Message from Dr. Newman: Thankful – November 2025
Dear Friends –
I want to share how thankful all of us at RESPECT are for all of you – and for so many things!!!!
- Our Jubilee Fundraiser surpassed our expectations – the evening was full of friends, fun and fundraising! Bingo games, RESPECT scenes, silent auction shopping, and delicious catered treats made for a lively evening. Our board members shared their energy and efforts, helping to make the evening a success! Under Artistic Director Michele’s direction, our Actor Educators put on great performances! All RESPECT staff worked hard to put together a bright and shiny Jubilee atmosphere! Cara (our Program and Development Manager) and Associate Executive Director, Paige, combined their superb creativity and organizational skills so that the evening was flawlessly executed! It was a delightful evening!!!!
- Our Year End Report “went to press” and is available for all to read! You can read it here. The year was full of plays and workshops – programs for thousands of students! Some of my personal favorite moments? The launch of our new play Watch My Whiskers at the Nebraska Humane Society (a play about respecting animals and using safe behavior with critters of all sorts!) Our presentations at the Lied Center for the Nebraska School Counselor Association – and at the PEW (Promoting Empowerment in our World) with the JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Committee) and at the Kim Foundation’s Youth Empowerment Conference – both events being programs for high school youth!
- Our staff professional development plan (overseen by our Education and Training Director, Kathie) provided many opportunities and experiences for staff to learn with some of our community partners – Project Harmony, the Kim Foundation, Collective for Youth, and the Boys Town Hotline – a few of many! Our Actor Educators are truly being provided with knowledge, skills, and experiences to enhance their work at RESPECT and their own personal and professional skills as a concerted RESPECT effort to develop these important positions into “Fellowships!” Are you interested in sponsoring one of these special positions? Call me or Paige!
- On a personal note, I am thankful for being honored with and awarded the Inspire Visionary Award on October 29th. The work of RESPECT reflects the vision of many to support “Healthy Relationships for All” – our vision statement and a vision that has become reality for many over the past 25 years! See our 2024 – 2025 Data Analysis Report to see what our students learned!
- Last, not least – I am thankful for all of you who care enough to follow our work, share our resources with your students and share your resources with us! Thank you for helping us make our vision a reality!
RESPECTfully…Thankfully,
Patricia
