ASHLAND CENTER FOR NONVIOLENCE SPRING SYMPOSIUM

ASHLAND CENTER FOR NONVIOLENCE ANNOUNCES 2010 SPRING SYMPOSIUM COMMENCING WITH FIRST LADY OF OHIO FRANCES STRICKLAND

The Ashland Center for Nonviolence announces its 2010 spring symposium "Creating a Caring Community in These Hard Times" with four different programs beginning Tuesday, February 4 and ending Thursday, February 11. All programs for the spring symposium are free and open to the public.

ACN is proud to kick-off the symposium with First Lady of Ohio Frances Strickland presenting a keynote with a question and answer session titled "Our Shared Community: Hopes and Choices." Mrs. Strickland's presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, 7 PM at Ashland University's Myers Convocation Center. CEUs in Social Work (through Ashland University's Department of Social Work) and in Counseling (through The Salvation Army) are available at no charge with registration at the door of the event.

First Lady Frances Strickland shares the Governor's vision of a better future for Ohioans. As first lady of Ohio, Frances works on a number of initiatives including serving as chair of the Ohio Family and Children First (OFCF). OFCF is a partnership of state and local government, communities and families that enhances the well-being of Ohio's children and families by building community capacity, coordinating systems and services and engaging and empowering families. Ohio Family and Children First has unified Governor Taft's "Commitment to Child Well-Being" with Governor Strickland's "Vision to Move Ohio Forward" and developed a partnership that would become a powerful message to the youth and families of Ohio including:
•Provide every child a fair start
•Create schools that work for every child
•Broaden access and ensure success to higher education degrees
•Focus on Ohio's strengths
•Develop skills for high-quality jobs
•Stabilize health costs
•Retain, create and attract jobs worthy of Ohio
In addition to the First Lady's presentation, Shelly Whalen, executive director for Community Mediation Services of Central Ohio, will discuss "Community Based Mediation, a Model for Resolving Disputes." Community mediation prevents the harmful physical, emotional and economic effects of unmanaged or mismanaged conflict on individuals, families, neighborhoods and organizations, by providing, promoting and teaching non-adversarial conflict management strategies that empower disputants to create lasting, "win/win" resolutions to their conflicts.

With all programs beginning at 7 PM, the spring symposium's remaining programs include:
•Thursday, February 4 at Ashland University's Myers Convocation Center: Atlee Raber, member of Holmes County Amish community presenting "The Amish Model of a Caring Community"
•Monday, February 8 at the Salvation Army Kroc Center: Carolyn Basista, Wooster's Director of Bridges Out of Poverty, with a panel presenting "Bridges out of Poverty: A National Model Working Locally"

•Thursday, February 11 at the Salvation Army Kroc Center: Jennifer Parramore, Director of Directions Credit Union, presenting "Financial Literacy and Shared Resources: A Non-Profit Model"CEUs in Social Work and in Counseling also are available at the final two programs at no charge with registration at the door of the event.

The Ashland Center for Nonviolence is dedicated to progressive social and personal change to help the community discover options, enhance skills, and make choices that lead to self-sufficiency and positive involvement. For more information about the above programs, contact the Ashland Center for Nonviolence at 419-289-5313, ACN@ashland.edu or visit the Web site at www.ashland.edu/ACN.