What does family mean to y'all?

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Family is one of Be Strong Families cadre values, commencement with respect for and appreciation of others no matter how onetime, how young, where they come up from, what they've experienced, where they are, how capable they are, how healthy they are, who they dear. Information technology extends to individual'south 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 unit means something dissimilar 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 have go in life. It was my aunt and uncle who drove me around looking at colleges as a high schoolhouse student and encouraging me for higher education. My grandparents financed my college pedagogy. My family has always been there for me, in skillful times and not so good times. If information technology wasn't for my mother, I am not certain where I would be today. Since I got divorced 12 years agone, my mother has helped me financially to stay in my home and run across the needs of my growing kids."

- Nina Aliprandi (Lath Chair), Director of Plan Services, Maryville Academy

"Family for me represents the foundation of cocky, and a unity of acceptance, unconditional sacrifices, joy, support and love that is built 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 goes across bloodlines, last names or obligations. To me, the word 'family' includes all the people in our lives who commit to love and back up us unconditionally. Information technology is non a passive birthright just a choice, a discipline of kindness that helps us thrive both equally individuals and equally a club."

- 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 unit, broadly and inclusively divers, is the foundation for individual and community health, well-being and prosperity.  Let'south join together to strengthen families, nurture positive relationships, and promote resilience and hope."

- Anne Douglass, Ph.D., Founding Executive Director, Institute for Early Teaching Leadership and Innovation and Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts

 "For me family is so much more than but the people I am related to, my family also consists of a supportive and caring group of friends who I can laugh and cry with. Without the force of community, I experience that I would not accept equally much promise to be the parent and person that I strive to be."

- Kassia Eide (Board Secretary), SPARK Family Engagement Coordinator, Play a trick on Valley United Way

"I look at family as those who care about you the most and want to run into you grow and flourish. Helpfulness, respect, health, integrity and cooperation are my core values; my family unit understands my values and I understand their values. Through understanding of each other'south values, we arrive at a mutual respect and support. People with open up hearts and a willingness to accept y'all for the human that you are. Even when things become wrong and crunch faces you, you tin can always depend on family. Family brings you back to your values and helps y'all brand good decisions."

- Kenneth Krantz, CFP® APMA®, Financial Advisor, Grezlik, Krantz, and Associates Ameriprise Fiscal

 "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, Primary Operating Officeholder, Chicago Commons

"Family ways having someone to love y'all unconditionally in spite of y'all and your shortcomings. Family unit is loving and supporting one another even when it's not easy to do so. It's being the all-time person you could be so that you may inspire your honey ones. Family doesn't see color, race, creed not civilization it sees eye. Family isn't always near being connected biologically, because understands that other things and influences bind united states. Family is unrelenting, it'southward secure and reliable. Family isn't only important, it's what is most of import!"

- Marvin Lazenbury, MHS, Associated Director of Housing, Bucks & Montgomery County Valley Youth House

 "I used to tell this to my kids when they were younger, 'Our family is like Noah'southward ark. The outside world may sometimes feel chaotic or harsh or overwhelming, similar a flood. In our family, nosotros want to create an ark for each other — where we're safety and protected and feel a sense of belonging, loved, cared nearly, taken intendance of and protected.' They got it and that's the earth our family is."

- Naomi Mark, LCSW, Manager of Educational Programs for the Office of Workforce Evolution at NYC'due south 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 arrangement's mission through my time and judgment. I consider serving on this lath as something of a borough duty, in addition to a challenging and enjoyable experience."

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

 "Family e'er feels nearby. The closeness is never adamant by distance or time. Frequent gatherings develop into mutual support. And occasional visits enrich lives with gratitude. Family is comfort; it is domicile. What is nearly important: I refuse to limit family to a group or place. I am passionate about strengthen all communities. I believe, the foundation is respect and commitment and creating cherished moments."

- Antoinette Rice-White, Customs Parent Leader, Foster Parent, and Kid Care Provider

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

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

 "We are family."

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

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