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Volume 5 | Issue 2
YOUTH SPOTLIGHT | Bennett Maloley
Discover Your FLOW!

Sitting across the room from Bennett at a recent Valley’s Voice event, I was struck by his ability to show himself, his enthusiasm, and his soul as he listened to the band Trees Don’t Move. His presence was magnetic. Every individual, youth and adult alike, needs to feel how Bennett felt that night. Free, confident, humble, and happy. I saw his FLOW; let’s all find ours, too.  
 
F= Find “A place where it is hard to NOT be happy.” Sounds doable, right? For Bennett, this means exploring passion, creating identity not by working hard to make others happy, but by making yourself happy. Sometimes people develop their identities based on what others think and they are not happy. Investing in personal development yields a better return on investment.  

L= Lyrics, poetry, and song catalyze Bennett’s FLOW. It is the way he can “Convey feelings through song”. While he loves all types of music, we might have our own preferences. Bennett reads and writes a ton! Then, his head connects to his heart. Why not attempt to share our feelings through writing? Bennett will challenge you the same way he did me.   

O= “Out of the Woods” is Bennett’s own, favorite poem/song that he has written. He shares his values through his lyrics. Protecting an image is not nearly as valuable as knowing yourself. There is strength to be found through the slow process of learning where to fit in, experiencing new things, and being vulnerable. What key message will your masterpiece convey? 

W= Working. "Working with someone is better than being taught by someone.” Bennett has worked with so many different people. His teachers at The Zealous School are coaches as they work alongside their protoges. His parents coach professionals in leadership and business development, and they have coached Bennett, too. Last summer, when he discovered musical theater, he worked with his parents and friends to hone his singing and acting skills. Who is your coach? Need one? Find one. 

To read more, head over to our Mountain Youth blog HERE!
Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized? Nominate a Youth Spotlight Here
DIFFERENCE MAKER | Kateleen Harman
Kateleen is creating space for all youth to feel welcomed and valued.

Kateleen Harman is a dynamic, resilient, and dedicated professional working towards social and racial justice in her personal and professional life. She speaks with an open heart and a brilliant mind and if someone were to write a book of quotes, they could come directly from Kate. Her honesty, empathy, wit and intelligence comes through in every word she says. 

Kate is currently the Family and Community Engagement Manager for My Future Pathways (MFP), working with young Hispanic adults and parents to strengthen community connection and build resiliency. She wanted a career with purpose that does something positive for others and she has found just that in her work with MFP. 

Kate is the youngest of four, born and raised in Lima, Peru where she attended a private Catholic School, gaining experiences that have shaped her life perspective. Kate started working in the Vail Valley 9 years ago, to pursue the “American Dream” where she fell in love with the valley and her future husband, Nic.

With a degree in Communication and Development, Kate has used her education to become a manager in the service and administration industry and to create positive change within our community. Kate worked in the service industry for many years where she faced racism, sexism and discrimination due to being an immigrant, native Spanish speaker and a woman. She has turned these experiences into action and purpose, finding a job where she can pursue her passion to support women and youth’s rights through education, advocacy, and teaching life skills. 

To read more, head over to our Mountain Youth blog HERE!
Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized? Nominate a Difference Maker Here
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
February is a month filled with movement, engaging discussions, and community connections that we hope you will take part in! Join Mountain Youth for a fun night of ice skating on February 3rd at the Eagle Ice Rink from 6:30-8:30pm. There will be food, fun, and free ice-skating equipment for all who join. We will hear from David Garcia, a bilingual performance specialist for Howard Head Sports Medicine and a project manager at My Future Pathways. David is passionate about engaging youth through social, emotional and physical activity and we are excited to learn from him. Register HERE.

On February 16 from 5:30-7:30pm, Eat Chat Connect will host a film at Riverwalk Theater called RACE To Be Human, followed by a panel discussion. RACE To Be Human addresses the apprehension and confusion so many of us feel when it comes to talking about race and racism. The film addresses the impact of racism on our mental health through the lens of students, experts and educators. The film will examine micro-aggressions, allyship, the role of social media, and more. It also shares how we can promote curiosity, self-reflection, and empathy through conversations at home, school, and work. We hope you will join us for this important film and discussion to create a more inclusive and welcoming community. Learn more at mountainyouth.org/eatchatconnect.

As always, these events are free to everyone, with dinner, childcare and interpretation provided. Please join us with your family to learn, connect, engage and grow as a community. If you have any questions or ideas on topics or speakers you would like to hear from, please contact Stevi Bratschie, Community Education Manager at sbratschie@mountainyouth.org. We look forward to seeing you there!
VALLEY'S VOICE
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Cameron Dole, Youth Engagement Coordinator, at cdole@mountainyouth.org
COMMUNITIES THAT CARE
As one element to beef up communication within the CTC Coalition and with Community Partners, this report will be delivered to desktops soon! The other pieces of the communication plan include: a monthly Communique from the Mobilizer and a “map” of who all is involved in the CTC Coalition. We always welcome new and enthusiastic participants in our Communities That Care teams.

For more information on how to get involved, please contact Sandy Schroeder, Director of Community Engagement, at sschroeder@mountainyouth.org.
Interpreter Training & Certification Course Brought to Eagle County by Mountain Youth!
We at Mountain Youth have known that there is a shortage of Spanish Language Interpreters in the Eagle River Valley for some time. Meeting this need has been a priority. We were very glad to host the Community Language Cooperative for a 4-day, 40 hour course where 34 participants acquired not only Interpretation skills, but also Language Justice concepts to apply to their future interpretation experiences.

The training included individuals from as far away as Mesa County and 27 individuals who are serving in roles here in the Eagle River Valley. Their locations include: Holy Cross Energy, Walking Mountains, Vail Valley Foundation, Eagle Valley Library District, Eagle County, Early Childhood Partners, SpeakUpReachOut, and the Eagle County Community Foundation. The participants had very positive comments about the training. The Community Language Cooperative is hoping to return to offer a Level 2 training, which will be planned in the future.
February Calendar of Events
Location: Family Learning Center Edwards
Date: Saturday, 2/4
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
FLC is hosting a clean up for the kids day on Saturday 2/4 from 9 am to 12 pm. FLC needs help with cleaning and organizing the inside of the school and help with removing some ice around the building and on the playgrounds. All community members of all ages are welcome! RSVP to Whitney at the email below. 
Contact Information:
Whitney Young
970-328-0893
*Summer Camp Registration opens on 2/22
Valentine's Special!
Share the experience of climbing with your special someone. Use the promo code LOVE2Climb and book a Climbing Workshop for two by 2/15 and save $40+.

Parents and kids LOVE our day camps, so get signed up ASAP! Climbing Camps at Eagle Climbing + Fitness are a fun filled adventure for kids ages 5-12, which includes climbing, slacklining, yoga, Ninja style obstacle courses, academic time, games, fun and lots of learning new skills! 
Location: Eagle Climbing + Fitness
Date: Feb 27-March 3
Time: 8:30am - 3:30pm

A Mommy & Me Climbing Group for moms of infants and toddlers. This social group provides moms with tips and tricks about adventuring and climbing with littles, provides solidarity, and offers a few extra pairs of watchful eyes so mom can get on the wall too! *Dads and caregivers are welcome to join, you rock!
Location: Eagle Climbing + Fitness
Date: Feb 11th and Feb 21st
Time: 2/11 - 11am,
2/21 - 10am

Does your child want to try something new or advance their climbing skills? We have 3 levels of climbing teams, designed for youth ages 7+. Reach out to Coach Larry (larry@eagleclimbing.com) for more info and to sign up for a tryout slot. 
Location: Eagle Climbing + Fitness
Date: Last Sunday of each month
Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm

Find and build community at Eagle Climbing + Fitness. Queer Climbing Night is a social and fun gathering on the last Sunday of each month from 5-7pm. This is an inclusive space for all LGBTQIA+ identifying/curious individuals (and allies too!). ALL abilities welcome. 
Location: Eagle Climbing + Fitness
Date: Last Sunday of each month
Time: 5:00-7:00pm
Location: Edwards Field House
Date: Saturday, 2/18 and 3/11
Time: 6:30 pm
Join the winter movie series, brought to you by Mountain Rec and Mountain Youth!
Contact Information:
Lizzy Owens
Location: Edwards Field House
Date: Wednesday, 2/8
Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Experts recommend waxing your alpine gear every five trips to the mountain. Don't lose speed on the snow because of something you can easily fix at home! Learn how to wax your skis or snowboard in this hands-on workshop offered in partnership with Purl Wax, a family-owned/operated business based in Eagle County. You'll learn how to choose the best wax for the conditions, and have expert guidance as you clean and wax your personal equipment. Bring your own gear to this workshop, and leave with a freshly waxed base so you're ready to hit the slopes! No prior experience needed.
Contact Information:
Megan Carter
Contact/el contacto:
Renata / Estefania 970-376-5587
Location/Ubicación: Walking Mountain Science Center, Avon
Date/Fecha: February 21st/21 de Febrero
Time/Hora: 5:30pm-8:00pm
GRATIS. A partir de los 10 años. Las raquetas serán proporcionadas. Chocolate caliente y galletas serán proporcionados.
Spots available/Cupos: 14
Location/Ubicación: Walking Mountains Science Center, Avon
Date/Fecha: February 6th/6 de Febrero
Time/Hora: 5:30pm-8:00pm
A partir de los 10 años. Las raquetas serán proporcionadas. Chocolate caliente y galletas serán proporcionados.
Location/Ubicación: TBD
Date/Fecha: February 18th/18 de Febrero
Time/Hora: 9:00am-1:00pm
GRATIS. A partir de los 10 años. Las raquetas serán proporcionadas. Transporte gratuito desde Walking Mountains, Avon.
Spots available/Cupos: 13


Partner/Socio: Vail Nordic Center
Location/Ubicación: Vail Nordic Center, Vail
Date/Fecha: February 22nd/22 de Febrero
Time/Hora: 10:00am-2:00pm
$15/persona para esquí clásico (recomendado a los iniciantes). $17/persona para patinar con esquís. $20/persona para montar bicicletas de nieve . Transporte gratuito desde Avon.
Location/Ubicación: Sylvan Lake, Eagle
Date/Fecha: February 25th/25 de Febrero
Time/Hora: 10:00am-2:00pm
Gratis. Para todas las edades. Ice Fishing, Sledding (EVOM will provide some, but bring your own), Snowshoeing around the lake, Access to a cabin and bonfire (S’more supplies will be provided)

Partner/Socio: Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Location/Ubicación: Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Vail
Date/Fecha: February 4th/4 de Febrero
Time/Hora: 10:00pm-12:00pm
GRATIS. Para todas las edades. Las raquetas serán proporcionadas. Transporte gratuito desde Walking Mountains, Avon. Botanas serán proporcionadas
Spots available/Cupos: 14
Partner/Socio: Mountain Recreation
Location/Ubicación: Eagle Pool & Ice Rink, Eagle
Date/Fecha: February 11th/11 de Febrero
Time/Hora: 2:30pm-4:30pm
$4 por persona. Para todas las edades. Los patines serán proporcionados. 
Location: Colorado Mountain College, Edwards
Date: Tuesday, March 7
Time: 1:00pm-3:30pm
Cost: free for nonprofit professionals and board members!

The Nonprofit Learning Series is kicking off 2023 with a new program featuring inspirational Ted Talk style presentations on topics that are vital to your nonprofit work. Then, the presenters will be part of a panel discussion where you can ask the experts questions culminating in an interactive roundtable session with the speakers and topics. Feedback will be collected throughout the event to plan the rest of the 2023 Nonprofit Learning Series. Sign up today so that you don’t miss this in-person program to help chart the course for a great 2023!

Presenters / Panelists Include: Sara Amberg, Executive Director - YouthPower365: Making Strides in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. - James Kenly, Executive Director - Vail Symposium: What Type of Plan Suits Your Organization? - Michelle Stecher, Executive Director - Mountain Youth: Stakeholder Engagement, including those impacted by your mission in your work.

The Nonprofit Learning Series is sponsored by Vail Valley Partnership's Nonprofit Network, Mountain Youth and Robin Thompson.
Location: Yoga Off Broadway,
139 Broadway Street Unit A,
Eagle, CO 81631
Date: First Sunday of Each Month
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Open to all and it's Free!
"I feel that meditation is such a super-power for sustaining mental wellbeing and a powerful tool for our community, especially our young people. I wanted to make sure that those who want to explore meditation can do so for free, in community and all are welcome to join."  
~Becky Hesseltine
Evidential Medium & Meditation Facilitator
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Mountain Youth works to make the community we live in a stronger, more vibrant place for youth and families through education, advocacy, and connections.
Learn more at www.mountainyouth.org.