Monthly Archives: June 2016

With Open Arms and Mind


It is with open arms and an open mind that I serve as the Founder and CEO of a non-profit that I believe has such great potential to blossom.

The key to Community service, as modeled by my parents when I was young and impressionable is unequivocal selflessness. It is not possible to effectively serve with ‘reservation’. This is where the open arms, heart and mind policy comes to play. Service- whether socially or spiritually based – I believe, should be positioned to address the needs of those who feel they can use what the provider has to offer. It should be devoid of biases, personal vendettas or anything that casts a shadow of insincerity.

It is unfortunate that what can be characterized as innate discriminatory practices, more often than not, come to play in this process and muddy things up. When the absence of open mindedness is not wreaking havoc with the obstacles and barriers that otherwise ‘well-meaning’ people place in the way of others, it is busy reinforcing the superiority complex in others who simply ‘know’ this can’t be for them even though it is this very practice of denial that has created a need for service.  This, to say the least, is not for the faint of heart. It must be emphasized here that most people who serve, do so, looking for nothing in return as they bless others with what they have been blessed with.

How does one rise above this, and continue to serve with open arms, heart and mind – even in the midst of man-made psychological hurricanes?

I will now share some of the tools I have used to navigate this self-help personal development dilemma:

  1. Introspection – a serious look into the essence of my being. Why am no I here? Where do I see myself in the bigger picture of the fabric of mankind or humanity?
  2. Commitment: How badly do I feel the need to be of service to my fellow man, knowing that I have no control over who will or will not appreciate my efforts?  How willing am I to learn new ways to handle my life so that the service I render is more complimentary rather than a distraction to me? 
  3. Determination – How strong is my desire to stay the course- no matter what or who for that matter, becomes an obstacle in my way? What would it take to derail me, if anything?
  4. Empathy: How am I doing in the unwavering love, respect, and understanding for my fellow man/woman department? How capable am I of feeling agape love, respect and compassion to the extent that I can understand and appreciate the plight of others around me? Do I have a desire to relate to others who are ‘not like me’, or am I embarking on a solely self-serving journey?  It is the “there but for the grace of God go I” reality of life that keeps one grounded and humbled enough to serve with open hands, mind and heart.

Now, for some service-related Madonarism by Madona Cole-Lacy 

“When we choose service with an open heart and mind, over the sideshows of the growth process of life, we can go to bed at the end of the day with a measure of appreciation for the true meaning of self-actualization that will lead us to a strong desire to reproduce the same in the morrow.”Madona Cole-Lacy

“The ability to empathize with others around us is the power cord upon which service with an open heart and mind is grounded. Handle this cord with care!”

It is my wish that this post, which was inspired by a WordPress One Word Prompt, will encourage others to develop their own list of self-help service-related tools. 

Your Time for Creative Empowerment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that educates and empowers children, adolescents and parents of both secular and faith-based communities in the Long Island area, through the use of arts, fashion and culture as mechanisms to:

* Improve interpersonal relationships* Avoid pitfalls that are unique to life in the 21st Century * Specifically identify and effectively develop healthy problem-solving* Enhance personal development and increase cultural sensitivity.

 

 

 

 

The Excitement Continues!


As the school year winds down this week after a hectic year for dedicated staff and administrators, we celebrate students who went above and beyond expectations. I say, “well done” to these students, some of whom I had the pleasure of experiencing at their Senior Awards event. It is my hope that parents, guardians and community members would take a moment to tell a student in their lives, how much they appreciate the hard work that they have put into making the year a successful one. It is easier and quite natural for the high achievers to receive compliments for obvious reasons, but let us not forget those who are striving to get there – those who also have their eyes on the prize, even though their individual life situations do not lend themselves to instant success. Such students could use some encouragement and cheerleading along the way to excellence. As I wish our youth a safe and exciting summer vacation experience, I would like to share yet another attempt at video-editing of the final 2015/16 school year Creative Empowerment Arts Scholarship presentation awarded to Visual Arts Winner Jhalisa Bayer, and Runner Up Dany Mazariegos (in absentia) of the Wyandanch Memorial High School on June 9, 2016.

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We were happy to see Melchizedek Aarons, last school year’s Geoffrey and Ivonne Canada Scholar and  Your Time For Creative Empowerment, Inc. Creative Empowerment Arts College Scholarship recipient in the music category. Mel who has just completed his freshman year at Lincoln University, will be on hand to share his expertise on how to achieve balance at college. As we further attempt to encourage dialogue amongst youth peers, we have also invited Marie Saint-Cyr, a 2014 Creative Empowerment Arts contestant, to make a presentation on what it takes to prepare for, and successfully study abroad.  Marie, who has just completed her freshman year at F.I.T was also able to navigate her way to and through a study abroad opportunity. An exciting time awaits! Here is an introduction to Marie’s Spring Semester Abroad.

I would like to conclude this post by underscoring the reason why Your Time For Creative Empowerment, Inc. was birthed. Our mission is to provide creative ways to effect youth and family empowerment in light of the challenges and pitfalls of the 21st Century. The programs and activities we offer, are designed to benefit students and families of the human race, regardless of their social or economic status. This is borne from my discovery as a licensed New York State teacher who had the privilege of demonstrating that teaching reading, writing and arithmetic is only a fraction of the task teachers are charged with doing.  Another source of inspiration is the realization that the challenges of life and pitfalls are no respecter of money or perceived racial, political and social superiority. This is enough to embolden me to ask you, the reader, and the world at large to support us and similar youth empowerment initiatives as an investment in leaders of tomorrow.

Love Notes:

Yes, multi-tasking does not afford me an opportunity to specialize in any one of the areas of the multiple hats I wear. It is my hope that my call for like-minded folks with a bit of time to spare will soon find its  way into the hearts of those who can volunteer in the video-editing area of need, as well as, other areas of need. 

Resource Persons:

Since we take the well-being of those we serve seriously, we ask that you please work with us by supplying verifiable information on your registration form if you want to be considered as a member of our pool of Resource Persons. We can work with you better when we understand your interest in joining us. 

Call to Action:

Please click on the image below to sign up or support us.

Your Time For Creative Empowerment Workshop 2016 Countdown

Your Time for Creative Empowerment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that educates and empowers children, adolescents and parents of both secular and faith-based communities in the Long Island area, through the use of  the arts, fashion and culture as mechanisms to: * Improve interpersonal relationships* Avoid pitfalls that are unique to life in the 21st Century * Specifically identify and effectively develop healthy problem-solving* Enhance personal development and increase cultural sensitivity.

 

An Exciting Time of the Year: A Time to Congratulate, Celebrate, and Reward Seniors!


At this exciting time of the year, when high school seniors are reaping the reward of their hard work, I am honored to be granted the opportunity to be in the midst of some of this excitement! Thanks to students who have responded to Your Time For Creative Empowerment’s call for the annual Creative Empowerment Arts Contest!  I also thank and commend the administrators, principals and staff of these schools for the hard work they put into organizing their respective senior award events. I have so far had the honor of making a college scholarship presentation to the following:

Nailah Garard of the Half Hollow Hills High School East

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Left to Right: Mr. James A. Lacy, Volunteer Program Director, Mrs. Madona Cole-Lacy, Founder/CEO, Creative Empowerment Arts Contest Scholarship Recipient Nailah Garard, sister, Japera, brother, Caleb (Medical Student) and proud father, Mr. Stan Garard, of the recipient of two awards that night.Creative Empowerment Arts Contest

Glorieanne Quiban of Farmingdale High School

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Your Time For Creative Empowerment Founder, Mrs. Madona Cole-Lacy acknowledges  Glorieanne Quiban for her winning entry at 2015 Fundraising gala

As I sat amongst other presenters at both awards events, I couldn’t help but feel I truly belonged there – whether or not I was scheduled to make a presentation. Our leaders of tomorrow were being acknowledged for the hard work they had put in throughout the years! Even with the impressive representation of the immediate family members, I could see how the significance of this acknowledgement spills over to the community at large, to become the business of my co-presenters who represented all facets of the community.

I must confess that, if it were possible, I would have given a hug to every one of those ACHIEVERS! I would have told them to keep their eyes trained on the prize, for the world was looking up to them for sustainability.  As I expressed my conviction that they could rise up to the occasion, I would have prayed that they would take this “random lady” seriously enough to believe it.

Glorieanne Quiban, (recipient of two awards)  and her proud mother, Ms. Sheeryn Quiban, join Founder/CEO Madona Cole-Lacy and Program Director James A. Lacy after the Farmingdale High School awards ceremony

I will now share our best attempt at video taping and editing in celebration of one of our leaders of tomorrow, Nailah Garard. I do this proudly, but with a heightened awareness of the fact that Your Time For Creative Empowerment, Inc. is in need of a volunteer professional videographer or an aspiring videographer. Contact us here.

 

Creative Empowerment Arts Contest Scholarship Presentation

 

 

Your Time for Creative Empowerment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that educates and empowers children, adolescents and parents of both secular and faith-based communities in the Long Island area, through the use of  the arts, fashion and culture as mechanisms to:

* Improve interpersonal relationships

* Avoid pitfalls that are unique to life in the 21st Century

* Specifically identify and effectively develop healthy problem-solving

* Enhance personal development and increase cultural sensitivity.