480/585-3535 Keys to Excellence, Inc. Spring, 2001

Beyond the Nine Dots: SHADOWS and LIGHT

Many of you have called, e-mailed, sent cards, and messages that have given me support and comfort. First, let me express my deepest appreciation of your love for us, and your tributes to Ron. I am touched, and the smile you bring to me extends from my face to my heart. The question that is often asked or hangs quietly in the conversation is, "How are you really doing." There is not an easy answer because shifts happen quickly. This is not an intellectual experience. So I decided to share my experience as I currently hold it.

All the steps of the grief process are alive and showing up in my life. The hero in me has always functioned well in crisis; however, our strengths are often our weaknesses. So I function away (denial and bargaining), and then wham I get slammed by reality and no amount of busyness takes that pain away. My ability to function leads some to believe that I am doing great. I am thankful I can type this letter, yet yesterday I was painfully in touch with the trauma I have been through. I get angry with Ron for leaving, for the jobs I do that were his, and that he got out of his part. I feel guilty and get into "what ifs." What a blessing to know that I am normal!!

Life is always a mixture of light and shadow times; however, in times like this, all the lights have a sharp shadow side. I have many blessings. I have been doing fun and healing activities. Ron and I did so much together that just about anything reminds me of him and the sadness that he can't share whatever is happening. For example: I held a Master Facilitator Training here in Scottsdale, Arizona in April. It was great to be in the arena I love. My mind actually worked most of the time. The group was great. Chris Kuhn was an excellent co-trainer. Lots of light! There were many poignant moments. Some of the group, who had known Ron, needed to grieve with us. How I wished these trainees could have experienced the magic of Ron's teaching. And Chris has many mannerisms of his father. Wow! Shadows were long at times.

The most comforting thing I have learned is that when I am in the light--I enjoy it because I know the shadows will return. This path is a long one. And when I am in the shadow, I stay with my sadness, pain, and anger. I know this is the work and that the light will be back.

My hope is that by sharing my experience, I may provide some light to any losses you or your clients are experiencing. May Spring bring a renewal of your spirit and mind and the wonder of the cycles of life.

Phyllis R. Antonelli

BEYOND THE ROCKS!!!

Student Letters

Master Facilitator Darwyn Minor of New Jersey forwarded a powerful letter from one of his students which included the following comments: "I am writing to you as a person who has changed from a negative acting to a positive young man. I thought I was a person who was in charge of my life, decisions, and thoughts. But blinded by what my environment accustomed me to think, I could not see I was not in charge of my life at all. I am basically saying thank you for showing me the right way to live and educating me in a way that has helped change my life. I have a better relationship with my mother, who I haven't gotten along with until I started taking your class. I am improved in all areas,' that is my affirmation. I believe that there is no limitation with education."

Master Facilitator Sandi Geddes of North Dakota forwarded the following student remarks. "It has helped me to realize that I am the one in control of my life." "The parts of the program that are most helpful to me are not giving my power to others." "Examples of reaching my goals are graduating from high school and becoming a better learner." "KIV has helped me to control my anger and express my emotions."

Mohave County, Arizona Continues to Play At The Edge of Their Skill

In "The Affirmation" holiday newsletter, Al Rosen, Assistant Chief Probation Officer, wrote the following to the facilitators and organizers of the KIV Wake-up Wisdom Workshop (WWW): "One of the highlights of this past year has been the development of our Juvenile Keys WWW Program. We Expanded with new specialized work shops Anger Management, Life Skills, Domestic Violence, Substance Abuse, and Parenting. This past year I completed my 20th year working for the Mohave County Probation Department. During that time, I have been involved in the development and promotion of many rehabilitation programs. I've been exposed to many more. Of all those programs, our Keys WWW Programs have been among our most successful endeavors. The reason for that is you, and the unique partnership we have developed, but also the program itself allows us to reach our young people quickly, concretely, and effectively. Delinquency complaints have decreased and caseloads shrunk, this despite record population growth in Mohave County. The reasons for this phenomenon I'm sure are multiple. Interestingly, this statistical downturn parallels in time the development of our Keys WWW Programs. I'm convinced that among the important causes are our Keys WWW Programs and the corps of committed facilitators."

Keys, Inc. extends a special thank you to Al Rosen and his staff and facilitators Jose Fleishman, Kingman, AZ who facilitates the Keys SHOCK Program; Rosie Danboise, Lake Havasu City, AZ who reports to the in-school suspension Keys Program; and Mary Lou O'Connell, facilitator for the Life Skills and Substance Abuse classes in Lake Havasu City, AZ.


Pictured: Phyllis Antonelli, Chris Kuhn, Cheri Langei, Shauna Jones, and Bob and Betty Hare.

What Else is Possible??
Combined Recertification and Master Facilitator Training

During the first week in April, we tried a new process--four Master Facilitators were recertified during the five-day Master Facilitator Training. For the first two days, Bob and Betty Hare, AZ, Cheri Langei, ND, and Shauna Jones, WV, mentored and were co-leads for the candidates. It was a learning experience for everyone. Trainers Phyllis Antonelli and Chris Kuhn appreciated their energy and expertise as we certified Kathy Mahoney, Cheryl Belcher and Roger Tittle, West Virginia, and Doug Sailer, Shelly McMenamy and Sandi Geddes, North Dakota. Despite the competition between the two states, the group assisted each other in playing at the edge of their skill. We welcome these skilled and creative professionals to the Master Facilitator network and to the agencies they serve. We extend a special thanks to administrators, Frank Andrews and Ron Duerring of West Virginia, Greg Wallace, Dennis Herbeck, Lannon Serrano and Virginia Illich of North Dakota for enabling staff to attend this training.


Pictured: Kathy Mahoney, Doug Sailer, Sandi Geddes, Shelly McMenamy, Cheryl Belcher, and Roger Tittle.
Adult Programming Continues to Expand
Mohave County, AZ

Department Gives Probationers Key to Future Success. During the past year, the department made available to adult probationers the education program, Keys to Innervisions. The cognitive-oriented curriculum is presented in a workshop format by trained facilitators. Over 100 probationers completed the Keys Workshop in 2000. Over 50 are currently attending scheduled workshops throughout the County.

Keys, Inc. would like to thank Facilitators Lisa Paulsen, Kathy Harris, Deputy Probation Officer Roger Dunn, and Master Facilitator Bob Hare for their vision and commitment. KIV is a powerful intervention which impacts recidivism and enhances success for people of all ages.
Garden State Youth Correctional Facility, NJ
Phyllis and Ron have done several trainings at Garden State Correctional Facility in New Jersey. Phyllis received a packet of letters and a video tape that included condolences and testimonies as to the power of Keys to Innervisions with adult inmates. It was a powerful video that reminds us of the mission of our work.

From Ruth Shuler, Assistant Supervisor of Education: "I took the KIV training many years ago, and I say in all honesty that it was the best training I've had in my 18 years with the Department of Corrections."

Michele White, Master Facilitator at Garden State Youth Correctional Facility, Education Department, collaborated with a group of her students to create a poignant video. She describes its content: "Phyllis, you said that Ron wanted each of us to go inside and find something that he may have imparted and share that with someone else. When the young men that I work with heard about Ron, they were greatly saddened. That night, they sat around and talked about how much KIV meant to them. They wanted to tell you personally, so they decided to put together a video and asked me to send it to you.

The enclosed tape contains examples of ‘Ron's' (and your) legacy."

"The first portion of the tape shows one of the teachers assistants that works for me speaking at a staff training. I added this piece on the third day of the training so that staff would hear first hand how the program affected the inmates on a personal level."
"Second, members of a team of inmates that receive extra training speak to you."

"Lastly, we copied the graduation speech of an inmate speaker. Graduating from Mercer County Community College, Project Inside, this young man was on a self-destructive path when I met him several years ago. No one knew how depressed he was. He was 13 when he was originally incarcerated, and he is now 21. Taking KIV gave him hope for a future and literally saved his life."

Thank you Michele and the KIV Power Team for the energy, creativity, and love.
National Research Panel Report Supports Cognitive Behavioral Programs
The juvenile justice system delivers neglect and injustice to many U.S. youths and needs a major overhaul, says a federally commissioned report. Particularly destructive is the trend to imprison juvenile offenders with adults, and to offer little rehabilitation even in youth facilities, says the National Research Council-Appointed Committee. "The evidence suggests incarcerating youth, if anything, has a negative effect."

The federal government should help pay for community-based rehab programs for kids and offer economic incentives to states to develop them, the report says. Several widely used programs--such as "Scared Straight" and boot camp-type environments that group delinquents together--have been found to have no effect or to increase delinquency, the report says. Instead, more emphasis should be on early prevention and on techniques proven effective, such as concrete cognitive-behavior and skills-oriented treatments.

From an article in USA Today
Upcoming Conferences
Keys to Excellence, Inc. is presenting workshops at two exciting conferences this summer.

International CEA Conference, "The World Comes to Scottsdale -- A New Brand of Correctional Education."

July 8 - 11, 2001 at the magnificent Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. For further information e-mail ceaa@mail.com.

The Communities Collaboration Committee presents "Coming Together to Make A Difference" Conference. August 22 & 23, 2001 at Mahnomen, MN. For further information, call or write to:

Communities Collaboration Committee
c/o The White Earth Child Care Program
P.O. Box 418
White Earth, MN
56591
218/983-3285 ext. 407 or 201
Fax 218/983-4299
E-mail: childcar@djam.com
A Meditation/Affirmation for Facilitations
Help me to create a setting for risk.

As each new person and family comes to me,

help me to recognize and accept

the fear and pain they bring with them.

Let me show them that I am not afraid.

Let me use my sensitivity and courage

to mirror back to them all that I see and hear

that keeps them in their bondage

of pain and loneliness.

Give me the care and perception

to show them their gifts and their power.

Let me reach out and touch--

then let me leave them alone.

Let me trust in their strength and courage.

Let me let them make their own decisions and choices.

Help me to lead people to wholeness by being whole.

(Amended)

Original Author

Sharon Wegscheider