Cohort #4 of the Snow-Redfern Foundation Root2Rise program is coming soon! We will be selecting up to seven brilliant young ladies from across Nebraska for this unique leadership opportunity!

Snow-Redfern Foundation’s founder, Arvilla, was a strong, independent, female leader who believed that there is great worth in every young person; and as such, each one is a community asset with vast potential for self-defined success.  We celebrate her through this program.

This program is a priority experience for young women interested in growing their leadership potential through exposure to important topics affecting women in leadership roles today. The virtual workshop series creates space for 16-19 year old female-presenting participants to engage in valuable group discussions with other professional women.

The workshop is facilitated by Dr. Maya Chilese, an organizational anthropologist and the founding principal of Blue Agate Collaborative, LLC. Dr. Chiles.  She has over 20 years’ experience in health and human service systems of care at the local, regional, state and national level and uses her gifts and talents to guide the R2R participants through a unique experience, with learning opportunities provided by various guest speakers, all of whom are strong women leaders in their fields of practice.

If you or someone you know is interested, they can learn more and apply at: Root2Rise Program – Snow-Redfern Foundation (snowredfern.org)

You are invited to participate in a Grantmaking & Participatory Practices Study.

This project is for organizations and funders who serve the Nebraska youth and family system of care.

Please forward to your staff and colleagues to help more voices be heard!

PROJECT PURPOSE What would it take for Nebraska’s youth and family system of care to become more inclusive? How can grantmaking enhance participation?

We are eager to learn more about experiences with grantmaking, participatory practices and relationships between funders, grantees and communities.
PROJECT SPONSORS This project is funded by the Snow-Redfern Foundation in partnership with the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands.

First…

Take the Survey to share your wisdom

 CLICK HERE or use the QR code to enter the survey

•        About 10-12 minutes to complete

•        All data collected is confidential

•        Register to win one of eight $50 gift cards
Then…

Attend the Workshop to share learnings

 CLICK HERE to register to attend one of two (virtual) date options:

  • Tuesday May 7th at 2:00-3:30pm Central
  • Thursday May 9th at 10:00-11:30am Central
  • You can register within the survey also

The survey closes March 29th, 2024.

Please contact project principle Dr. Maya Chilese at [email protected] with any questions.

 by 

Sharing is caring!

We’ve already shared some of these with the kids and they are loving them all! We’re going to see how many we can actually use this year. And if the weather keeps being cruddy, we’ll probably end up needing them all!

I hope these help you and your little ones make it through until spring! But these would also be good for sick days or days when you’re stuck at home with no transportation. (We’ve been there too.)

Want to share more fun activities with the kids? Don’t miss this list of super easy preschool crafts you can make in just ten minutes!

Keep the kids happy this winter with these 50 fun cabin fever activities!

50 Fun Cabin Fever Activities for Kids

1. DIY Flubber – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Indoor Tic Tac Toss – Wunder-Mom

3. Balloon Tennis – Little Bins for Little Hands

4. Wrecking Ball Block Play – Fantastic Fun and Learning

5. Paper Roll Color Maze – Days With Grey

6. Walk a Bubble Wrap Path – Mosswood Connections

7. Fun Cat Eyes Snack – Little Sprouts Learning

8. Cookie Counting Playdough Mats – The Art Kit Blog

9. Recycled Carton Bird Feeders – Learning and Exploring Through Play

10. Fluffy Snow Slime – Natural Beach Living

11. Rainbow Playdough Mats – Look! We’re Learning!

12. Make a Chalk Town – Moms and Crafters

13. Epic Indoor Fort – Mommy’s Bundle

14. Superhero Puppet Crafts – Messy Little Monster

15. DIY Hearts and Stars Tic Tac Toe – Fancy Shanty

16. DIY Calendar Puzzles – Jeddah Mom

17. Loose Parts Mirror Play – Little Worlds Big Adventures

18. Ice Castle Building – Fun-A-Day

19. Body Tracing Affirmation Exercise – The Chaos and the Clutter

20. Straw and Circles Paper Planes – Red Ted Art

21. Coffee Filter Hot Air Balloon Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

22. Alien Story Spoons – The Inspiration Edit

23. Winter Gross Motor Dice Brain Breaks – Life Over C’s

24. Once Upon a Time Storytelling Game – Creating Creatives

25. Polar Bear Dice Game – The Preschool Toolbox Blog

Talking about mental health could save a college career or even a life.

Have you ever talked with your high school senior about mental health? In my experience, parents may discuss majors and housing, not major depression and anxiety. However, I encourage parents to talk about these issues because rates of mental health problems continue to soar on college campuses. According to the recently posted results of the American College Health Association fall 2017 survey, one of three college students have been diagnosed with or treated for a mental health disorder in the last year, one of five for anxiety and one of six for depression. One of eight college students seriously considered suicide. Since 2011, rates of anxiety have doubled and rates of depression have risen by fifty percent.

By talking about mental health, parents can reduce stigma and let children know it is okay to pursue treatment. The earlier your college student seeks help for a mental health problem, the more quickly he or she will recover. As a psychiatrist providing clinical care to college students for over twenty years, I have seen too many young adults delay seeking treatment because they feel they have some kind of moral weakness rather than a biological and psychological condition that can be treated with lifestyle changes, therapy, and if needed, medication.

Here is what I recommend every parent tell their high school senior about mental health before they go to college.

  1. Pressures – I am very proud of you as you prepare for your college journey and I know you will do a great job. I also want you to know that college students today can feel a great deal of academic, social, and financial pressure. If the pressure ever gets overwhelming, you can call me anytime, day or night.
  2. Problems – If there is a problem you feel uncomfortable talking about with me, don’t hesitate to call another family member. I won’t be insulted – I just want you to get help. I support you talking with a therapist at the campus counseling center if you need another sounding board.
  3. Academics – I want you to do well in school, but not by sacrificing your health in the process. Regular sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet are necessary for good mental and physical health. I understand there might be times, like during midterms and finals, that you sleep less, but this should not happen on a regular basis. If you find you don’t have time for good self-care, meet with a wellness or success coach on campus who can teach you how to manage your time better. You could also speak with your academic advisor about taking a more balanced course load.
  4. Social connections – Meeting people and making friends can be more challenging in this age of social media when people might be communicating online rather than face to face. Join one or two clubs, talk with people in classes, go to your professor’s office hours, and make at least one or two good friends. Having strong social connections can improve your mental health, physical health, and GPA.
  5. Anxiety – Anxiety is the number one mental health problem on campus. It’s normal to feel anxious about exams and meeting new people, but if your anxiety is so high that it is hard to sleep and concentrate, your heart sometimes races, you feel like it’s hard to catch your breath, and your stomach is always upset, I want you to talk with a therapist. If therapy does not reduce your anxiety, you can also meet with a psychiatrist, who may prescribe medication. Participate in activities to lower your anxiety like yoga, exercise, and meditation.
  6. Depression – Sometimes students can feel sad and homesick during their first days of college. But if the sadness never leaves, it becomes harder to get to class, you stop spending time with friends, or you feel there is no hope that things will get better, I want you to call me and also see a therapist and/or psychiatrist. Depression is highly treatable.
  7. Alcohol – I know most college students drink alcohol, and I would prefer you didn’t drink. But if you do drink, I want you to be safe. Avoid binge drinking – four or more drinks for a woman and five or more for a man in one sitting. Heavy drinking in college is associated with worse academic performance, and of even more concern, can contribute to physical assault, sexual assault, injury, and death.
  8. Drugs – Avoid drugs in college. There is a great deal of controversy about risks and benefits of marijuana, but until there are more studies, I would prefer you not use it. Most marijuana now has a much higher THC content than it did thirty years ago, potentially causing more problems with anxiety and paranoia. Studies show regular marijuana use decreases motivation and GPAs in college students. As for other drugs on campus – cocaine, opioids, and LSD – these drugs put your life at risk and I never want you to try them.
  9. Psychosis – While psychotic experiences occur far less frequently than anxiety and depression in the college years, there can be an increase in these experiences during young adulthood. Psychosis means you have perceptual disturbances, like believing things that may not be real or hearing voices that are not there. If this happens, I don’t want you to be scared. But I do want you to let me know and also speak with a mental health professional to see if this is a temporary experience or a long-term mental health problem requiring treatment.
  10. Resilience – During your college journey, you will experience many highs and a few lows. With your inner strength and the strength of the many people you connect with, I know you will emerge with great knowledge, courage, and creativity.

©2018 Marcia Morris, All Rights Reserved.

Details have been altered to protect patient privacy.

My book, The Campus Cure: A Parent’s Guide to Mental Health and Wellness for College Students, was recently released.

Marcia Morris M.D.

Marcia Morris, M.D., is the author of The Campus Cure: A Parent’s Guide to Mental Health and Wellness for College Students. She is a psychiatrist at the University of Florida.

Another cohort of the Snow-Redfern Foundation Root2Rise program has concluded, and four brilliant young ladies successfully completed the workshop series and earned a $2,000 scholarship that will be used to promote their future career goals established during the program.

The participants of this fall cohort included Kaylee Henthorn of Alliance, Grace Dean of Bridgeport, Regan Anderson of Lakeside, and Mandie Ylander of Alliance.  They attended 6 virtual workshops and completed their own growth map, outlining plans for their future, which aligned with scholarship funds each received.

Snow-Redfern Foundation’s founder, Arvilla, was a strong, independent, female leader who believed that there is great worth in every young person; and as such, each one is a community asset with vast potential for self-defined success.  We celebrate her through this program.

This program is a priority experience for young women interested in growing their leadership potential through exposure to important topics affecting women in leadership roles today. The virtual six-workshop series creates space
for 16-19 year old female-presenting participants to engage in valuable group discussions with other professional women.

The workshop is facilitated by Dr. Maya Chilese, an organizational anthropologist and the founding principal of Blue Agate Collaborative, LLC. Dr. Chiles.  She has over 20 years’ experience in health and human service systems of care at the local, regional, state and national level and uses her gifts and talents to guide the R2R participants through a unique experience, with learning opportunities provided by various guest speakers, all of whom are strong women leaders in their fields of practice.

December 2023, Alliance, NE –The Snow-Redfern Foundation nominated three new board members

 The Snow-Redfern Foundation (SRF), which provides funding support to youth-serving system of care partners across Nebraska, has announced its 2024 board of Directors.  The SRF Board of Directors provides leadership and strategic direction to guide the foundation’s mission to empower youth, inspire change makers, and energize partnerships for impact.

Nominated to the SRF Board of Directors to serve their first term include Jordan Diedrich with Twin Cities Development in Scottsbluff/Gering, Stephanie Vadnais with Nebraska Children and Families Foundation in Lincoln, and Brett Omar with Seasons of Hope Counseling in Alliance.

“Our board members play a vital role in elevating the voices of the communities in which they live, work, and raise families, while supporting the vision to ensure Nebraska youth thrive within inclusive communities and participatory systems of care.  By adding innovative board members from across the state, we have created an environment of shared learning and growth that contributes to the diversity of our work for and with youth”, said SRF Executive Director, Sara Wilcox.  “I would also like to extend gratitude to our departing board members, Brooke Shelmadine with Box Butte General Hospital and Shelmadine Print Shop in Alliance, Nathan Jaggers, a practicing attorney in Alliance, and Jenny Lanik with Alliance Public School in Alliance”.

The SRF Executive Committee nominated for 2024 includes:

  • President: Mara Andersen, Fox Creek Fundraising
  • Vice President/Past President: Denis Harris, Parker Hannifin
  • Secretary: Sean Ridgeway, First National Bank of Omaha
  • Treasurer: Dustin Chester, Nebraska Bank

Returning board members include:  Leslie Shaver, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Tom Elliot, Elliott & Son, Inc., Alliance; Teresa Sanders, Diamond T Livestock Services, Alliance; Andrew Hunzeker, EducationQuest, Scottsbluff; Rob Eirich, UNL Extension, Scottsbluff; Karla Bennetts, Families CARE, Kearney; Rosey Higgs, Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, Omaha; and Megan Walter, Omaha Public Power, Omaha.

A few years ago, a leader from a local business within the trades industry reached out to me and asked for guidance on how to recruit and retain local young people interested in a future career in the trades.  Though I wish I had an immediate solution, I did not…. however, I am fortunate to know many brilliant individuals who might!

The search for ideas and solutions eventually led us to the most obvious of all notions- ask the young people that will be our future workforce! Though potentially oversimplified, it was obvious and spoke from the heart of our rural community mindset.

This year, the voices of nearly 4,000 students across the 23 panhandle school districts allowed us to begin a course of action that was aimed at creating career pathways with AND for youth in the panhandle.  By leveraging youth voice and the collective wisdom and collaboration of many esteemed leaders within a diverse array of organizations, institutions, and businesses, Career Connections of Western Nebraska was born.

Once the direction and focus were clear, the need for a backbone entity was paramount to continue to drive the work that this group had in mind.  A local economic development hub,

Twin Cities Development, stepped up to the plate as fiscal agent, coordinator, and backbone entity for what the group name Career Connections of Western Nebraska.

As a Private Foundation, we do not always have the opportunity to be directly involved with the fruits of shared labor, but in this scenario, we were able to act as a partner within this collaborative and participatory model, through both funding support and actual involvement in the development and implementation.

2023 has gone very quicky for this team, with numerous successes to report as we move into a new and exciting year, including the proud announcement of a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming career exploration for high school students. With a mission to address challenges in workforce recruitment and retention faced by local companies, Career Connections, in collaboration with 23 school districts across 11 counties in the Nebraska Panhandle, conducted a comprehensive Teen Opportunity Survey.

Over the course of the survey, which engaged nearly 4,000 6th through 12th graders, students provided insights into their post-graduation plans, career interests, community involvement, and more. Key findings indicate a shift in aspirations, with 65% of students planning to attend college, down from 75% five years ago, and 13% intending to enter the workforce directly after high school. Notably, 49% envision themselves living in western Nebraska in the future, reflecting a commitment to the local community.

To translate these findings into actionable initiatives, the Career Connections team developed the innovative Career Cabs program. This initiative involved business tours tailored for 10th-grade students, exposing them to diverse career industries. In November, over 650 students from three Panhandle regions explored seven different career sectors across more than 50 Western Nebraska businesses. Industries covered included agriculture, food and natural resources, business management, education, criminal justice, health science, human services, and trades.

2024 promises great things for this work in the panhandle, and we are very proud to have been asked that first tough question, as it has led us to this beautiful collaboration.

Interested in reading the Youth Opportunity Survey results?

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/662942669/

Another successful grant cycle concludes for us here at Snow-Redfern Foundation, and we are honored to recognize the incredible non-profit partners and outstanding individuals across Nebraska that were selected to receive funding support this year.  All of the selected organizations demonstrated commitment and dedication to improving the lives of children and youth, through various strategies.

Here is a list of all of the non-profit partners and individuals included in this year’s funding cycle, by grant program.

Project Grants

  • Lexington Public Schools
  • CASA of South Central Nebraska
  • Panhandle Public Health District
  • United Way of Western Nebraska
  • Lexington Public Schools
  • The Briggs and Barrett Project
  • Banister’s Leadership Academy
  • YWCA of Adams County
  • Camp Scott Summer Program
  • Carnegie Arts Center
  • Central Plains Center for Services
  • Panhandle Partnership, Inc.
  • Omaha Conservatory of Music
  • Alliance Public Schools
  • Prairie Loft
  • Bridgeport TeamMates
  • Alliance Recreation Center
  • Nebraska CASA Association
  • Spouse Abuse Sexual Assault Center
  • TeamMates of Scotts Bluff County
  • Carpenter Center
  • LyonHeart Equine Assisted Learning
  • Girl Scout Spirit of Nebraska
  • Families CARE, Inc.

Career Pathways Grants

  • Twin Cities Development
  • Western Nebraska Community College
  • Gering Public Schools

Priority Community Grant- Box Butte County

  • Panhandle Public Health District

Developing Communities Grant

  • Panhandle Public Health District

Capacity Grant

  • Nebraska CASA Association

Root2Rise Administration and Support

  • Panhandle Partnership, Inc.

Individual Grants- Scholarships

Hempel Family Scholarship
  • Carver Hauptman
  • Tegan Rice
  • Arielle Lawrence
K.M. Dahlstedt Scholarship
  • Avery Davies
  • Kason Loomis
  • Delaney Childers
  • Cambree Schmaltz
  • Tyler Cotton

Root2Rise Scholarships will be awarded to participants in December, 2023.

Grant opportunities for 2024 are forthcoming!

Congratulations to the Selected Root2Rise Participants!

We proudly announce the third cohort of the Snow-Redfern Foundation Root2Rise workshop series and the seven incredible young women that have been selected to participate!

The 2023 cohort will include: Shelby Hardin of Morrill, Kaylee Henthorn of Alliance, Rebecca Shy of OshKosh, Grace Dean of Bridgeport, Mandie Ylander of Alliance, Kyndall Sprague of Henry, and Regan Anderson of Lakeside!

About the Leadership Series

A small cohort of seven high school seniors will engage in valuable group discussions with professional women in Trades, Ag and STEM fields this fall and winter.  The virtual six-workshop series creates space for young women interested in growing their leadership potential through exposure to important topics affecting women in leadership roles today.

As a function of the workshop series, the participants will work together and with the facilitator to create a Growth Map, which will assist them in planning for personal leadership growth.  Upon conclusion of the workshop series, the participants will be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship based upon their identified strategies documented within their Growth Map.

This workshop series was created to help our future leaders develop skills, make connections, discover their potential, grow their future, and provide scholarship support.

Snow-Redfern Foundation’s founder, Arvilla, was a strong, independent, female leader who believed that there is great worth in every young person, and as such, each one is a community asset with vast potential for self-defined success.  We celebrate Arvilla through this workshop series, hopeful that each participant finds value in her individualized growth potential!

The Root2Rise facilitator is Dr. Maya Chilese, an organizational anthropologist and the founding principal of

Blue Agate Collaborative, LLC. Dr. Chilese has over 20 years’ experience in health and human service systems at the local, regional, state and national level. She’s a formally credentialed mental health and addiction practitioner, provided prevention and therapeutic services, facilitated professional development, led complex system transformations, and administered a multitude of behavioral health and public health programs and system initiatives. She is also a gifted facilitator, a brilliant leader, and the perfect person to share in the excitement of girl power.

Snow-Redfern Internship through Chadron State College

 

We are seeking a student attending Chadron State College who is interested in partnering with us for a internship/scholarship opportunity.

The Marketing and Development Intern would assist us in creating awareness and engaging in promotional efforts, as well as assisting with program and community development activities. This remote opportunity will require approximately 10 hours per week and can be extended beyond one semester, if appropriate.

Candidates should be proficient with various social media platforms and Canva, and be able to work independently on projects, with support from Foundation staff.

Main Duties

  1. Building social media campaigns and preparing promotional materials and presentations.
  2. Developing tools and methods for collecting data such as surveys, opinion polls or questionnaires
  3. Creating graphic representations of data
  4. Monitoring and contributing to the foundation’s social media platforms and adjusting outreach tactics, as needed.
  5. Assisting in the development of an ambassador program
  6. Assisting with grant program development and community development
  7. Assisting with elevating youth voice through projects and planning efforts

The intern will be exposed to various types of work done within a private foundation, with opportunities to learn and practice.  Though the internship will be primarily virtual, there may be a limited number of in-person opportunities that they will be invited to attend within the panhandle, which will be optional and include travel expenses.

The internship is only available to students at CSA this year, and those interested should reach out to the CSC Internship office to learn how this internship will cover payment of the selected students’ internship credit hours.

Please contact us or the CSC Internship Office if you, or a CSC student you know, is interested in this opportunity for the fall or spring semester.