What does family mean to you?

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Family is 1 of Be Strong Families core values, start with respect for and appreciation of others no matter how sometime, how immature, where they come from, what they've experienced, where they are, how capable they are, how healthy they are, who they love. Information technology extends to individual's choices of who they call family unit – what intentional, meaningful relationships they form. Our value of family unit extends to customs and to sisterhood and alliance . Although we are united by this value, family means something different to each of us. Hear from our Board of Directors what family unit means to them:

"My family is and has been supportive in helping me enhance my children. They represent the foundation of who I have get in life. Information technology was my aunt and uncle who drove me around looking at colleges equally a high school student and encouraging me for higher educational activity. My grandparents financed my college education. My family has always been there for me, in skillful times and non so practiced times. If it wasn't for my mother, I am non sure where I would be today. Since I got divorced 12 years ago, my female parent has helped me financially to stay in my dwelling and meet the needs of my growing kids."

- Nina Aliprandi (Board Chair), Managing director of Program Services, Maryville Academy

"Family unit for me represents the foundation of self, and a unity of credence, unconditional sacrifices, joy, support and dear that is built on a continuum of resilience, and journey in humility from the past, current and hereafter generations."

- Sandy Baba, Ph.D., Pedagogy Researcher

"I feel family goes beyond bloodlines, terminal names or obligations. To me, the word 'family' includes all the people in our lives who commit to love and back up united states unconditionally. It is non a passive birthright but a choice, a discipline of kindness that helps usa thrive both as individuals and as a society."

- Fernando Barcelona, President / Artistic Managing director, Barcelona and Friends

"Belongings on as ane

Roots rich with stories of life

Ancestrally linked"

- Denise Boston, Ph.D., Dean of Diversity & Inclusion, California Institute of Integral Studies

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

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

 "For me family is so much more just the people I am related to, my family too consists of a supportive and caring group of friends who I can laugh and weep with. Without the forcefulness of community, I feel that I would non have as much hope to exist the parent and person that I strive to be."

- Kassia Eide (Lath Secretarial assistant), SPARK Family Engagement Coordinator, Fox Valley United Way

"I expect at family unit as those who intendance about yous the almost and want to run across 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'southward values, we arrive at a common respect and support. People with open hearts and a willingness to take you for the human that you lot are. Even when things go incorrect and crisis faces you lot, yous tin always depend on family. Family unit brings you back to your values and helps you make good decisions."

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

 "To me a family is whoever I tin depend on for support, to laugh with, to play with, and to share the challenges and rewards of life with."

- Beth Lakier, Chief Operating Officeholder, Chicago Eatables

"Family means having someone to love yous unconditionally in spite of y'all and your shortcomings. Family is loving and supporting one another fifty-fifty when it's not like shooting fish in a barrel to exercise then. Information technology'southward being the all-time person you could be so that you lot may inspire your honey ones. Family doesn't see color, race, creed non culture information technology sees center. Family isn't always about existence continued biologically, because understands that other things and influences bind u.s.a.. Family is unrelenting, information technology's secure and reliable. Family unit isn't simply of import, it'due south what is nearly of import!"

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

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

- Naomi Mark, LCSW, Director of Educational Programs for the Role of Workforce Development at NYC's Department of Social Services

 "My honey for my family unit, my desire for them to be proud of me and my decisions, is my life's compass. I hope to advance the organisation's mission through my time and judgment. I consider serving on this board as something of a civic duty, in addition to a challenging and enjoyable experience."

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

 "Family always feels nearby. The closeness is never determined past distance or fourth dimension. Frequent gatherings develop into mutual support. And occasional visits enrich lives with gratitude. Family is comfort; information technology is home. What is nearly of import: I decline to limit family to a group or place. I am passionate near strengthen all communities. I believe, the foundation is respect and delivery and creating cherished moments."

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

 "Building strong families is a cocky-preservation strategy for whatsoever rational and sane society. An enlightened order is one which supports all of its members in reaching their full potential as human beings. I believe nosotros can become truthful architects of our destinies rather than mere captives of our fate, of our past. This liberating model allows for truthful freedom as each segment of gild takes responsibility for itself and for our extended human family. It is a strengths-based and health model which leads to evolutionary growth, resilience, and evolution towards the higher reaches of man nature. It is a vision of promise, based on the most powerful forcefulness in all of nature: beloved."

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

 "We are family unit."

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

Our Make New Family Game QUESTIONABLE Is Hither!