28 SEPTEMBER 2022 By Luke Chatham Phoenix Country Day School student Anaiya Patel keeps a busy schedule. Not only has she started her junior year of high school, but she also created a nonprofit called HealthForHER with a fellow student in 2021. Now, in 2022, Anaiya has added another nonprofit to her resume. R.C. Squared, or Refugee Children Reading Council, focuses on sharing books and literature with refugee children. After working with folks from Ethiopia, Congo, Afghanistan, and more with HealthForHER, Anaiya found that she connected with the children and wanted to provide them with something enjoyable. So, in March, she created R.C. Squared. “I saw this spark and passion in them. They were so interested in everything that was going on,” Anaiya said. “I just thought it would be such an amazing thing if I could bring something that I love to these children and families who are new to America.” Anaiya works with Valleywise Medical Health Systems, which houses the Refugee Women’s Health Organization. The head coordinator reaches out to each residence to see if they’d be interested in participating. “Generally, the times that I meet with each group is when the parents are in a church session or a health class provided by the Valleywise nurses,” Anaiya said. “While the parents are in their sessions, we meet in the reading corner.” The kids, aged 5-12, spend time reading books (as a group or individually), ranging from health and hygiene to books written by authors from their home countries. Anaiya said that kids often choose two popular books; I Can Eat a Rainbow by Olena Rose and The Sky of Afghanistan by Ana Eulate. The books are provided through donations to R.C. Squared or through other families. Anaiya also brings markers and paper to help kids connect with the books by giving them time to draw or write. “A lot of the writing and drawing helps them connect with what the story was about. ‘What do you feel about the story? What are your favorite things you read?’ These are questions I ask,” Anaiya explained. Currently, she is running R.C. Squared on her own, with help from her mom, who works at Valleywise as a rheumatologist. Anaiya is working on creating a volunteer system to allow others to sign up and attend sessions with the kids. “Wherever you go, reading and writing is such an important tool and asset,” Anaiya said. “In this country, so many people don’t have access to literature and books in general. My goal is to share it with the children.” Eventually, Anaiya plans on building little libraries within the refugee center so that anyone who passes through the doors has an opportunity to read. Learn more on Instagram @rcsquare.d Making a positive impact, one story at a time By Cliff Summerhill Dreaming big is important, even if you’re a beetle that aspires to be a lion. This is precisely what Max, the potato beetle in Arcadia-based author Charles Golding’s new book, aspires to be. Golding’s storytelling started years ago when he would carpool his children and their classmates to school. “To keep the kids from arguing I would ask each one to give me a character, and I would tell them a story,” Golding said. “The story involved all of their characters and my own.” Golding and the children created fantastical lands, mesmerizing scenes, and magical stories that inspired Golding to continue writing well after the carpool adventures had ended. Thus, Max the Potato Beetle came to be. “My children told me they loved the stories years later, so I decided to put their favorite ones into print,” Golding said. “I thought others would love them as well. Max is such a wonderful character we can all identify with. He’s innocent, brave, willing to stand up for his friends, and never gives up on his dream.” While crafting Max’s first adventure, Golding described the creative process as a “sprint.” “You stretch, get limber, get quiet, and go hard for as long as possible,” Golding said. “You must also be in the right frame of mind and take everything in. Ideas come from everyday experiences.” Most of Golding’s ideas are sparked by the belief that almost any human interaction can be translated into a scene. Golding was born in Brooklyn but lived in Denver and central Florida for most of his childhood. At age 21, he joined the Navy and spent the next six years as a Naval Officer. During this time, he read hundreds of books and became enamored with writing. Golding moved to Vancouver and while raising his two children, continued his writing pursuits through poetry and creating stories. “Writing makes me laugh more than I would otherwise laugh and cry more than I thought,” Golding shared. “Plus, I love words and those who bring prose to life.” Today, Golding lives in the Arcadia area and is both a CPA and author. Outside of work, He spends time traveling, reading fiction, fly fishing and hanging out with friends. Max the Potato Beetle is just the beginning, as this protagonist will go on to star in at least four more books, according to Golding. The second book will feature Max on the search for the “heart of a king,” with books three through five tackling other subjects around family, life and death. Golding hopes his stories will bring joy to both children and parents. charliegbooks.com Carpool adventures are inspiration for author’s book Arcadia author Charlie Golding. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLIE GOLDING when he would carpool his Golding described the get quiet, and go hard for as long as possible,” Golding said. “You must also be in the right frame of mind and take everything in. Ideas come from everyday experiences.” are sparked by the belief With R.C. Squared, Anaiya works through the Valleywise Refugee Women’s Health Clinic and holds monthly “reading” meetings with various groups of children. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANAIYA PATEL

29 SEPTEMBER 2022 By Mallory Gleich As a mother to four daughters aged 13- 16, Katey McPherson is well aware of the struggles that teens face on a daily basis. And as someone who’s been in education and mental health advocacy for more than 20 years, she has made it her mission to help those teens, through in-person and online efforts. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, suicide is one of the top causes of death in Arizona children ages 10-17. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and if there’s one thing to remember, it’s this: there is help . And there is hope . Seven years ago, McPherson left her career as an educator and guidance counselor in the Scottsdale and Gilbert School Districts. Her new focus was traveling around the state and country to educate school faculties and parents on digital wellness and school safety. The impetus for the job change? An 18-year- old boy who reached out to his “followers” via Twitter – posting a cry for help. Receiving nothing helpful in response, he sent a final message, detailing what he was going to do – and did it. Not long after his death, three more students from the school committed suicide. “He got in trouble at school, which triggered the loss of his athletic career. He documented his plan on Twitter. Kids were retweeting and trying to get someone’s attention, and it was like, what are we missing? That was the catalyst for what I do now,” she said. Then, in 2017, it happened again. Three boys and one girl died by suicide at a different school in the Valley. McPherson refers to this as a “contagion,” when one death triggers multiple in a short time. “These kids were obviously in pain. For me, first as a mom, then as an educator, it was like ‘we’ve got to get to the bottom of this,’” she said. During McPherson’s ‘assemblies,’ she speaks on community outreach, mental health, digital wellness and more recently, safety regarding school shootings. She explained that most school shooters are suicidal before they become violent. Though it differs from person to person, McPherson said that home/school e n v i r o n m e n t , s o c i a l m e d i a , bullying, neglect and abuse, access to substances and firearms, and genetic predisposition are all factors in why children may be struggling. Warning signs include self- deprecating comments, isolation, declining grades or hygiene and “acting happy.” “In 2015, the day before the incident, the student was at a school-led bonfire. Others said he was smiling and happy,” McPherson said. “They act happy because they’re at peace with their decision.” So, how does McPherson stay positive in an industry such as this – and what are some preventative measures parents can take? She cites: exercising, spending time with her daughters, creating a strong family bond and utilizing positive peer networks. One of the peer networks is Teen Lifeline. The organization has been active in Arizona for 36 years. They’re best known for their peer counseling crisis hotline, according to Clinical Director Nikki Kontz, who has worked there for 28 years. “It initially started because of the high rate of teen suicides at the time,” Kontz said. “Since then, our focus has not wavered.” Teen Lifeline trains teen peer counselors to man the crisis phone line and talk to kids their age about any problems they may have. Masters Level clinicians monitor all calls. The hotline is also used by parents, whether looking for resources or guidance in dealing with behavioral health. There’s also a prevention program for middle and high school parents, students and staff. These programs help identify at-risk kids and those struggling with mental health concerns – and provides resources both in and outside of school. “We also do education with the students because we know, for teenagers, the first place they tend to go when they’re struggling is to their peers,” Kontz said. “We teach teens about communicating and help connect them to someone who can help.” Teen volunteers go through a base training of 72 to 100 hours. Volunteers participate in roleplaying exercises and even learn legal information in case a caller is in danger or needs that type of resource. “With mental health, nothing is one size fits all. It’s not just about taking a pill or seeing a therapist. Sometimes it’s ‘right now, I’m in crisis,’” Kontz said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean kids need formalized help; they might just need a place to talk. Crisis lines provide that, to talk about the hard things that might be too hard to speak about with people they’re close to.” Kontz said that during the pandemic and even now, Teen Lifeline is seeing more people reach out at a higher frequency – 50 percent more – than before. The ability to call or text, or reach out to someone is destigmatizing the negativity of seeking help. “When we focus on ‘help is there, it’s okay to hurt,’ the more that it’s okay – it helps others and helps us to provide support,” Kontz said. “We are here for you.” kateymcpherson.com teenlifeline.org Teen suicide prevention: There is help. There is hope. Arizona high school and university students have had suicide prevention resources added to their school- issued identification cards since 2021. PHOTO: KATEY MCPHERSON Along with being a mental health advocate, McPherson is also the director of professional development for Bark, an AI app for parents and school faculty. Bark monitors students’ texts, email and 30+ apps and social media platforms for issues like cyberbullying, adult content, predators, profanity, suicidal ideation, threats and more. Parents receive text or email alerts when something potentially problematic occurs online. Bark also offers screen time management, app and website blocking, location sharing alerts, and check-ins. bark.us We teach teens about communicating and help connect them to someone who can help. Katey McPherson Katey McPherson Arcadia News Arcadia News Arcadia News is looking for: is looking for: is looking for: is looking for: Arcadia News is looking for: Arcadia News NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER NEWSPAPER CARRIER This independent contractor position in our distribution This independent contractor position in our distribution This independent contractor position in our distribution This independent contractor position in our distribution This independent contractor position in our distribution This independent contractor position in our distribution This independent contractor position in our distribution This independent contractor position in our distribution This independent contractor position in our distribution department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while department delivers about 5,000 papers to 60+ stops while keeping accurate records. 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Must be at least 18 years old, with a reliable vehicle (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and (SUV ideal), valid driver’s license with a clean record and valid insurance. 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Some stops require walking up to 100 feet and all stops require carrying one or two 15-lb newspaper and all stops require carrying one or two 15-lb newspaper and all stops require carrying one or two 15-lb newspaper and all stops require carrying one or two 15-lb newspaper and all stops require carrying one or two 15-lb newspaper and all stops require carrying one or two 15-lb newspaper and all stops require carrying one or two 15-lb newspaper and all stops require carrying one or two 15-lb newspaper and all stops require carrying one or two 15-lb newspaper and all stops require carrying one or two 15-lb newspaper bundles. Work is 3-4 days per month, 5-7 hours per day. bundles. Work is 3-4 days per month, 5-7 hours per day. bundles. Work is 3-4 days per month, 5-7 hours per day. bundles. Work is 3-4 days per month, 5-7 hours per day. bundles. Work is 3-4 days per month, 5-7 hours per day. bundles. Work is 3-4 days per month, 5-7 hours per day. bundles. Work is 3-4 days per month, 5-7 hours per day. bundles. Work is 3-4 days per month, 5-7 hours per day. bundles. Work is 3-4 days per month, 5-7 hours per day. E-mail intro letter, resume or relevant work experience, E-mail intro letter, resume or relevant work experience, E-mail intro letter, resume or relevant work experience, E-mail intro letter, resume or relevant work experience, E-mail intro letter, resume or relevant work experience, and two work-related references to and two work-related references to and two work-related references to and two work-related references to jobs@arcadianews.com . 3850 E Indian School Rd • Phoenix 85018 JOIN OUR TEAM!