Shift Pop Up Meet!

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 Whew - shaking the dust off that hibernation and guzzling all the coffee. Let's do this! A whole lot seems to have changed since we last spoke. What on Earth happened?  More than anything, this feels like a time for Shifters to reconnect; that time is NOW!

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As we reach the end of April 2020, in this unprecedented time, one of the things that has become very clear to many of us during this pandemic is the importance of relationships. Have you found yourself talking on the phone more than texting? FaceTime chats with friends? Zoom Birthday parties? Video watch parties with a beverage in hand? Have you realized that you actually do want to hang out with your neighbour, but now you can't? As we have limited the ability to socialize in person, we have begun to recognize what we took for granted. And likewise are starting to make time for more conversations with people we don't want to take for granted. 

Being away from our classrooms and schools, we are feeling this disconnect very strongly. We wanted to take the time this week to reflect on the relationships that we have with the youth in our lives - and put some thought towards how we might continue to foster these relationships.

If there was ever a time to regroup and connect as a community, now would be it!  This coming Monday, May the 4th, we are hosting Mary Tabak in the first ever Shift Pop Up Meet to discuss the importance of relationships and have a conversation about what that feels like now. Please join us Monday from 4:00 PM-4:40 PM. Sign up HERE.

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Our desire to speak with Mary is on the heels of exploring the Search Institute’s focus article on COVID-19. Have a look yourself and join us to discuss and ask questions. 

May the force of relationships be with you

“Research has confirmed that the relationships children and youth have in their lives are the most important thing to their growth and development. Join us to discuss a short, concrete, research based framework that can help you to build and sustain great relationships with your students, your kids and others in the virtual environments too. And BTW, you are already doing lots right! Use this gift of time as an opportunity to commit to relationship building as a strategy for success and the force will be with you. Always.” ~Mary Tabak

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Mary Tabak has worked in the area of positive child and youth development for over 30 years.  Working with schools and community partners as a Public Health Nurse, a Parenting Coach, a Project Manager and a Consultant, she has presented to thousands of professionals and parents about what it takes for children and youth to succeed.

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