36 NOVEMBER 2021 By Mallory Gleich In 2014, Elaine Starks and her local nonprofit, Power Paws Assistance Dogs, decided to reach out and help a whole different group of individuals: veterans. This branch of assistance is known today as Empowering Intrepid Warriors. The goal of EIW is to provide assistance dogs to veterans and help with Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) in a substance abuse program with the support of grants. Power Paws received $80,000 in 2015 and $60,000 in 2016 to serve 117 veterans over 16 months. The grant was from an individual donor and helped ten veterans receive assistance dog placements for PTSD. Four of those placements were for PTSD compounded with mobility challenges. Altogether, 103 veterans became part of the Community Outreach through the Therapeutic Rehabilitation program, which held bi-weekly, therapeutic, rehabilitative meetings with puppies. “The veterans worked in our nursery by taking our puppies through their daily activities and routine of social engagement with humans,” Starks said. “While Power Paws no longer has a puppy nursery, EIW aims to emulate the same benefits with teams training a service dog for a veteran.’” Starks and her team have been trying to build funding to continue this program. With last year’s catastrophic events, she said it’s been tough. Just before the pandemic hit, Empowering Intrepid Warriors planned on starting in- house training at the Phoenix VA Hospital on 7th St. and Indian School Road. The group’s goal was to engage service dogs with vets who were not ready to take on a pet but would take advantage of the dogs’ therapies. Over 120 vets were able to visit with the supportive pooches. In September 2021, Congress passed the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act. This is the sixth act that has been approved in the last ten years. The act requires that the Department of Veterans Affairs establishes a grant program providing service dogs to those diagnosed with service-connected trauma through organizations that offer accredited training – this is where Empowering Intrepid Warriors comes in. Breeders provide the service dogs at the American Kennel Club, but Starks said they also wanted to implement dogs from shelters because of how overrun they have been in recent months. “We wanted to help vets while also helping these dogs find a forever home,” she said. The organization uses labs and retrievers as service dogs. Other breeds can be used on occasion, but they have to be evaluated with a trainer and other dogs beforehand. The dogs are trained in three categories: mobility, PTSD and vets with type-1 diabetes. It usually takes 16-24 months to prepare the animals. There is a three-week placement process and a six-month follow-up to ensure that the dog and veteran are the right fit for each other. “As we continue EIW, our long-term goals are to provide each veteran that needs a service dog with a service dog and to continue AAI so that they can also train dogs,” Starks said. Veterans can also become EIW volunteers with the hope that they will “leave no veteran behind” and be able to move past the hurdles of PTSD to return to their civilian life after service. Starks said that the effects of the pandemic are still lingering, but their goal is to home 12-14 dogs in 2022. azpowerpaws.org Empowering Intrepid Warriors provides service dogs for veterans One of Power Paws’ Assistance Dogs, Dawn, took a moment to visit the Veterans Memorial in Peoria. PHOTO COURTESY OF ELAINE STARKS 3901 East Stanford Dr, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 602.955.8200 1961 YEAR FOUNDED As a nonsectarian, nonprofit, college preparatory day school ENROLLMENT In our co-ed student body, 37% identify as students of color AFFORDABILITY 24% receive need-based financial aid grants at an average of $15,000 750 CLASS SIZE 15 students average per class STUDENT:TEACHER 8 students average per 1 teacher FACULTY DEGREES 85% of Upper School faculty hold advanced degrees 8:1 85% 40 CAMPUS SIZE 40 acres Athletic fields, aquatic center, gyms, auditorium, music spaces, and science, art & tech center SCHOOL HOURS 7:50am–3:00pm Hot lunch included daily for Lower and Middle School, optional for Upper School TRANSPORTATION Select bus routes Available to Central Phoenix, Scottsdale, North Scottsdale, and Chandler DISCOVER PCDS PLEASE JOIN US FOR OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7th, 11am-1pm PCDS.ORG/OPENHOUSE PCDS is a private, independent school, Pre-k through Grade 12.

37 NOVEMBER 2021 By Jennifer Marshall In 1955, a passionate ballet student from New York moved to Tucson. “I was devastated because there was no decent ballet here,” Dance Theater West Owner and Director Susan Silverman said. It was around then that she met Frances Cohen, who Silverman said saved her dance life. Cohen had established Kadimah Dance Company, one of the first modern dance studios in the state. “I had a chance to dance with Frances’s company, which kept me alive all through high school and college,” Silverman said. “While it wasn’t my ballet, it was good, classical dance.” Fast forward to 1987. Silverman and Cohen were reunited and decided to become business partners. That was the beginning of Dance Theater West. “I was teaching dance here in Phoenix,” Silverman said, “when I ran into Frances, who’d just moved back from Washington D.C. She had been invited to create the resident modern dance company for the new Herberger Theater, which was just being built.” At 48, Silverman didn’t want a studio because she thought she was too old. Cohen, who needed a place for her company to rehearse, talked her into it. “I loved teaching,” Silverman said. “Frances taught the little ones, and I put together the ballet program called Story Book Ballet Company. It fit our business because my ballet dancers could also be great modern dancers to work in Frances’s company. We had a great partnership for 32 years.” Silverman was heartbroken when Cohen passed in 2019. She was dealt another blow when the pandemic hit in 2020. “To keep our dancers engaged, we started teaching virtual classes,” Silverman said. “I came up with Backyard Ballet. Our dancers would come to pick up costumes, take them home and do their choreography to classical music while their family videoed them.” Now, the studio is open, and dancers are back in session, albeit with masks. This fall, they’ve done two performances of Peter Pan; one for a mother-daughter event, and the other was a collaboration with Free Arts for Abused Children. Upcoming performances include the Toy Shoppe Tea Party on December 18 and Alice in Wonderland, which will premier next May. dancetheaterwest.com Dance Theater West celebrates 30 years in Arcadia OTHER DANCE STUDIOS BRICKS STUDIO bricksstudio.com In addition to offering a wide variety of dance classes for children of all ages, the company also teaches tumbling and cheer. They’re expanding their repertoire with pop-up styles, like gymnastics and jazz, in the future. “Mandy Durante opened Bricks about 14 years ago,” Director of Operations Jamie Zwick said. “Before coming to Phoenix, she had a studio in Utah. Living here, she saw an opportunity and jumped right in as she worked to make the community a better place. To Mandy, dance lessons teach life lessons.” TUTU SCHOOL ARCADIA tutuschool.com Tutu School is a boutique ballet school for children 18 months to eight years old. “We’re unique because we focus on young kids. In addition to our small classes, we also host camps and birthday parties,” Owner Caroline Taylor said. Tutu Toddlers is for kids up to three years old; Exploring Ballet is for 3-5 years old, and Primary Ballet is for 5-8 years old. “We want every child to know what it feels like to dance,” Taylor said. “With pinks, purples, yellows and chandeliers, our studio immerses our dancers into the world of a storybook ballet.” The studio recently completed their production of Oklahoma . 480.207.5070 arcadiapediatricdental.com Come See Why We Were Voted Best Pediatric Dentist in Scottsdale! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Thursday, November 11 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Thursday, November 11 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Megan Gotshall by November 6 mgotshall@cclphoenix.org | 602-957-7010 (1030) WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Thursday, November 11 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Megan Gotshall by November 6 mgotshall@cclphoenix.org | 602-957-7010 (1030) WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Thursday, November 11 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Megan Gotshall by November 6 WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Thursday, November 11 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Megan Gotshall by November 6 WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Thursday, November 11 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Megan Gotshall by November 6 mgotshall@cclphoenix.org | 602-957-7010 (1030) WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Thursday, November 11 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Megan Gotshall by November 6 mgotshall@cclphoenix.org | 602-957-7010 (1030) WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Thursday, November 11 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Megan Gotshall by November 6 mgotshall@cclphoenix.org | 602-957-7010 (1030) WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! Christ Lutheran School would like to honor and thank those who have served or are serving in our military. You're Invited! Veterans + their Families Thursday, November 11 9:30-10:00 am Christ Lutheran School 3901 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 85018 Please RSVP with Megan Gotshall by November 6 mgotshall@cclphoenix.org | 602-957-7010 (1030) WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Veterans Day Drive -Thru Parade! Enter the parade at the corner of Piccadilly Rd. + 40th St. at the south entrance of the school. You will see students holding signs. Please invite any + all veterans that you know to drive thru the parade! Car decorating is encouraged! H H H H H H H H H H H H H H