“Raising Children and Teens for a Meaningful Life” was the title of the adult leadership conference presented Monday, January 2 by distinguished life coach specialist Jerry Goebel in a free program hosted by the EnglishWORKS!-SpanishWORKS! learning center in San Antonio Tlayacapan.
The interactive presentation revolved around the theme “connecting kids to community and communities to kids,” as an approach to adult mentoring of children and teens.
The content of the two-hour session was geared for teachers, school administrators and persons involved with charitable organizations that work directly local youth. Among those attending the event were representatives of Love in Action, La Ola and Hope House.
Goebel has dedicated 30 years to youth guidance in faith-based and secular settings, as well as developing programs to share his knowledge with adults in leadership roles. He is the founder of LIFECoaches – a character-based mentoring outreach to at-risk youth that has operated in juvenile facilities in Washington State for over a decade. In 1998 both the Washington Senate and State Congress recognized the project “Outstanding Mentoring Program” of the year.
He travels extensively in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America to lead conferences, conventions, spiritual retreats, ministries and speaking engagements in his field of expertise. Working with educators, school boards, clergy, parents and volunteers, his programs focus on guiding adults on how to engage in “significant conversations” with young people with the aim of creating opportunities and strong foundations for transforming lives, families and communities.“The most important thing is raising healthy youth in a community of trusting adults,” Goebel stated as he launched into the lakeside conference.
Drawing on solid research by experts, his talk touched on topics such as bullying in school settings, developing positive interpersonal relationships, building on individual strengths, articulating personal values and fomenting academic achievement. He emphasized the important role that adults play in creating an ideal learning environment where youngsters encounter a model of strong relationships and high expectations.
Instituto Loyola classroom teacher Juan Antonio Ricalde Ojeda was among the many participants who left the event raving about the practical ideas and inspiration they acquired from Goebel’s talk. He said he was looking forward to a return appearance of the life coach in the near future.
For further information, interested persons may contact Laurie Roberts or Beverly Loavitt at the EnglishWORKS-SpanishWorks Learning Center, Calle Independencia 153 in San Antonio Tlayacapan, telephone (376) 766-2493. Direct email to www.escint.com.