Amish Youth Vision Project http://ayvp.org "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Proverbs 29:16 Wed, 01 Mar 2017 03:27:59 +0000 en hourly 1 New Ventures… http://ayvp.org/?p=124 http://ayvp.org/?p=124#comments Thu, 21 May 2009 02:16:18 +0000 admin http://ayvp.org/?p=124 As of Memorial Day, the Vision Project will be hosting an intern for seven weeks. She is an MSW student (Master’s in Social Work) from Iowa who will be living in the “Topeka House” as we call the home office in Topeka, Indiana (a few miles south of Shipshewana). Expanding our work into graduate training is a new venture for us.

]]> http://ayvp.org/?feed=rss2&p=124 0 Media Musings II http://ayvp.org/?p=119 http://ayvp.org/?p=119#comments Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:58:34 +0000 admin http://ayvp.org/?p=119 As the primary subject of the National Public Radio interview (originally aired on “All Things Considered” on March 18) I have to say they did a fantastic presentation in a short amount of time. It accurately depicts counseling with an Amish clientele. Unfortunately the story also took a minimum of nine hours of recorded interviews with six individuals and made what has been a team effort from the first sound like an individual’s efforts. We agreed to the interviews to spotlight the Vision Project; and in that regard, our emphasis and the emphasis of NPR, we learned after the fact, were at odds.

There are so many, many people who have made the Vision Project what it is today; Norm Kauffmann, (retired) Town Manager of Shipshewana, Indiana; my late wife, Linda Graham; Chris Weber (who did receive peripheral mention); Shirley Carey (who continues to be a foundation of our work); Mim Smith, who works with our Amish women and female adolescents; and so many, many others who support us. The Amish prefer that we not call them out by name; but as I write, I think of so many who patiently live with our foibles, our lack of understanding, our missteps as we work with them, and believe in us and our fumbling efforts to help. They are the true foundation of the Vision Project. To all of you — thank you.

Jim Cates

]]> http://ayvp.org/?feed=rss2&p=119 0 Media Musings…. http://ayvp.org/?p=116 http://ayvp.org/?p=116#comments Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:38:19 +0000 CRWEBER http://ayvp.org/?p=116 Well, we have survived our first media experience, with a few lessons learned, and (hopefully) no damage done.  The only real regret I have is that the young man’s full name was used in the report at NPR despite our expressed and repeatedly stated desire that his name not be used.  An interested result for me personally was in reading the responses posted at the NPR website, some misinformed, some insightful and some simply strange.  It is a reminder that, while very few people outside of the Amish culture have an understanding of what the lifestyle is like, it doesn’t stop everyone from having strong opinions or a belief that they know more than they really do.  Certainly, I can say that the more I learn the less I feel I know.

]]> http://ayvp.org/?feed=rss2&p=116 0 Volleyball Tournament http://ayvp.org/?p=115 http://ayvp.org/?p=115#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:58:33 +0000 CRWEBER http://ayvp.org/?p=115 Just a quick note to say thanks to everyone involved in the Volleyball Tournament last weekend (You know who you are). Humility on their part denies me the chance to name those responsible, but they know who they are. This was a complicated project that came off seamlessly, thanks to a lot of work by a few dedicated people. Again, thanks.

]]> http://ayvp.org/?feed=rss2&p=115 0 Annual Report http://ayvp.org/?p=87 http://ayvp.org/?p=87#comments Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:48:20 +0000 admin http://ayvp.org/?p=87 The 2008 Annual Report is available upon request. Please contact the Director, James A. Cates, for a copy.

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