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March 2025 
Dr. Taylor encourages families to choose A Chance To Grow for their vision services because “We believe vision is crucial to whole-body development and also dependent on the whole body, so we work closely with our Occupational Therapists for many of our pediatric patients.” Through collaboration, A Chance To Grow is able to provide coordinated care and meet the needs of those with complex, sometimes overlapping issues. This interdisciplinary approach is what makes A Chance To Grow unique from other clinics.
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Did you know that A Chance To Grow is one of few clinics in Minnesota that uses “RightEye” eye tracking technology? RightEye gives us a deeper understanding of how eye movements impact our pediatric Occupational Therapy clients. For children, vision isn’t just about seeing clearly—it’s an essential skill that affects everything from reading and eye-hand coordination to balance and body awareness. RightEye is an eye-tracking system that uncovers, tracks, and illustrates any eye movement impairments a client may have. RightEye’s vision reports give our Occupational Therapists critical insights that can shape each child’s therapy plan. When a child struggles with reading, it’s not always a matter of simply not understanding the words—they may have trouble smoothly moving their eyes from word to word. The RightEye system allows us to observe how the eyes move while reading to uncover any eye-related issues. With RightEye’s video playback feature, our Occupational Therapists are able to watch how a patient’s eyes move throughout a passage. It’s like having a map that shows exactly where a child’s vision is impaired, so we can target those areas directly! For parents, this visual feedback is incredibly helpful because it provides a clear, concrete picture of what’s happening and shows the progress their child makes over time. One of the most important skills for reading and vision is something called “saccades.” These are the quick movements the eyes make as they move from one stationary point to another, like when reading from left to right across a page or moving to the next line. Saccades are crucial for smooth and efficient reading.
Heart chart exercises help children develop the skills necessary for fluid reading and improved eye-hand coordination. Vision is a fundamental skill that impacts everything from balance to learning. We are proud to help children develop the visual readiness they need to succeed. Through the combination of vision technology and individualized care, we give our pediatric Occupational Therapy clients the tools they need to overcome challenges.
Ask your child’s Occupational Therapist about RightEye to learn more!
S.M.A.R.T. Steps has helped the children at Little Wonders build foundational learning skills such as gross and fine motor skills, vision skills, auditory skills, and balance: all of which are essential for reading, writing, focus, retention, and more. By strengthening these skills, children prepare for preschool and kindergarten learning! In addition to learning-readiness benefits, S.M.A.R.T. Steps helps Brenda manage challenging behaviors.  We join Brenda in thanking the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) for spreading awareness of continuing education opportunities like S.M.A.R.T. Steps. SMIF is a proud partner of A Chance To Grow, serving 20 counties, 175 communities, and one Native nation in the southeastern Minnesota region. Says Brenda, “Having SMIF offer these trainings to us, it shows that our profession is being valued, which is huge.” A Chance To Grow is honored to support Family Child Care Providers like Brenda, who are located in rural Minnesota communities.
Read the entire story here: smifoundation.org/blog/2024/12/feeling-valued/ Photos by Red Bird Hills with permission from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Join the "Understanding The Distracted Mind Seminar" at A Chance To Grow to learn how brainwave frequencies affect our ability to focus, calm, and control our impulses. Plus, discover ways to address concerns holistically and how neurofeedback can help you self-regulate more effectively.
Key learning points:
Receive one complimentary neurofeedback session for anyone in your family ($99 value) when you sign up!
UPCOMING EVENTS >>>
Calm Your Mind Workshop: November 19 (6:30-7:30PM) Give To The Max Day: November 21 ACTG Offices Closed For Holiday: November 28 - 29 Calm Your Mind Workshop: December 11 (11:00AM - 12:30PM) CALM YOUR MIND WORKSHOP
CONGRATS PRE-K GRADS!
This fall our Turnquist Child Enrichment Center celebrated six stellar graduates! These 5-year- olds are off to Kindergarten and we couldn’t be more proud of them. We even had one student graduate at 4 years old because she excelled developmentally, emotionally, and academically!
To celebrate this important milestone, family, friends, and staff came together to congratulate our super-star graduates with a graduation ceremony! After each child’s name was announced, they received their Pre-K diploma along with a backpack filled with Kindergarten school supplies! This year we even had a decorate-your-backpack station, temporary tattoos, and food for everyone!
Liz Ruzek (Director of Turnquist) shares: “Many of the children have gone to Turnquist since they were an infant or toddler. So our staff remember the kids from when they were small and form really tight bonds with the families and the children. It’s tough to see the kids go!” 
Graduating from Turnquist means transitioning to a much larger school, not only for the child but for their parents too. With this change comes some nerves, so Turnquist’s Parent Coordinator, Carla Yeager, works with each family to help them get enrolled at their new school and ensure they are registered for any services they need for a successful school year. We are excited for our graduates and know they will do wonderfully in Kindergarten and beyond! THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF LEARNING: S.M.A.R.T. IN ACTION! “Every district needs S.M.A.R.T.. Before they do anything else, schools need this program because S.M.A.R.T. is the foundation of learning,” shares Maxine Perko, retired First Grade Teacher, and now Rock Ridge Elementary’s S.M.A.R.T. Educator. According to Maxine, S.M.A.R.T. changed her entire outlook on education. When Maxine first brought S.M.A.R.T. to Minnesota’s Eveleth-Gilbert school district, she began teaching in an empty room, creatively using her resources. When the district merged with Virginia schools and Rock Ridge Elementary was created, S.M.A.R.T. remained a priority. Now, after years of growing the program, Maxine teaches in a spacious room dedicated to S.M.A.R.T. learning! Students enjoy an array of fun and enriching activities. A Chance To Grow’s “Stimulating Maturity Through Accelerated Readiness Training” (S.M.A.R.T.) program is designed to bring brain stimulating, developmentally rich movement activities to Pre-K through 3rd grade learners. As noted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, “physical activity is crucial to the development of a child’s brain. Movement helps to enhance neural connections, supports cognitive development, and improves overall learning outcomes.” Laurie Hipple-Jam, First Grade Teacher, has the following to share about S.M.A.R.T.:
Maxine describes S.M.A.R.T. as the building blocks of learning success. This can be seen in the “Cross Patterning” S.M.A.R.T. activity. Cross Patterning integrates both sides of the brain which is essential for a child to read, write, and perform motor movements! Since Cross Patterning can be done while walking, it is a great activity that students can practice during transitions to the classroom and playground, or with music which the children love! Maxine often works with children as they progress from Pre-K to 2nd grade, which allows her the opportunity to watch their learning skills grow exponentially with the help of S.M.A.R.T.! S.M.A.R.T. WORKSHOP CALENDAR:
A Chance To Grow’s Minnesota Learning Resource Center is excited to be hosting the following S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K and Elementary Workshops! Do you know an educator or early-childcare professional? They won’t want to miss out on this interactive 3-day workshop! Help us spread the word!
 S.M.A.R.T. in Bermuda: BSMART Throughout her 16 years as a highly regarded elementary educator in Bermuda, Allison Figureido noticed that something was hindering the success of her students. Children who came into the school high functioning, left the school high functioning, and the children who came in low functioning, left low functioning. The pattern was disappointing and predictable. She realized that children were expected to pass tests, without receiving the individualized support needed to grow in the areas in which they struggled. Says Allison, “There is a lot of pressure to reach life milestones quickly. But if you force that, there are areas that get missed. The developmental piece is so important.”
Allison knew that S.M.A.R.T. is what students in Bermuda were missing. With S.M.A.R.T.’s multi-sensory approach, students would receive the tools they needed for academic success. The S.M.A.R.T. program is unique because it centers on the important relationship between the brain and the body. By using intentional, movement-based activities at the proper frequency, intensity, and duration of practice, children become better prepared to learn. S.M.A.R.T. activities focus on the growth and enhancement of balance, coordination, reflex integration, body awareness, and visual and auditory skills, because these are the foundations to learning. Whether a child is behind in specific developmental milestones for their age, or meeting each milestone, S.M.A.R.T. makes learning easier for all children.
Allison implemented Bermuda’s first and only S.M.A.R.T. program in 2009 with elementary students, and it proved to be of huge benefit. But school administration eventually proposed that S.M.A.R.T. transition to a gifted and talented program. This conflicted with what Allison knew to be true: S.M.A.R.T. is for all children, no matter their ability or learning level. So she bravely chose to go her own path – leaving the public education system so that she could bring the S.M.A.R.T. program to more children in Bermuda. Thus came “BSMART.” Allison launched the BSMART Development Foundation in 2011, with support and guidance from A Chance To Grow founder, Bob DeBoer, and S.M.A.R.T. staff. BSMART is the only neurodevelopmental facility in Bermuda that utilizes brain-centered techniques to increase learning readiness. Infant and toddler development programs, S.M.A.R.T. programming, S.M.A.R.T. holiday camps, and workshops for parents and professionals who work with children are all offered by the Foundation. BSMART is wildly successful, supporting children from 14 different schools in Bermuda. The program continues to make a positive impact on the island’s children, especially among at-risk populations of economically disadvantaged and racial minorities.  2023 Annual Report: Available Now! We're delighted to announce the release of our 2023 Annual Report! This was a big year at A Chance To Grow, with innovations and program expansions that helped us make an even greater difference! With your help, we improved the lives of more than 1000 children and families in schools, at home and in our office. Thank you for being a part of our ACTG community for another successful year!  Finding Relief After Long Covid
During the last few years, Landy was active in seeking answers for health concerns. She joined a Long Covid group and sought out many services. In the process, another provider mentioned neurofeedback and Landy contacted A Chance To Grow. The neurofeedback sessions had a rocky start because Landy had a blood clot in her leg, one of the many complications of her diagnosis, and spent time in the hospital. But she was determined to keep seeking answers and started brain training twice a week as soon as she was released. Cautious, Landy wondered out loud, “What if I am too scared to go back to feeling good?” It felt like a foreign concept, feeling well. But as Landy trained, she noticed changes. “I could tell I had a bit more energy after the first session.” A couple sessions later she found she could meditate easier and her anger was melting away. She was able to read for a few minutes, and by the 10th session, Landy announced, “I feel so good!” After session 13, Landy experienced something she never had before, even pre-Covid. “For the first time in my life, I felt calm. I have never experienced this level of calm!” And, Landy went on to have three awesome and energetic days in a row. This was not normal. By session 15, Landy started working with a personal trainer, had gone to the grocery store and completed several household tasks and projects. “Neurofeedback has made a huge change in my central nervous system and autonomic functions. I definitely feel improvement in both my physical and mental health.” Over Memorial Day weekend, Landy was able to take a road trip to visit her newly born grandson. “It was the best road trip ever. I wasn’t upset about everything like I used to be. I can see how I have changed. And, I had energy and even swam with the kids in the pool!” While Landy is still managing the many complications of Long Covid, neurofeedback has given her hope. “I feel totally different: stronger, healthier and not as stressed about things. I can’t believe how neurofeedback has changed my life for the better.” What Is Auditory Processing Disorder? Auditory Processing is the natural process of our ears taking in information that then goes to the brain to be interpreted. When this process doesn’t work correctly, it’s called an Auditory Processing Disorder or delay (APD). This can happen even if a person has normal, healthy hearing. For someone with APD, their ears can hear sounds and words, but their brain has trouble making sense of them. The sounds can get mixed up or confused, making them difficult to understand. APD means that a person has a harder time recognizing, understanding, or telling apart sounds. This is especially difficult when the sounds are not clear, or if there is background noise. A noisy classroom is an example of an environment where a child with APD would struggle more to understand the teacher.
A Chance To Grow’s Dr. Sara Cook specializes in identifying and treating Auditory Processing Disorder in children and adults. She assists clients in reaching their fullest potential in social communication, academics, and workplace settings. To learn more about Audiology services at A Chance To Grow, visit www.actg.org/audiologyservices. A Starry Night at A Chance To Grow This May, A Chance To Grow transformed into A Starry Night Prom, for family fun! The kids of our Turnquist Child Enrichment Center, their parents, and siblings all enjoyed the DJ, dancing, food, and lots of fun and games! Everyone looked fabulous in their Prom Night attire!
ACTG's Biggest Fundraiser Of The Year! A Chance To Grow is thrilled to host its 33rd annual Race For The Children on August 11! For a $65 adult ticket, $20 children’s ticket, and free admission for children 3 and younger, participants enjoy:
Best of all, attendees are supporting A Chance To Grow’s biggest fundraiser of the year! Proceeds go towards helping A Chance To Grow make the greatest impact possible. Join the fun! Secure your seat today at www.actg.org/raceforthechildren. We look forward to seeing you there!  A S.M.A.R.T. Summer Did you know that S.M.A.R.T. Workshops aren’t just for Elementary and Pre-K teachers? S.M.A.R.T. welcomes all professionals who work directly with children:
 Join The Fun! Take Our 3-Day S.M.A.R.T. Training to earn continuing education units and learn how movement-based teaching develops and enhances learning. Give students the skills they need to be life-long learners!  INCREDIBLE SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IN MINNESOTA Meet Barb Ewald, whose impressive expertise has helped charter schools across Minnesota generate over $3,700,000 in federal funding for Special Education. This funding is in addition to the general funding schools receive to support students with special needs. Barb has been at the center of A Chance To Grow’s Third Party Billing initiative since it began in 2011. Barb says, “when I first began this work, A Chance To Grow served only a handful of charter schools. Now, I support more than 50,” which is nearly one-third of all charter schools in Minnesota. From Grand Portage to Duluth, Bemidji to Rochester, Barb has a tremendous impact on schools’ ability to provide Special Education throughout the entire state. When Barb first joined A Chance To Grow in 2000, her finance work focused upon ACTG’s “New Visions Charter School.” New Visions was one of the very first Charter Schools in Minnesota. It operated from 1994 to 2014, to ensure that all students with special needs have quality educational services by applying our brain-based approach to the classroom. After acquiring extensive knowledge of special education funding for New Visions, Barb became uniquely equipped to help other Minnesota charter schools. 
HOLIDAY CHEER FOR OUR FAMILIES OF TURNQUIST As the holiday season approached, our staff at A Chance To Grow, with the incredible support of donors, hosted Turnquist’s annual festivities for the Turnquist Child Care Center’s children and families. The festivities were made possible by an extraordinary donation of $10,000 from Jerry and Jim Myers of Sheet Metal Connectors, longstanding and beloved supporters of A Chance To Grow. With this substantial gift, Turnquist stocked their food pantry with an impressive 2,773 pounds of fresh produce and non-perishable items. Second Harvest Heartland, Minnesota’s premier food bank, provides the food to us at a discounted rate and delivers the food to our building. Turnquist families were given the chance to select items they need, as well as receive supplies for holiday meals! In addition, families were welcomed to a wide array of essential care items and home goods, also funded by the Myers’ donation. The holiday meal packages were supplied by our Friends at the Northeast Lions Club who also provided a present for each child and parent. One special Lions Club member, Marty Zaworski, has a tradition of attending the festivities, as our Santa Claus! Smiles lit up the room as families took holiday photos with Santa, and kids received their presents. The kids’ toys were lovingly gift-wrapped by A Chance To Grow administrative staff and made possible by the generosity of Toys For Tots and individual donors Liz Ruzek, Director and Educational Coordinator of Turnquist, expressed her gratitude, saying, “We were able to take a load off of our families’ hearts and minds, even if it was just for a moment. At this busy, sometimes chaotic, time of year it is so great to be able to provide a little bit of relief to our families.” We extend our sincere thanks to all who contributed to making this event so successful. You not only brightened the holiday season for our families, you also reminded us of the importance of community in supporting our neighbors. NEUROFEEDBACK INTENSIVES ARE AVAILABLE NOW! Do you or a family member struggle with focus or calming your thoughts? Brain Training Intensives are a holistic and easy way to improve mental acuity. Sessions can be done in-clinic or at home with an individual or the entire family. Call 612-706-5551 for a free consultation to see what works best for your needs.
A SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF S.M.A.R.T. STEPS 4TH YEAR We are excited to share that last month, A Chance To Grow’s S.M.A.R.T. (Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training) Steps program launched its fourth year! The program saw impressive growth from the prior year, proudly enrolling over 100 Family Child Care Providers. Partnerships with the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, the Northland Foundation, the Initiative Foundation, and the West Central Initiative were key in expanding the program's reach. Their support helped us to offer S.M.A.R.T. Steps training in 49 counties and tribal regions throughout Minnesota. 
HALLWAYS, CLASSROOMS, RENOVATIONS, OH MY!
A Chance To Grow has rented the building with Minnesota Transition Schools for more than a decade, hosting Banaadir since 2020. A Chance To Grow’s New Visions Charter School, founded in 1994, previously utilized this school space. This operation would not have been possible if not for our facilities team, Ann and Umbra Wilner, and Hauglie's Flooring. Take a look at the beautiful new flooring in the hallways and classrooms of Banaadir, pictured below!
 THE GARDEN OF HOPE'S FIRST BUSINESS SPONSOR! A Chance To Grow is overjoyed to welcome its very first business sponsor, Turbo Tim’s Anything Automotive, to ACTG’s Garden Of Hope program, which provides essential support for our activities! Turbo Tim’s is a much loved automotive shop with stores in North East Minneapolis and St. Paul, known for their friendly team, top-notch service, and adorable crew of cats. They are also long-time, committed supporters of local business, giving awards, making donations, and other outreach. We are proud to be one of the agencies that Turbo Tim’s supports. A special thank you to all of our Garden Of Hope Superstars!
By joining the Garden of Hope, YOU can help foster resilience and change the lives of the children and adults we serve! We can’t do it without you! Change a life today by joining our Garden Of Hope at ACTG.org/gardenofhope ACTG HOSTS ARCHETYPE MOVEMENT COURSE  From March 1-3, A Chance To Grow is hosting an MNRI Archetype Movement Integration course in our Northeast Office, taught by Instructor Summer Shepstone of the Svetlana Masgutova Educational Institute (SMEI). SMEI provides professionals in the areas of health, wellness, and education, as well as parents and caregivers, with non-invasive techniques to address maturational, developmental, and life challenges. Archetype Movement Program techniques work to activate and engage archetype movements that, for various reasons, have remained dormant in the body. Archetype movements, less complex in nature than motor reflex patterns or schemes, are among the first reflexive movements to develop and emerge. This course welcomes Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Rehabilitation Professionals, Medical Professionals, Mental Health Professionals, Educators, Parents, and other Health Care Providers to join and learn more about the fundamental role the MNRI Method plays in overall development! LeAnn Taylor, MA, CCC-SLP, and Adrienne Ero-Phillips MA, OTR/L of A Chance To Grow’s Clinical Services department are eager to participate in the class to increase their knowledge and practice of the MNRI Model and Archetype Movement Integration. EMPLOYMENT OPENINGS
A Chance To Grow is hiring! We are seeking a Part Time Infant Assistant Teacher or Aide, and Personal Care Assistants (PCA). To learn more about each position, or to apply, please visit ACTG.org/employment! Equal Employment Opportunity 1800 Second Street NE Minneapolis, MN 55418 (612)789-1236 | [email protected] A Chance To Grow provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Employment is based upon capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, genetic information, service in the military or any other protected characteristic as established by law. This Equal Employment Opportunity policy applies to all policies & procedures relating to recruitment & hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, training and all other conditions of employment.  SORRY FOR THE DELAY  For the last 5 years, Ean Koerner has been the talent behind this newsletter, creating its look, authoring its content, finding stories and getting it out on time, in addition to a million other responsibilities. So long, Ean, we appreciate all the marketing accomplishments you achieved. You are missed! We wish you the very best in your new endeavors. Ean left us in August, and it has taken a good bit of time to find his replacement. Hello to Maylee Moore, our new Marketing Specialist. She is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota's Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication with experience in all of the aspects of marketing that we need. Welcome Maylee! IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR! If you have been a regular reader of our newsletter in the last couple of years, you learned a lot about us... Our Success Stories You met Sam, who had lifelong problems with activities that the rest of us take for granted. At 31, he was still living at home. After visual therapy with our Dr. May, he’s able to live independently, works two jobs, and has a busy social life. You met Hadley, a shy but sweet 13-year-old, who’s had difficulty in school since the 2nd grade. She had neurological evaluations, specialized instruction, math tutoring, dedicated help at school, medications, dietary changes and more. Nothing changed. But functional eye and hearing screenings at A Chance To Grow uncovered eye misalignment and an auditory processing disorder. With vision and auditory therapy, as well as neurofeedback and Neuro Integrative therapy, Hadley has been improving steadily. And you met Meghan, an Iraq veteran, who after several tours of duty, was experiencing symptoms of PTSD, including nightmares, high stress levels and an inability to cope with change. After a course of neurofeedback treatments, she is sleeping better, has fewer nightmares, and she is better able to cope with stressful situations. She is able to be the mom she wants to be. Our Services You not only learned about our Clinical Services, you also learned about the important work that our educational services provides: You learned about the Minnesota Learning Resource Center, which has trained thousands of Pre-K and K-3 teachers in hundreds of schools in Minnesota and beyond, in our S.M.A.R.T. (Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training) approach to integrating purposeful movement into their daily class schedules. And you heard about our new innovative program, S.M.A.R.T. Steps, developed for Family Child Care Providers, to ensure that even the littlest learners are ready for kindergarten. You also learned about the wonderful work our Turnquist Child Enrichment Center is doing with children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, who are at risk for developmental delays and poor academic achievement due to poverty and its attending ills – homelessness, food insecurity, even violence. Every Turnquist child receives age-appropriate developmental curricula, social emotional education and the S.M.A.R.T. approach. They also get vision and auditory screenings, and occupational or speech therapy as needed. But did you know that:
You can make a HUGE difference in the lives of so many by supporting our work! There’s two ways to donate: Go to www.actg.org/donate , to make a one-time contribution. Join our Garden of Hope, a monthly giver’s club designed to bring in a steady stream of revenue to support our vital activities. Even $5 a month will have an impact! Go to www.actg.org/gardenofhope to join. VISION CLINIC UPDATE
Perhaps her greatest contribution was bringing the research on reflex integration after a 2.5 year sabbatical in England. She understood that integrating reflexes was crucial to helping clients maintain their therapeutic gains. This became the basis of A Chance To Grow’s unique multidisciplinary approach, today known as our Neuro Integrative program. Welcome back, Dr. Moroz! EASY WAY TO LESSEN SCHOOL STRESS Is your child struggling with anxious thoughts or lack of focus? An effective and holistic way to address these symptoms is through brain training. Parents are amazed at how easy and effective neurofeedback and audio-visual entertainment can be. They witness their child's improvement in the areas of sleeping, focus, and emotional regulation. We have flexible programs that offer in-home or in-clinic training and can meet every budget. Call (612) 789-1236 for a free consultation to learn what the best option is for your family!  "After only 10 sessions, my son asked to go off his ADHD meds and started doing homework on his own." - Mom of an 11-year-old boy who struggled with focus and anxious thoughts HAVE YOU JOINED YET?  TURNQUIST IS ON A ROLL!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FOR EVERYONE!
Bring your donations to Turnquist by Friday, December 15th! Have questions? Ask Liz! 612-706-5545 or [email protected] (* For safety and health reasons, we cannot accept used toys or any children’s clothing, used or new.) OFF TO NEW ADVENTURES
Says Michelle Koyama, who succeeds Julie as Clinical Services Director, "Julie has an incredible skill in being able to explain application of neurological techniques. That greatly affects how new therapists and parents can understand and apply the skills. New therapists become experienced therapists faster and parents are able to participate in the therapy in a more meaningful way. This was instrumental in creating a clinic that doesn't just increase the function level of clients, but changes the trajectory of their growth."
Julie left A Chance To Grow in September to spend more time working with clients, and more time with her family. Thanks, Julie, your contributions to ACTG are immeasurable. We miss you!  our extended familyA Chance To Grow is proud to be a part of Northeast Minneapolis, a vibrant community that nurtures the arts, its businesses and the vital work of nonprofit organizations that serve the neighborhood. The area’s community organizations have played a critical role in helping us meet our mission for decades. We’d like to introduce you to three of our most ardent Northeast supporters: Kiwanis Club, The Exchange Club, and the Lions Club.  These are local chapters of national organizations. In Northeast Minneapolis, these all-volunteer organizations work hard to raise money to support organizations like ours, as a way to ensure that we can meet the needs of our neighbors. Their support over the decades have given us a chance to grow. > Click here to continue reading introducing the garden of hope!
Your monthly gifts sustain our operations year-round so that we can continue to provide life-changing services to everyone who needs them. Not all our costs are covered by insurance or grants, and some families can’t afford our services. By joining The Garden of Hope, you ensure that we can be there for those who need us most. We invite you to visit our Garden of Hopewebpage and explore the benefits of being a member and see how your generous gifts impacts those we serve. the race for the childrenA Chance To Grow’s 32nd Running of The Race for the Children returns to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN on Sunday, August 20!
Registration is NOW OPEN and sponsorship opportunities are available! To sign-up, or for more information, visit ACTG.org/RacefortheChildren. Thank you to our 2023 Event Sponsors!  fall s.m.a.r.t. workshopsS.M.A.R.T. and S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K Workshops are right around the corner! Don’t miss your chance to experience this amazing 3-day workshop and discover how to boost your students’ learning readiness skills through fun and engaging movement activities! Space is still available, but filling up fast! Registration is NOW OPEN!
*All workshops held at A Chance To Grow in Minneapolis unless otherwise noted. Register two weeks in advance and save $25 on your registration fee! summer intensivesTake advantage of what's left of summer break and complete our 20-session Advanced-Brain Summer Intensive in 6-10 weeks! Combining in-clinic Neurofeedback with optional at-home Audio-Visual Entrainment, this intensive allows you to train up to 3 times per week with flexible scheduling to see positive results faster! If you or a loved one struggle with a lack of focus, sleep issues, emotional instability, inability to calm, or brain fog, then this intensive may be a good fit. Call (612) 789-1236 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about the program! Summer Neuro Integrative Intensives also available! This intensive combines several interventions that collectively promote brain growth and development through purposeful movement. By establishing more efficient neurological connections between the brain and body, this intensive can improve higher-level functioning as well as physical and emotional independence. Click here to complete a program inquiry! jo gascoigne - a special educatorWe are sad to share that our dear friend and colleague, Jo Gascoigne, passed away on June 1, 2023 at the age of 91. She was a pioneer in the education field and a dedicated volunteer at A Chance To Grow.
A Chance To Grow’s late founder, Bob DeBoer, said this about Jo’s contributions: “She’s done remarkable work on behalf of special education across the country and we are so grateful she saw value in our mission and felt inclined to share her talents with us. She was a wonderful volunteer who helped build this organization in ways most people don’t know.” We honor her memory with every child we serve. Thank you, Jo! vision clinic temporarily closedA Chance To Grow’s Vision Clinic and OptomEYES Vision Therapy are temporarily closed and not accepting new clients. Our optometrist, Dr. Shelby May, has accepted a year-long residency at The Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, a leader in vision therapy and developmental optometry. Dr. May will return July 19, 2024. We wish her luck and look forward to her return! We are still able to provide optical services to patients with a current eyeglass prescription. We have a wide selection of frames (as low as $70) and are able to accommodate children and adults enrolled in PMAP or MHCP programs. For questions or to schedule an optical visit, please contact (612) 789-1236 or email [email protected]. actg awarded operations grant!Exciting news! A Chance To Grow was recently awarded a $5,000 general operating grant from The Casey Albert T. O’Neil Foundation! Thank you so much to the Foundation, we are so grateful for your support!
 The Best Kept Secret Hadley is a shy but sweet teenager who loves her family, friends and especially her dog, Buddy. From the beginning, school hasn’t come easy to her. Her parents first noticed something was amiss in second grade when they’d try to do homework with her and she’d cry and beg not to do it. Her writing looked more like a toddler’s handwriting and she couldn’t seem to stay focused on the class material. Her parents were worried – they knew she was smart, yet she struggled in virtually every subject in school, especially reading and math. They were determined to get her the help she needed and began searching for answers. A full neurological evaluation yielded diagnoses of ADHD and Dyslexia. > Continue reading about Hadley's journey
Summer 2023 S.M.A.R.T. Workshops!We are excited to announce our upcoming schedule of S.M.A.R.T. and S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K Workshop dates for this summer (and beyond) at A Chance To Grow! If you are an educator working with Pre-K - 3rd graders, this is the program for YOU! Registration is now open for all workshops. All workshops will be held at A Chance To Grow in Minneapolis, MN unless otherwise noted. Register two weeks in advance and save $25 on your registration fee. Register today and secure your spot! Advanced-Brain Summer Intensives
If you or a loved one struggles with a lack of focus, sleep issues, emotional instability, inability to calm, or brain fog, then this intensive may be a good fit. Call (612) 789-1236 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about the program!
Vision Clinic Has a New Home!A Chance To Grow's Vision Services have moved offices in our building, just down the hall to suite 220. The new space provides more room for vision therapy activities, optometric equipment, eyeglass frames and offices. Additionally, the new space will allow us to see even more clients! Call us to day at (612) 789-1236 to schedule an exam and come see it for yourself! Or, take a video tour with Dr. May! MNRI Courses at ACTG Begin this Month!A Chance To Grow is hosting two Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI) courses this spring. The first course, titled Dynamic and Postural Reflex Integration, runs from April 21-24, 2023 and is led by Trina Deiss. The course focuses on the importance of primary motor reflex pattern maturation. The cost for the course is $756.
Minnesota Autism Conference: April 26-28
2023 Race for the Children is Back!
Turnquist Awarded Revitalization Grant
Garden of Hope Launches July 1
Employment OpeningsA Chance To Grow is hiring!
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