It’s finally here! Today is the beginning of the Pilot Programs for D5! The binder look fantastic and are filled with a couple surprises for the kids!
I’ll post a photo of the kids later and write updates after each class with what the kids have to say.
Have a great day! I’m going to!
Mostly, thanks to all of you who have made today possible. I’m a teary mess as I write this. Today is here because of so many of you who have helped to make our vision a reality.
All the best,
Patty
We have a full class on Friday, I am very happy to announce.
Tomorrow we assemble the binders with the five programs and finish some last minute details.
Mackenzie Rich, a young woman I have known for some time and who is a Nutrition Educator, is going to assist in the class. Mostly, she is going to take notes as I teach and interact with the kids. What were their comments? Did they need more information or less? Since these are the Pilot Programs, this is a very important component.
I look forward to meeting the kids and parents that I have not met in person yet, and saying hello to kids and parents I have known for years.
It will be a great day, I’m sure!
Hi all:
We have 4 girls and 5 boy’s signed up so far to attend the Pilot Programs that begin this Friday! All the kids are between 12 (almost 13) and 14 years of age. One place left for some lucky kid!
We are going to have such a good time!
Here is the link to an article which came out in the local paper about D5. We really appreciate our local paper’s support!
https://tinyurl.com/3fzvd2s
Here it is as well:
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| GIVING DIRECTION — Patty James is mobbed by kids in Las Vegas at The Boy’s and Girl’s Club. James recently returned from a cross-country trip to find out what kids think about nutrition. She will be sharing her findings during a series of programs through July. – Photo provided |
While on the road, the nutritionist, certified chef, speaker and cookbook author submitted the data as she gathered it to Sonoma State University, where it was analyzed and made into an 89-page report. James and her advisory committee have since used the report’s findings to create health programs for children ages 6 and up.
And now it’s time to get started.
Five more students (teenagers only this time around) are needed for the pilot programs beginning this month, as are underwriters to pay for associated costs.
Students are not charged to attend the health programs as DirectionFive feels that health education should not just be available to only those who can afford to pay for it, James said.
The DirectionFive Health programs debut June 10 at Santa Rosa’s Chop’s Teen Club and will continue throughout the month of July.
“I promise you the kids will have a blast. They will learn what kids locally and all across the country said they wanted to learn; from how our cells work to making pizza,” said James, DirectionFive Health founder and director. “They are going to learn a lot and it will affect their health in a positive way the rest of their lives,” she said, adding, “These programs are starting in Sonoma County, and will be based here, but DirectionFive is national in scope.”
After the pilot programs, DirectionFive Health will apply for grant money to help fund future programs, James said.
“These pilot programs are absolutely essential. We can’t obtain grant money until we do the pilot programs, and we have room for five more kids,” she said. “We also need money to fund the pilot programs for the binders of information they will receive, the aprons, the food for culinary, etc. Additionally we need kitchen equipment, gift cards to local grocery stores, and more.”
The DirectionFive program is made up of five components. The first course, or class, will teach participating youth about the connection between nutrition and disease; basic metabolism and requirements of nutrients; weight control issues; how to understand nutrition labels on packaged foods and so on.
The second course will focus on the mind-body connection. “The mind-body connection suggests that you can learn to use your thoughts to positively influence some of your body’s physical responses and change mind-sets that no longer serve you or don’t feel right for you,” James said. “It also suggests that your body’s physical reaction to various stressors can affect your thoughts. It’s a loop,” she said.
Hence, stress, sleep, and depression are all addressed in this program.
Students will also learn about the body and earth connection. As part of the body/earth program, students will learn about how their food choices affect the planet; how toxins affect their bodies and the earth; and the difference between local foods and food that has traveled to get to their plates, among other things.
Fitness also comes into play during this five course program.
“It’s one thing to say, ‘you need to exercise,’ but it’s another to know how exercise affects your body. When you understand what is happening in your body when you do exercise and understand how your body is affected by not exercising, movement becomes more important,” James said, summarizing what this segment is about.
Last, but not least: The culinary program, which lands students in the kitchen preparing meals and then some.
“In the culinary program all aspects of the five programs will be discussed as they learn to cook. Why are we using brown rice instead of white rice? How does the choice of a free-range egg affect the nutrients, therefore their bodies’ health, and the earth’s health? What about humane treatment of animals?” James said.
Sanitation and safety, knife selection, kitchen equipment are also addressed in the culinary program.
Most important, students will all learn how to make pizza, among other basic recipes.
“Pizza was by far the meal of choice for many kids,” James said.
The program dates are as follows: 1 to 4 p.m. June 10 and 24; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 6, 7, 8, 11,12,14,16 and 18. All classes will be held at Chop’s Teen Club, 509 Adams St., Santa Rosa.
For more information or to donate to the programs visit www.directionfive.org. Donations can also be sent to DirectionFive Health, P.O. Box 1915, Sebastopol, CA 95482.
Laura McCutcheon can be reached at laura@sonomawest.com.
Hi everyone:
Well, we’re busy with the final edits on the five health programs. Pilot programs begin on June 10th!! We are all so excited. There are still spaces left for kids to be a part of our first programs. They need to have graduated from the 6th grade to attend these first programs.
We are all so busy fundraising. As you know we do not charge kids to go through the programs and rely on your help to underwrite them. If parents can afford to pay, then, of course, we do ask for a donation.
We have new volunteers to help with everything from marketing to fundraising to working on our big Gala on November 5th. Thank you! There is so much progress and forward motion, but there is also still so much to do. We don’t rest on our laurels for long.
We desperately need educational props (anatomical models and such) and they require funds to purchase!
If you can help, please-we need you.
Call or email.
Thanks!
Patty
patty.james@directionfive.org
707-888-1103
Tanya
tanya.scott@directionfive.org
Hi everyone:
We’re busy preparing for the Pilot Programs that begin on June 10th. So exciting! We really need funds to underwrite the programs as we don’t charge the kids. It’s $580.00 per child and just think how good you’ll feel knowing you made such a difference in the life of a young person. A difference that will last a lifetime.
We’re finishing the final edits on the course material, while researching aprons-the cheapest, environmentally friendly aprons we can find. We have found aprons for $4.50, but I can only imagine where they are made and who made them. That is not our message and what we stand for. Organic cotton aprons can be as little as $8.00, plus screen printing. We need 13 of them. Working hard trying to find someone who will help with that cost.
We have a gym (details soon) that is going to donate a free pass to all the kids going through the pilot programs as part of the Fitness program. So cool!
A local printer, Sprint Copy Center, is going to give us deep discounts on the printing, but we need help with that cost as well.
Basically, any help you can give will be put to good use! A little check or a big check. It all helps!
It’s almost here! More very soon. Great progress, but we truly need funds to finish this.
Thanks so much,
Patty
If you would like an email of the flier sent to you either for yourself or to pass out, please email us at info@directionfive.org and we’ll send it right to you.
Every day there is progress! We’re wrapping up the five health programs, trying to find a printing company who will print for free (you never know until you ask!) and working on some fun and educational teaching aids for the first four programs. The ‘props’ for the fifth program-Culinary- will be the food! Pizza! Salads! Ice Cream! …all taught with health in mind. Yes, we make ice cream and pizza as well as roasted veggies, sushi and lots of other great foods that almost all kids love and have asked to learn how to make.
It’s all about choices. If I eat that, this is how it affects my body. Ice cream is not something we make frequently and along with dairy ice cream, we make frozen yogurt and non-dairy alternatives too. The one ingredient that is always included is fun!
The Pilot Programs are for the first 10 lucky kids to sign up! Email or call us to register..soon!
“Now I understand” was the theme of yesterday’s party at Chop’s Teen Club in Santa Rosa, CA. Attendees “now understand” what our organization and programs are all about.
We began the presentation with a slideshow of our nation’s beautiful kids, then moved on to releasing the data-the answers to the 25 questions I asked kids all across the country last year. Next we explained the five health programs we have created for kids based on what they said they wanted and needed to learn in order to lead healthier lives. Lastly we unveiled out new name/logo/web site/and Facebook page.
We ended the day with a big thank you to everyone who believed in the non-profit since the beginning.
Pilot programs are in June and July, so now, we are fund raising. We do not charge kids to go through the programs, but they’re not free, so we need your help. It’s $580.00 for one child to go through the program and we would like to give a big thank you to Dr. Michael Lipelt for sponsoring the first child to get the ball rolling. Every donation is so important and the other funds donated yesterday are almost enough for the second child.
At DirectionFive, today begins our future. We are proud of our beginnings and confident in our ability to help our kids with their health.
Patty
