Soul Shoppe June 2008

Another Great Year!

As we reflect on the last year of amazing work in schools, Soul Shoppe is grateful for the spirited students, diligent teachers, visionary administrators, and dedicated parents who take the tools we teach, and make them meaningful.  A big THANK YOU to all of the people we crossed paths with and made this such a great year! 

A Look at the 2007-08 Year

What a year! Check these numbers out:

• Soul Shoppe had a presence in 101 schools across the U.S. this year. 
• Soul Shoppe facilitators conducted 493 workshops
• Close to 50,000 students participated in our programs, learning about topics such as respect, responsibility, caring and decision making, and many others.
• Nearly 1,200 peacemakers were trained to handle conflict and communicate more effectively. 

Every year Soul Shoppe keeps expanding, and much of our growth comes from word of mouth.  We’re glad our message is getting to more and more people each year, and we look forward to returning to your schools and building on the relationships we have started with all of you. 

Stories, Stories….We Hear Stories…

During our visits to schools, we often hear wonderful stories and feedback from teachers, students, parents, administrators, and even custodians about the impact of Soul Shoppe on their schools and children.

A mother sat in on the Wise Choices workshop at a Castro Valley school.  The facilitator reviewed “Stop and Breathe”, a de-escalating technique that helps people make wiser choices when in the midst of an emotional situation.  After the workshop, the mother and her child talked quietly for a while, and came up to the facilitator to tell her that this teaching had come at just the right time.  They had had an unresolved conflict over the weekend, and when both of them heard about Stop and Breathe, they felt like they could move forward with some new agreements for the future.

A custodian in Walnut Creek sidled up to the Soul Shoppe facilitator and said, “The kids love you here.  In one year you have made a big impact at our school.  There is more school unity and the atmosphere has changed."

A boy told his Soul Shoppe facilitator that his parents had been fighting a lot and he was afraid they were going to get divorced.  So the boy called a family meeting and brought out the Soul Shoppe “Family Cards” he had been saving since the beginning of the school year.  The mother, father, and children started using the communication tools written on the cards, and now the whole family is continuing with their family meetings and getting better and better at communicating. 

Middle & High School Programs

In the fall we are introducing the Soul Shoppe Speaker Series for Middle & High Schools. The speakers deliver their own personal messages of triumphs over abuse, journeys through addiction, honest accounts of depression, and even surviving the tragedy of a daughter’s unexpected death. These are just a few of the inspiring stories that will be shared with audiences. Schools can schedule one speaker or a series of speakers throughout the year. Click here to check out more information.

Elementary Bullying Prevention Conference

Yes, hold the date: Friday, October 3, 2008. Soul Shoppe along with Alameda County Office of Education are sponsoring a conference specifically for elementary administrators, teachers, counselors and other community leaders interested in decreasing teasing, violence, and bullying on school campuses and increasing safety, fun and learning! We’ll keep you posted with more information as it comes available, and for now, hold the date. More Information

Program Updates

Summer time brings lots of change and things are definitely changing here at the Soul Shoppe headquarters. Keep checking the website for updates with assembly programs and for changes to the Elementary Peace Program (the year round services). Thanks again for all YOU do to support schools and kids. Enjoy your summer – may it bring renewal and rejuvenation to your body, mind and heart!