Workshops, Webinars, Training

Teaching, Equipping, Empowering

Upcoming Training, Workshops, Webinars …

Leadership Chatuge Community Builders, Class VI: February 1-April 19, 2023 — REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

Attention leaders, emerging leaders, and entrepreneurs who want to help build thriving communities! Whether you work or serve in business, government, education, the arts, nonprofits, or you’re preparing for your next vocational or career move, Leadership Chatuge Community Builders can equip and support you, providing a solid foundation to be a more knowledgeable and effective leader in our rural mountain community. Topics include: personal leadership styles, regional economic development and opportunities, local history and Appalachian culture, community supports, understanding social determinants of health, and much more. Highlights include speakers who are experts in their fields, networking opportunities, resources, and engaging presentations. Becoming more knowledgeable in these areas will prepare and equip participants to serve more effectively and confidently as community builders.

    • For adults and high school students in Clay and Cherokee counties (NC) and Towns County, GA.
    • Class size limited for optimal instruction and interaction.
    • 12 weeks; Wednesdays, 5:30pm-8:30pm; at Hinton Rural Life Center, Hayesville, NC.
    • Tuition cost of $375 includes speakers, weekly dinners, and supplies; some partial scholarships are available.
    • Applications available on-line by clicking HERE and at Hinton’s Administration Office.
    • Applications due and on-line registration closes at midnight on January 29, 2023. Registration is closed.
    • If  you wish to be a sponsor of Leadership Chatuge Community Builders, click HERE.

For information on scholarships, to obtain an application, or for more information, email info@hintoncenter.org .

2023 topics and presenters/speakers include: history of the region from historian Jerry Taylor, President and CEO Patrick Woodie from The NC Rural Center; Erik Brinke of BRMEMC and Sara Thompson of Dogwood Health Trust will enlighten the class on the intricacies of economic development in our region; District Attorney Ashley Welch and Amanda McGee, director of social services in Cherokee County, will talk about government in action and what our tax dollars actually cover;  Dr. Dawn Grinenko of The Still Place will speak on early childhood development; Margarita Gonzalez of Dogwood Health Trust will share her knowledge on adverse childhood experiences and social determinants of health; Hinton Center’s Rev. Dawn Martin will lead a poverty simulation; and Dr. Jennifer Hallett of Young Harris College will facilitate a session on effective communication. Other community leaders speaking to the class include Mayor Liz Ordiales of Hiawassee, Mayor Tim Radford of Murphy, and Cherokee County’s School Superintendent Jeana Connelly. They will discuss their leadership journeys and how to be a community builder. And, graduation on April 19 will feature guest speaker Dr. Carol Burton, who serves as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at Western Carolina University.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training

Upcoming Trainings:

MHFA for Adults Virtual Training  — Thursday, March 23, 9am to 3:30pm.  Registration is closed.

For more info, click HERE.

Mental Health First Aid for adults teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to adults who are struggling with mental health challenges or crises, and you’ll learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE? Employers, pastors, church members, nonprofit employees, first responders, care and service providers, health care workers, volunteers, those in caring relationships with other adults.

  • Participants will complete a 2-hour, self-paced online course prior to the Zoom training, led by Hinton Center’s Reverend Dawn Martin and Reverend Karen Kluever.
  • For the virtual training, participants should have access to a computer and internet connection.

Youth MHFA Virtual Training, for adults who work with youth — Monday, April 24, 9am to 2:30pm.

For more info, click HERE. To register, click HERE.

Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adolescents ages 12-18. You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to young people who are struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE? Youth leaders, coaches, parents and grandparents, educators, mentors, those who employ/supervise young people, and others who care about them.

  • Participants will complete a 2-hour, self-paced online course prior to the Zoom training, led by Hinton Center’s Reverend Dawn Martin and Reverend Karen Kluever.
  • For the virtual training, participants should have access to a computer and internet connection.

Want to schedule a MHFA training session for adults in your community, church, school, or other organization?

Two courses are available: Adult MHFA and Youth MHFA (for parents/guardians and adults who work with youth, such as teachers, coaches, church youth leaders, etc.). Participants will learn how to recognize signs of a mental health crisis or issue and be equipped to respond appropriately in offering support and connecting individuals with the help needed.

Training options include virtual, on-site, and combination. Hinton staff can offer on-site training at Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, NC, or at your location (host covers travel//lodging expenses). For details, see the flyers below and/or email info@hintoncenter.org .

MHFA_Adult flyer

MHFA_Youth flyer

Youth Leadership Chatuge (YLC)

Post-pandemic relaunch of  Youth Leadership Chatuge for 2022-2023 to be determined. Watch this space for updates or follow us on social media.

What Is Youth Leadership Chatuge?

The purpose of Youth Leadership Chatuge is to develop leadership skills of middle school youth assessed to have innate leadership abilities so that they are — and feel — equipped, empowered, and encouraged to be servant leaders in their spheres
of influence, resulting in positive and recognizable impacts.

Youth Leadership Chatuge is a 9-week leadership training program for middle school youth
offered after school, at the school, once a week. Each session is 90 minutes. Participants are accepted into the program, based on applications and assessments for giftedness in organizational leadership. The course is led by Karen Kluever, of Hinton Center, with the help of community volunteers. It consists of a series of hands-on, small group activities that focus on specific leadership abilities. Students take turns serving as team leaders; activities are followed by small group discussion.

YLC General Info

Hinton Resources Available by Link or Order …

Free Webinar Video: “Wesley, Racism, and Anti-Slavery”

Click HERE

From the early days of his ministry, Methodism founder John Wesley was a staunch abolitionist. Professing that all humans are made in the image of God, he worked continually to end slavery, offer salvation to all, and spread scriptural holiness. This webinar, led by Dr. Jonathan LeMaster-Smith*, explores how Wesley’s anit-slavery writings can inform and inspire our anti-racist work today.

 

Free Webinar Video: “How Methodists Respond to Disease & Pandemic  Through Music, Art, & Poetry”

Click HERE 

Throughout their history, Methodists have responded in many ways to diseases and outbreaks. This  webinar, led by Dr. Jonathan LeMaster-Smith*, focuses on their responses through song, poetry, art, and craft, inspiring participants to reflect on artistic responses to our current pandemic crisis.

Webinar Series

Bird Feeders and Pie Pans: Pandemic, Faith & the Rural Community

Order HERE.

This digital, 5-session resource (on a USB drive) includes videos of the live webinars, PowerPoint presentations,  pdfs of the PowerPoint slides, and a discussion guide. Use for small group study, Sunday school class, or other ministry team program.

Just as there are multiple, creative responses to birds in gardens, rural folk have the potential to respond to their COVID-19 realities and the fallout from this disease. Dr. Jonathan LeMaster-Smith*  explores those realities and guides participants in considering some uniquely Christian and rural ways in which to respond.

*Dr. Jonathan LeMaster-Smith has undergraduate and master’s degrees in Christian Education from Pfeiffer University and a PhD from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Christian Education and Congregational Studies, with a focus on rural ministry. He is an online instructor for Garrett and Wesley Theological Seminary and teaches Rural Ministry certification courses through BeADisciple.com. Jonathan lives outside of Hickory, North Carolina.