Listen to Nisa / Recommendation / Health & Marriage Fact Sheet/ Wimps/Blogs/ Af Am Men/ Divorce morality -5/20/08

Tue May 20 14:24:33 EDT 2008

- LISTEN TO NISA MUHAMMAD ON NPR
- RECOMMENDING THE JULIE BAUMGARDNER FULL-DAY TRAINING
- MARRIAGE AND HEALTH: FACT SHEET
- NATION OF WIMPS MAKES TWO BEST-SELLER LISTS!
- NEVER A DULL MOMENT ON THE DIVORCE BUSTING BLOG AT PSYCHOLOGY TODAY
- MARRIAGE BENEFITS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN
- SURVEY: 70 PERCENT FIND DIVORCE MORALLY ACCEPTABLE

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- LISTEN TO NISA MUHAMMAD ON NPR

> Is Marriage Better for Your Wallet?
> 
> News & Notes , May 19, 2008 · Some studies say that marriage is a great way
> for black families to secure their economic stability. But if you don't have
> much money ‹ and your spouse doesn't either ‹ could marriage really improve
> your bottom line?
> 
> We take a closer look with Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Keith Reed ‹ who
> writes BET's finance blog, Dollar Out of 15 Cents ‹ and Nisa Islam Muhammad,
> founder of the Wedded Bliss Foundation. She's also a correspondent for Final
> Call newspaper.

Listen here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90592253

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- RECOMMENDING THE JULIE BAUMGARDNER FULL-DAY TRAINING

This reminds me that today's most frequently asked question was from people
that have already registered for the conference who called and emailed to
ask HOW to add an Institute.  They couldn't see how to do it online.  That's
true, you can't do it online.  Simply call 651-487-3001 ext "0" or email
smc at cmehelp.com and tell them who you are and what you want to add. - diane

> Hi Diane, 
> Friday, Julie Baumgardner provided a phenomenal training here in Utah for
> those interested in starting a Community Healthy Marriage Initiative.  We held
> a one-day event with attendance from one end of the state to the other.  I
> could have listened to her for a week.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND her sessions at the
> Smart Marriages Conference.
>  
> Also, I might be interesting for the list: we are in our second week of our
> new 5-year Public Awareness Campaign.  Here's a link to a press release:
> http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/utah-department-of-workforce-services-
> hires-richter7-for-healthy-marriage-initiative,398458.shtml
>  
> Melanie Reese, Coordinator
> Utah Healthy Marriage Initiative

HERE is the full-day "how to do it" Institute:

> 903 One Day - Sunday, July 6
> First Things First: Marketing Marriage Education to the Community
> Julie Baumgardner, MS, Rozario Slack, DMin
> Implement educational, media-savvy strategies using both paid and free
> advertising that will increase participation, change attitudes and behaviors
> and reverse the epidemic of family breakdown in your community.
> $50 spouse discount. Click for more
> information:http://www.smartmarriages.com/firstthings.htm

Also, check the Marketing/CHMI track for all kinds of sessions on how to get
up and running in your community-marriage efforts: marketing, fundraising,
recruiting: http://www.smartmarriages.com/chmi.track.html

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- MARRIAGE AND HEALTH: FACT SHEET

In San Francisco, plan to attend the TAlK-ABOUT on Fri July 4 at 4:30pm to
share strategies about getting info to the public and policy makers about
the compelling benefits of Healthy Marriage on the nation's health.  The
meeting will be chaired by Jana Staton who has just completed a
comprehensive review/fact sheet that tells the story of the effects of
marriage on physical health, from the effects on children throughout their
lifetimes, to the impact of marrying on young adults, to the consequences of
divorce, and especially the major impact of low-quality marriages on older
couples¹ physical health. We know the research on marital status and health
is strong; what public health and health care folks don¹t know is the
emerging research on the importance of marriage quality. And, it's perfect
that this paper is ready for the Smart Marriages Conference where we know
WHAT TO DO about improving the QUALITY and STABILITY of marriage.

To prepare for this lively Talk-About, download and read Jana's Fact Sheet:
http://www.smartmarriages.com//uploaded/Staton.Health.and.Marriage.pdf

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- NATION OF WIMPS MAKES TWO BEST-SELLER LISTS!

I love this book by Hara Marano that busts the MYTHS that have today's
well-meaning parents scared silly - afraid to their kids play outside, ride
their tricycle without a helmet, or walk to a neighbors house.  And, I love
it and am encouraged by the fact that it's getting such wonderful reception
on radio and on best seller lists  leads me to believe there may be hope.
Accurate info is welcomed.  Parents are willing to reconsider.

> Wake up, America: We¹re raising a nation of wimps. They can¹t make their own
> decisions, cope with anxiety, lack leadership skills, and as college graduates
> can¹t even negotiate their own salaries without bringing mom or dad in for a
> consult. Hothouse parents are raising teacup children‹brittle and breakable,
> instead of strong and resilient. This crisis threatens to destroy the fabric
> of our society, to undermine both our democracy and economy. Without future
> leaders or daring innovators, where will we go? What can be done?

Order on amazon.com from $13.49 at:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/app/Media.Booklist

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- NEVER A DULL MOMENT ON THE DIVORCE BUSTING BLOG AT PSYCHOLOGY TODAY

Two of our San Francisco presenters, Steven Stosny and Michele Weiner Davis
write Blogs for Psych Today - and, of course, they're both the best on the
site. OK, maybe I'm biased but judging by the reader's comments, many agree.
And, the reader comments are what make these so fascinating.  Like today's
entry from Michele on Infidelity.  I read it and think, "Well of course, who
could disagree?"  And, then I read the comments and reality hits and the
need for our continued work is made clear.  It does fire me up - keeps me at
the grindstone.  You might try it when you need a reason to keep rowing.
Here's the Infidelity piece by Divorce Buster, Michele, who by the way, will
present a keynote on July 3 on her latest book: The Sex Starved Wife.

> "I Wasn't Looking for an Affair, It Just Happened." | Psychology Today Blogs
> <http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/divorce-busting/200805/i-wasnt-looking-
> affair-it-just-happened>

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- MARRIAGE BENEFITS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN

American Values Reporter
May 20, 2008

*************************************************************************
New Research Brief on the Benefits of Marriage for African American Men
*************************************************************************

Currently, many policymakers and civic leaders are interested in developing
strategies to improve the well-being of African American men, and to close
the achievement gap between black men and other groups. Research Brief 10,
"The Benefits of Marriage for African American Men" by Berkeley economics
doctoral student Claudia Sitgraves, surveys the research on the effects of
family structure on African American men and finds overwhelming evidence
that getting and staying married has a significant beneficial effect on
black men's well-being.

Married black men have higher incomes and are less likely to experience
poverty. They enjoy better physical and mental health than their unmarried
counterparts, and  are less likely to engage in unhealthy or antisocial
behavior. Moreover, the benefits of marriage are transmitted from married
parents to their sons, and these boys do better in life from childhood into
adulthood.

To read or download "The Benefits of Marriage for African American Men,"
visit:
http://center.americanvalues.org/?p=73

This brief is part of the Institute's "Future of the Black Family" Series.
To view the other titles in this series, visit:
http://center.americanvalues.org/?cat=27

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- SURVEY: 70 PERCENT FIND DIVORCE MORALLY ACCEPTABLE

Survey: 70 Percent of Americans Find Divorce 'Morally Acceptable'

An alarming 70 percent of Americans now believe that divorce is ³morally
acceptable,² according to a recent poll by Gallup¹s 2008 Values and Beliefs
survey.

Mon, May. 19, 2008 Posted: 14:54:45 PM EST

An alarming 70 percent of Americans now believe that divorce is ³morally
acceptable,² according to a recent poll by Gallup¹s 2008 Values and Beliefs
survey.

The new figure  the highest on record  represents an 11 percent increase
from just 7 years ago and a 3 percent increase from 2 years ago. Only 22
percent of Americans said they believed divorce was ³morally wrong,²
according to the results.

The acceptability of divorce among Americans was ranked higher than all of
the other 16 ethical issues surveyed  including the death penalty,
gambling, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, abortion and medical research on
animals. Additionally, divorce has risen faster in moral acceptability among
Americans than any of the other ethical issues.

Although the recent results revealed that the acceptability of divorce has
risen steadily to the point where it is now ³morally acceptable by a
majority of nearly every major demographic category of Americans,²
respondents who identified themselves as ³conservative,² ³religious,² or
over 65 years in age were more likely to say that divorce was ³morally
wrong.²

Respondents who identified themselves as ³liberals,² ³independents,² and
³non-religious,² on the other hand, registered the highest number of
responses that said divorce was ³morally acceptable.² Nearly 91 percent of
those who said religion was ³not very important² in their lives said divorce
was ³morally acceptable,² according to the results.

While the recent poll reveals a steady and alarming rise in the
acceptability of divorce, more than 70 percent of Americans continued to
rate suicide, cloning humans, polygamy, and ³married men and women having an
affair² as ³morally unacceptable.²

The Gallup poll results were based on telephone surveys of over 1,000
adults.

Aaron Leichman
Christian Post Reporter

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12th Annual Smart Marriages® Conference, Hilton San Francisco Hotel,
June 30-July 6, 2008  (General Conference July 2-5)
Pre-Conference Training Institutes June 30-July 2
Post-Conference Training Institutes July 6
DOWNLOAD a conference brochure and register at:
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