Page 38 April 2015 By Christina Surrano Shy, 12-year-old Elva Blanks did not want to attend a weeklong summer youth leadership program, but was carted off by her mother anyway. After all, sometimes parents do know best. Even though Elva loved it by the end of the day, like a typical preteen, she certainly wasn’t going to tell her mother that she was right. At the end of the week, she asked to be signed up for the next session. This happened for many sessions thereafter. She eventually applied to be a peer leader, co-facilitating the program she came to adore, Workshops for Youth and Families (WYF). That was almost 30 years ago Today Arcadia mom, Dr. Alva Blanks, is a psychologist and serves as vice president on the board of directors for the nonprofit organization. All three of her children participate in the program. She can recall the many times she filled up her vehicle with Arcadia kids and carted them off to WYF, which is now located at the facility of The Homestead Community Ranch Center at DC Ranch in Scottsdale. When asked who she thinks should attend WYF, she replied, “I really feel like it should be mandatory for all kids. My kids go because I feel like it prepares them for life.” She says that kids today face a lot of the same issues of previous generations, but are bombarded by the pressures with a greater frequency due to increased information accessibility and social media. “There is so much pressure to fit in and these kids are so hard on themselves,” said Blanks. “I feel like [WYF] is almost an inoculation shot to give kids confidence to not feel like they have to buy in to everything that makes them feel bad about themselves… that they can be who they are and that that’s enough.” The program is for kids ages 9-19, divided up by developmental stages: 9-12, 13-15 and 15-19. According to Blanks, it was designed for kids dealing with normal teenage issues and addresses the appropriate needs of each developmental stage. Well-trained, slightly older peer leaders who are also former WYF students, lead the program. This is a highly effective way to teach skills to young people because at this stage of development, most are more receptive to peer influence than to the influence of adults. They also role-play and practice skills, which Blanks feels is a critical component to the effectiveness of the education. “The part of the brain that works on social skills is the limbic system and it’s paired with emotion. The way to train kids in the skills is to experience them. There is neurological and psychological evidence to support that.” A few of the other skills taught at WYF focus on gratitude, being fully present, forgiveness of others and oneself, setting healthy limits, and respect. Arcadia resident, Ally Bolden, age 11, has attended WYF with her friends and truly enjoys it, “It helps with the drama.” She said to others who are considering WYF, “You make lots of friends and it’s really fun.” Ally’s mother, Diane Bolden, is a published author and executive leadership coach with over 20 years of consulting experience. When asked what she thinks kids get from WYF, she replied, “They are learning how to rise above the fray and not succumb to their emotions when they feel panicked, hurt or frustrated and how to deal constructively with the things that everybody is challenged with in everyday life.” “I work with executives all of the time on some of the same skills that these kids are learning in Workshop, and oftentimes, these are the skills that make or break leaders,” she said. “I just don’t think most teachers have the luxury of including them in their curriculum and it’s really wonderful that these kids have an opportunity to be exposed to that at such an early age. It truly is the foundation of exceptional leadership both now and throughout their lives. ” Workshops for Youth and Families has provided personal growth and emotional development opportunities for young people in the Valley for over 35 years. Learn more by visiting their website at workshopsaz.org. Kids in the Workshop for Youth and Families program are encouraged to be themselves. EVER STOP EING YOU. The Terraces of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona, is managed by ABHOW, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation. ABHOW is a nonsectarian corporation, serving seniors through quality retirement housing since 1949. Looking for a community where you can get a kick out of life? You’ve found it. Live worry-free with friendly folks who want the same things: happiness and security without pretense. It’s easy. It’s The Terraces. Welcome home. Call 1-888-817-9169 to schedule a visit. 7550 N. 16th Street Phoenix, AZ 85020 ExperienceTOP.com Summer program offers much more than entertainment Arcadia News 1/4 Page Vertical – 5” x 6” April 2015 Tino Ferrulli Each year during the Waste Management® Phoenix Open, Mercedes-Benz supplies courtesy cars for tournament officials and the players. Once the tournament is finished, the cars are returned to the valley dealerships for cleaning and ready to be sold at very special prices. All are 2015 models with full warranties. Here’s a list of the models we have: CLS400 Coupe, E350 Sedan, GL450 4MATIC®, ML250 BlueTEC®, ML350, and S550 4MATIC® Coupe. If you have been looking, now is the time to come in and see us. You may not be able to drive a ball as far as a professional golfer, but now you can own what they drove. teamtino@mb-scottsdale.com 4725 North Scottsdale Road • Scottsdale, AZ 85251 2015 E350 Sedan 2015 E350 Sedan

Page 39 April 2015 By Jessica Morrison This past February, Pulitzer Prize- winning journalist, Jose Antonio Vargas, visited Arcadia High School along with an MTV film crew to record a portion of a new film about race relations in America. Kevin Mooney, vice principal of Arcadia High School, said that 56 students were selected to meet with Vargas in an hour-long group interview for the film, which has yet to be released. Vargas came out as an undocumented alien last July when he released the film “Documented,” which aired on CNN June 29, 2014. According to “Documented,” Vargas was sent to live with his grandparents in the U.S. by his mother, and never acquired the permit to continue to live permanently in America. Mooney said he realized the opportunity for the students, and said he went to work pulling the necessary strings to make the interview happen, despite opposition from the community about the students’ imminent interview with Vargas. “This is a very important dialogue that’s happening in this country now on race relations and the changing demographics of race in America. The film is going to be made one way or another, why wouldn’t I want our students to be a part of that national dialogue?” said Mooney. Mooney asked the school’s teachers to select thoughtful and respectful students to be included in the film. Natalie Kanter, 17, was among the students selected, along with Louis Aaron, 15, and Lewam Berhane, 16. Kanter said that Vargas opened the interview with the statement, “We don’t talk about race enough,” and opened a question- driven dialogue with the students. “He was definitely trying to draw out something different, not just the generalized answer with his questions,” she said. The students discussed the fact that special scholarships are awarded to minorities based upon their race, and Vargas wanted to know their opinions on that issue. “Before this I thought everyone was the same in America, but I kind of learned from other perspectives that’s not necessarily true, and that there’s a reason for these special scholarships. Colleges will accept the person of color because they want diversity,” said Aaron. “Not only do I have more opportunities than people of color, but diversity is more important,” he said. Aaron said that due to this experience, he now has more empathy. While Kanter and Aaron are both white, Berhane is African-American, and was raised in the U.S. by her parents who emigrated to the U.S. from Africa. “I thought everyone knew it was happening still,” Berhane said, about racism. Berhane told Vargas during the interview about an experience she had while in a store last year, when she and her brother, Ian, 13, were told to wait outside by the white store clerk. While they were doing so, the store clerk allowed a group of white boys into the store without rebuke. Kanter said she was surprised by Berhane’s story. “It brought to light that I should think about this more,” she said. “It’s more of a serious issue than I previously thought. We need to recognize this is happening before we can move on.” Aaron said that he has had new realizations about diversity since Vargas’ visit. “I think it’s really important to have leaders from different backgrounds,” he said. “If everyone who is a leader has the same view, that’s the direction our country will take, so that’s why it’s important to have diversity.” Lewam Berhane, Natalie Kanter, Kevin Mooney, Louis Aaron outside Arcadia HS. PROVIDING EXPERT COOLING & HEATING REPAIR AND INSTALLATION SERVICES. 0 WITH AZROC ROC# 056440 BBB RATING A+ ** FAMILY OWNED 480-719-7776 wolfgangscooling.com ** DIAGNOSTIC Service Call with Repair $ 39 W O L F G A N G ’ S S P E C I A L (REG $79.00) Expires 04/30/15 - ANS15-2 D Some restrictions apply. Valid 7am to 5pm Monday thru Friday. Excludes weekends, holidays, commercial and rental properties. Must present coupon at time of service. $39 Diagnostic is valid if repairs are made at time of service. 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The APR for Purchases will apply to certain fees such as a late payment fee or if you use the card for other transactions. For newly opened accounts, the APR for Purchases is 27.99%. This APR may vary with the market based on the U.S. Prime Rate and is given as of 1/1/2015. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00. If you use the card for cash advances, the cash advance fee is 5.00% of the amount of the cash advance, but not less than $10.00. Offer expires 05/31/2015. ** Qualified Contractors are not affiliates or agents of APS. APS assumes no liability for their products or services. *** Same day service is not guaranteed and is based on availability. SAME DAY SERVICE AVAILABLE! *** 2020 0% APR UNTIL JANUARY 2020 UP to $1150 UP to $1150 TRADE-IN ALLOWANCE ON QUALIFYING SYSTEMS* 0% APR -OR- -OR- Jose Antonio Vargas films portion of MTV film at Arcadia High