 Doug Herbert Founder of Non-Profit: B.R.A.K.E.S., a Teen Pro-Active Driving Course NHRA Drag Racer and Radio Host Meet Doug Herbert---an amazing individual and champion for our youth. Doug's story is touching and his work is powerful. In 2008, Doug lost his two young sons in an auto accident and vowed to find a way to prevent other families from experiencing this pain and grief. B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) was born that same year. This is not your typical driver's ed class! BRAKES courses are conducted in locations around the country in places like the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Southern California at Pomona Fairplex, to name a few.
Students drive cars donated by KIA in a course that teaches them how to avoid accidents on a slalom course, how to handle distraction, car control and recovery, and what many students describe as the fun part of the course--the "panic stop," (driving as fast as they can and then slamming the brakes and whippping the wheel). Parents must attend this free course (which does involve a $99 refundable deposit) along with their teen. Doug's program is making a difference in the lives of teens across the country and statistics show there is approximately a 64% reduction in crashes of BRAKES graduates. To learn more about the program, gather some excellent tips from Doug, and find out how your child can participate (rumor has it the program is coming to the Atlanta Motor Speedway), read on!
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 Today I am thrilled to feature Mr. Rony Delgarde, founder and president of Global Paint for Charity! Mr. Delgarde's organization is nothing short of amazing, and his story and vision will truly inspire you. A Haitian immigrant, Mr. Delgarde could not believe all of the beautiful painted buildings he saw when he first arrived in the United States--he thought: "it's remarkably beautiful to see a city where all houses and tall buildings were painted with amazing colors. " He was inspired and committed to sharing the joy of color and paint with world, and started Global Paint for Charity in 2010. The organization works together with commercial businesses, residential households and other not-for-profit organizations in an effort to recycle, repackage, and distribute unwanted paint throughout the world. Currently, the organization serves 18 developing countries in the Caribbean, Central America, the Middle East and Africa! Mr. Delgarde is passionate about our youth and offers numerous volunteer opportunities, from allowing children in the Juvenile Court system to assist in painting communities and help at donation centers, to providing college students unique summer internships. He shares more details about his organization and how youth can get involved in this interview. Enjoy! "We are very honored to offer activities to help youth learn from their mistakes and provide them with the skills and opportunities to do good and become successful citizens."  It is with honor and enthusiasm that I share with you the work of Joyce Auskelis, Chief Transition Strategist. Simply put, Joyce helps teens and young adults to "find their best fit." Joyce has an impressive "corporate world" background and her credentials include consulting with Deloitte, sales with IBM, training with Computer Associates and product development with Jostens Learning Corporation. Using these experiences and following her passion, she founded DefiningNEXT where she helps teens and young adults in various stages of their lives: high-schoolers exploring college options, college students who may not be fulfilled with the track they are on, as well as those who may be struggling in a career that does match their skills and talent. Joyce invited me to participate in the process she designed for working with clients, from taking the Highlands Ability Battery to sitting down in person for a discussion and analysis of my results. The experience was eye-opening and Joyce was beyond thorough and helpful. Joyce strives to help her clients discover their core strengths and abilities so they can make informed and thoughtful decisions about their future. Parents, I know you will enjoy the information and advice in this interview! Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend! "My emphasis is on empowering the individual to make an affirmative choice instead of a reactive response. It’s all about intentionality and purpose, creating your path instead of following the herd or meeting the expectations of others."  FRIDAY FEATURE: Andrew Margolis, Magistrate Judge, Fulton County Guardian Ad Litem, Cobb County Attorney Musician Happy Valentine's Day Weekend! It is my honor to introduce you to Judge Andrew Margolis. Andrew serves the people of Fulton County as a Magistrate Judge and is also certified as a Guardian Ad Litem in Cobb County. As a judge, Andrew has handled numerous cases with kids ages 17-19. This age range is difficult because while the kids are legally "adults," their brains are still developing and they are more prone to acting impulsively and irrationally. Andrew has seen many parents face heartbreak over the harsh penalties these children face and is a strong advocate for accountability courts for youthful offenders in the adult court system. As a Guardian ad Litem, Andrew advises the Court in cases involving custody of young children. Andrew explains further: "rather than advocate for one parent or the other, my job is to make recommendations to the Court that protect the best interests of the children involved." He also owns and runs his law firm, The Margolis Legal Group, a firm that handles family law and criminal matters. In his free time, he is a musician and assists his wife, Mindy, in teaching group music classes to preschoolers. As you can see, Andrew is quite busy (to say the least!) serving our community and youth. I know you will find this feature informative and engaging! "Children need to be educated when they are coming out of the juvenile system that the adult system is focused much more on punishment, and not as much on rehabilitation. I would like to see a special accountability court similar to a drug court for youthful offenders in the adult system. That is to say, a team-based approach that addresses some of the underlying issues related to the teen’s conduct, as well as holding the individual accountable for their conduct."  Today, I'm excited to introduce Wendi Combes! A pediatric nurse with over 20 years of experience, Wendi founded Jubilee Health, a practice that helps to treat kids with health and behavioral issues with a holistic and natural approach. I recently heard Wendi speak at an event and she provided tons of helpful information and tips about how to boost our kid's immunity (some advice included: eat real foods, no gummy vitamins, get rid of hand sanitizer, and limit use of plastics...to name a few!) It was eye-opening to learn how many of the health (and even behavioral issues) our children face are due to their diet. Wendi has a strong passion for working with families who may be looking for another method of treatment for ADD, learning problems, social anxiety, and behavior issues. Wendi's website is a great start if this interview leaves you wondering more about natural health: she provides a great section of resources, a blog, podcast, and a free natural remedies e-course. Enjoy this interesting feature and have a wonderful weekend! "My lens to see health care changed when both of my daughters had health issues early on and the conventional medicine route didn’t really help them. It was then that I discovered the beauty and effectiveness of natural remedies and using a more holistic approach to healing. I now help other parents on the journey of wellness for their child and am a passionate advocate to help kids thrive! " |
Kathryn BoortzKathryn Boortz has a passion for working with youth and their families. She is the founder of Boortz Law, a law firm that focuses on juvenile defense. Archives
July 2019
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