“Developing An Emotional-Health-Friendly City—
The Salinas Project, represents an excellent fit with
our goal to achieve peace and prosperity
through strengthening our families.”
— Mayor Dennis Donohue
Salinas, California
Strengthening Cities
“Imagine what would happen if
an entire city rallied to create emotionally
healthy environments for its children.”
— Dr. Newmark
DEVELOPING AN
EMOTIONAL-HEALTH-FRIENDLY-CITY
What is an Emotional-Health-Friendly City?
It is a city whose citizens have developed an understanding of how important emotional health is to success in life and how the neglect of emotional health in our homes and schools has jeopardized the future of our children, families and communities.
It is a city whose citizens have adopted five critical emotional needs—respected, important, accepted, included and secure—as a unifying concept around which all elements of the city can rally to create emotionally healthy environments where adults interact with children in emotionally healthy ways.
It is a city that provides its families and individuals, a small book with a big idea, How to Raise Emotionally Healthy Children by Gerald Newmark, Ph.D., in which the concepts of the five critical emotional needs first saw the light of day.
It is a city, which in collaboration with The Children’s Project, makes the book available to all individuals at a cost that everyone can afford.
It is a city where all the elements—business, education, civic and community agencies, the at-risk community, the young and old, rich and poor can come together to learn and practice a language of unity in a collaborative attempt to achieve peace and prosperity.
The feeling of being a part of something that has significance beyond one’s self, with strong implications for schools and families, education and cities nationwide, is expected to raise the morale of all participants throughout the city.
THE SALINAS PROJECT:
An Emotional-Health-Friendly-City
Dr. Nemark’s appearance at a bilingual parent education event last spring drew a record turnout of more than 300 parents, most of them Spanish Speaking. (Watch the video of this event below.)
arent education event last spring drew a record turnout of more than 300 parents, most of them Spanish Speaking. (Watch the video of this event below.) The enthusiasm among parents was so great that Salinas Project was launched with a 4-week read-a-thon of the book, How To Raise Emotionally Healthy Children, conducted by the Salinas City Elementary School District and involving over 3,000 parents and teachers. Under the leadership of Superintendent Donna Vaughan the book will now be incorporated into the curriculum of all 12 schools in her district and given to any interested parent for free. This is part of a larger plan to encompass the entire citizenry of Salinas, including all segments of society: business, education, civic, social, and medical organizations, and the at-risk and gang communities. Through such an effort, emotional health can be sown into the fabric of daily living in Salinas.
According to the city’s Mayor, Dennis Donohue, “Given the number and complexity of problems facing Salinas, the need for an ambitious, systemic and comprehensive approach, that can mobilize the support, energy and enthusiasm of all its citizens in a collaborative effort, has never been greater. Developing An Emotional-Health-Friendly City—The Salinas Project, represents an excellent fit with our goal to achieve peace and prosperity through strengthening our families.” > Read the Mayor’s Letter
Rose Colin, Director of prevention for Sun Street Centers in Salinas was one of the first to discover Dr. Newmark’s book. She believes that if enough parents and teachers in Salinas follow the advice laid out in the book, “We have the chance to change a generation.”
Read the Salinas Californian Article, “Book helps stop gangs and bullies in Salinas.”
The enthusiasm among parents was so great that Salinas Project was launched with a 4-week read-a-thon of the book, How To Raise Emotionally Healthy Children, conducted by the Salinas City Elementary School District and involving over 3,000 parents and teachers. Under the leadership of Superintendent Donna Vaughan the book will now be incorporated into the curriculum of all 12 schools in her district and given to any interested parent for free. This is part of a larger plan to encompass the entire citizenry of Salinas, including all segments of society: business, education, civic, social, and medical organizations, and the at-risk and gang communities. Through such an effort, emotional health can be sown into the fabric of daily living in Salinas.
California Mayor Boldy
Embraces Emotional Health
According to the city’s Mayor, Dennis Donohue, “Given the number and complexity of problems facing Salinas, the need for an ambitious, systemic and comprehensive approach, that can mobilize the support, energy and enthusiasm of all its citizens in a collaborative effort, has never been greater. Developing An Emotional-Health-Friendly City —The Salinas Project, represents an excellent fit with our goal to achieve peace and prosperity through strengthening our families.”
What Salinas Citizens are Saying . . .
Rose Colon, Director of prevention for Sun Street Centers in Salinas was one of the first to discover Dr. Newmark’s book. She believes that if enough parents and teachers in Salinas follow the advice laid out in the book, “We have the chance to change a generation.”
> Read the Salinas Californian Article:
“Book helps stop gangs and bullies in Salinas.”
© 2009 The Children’s Project, a nonprofit organization.
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