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6 Degrees of Separation-Forward Step It I'm always touched by how ripples of value spread in terms of our work here at Forward Step. Whether leading the program or taking it, both parties benefit. Volunteers give, and receive from learning and from the satisfaction of making a difference. And spreading the word sends out waves that have an effect as well. Ironwood State Prison purchased the COMPASS curriculum after hearing about it from an inmate who experienced it at Men's Central Jail. One of our latest donors is a family foundation; a member of the family is a friend of a friend of mine. We grow through your caring. There are so many ways to get involved. You can make a donation or be a volunteer. You can spread the word to organizations that might want to use our program. Or call us with leads. Perhaps you have a loved one, teen or adult, you think would gain value from the COMPASS program. If your son/daughter, brother/sister, husband/wife or friend is involved with a school or an organization where COMPASS could be used, you can help make it happen! We now have a variety of ways you can help sponsor COMPASS into an organization of your choice. The range of places where COMPASS has been used includes: schools, juvenile facilities, community centers, recovery facilities, and correctional facilities. We are grateful for all of you who care, who step forward and take action, in small and large ways. We really appreciate it, as do those who experience the ripple effect as the value moves out into the world. So, thank you for being part of the Forward Step team.
A Global Perspective I hear a clock ticking - overpopulation, dying oceans, ozone depletion, and wars to name a few of the global challenges. We have limited time to turn things around if we are to save humanity and the living elements of our planet. I believe we have the resources, both the brainpower and the physical kind, to solve the world's problems. To oversimplify, what keeps us from effectively using those resources is fear. When I look out at the world and see the destructive things that people do to themselves and others, I don't see evil as much as I feel pain. People in pain compulsively act out, using the best strategies that they know in order to protect themselves from feeling pain. Sometimes this leads to tactics such as addictions (to drugs, food, sex, gambling, TV, sleep, whatever) to numb the pain. Sometimes this leads to violence in an attempt for people to protect themselves from more pain, whether the suspected attack is real or a delusional fantasy resulting from projections. When people are fearful, they are usually triggered into reactive behaviors that are less than excellent for solving the problems they are facing. They may first need to heal the underlying pain buried in their minds and then learn to use more effective methods to deal with their challenges. I believe the key to solving the world's problems is education, a very special kind of education. When people know a better way to protect themselves from pain and fear than recourse to addictions and violence, when they own viable skills that they can use to successfully handle problems, they naturally use those more effective means. Personal development is the key – to healing and to owning strategies for effective problem solving. The reason I am so passionate and committed to my work with Forward Step is that I believe our COMPASS program is a highly effective way to make personal development more accessible. I see personal development as the single most critical path to resolve our planetary crises in time. If a sufficient number of people become able to think clearly and creatively, become skilled at problem solving, compassionate communication, conflict resolution, collaboration and other soft skills, many of today's problems would get solved. It is time that these essential life skills and emotional competencies are taught to and learned by as many as possible. This kind of education needs to be made available to everyone so that we can reach critical mass in personal transformation, and create societal change of a kind that will bring us the world peace and prosperity that is possible.
Bibi Caspari
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