Heart-to-Heart Newsletter, August 2020
For over thirty years Heart-to-Heart and its parent organization, Comienzos, has brought life-changing education to incarcerated people. A new program, Heart-to-Heart Families, is emerging as an extension of this work. Through this program Heart-to-Heart trainers, coaches, and volunteers will help parents and caregivers care for themselves as they care for their children. The primary focus will be supporting families impacted by incarceration and other adverse childhood experiences. (Click to learn more about ACEs from the CDC). The vision for the program emerged out of conversations with Heart-to-Heart learner, Chris Hartstein. She is the author of the children’s book, An Inside Story, and creator of its accompanying wool doll. From that, it has grown into a six-week parenting class where the book and doll will be referenced.
Hartstein tells us the goal of the program is to extend the teaching of Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication to families. (,Click to learn about the Center for Nonviolent Communication). “The intention being that the people in prison that Heart-to-Heart has reached with their nonviolent education would be supported by having their families learning the same concepts” says Hartstein.
Nonviolent Communication is key to what Heart-to-Heart teaches in and out of prisons. Heart-to-Heart Families will start that conversation at home. Heart-to-Heart hopes to reach a diversity of families because raising children who know they matter is important to all of us. Hartstein can envision working with families who currently have a family member who is incarcerated as well as when this member returns home. The goal is to have a continuation of learning during and after incarceration.
The first six-week parenting class will be held over Zoom. “The book and other materials will be shared so that families can have visual references in the home” says Hartstein. Many adults and children learn concepts with graphics so having the materials in person will make the concepts of Nonviolent Communication easier to grasp.
Hartstein is excited to positively impact children’s lives by spreading the skills of Nonviolent Communication. She asks, “If the kids are learning this stuff, how do we support them in continuing to grow their empathy skills?” She answers with, “Well schools! Let’s share this information not just with parents, but with teachers and counselors.” The physical doll will be engaging for a teacher to hold up and talk with young children about their emotions and needs.
Hartstein tells us she’s been wanting to bring Heart-to-Heart Families to life for the past three years. She invites anyone who would like to reach young children, parents, or educators with the beauty of Nonviolent Communication to contact her to share their excitement, skills, and connections.
If you’d like to learn more or get involved with Heart-to-Heart Families, please email h2hfamilies@heart2heartinc.org for more information.
Heart-to-Heart is currently, prepping, planning, and looking for philanthropic partners for this project.
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Thank you to those who have contributed to the 2020 Fund for Heart-to-Heart.
We have raised over $5,000 to support our vital work.
Thank you!
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Remembering Dave Petrelius
Heart-to-Heart ally and filmmaker, Dave Petrelius, died on July 1 at the age of 72 following his fight with cancer. We remember Dave fondly for his warmth and commitment to our work. Dave built on a 29-year career in NFL films by doing philanthropic filmmaking for our organization. ,Click here to watch my favorite video that he filmed, edited, and produced. Dave was born in Sweden and grew up in Germantown, Philadelphia. As an adult, he and his family settled in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Dave is missed by his wife Theresa, his family, friends, colleagues, and all of us at Heart-to-Heart. His dedication to social justice led him to become our ally, contributor, and friend.
Thank you, Dave, for your life of service and friendship.
Remembering Sharon Wilson
Heart-to-Heart learner and contributor Sharon Wilson died on July 10 at the age of 59, following twenty years of living with Multiple Sclerosis. We remember Sharon for her perseverance and generosity.
Sharon was born and raised in western Pennsylvania and settled in the Philadelphia area where she worked in banking for decades. She leaves behind her parents, siblings, many family members, and her long-time partner and caregiver Jeff Riddle. Sharon and Jeff were learners and supporters of Heart-to-Heart for years. Neither of them let illness keep them from striving to live their best life. We send out gratitude for Sharon’s life of giving and prayers of support for Jeff and all who survive her loss.
– Steve Tumolo
Volunteer and Internship Opportunities Starting September 2020
Heart-to-Heart, an innovative nonprofit organization with projects in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, seeks student interns or volunteers for an opportunity to contribute to our mission of helping people affected by incarceration find pathways to healing.
Qualifications include good written and verbal communication skills, comfort with teamwork and collaboration, ability to listen well, social media experience with reliable internet access, and ability to meet deadlines. This person should have a passion for service and justice, and a desire to gain professional experience while developing communication and leadership abilities.
Heart-to-Heart offers you
- an opportunity to develop valuable skills while making an immediate impact on people affected by incarceration in communities throughout the Northeastern United States.
- an opportunity to grow in awareness of issues related to violence, trauma, and mass incarceration while developing communication, leadership, fundraising, and project management skills.
- an opportunity to work closely with a team, while primarily working remotely from the convenience of your home, setting many of your own hours.
Responsibilities can include one or more of:
1. Community Research and Community Outreach:
- assessing the needs and available services through web searching, email communications, and cold calling for returning citizens and/or caregivers of children who have an incarcerated family member in communities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Maryland/DC;
- assisting Heart-to-Heart in connecting people and organizations to Heart-to-Heart’s educational programs;
2. Graphic Design, Content Creation, and Social Media Development & Coordination:
- creating content for monthly newsletters and social media and effectively communicating with Heart-to-Heart supporters and potential supporters through social media, website, print, and other outlets;
3. Fundraising and Major Gift Prospecting:
- fostering relationships with supporters and potential supporters through the development and execution of one or more online events;
- assisting in the grant and major gift research and writing process
4. Other opportunities depending on skills, interests and needs.
Apply soon to increase your chances of being selected.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Volunteer opportunities vary from 10 hours/week to full-time and from one month to year-round.
To apply, send a cover letter stating your interest and a resume to: Lisa Ewan, Executive Assistant – lisaewan@heart2heartinc.org
Please write Internship or Volunteer in the subject line of your email.
Project Manager Job Description
The Project Manager is responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of the Heart-to-Heart Families program. These elements include but are not limited to: product and program development, community outreach and research, marketing, budgeting, finances, fundraising, organizational structure, and strategic alliances.
The Project Manager coordinates and facilitates meetings among the Heart-to-Heart Families team.
The Project Manager works closely with the Executive Director and Creative Director to ensure that the Heart-to-Heart Families program is moving in the desired direction and serving the target communities.
The projects 7 elements:
Product DevelopmentnProgram DevelopmentnCommunity Research, Outreach & Marketing Agreements / LegalnBudgeting, finances, fundraisingnOrganization Structuren> staffing, use of consultants, advisers, resource board Strategic Alliances
This is a short-term, part time, remote, contract position of approximately 20 hours/week for about 12 weeks. n
To apply, send a resume, cover letter, and references to: Lisa Ewan, Executive Assistant – lisaewan@heart2heartinc.org
Heart-to-Heart thanks you for taking the time to read and engage with our upcoming projects while also remembering those who have helped us on our journey.
We will see you in September!
Katie Mullarkey, Newsletter Editor
