Andrew's station and Laurel Park Place

Partners Youth Ambassador, Andrew Carlone, is doing a BIG fund raiser for Hope Medical Clinic. Partners taught him how to lead and serve and now he is putting it into action! He is building a team of volunteers to run a full time gift wrapping station at Laurel Park Place mall at 6 Mile and Newburgh Road in Livonia. The event will run steady from BLACK Friday through Christmas Eve. All funds will go direct to Hope Clinic. Andrew and the team hope to raise about $20,000 to provide medicine to the chronically sick poor in the area. Hope will use the funds to buy inhalers for people with asthma, and diabetic supplies for people with diabetes, for example. These medicines really add up when you need them every day.

We are in need of volunteers to wrap on Black Friday and then on every day following, until Christmas Eve. If you would like to help with this labor of love, let Andrew know. He can be reached at (248) 719-1072, and can add you to the master schedule. You will be welcomed with open arms! If you don’t like to wrap, but need to shop, come on out to this mall and shop, and let us wrap your gifts! Of course, donations are also very welcome! Receipts for tax purposes are available.

Donate directly to Andrew’s Project online using this button:

Our thanks to those who helped make Katie LaRoche’s trip to Belize a great success.

• Nicole Dawson – general preparatory support prior to Katie’s visit and setting the itinerary
• Emerson Guild – pick up at airport and general driving support
• Virginia Echols, Ann Marie, Chris Bennett and Arthur Usher – welcome social Oct 2nd
• Rosana Burgess – dinner Sunday night Oct 2nd
• Veronica Jones – chaperone Monday (a very wet day) to Ladyville, lunch and Child Care Center visit
• Virginia Echols – Monday night show and obtaining tapes (3) of the show.
• Ann Marie Williams – Tuesday arrangements for OYE (and meeting us there) and Love Morning shows
• OYE and Love TV – accomodating Katie and I on their shows Tuesday morning
• Emerson Guild – supporting visit to Kolbe women’s and youths’ sections
• Karen Simpliss and UB/FNAHSW – accomodating the visit to Social Work students Tuesday night
• Carmen Silva/Jennifer Barr – accomodating visit and travel to Belmopan with Ambassador on Wednesday
• Tasha Young – Wednesday meeting with Katie and providing overview of A-TIPS from the country perspective
• Joana Sanchez – accomodating Katie’s visit at the Las Flores primary school and hosting Wednesday night.
• Fel Nunez – accomodating Katie’s visit to Dangriga, providing lunch and the Garifuna experience
• Mrs. Martinez – Asst Dean for accomodating Katie’s visit to the junior college students.
• Ann Marie Williams – chaperone Friday morning visit to YWCA’s HELP visit.
• Leticia Westby – chaperone Friday morning visit to Haven House.
• Abigail McKay – hosting visitors when they were in Belize City.

Katie and her traveling companion, Christopher Tomke, remained in Belize City for several more days enjoying the Cayes and other tourist attractions.

Katie LaRoche, Miss Michigan 2010

A message from Katie:

Dear Friends and Partners:

As part of my Miss Michigan commitment (and long time member of Partners of the Americas), I will be traveling for two months throughout Central and South America, visiting our partner countries. During this tour I will be actively calling attention to the tragedy of Human Trafficking. My editor/photojournalist and I hope to also spotlight at least one other non-profit organization in each country by way of video and traditional blogging.

Because my educational and personal “journey” began at a children’s home (Menzie’s Child Care Center) with a Partners Internship in our partner country, Belize, I’ll begin there. With presentations, workshops and media events, (also contemporary dance). I’ll use this opportunity to bring awareness to the reality of Human Trafficking because I strongly believe we must protect our children and youth from becoming vulnerable to those who would exploit them for profit.

The highlight of this journey will be the opportunity to both speak and perform at our Partners of the Americas World Summit for Youth Volunteering, set to take place on the campus of Universidad del Norte, November 3-5 2011 in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Many thanks to Michigan and Belize Partners as well as other Partners Chapters supporting this tour. Love and thanks to my Belizean hosts, Karl and Dorothy Menzies, who continue to mentor and care for the most vulnerable children in Belize.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
          Katie LaRoche
____________________________________________________________________
Won’t you please help with some in-country expenses by contributing to Michigan Partners?

Use the “donate” button on home page of this site to send tax-deductible donations through the Michigan Partners PayPal account. Also, follow Katie’s travels through her blog at www.katielaroche.com.

Michigan Partners has new and exciting programs for Youth Ambassadors, Creative Women, 4-H exchanges and links with University of Belize and Michigan State University.

To help support this work, Belize Program Chair Brandon Watkins has recently become a Partners of the Americas “Network Innovator” in cooperation with the national organization.  The goal is to raise $1000 by the end of September by hosting a wine tasting and art auction fundraiser on Saturday, September 24th, 2011 in East Lansing and through a donation program supported by Citizen Effect.  The art for the auction will feature handmade works by Belizean artists that were recently brought back from Belize, one of our partner countries.

Miss Michigan 2010 Katie LaRoche, a member of Michigan Partners, will be with us for the event. She will be traveling to Belize at the beginning of October.

In addition to this event and to ensure Partners of the Americas continues to make a positive impact in Belize, you can help us by visiting Brandon’s project page Here and clicking on the orange “Donate” button.  100% of every donation, less credit card fees, made to this project will support Partners of the Americas.

Keep an eye out for more information about the Michigan Partners wine tasting and art auction!

Pictured L to R: Carolyn Arnold (Bz POA), Virginia Echols (Bz POA), U.S. Ambassador Thummalapally, Jan Watkins (MI POA Pres), Dr. Chris Bernnett (Belize POA), Carmen Silva (Sec. to Ambassador) & Joseph Boski (Officer of Economics & Policy).

The U.S. Ambassador met with Michigan Partners President Jan Watkins and members of Belize Partners Board during recent work trip in Belize. The group shared our mutual 45-year history and the many projects and programs completed over those years.

Also discussed was the 2011-2012 Program of Work which includes re-establishing strong 4-H ties between partnerships, establishing exchanges between University of Belize and Michigan State University, and promoting the Youth Ambassador Program more effectively.

As updated earlier this week, member Brandon Watkins is attending training in fundraising to begin advancing more projects and grow membership. Please visit his program page on Citizen Effect by clicking here. Share the page with others who might have an interest in our programs.

Thank you!

Jan Watkins, President of the Michigan Partners of the Americas, has a busy summer schedule ahead of her as she heads off to spend six weeks with the Belize partnership. While there Jan will meet with a number of ambassadors to promote Partners and the projects that are in progress as well as those planned for 2012, proposals for which she is co-authoring.

The trip is not merely an administrative one though. While in Belize Jan will also be running a number of classes for local women designed to inspire their creativity as well as their entrepreneurial spirit. These will include classes in doll making, weaving, appliqué, rug making and even creative writing. In addition Jan will be demonstrating how puppets can be effectively used in the classroom while showcasing her puppet ministry to the staff and children at the  Menzies Childrens Home in Belize City.

Also during the trip, Belizean citizen Rosie Mangar will be making a presentation on the Early Childhood Development Fellowship she recently completed in Michigan.

Brandon Watkins has been chosen to represent Michigan Partners by participating in the 10 week “Partners of the Americas’ Sustainable Network Training Program” this summer. The program is an initiative offered jointly by Partners of the Americas and Citizens Effect designed to provide participants with the hands on training and networking support they need to better their fund raising and outreach techniques to better support their Chapter’s projects.

Participants in the program will spend ten weeks attending bi weekly tutorials led by fund raising professionals, marketing professionals and other leaders from the Partners Network that will arm them with the tools and knowledge to become Network Innovators. As a part of the program participants have each been asked to pledge to raise at least $500 by organizing a fund raising event utilizing the unique new fund raising and marketing techniques they will be learning. Brandon is targeting a $1000 fund-raising campaign.

All funds raised will be divided between the local chapter each participant represents and the National Partners of America. In addition everyone who meets or exceeds their fund raising target will be awarded a certificate of completion and the designation of Partners Network Innovator.

From December 3-5, 2010, the U.S. Department of State and Partners of the Americas will bring 50 youth leaders from 19 countries in the Western Hemisphere together in Panama City, Panama to launch the first-ever Youth Ambassadors Network at the Youth Ambassador Summit. The Summit is focused on creating innovative opportunities to help youth develop leadership skills and cultivate a new generation of leaders.

“Today’s Youth Ambassador’s will be the leaders of tomorrow. In the Western Hemisphere alone, nearly one-third of the population is under the age of 20. We must engage with these young people now as they develop the skills, ideas, and values that will shape our future,” said Ann Stock, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The Youth Ambassador Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program

Youth Ambassasdors heading to Panama

brings together youth, ages 15-18, from across the Americas to build understanding among countries, increase leadership skills, and prepare young leaders to be positive agents of change through volunteer service. The youth engage with local government and civic organizations, build relationships with host families and other youth, and participate in skills-based trainings that enable and empower them to mobilize their communities towards positive change.

To learn more about these opportunities, please contact Tamara Carlone at (248) 719-1072. Tamara is the Chair of Youth Ambassador Programs for the Michigan Chapter of Partners of the Americas. You can also learn more and download applications on our Programs page.

The Youth Ambassadors Program brings together kids from the ages of 15-18 from across the Americas  to help foster harmony between nations. Here are just a few glimpses of these amazing youths in action.

Youth Ambassadors Touring Panama

Organization of American States

Alex Working with the Children

At the Amazon Zoo