The Abundant Assets Alliance combines the resources of YMCA of the USA, YMCA Canada and Search Institute--three distinguished organizations with proven success in building strong kids, families and communities. The alliance seeks to strengthen the capacity of YMCAs and the communities they serve to provide young people with the support and experiences they need to become healthy, caring and competent adults. Harnessing the power of extensive research on developmental assets--the essential building blocks for human development--the alliance partners have developed a holistic, systematic approach to improving young peoples' lives that involves the entire community.

Abundant Assets Web Conference June 26, 2008; 1:00 to 2:30 pm (cst)
The second of four web conferences hosted by the Abundant Assets Alliance through Y-USA will be held next Thursday, June 26th from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. central standard time (2:00pm eastern standard time and 11:00am pacific standard time). This opportunity will present asset building ideas and strategy from the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati’s story. The process and current efforts with the Asset Builders Alliance, a collaboration with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati will be explored. To be a part of this conversation online and listen by phone, please follow the participant instructions below. If you miss the conference and/or want to hear the audio playback, those instructions are included. Call-in/Log-in Information: PARTICIPANT INSTRUCTIONS (Please cut and paste these instructions into your meeting invitation) Step 1: Dial the Conference Access Number: 1-866-551-1530 or 1-212-401-6700 Step 2: Enter your PARTICIPANT PIN Code followed by the # key: 7037563# Step 3: At the prompt, record the required details: Full Name and Company Step 4: You will be placed on musical hold until the Event begins Step 5: Go to https://www.anywhereconference.com Step 6: Enter your Web Login Reference: 130229158 Step 7: Enter your PARTICIPANT PIN Code: 7037563 Step 8: Enter your Name Step 9: Click “Go” If the PIN code is not dialed, or dialed/typed incorrectly, you will be automatically transferred to our Customer Service Department, who will be able to place you into the conference. In addition, the Arkadin Customer Service team can be reached at any time during your conference call simply by pressing *0 on your telephone keypad. AUDIO PLAYBACK INSTRUCTIONS Step 1: Dial your Playback Access Number: 1-866-551-4520 or 1-212-401-6750 Step 2: Enter your Conference Playback Reference followed by the # key: 229159# CUSTOMER SERVICE Participants can reach Arkadin Customer Service team during your conference call simply by pressing *0 on the telephone keypad. The next conferences are scheduled for Thursday, September 25th and December 11th. Check abundantassets.org for further updates and contact Sandra Harris at sandra.harris@ymca.net

or 312 339-7609 for additional questions and comments.

Abundant Assets Web Conference Update
We appreciate the presenters and those who participated in the first Abundant Assets Web Conference. The session on “Assets in YMCA Culture” featured Janet Kafkas, from YMCA of the USA; Shari West, from the YMCA of Greater Vancouver and Melissa Cuff, from the YMCA of Greater Houston. Janet gave an overview of the Assets and Culture study and Shari and Melissa spoke about their experiences of asset building in their YMCA culture. You can access the audio portion of the web conference here: click here.

Click on it to revisit the topics covered or, for those unable to join us, experience it for the first time. The Abundant Assets Alliance through Y-USA will host three more web conferences for asset building champions on June 26th, September 25th and December 11th. Each conference will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end by 3:00 p.m. Hold these dates for the other sessions and topics - June 26, 2008: “Asset-Rich YMCA Communities” - September 25, 2008: “Assets and YMCA Programs” - December 11, 2008: “Continuous Improvement Tools” - For more additional information and/or questions, please contact Sandra Harris at sandra.harris@ymca.net

or 312 419-8381. The Assets and Culture report, case story from Vancouver and powerpoint presentations from the conference are available on the abundantassets.org website under “What’s New?” We also encourage each of you to sign up for the listserv on the abundantassets.org website. We will have continued online conversations through the listserv.

Camp Research
Sheds Light on Factors that Influence Youth Development

Participating in camp experiences has a positive impact on young people’s social skills, physical and thinking skills, positive identity, and positive values and spiritual growth, according to a summary of two studies by the American Camp Association (ACA) that is published in the October 2007 issue of Search Institute Insights & Evidence. To read the articleclick here.

MVParents
Involved Parents are the Real Heros

All parents want their children to succeed. But knowing how to help them make smart choices and avoid pitfalls isn't always easy. That's where MVParents.com comes in. MVP Parents.

New-The Asset Messenger
A monthly newsletter created by the Center for Asset Development

Each month the Asset Messenger, Building Blocks for Healthy Development for ALL Young People, will be posted here. For the August newsletterclick here. For the back to school special issue newsletterclick here.