Never doubt that a small group of a thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed it’s he only thing that ever has, as long as we stay wild at heart.

Never doubt that a small group of a thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed it’s the only thing that ever has, as long as we stay wild at heart.

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Dr. Cherie Safapou

Founder of Wise Wishes�and Health & Wellness Lions Club of Sausalito.

�Daniel Jahangard is Co-founder and Consultant at Healthy Habits Initiative.

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

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What is Social Justice?

Social justice’s view is that all people should have equal social, economic, and political rights and treatment opportunities.

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By this definition, gender equality is also a matter of social justice which allows equal access to rights, resources, and opportunities for women too.

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How we started...

• Wise Wishes Retreat conducted several in-class and on-campus student surveys in 2007.
• Survey results showed a strong, if not urgent request for help.

the problem

• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10-24
• The number one person that a student will turn to, to help a friend who might be suicidal is teacher.

The many factors that contribute to suicide.

Differences exist among those with and without mental health conditions.�People without known mental health conditions were more likely to be male and to die by firearms.

VSPI

ETHS 675

3-Phase Model

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Phase 1

Focuses on self-esteem and emotional intelligence.

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Phase 2

Focuses on anger management strategies.

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Phase 3

Focuses on building and maintaining healthy relationships.

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When asked about their body image, the percent of students who reported a positive body increased in all 3 comparisons.

When asked “how often do you compare yourselves to others?”

The % of students that compared themselves to other decreased in all 3 comparisons, including a 29% decrease in the first-third survey comparison.

14% more students reported they knew nutrition in the third survey than the first survey.

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The percent of students expressed fear was interfering with their ability to love and be loved decreased in all 3 comparisons.

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Students experienced a 19% increase in feelings of positivity and confidence in themselves from the first to third survey.

Social Justice Change is a process

Consciousness Raising

• Involves gaining information about yourself and the habit you are trying to change

Emotional Arousal

• This involves experiencing and expressing feelings about the problem or habit and possible solutions.

Self-reevaluation

• Involves assessing how you feel about yourself with respect to your habit. This may examining your values, identifying what you want to achieve.

Social Justice Change is a process

Environmental reevaluation

• Is the process of evaluating how your problem or habit affects your physical environment. Considering how your habit affects other people, your relationships, and your financial well-bin are parts of this process.

Commitment

• Is the process of choosing to make a commitment to act and believe in the ability to change

Helping Relationship

• Can be an important part of making a change. For us as educators this is the major ingredient in change

Social Justice Change is a process

Counterconditioning

• Is a change process that is likely to be recommended by behavior of teachers, this involves substituting alternatives for the problem behavior. using relaxation, meditation, and positive self-statements are examples

Environment control

• Involves avoiding or changing the stimuli that elicit the problem behavior. need to stay away from the mirror.

Reward/Reinforcement

• is a very powerful tool. You might reward yourself or be rewarded by others for making changes. are effective whether they come from yourself or from others

What students are saying

“Usually relieved from stress and a little more knowledgeable about myself.”

“I felt excited after completion of a session, excited to come back and learn more.”

“I’ve learned to love myself no matter what.”

You can not tame the SPIRIT of someone who has MAGIC in their veins.

Dr. Safapou’s Research is a Published Principal Presenter at this Education conference.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

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Mahatma Gandhi

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The Wise Wishes Retreat’s research study and intervention has been at the center of the Social Change and Social Justice movements with topics that include:

Developing confidence & Emotional Intelligence, Women’s Choice and Freedom, Ethnic Expression & Healthy Habits Life Choices, Self-Care, Strength through Empathy, Nutrition & Physical Fitness.

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Wise Wishes Retreat is also involved in the OFA’s branch activities in Marin County, California

OFA��Marin Country��California��2008 -Present

Dr. Cherie Safapou was named “Lion of the Year” in 2021-2022 by The Host Lions Club of Sausalito, California – est. 1927 �

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As Wise Wishes Retreat developer, focusing on social justice and women’s contemporary issues, Cherie’s own life inspired her to be active with the CJE’ Leadership Institute for Justice program “Silence No Longer: Empowered Women of Color Confronting the Family Court Crisis.”

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Cherie worked as an activist in California to advocate Commission on Judicial Performance (CJP) audit. CJP is charged with investigating complaints about judicial misconduct and deciding whether to discipline California Judges for violations of the code of judicial ethics

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Q & A