Mentoring Day on the Hill



GRIP at Mentoring Day on the Hill

                   January is National Mentoring Month!

It is a time of awareness of mentoring programs and the good they do for communities. It is also a time for recognition and appreciation for the people who give their time to mentor. A major event is the Iowa Mentoring Partnership's Mentoring Day on the Hill.

January 17th GRIP attended the Mentoring Day on the Hill, a day at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. Mentoring programs from around the state set up booths and called out their legislators. It was a day to catch up with representatives from previous years and to educate new legislators on our programs. It was amazing to see all of these mentoring programs coming together with their legislators to show what a difference we are making in the lives of youth across Iowa!

After the Day on the Hill, 5 mentors from Iowa were recognized for the '2013 Excellence in Mentoring Award.' All 5 of these individuals had amazing stories serving as mentors throughout their lives.

We would like to say a huge 'Thank You!!' to our GRIP mentors and to all the mentors out there who are giving their time, skills and knowledge to youth across the county and the world.

                 Happy National Mentoring Month!

"Play With Words!" Recognizing Amazing Literacy

The Ames Public Library and Iowa State Center are premiering "Play With Words!" Stories, plays, poetry and music all written by youth in the Ames area and performed by the Children's Theater in January! Recognition is one of the most encouraging ways to keep kids reading and writing. For the amazing story and event details please check out the blurb below!

Early last spring, area middle-school and high-school-aged students were invited to participate in a special collaboration among Ames Children’s Theater, Ames Public Library and the Iowa State Center. During a summer-long workshop, participants wrote stories, plays, poetry and music. A selection of these creative works has now been adapted into an innovative theater production. 

Children's Theater, in cooperation with the Ames Public Library and Iowa State Center, is excited to premiere "Play With Words!" at Fisher Theater on Friday, January 18 at 7:30 pm and again on Saturday and Sunday, January 19 and 20 at 2 p.m.

Join director Susan Norris and cast members Bronwyn Brooks, Holland Brooks , Jeff Brooks,  Amy Feddersen, Cheryl Kimberley, Kayla Pierce, Clae Riker, Isaiah Riker, Lily Shedd, Ben Teske, Jason Vernon, Susan Vernon and Hannah Wigdahl to experience this one-of-a kind production. Iris Brenner, Melissa Jones and Charlotte Mann of Jaw Harp Potential add their original music in setting poems by Regan Suntken. 

From wagon trains moving across the plains to encounters with fairies and big scary dogs, you will not want to miss this inventive production.  Enjoy the creative fruits of these talented authors: Makenna Wallace, Kayla Pierce, and Padmashree Rajagopalan. It is certain to be a fun time for all ages.

Tickets are only $10 for everyone and can be purchased at the Iowa State Center ticket office and at all TicketMaster outlets.

For more information, call (515) 294-7389 or (515) 292-9454.