Moms Come on Out to Volunteer Day! #MomsforReed

Election Day is just around the corner, and we're hosting one more Volunteer Day Out. You're cordially invited to Mayor Kasim Reed's Volunteer Day Out this Saturday, November 2, 2013. We're spending the entire day visiting communities all over Atlanta to make sure they're informed and ready to vote!
Join us at the Campaign Headquarters THIS SATURDAY – 3050 F1 Martin Luther King Dr. – from 9:30AM to 3PM for Volunteer Day Out!

There are only a few days until Election Day – Tuesday, November 5 – so every phone call, door knock, and visit is crucial. 

Does your group or organization want to get involved? Email Amber Thomas at athomas@kasimreed.com to register your group for this event. Join us as we hit the streets to help spread Mayor Reed's message and keep Atlanta on the path of success!

Moms be sure to pick-up your free "Moms for Reed" T-Shirts! Post photos wearing your T-Shirts on Instgram and Twitter along with the hashtag #MomsForReed.  

Tell us you're coming here: https://www.facebook.com/events/670888636276022/ 

Learn More About Atlanta Speech School’s Wardlaw School for Dyslexia

Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, estimated to affect 1 in 5 children, yet the most publicly misunderstood. Children who are dyslexic are bright yet struggle with reading. More than 20% of the population is dyslexic, yet many remain undiagnosed, untreated and struggle with the impact of their dyslexia. 

It's important if you notice signs of dyslexia in your son or daughter to mention it to their school officials. There are many resources available that can help your child overcome or deal with dyslexia. Oftentimes in communities of color dyslexia may be overlooked. However, with treatment and early direction your son or daughter can be helped. 

Did you know the Atlanta Speech School’s Wardlaw School is recognized nationally as one of the top programs in the country for children with dyslexia? The School develops an individualized plan for each student based on how that child learns best. Rather than being trained in only one multi-sensory approach, such as Orton-Gillingham or Wilson, Wardlaw teachers learn multiple methods to provide instruction best suited to teach each child in their class. 

According to the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), some children who are dyslexic “manage to learn early reading and spelling tasks, but later experience their most debilitating problems when more complex language skills are required, such as grammar, understanding textbook material, and writing essays.” The Wardlaw program goes further than just teaching children to decode in order to address the issues uncovered by IDA. It uses an Integrated Intervention Model© to allow classroom teachers to collaborate with Reading Specialists, Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and the Wardlaw Director to develop a plan that fully addresses each child’s individual strengths and weaknesses.

The experience held by the staff, both individually and collectively, helps set the program apart. All teachers in Wardlaw have master’s degrees and above, with a continuing focus on professional development.

Learn more about dyslexia and attend a free screening and panel discussion. 

The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia – Screening and Panel Discussion

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 
7:00 - 9:00 pm

Atlanta Speech School Love Auditorium

The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia provides personal and uplifting accounts of the dyslexic experience from children, experts and iconic leaders, such as Sir Richard Branson and financier Charles Schwab. Directed by James Redford, the film not only clears up the misconceptions about the condition, but also paints a picture of hope for all who struggle with it.

Learn more about Wardlaw by watching this video here: https://www.atlantaspeechschool.org/WardlawVideo

There is no charge to attend the event, but space is limited and reservations are required. To register visit: https://www.atlantaspeechschool.org/RethinkingDyslexia

The Atlanta Speech School has a long history of serving children with dyslexia. In addition to having a Language and Learning Disabilities Department on its campus, the School served as the outsourced special education department of the metro-Atlanta school systems from the mid-1950s until federal law required that school systems provide their own services in 1975. The Language and Learning Disabilities Department is now known as the Wardlaw School, and it is recognized nationally as one of the top programs in the country for children with dyslexia. Click here to learn more about the Wardlaw School.

 

Kasim Reed for Mayor! Vote Nov 5! #MomsforReed

Watch this commercial for Kasim Reed for Mayor and look for the little guy in the Lightning McQueen Race Car hat! Yep, that's my baby! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa7I1ImHsZo&feature=youtube_gdata_playe 

The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia – Screening and Panel Discussion

Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, estimated to affect 1 in 5 children, yet the most publicly misunderstood. Children who are dyslexic are bright yet struggle with reading.

The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia – Screening and Panel Discussion

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 
7:00 - 9:00 pm     


Atlanta Speech School Love Auditorium

The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia provides personal and uplifting accounts of the dyslexic experience from children, experts and iconic leaders, such as Sir Richard Branson and financier Charles Schwab. Directed by James Redford, the film not only clears up the misconceptions about the condition, but also paints a picture of hope for all who struggle with it.

There will be a panel discussion after the documentary screening moderated by WSB-TV Senior Anchor Jovita Moore, featuring:

o   Sarah Batts, MBA Wardlaw School alumna and Principal Major Gifts & Director at Piedmont Healthcare Foundation

o   Mary Flanagan, parent

o   Sondra Mims, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, Upper School Director, Wardlaw School

o   Leslie Munson, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist and Chief Academic Officer at the Atlanta Speech School

o   Nicole Patton-Terry, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Educational Psychology & Special Education, and Member, Center for Research on Atypical Development and Learning, at Georgia State University; and a Research Scientist at Haskins Laboratories at Yale University.

There is no charge to attend but space is limited and reservations are required. Please register below. To register visit: https://www.atlantaspeechschool.org/RethinkingDyslexia

The Atlanta Speech School has a long history of serving children with dyslexia. In addition to having a Language and Learning Disabilities Department on its campus, the School served as the outsourced special education department of the metro-Atlanta school systems from the mid-1950s until federal law required that school systems provide their own services in 1975. The Language and Learning Disabilities Department is now known as the Wardlaw School, and it is recognized nationally as one of the top programs in the country for children with dyslexia. Click here to learn more about the Wardlaw School.

Purchase Your Atlanta Hawks Tickets Here! Use the promo code "Sojourner" Go Hawks! @ATLHawks

I've teamed up again with my favorite basketball team the Atlanta Hawks to spread the word about the exciting upcoming season. Thinking about going to an Atlanta Hawks game? Well, be sure to purchase your Atlanta Hawks tickets using the promo code "Sojourner" to get really great seats! If I'm at the game, then I'll be sure to give you a high-five when I see you!

Click here to purchase your tickets now: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/hawks/EN/link/promotion/home/0b404b36e1d4caf5dc69c3b3fdbd3134ffb966fe

Bring the entire family to the game! Last year, our oldest son had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Hawks vs. Heat game and met some of the players on the court. That's a memory he will never forget! Make memories with your family and attend an Atlanta Hawks game this season!

Click here to purchase your tickets now: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/hawks/EN/link/promotion/home/0b404b36e1d4caf5dc69c3b3fdbd3134ffb966fe

Go Hawks!

Missing Avonte Oquendo #findAvonte

Anyone with information about Avonte is asked to contact the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit tips at the Crime Stoppers website, nypdcrimestoppers.com or can text to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. #findAvonte

*CLOSED* We Love Our TATA’S! Enter to Win the Stella & Dot Fabulous Giveaway! #BreastCancer #Giveaway

We love our TATA’S!

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, I've teamed up with

Stella & Dot Director, Katy Barnes for a fabulous giveaway!

Katy has been incredibly generous and is giving away two wonderful bracelets!

Thank you Katy!!!

In October, 100% of net proceeds from our Breast Cancer Awareness Boutique will support the Noreen Fraser Foundation.
This is the second year in a row that Stella & Dot has partnered with the Noreen Fraser Foundation for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Last year (2012), we raised over $185,000 for breast cancer research and early detection. Funds raised last year helped NFF fund a lab at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center so that researchers there can test a cutting edge new epigenetic therapy for breast cancer. In Canada, NFF provided the University of Alberta with a grant so doctors there could test a new radiation therapy for women with early stage breast cancer.

We're back this year with a selection of items for our boutique that your customers will love - so let's all work together and fight Breast Cancer in style! 

If you haven’t heard of Stella & Dot, it is a wonderful line of jewelry and accessories. Stella & Dot has been recognized by the New York Times, Forbes and The Today Show. The jewelry has been worn by many celebrities and featured in almost every style magazine. It is sold exclusively online and at in home trunk shows. If you are interested in hosting a party or becoming a stylist please visit www.stelladot.com/katybarnes.

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In order to be entered to win one of these fabulous pieces you must-

1. Like and Share this post on your Facebook page!

2. Follow Married with Two Boys on Facebook!

3. Sign up on Katy’s website to receive updates by e-mail. (www.stelladot.com/katybarnes, click : “Connect with me”)
4. Leave a comment below!

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We will announce the winners Friday, November 1st.

So get busy and as always forward and share with your friends!

 

Winner annoucement....

 

Congratulations Elizabeth you won the Stella & Dot Fabulous Giveaway!

 

No More Breast Cancer - One Simple Way To Make A Difference @BreastMilkLab

 

Each year, 19,000 new cases of breast cancer occur among African American women. That’s 19,000 too many. 

According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate of breast cancer for African American women is 77%, compared to white women's rate of 90%. In addition, African American women are more likely to develop breast cancer at a younger age, and we tend to develop more aggressive tumors, which are harder and more expensive to treat.

Enter Dr. Kathleen Arcaro from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She studies breast cancer by studying breastmilk, which is full of breast cells key in figuring out how breast cancer develops. Over the past ten years she's worked to improve our understanding of breast cancer risk, and her findings may lead to new screening, prevention, and treatment strategies. 

The problem? Black women are underrepresented in the research. As a result, findings that work for white women or women with less aggressive forms of breast cancer, don’t work for the majority of black women grappling with the disease. 

To ensure her findings are applicable to women of all races, she has been working to recruit African American women for the Love/Avon Army of Women, a project aiming to recruit one million women to sign up to participate in breast cancer research (if they choose to do so). By signing up, participants will receive an email newsletter with breast cancer research opportunities. Some research is as simple as a questionnaire or a phone interview. 

Having African American women well represented in the breast cancer research is key, for her research and many others.’ So Dr. Arcaro hopes black women will sign up for the Army of Women (and be sure to select “breast milk study” as the referral type to help track the impact). 

You can learn more about Dr. Arcaro’s work, and see if you or other women you know might qualify for one of her studies, at the website of the UMass Breastmilk Lab, and follow the lab on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.