Difference Makers

"I decided to honor my mom, she is a cancer survivor..."

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:04:37 -0800

“I decided to honor someone close to me. I honored my mom. She is a cancer survivor. She inspires me every day, to live life to the fullest and not take life for granted, because life is fragile and it can be taken from us in an instant. I told her that I love her and I am so proud of her, for staying strong through her illness, but also now that she can and is helping other people get through… their fears and frustrations about cancer. I could see the warmth and the love flowing from her eyes. She appreciated the fact that I was telling her how proud of her I was. She now knows how much of a difference she make in my life, and always will!”

- Participant in Online Standing Strong Together Training

Learn more about our training: http://www.DifferenceMakersInternational.org

Testimonial from Women who honors Inmates with Blue Ribbons

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:06:52 -0800

“I help do groups for women inside Lancaster County Prison. I give each woman a blue ribbon, basically following the (Blue Ribbon Ceremony) steps - though I do not try to attach the Blue Ribbon to their prison garb. It has sometimes been very emotional. Once after I gave out 2 or 3, one of the women asked me if she could give a blue ribbon. So I handed her one and she turned to one of the other inmates and began to repeat what I had just said about how the other inmate was making a difference and being a helper. They both began to cry as they exchanged the ribbon. Then another woman asked if she too could give one. She gave it to the prison counselor and honored her and expressed appreciation for how (the counselor) was helping them and making a difference. They all applauded her and her eyes filled with tears. The women inmates very often say no one has ever told them they matter before.”

Read More of how her work is making a difference…

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/585164_Program-teaches-inmates-one-of-hardest-lessons.html#ixzz1mTskHgKd

"Who I Am" Energy Cards...the perfect gift!

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:00:05 -0800

"Who I Am" Energy Cards...the perfect gift!

Teen Declaration To His Peers

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:59:54 -0800

“I want the children of the world to know that I am their advocate, companion and friend. And that together we are going to change the future of the world. No matter what the past has brought, we are going to decide the future.

If you have allowed yourself to be oppressed in the past, today is the day to realize your power, and with that power create your future. If you have been hurt, condemned, teased, beaten, forced, ridiculed, or put down, you can overcome, you will prevail.

Use that energy you feel against the wrong, and bring love and light to your life, and help others to understand and feel that. Today you have the power, you make your own choices. Commit that you will not allow others to make them for you. When you do this, you will bring peace into your life and into this world.

Each day from now on, announce your place in this existence and be heard. Be kind to yourself and know that you deserve happiness and accept it.

Then go out and find another that needs some of what you have chosen to be given. Share with them some of what you have claimed.

Notice the lonely, the tired, the sad, the angry. Have the courage to listen. Make a difference in this world that will effect every living creature. Choose this day to make that difference, it is yours.”

Bradley W. Creer

January 25, 1994

A MUST READ! How Blue Ribbons transform women inmates in Lancaster

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:33:00 -0800

A MUST READ! How Blue Ribbons transform women inmates in Lancaster:

Ten women sit in a circle in an overheated, dimly lit room in Lancaster County Prison, they are here to learn a lesson that all of us — the embattled and the comfortable — need to learn.

Mary Steffy, a mental health advocate, delivers it.

You are important.

You mean something.

Love yourself.

Have a dream.

“Steffy tells the women that they were born with an innate value, something that can never be diminished by anyone else. Make that your core, she urges. Value yourself enough to act in your own best interest. When you start to believe you are worth something, it opens up the world, Steffy says. It gives you the power to control your future.”

"All you need is love"

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:28:36 -0800

Its a great day to spread the love! Whether you have a Valentine or not, spread love to those around you! <3 <3 <3

“This Thing Works! Ribbon Testimonial from South Africa

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:27:46 -0800

“Beginning of February 2012 I invited Patti to our office premises. Patti is our real estate agent. When she arrived she looked fabulous (as usual) and it was during this time, when we were together assessing the property, she blurted out that she was going through a divorce. She apologised that she had not been in touch with me, but she was feeling so awful, that she could only cry.

I was so shocked and sad to hear this, I just wanted to help. I didn’t know what to say or how to help her; I just listened and gave her a hug.

As we got to the end of the viewing of the property, I asked her if I could give her a gift. She had a very quizzical expression on her face. I proceeded to tell her about the “Standing Strong Together” Skype training I was doing with Difference Makers International, and asked her if I could give her a blue ribbon. I told her I wanted to honor her for her beauty, health, and work ethic because I felt such a connection with her. When I placed the blue ribbon over her heart, and gave her a “Bing!”, her eyes filled with tears, and she just cried aloud.

I thought I might have upset or embarrassed her, but she assure me that she was so grateful for my acknowledgement that she asked me if she could give me a hug. And so we just hugged each other for a moment or two. I gave her the two extra ribbons to pay it forward, and she immediately said that the first one she was going to give out was to her Mom.

The difference this made is that this morning, when Patti came back to the office with a group of people to take through the premises, she drew me aside and whispered that “this thing works.” I had the quizzical look on my face now, she related that she had gone home from our first meeting at the offices, and decided to honor her husband. She had given him one of the two blue ribbons she had saved. She whispered to me that they were rethinking the divorce and giving each other another chance. She said that she would phone me later today to tell me what happened.

I am feeling “goose-bumps” as I share this feedback. Really! “this thing works”, as Patti put it.”

Instead of flowers, instead of chocolates….just a message:...

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:58:13 -0800

Instead of flowers, instead of chocolates….just a message: You make a difference to me… In the form of a small Blue Ribbon to be placed above the heart. Now that’s a gesture of LOVE ♥

www.DifferenceMakersInternational.org

Please vote for these great teens!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:42:12 -0800

Please vote for these great teens!

Featured Blue Ribbon Story

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:00:05 -0800

At the Regional League of Cities – 42 US Congress people, Senators, Mayors and dignitaries representing 482 Dessert Mountain Division Cities in California each received a “Who I Am Makes A Difference”® Blue Ribbon for their help with an anti-bullying recognition program that the City of Barstow, CA. council has adopted. Each honoree was given extra ribbons to Pay It Forward.

COL. DAN ERMER, COMMANDER MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS – BASE BARSTOW declared that every returning soldier should be welcomed home with a “Who I Am Makes A Difference”® Blue Ribbon!

It all started because of JoAnne Cousino, the head of a youth organization in Barstow and graduate of our “Standing Strong Together™ Community Building Leadership Training. JoAnne, also known as Jo-Jo, is a Difference Makers Ambassador and for several years presented the Blue Ribbon Program in Barstow at different events including Relay For Life. This January she led the Blue Ribbon Exercise at the League of Cities and as a result, returning soldiers will be honored and welcomed home with a Blue Ribbon and shown how much we appreciate and value them.

Thank you JoAnne for being a DMI Ambassador and spreading the Blue Ribbon message!

IGNITE WHAT’S RIGHT! A campaign Giving Youth A Voice For...

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:05:01 -0800

IGNITE WHAT’S RIGHT! A campaign Giving Youth A Voice For Change!

Learn more: www.DifferenceMakersInternational.org

Testimonial from teacher

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:00:06 -0800

Dear Difference Makers,

I would like to thank you for giving Bay Park Elementary School the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful program. This program was very empowering for our students. In such a simple way, the children are learning a new way to show respect, love and compassion to each other. Who would have thought such a simple gesture could be so powerful.

My second graders treasured their “Who I Am Makes A Difference”® Blue Ribbons and walked around with theirs securely attached all day. When they found a ribbon laying on the hallway floor, they were horrified knowing that someone had lost something very special. They couldn’t wait to take their extra ribbons home and continue to spread the joy. The only other comment they had was, “Are there any more ribbons?”

Thanks again for coming and presenting this program.

How do you show your love and appreciation?

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:02:52 -0800

A) Hug

B) Tell someone why you appreciate them

C) Cheer them on for their dreams

D) All of the above! Honor someone with a “Who I Am Makes A Difference”® and show your love and appreciation in the best way possible!

www.DifferenceMakersInternational.org

Tune in to Enlightened Networking and hear some inspiring speakers!

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:20:16 -0800

Tune in to Enlightened Networking and hear some inspiring speakers!:

Tune in Friday at 8 a.m. PST for an enlightening interview with Helice “Sparky” Bridges..speaks about Difference Makers’ International IGNITE WHATS RIGHT ™ campaign…a global movement Giving Youth A Voice For Change!

Testimonial from the principal at Bay Park Elementary School

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:00:05 -0800

“Difference Makers” is already making a difference at Bay Park Elementary School!

Last Thursday we kicked off our new program, Giving Youth a Voice for Change…Bully NO More! Leadership Program as part of Difference Makers International’s “Ignite What’s Right”® global movement. It began with an assembly led by Helice “Sparky” Bridges, Founder and CEO of Difference Makers International. Students and staff have taken on the program with great enthusiasm and have already responded in amazing ways. What is different about the program is simple, it just makes sense!

Yesterday I met with three students in fourth grade who were having some social problems with each other. We spent some time talking it through and resolving the conflict. The problem seemed to be solved but the students were clearly still upset. To end the discussion I asked each student to think of Sparky and think about what she would say to help us end our conversation on a positive note. One student took the lead, looked right in the eyes of each student and told them what he appreciated and admired about them. They in turn did the same. I am proud to say, all three students left with smiles on their faces; they left the negative behind.

I am thrilled and extremely enthusiastic to continue to work with Sparky and her team to continue this important work of “Igniting What’s Right”™ Giving Youth a Voice for Change… and Bully NO More!”

Research suggests...happiness is contagious!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:25:57 -0800

According to Researchers from Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Diego:

“When an individual becomes happy, the network effect can be measured up to three degrees. One person’s happiness triggers a chain reaction that benefits not only his friends, but his friends’ friends, and his friends’ friends’ friends. The effect lasts for up to one year.”

Why Appreciation Matters So Much - Tony Schwartz - Harvard Business Review

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:08:23 -0800

Why Appreciation Matters So Much - Tony Schwartz - Harvard Business Review:

Difference Makers International believes that acknowledgment in the form of appreication is key to happiness and successful living. Read an article reporting some research conducted on this topic and why this matters at the workplace.

“Feeling genuinely appreciated lifts people up. At the most basic level, it makes us feel safe, which is what frees us to do our best work. It’s also energizing. When our value feels at risk, as it so often does, that worry becomes preoccupying, which drains and diverts our energy from creating value…” READ ON

Honoring a true Difference Maker, Roberto De La Pena!

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:07:02 -0800

Roberto De La Pena’s first experience with Difference Makers International was as one of the youth sponsored into our weekend leadership training. Walking into day one of the training, he was convinced it was going to be another boring “youth program” and was skeptical of the impact this could have. By the end of the weekend, he decided to return to the next scheduled training and bring his sisters and friends along with him. Five years later, he has continued on to become one of your DMI Youth Ambassadors, volunteered countless hours of community service with us, created a Blue Ribbon Assembly at his high school, High Tech High, presented on stage with the founder of DMI, Helice “Sparky” Bridges, and now for the first time has co-taught with Helice Sparky Bridges at a “Conflict Resolution Adventure Training” last Friday held at UCSD. The training was for his peers in the student government at San Diego City College to improve on their conflict resolution.

Roberto said the training was a “complete and total success.”

Thank you Roberto for being a Difference Maker and spreading our message..and Giving Youth A Voice For Change!

Listen to the founder of Difference Makers being interviewed by teens about bullying!

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:51:41 -0800

Listen to the founder of Difference Makers being interviewed by teens about bullying! :

Bullying is the most common form of violence in our society. Our two guests, Helice Bridges and Roberto de la Pena bring us the facts about bullying-the causes, effects, and ways to eradicate it.

These youth know what they are talking about! Tune in for a very interesting interview and some great facts and ways to prevent bullying!

Tune in today at 12 pm PST for Helice Sparky Bridges being interviewed by teens about BULLYING.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:31:28 -0800

TODAY! Listen to Helice Bridges and Roberto De La Peña discuss one of the most serious issues facing our youth, bullying. They will be interviewed on the “Express Yourself” teen radio program. Tune in at Noon- 1 pm PST at-

http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2014/express-yourself