What does family mean to y'all?

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Family unit is one of Be Strong Families cadre values, beginning with respect for and appreciation of others no matter how old, how young, where they come from, what they've experienced, where they are, how capable they are, how healthy they are, who they love. It extends to individual's choices of who they call family – what intentional, meaningful relationships they form. Our value of family extends to community and to sisterhood and brotherhood . Although we are united by this value, family means something unlike to each of us. Hear from our Board of Directors what family means to them:

"My family is and has been supportive in helping me raise my children. They represent the foundation of who I take go in life. Information technology was my aunt and uncle who drove me around looking at colleges as a high school student and encouraging me for college education. My grandparents financed my college education. My family has always been there for me, in practiced times and not so expert times. If it wasn't for my female parent, I am not certain where I would be today. Since I got divorced 12 years ago, my mother has helped me financially to stay in my home and meet the needs of my growing kids."

- Nina Aliprandi (Board Chair), Director of Program Services, Maryville Academy

"Family for me represents the foundation of self, and a unity of acceptance, unconditional sacrifices, joy, support and dear that is congenital on a continuum of resilience, and journey in humility from the past, current and future generations."

- Sandy Baba, Ph.D., Education Researcher

"I feel family unit goes across bloodlines, concluding names or obligations. To me, the word 'family unit' includes all the people in our lives who commit to dearest and support u.s.a. unconditionally. It is not a passive birthright only a pick, a subject field of kindness that helps u.s.a. thrive both as individuals and equally a society."

- Fernando Barcelona, President / Creative Director, Barcelona and Friends

"Holding on as one

Roots rich with stories of life

Ancestrally linked"

- Denise Boston, Ph.D., Dean of Diversity & Inclusion, California Institute of Integral Studies

"Family, broadly and inclusively defined, is the foundation for individual and community wellness, well-being and prosperity.  Let's join together to strengthen families, nurture positive relationships, and promote resilience and promise."

- Anne Douglass, Ph.D., Founding Executive Managing director, Establish for Early on Didactics Leadership and Innovation and Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts

 "For me family unit is so much more than just the people I am related to, my family unit likewise consists of a supportive and caring group of friends who I tin can express mirth and cry with. Without the strength of community, I experience that I would not accept as much hope to be the parent and person that I strive to be."

- Kassia Eide (Board Secretary), SPARK Family Engagement Coordinator, Fox Valley United Fashion

"I look at family every bit those who care near yous the well-nigh and want to see you lot grow and flourish. Helpfulness, respect, health, integrity and cooperation are my cadre values; my family unit understands my values and I sympathise their values. Through understanding of each other's values, we arrive at a mutual respect and support. People with open hearts and a willingness to accept you for the human that yous are. Even when things get wrong and crisis faces you, you can always depend on family. Family brings you dorsum to your values and helps you make good decisions."

- Kenneth Krantz, CFP® APMA®, Financial Counselor, Grezlik, Krantz, and Assembly Ameriprise Financial

 "To me a family is whoever I can depend on for support, to laugh with, to play with, and to share the challenges and rewards of life with."

- Beth Lakier, Master Operating Officer, Chicago Eatables

"Family means having someone to love you unconditionally in spite of you and your shortcomings. Family is loving and supporting one another even when it'southward not easy to do then. Information technology's existence the best person you could be so that you may inspire your dearest ones. Family doesn't see color, race, creed not culture it sees heart. Family isn't ever near existence continued biologically, because understands that other things and influences demark united states. Family is unrelenting, it'due south secure and reliable. Family isn't but of import, it'southward what is almost of import!"

- Marvin Lazenbury, MHS, Associated Managing director of Housing, Bucks & Montgomery Canton Valley Youth House

 "I used to tell this to my kids when they were younger, 'Our family is similar Noah's ark. The exterior earth may sometimes experience cluttered or harsh or overwhelming, like a flood. In our family, we want to create an ark for each other — where nosotros're condom and protected and feel a sense of belonging, loved, cared about, taken care of and protected.' They got information technology and that'due south the world our family is."

- Naomi Mark, LCSW, Director of Educational Programs for the Office of Workforce Development at NYC's Department of Social Services

 "My love for my family unit, my desire for them to be proud of me and my decisions, is my life's compass. I promise to advance the organization's mission through my time and judgment. I consider serving on this board as something of a borough duty, in addition to a challenging and enjoyable feel."

- Scott Reinglass, JD (Board Treasurer), Assistant Managing Attorney, Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

 "Family ever feels nearby. The closeness is never determined past altitude or fourth dimension. Frequent gatherings develop into mutual support. And occasional visits enrich lives with gratitude. Family is comfort; information technology is habitation. What is most important: I decline to limit family unit to a group or identify. I am passionate about strengthen all communities. I believe, the foundation is respect and commitment and creating cherished moments."

- Antoinette Rice-White, Community Parent Leader, Foster Parent, and Child Care Provider

 "Edifice potent families is a self-preservation strategy for any rational and sane society. An enlightened order is one which supports all of its members in reaching their full potential every bit human beings. I believe we can become truthful architects of our destinies rather than mere captives of our fate, of our past. This liberating model allows for truthful liberty as each segment of society takes responsibility for itself and for our extended human family. Information technology is a strengths-based and wellness model which leads to evolutionary growth, resilience, and development towards the higher reaches of human nature. It is a vision of hope, based on the most powerful forcefulness in all of nature: love."

- Carl Totton, Psy.D., Professor of Psychology, Phillips Graduate University

 "We are family."

- Katthe Wolf, MA (President), Founding Partner, and CEO of Be Strong Families

Our Make New Family Game QUESTIONABLE Is Hither!