Donate online at Lifetrack-MN.org/Donate Making Cultural Connections for nearly 70 years Spring 2015 Edition

On Trackwith Lifetrack

Putting Hope Within Reach

Min, a recent refugee from war-torn Burma, was motivated to start a new life in America with his wife and two children. However, he faced significant challenges: lack of

job experience in the United States, dependence on public transportation to get to work and limited English language skills.

Together with his Lifetrack Employment Specialist, Amy, Min secured a three-month transitional employment position so he could build work experience in his new homeland, in addition to learning more about American work-culture. Shortly after completing the training, Min found a job while continuing to work with Lifetrack to find one that would be a better fit for his family: he needed to work closer to home and the family needed health benefits.

Min’s persistence was rewarded when BIX Produce Company (St. Paul) hired and then promoted him after just three months. BIX was recognized by Lifetrack this past summer as an Outstanding Community Partner. Since 2011, Lifetrack has helped place over 45 job seekers at BIX as full-time employees, with benefits.

Story continued on page 2.

Cultural Connections:Strong Business Partners

Provide Stable Job Opportunities for New Americans.

Lifetrack is excited to present the 6th annual Work/Life and Flexibility Expo in partnership with Human Resource Professionals of Minnesota. The Expo will feature keynote speaker

Carol Evans, President of Working Mother Media on September 24 in Minneapolis. Working Mother magazine, reaches 2.2 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers.

Carol is a highly acclaimed keynote speaker on the advancement of women, work/life balance, barriers facing women of color and leadership, and appears frequently on radio and TV.

The 2015 Work/Life and Flexibility Expo will provide a one-of-a-kind conference experience for professionals in the business of developing the 21st century work-force

Work/Life and Flexibility ExpoSeptember 24, 2015

St. Mary’s University CenterWorkLifeExpo.com

Interested in participating? Contact: Beth Quist, Senior Director Education Services 651-265-2304BethQ@Lifetrack-MN.org

Keynote speaker announced for Work/Life and Flexibility Expo

Today, Min continues to be recognized for his hard work, reliability and willingness to assist other Karen and Burmese employees who need interpreter services. BIX is also pleased to find a new place for employee recruitment in the sizable and growing Burmese community within the Twin Cities.

“BIX Produce is pleased with their partnership with Lifetrack. Their turnover rate has declined because the partnership with Lifetrack provides them with well-qualified, dependable candidates,” shared Tatjana

Hutnyak, Lifetrack’s Director of Business Services.

Largest Immigrant and Refugee Employment Program in MinnesotaLifetrack’s Immigrant and Refugee Services for the sixth consecutive year has maintained the largest

and most effective, outcome-based employment program for refugees in Minnesota, as determined by the Department of Human Services. Partnerships like with businesses like BIX in the Metro area and throughout greater Minnesota, are essential to the success of the program.

“Many refugees from Burma have nothing and have little hope. We can find them a job and they can look after their family and stand on their own feet,” shared Amy Twe, Lifetrack Employment Specialist.

Min and his family continue to achieve the New American dream. With the purchase of a car and stable housing, Min, his wife and children are able to spend time together as a family. Min is greatly respected by his community and has inspired hope and courage among his peers. He shares, “We now have hope to reach our goals. Agencies like Lifetrack help us so that we all have a good job and a good life.”

Hear more stories, like Min’s at:lifetrack-mn.org/about/success-stories

What do you feel connected to? This simple question is at the center of defining the complex term “culture.”

Even in 1948, Lifetrack reflected the community commitment to support

every individual, child and family in fully realizing their potential. Lifetrack’s whole family approach has as a binding principle, a commitment to utilizing cultural-affirming practices – practices built from traditions, history, beliefs, values, language, abilities and life experiences as strengths.

In this Spring’s On Track Newsletter, we share several stories around the themes of culture, connectedness and relationships. You’ll meet Min and his family; hear about family and child home visiting services and explore family generational dynamics. Each of these stories will demonstrate how the principle of cultural respect allows Lifetrack’s work to continue to be highly regarded and impactful.

Developing cultural competencies within our work has required intention, humility, persistence and willingness for our work to be shaped by the goals, dreams and wisdoms of those who look to us for hope and solutions.

It is the demonstrated success of approaches that leverage strengths and abilities to overcome barriers, create trusted relationships and build a culture of connectedness that provides Lifetrack and our supporters with a deep confidence in the success of every individual, family and child.

“Culturally affirming respecting values, beliefs, traditions, language and life experiences as strengths.”

- Lifetrack Principle Statement.

Join us for one of our monthly Hope Tours to learn more about our inspirational work.

TrixieAnn Girtz GolbergPresident

Message from the President

Cultural Connections continued from page 1

Program Spotlight: Families Together ProgramHealthy, stable families are the heart of Families Together, a program of Lifetrack. Providing services that are culturally-specific for children at risk of educational challenges is essential to building a connection with the child

and family to ensure success. Challenges due to toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences such as poverty, disability and exposure to violences.

“The best way to learn about a family is in their home. They will show us pictures and we can start a conversation about their relationship with their parents, and what pieces of their childhood they would like to bring into their child’s,” shared Laurie Rottach, Families Together Social Worker. “We work with the family where they are at without judgment.”

Families Together staff work hard to establish support networks that maximize resources available and minimize isolation. Some families do not have extended family support as they may have just moved here from another city, state or country. Lifetrack often hosts family events at the preschool and in the community to provide opportunities to meet other families and share stories.

At Lifetrack, we know that one approach will not solve every problem, so we individualize our services for each client. For the Families Together Program, our relationships with each child and family are key to success.

“Knowing that a family will allow me to come into their home is the most rewarding aspect of my work. I have attended ceremonies for adoptions and US citizenships. I shared meals with families as they prepare food from their home country,” shared Lenora Bourbonnais, Families Together Teacher.

With additional funding from the Minnesota Department of Health for increased support for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, MN Hands & Voices, a program of Lifetrack, was able to add three Parent Guides this past year: one for the Southeast

Asian Communities, Northeast African Communities and Spanish-speaking communities

“MN Hands & Voices has been long awaiting the day when we could deliver services to families from diverse cultural communities in a more direct, meaningful and effective way,” shared Candace Lindow-Davies Manager, MN Hands & Voices. “Witnessing these parents at work, connecting with their families in ways we could never have in the past, is nothing short of amazing. We always knew this was best practice but I underestimated how immediately we’d see the impact of their work. “

Word spread quickly and in just one year the new parent guides helped more than 70 immigrant families connect with each other and learn about resources for their children. Each parent guide led community specific events for their families including educational events with collaborations with ARC, Metro Deaf School and PACER Center. Parent guides encouraged families from cultural communities to attend events and between the MN Hands & Voices’ annual metro Family Picnic in August and our Roller Skating event in January, 196 people from another culture attended.

Candace reflected, “Our Annual Metro Family Picnic was a beautiful scene, rich with families who truly reflected the demographics of our ever-changing community. I’m humbled to be a part of this progress.”

Learn more at: MNHandsandVoices.org

Minnesota Hands & Voices reflects on a successful year

Minnesota leads the nation with the largest percentage of immigrants who are refugees or admitted through family reunification efforts. Unfortunately, immigrants and refugees often face multiple barriers on the road to

self-sufficiency such as limited English proficiency, lack of employment history in their new homeland or transferable job skills that meet U.S. education and employer guidelines.

Each staff member in our Immigrant and Refugees Services is an immigrant or refugee themselves and can relate to the challenges facing new Americans.

“My parents were refugees from Laos and immigrated to Thailand when the Vietnam War broke out. After a few years they immigrated to the United States,” shared Samantha Lee, Employment Navigator. “It was difficult growing up because my parents were modernized but still rooted into the Hmong culture norms. Acculturation was very difficult for my parents and grandparents.”

Lifetrack’s experienced and bilingual staff, who speak over 14 languages such as Amharic, Burmese, German, Hmong, Karenni, Oromo, Somali and Thai, is part of what makes Lifetrack’s Immigrant and Refugees Services the largest and most effective employment program for refugees in Minnesota.

“My job facilitates communication between the usually low English proficiency participants and the staff as well as employers who have a hard time understanding them in the hiring process and creating a good working relationship from the beginning, “shared Gemechu Getachew, Employment Counselor.

According to the National Workforce Benchmarking Network, Lifetrack’s employment outcomes are in the top 15 percent nationally for job placements and job retention. Lifetrack’s team finds success in partnering with businesses and communities in greater Minnesota, in part due to the similarities of refugee camps versus the transition to the larger city.

“What I enjoy about my work is being in a position to inspire individuals and communities to overcome economic barriers and hardships. I am lucky to have coworkers who are caring, supportive and hard workers,” Hamza Hassan, Employment Counselor.

Staff Spotlight: Immigrant and Refugee Services at Lifetrack

Donor Spotlight: Marbrook Foundation

Lifetrack’s Immigrant and Refugee Services was awarded a $15,000 grant from Marbrook foundation to provide the vital employment assistance new Americans need to become self-sufficient.

“Marbrook Foundation funds organizations that make a direct impact and reach a broader group of immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities,“ shared Minna Brooks, Marbrook Foundation Executive Director. “We are doing what we can to make a local impact.”

Thank you Marbrook Foundation for your commitment to creating equal opportunity for immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities metro.

Make a Lasting Impact with a Sustaining Gift

After nearly 70 years, Lifetrack continues to support families and individuals who become strong, healthy and productive members of our community.

You can help insure Lifetrack continues its work well into the 21st century by providing dependable funding with a monthly gift via credit card or EFT from your checking account.

Your gift of $10 per month will provide support to a family in crisis experiencing a shortage of food, or books to highly at-risk children to help promote literacy and learning in the home.

To set up your monthly gift online visit: Lifetrack-MN.org/Donate or call Rachel at 651-265-2362.

Lifetrack’s Immigrant and Refugee Services Staff

The “Dagwood Sandwich” Comes to LifeFor those of us who remember the cartoon strip Blondie by Dean Young, Dagwood would often be seen coming out of the kitchen with a mega sized sandwich with layers of meat, cheese, and bread. In the past people who took care of aging parents and young children have been referred to as the “sandwich generation”. Today, not only are people taking care of their parents and children, but now it has expanded to grandchildren and sometimes great-grandchildren. In addition to the added complexity of blended families.

It is estimated that:• Over 35 million people are taking care of an

aging parent.• In 2014, 3.3 million children 20-34 years of age

continue to live with their parents.• Approximately 5.8 million grandchildren are

living in their grandparent’s home.• Many Hmong families are multigenerational

with the average family size of 6.51 persons in contrast to 3.14 persons among the entire US.

Today, less than 40% of employees retire before age of 64, and more women are working outside of the home. This leaves less time and family resources for taking care of loved ones.

Generally, people want to be able to help with

family caregiving (providing care for family members regardless of age), but they are torn between where to spend their time. If they decline to help, feelings of guilt and pressure from other siblings may occur; in addition, increasing work demands can lead to stress, fatigue, high blood pressure, and other physical and emotional issues may arise.

With the new demands of the Sandwich Generation, acknowledging a new and complex caregiving structure is critical. Whether you are a caregiver, friend, or employer, the most important way to show that you care is to take a few minutes of your time to appreciate the whole person in front of you.

Look for more helpful hints on aging issues on the LifeBalance Solutions web site: LifeBalance-Solutions.org.

Source: Renee Skoglund, an instructor through LifeBalance Solutions a program of Lifetrack. Renee has her Masters in Gerontology, has over 25 years of experience in the gerontology field and is now the owner of Big Dreams. Big Dreams provides community activities to promote socialization and customized gerontology consulting (staff training, marketing, rebranding, etc.)

LifeBalance Solutions, a program of Lifetrack, helps employees to self-manage issues that interfere with work and inhibit personal growth. Low-cost webinars and seminars cover more than 50 topics.

Encourage your child to listen to and use language to express ideas. During these colder

days, go through your family photo album with your child.

Find photos that show recent family events that you and your child attended together; events such as a county fair, a church picnic or a family trip. Encourage your child to talk about the people who were there and the things that happened at the event.

Getting Ready for Kindergarten Calendar:Example Daily Learning Activity

Order your English or Spanish copy today for as little as $5 each!KindergartenCalendar.org

LifeBalanceS o l u t i o n s

Main Office709 University Avenue W.St. Paul, MN 55104 Phone: 651-227-8471Lifetrack-MN.org

Innovative Packaging SolutionsProviding high-quality, contract packaging services to business.ChooseIPS.org

LifeBalance SolutionsWork/life and wellness options for employers.LifeBalance-Solutions.org

Minnesota Hands & VoicesParent-to-Parent support to families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing.MNHandsandVoices.org

Lifetrack709 University Avenue WestSt. Paul, MN 55104

Hope ToursJoin Lifetrack for an hour tour to learn more about how we help adults, children, and families in our community. Visit: Lifetrack-MN.org/Donate/HopeTour

Lifetrack is accepting donations for Summer Fun Activities for the children served through our programs. Your donation helps children, and the adults who care for them,

gain the healthy development and life skills that foster learning and positive parenting, which prepares them for success in school, work and life.

• Summer play activities: bubbles, jump ropes, hula hoops, sidewalk chalk, balls, pails/shovels, etc.

• Books: Hungry Caterpillar, Old MacDonald, Five Little Monkeys, Wheels on the Bus

Donations accepted at Lifetrack, 709 University Ave W, St. Paul through the end of June.

Contact Mary-Jean Becker at 651-265-2358 or MaryJeanB@Lifetrack-MN.org.

Lifetrack-MN.org

Summer Activity DriveJoin us for Lifetrack’s Faces of Hope Breakfast, an opportunity to support our mission to develop strengths within children, adults and families in our community who

are experiencing many of life’s greatest challenges.

Thursday, October 88:00-9:00 a.m.Midland Hills Country Club

Interested in learning more? Contact Rachel HughesRachelH@Lifetrack-MN.org651-265-2362 Visit: www.Lifetrack-MN.org/FacesofHope.

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Faces of Hope Breakfast