The Growth And Resilience Network(tm) With Steve Piscitelli

For Episode #31 we visit with visual artist, Gary Mack. He shares his views and experiences when it comes to the interplay between art, community, passion, drive, connections, influence, and resilience. For more about Gary and his creations from the heart, go to www.garymackart.com.  The Growth and Resilience Network® ©2017. Steve Piscitelli. All rights reserved. www.stevepiscitelli.com Music by ©Billy Bowers (www.billybowersjax.com). Used with permission.

This episode follows up on a topic we explored in our April 2017 podcast titled “Enhancing Life Through Sports and Recreation" (https://youtu.be/imSNwj8aEsE). We had a specific focus at that time on people with disabilities. In addition to the usual work-life demands, our friends, family members, co-workers, and neighbors with disabilities have a few more challenges to address on a daily basis. How do they do it? What services are available for them? This episode shines the spotlight on four participants from that program who will tell us what this program means to them and their fellow participants. *Don Bergman *Sarah Williford *Matt Sechrist *Chris Fonner ©Steve Piscitelli. 2017. All rights reserved. www.stevepiscitelli.com The Growth and Resilience Network® Music by Billy Bowers (www.billybowersjax.com). Used with permission. All rights reserved.

This episode looks into the connection between growth, resilience and accommodations for our students. While there are laws/mandates that guide accommodation requests and approval, what happens if a student does not get what he/she needs? How can students advocate for themselves—and how can parents advocate for their children? Sometimes the process might seem overwhelming. Elijah Armstrong helps us (begin to) sort through these topics. Elijah, a college student at the time of this recording, explains accommodations from the perspective of someone who challenged (in court) his high school for appropriate classroom accommodations. He uses that experience to share his insights about what parents, students, and the school personnel can do to help students. His website: www.equalopportunitiesforstudents.org. You can read more about the lawsuit, Elijah mentions in the podcast at these two links: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-05-10/story/jacksonville-mother-alleges-disability-discrimination-against-sick-so

My guests for Episode #28 take a look at leadership as it relates to elementary school students. And their perspective is that of student leaders. Listen to four 5th grade students who lead their 1st-5th grade classmates at Atlantic Beach Elementary School (Florida). How do they help themselves and their classmates reflect and grow when it comes to experiences with failure, for instance? Or bullying? Or simply the challenges of childhood? What are the attributes of effective leaders? Rather than listen to "adults" tell us what the students need to do, for this episode we hear about leadership in their own voices! The Growth and Resilience Network(R). (c) 2017. Steve Piscitelli. www.stevepiscitelli.com

June 2017 marks the second anniversary of The Growth and Resilience Network(TM) podcast channel. Join me for this retrospective of the guests who took time to share insights about growth and resilience. I have grouped the clips into categories (with a few guests to each category). Here are the approximate points at which each category starts: *It's about the audience: 00:00 *Leadership: 05:34 *Working parents and work-life integration: 06:24 *Thriving with disabilities: 09:44 *Children and resilience: 12:36 *Physical fitness and discipline: 16:18 *Women, entrepreneurship and leadership: 17:18 *Creativity: 22:44 *Planet earth and climate change: 28:11 *Community service and integration: 30:58 *Curiosity and making a difference: 37:29 *It's not about me. It's about you: 39:29 *A comment about the soundtrack: 40:04 You can also download this podcast at http://www.piscitellipodcasts.libsyn.com/ and on iTunes. Music by Billy Bowers. All rights reserved. www.billybowersjax.com. (c)2017 Steve Piscitelli www.stevepis

Episode guest and experienced middle school teacher John Louis Meeks, Jr. helps us examine resilience as it relates to middle school students. 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. How do we help them reflect and grow when it comes to experiences with failure, for instance? Or bullying? Or simply the trials and tribulation of early adolescences? And what role do parents and teachers play? All photos of John in a school setting provided and cleared by John Louis Meeks, Jr.--and used here with his permission. You can also download this podcast episode by going to Libsyn.com (http://piscitellipodcasts.libsyn.com/...) or to iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/g...). Thank you for sharing. A kind review on iTunes would help this podcast channel as well. Music soundtrack (used with permission) provided by (c) Billy Bowers (www.billybowersjax.com). Podcast (c) 2017 Steve Piscitelli. All rights reserved. The Growth and Resilience Network(TM)

Occupational Therapist and Program Manager Alice Krauss gives us an inside look at a free, community-based multi-sport program that serves individuals living with physical and/or visual disability. She tells us how Brooks Adaptive Sports and Recreation nurtures a higher quality of life with its holistic focus on Fun, Fitness, and Friendship! You can also download this podcast episode by going to iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/g...). Thank you for sharing. A kind review on iTunes would help this podcast channel as well. Music soundtrack (used with permission) provided by (c) Billy Bowers (www.billybowersjax.com). Podcast (c) 2017 Steve Piscitelli. All rights reserved. The Growth and Resilience Network(TM)

This month's podcast episode explores the topic of women and and their involvement (or lack of involvement) with community development. Guest speaker, Chris Hoffman (City Council Member, Business Owner, Executive Director) reflects on why more women are not involved in community development--and what needed resources they can bring to the conversations in their communities. See http://stevepiscitelli.com/media-broadcast/podcast for more details. Music by Billy Bowers (www.billybowersjax.com). Used with persmission. (c)Steve Piscitelli, 2017. The Growth and Resilience Network(TM)

Songwriter, guitar player, and entertainer Neil Dixon joins us for this episode. Neil shares his insights about the art of songwriting. "Listen to your heart," Neil advises. Along the way, Neil will share insights about writing, connecting with an audience, and being true to one's self on this journey.  Music by Billy Bowers (www.billybowersjax.com). Used with permission. All rights reserved. Podcast (c) 2016 Steve Piscitelli. All rights reserved. The Growth and Resilience Network(TM).

For this episode, we take a different perspective as we look at resilience and it’s relationship to climate. Scientist and environmental consultant Adam Hoyles. www.onsiteec.com helps us move through the rhetoric. Among other topics, Adam will help us understand why we should care about climate change, why it's so controversial, and the human impact. (C)2016. Steve Piscitelli. The Growth and Resilience Network(TM). All rights reserved. Music by Billy Bowers. Used with permission. www.billybowersjax.com

Public radio host, reporter and producer Melissa Ross helps us examine resilience and the media. The various forms of mass media are often piled on for real or perceived shortcomings and failings. The reality is that “it” is not some disembodied entity. Our media is made up of people….the reporters, the journalists, anchors, directors, producers, hosts, personalities, on-camera and off-camera workers. Real people. How do they do what they do? From the process of what they do, to the stamina—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—and how do they stay resilient? (c) 2016. Steve Piscitelli. The Growth and Resilience Network(TM). All rights reserved. Music by Billy Bowers (www.billybowersjax.com). Used with permission.

A wonderfully instructive and illuminating conversation with centenarian, Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne. This young-at-heart woman has known and worked with celebrities and leaders from around the world.  Uplifting and positive with practical wisdom. Among her numerous achievements, Dr. Kinne was the first woman to serve as dean of a fine arts college, the first woman to serve as president of a Florida university, and the first woman to join the Rotary Club of Jacksonville and serve as its president. She is the Chancellor Emeritus of Jacksonville University.  And so much more... Sit back, listen, learn, and enjoy.  A true delight. (c) Steve Piscitelli. 2016. The Growth and Resilience Network(TM). Music by Billy Bowers (C) www.billybowersjax.com. Used by permission.

The GRN October podcast takes a look into the connection between growth, resilience and life with physical impairments. Specifically, we will hear from a young woman who is Dual Sensory Impaired (both visually and auditory-wise; sometimes this is referred to as “deafblindness.”) And while setbacks present themselves, she is thriving--an inspiring example of resilience. The Growth and Resilience Network (TM). Podcast (c) 2016. Steve Piscitelli. All rights reserved. www.stevepiscitelli.com Music by Billy Bowers. Used with permission. All rights reserved. www.billybowersjax.com

This podcast presents a powerful series of stories from the Children's Program at The Sulzbacher Center in Jacksonville, Florida.Program Manager, Maxine Engram guides us through the challenges and successes that homeless children have. It truly does take a village. The Growth and Resilience Network (TM). Podcast (c) 2016. Steve Piscitelli. All rights reserved. www.stevepiscitelli.com. Music by Billy Bowers (www.billybowersjax.com)-used with permission. All rights reserved.

If we want to change anything, we have to notice what we are doing. We have to have an awareness—we have to shine a spotlight on that thing. In the studio to help us sort through how to become aware, question assumptions and create actions are two award-winning Associate Professors from Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, NC: Emily Moore and Lori Dees. They will share how they and their Wake Tech colleagues engage in mindful reflective practice with their PRO Project (https://www.coursesites.com/s/_PROProject) Thank you for sharing and leaving a review. (c)2016 by Steve Piscitelli. The Growth and Resilience Network(TM). All rights reserved. www.stevepiscitelli.com. Music by Billy Bowers. Used with permission. www.billybowersjax.com 

This episode focuses on the connection of music to wellbeing, community, creativity, and resilience. It's a bit longer than my other episodes due to the nature of the recording and the number of guests who volunteered to participate on this particular evening. Recorded live at Brucci's Pizza (Jacksonville, FL) during a music event in May of 2016. Video (c)2016 by Steve Piscitelli. The Growth and Resilience Network(TM). All rights reserved. www.stevepiscitelli.com Music by Billy Bowers. Used with permission. www.billybowersjax.com

For this episode we look into growth and resilience for ex-offenders. How do they “bounce back” and become an integral and functioning member of their communities and for their families? In fact, we will see how it is impossible to separate the offender from the community when it comes to resilience.  To help us sort through some of this is Mr. Kevin Gay, President and CEO of Operation New Hope, a community development corporation in Jacksonville, Florida. In a little less than two decades, ONH has restored in that area of Jacksonville more than 80 homes and initiated the Ready4Work program for ex-offenders working with over 5000 people during this time. He and his team are on their way to replicate their “model to provide faltering communities and people in struggling situations a renewed chance at life, a renewed sense of being and a restored sense of purpose.” And his work has captured the attention of not one, not two but, three US presidents. You will want to set aside time for this powerful conversation

GRN took to the road to bring you the powerful story of an organization whose mission is to serve and advocate for an under-served population in north-central Florida. We traveled to Gainesville, Florida, to have a conversation with representatives of The Arc of Alachua County (www.arcalachua.org). The Arc has two basic functions. First and foremost, they are a direct service provider in Alachua County (FL) to almost 300 adults and children whose needs range from intellectual disabilities, spina bifida, autism, cerebral palsy, and Prader-Willi Syndrome. Services include residential settings, transitional living, supported independent living, sheltered employment, mobile work crews, supported employment, adult day training, community inclusion, and behavioral support. The Arc's other main function is to serve as an advocate for all persons with developmental disabilities regardless of where they may live or who may provide support to them. This is a powerful story about resilience, listening, community, dedica

Kirk Farber, Executive Director of F.A.C.E. (www.face4kids.org), stopped by the GRN Studio to share how he and his organization makes a difference in the lives of school children. He shares insights about how he helps students tap into fitness and character development.   Music by Billy Bowers. Used with permission. (c) Billy Bowers. www.billybowersjax.com.  Podcast (c) 2016 by Steve Piscitelli. All rights reserved. www.stevepiscitelli.com. 

Pepper Lindsey, CEO of Lindsey Films, stopped by the GRN Studio to share her experiences as an entrepreneur and film producer. She shares insights about her early influences, working with her soulmate, and how to stay relevant and resilient in a very competitive field. She also challenges the listeners with "How do you define success? What is success to you?" More about Pepper can be found at www.lindseyfilms.com.Music by Billy Bowers. Used with permission. (c) Billy Bowers. ww.billybowersjax.com.Podcast (c) 2016 by Steve Piscitelli. All rights reserved.