The Real "Oprah Effect"

May 2011

Photo courtesy of Alan Light on Flickr

As the last episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show approaches, many people have remarked on the “Oprah Effect.” Certainly, it’s true that everything she touches turns to gold — the books she recommends become best sellers, products she recommends fly off the shelves and her favorite things become our favorite things.

Yet for me, the “Oprah Effect” is really about her impact on the world’s most pressing social issues. For the past 25 years, Oprah has used her show as a forum to discuss important, sometimes delicate, topics to help her viewers start their own journeys from awareness and acceptance to behavior change. She has helped to de-stigmatize sensitive social issues, including physical health, mental health, race, economics, justice, politics and education.

As social change communicators, we work to help people make a personal connection to complex issues — how our food is grown, the intrinsic link between mental and physical health, the inequities in our public education system and so many other important social causes. Putting a face on these topics has always helped engage audiences in more significant, action-oriented ways. Oprah’s unique gift is that she’s naturally a masterful storyteller. By sharing her own personal journey or one of her guest’s stories, she connects us meaningfully to issues that are so much bigger than ourselves. Oprah knows instinctively that bringing attention to just one compelling story of tragedy or triumph can change the lives of millions.

While The Oprah Winfrey Show is ending, I hope we aren’t seeing the end of Oprah as our uber-social change agent. Many stories are still begging to be told.

Integrating Social Media Into the Classroom

May 2011

Photo courtesy of Ross Hill on Flickr

Just one year ago when I was still a college student, social media was a major distraction from my studies. Up at 2 a.m. finishing a term paper, I would often reward myself with a brief Facebook visit. That brief visit often turned into a 15-minute surfing session. At that time, I couldn’t imagine any professor allowing, never mind encouraging, using social media in class. After reading a New York Times article last week, I began to see a fuller picture.

According to the article, some enlightened educators, who see the potential in this evolving platform, are using social media to provide a different avenue for students to contribute their thoughts and ideas, leading to more involvement from less vocal students and a richer class discussion:

“With Twitter and other microblogging platforms, teachers from elementary schools to universities are setting up what is known as a ‘backchannel’ in their classes. The real-time digital streams allow students to comment, pose questions (answered either by one another or the teacher) and shed inhibitions about voicing opinions. Perhaps most importantly, if they are texting on-task, they are less likely to be texting about something else.”

To be fair, there are many more critics of this trend than proponents. A national survey released in April found that 2 percent of college faculty members had used Twitter in class, and nearly half thought that doing so would negatively affect learning. While I’m not totally sold that social media is the future of class discussions, it has the potential to be an incredibly powerful educational tool.

I believe that whatever you put into your education, you receive back two-fold. And quite frankly, many students don’t put much into class discussions. As an undergraduate, I found it incredibly frustrating that less than half of the class ever spoke. Most classmates opted not to participate for various reasons, including shyness or fear of being mocked. Granted, you can’t fault the student for personality or fears, so it is the responsibility of the teacher to think of creative ways to involve everyone. This is where social media can come in.

Afraid of sharing your interpretation of Gatsby’s green light out loud? Type it instead. Agree with a classmate’s point on U.S. appeasement policy during the 1930s, but don’t want to cross the teacher? Re-tweet it.

The more students are invested and engaged in their education, the more robust the discussions and sharing of unique points of view. Maybe new technology in the classroom deserves the old college try.

Metaphors: As Powerful As (Insert Metaphor Here)

May 2011

Photo courtesy of wwarby on Flickr

You remember Superman, don’t you? He’s the guy who is “faster than a speeding bullet.” That’s pretty fast — in fact, my research shows that it’s around 400 miles per hour. The comparison probably isn’t realistic, because a 400-mile-per-hour trip in Superman’s arms would likely dismember Lois Lane. But the bottom line is Superman is fast, and in describing him this way his creators probably wanted to convey that he is not only speedy, but also sleek and dangerous — like a bullet. Of course, ostriches are pretty fast too, but comparing Superman to an ostrich somehow makes him sound less…super.

Clearly, metaphors matter.

A new article in Psychology Today describes research from Stanford University that considers the power of metaphors. It turns out that the metaphors people use to define things stick with us, even if the comparisons are way off base. The researchers found that we are largely unaware of the influence of metaphors; we like to believe we are influenced by facts. If you got a hug from a great grizzly bear of a man, for example, you can bet it would be a different experience than if you received one from a big “Teddy bear,” and your perception of that hug — whether you knew it or not — would depend on which bear profile had been used in advance to describe the man.

Metaphors are a fun short-hand to convey not just information, but also emotion. Because they tap into feelings, the researchers found that we remember them. There is a difference, however, between using short-hand and just being linguistically lazy, and when the metaphors we use to describe people — especially in relation to race or class — are less than flattering, that metaphor worms its way into our minds (speaking of unflattering metaphors!) and tends to stick around.

As communicators, we have the ability to influence behavior simply by choosing positive metaphors over negative ones. Metaphors wield great power. Like Superman, it’s up to us to use the power we’ve been given responsibly.

Willie Nelson, Farm Aid Bringing Music and Food Festival to KCK

May 2011

Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews will headline first concert at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Aug. 13

KANSAS CITY, Kan.—Farm Aid announced today that it will bring its annual benefit concert to Kansas City, marking the first time that the organization will stage the event in Kansas. Farm Aid 2011 will be the first concert event at the new LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, which opens June 9.

“I’m looking forward to bringing my friends together in Kansas for the first time to honor family farmers” said Farm Aid president Willie Nelson. “Farm Aid celebrates the independent family farmers and ranchers who make this country strong, and we know we can only fix the challenges our country faces with the know-how of family farmers.”

Farm Aid 2011 will feature Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews on Saturday, Aug. 13. Other top artists will soon be announced. The concert benefits Farm Aid’s mission to keep family farmers on the land to guarantee an agricultural system that ensures farmers a fair living, strengthens our communities, protects our natural resources and delivers good food for all.

The concert event will celebrate music, family farmers and good food, and will again feature HOMEGROWN concessions—family-farm identified, local and organic foods. Farm Aid’s HOMEGROWN Village will showcase hands-on activities that give concertgoers a chance to meet farmers, get their hands dirty, and learn how family farmers enrich our soil, protect our water and connect us to our roots.

“Willie, John, Neil and Dave stand up to say that our country needs family farmers,” said Carolyn Mugar, executive director of Farm Aid. “Farm Aid 2011 is an opportunity for everyone to stand up with them. There is a strong culture of agriculture here in Kansas—rural and urban—and a growing movement to bring good food to everyone. We’re proud to bring Farm Aid 2011 to the Sunflower State and shine a spotlight on the family farmers and ranchers whose hard work and innovations are essential for all of us.”

“Farm Aid is a great inaugural concert announcement, as it builds upon a cause platform we started with LIVESTRONG Sporting Park,” said Robb Heineman, CEO of Sporting Club. “This unique opportunity for the region is just the first of many great events we will host, and we are excited for Farm Aid to kick it off.”

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and Kansas City Mayor Joe Reardon welcomed Farm Aid to Kansas and highlighted the value of family farmers and good food to the state.

Since 1985, Farm Aid has traveled the country, staging annual concerts and supporting organizations that work locally, regionally and nationally to strengthen family farms. Despite the recent increase in commodity prices, family farmers still face an uphill struggle. In recent years, Farm Aid has received record numbers of phone calls to its hotline from farmers in need due to volatile farm prices, tight credit markets, escalating costs and disasters, such as the recent floods, droughts and tornadoes across the Midwest and South. Farm Aid’s annual benefit concert is its primary event to raise funds in support of the organization’s work.

Tickets for Farm Aid 2011 will go on sale Friday, May 20, at 10 a.m. CDT and are available by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets for Farm Aid 2011 are $29 for general admission; $39, $69 and $99 for reserved seats; and $149 for a limited number of premium seats. Ticket prices include a $4 facility fee. Parking is free. Additional ticket information can be found at www.livestrongsportingpark.com and www.farmaid.org.

Farm Aid will offer special advance sale tickets to Farm Aid members beginning May 12. To become a member of Farm Aid, visit www.farmaid.org.

Farm Aid welcomes the participation of the local business community and offers corporate sponsorship opportunities. For more information, contact Glenda Yoder at gro.diamrafnull@adnelg.

CONTACT: Maria Enie, (724) 816-3368, After May 11: (202) 248-5460
moc.mmocnavnull@einem

Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $39 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

Jamie Lee Curtis celebrates youth who have demonstrated resilience and overcome trauma at annual National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day observance

May 2011

Honorary Chairperson Curtis, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and other dignitaries joined youth who have overcome trauma

Golden Globe award-winning actress and New York Times bestselling children’s book author Jamie Lee Curtis joined the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and more than 100 public and private collaborating organizations in celebrating the sixth annual National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. This year, the national event focused on building resilience in young children coping with traumatic events and featured stories of how youth from across the country overcame early childhood adversity.

“Children in the United States experience trauma that can impact their development from very early ages,” said Curtis.  “There are steps that we can take as parents, caregivers, mental health providers, and community members to provide support and services to youth to help them become resilient and develop a healthy social and emotional well-being as they mature into adulthood.”

Curtis served as honorary chairperson of the Building Resilience for Young Children Dealing with Trauma program held at the Shakespeare Theatre Company—Harman Center for the Arts in Washington, DC. She also received an award from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman for her work on behalf of children through her charities and children’s books.  Curtis’ work helps children explore serious issues through playful and lively stories, including books such as Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day and I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem. She currently serves as the official spokesperson for the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation and is a member of the Executive Advisory Board for The Starlight Foundation.

Emmy award-winning journalist Byron Pitts served as emcee for the tribute program, which honored youth who have experienced early childhood trauma and displayed resilience, as well as their caregivers who have helped them along the way. Arcadian Broad from “America’s Got Talent” and students and alumni from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, performed tributes to the youths. SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D., and Commissioner for the Administration for Children, Youth and Families Bryan Samuels also participated in the program.

“Studies have found that young children exposed to five or more significant adversities in the first 3 years of childhood face a 76 percent greater likelihood of having one or more delays in their cognitive, language, or emotional development,” Hyde said. “Caregivers can buffer the impact and with support, youth who experience traumatic events can thrive in their communities.”

Prior to the program, the American Art Therapy Association sponsored an art exhibit with a unique collection of artwork illustrating resilience over trauma. Works included pieces created by children directly impacted by the 9/11 attacks; Shirley Ardell Mason, better known as “Sybil,” famously portrayed by Sally Field in the 1976 film of the same name; children from the Lombardi Cancer Center; and The GlassBooks Project in collaboration with Witness Justice.

More than 1,000 community-based mental health service and support providers, community programs, schools, and collaborating organization affiliates from across the country are estimated to have also celebrated this annual observance, marking the day with community events; social media campaigns; and dance, music, and visual activities with children. SAMHSA supports this program as part of its strategic initiative to promote public awareness and support for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of mental and substance use disorders.

For more information about Awareness Day and to view the webcast of the event, visit www.samhsa.gov/children.

Follow #1in5 to join the conversation about National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on Twitter.

Contact: Rachael Siefert: 202–248–5466
SAMHSA Press Office: 240–276–2134
www.samhsa.gov

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

New SAMHSA study finds trauma-informed care improves behavioral and emotional health of children

May 2011

Trauma-informed services and supports can lead to improved school attendance, fewer arrests, and reduced suicide attempts

According to data released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), children and youth affected by traumatic events improve their functioning in community-based “system of care” programs. Traumatic events can include witnessing or experiencing physical or sexual abuse; violence in families and communities; natural disasters; wartime events and terrorism; accidental or violent death of a loved one; and a life-threatening injury or illness.

The report, Helping Children and Youth Who Have Experienced Traumatic Events, shows that after 12 months of accessing services within a community-based system of care, 44 percent of children and youth improved their school attendance, 41 percent improved their grades, and youth suicide attempts fell by 64 percent. In addition, the number of youth reporting arrests in the past 6 months fell by 36 percent. A “system of care” is the organizational philosophy and framework designed to create a network of effective community-based services and supports to improve the lives of children and youth with or at risk of serious mental health conditions and their families.

Similarly the report shows that children and youth receiving trauma-specific services delivered through SAMHSA-funded programs experienced a 20 percent drop in the number experiencing problems at school, a 59 percent drop in the number with problems with suicidality, and a 57 percent drop in number of children engaging in delinquent behavior after 6 months of service.  Overall, youth served by this specialized approach showed significant reductions in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“More than a quarter of the children in the United States will be exposed to a traumatic event before turning 4 years old,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. “Severe trauma can alter brain activity patterns in children that can lead to mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. It is critically important that they get the specialized services and supports that work to build resilience.”

The report was released today, National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day (Awareness Day), SAMHSA’s annual celebration of the importance of caring for every child’s mental health, and as part of the agency’s observance of Mental Health Month. Awareness Day is part of SAMHSA’s strategic initiative on public awareness and support, and is a collaboration of more than 100 national organizations and Federal agencies and programs working to provide greater access to community-based mental health services and supports for children and youth with serious mental health conditions and their families. Across the country, more than 1,000 communities celebrated this annual observance with local events; social media campaigns; and dance, music, and visual activities with children to raise awareness about the importance of children’s mental health.

To download Helping Children and Youth Who Have Experienced Traumatic Events and view the full list of field references, visit www.samhsa.gov/children.

Contact: Rachael Siefert:  202–248–5466
SAMHSA Press Office: 240–276–2130
www.samhsa.gov

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

Anne Frank: Holocaust Heroine

May 2011

May 2011

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

―Anne Frank

Anne Frank was born on June 12, 1929. While she lived to be only 15 years old, she is considered one of the most inspiring and symbolic figures associated with the Holocaust. Frank’s diary — which serves as a first-hand account of her experiences hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II — is one of the world’s most popular books.

In July 1942, Frank and her family went into hiding to avoid having to report to Nazi work camps in Germany. For two years, they hid in an attic apartment behind Frank’s father’s office without ever setting foot outside. During this time, Frank wrote extensive daily entries in her diary about the ever-present anxiety of being discovered by the Gestapo (German Secret State Police) and being forced into the Nazi concentration camps in Auschwitz. The voice behind her writing was filled with faith, hope and love in a time defined by hatred and violence.

In August 1944, the Gestapo discovered the Frank family’s hiding place after being tipped off by an anonymous Dutch caller. The family was shipped to the Nazi concentration camps. Frank and her sister, Margot, were eventually transferred from Auschwitz to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp where they both died of typhus in March of 1945.

Frank was one of more than 1 million Jewish children who died in the Holocaust. After she died, her diary was discovered by her father who had it published after reading the captivating passages contained within. Even though Frank never saw her diary published, she would be proud to hear that to this day, it is still being read by countless individuals who turn to it for inspiration.