BEAUTY WITHIN ~ TEEN ESTEEM ™

School's out. The sun's bright. It's finally summer. I know you've got a lot of plans, but here's something you won't want to miss: The  ACLU Advocacy Institute Summer Program  for high school students, which is still accepting applications until June 26. If you or someone you know is a high school student who wants to change the world, apply ASAP to join the ACLU Advocacy Institute in Washington, DC. The week-long program takes place from July 20-26, and will include workshops on grassroots organizing, legal advocacy, and presentations featuring ACLU experts, nationally recognized leaders, and activists who are leading the fight for social justice. We're committed to making sure that everyone has a chance to participate – and a few full scholarships are still available. Scholarships cover all expenses, including travel, and the remaining spots will be awarded on a rolling basis –  so apply ASAP before they're gone! ACLU Advocacy Institu...

One of the most important and difficult tasks that parents face is how to best support their children while also setting the kind of boundaries and structure that helps them grow up to become responsible and successful adults. Sure, children and teens love to test the boundaries that adults set for them. But it is important to make distinctions between instances where “kids are being kids” and when they’re asserting things about themselves that are critical to their identity and development -- as is the case with gender identity and expression.  In other words, for some transgender youth, family support can be the difference between life and death. Trans Actress Hunter Schafer on HBO’s Edgy Gen-Z Series ‘Euphoria’ety :Trans Gen-Z actress Hunter Schafer is poised for stardom, co-starring with Zendaya in the new HBO series "Euphoria."

Feeding and caring for a pet encourages childhood responsibility. Children with pets display improved impulse control, social skills and self-esteem. Sharing the love and care of a family pet forges an additional common bond among siblings. Cuddling a pet reduces stress, loneliness and anxiety.

LGBTQ Resource Map for Homeless Youth can be accessed at lacontroller.org/lgbtqresourcemap and is presented in partnership with the L.A. LGBT Youth Advocates Coalition and the Los Angeles chapter of PFLAG. The map highlights 100+ organizations in Southern California that provide housing, health resources, youth and education programs, scholarships, legal services, nutrition assistance and more to homeless and at-risk LGBTQ youth. Please feel free to share the LGBTQ Resource Map link with anyone who you think could benefit from it. I know that a map alone won't end homelessness, but it can help connect young people in need services they can use. Any assistance all can provide — especially right now during Pride Month — is worth it.

At Age 14 He Invented A New Surgical Technique That Is Now Called The “Hansberry Stich” The extraordinary journey of African-American inventor whose invention and discoveries have revolutionized the world.

Did you know that June is #InternetSafetyMonth ? Children whose parents and guardians regularly talk to them about personal safety are more likely to exhibit responsible behavior on their own. Visit https://www. netsmartz.org/InternetSafety   #WednesdayWisdom

People here in Central Florida lament the “brain drain” from talented students who leave the land of hospitality-based, dead-end jobs upon completion of their studies. We are ranked one of the worst places to live for young people, so the skilled and...