Big Island\, we have a unit there. Then Maui\, so we also have a unit on Maui. \nYes\, here to support any way we can and take care of our airmen. Mahalo. \nBob: Thank you\, Lorna. Kina\, could you introduce yourself? \nKina Mahi: Aloha. My name is Kina Mahi. Thank you so much for having us today. I’m the Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships for the Hawaii Foodbank. The Hawaii Foodbank has been fighting hunger and food insecurity in Hawaii for 40 years. We’ve been lucky enough in the last year to join up with this food insecurity working group with Arletta and Lorna and several others because we believe nobody should go to bed hungry\, but we also are really dedicated in ensuring our military personnel who are serving don’t have to struggle with basic fundamental rights like food\, and we mean healthy food too. Mahalo. \nBob: I’m going to ask you to share with us again\, because before we jump into the working group and the incredible collaboration that’s going on\, I think it’s really important\, when we talked earlier a couple of months ago\, that we set the context a little bit for food systems and food security in Hawaii. Because it is such a special place and might have some unique benefits\, challenges\, just characteristics that we wouldn’t see here in the continental United States. \nKina\, can you maybe start that conversation for us? What makes the food system in Hawaii so unique? \nKina: Sure. Well\, at any given time\, the island of Oahu has less than a week of food supply on it. 80% to 90%\, depending on who you ask\, of the food that we all consume is imported. At one time\, our island sustained a population of a million people just within the sustainable cultivation of our āina\, which is our land here. Now we have a really different food system\, and as I’m sure you’ve all seen at the grocery store\, wherever you are\, prices have continued to go up and up and up. \nWe have this unique challenge of being the most isolated land mass on the planet and relying on boats that bring us our food. We have so much potential to rely more on our land to provide our food\, but that’s a longer conversation. We also know how when people are moving here to serve\, or when they’re assigned here\, it’s a big shift to see the prices that are here compared to prices elsewhere. It’s not just on a macro level we have some food system challenges\, but also on the individual family level when you’re making that adjustment\, it can be really hard. \nArletta: I can say on the active duty side that it is a shock when they come here because they expect everything to be the same as it was on the mainland\, and then when they transfer over here\, they’re totally unprepared. One of the things that we did with our working group is figure out ways to prepare them ahead of time in trying to get them to understand that they need a financial appointment before they leave and that they can figure out what their finances are before they leave\, then also start paying off as many bills as they can and start stockpiling a savings account. Because once they get here\, trying to do a savings account is really difficult because it’s so expensive\, and they’re going to have to rely on that because there’s a honeymoon period of about six to nine months. \nBecause the first thing is once they get the assignment\, it’s like\, oh my gosh\, it’s the best assignment in the Air Force\, or whatever military branch\, and they don’t realize that once they get here\, it’s not what they thought. I try to tell people early on\, I’m like\, okay\, here’s what you need to think about. There are two Hawaiis. There’s tourism Hawaii that they’ve been marketed to and the beauty and all that sort of stuff\, but then there’s the reality of living in Hawaii\, which is the other Hawaii. \nThat’s what I’m trying to prepare them because they don’t have a choice. Once they get here\, they can’t leave. I mean\, a spouse can leave. They can send their spouse back to the mainland or their children back to the mainland\, but that active duty or even that Guard member\, they can’t leave. They’re here. We have to prepare them the best we can for the environment that they’re living in. Hopefully\, some of the best practices that we come up with can be utilized on the mainland\, or also prepping a member to go overseas. \nBob: Lorna\, what kinds of challenges are your airmen facing and their families facing in the Hawaii Air National Guard regarding food security? \nLorna: Yes\, so it’s the same thing for our members. It is very expensive to live here. Cost of living is high. People are leaving constantly\, getting priced out of paradise and actually going to the mainland. Our local youth are starting to go to college there. Of course\, they end up staying there and not coming home\, and then before you know it\, the parents are following them. A lot of our local people can’t afford to live here\, so they’re moving to the mainland\, which you called continental United States. [chuckles]\nYes\, cost of living is very high here in Hawaii. We have multiple families living in one house\, so we have grandparents\, parents\, and children. Of course\, grandparents are watching the grandchildren\, and then the parents are going to work. I also noticed in the last few years\, we had a paradigm shift where actually now our parents are caring for our grandparents\, our elderly. Not only the stress and struggles of living in Hawaii or in the paradise that we have here\, but they can’t afford certain things\, and food is one of them. \nAnything that we can do for our families\, if we can help them with the food\, and then they can pay for the medical bills\, they can pay for the medication that they need for their grandparents\, or we call them kūpuna\, it’s going to help. \nArletta: I want to hop in and piggyback off of what Lorna said. Not only are they living two- well\, three\, maybe four generations in a house\, most everybody in the house has at least two jobs. When you’re looking at the Hawaii Air National Guard\, they have their normal regular job and then a part-time job\, and then the National Guard on top of that. \nBob: Yes. It sounds like very challenging context for our families to be dealing with\, but the working group that you guys put together to start to address that kind of stuff\, how did that all begin\, Arletta? Where did this idea even spring out of and how did you get it started? \nArletta: Gosh\, this was way back before the pandemic\, October of 2019. Airman and Family Readiness on the Hickam active duty side noticed that– It was started with Drew [unintelligible 00:11:00]. He noticed that when people were coming in for the Air Force Aid Society\, those are emergency loans and grants that people can apply for if they need money for certain things. Usually it’s a car repair or something to that effect. One of the things that he noticed when people were coming in to ask for those loans and grants was they were needing sustenance\, they were needing food. Instead of asking for the grant or the loan\, which I think they can only get maybe one time or it’s a limited time\, he opened up a cabinet with two doors and it was a food pantry. That’s how we started. \nThen once we had that food pantry\, I hopped on board to help him advertise it because as a health promotion coordinator\, I know that if you can get people to donate healthier items\, that’ll change their diet. Then not long after that\, the chaplains over at the Hawaii Air National Guard opened up the Pono Pantry. Pono in Hawaii means balance. They started theirs. It was a little shed out in their parking lot\, [chuckles] and they left it open 24/7 so people could go in and get what they needed. That’s how our food pantry system opened up. \nThen when we were moving forward\, but Jayme Alexander\, she took over the Flight Chief position at the Airman and Family Readiness Center\, and she noticed the same thing Drew did\, only she expanded it by like 1\,600%. Instead of one cabinet; ended up being four. She noticed that there was an extreme need. This was during the pandemic\, so that’s when she expanded it. Well\, the working group happened because our wing commander’s wife at the time– We had expanded to the Airman’s Attic\, and the Airman’s Attic is like a thrift store\, it’s like a free thrift store. They noticed that people were coming in for clothing and things like that\, so they set up a little cabinet at the Airman’s Attic. \nThe wing commander’s wife\, who’s the head person over on the Air Force side\, she noticed that people were taking a lot of food items from the Airman’s Attic\, so she approached me and wanted healthier items. One of the things I had mentioned to her was\, once you reach to the point of you’re getting food at a food pantry\, healthier items are not on your list of to do. I mean\, you’re just wanting to survive. That would fall to us to provide those healthier options so that they could have those. That’s how the working group started was I said\, what we need is to get together as a group and be able to create that type of environment. That’s how the working group started. \nIt’s changed its name three times now. It was the Team Hickam Food Insecurity Working Group. Then I believe it was Laura Kay from the Hawaii Foodbank had said that we are in a unique situation on Oahu as that we have all four services plus the Coast Guard on this island. It was then that I was like\, you know what? We can’t just say this is just an Air Force thing. We opened it up to all services\, and we have representatives from all services that attend this working group. Recently\, we just changed the name again to the Food Insecurity Working Group Hawaii because now we cover the whole state of Hawaii because as Lorna said\, we have assets on outer islands and we are actually servicing those assets\, so it made sense to change the name again. \nHow we ended up being kind of multi-service. In August of last year\, I had a phone call from USARPAC\, which is US Army Pacific. They asked me if I was doing anything on the food insecurity side. I’m like\, well\, yes. The more we got the talk\, they have a– General Flynn is very\, very interested in food insecurity\, and so they piggyback off of us. They ended up attending the working group\, back when we were Team Hickam\, and now they’re like very staunch at showing up every meeting\, they give a lot of input. Not only is our working group dealing with things that happen in Hawaii\, but also across the Pacific we’re having impact. That’s exciting as well. \nBob: Kina\, how did Hawaii Foodbank get involved? \nKina: Hawaii Foodbank has been partnering with the Armed Services YMCA for several years now. Hawaii Foodbank– The way food banks work is like a funnel. The food comes into us from retail donations from the Safeways and the Costcos in our community who have excess\, and also from USDA commodities\, and then also from our community member donations. We do purchase food as well\, especially we like to prioritize from our local farmers and producers. The food funnels in\, and then we funnel it out through a network of community partners like ASYMCA. We have three sites. \nArletta mentioned it\, and I mentioned it\, we really like to focus on healthy food. The number one thing people are asking for is fresh produce. That is the thing that is not affordable\, that is the thing that goes away when a family is struggling. That’s the stories we hear. We partner with ASYMCA in three different locations at three different bases to do monthly distributions where we really focus on produce. We bring\, and we will bring the– We have the refrigeration at the food bank\, so we come out and can do a bigger distribution at a time. \nWe would like to do more. There’s always more to be done. I think this is where we like to partner with very creative folks like Arletta\, who’s thinking about community gardens. A community garden or a family garden may never meet all of your produce and vegetable needs\, but if we can start to- in addition to what we bring on a monthly or a biweekly basis from the food bank\, if we can start to change mindsets and build skills and understand how we can also go back to some of the values that sustains a population here at one time\, if we can go back to some of those values and practices\, we do think it also makes a difference for people. \nBob: Yes\, it’s really great to hear some of the systems approach to preventing food insecurity\, and awesome that you guys are working on that. Lorna\, what kinds of other things is the working group working on? [chuckles] The working group working on. What’s typical of a meeting of what kind of conversations come up? \nLorna: Well\, I think the nice thing about this working group\, it’s various organizations that are coming together\, not only military. We work with the community so much\, and everybody brings their little piece of what they’re doing\, what’s coming up in the future\, the programs that are available for our members or for our service members. That really brings us together and helps us. Then if we have an issue\, we work together on how to resolve it\, or how to take care of just little items that might be challenges we might be facing. \nIt’s a great way to come together and see what’s out there to bring these resources to our members. It’s a really giving group of people too. Arletta said about pono. Pono means righteousness and balance and doing what’s right. That’s exactly what this team does\, is we’re just trying to make sure that everybody gets the information and gets the resources that they need so that they can have a better experience here in Hawaii. \nAlso too\, what we do is we have some volunteer experiences for our members. Not everybody’s having struggles with food\, but they want to help out\, so we do have volunteer opportunities with the food bank. We do that monthly. Then also\, we go up to a farm\, Waihe’e farm. We actually go there and clean up the farm\, make sure that we help them with their taro or kalo\, which actually turns into poi. If you’ve been to Hawaii\, you might have had some poi. That’s the root that you make poi from. It’s a big industry here and very expensive\, so any way we can help to cultivate the taro or the kalo. \nWe go out there\, and we help them with their farm and better their progress of growing this product. Then also\, other products they have. They have watercress there. They have ‘ulu\, which is breadfruit\, and different other local fruits that we can distribute to our community. \nArletta: Actually\, the reason that’s important is because if you look at the bigger picture\, and this is one of the things that you have to give Hawaii credit for\, is they’re trying to go back to the sustainability that they had before modern times. That’s how they sustain themselves. It also gives a hands-on view to everybody on where their food comes from. They could very easily be repeated at farm– You see these sorts of things on farms on the mainland\, people going and volunteering and helping. I had a friend of mine in Missouri that just volunteered to help pick a farm that creates her CSA\, her community support box that she gets. That food\, because it was extra\, went back to the food bank. \nThese are things that we can promote having people understand where their food comes from\, and you’re able to have a hands-on. Hawaii just happens to be unique in the fact that it’s part of their underlying culture. We care about the āina\, or the land\, and so that’s something that’s really important. \nLorna: Yes. Actually\, we started going to the Waihe’e farm because after COVID\, they lost so many sales that they were thinking of shutting down. We got a group of volunteers together and simple things like taking the weeds out of the taro patch or the kalo patch\, and just making sure that the water is flowing from the– The water is wai\, so the wai is flowing from the streams\, taking the weeds out of that in the streams and making sure that everything is flowing correctly. We’re able to clean up their taro patches and production has been better. \nJust little things of getting people together to help out these farmers so that they can produce. It’s going to\, of course\, drizzle down to us and we’re going to end up getting the benefits of it. Poi\, which is made from kalo\, is very expensive and it’s because the lack of the product\, the kalo. This way\, we can actually help them and in turn\, we’re helping ourselves because of reduction of price for poi\, which is one of our staples. \nBob: That’s awesome. I think it’s really great to build that connection back to where your food comes from. It sounds like there’s a lot of great stuff happening and great communication happening. I’m just wondering if\, when the working group was either being formed\, or where you were trying to get your feet\, were there challenges or barriers that you guys encountered in trying to get this set up and to get everybody at the table? \nArletta: I know for me\, the big challenges was trying to get– It’s one thing to have a working group and to be able to move forward\, but when you look at the big picture on the military side of the house\, you have to have leadership involved. You have to have leadership understand that this is an issue. When you look at the big picture\, both on the active duty side\, and the Guard\, and Reserve side\, and the Secretary of Defense said it\, food insecurity is a readiness issue. \nWhen we look at the overall picture\, if you have a military member that can’t afford or doesn’t have the resources to sustain themselves\, then that puts them at risk for\, A\, not doing their job; B\, worrying about their family; C\, becoming a security risk because they become a possible target for our adversaries to offer them money for food. That’s not something that we want. We can’t tolerate that. That’s a no go. The thing for me was trying to get leadership to understand. I am partly there. Not everybody– \nThe first thing\, and I heard this a lot\, is\, “Well\, you make good money. I don’t understand how you are having trouble.” What we found early on was you can be food insecure at any rank. All it takes is one major life event to knock you off the fence. You can have a Lieutenant Colonel seeking food at a food pantry. This isn’t something that is just low-ranking airmen with a lot of kids\, although it is a lot of that. It’s across the board\, and getting leadership to understand that this stuff has been lurking in your ranks for decades. \nThis is not a new problem. This is something\, yes\, the pandemic probably aggravated a little bit\, but when I first started doing research on it– The reason I started doing research was because Major Kevin Watanabe\, the IMA to the PACAF\, Pacific Air Force’s nutrition consultant\, couldn’t go to his base in Alaska during the pandemic\, so he dropped in my lap. I had him for a month\, and I ask him to give me ideas for nutrition\, because nutrition falls to me\, I am not a dietitian\, he is\, and to give me nutrition ideas. \nThe garden was the first idea\, and we’ve been sustaining that garden since October of 2020. The second or the last idea that he gave me right before he left was\, “Check into SNAP and WIC. You may be looking at only low-ranking airmen with a lot of kids\,” so I did. What I found out was this is like the military’s dirty little secret. It’s been happening for years. Nobody’s really been talking about it. That’s how we evolved into where we’re at is once I figured out the issue\, then it’s my responsibility\, because it’s readiness issue\, is to bring it to leadership’s attention. Once leadership gets an idea that this is an issue\, then we can move forward\, and we can actually do a little bit more than what we can just by ourselves. \nMy medical group commander\, who is in charge of our clinic\, she was the first one I got on board. Then she said\, I want this brief to all the group commanders\, and so we were able to take that forward. We still have a lot of work to do because we only targeted a small group of our commanders. The goal is to get them all to understand. Once everybody’s on board and everybody’s aware of it\, they can see those pockets where they can actually make a difference and things they can do. \nThat’s the big thing with leadership is you have to give them action items\, things they can do that is realistic\, in their wheelhouse. You can’t give them the overarching thing and say\, “This is our problem\,” and give them nothing to do. They operate by\, “Give me the reason\, tell me what’s going on\, and then give me something to do.” Right now that’s probably the biggest challenge is being able to get leadership to understand. We’re getting there. It’s not perfect\, but we’re a lot further than we were two years ago. \nI think that with the Secretary of Defense highlighting this\, that it’s made it easier for more commanders to understand. We’re seeing that on the USARPAC side\, the US Army Pacific side\, is they have a senior leader that’s highly engaged. I think that they can make a lot of difference just at that big level. \nBob: Lorna\, did you see similar things in terms of having to get buy-in from leadership on your side of things? \nLorna: The Pono Pantry was actually started by the chaplain program during the COVID situation here in Hawaii\, the pandemic. The chaplains put everything into motion. They got approval and everything. I was not part of that\, but I’m telling you\, with our leadership at the Hawaii Air National Guard\, we have no resistance there. They all would continuously ask if we need any products in the Pono Pantry. Obviously\, we have different needs on the Hawaii Air National Guard side. Rice\, SPAM [unintelligible 00:30:03] diapers\, stuff like that that we need\, and it just flies out of our pantry\, but the leadership continuously supports the program. \nOne thing that we do find is a challenge is having the members come out. That’s why we have it where it’s anonymous. You can come at any time. We do have hours to the open facility\, but we can coordinate with them. They can come in the evening or early morning\, and we’ll have the products available for them. Then we also work very closely with our first sergeants\, and we have them out and about\, finding out where the needs are and then trying to fulfill those needs by providing them the food source. \nIn the future\, this– We just started hurricane season and preparedness is a big part of hurricane season. We’re making sure that we have enough supplies in there\, and we’re going to\, hopefully\, put together some bags of starter sets with maybe a few food items\, some toiletries. We just got a big donation of toiletries\, so toiletries in there\, and just get them started. \nArletta: Yes\, Lorna brings up a really good point. I think the big piece of this that everybody misses is the disaster piece. There are two emergencies. One is the individual person’s emergency and getting a crisis\, and then your goal is to get them stabilized and then help move them forward. The piece that I don’t think we’re talking about enough is the mass disaster piece. For us\, it could be a hurricane. We just went through the Red Hill water crisis where we had some fuel tanks leak into the water system\, and that threw us off. We learned a lot during that water crisis as to what’s going to happen during an emergency. \nSee\, for our members\, and even Lorna’s airmen during an emergency\, those members have to keep on working. It’s not like they can stop and take care of their family. The mission goes on\, so you have to prep them ahead of time so that they can weather that disaster. We learned a lot of lessons during the Red Hill water crisis in the fact that we’re not as ready as we could be. That’s one of the big things that our working group has actually been looking at on a big scale is\, how can we prepare members for an emergency? \nOne of the things that you’re told when you get here is to have two weeks’ worth of food stockpiled so that in case of emergency\, you can fall back on that because 90% of the food is imported here. Unfortunately\, I can’t think of a single person that’s probably as prepared as they should be. That’s one of the things that we’ve been talking about. Maybe somehow educating members to prepare their kit before they leave the mainland. That way\, the government will move it here\, it will be in place\, and they don’t have to worry about the expense once they get here. \nThat’s in the infancy stage\, but that disaster preparedness is a huge thing. Because in a disaster\, the goal is- we’re not there yet\, but the goal is for the active duty or even the military in general\, Guard\, Reserve\, to take the pressure off of the Hawaii Foodbank because in a disaster\, their people are the people of Hawaii. If we can somehow self-contain and prepare those members to be able to be self-contained and to move on with their mission and not have to worry about going out and getting food\, we take that pressure off of the Hawaii Foodbank and they can concentrate on the other people in Hawaii. We’re not there yet\, but that’s one of our ultimate goals. \nBob: Kina\, can you talk about that a little bit? I think there’s a couple things that are really striking me. Just this idea of being here on the mainland\, we have the same risks\, potentially\, of- not the same\, but similar risks of disaster and being prepared for that\, but it’s such a different ask for me to be prepared and have that food in the pantry for two weeks or longer\, or whatever\, than it is for the people of Hawaii. \nThe other thing I’m interested in your comment on is just what Arletta just brought up\, about this relationship between Hawaii Foodbank serving the people of Hawaii\, but knowing that our military families are in need and how that gets discussed and balanced out for you guys. \nKina: Yes\, those are two really big\, really good questions. Let me start with the disaster piece first. If we look at what’s in our warehouse\, and if we think about having to have enough food for everybody on Oahu in the event of a massive disaster\, it’s a day\, maybe. It’s not enough. We are talking with our Department of Emergency Management at the county level\, and with our Hawaii Emergency Management at the state level. There’s a lot that we can do\, both systematically and individually\, to be prepared. \nWe have an internal plan that we’re working on at the food bank. A big part of our plan is also working with the agencies\, with the ASYMCAs and with the other 200 agency partners who run food pantries and soup kitchens to make sure that they have some stockpiles\, that they’re strategically placed around the island\, what we’re calling precovery pods\, with MREs in them\, so in the event that Waianae is cut off from– Farrington Highway that goes out to Waianae often gets cut off for a car accident\, let alone a disaster. That there are places that are going to be hard to reach that have at least some level of preparedness. \nI think one of the things we talk about a lot is how much– If you look at the narrative\, like have your emergency preparedness kit done\, you might get a flyer in the mail. So much of the messaging falls on the individual person or the individual family to get prepared\, but we also have to be prepared as a community and as a state. These are the conversations\, I think\, we’re having in the working group\, how we do that. How we both encourage at the individual level\, but also when a disaster strikes we’re all in it together\, so how we make sure that it’s the communications and the infrastructure that’s in place to do that. \nWe don’t have the answers\, it’s a work in progress\, but it is one of the key pillars\, key priorities that we’re working at\, at Hawaii Foodbank. Because it’s a when. It’s not an if\, and we all know that. COVID was its own disaster of sorts that we learned a lot from. I think we’re trying to apply some of those lessons- not lose those lessons and apply them to thinking about natural and weather-related disasters that we’ll hit. \nOn the second question\, it’s a bigger and harder question around the relationship with the military in Hawaii. I’m not speaking out of turn to say it’s a complex– We are in occupied territory that was controlled by our Indigenous population\, and that’s a complex relationship. On the other hand\, it’s not either or. I have Hawaiian family who served in the military. Hawaiians have a history of military service back to Kalākaua’s days. It’s Hawaiian people who are serving in the Air National Guard\, right\, Lorna? \nI think we\, Hawaii Foodbank\, try to get past the either/or\, us/them narrative\, and nobody should go to bed hungry. You can say\, especially kids\, especially kūpuna\, elders\, especially people serving our country\, but it’s actually\, especially no one. I think that it’s finding these intersections of partnerships where when we come together and link\, we can all do better together. \nI guess maybe if I could say one more thing leading from that\, Arletta and Lorna talked a little bit about the challenges\, but also there’s some really special things about being on an island. All the challenges we have are not unique to other places\, but we’re just closer together. Lorna’s comment about the leadership being so supportive\, I think we have that really in spades here in Hawaii. We are an inspiration for other places. \nAt the Hawaii Foodbank\, we’re part of a cohort of other food banks who serve military families. Colorado\, Savannah\, Georgia\, there’s a handful of food banks across the nation. We asked Arletta to come talk to the group about this working group because what she and her partners have done in creating this all-branch\, all-collaborative\, islands’\, statewide organization of people is pretty tremendous\, and everybody else was blown away. It gave a lot of ideas- not just concrete ideas\, but inspiration and hope for what is possible. \nBob: What I’d like to do is ask each of you about advice you would give to someone who maybe is feeling the need for this on their installation\, in their community\, that you know there’s other people out there working on this issue\, you know it’s an issue for the people that you serve. \nI’ll start with Arletta and then Lorna. What advice would you give to someone who is on installation or working with Guard or Reserve and wants to engage with civilian organizations on the issue of food security for military families? \nArletta: It’s actually a partnership amongst several. I started my relationship with the Hawaii Department of Health\, the public health department. That was a link that was made through Major Watanabe\, but that’s how I fully understood how to deal with the food issue on the healthy side of the house. Reaching out to your public health departments\, reaching out to those local food banks. I think there’s been a roadblock for a long time. It’s like we can’t talk to you because of security issues. I think that we’re all in the same business and all in the same game\, and I think that we can talk to each other and share data and things like that\, and I think that we can help each other. \nI know on the health promotion side of the house\, look at those areas that you’re reaching out to your cooperative extension. Great\, great information on gardening\, recipes\, how to cook. Those are all skills that\, on a military installation\, I think that we need to teach. We need to teach about foodways\, we need to teach about farmers’ markets\, CSAs\, all that stuff is an education piece because it all feeds into that food ecosystem. Because the goal– I know one of the goals that we have here is to try to stretch that food dollar as far as we can. \nBy stretching the food dollar\, it’s buying local\, preventing food waste\, cooking with your scraps. A lot of the stuff that goes into the trash\, that’s edible food\, and there’s a lot of organizations across the country that are actually working on those sorts of things. I was recently\, last week\, at the American College of Sports Medicine meeting. I was able to wander around a Denver park that was near Union Station\, and I stumbled upon the Denver Urban Garden. Which I have a garden. I got a lot of ideas from there. There are agencies in the community that can help you meet those goals. \nAnother thing that you might think about is encouraging breastfeeding in the workplace. That’s an education piece that a lot of people haven’t addressed\, and that feeds right back into our food system as well. Reaching out to those outside partners that can help you. Every places has a little different agency\, but like I said\, the extension\, the public health department\, the local food pantries\, your sister services. I’ve learned so much from the Army side\, and the Army has learned so much from me. Just because you happen to reside in the same place\, you’re not two different services. We’re all one Department of Defense. \nThat would be my advice. \nBob: Lorna\, do you have advice from the National Guard perspective? \nLorna: Sure. I think you have to just set some goals. What do you want? How do you want to get there? Then talk about your ideas. You have to start having the conversation with your leadership\, community organizations. You can talk to other bases. Call us. It doesn’t have to be big. You can actually start small if you wanted to. \nEducation is really the piece too. Of course\, you want to educate the community and our leadership on some of the things that we need in our community or for our members. Schools\, educate the children. [unintelligible 00:44:10]. They are the ones that are going to take it home\, so tell them how you can be more sustainable\, or teach them how you can save on groceries using coupons\, or whatever it takes. Yes\, set the goals\, talk about your ideas. Then also\, it does not have to be huge. Start small. It’ll always grow. \nPeople want to help each other. In the Hawaii community\, like was said earlier too\, we support each other. Even we don’t only care for our kūpuna\, or our elderly within our family\, we actually help our neighbors. We take care of each other. We help our neighbors to make sure they’re okay. During a hurricane\, we walk over to our neighbor’s house\, especially if they’re elderly\, and say\, “Hey\, are you okay? Do you need food? You need us to clean out your house?” Or whatever is needed. We make sure that they’re taken care of. \nOnce you start that conversation\, I think everybody [unintelligible 00:45:09] and will be part of your team will gather. \nBob: Thanks\, Lorna. Kina\, we’ll end with you. Do you have advice for that person who might be in a community food bank or food pantry who knows there might be a need for military families and some opportunities to engage with National Guard or a military installation\, do you have advice for how to get started? \nKina: I think reaching out to your local food bank is a really good start. Then I think for everybody\, whether you’re at a food bank\, or whether you’re in the military\, or you’re a civilian\, helping to reduce that culture of shame and stigma. Everybody needs help sometimes. We’ve all needed a hand up in our life\, and so if we can create the kind of programs that are centered around helping each other\, reciprocity\, giving back. \nI heard a great quote from someone in our community like\, no matter how hard you have it\, you can always help give blessings to other people. If we take that spirit\, that connection in our community as part of the work we’re doing around food insecurity and health\, then I think that goes a long way. \nBob: I want to thank you guys so much for the incredible work that you are all doing\, and for sharing it with us today on the Practicing Connection podcast. Kina Mahi\, Lorna Souza\, Arletta Eldridge Thompson\, thank you so much for joining us. \nLorna: Thank you. Mahalo. \nBob: I want to thank our listeners for joining us for this conversation as well. Thanks again to Jessica. She made this whole conversation possible with her hard work. We’d also like to thank our co-producer\, Coral Owen; our announcer\, Kalin Goble; Hannah Hyde\, Maggie Lucas\, and Terry Meisenbach for their help with marketing; and Nathan Grimm\, who composed and performed all the music you hear on the podcast. We hope you’ll join us again soon. In the meantime\, keep practicing. \n[music]\nKalin: The Practicing Connection is a production of OneOp and is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture\, US Department of Agriculture\, and the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy\, US Department of Defense under award number 2019-48770-30366.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” disable_element=”yes” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text] \nSUBSCRIBE NOW \nJoin us in the “Practicing Connection” community. When you sign up you’ll receive a monthly email focused on practicing connection. The email will help us establish a shared rhythm and some shared experiences in our community. \nListen\n\n \nAbout this episode\nThe Food Security Hawaii Working Group is an amazing cross-sector collaboration to address food security issues military families are facing\, In this episode (Season 4\, Episode 6)\, Bob Bertsch talks with Arletta Eldridge Thompson\, Health Promotion Coordinator for the 15th Medical Group for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam;  Lorna Souza with the Hawaii Air National Guard Airman and Family Readiness Program; and Kina Mahi\, Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships for the Hawaii Foodbank about the challenges families in Hawaii are dealing with and how people are collaborating to address them. \nTranscript\nKalin Goble: Welcome to Practicing Connection\, a podcast exploring the personal stories and collective practices that empower us to work together to improve our resilience and readiness in a rapidly changing world. Here to start the conversation are Jessica Beckendorf and Bob Bertsch. \nBob Bertsch: Hi\, and welcome to the Practicing Connection podcast. I’m Bob Bertsch. I am really excited for this episode. We’re going to be talking about an incredible collaboration to address food insecurity among military families in Hawaii. Unfortunately\, Jessica won’t be here for this conversation\, but I do want to acknowledge all the work that she did to make this conversation happen. Thanks so much\, Jess. Wish you were here. \nThis year\, our team at OneOp has been focusing on food security for military families. One of our colleagues\, Molly Herndon\, learned about the work our guests today are doing in Hawaii. When Molly passed this information on to Jessica and me\, we knew we had to find a way to get these folks on the podcast. After many emails\, a couple of video calls\, at least one approval process\, maybe more\, one that I know about\, I’m really happy to welcome our guests\, Kina Mahi\, Lorna Souza\, and Arletta Eldridge Thompson\, to the Practicing Connection podcast. \nWelcome\, everyone. I think we’ll start with some introductions. Arletta\, can you tell us a little bit more about yourself? \nArletta Eldridge Thompson: Hi. Thanks for inviting us. We’re really excited to be here. I’m Arletta Eldridge Thompson. I’m the Health Promotion Coordinator for the 15th Medical Group for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is a joint base with Navy/Air Force. We represent the Air Force side. I’ve been working for the Air Force for about 27 years\, and this is my sixth installation to work for. I’m really excited that this is taking off like it has. \nBob: Thanks\, Arletta. Lorna\, could you share a little bit about yourself with our listeners? \nLorna Souza: Sure. Aloha\, and mahalo for having us. My name is Lorna Souza. I am actually with the Hawaii Air National Guard Airman and Family Readiness Program. We are also located on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Hawaii\, at least the main part of our Hawaii Air National Guard\, so that’s why we’re part of this community. Then we also have GSUs\, or Geographically Separated Units\, on three of the other islands\, so the island of Kauai. Also\, the Hawaii Island\, which is our Big Island\, we have a unit there. Then Maui\, so we also have a unit on Maui. \nYes\, here to support any way we can and take care of our airmen. Mahalo. \nBob: Thank you\, Lorna. Kina\, could you introduce yourself? \nKina Mahi: Aloha. My name is Kina Mahi. Thank you so much for having us today. I’m the Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships for the Hawaii Foodbank. The Hawaii Foodbank has been fighting hunger and food insecurity in Hawaii for 40 years. We’ve been lucky enough in the last year to join up with this food insecurity working group with Arletta and Lorna and several others because we believe nobody should go to bed hungry\, but we also are really dedicated in ensuring our military personnel who are serving don’t have to struggle with basic fundamental rights like food\, and we mean healthy food too. Mahalo. \nBob: I’m going to ask you to share with us again\, because before we jump into the working group and the incredible collaboration that’s going on\, I think it’s really important\, when we talked earlier a couple of months ago\, that we set the context a little bit for food systems and food security in Hawaii. Because it is such a special place and might have some unique benefits\, challenges\, just characteristics that we wouldn’t see here in the continental United States. \nKina\, can you maybe start that conversation for us? What makes the food system in Hawaii so unique? \nKina: Sure. Well\, at any given time\, the island of Oahu has less than a week of food supply on it. 80% to 90%\, depending on who you ask\, of the food that we all consume is imported. At one time\, our island sustained a population of a million people just within the sustainable cultivation of our āina\, which is our land here. Now we have a really different food system\, and as I’m sure you’ve all seen at the grocery store\, wherever you are\, prices have continued to go up and up and up. \nWe have this unique challenge of being the most isolated land mass on the planet and relying on boats that bring us our food. We have so much potential to rely more on our land to provide our food\, but that’s a longer conversation. We also know how when people are moving here to serve\, or when they’re assigned here\, it’s a big shift to see the prices that are here compared to prices elsewhere. It’s not just on a macro level we have some food system challenges\, but also on the individual family level when you’re making that adjustment\, it can be really hard. \nArletta: I can say on the active duty side that it is a shock when they come here because they expect everything to be the same as it was on the mainland\, and then when they transfer over here\, they’re totally unprepared. One of the things that we did with our working group is figure out ways to prepare them ahead of time in trying to get them to understand that they need a financial appointment before they leave and that they can figure out what their finances are before they leave\, then also start paying off as many bills as they can and start stockpiling a savings account. Because once they get here\, trying to do a savings account is really difficult because it’s so expensive\, and they’re going to have to rely on that because there’s a honeymoon period of about six to nine months. \nBecause the first thing is once they get the assignment\, it’s like\, oh my gosh\, it’s the best assignment in the Air Force\, or whatever military branch\, and they don’t realize that once they get here\, it’s not what they thought. I try to tell people early on\, I’m like\, okay\, here’s what you need to think about. There are two Hawaiis. There’s tourism Hawaii that they’ve been marketed to and the beauty and all that sort of stuff\, but then there’s the reality of living in Hawaii\, which is the other Hawaii. \nThat’s what I’m trying to prepare them because they don’t have a choice. Once they get here\, they can’t leave. I mean\, a spouse can leave. They can send their spouse back to the mainland or their children back to the mainland\, but that active duty or even that Guard member\, they can’t leave. They’re here. We have to prepare them the best we can for the environment that they’re living in. Hopefully\, some of the best practices that we come up with can be utilized on the mainland\, or also prepping a member to go overseas. \nBob: Lorna\, what kinds of challenges are your airmen facing and their families facing in the Hawaii Air National Guard regarding food security? \nLorna: Yes\, so it’s the same thing for our members. It is very expensive to live here. Cost of living is high. People are leaving constantly\, getting priced out of paradise and actually going to the mainland. Our local youth are starting to go to college there. Of course\, they end up staying there and not coming home\, and then before you know it\, the parents are following them. A lot of our local people can’t afford to live here\, so they’re moving to the mainland\, which you called continental United States. [chuckles]\nYes\, cost of living is very high here in Hawaii. We have multiple families living in one house\, so we have grandparents\, parents\, and children. Of course\, grandparents are watching the grandchildren\, and then the parents are going to work. I also noticed in the last few years\, we had a paradigm shift where actually now our parents are caring for our grandparents\, our elderly. Not only the stress and struggles of living in Hawaii or in the paradise that we have here\, but they can’t afford certain things\, and food is one of them. \nAnything that we can do for our families\, if we can help them with the food\, and then they can pay for the medical bills\, they can pay for the medication that they need for their grandparents\, or we call them kūpuna\, it’s going to help. \nArletta: I want to hop in and piggyback off of what Lorna said. Not only are they living two- well\, three\, maybe four generations in a house\, most everybody in the house has at least two jobs. When you’re looking at the Hawaii Air National Guard\, they have their normal regular job and then a part-time job\, and then the National Guard on top of that. \nBob: Yes. It sounds like very challenging context for our families to be dealing with\, but the working group that you guys put together to start to address that kind of stuff\, how did that all begin\, Arletta? Where did this idea even spring out of and how did you get it started? \nArletta: Gosh\, this was way back before the pandemic\, October of 2019. Airman and Family Readiness on the Hickam active duty side noticed that– It was started with Drew [unintelligible 00:11:00]. He noticed that when people were coming in for the Air Force Aid Society\, those are emergency loans and grants that people can apply for if they need money for certain things. Usually it’s a car repair or something to that effect. One of the things that he noticed when people were coming in to ask for those loans and grants was they were needing sustenance\, they were needing food. Instead of asking for the grant or the loan\, which I think they can only get maybe one time or it’s a limited time\, he opened up a cabinet with two doors and it was a food pantry. That’s how we started. \nThen once we had that food pantry\, I hopped on board to help him advertise it because as a health promotion coordinator\, I know that if you can get people to donate healthier items\, that’ll change their diet. Then not long after that\, the chaplains over at the Hawaii Air National Guard opened up the Pono Pantry. Pono in Hawaii means balance. They started theirs. It was a little shed out in their parking lot\, [chuckles] and they left it open 24/7 so people could go in and get what they needed. That’s how our food pantry system opened up. \nThen when we were moving forward\, but Jayme Alexander\, she took over the Flight Chief position at the Airman and Family Readiness Center\, and she noticed the same thing Drew did\, only she expanded it by like 1\,600%. Instead of one cabinet; ended up being four. She noticed that there was an extreme need. This was during the pandemic\, so that’s when she expanded it. Well\, the working group happened because our wing commander’s wife at the time– We had expanded to the Airman’s Attic\, and the Airman’s Attic is like a thrift store\, it’s like a free thrift store. They noticed that people were coming in for clothing and things like that\, so they set up a little cabinet at the Airman’s Attic. \nThe wing commander’s wife\, who’s the head person over on the Air Force side\, she noticed that people were taking a lot of food items from the Airman’s Attic\, so she approached me and wanted healthier items. One of the things I had mentioned to her was\, once you reach to the point of you’re getting food at a food pantry\, healthier items are not on your list of to do. I mean\, you’re just wanting to survive. That would fall to us to provide those healthier options so that they could have those. That’s how the working group started was I said\, what we need is to get together as a group and be able to create that type of environment. That’s how the working group started. \nIt’s changed its name three times now. It was the Team Hickam Food Insecurity Working Group. Then I believe it was Laura Kay from the Hawaii Foodbank had said that we are in a unique situation on Oahu as that we have all four services plus the Coast Guard on this island. It was then that I was like\, you know what? We can’t just say this is just an Air Force thing. We opened it up to all services\, and we have representatives from all services that attend this working group. Recently\, we just changed the name again to the Food Insecurity Working Group Hawaii because now we cover the whole state of Hawaii because as Lorna said\, we have assets on outer islands and we are actually servicing those assets\, so it made sense to change the name again. \nHow we ended up being kind of multi-service. In August of last year\, I had a phone call from USARPAC\, which is US Army Pacific. They asked me if I was doing anything on the food insecurity side. I’m like\, well\, yes. The more we got the talk\, they have a– General Flynn is very\, very interested in food insecurity\, and so they piggyback off of us. They ended up attending the working group\, back when we were Team Hickam\, and now they’re like very staunch at showing up every meeting\, they give a lot of input. Not only is our working group dealing with things that happen in Hawaii\, but also across the Pacific we’re having impact. That’s exciting as well. \nBob: Kina\, how did Hawaii Foodbank get involved? \nKina: Hawaii Foodbank has been partnering with the Armed Services YMCA for several years now. Hawaii Foodbank– The way food banks work is like a funnel. The food comes into us from retail donations from the Safeways and the Costcos in our community who have excess\, and also from USDA commodities\, and then also from our community member donations. We do purchase food as well\, especially we like to prioritize from our local farmers and producers. The food funnels in\, and then we funnel it out through a network of community partners like ASYMCA. We have three sites. \nArletta mentioned it\, and I mentioned it\, we really like to focus on healthy food. The number one thing people are asking for is fresh produce. That is the thing that is not affordable\, that is the thing that goes away when a family is struggling. That’s the stories we hear. We partner with ASYMCA in three different locations at three different bases to do monthly distributions where we really focus on produce. We bring\, and we will bring the– We have the refrigeration at the food bank\, so we come out and can do a bigger distribution at a time. \nWe would like to do more. There’s always more to be done. I think this is where we like to partner with very creative folks like Arletta\, who’s thinking about community gardens. A community garden or a family garden may never meet all of your produce and vegetable needs\, but if we can start to- in addition to what we bring on a monthly or a biweekly basis from the food bank\, if we can start to change mindsets and build skills and understand how we can also go back to some of the values that sustains a population here at one time\, if we can go back to some of those values and practices\, we do think it also makes a difference for people. \nBob: Yes\, it’s really great to hear some of the systems approach to preventing food insecurity\, and awesome that you guys are working on that. Lorna\, what kinds of other things is the working group working on? [chuckles] The working group working on. What’s typical of a meeting of what kind of conversations come up? \nLorna: Well\, I think the nice thing about this working group\, it’s various organizations that are coming together\, not only military. We work with the community so much\, and everybody brings their little piece of what they’re doing\, what’s coming up in the future\, the programs that are available for our members or for our service members. That really brings us together and helps us. Then if we have an issue\, we work together on how to resolve it\, or how to take care of just little items that might be challenges we might be facing. \nIt’s a great way to come together and see what’s out there to bring these resources to our members. It’s a really giving group of people too. Arletta said about pono. Pono means righteousness and balance and doing what’s right. That’s exactly what this team does\, is we’re just trying to make sure that everybody gets the information and gets the resources that they need so that they can have a better experience here in Hawaii. \nAlso too\, what we do is we have some volunteer experiences for our members. Not everybody’s having struggles with food\, but they want to help out\, so we do have volunteer opportunities with the food bank. We do that monthly. Then also\, we go up to a farm\, Waihe’e farm. We actually go there and clean up the farm\, make sure that we help them with their taro or kalo\, which actually turns into poi. If you’ve been to Hawaii\, you might have had some poi. That’s the root that you make poi from. It’s a big industry here and very expensive\, so any way we can help to cultivate the taro or the kalo. \nWe go out there\, and we help them with their farm and better their progress of growing this product. Then also\, other products they have. They have watercress there. They have ‘ulu\, which is breadfruit\, and different other local fruits that we can distribute to our community. \nArletta: Actually\, the reason that’s important is because if you look at the bigger picture\, and this is one of the things that you have to give Hawaii credit for\, is they’re trying to go back to the sustainability that they had before modern times. That’s how they sustain themselves. It also gives a hands-on view to everybody on where their food comes from. They could very easily be repeated at farm– You see these sorts of things on farms on the mainland\, people going and volunteering and helping. I had a friend of mine in Missouri that just volunteered to help pick a farm that creates her CSA\, her community support box that she gets. That food\, because it was extra\, went back to the food bank. \nThese are things that we can promote having people understand where their food comes from\, and you’re able to have a hands-on. Hawaii just happens to be unique in the fact that it’s part of their underlying culture. We care about the āina\, or the land\, and so that’s something that’s really important. \nLorna: Yes. Actually\, we started going to the Waihe’e farm because after COVID\, they lost so many sales that they were thinking of shutting down. We got a group of volunteers together and simple things like taking the weeds out of the taro patch or the kalo patch\, and just making sure that the water is flowing from the– The water is wai\, so the wai is flowing from the streams\, taking the weeds out of that in the streams and making sure that everything is flowing correctly. We’re able to clean up their taro patches and production has been better. \nJust little things of getting people together to help out these farmers so that they can produce. It’s going to\, of course\, drizzle down to us and we’re going to end up getting the benefits of it. Poi\, which is made from kalo\, is very expensive and it’s because the lack of the product\, the kalo. This way\, we can actually help them and in turn\, we’re helping ourselves because of reduction of price for poi\, which is one of our staples. \nBob: That’s awesome. I think it’s really great to build that connection back to where your food comes from. It sounds like there’s a lot of great stuff happening and great communication happening. I’m just wondering if\, when the working group was either being formed\, or where you were trying to get your feet\, were there challenges or barriers that you guys encountered in trying to get this set up and to get everybody at the table? \nArletta: I know for me\, the big challenges was trying to get– It’s one thing to have a working group and to be able to move forward\, but when you look at the big picture on the military side of the house\, you have to have leadership involved. You have to have leadership understand that this is an issue. When you look at the big picture\, both on the active duty side\, and the Guard\, and Reserve side\, and the Secretary of Defense said it\, food insecurity is a readiness issue. \nWhen we look at the overall picture\, if you have a military member that can’t afford or doesn’t have the resources to sustain themselves\, then that puts them at risk for\, A\, not doing their job; B\, worrying about their family; C\, becoming a security risk because they become a possible target for our adversaries to offer them money for food. That’s not something that we want. We can’t tolerate that. That’s a no go. The thing for me was trying to get leadership to understand. I am partly there. Not everybody– \nThe first thing\, and I heard this a lot\, is\, “Well\, you make good money. I don’t understand how you are having trouble.” What we found early on was you can be food insecure at any rank. All it takes is one major life event to knock you off the fence. You can have a Lieutenant Colonel seeking food at a food pantry. This isn’t something that is just low-ranking airmen with a lot of kids\, although it is a lot of that. It’s across the board\, and getting leadership to understand that this stuff has been lurking in your ranks for decades. \nThis is not a new problem. This is something\, yes\, the pandemic probably aggravated a little bit\, but when I first started doing research on it– The reason I started doing research was because Major Kevin Watanabe\, the IMA to the PACAF\, Pacific Air Force’s nutrition consultant\, couldn’t go to his base in Alaska during the pandemic\, so he dropped in my lap. I had him for a month\, and I ask him to give me ideas for nutrition\, because nutrition falls to me\, I am not a dietitian\, he is\, and to give me nutrition ideas. \nThe garden was the first idea\, and we’ve been sustaining that garden since October of 2020. The second or the last idea that he gave me right before he left was\, “Check into SNAP and WIC. You may be looking at only low-ranking airmen with a lot of kids\,” so I did. What I found out was this is like the military’s dirty little secret. It’s been happening for years. Nobody’s really been talking about it. That’s how we evolved into where we’re at is once I figured out the issue\, then it’s my responsibility\, because it’s readiness issue\, is to bring it to leadership’s attention. Once leadership gets an idea that this is an issue\, then we can move forward\, and we can actually do a little bit more than what we can just by ourselves. \nMy medical group commander\, who is in charge of our clinic\, she was the first one I got on board. Then she said\, I want this brief to all the group commanders\, and so we were able to take that forward. We still have a lot of work to do because we only targeted a small group of our commanders. The goal is to get them all to understand. Once everybody’s on board and everybody’s aware of it\, they can see those pockets where they can actually make a difference and things they can do. \nThat’s the big thing with leadership is you have to give them action items\, things they can do that is realistic\, in their wheelhouse. You can’t give them the overarching thing and say\, “This is our problem\,” and give them nothing to do. They operate by\, “Give me the reason\, tell me what’s going on\, and then give me something to do.” Right now that’s probably the biggest challenge is being able to get leadership to understand. We’re getting there. It’s not perfect\, but we’re a lot further than we were two years ago. \nI think that with the Secretary of Defense highlighting this\, that it’s made it easier for more commanders to understand. We’re seeing that on the USARPAC side\, the US Army Pacific side\, is they have a senior leader that’s highly engaged. I think that they can make a lot of difference just at that big level. \nBob: Lorna\, did you see similar things in terms of having to get buy-in from leadership on your side of things? \nLorna: The Pono Pantry was actually started by the chaplain program during the COVID situation here in Hawaii\, the pandemic. The chaplains put everything into motion. They got approval and everything. I was not part of that\, but I’m telling you\, with our leadership at the Hawaii Air National Guard\, we have no resistance there. They all would continuously ask if we need any products in the Pono Pantry. Obviously\, we have different needs on the Hawaii Air National Guard side. Rice\, SPAM [unintelligible 00:30:03] diapers\, stuff like that that we need\, and it just flies out of our pantry\, but the leadership continuously supports the program. \nOne thing that we do find is a challenge is having the members come out. That’s why we have it where it’s anonymous. You can come at any time. We do have hours to the open facility\, but we can coordinate with them. They can come in the evening or early morning\, and we’ll have the products available for them. Then we also work very closely with our first sergeants\, and we have them out and about\, finding out where the needs are and then trying to fulfill those needs by providing them the food source. \nIn the future\, this– We just started hurricane season and preparedness is a big part of hurricane season. We’re making sure that we have enough supplies in there\, and we’re going to\, hopefully\, put together some bags of starter sets with maybe a few food items\, some toiletries. We just got a big donation of toiletries\, so toiletries in there\, and just get them started. \nArletta: Yes\, Lorna brings up a really good point. I think the big piece of this that everybody misses is the disaster piece. There are two emergencies. One is the individual person’s emergency and getting a crisis\, and then your goal is to get them stabilized and then help move them forward. The piece that I don’t think we’re talking about enough is the mass disaster piece. For us\, it could be a hurricane. We just went through the Red Hill water crisis where we had some fuel tanks leak into the water system\, and that threw us off. We learned a lot during that water crisis as to what’s going to happen during an emergency. \nSee\, for our members\, and even Lorna’s airmen during an emergency\, those members have to keep on working. It’s not like they can stop and take care of their family. The mission goes on\, so you have to prep them ahead of time so that they can weather that disaster. We learned a lot of lessons during the Red Hill water crisis in the fact that we’re not as ready as we could be. That’s one of the big things that our working group has actually been looking at on a big scale is\, how can we prepare members for an emergency? \nOne of the things that you’re told when you get here is to have two weeks’ worth of food stockpiled so that in case of emergency\, you can fall back on that because 90% of the food is imported here. Unfortunately\, I can’t think of a single person that’s probably as prepared as they should be. That’s one of the things that we’ve been talking about. Maybe somehow educating members to prepare their kit before they leave the mainland. That way\, the government will move it here\, it will be in place\, and they don’t have to worry about the expense once they get here. \nThat’s in the infancy stage\, but that disaster preparedness is a huge thing. Because in a disaster\, the goal is- we’re not there yet\, but the goal is for the active duty or even the military in general\, Guard\, Reserve\, to take the pressure off of the Hawaii Foodbank because in a disaster\, their people are the people of Hawaii. If we can somehow self-contain and prepare those members to be able to be self-contained and to move on with their mission and not have to worry about going out and getting food\, we take that pressure off of the Hawaii Foodbank and they can concentrate on the other people in Hawaii. We’re not there yet\, but that’s one of our ultimate goals. \nBob: Kina\, can you talk about that a little bit? I think there’s a couple things that are really striking me. Just this idea of being here on the mainland\, we have the same risks\, potentially\, of- not the same\, but similar risks of disaster and being prepared for that\, but it’s such a different ask for me to be prepared and have that food in the pantry for two weeks or longer\, or whatever\, than it is for the people of Hawaii. \nThe other thing I’m interested in your comment on is just what Arletta just brought up\, about this relationship between Hawaii Foodbank serving the people of Hawaii\, but knowing that our military families are in need and how that gets discussed and balanced out for you guys. \nKina: Yes\, those are two really big\, really good questions. Let me start with the disaster piece first. If we look at what’s in our warehouse\, and if we think about having to have enough food for everybody on Oahu in the event of a massive disaster\, it’s a day\, maybe. It’s not enough. We are talking with our Department of Emergency Management at the county level\, and with our Hawaii Emergency Management at the state level. There’s a lot that we can do\, both systematically and individually\, to be prepared. \nWe have an internal plan that we’re working on at the food bank. A big part of our plan is also working with the agencies\, with the ASYMCAs and with the other 200 agency partners who run food pantries and soup kitchens to make sure that they have some stockpiles\, that they’re strategically placed around the island\, what we’re calling precovery pods\, with MREs in them\, so in the event that Waianae is cut off from– Farrington Highway that goes out to Waianae often gets cut off for a car accident\, let alone a disaster. That there are places that are going to be hard to reach that have at least some level of preparedness. \nI think one of the things we talk about a lot is how much– If you look at the narrative\, like have your emergency preparedness kit done\, you might get a flyer in the mail. So much of the messaging falls on the individual person or the individual family to get prepared\, but we also have to be prepared as a community and as a state. These are the conversations\, I think\, we’re having in the working group\, how we do that. How we both encourage at the individual level\, but also when a disaster strikes we’re all in it together\, so how we make sure that it’s the communications and the infrastructure that’s in place to do that. \nWe don’t have the answers\, it’s a work in progress\, but it is one of the key pillars\, key priorities that we’re working at\, at Hawaii Foodbank. Because it’s a when. It’s not an if\, and we all know that. COVID was its own disaster of sorts that we learned a lot from. I think we’re trying to apply some of those lessons- not lose those lessons and apply them to thinking about natural and weather-related disasters that we’ll hit. \nOn the second question\, it’s a bigger and harder question around the relationship with the military in Hawaii. I’m not speaking out of turn to say it’s a complex– We are in occupied territory that was controlled by our Indigenous population\, and that’s a complex relationship. On the other hand\, it’s not either or. I have Hawaiian family who served in the military. Hawaiians have a history of military service back to Kalākaua’s days. It’s Hawaiian people who are serving in the Air National Guard\, right\, Lorna? \nI think we\, Hawaii Foodbank\, try to get past the either/or\, us/them narrative\, and nobody should go to bed hungry. You can say\, especially kids\, especially kūpuna\, elders\, especially people serving our country\, but it’s actually\, especially no one. I think that it’s finding these intersections of partnerships where when we come together and link\, we can all do better together. \nI guess maybe if I could say one more thing leading from that\, Arletta and Lorna talked a little bit about the challenges\, but also there’s some really special things about being on an island. All the challenges we have are not unique to other places\, but we’re just closer together. Lorna’s comment about the leadership being so supportive\, I think we have that really in spades here in Hawaii. We are an inspiration for other places. \nAt the Hawaii Foodbank\, we’re part of a cohort of other food banks who serve military families. Colorado\, Savannah\, Georgia\, there’s a handful of food banks across the nation. We asked Arletta to come talk to the group about this working group because what she and her partners have done in creating this all-branch\, all-collaborative\, islands’\, statewide organization of people is pretty tremendous\, and everybody else was blown away. It gave a lot of ideas- not just concrete ideas\, but inspiration and hope for what is possible. \nBob: What I’d like to do is ask each of you about advice you would give to someone who maybe is feeling the need for this on their installation\, in their community\, that you know there’s other people out there working on this issue\, you know it’s an issue for the people that you serve. \nI’ll start with Arletta and then Lorna. What advice would you give to someone who is on installation or working with Guard or Reserve and wants to engage with civilian organizations on the issue of food security for military families? \nArletta: It’s actually a partnership amongst several. I started my relationship with the Hawaii Department of Health\, the public health department. That was a link that was made through Major Watanabe\, but that’s how I fully understood how to deal with the food issue on the healthy side of the house. Reaching out to your public health departments\, reaching out to those local food banks. I think there’s been a roadblock for a long time. It’s like we can’t talk to you because of security issues. I think that we’re all in the same business and all in the same game\, and I think that we can talk to each other and share data and things like that\, and I think that we can help each other. \nI know on the health promotion side of the house\, look at those areas that you’re reaching out to your cooperative extension. Great\, great information on gardening\, recipes\, how to cook. Those are all skills that\, on a military installation\, I think that we need to teach. We need to teach about foodways\, we need to teach about farmers’ markets\, CSAs\, all that stuff is an education piece because it all feeds into that food ecosystem. Because the goal– I know one of the goals that we have here is to try to stretch that food dollar as far as we can. \nBy stretching the food dollar\, it’s buying local\, preventing food waste\, cooking with your scraps. A lot of the stuff that goes into the trash\, that’s edible food\, and there’s a lot of organizations across the country that are actually working on those sorts of things. I was recently\, last week\, at the American College of Sports Medicine meeting. I was able to wander around a Denver park that was near Union Station\, and I stumbled upon the Denver Urban Garden. Which I have a garden. I got a lot of ideas from there. There are agencies in the community that can help you meet those goals. \nAnother thing that you might think about is encouraging breastfeeding in the workplace. That’s an education piece that a lot of people haven’t addressed\, and that feeds right back into our food system as well. Reaching out to those outside partners that can help you. Every places has a little different agency\, but like I said\, the extension\, the public health department\, the local food pantries\, your sister services. I’ve learned so much from the Army side\, and the Army has learned so much from me. Just because you happen to reside in the same place\, you’re not two different services. We’re all one Department of Defense. \nThat would be my advice. \nBob: Lorna\, do you have advice from the National Guard perspective? \nLorna: Sure. I think you have to just set some goals. What do you want? How do you want to get there? Then talk about your ideas. You have to start having the conversation with your leadership\, community organizations. You can talk to other bases. Call us. It doesn’t have to be big. You can actually start small if you wanted to. \nEducation is really the piece too. Of course\, you want to educate the community and our leadership on some of the things that we need in our community or for our members. Schools\, educate the children. [unintelligible 00:44:10]. They are the ones that are going to take it home\, so tell them how you can be more sustainable\, or teach them how you can save on groceries using coupons\, or whatever it takes. Yes\, set the goals\, talk about your ideas. Then also\, it does not have to be huge. Start small. It’ll always grow. \nPeople want to help each other. In the Hawaii community\, like was said earlier too\, we support each other. Even we don’t only care for our kūpuna\, or our elderly within our family\, we actually help our neighbors. We take care of each other. We help our neighbors to make sure they’re okay. During a hurricane\, we walk over to our neighbor’s house\, especially if they’re elderly\, and say\, “Hey\, are you okay? Do you need food? You need us to clean out your house?” Or whatever is needed. We make sure that they’re taken care of. \nOnce you start that conversation\, I think everybody [unintelligible 00:45:09] and will be part of your team will gather. \nBob: Thanks\, Lorna. Kina\, we’ll end with you. Do you have advice for that person who might be in a community food bank or food pantry who knows there might be a need for military families and some opportunities to engage with National Guard or a military installation\, do you have advice for how to get started? \nKina: I think reaching out to your local food bank is a really good start. Then I think for everybody\, whether you’re at a food bank\, or whether you’re in the military\, or you’re a civilian\, helping to reduce that culture of shame and stigma. Everybody needs help sometimes. We’ve all needed a hand up in our life\, and so if we can create the kind of programs that are centered around helping each other\, reciprocity\, giving back. \nI heard a great quote from someone in our community like\, no matter how hard you have it\, you can always help give blessings to other people. If we take that spirit\, that connection in our community as part of the work we’re doing around food insecurity and health\, then I think that goes a long way. \nBob: I want to thank you guys so much for the incredible work that you are all doing\, and for sharing it with us today on the Practicing Connection podcast. Kina Mahi\, Lorna Souza\, Arletta Eldridge Thompson\, thank you so much for joining us. \nLorna: Thank you. Mahalo. \nBob: I want to thank our listeners for joining us for this conversation as well. Thanks again to Jessica. She made this whole conversation possible with her hard work. We’d also like to thank our co-producer\, Coral Owen; our announcer\, Kalin Goble; Hannah Hyde\, Maggie Lucas\, and Terry Meisenbach for their help with marketing; and Nathan Grimm\, who composed and performed all the music you hear on the podcast. We hope you’ll join us again soon. In the meantime\, keep practicing. \n[music]\nKalin: The Practicing Connection is a production of OneOp and is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture\, US Department of Agriculture\, and the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy\, US Department of Defense under award number 2019-48770-30366.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/hawaiis-food-security-collaboration-for-military-families-s-4-ep-6/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Practicing-Connection_Podcast-graphic-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230602T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230602T235900
DTSTAMP:20260613T003742
CREATED:20230816T104044Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250825T181453Z
UID:10001376-1685664000-1685750340@oneop.org
SUMMARY:The Cooperative Extension System: A Force Multiplier for Military Readiness
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”column_reverse” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”3%” constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”3%” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”course-sidebar” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Want to take a course?” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:22|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]OneOp courses are available for free through Thinkific. Get started by registering for a free account on Thinkific.[/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”large” open_new_tab=”true” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” solid_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Register Now” url=”https://oneop.thinkific.com/”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”164279″ image_size=”medium_large” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” solid_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Begin the Course” url=”https://oneop.thinkific.com/courses/ccb”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]The Cooperative Extension System is well-positioned to serve military families dispersed throughout the United States. Through the land-grant university system\, military family service providers can be supported by the research-driven Cooperative Extension System to boost the work they do to support family well-being. \nThis course explores the history\, accessibility\, and programs of the Cooperative Extension System.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Courses Details” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2333004d” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]In this course\, participants will: \n\nGain awareness of Extension’s long-standing commitment to families\, including military-connected families.\nLearn about the organization of Extension Services at the federal\, state\, and local levels.\nLearn about Extension programming that focuses on services and resources for active-duty military families and others in the military community.\nUnderstand how to leverage Cooperative Extension as part of the Family Readiness System to support military family well-being and readiness.\n\nRegister and enroll on Thinkific.com\, the platform used to host OneOp courses\, for free! For help getting started on Thinkific email us at contact@oneop.org [/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” solid_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Course Enrollment” url=”https://oneop.thinkific.com/courses/advancing-food-security-for-military-families”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”3%” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Course Author” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2333004d” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Dr. Keith Tidball is the Assistant Director at Cornell Cooperative Extension\, and a Senior Extension Associate\, Natural Resources and the Environment at Cornell University. Dr. Tidball also serves as the principal investigator for the Community Capacity Building team within OneOp. \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”3%” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Continuing Education Credit” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2333004d” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]\n\n1.0 credit from the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE) for Accredited Financial Counselors (AFC). Eligibility for CE credit will close 7/14/26\n1.0 credit from the Center for Financial Certifications (FinCert) for Certified Personal Finance Counselors (CPFC). Eligibility for CE credit will close 7/14/26\n1.0 credit from the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) for Certified Family Life Educators (CFLEs). Eligibility for CE credit will close 7/14/28\nA certificate of attendance is available.\n\nPhoto from Adobe[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/the-cooperative-extension-system-a-force-multiplier-for-military-readiness/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230322T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230322T170000
DTSTAMP:20260613T003742
CREATED:20230320T201753Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T154858Z
UID:10000702-1679472000-1679504400@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Clinical Assessment of Children and Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”column_reverse” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”3%” constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”3%” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”course-sidebar” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Want to take a course?” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:22|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]OneOp courses are available for free through Thinkific. Get started by registering for a free account on Thinkific.[/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”large” open_new_tab=”true” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” solid_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Register Now” url=”https://oneop.thinkific.com/”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”148059″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”3px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Course 1 overviews the clinical assessment process when a child or youth has engaged in problematic sexual behavior (PSB).[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]NOTE: Please complete each course in the PSB-CY course series\, as the series material was created to be completed fully and sequentially.[/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” solid_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Begin the Course” url=”https://oneop.thinkific.com/bundles/psb-cy-clinical-assessment-and-treatment-overview-series”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Key areas of review include:” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2333004d” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n\nQualifications and guiding principles for providers\nAssessment goals and procedures\nYouth engagement and interview strategies\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n\nClinical interview and assessment topics\nAssessment measures\nAnalysis of assessment information\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Course Details” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2333004d” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Clinical assessment of children and adolescents generally refers to the collection and analysis of broad information\, using a variety of methods\, for the purpose of identifying areas of strengths\, vulnerabilities\, clinical problems\, and intervention needs for the youth and family. \nPSB-CY clinical assessments should be holistic and ecologically informed. This means these assessments cannot and should not examine the youth’s PSB in isolation. Instead\, assessments should consider the whole youth and the context of vulnerabilities\, risks\, and protective factors at multiple interacting system levels within which the youth exists (for example\, family\, peers\, schools). \nFollowing this course\, the learner will be able to: \n\nRecognize guiding principles for clinical assessments of PSB-CY.\nIdentify considerations when preparing for clinical assessments.\nIdentify research-informed topics relevant to clinical assessments.\nBe aware of youth engagement and interview strategies.\nIncrease awareness of the utility of standardized assessment measures.\nDescribe the process of analysis of the assessment findings for conclusions and recommendations.\n\nThese courses are sequential and developed to be experienced in order. Each course will take the average learner at least 90 minutes to complete. Please plan to complete each of the four courses listed on the PSB-CY Courses homepage.[/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” solid_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Course Enrollment” url=”https://oneop.thinkific.com/bundles/psb-cy-clinical-assessment-and-treatment-overview-series”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Course Authors” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2333004d” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”3%” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\nJulia Grimm\nLISW-CP\nJulia is an independent trainer and consultant with NCSBY on the topic of Problematic Sexual Behavior – Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT) for school-aged children and adolescents. She graduates from the USC College of Social Work MSW program in 2010. Ms. Grimm served at the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center for 12 years as a therapist and forensic interviewer\, as well as a clinical supervisor. She is nationally certified in TF-CBT and served as a trainer and consultant in Risk Reduction through Family Therapy (RRFT)\, an evidence-supported intervention for adolescents with comorbid PTSD\, substance use\, and other risky behaviors. Ms. Grimm has served as an Adjunct Faculty member for the USC College of Social Work Master of Social Work program\, as a Field Instructor for MSW students\, and on the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. \n[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\nSue Righthand\nPh.D.\nDr. Righthand is a psychologist in independent practice. She is a consultant to the NCSBY and provided training\, program evaluations\, and consultations. She has extensive experience working with youth and adults who have sexually offended\, as well as individuals who have experienced or initiated child maltreatment and other forms of violence. Dr. Righthand has a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and is affiliated with the University of Maine where she is an Adjunct Associate Research Professor.\nDr. Righthand’s recent collaborations include the development of the Youth Needs and Progress Scale and two books: Effective Intervention with Adolescents Who Have Offended Sexually: Translating Research Into Practice and the Safer Society Handbook of Assessment and Treatment of Adolescents Who Have Sexually Offended. She also co-authored the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol II and related research and was a member of ATSA’s Adolescent Practice Guidelines Committee. \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”3%” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Courses in this Series” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2333004d” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]\n\nCourse 2| Caregiver Engagement in Assessment and Treatment\nCourse 3| Clinical Decision-Making and Treatment Planning\nCourse 4| Monitoring Safety Planning\, Supervision\, and Treatment Progress\n\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”3%” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Continuing Education Credit” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2333004d” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]\n\nSocial Work\, Licensed Professional Counselors\, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists: Programming approval for CE credits have been obtained for Social Work\, Licensed Professional Counselors\, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists from the UT Austin School of Social Work.\nCertified Family Life Educators (CFLEs): Contact Hours from the National Council on Family Relations to CFLEs are available.\nCertificates of attendance are available for providers interested in documenting their professional development activities.\n\n[/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” solid_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Continuing Education” url=”https://vce.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9nmOOZ8YD47C1zU”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”3%” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Course Resources & Materials” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%2333004d” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]\n\nPSB-CY Course Series: Glossary and Terms\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]This course is part of the Sexual Behavior in Children & Youth (SBCY) Series. For more information on other professional development opportunities on this topic\, visit the series homepage! \nSBCY Series – Homepage[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” bottom_margin=”45″ column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”98708″ image_size=”medium” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/clinical-assessment-of-children-and-youth-with-problematic-sexual-behavior-course-1/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/7.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200324T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200324T123000
DTSTAMP:20260613T003742
CREATED:20200109T003336Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T160201Z
UID:10001003-1585047600-1585053000@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Behavior Basics: Laying the Groundwork for Positive Change
DESCRIPTION:About This Webinar:\nProfessionals working with infants\, toddlers\, and preschoolers are likely to encounter challenging behavior.  This webinar reviews the ABCs of behavior (antecedent\, behavior\, consequence) and helps professionals identify the function of behavior.  Dr. Hardy explains the ways in which multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) can be utilized to manage challenging behavior for all children\, but especially children with disabilities or who have experienced trauma.  The use of tally sheets\, forms\, and checklists to inform decisions that support positive behavior and sustain behavioral change is also addressed. \n \nContinuing Education (CE) Credit\nContinuing Education \n\nEarly Interventionists and Early Childhood Educators: This webinar offers 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits through the Early Intervention Training Program (EITP) at the University of Illinois through 6/30/2026.\nIllinois Early Care & Education Providers: This webinar is a Gateways to Opportunity Registry-approved Training for early care and education professionals in Illinois through 6/30/2026.\n\nPresenter\nJessica Hardy received her Ph.D. in early childhood special education from Vanderbilt University and her M.Ed. and B.A. from the University of Florida.  She taught in Portland\, OR as a Head Start teacher and an early childhood special education teacher.  Jessica’s primary research interests are supporting social-emotional development; evidence-based instructional practices\, particularly for teaching early math and science; and early childhood coaching and professional development. \nPhoto Credit: Pixabay.com/Design_Miss_C
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/61143/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/games-2801332_1920-1-e1588275597554.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20171207T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20171207T123000
DTSTAMP:20260613T003742
CREATED:20180917T212039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T160026Z
UID:10001174-1512644400-1512649800@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Beyond the Shape Sorter: Playful Interactions that Promote Strong Academic and Social-Emotional Skills
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/PTZHfq_7sN0″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n\nAbout This Webinar\nA primary way children learn is through their interactions with toys and materials found in their environment. At times\, however\, children can get “stuck” in a loop\, and they don’t continue to find new and more sophisticated ways to play. This impacts all levels of development and learning from fine motor to executive functioning. It also impacts the quality of interactions with caregivers and peers. This webinar will provide information on seven learning progressions that set the foundation for children’s success in school and in life. Recommended practices for what to do when children get stuck and evidence-based strategies for helping them expand their play with objects\, will also be provided. \nContinuing Education (CE) Credit\nContinuing Education \n\nEarly Interventionists and Early Childhood Educators: This webinar offers 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits through the Early Intervention Training Program (EITP) at the University of Illinois through 6/30/2026.\n\nPresenter Information\nDr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak is a {r}evolutionary speaker\, researcher\, and play advocate. Through podcasts\, blogs\, free resources\, and trainings\, Kristie inspires and supports early educators in {r}evolutionizing their teaching. Kristie spent 16 years\, as faculty\, at Kent State University and now trains and coaches early educators worldwide. Kristie is a Past President of the Division for Early Childhood and works with intentness and determination to sort through the clutter and chaos to join seemingly disparate ideas. \nEvent Materials\n\n\n\n\n Kristie’s Video on Shark Music \n\n\n\n[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]This webinar is part of the 1-2-3 Play with Me! Recognizing and Valuing the Power of Play Series. For more information on other professional development opportunities on this topic\, visit the series homepage![/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” text=”1-2-3 Play with Me! Series” url=”https://oneop.org/1-2-3-play-with-me-recognizing-and-valuing-the-power-of-play/”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/27229/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/beyond-the-shape-sorter-banner-e1590621545921.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20171019T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20171019T123000
DTSTAMP:20260613T003742
CREATED:20180917T221147Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260406T194302Z
UID:10001193-1508410800-1508416200@oneop.org
SUMMARY:When Play is More than Just "Playing": Delivering Intentional Instruction through Daily Interactions
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/vSL2HsNr7S4″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n\nAbout This Webinar\nWe often say\, “Play is the work of the child.” But do we really believe in the power of play and its impact on a child’s development and learning trajectories? In this age of accountability\, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most and begin to value formal instructional approaches and the teaching of isolated skills. This webinar provides research on the efficacy of creating embedded learning opportunities and the importance of being a good play partner. Recommended practices for supporting the whole child\, as well as strategies on how to be a good play partner\, even for those “hard to reach” children\, are provided. \nContinuing Education (CE) Credit\nContinuing Education \n\nEarly Interventionists and Early Childhood Educators: This webinar offers 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits through the Early Intervention Training Program (EITP) at the University of Illinois through 6/30/2026.\n\nPresenter Information\n\nDr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak is a {r}evolutionary speaker\, researcher\, and play advocate. Through podcasts\, blogs\, free resources\, and trainings\, Kristie inspires and supports early educators in {r}evolutionizing their teaching. Kristie spent 16 years\, as faculty\, at Kent State University and now trains and coaches early educators worldwide. Kristie is a Past President of the Division for Early Childhood and works with intentness and determination to sort through the clutter and chaos to join seemingly disparate ideas. \n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]This webinar is part of the 1-2-3 Play with Me! Recognizing and Valuing the Power of Play Series. For more information on other professional development opportunities on this topic\, visit the series homepage![/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” text=”1-2-3 Play with Me! Series” url=”https://oneop.org/1-2-3-play-with-me-recognizing-and-valuing-the-power-of-play/”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/27252/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/cover_Oct_Webinar_Cover_Image-e1591139662691.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20170622T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20170622T123000
DTSTAMP:20260613T003742
CREATED:20180919T010215Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T174529Z
UID:10001277-1498129200-1498134600@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Have A Seat! Learning What Children Know Through Play
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_video link=”https://youtube.com/live/Qoldh_ggtdc”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\nAbout This Webinar\nWhen we want to understand what children know and can do\, we often turn to tests and other conventional assessment practices. However\, what really allows us to get to know children is when we sit beside them and play. This webinar provides a context for seeing authentic assessment as the means by which we get to know children and foster their development and learning. Recommended practices and research on how to assess children during play are provided. \nContinuing Education (CE) Credit\nContinuing Education \n\nEarly Interventionists and Early Childhood Educators: This webinar offers 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits through the Early Intervention Training Program (EITP) at the University of Illinois through 6/30/2026.\n\nPresenter Information\nDr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak is a {r}evolutionary speaker\, researcher\, and play advocate. Through podcasts\, blogs\, free resources\, and trainings\, Kristie inspires and supports early educators in {r}evolutionizing their teaching. Kristie spent 16 years\, as faculty\, at Kent State University and now trains and coaches early educators worldwide. Kristie is a Past President of the Division for Early Childhood and works with intentness and determination to sort through the clutter and chaos to join seemingly disparate ideas. \nEvent Materials\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]This webinar is part of the 1-2-3 Play with Me! Recognizing and Valuing the Power of Play Series. For more information on other professional development opportunities on this topic\, visit the series homepage![/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” text=”1-2-3 Play with Me! Series” url=”https://oneop.org/1-2-3-play-with-me-recognizing-and-valuing-the-power-of-play/”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/27474/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/children-play-balls-e1590621420198.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20170309T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20170309T123000
DTSTAMP:20260613T003742
CREATED:20180920T001301Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T160047Z
UID:10000992-1489057200-1489062600@oneop.org
SUMMARY:1-2-3 Play with Me! Recognizing and Valuing the Power of Play
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_video link=”https://youtube.com/live/9RfUvDKaz_A”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\nAbout This Webinar\nAcross the lifespan\, play serves a pivotal role in our development and learning. And while for the most part development unfolds in a predictable and logical set of stages and sequences\, there is much we can do through play to ensure happier and healthier children. This webinar provides a context for seeing the power of play and how it is necessary for success in school and in life. Recommended practices and research on how to support children’s play are provided. \nContinuing Education (CE) Credit\nContinuing Education \n\nEarly Interventionists and Early Childhood Educators: This webinar offers 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits through the Early Intervention Training Program (EITP) at the University of Illinois through 6/30/2026.\n\nPresenter Information\nDr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak is a {r}evolutionary speaker\, researcher\, and play advocate. Through podcasts\, blogs\, free resources\, and trainings\, Kristie inspires and supports early educators in {r}evolutionizing their teaching. Kristie spent 16 years\, as faculty\, at Kent State University and now trains and coaches early educators worldwide. Kristie is a Past President of the Division for Early Childhood and works with intentness and determination to sort through the clutter and chaos to join seemingly disparate ideas. \nEvent Materials\n\n\n\n Watch the Recording \n\n\n The Power of Play infographic by Kristie Pretti-Frontczak \n\n\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]This webinar is part of the 1-2-3 Play with Me! Recognizing and Valuing the Power of Play Series. For more information on other professional development opportunities on this topic\, visit the series homepage![/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” text=”1-2-3 Play with Me! Series” url=”https://oneop.org/1-2-3-play-with-me-recognizing-and-valuing-the-power-of-play/”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/27669/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/learn-cover-image-e1591910443431.jpg
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