RECIPE: Traditional Syrian Baklava

Recipe by Dalel Khalil

There is no better way to immerse yourself in another culture than through its food! Learn to make Traditional Syrian-style Baklava (pronounced Baklawa) that crunchy yet heavenly sweet pastry of buttered flakes and flavored nuts.

TRADITIONAL SYRIAN BAKLAVA (Pronounced Baklawa)

(Serves 50 - 75)

INGREDIENTS:

(For Baklava)

• 2 lbs. phyllo dough (for a 17x13 tray)
• 3 cups melted rendered butter
• (For Filling)
• 2 lbs. shelled walnuts
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons rose water (usually found in Middle Eastern markets)

(For Syrup)

• 2 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 1⁄2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon rose water

DIRECTIONS

- Butter baking pans thoroughly.
- Place 1 lb. of dough in pan, brushing butter between each sheet. (Keep phyllo dough covered preferably with a damp towel so that it does not dry out. It is very fragile.) Do not butter top sheet.
- Combine ingredients for nut filling and spread evenly on last layer.
- Place the other 1 lb. dough over nut filling, brushing each layer with butter between each sheet. Same way as above.
- Cut into diamond shapes.
- Pour remaining butter over top.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
- Then reduce heat to 325 degrees for 45 minutes.

 SYRUP (Made Separately)

- Mix sugar and water and boil over medium hear for 15-20 minutes
- Add lemon juice and rose water before removing from heat.
- Let syrup stand for 10 minutes before pouring over cold Baklawa.

              Enjoy!

***

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Own Your Inner Critic

by Don Laird, MS, LPC, NCC

“Nothing’s either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” ~ William Shakespeare

Your inner critic relishes your thoughts, especially the “irrational” and “negative” ones. He, She or It will tell you things about yourself that would sound like verbal abuse if said out loud. “Here’s an endless list of all the things you do wrong, make worse or just make you a HORRIBLE human being,” He, She or It will say. Yet, in a court of law, these statements would be considered pure conjuncture, speculation and misleading. Simply put, your inner critic loves to cast shadows, expand on misconceptions and create poor self-expectations. So, just what makes something good or bad? Despite what my critic tells me, it’s not my thoughts. Our personality structure consists of the Body, the Ego, and the Spirit all working in tandem, at least on a good day. This has important consequences for the creative process. Creating is often pre-reflective, non-verbal, being present in a very committed and intimate way that is unconditional and removed from the everyday “stuff” that constitutes our thinking, rational ego.

Consequently, talking too much pulls one toward ego. This is an important lesson for all those who engage in a creative endeavor. Writers, poets, painters, dancers, musicians and, yes, even therapists are at their best when they are mindful to the art of silence. It is the sense of risk that our inner critic fears the most and consequently this is part of the arsenal he or she will use against us at our most vulnerable moments.

We learn very early in life to pass judgment on those parts of ourselves that don’t meet the expectations of others and, thus, fulfill a self-prophecy to live through a very tiny part of our totality while casting other “unacceptable” parts of ourselves into the shadows, where we keep them hidden in the darkness. There are many ways of exposing this inner critic, which Psychologist Carl Jung coined the “shadow.”

Jung held that the unconscious could be an attentive companion and mentor to the conscious and that psychic wholeness or individuation comes from bringing equilibrium to the unconscious and the conscious. He professed the foremost way of doing this was through dreams. I believe that this relationship is also part and parcel of the creative journey. The key is navigating the strict chart that the rational, conscious mind, the “The I that I think I am”, has mapped for us.

Here are a few pointers when dealing with your inner critic:

Give a name to you inner critic. If you can name it, you can own it! Personification will assist you in dealing with negative thinking. This way, you are more likely to begin a personal dialog between you and your “shadow.”

When struck by a negative thought, ask your inner critic for her or his hand to dance. Sound silly? Do it now, and while you’re at it, gently, seductively whisper into his or her ear that you are taking the lead in this dance. By integrating these mental gymnastics into your creative life you will be open to the possibility of experiencing creative freedom, and then the true dance can begin!

Challenge you inner critic by giving shape to the existentials of life, “What does the warm, engrossing blackness where creative ideas spring from look and feel like?” Draw it, write it, map it, BUT don’t think about it!

Successful artists are successful for a number of reasons, but here are five to remember:

1. They are passionate about their work. 
2. They are risk takers. 
3. They are technical experts at their craft. 
4. They feel comfortable with failure. 
5. They are “strange and unusual” and damn proud of it. 
6. They consign art and creativity to the theater of everyday life – something they do with every nuance of their existence. 

Creativity is important to our health. Never underestimate the power of a journey. And if you feel at times that you’re not up to the test, remember this: if you don’t risk the journey, you risk more than just giving up.

***

Don Laird is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor with more than 13 years of experience in providing help to adults, teens, couples, and families who are struggling with a wide range of issues including but not limited to: anger, anxiety, depression, divorce and separation, grief and loss, guilt, intimacy, life or career transitions, loss of meaning, marital discord, parenting, relationships, self esteem and confidence, stress, trauma, and wellness. As well as providing psychotherapy and counseling services, Don is a published author and adjunct professor who teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in professional counseling and psychology at Carlow University. Additionally, he facilitate workshops in the areas of dreams, self growth, and stress reduction and co-host a podcast on psychology.

Every Good Story Needs a Strong Protagonist

   By Beth Dolinar

               Forgive this writing lapse, but let’s begin with a cliché: Gina Catanzarite has a personality as fiery as her red hair. Yes, she has red hair and blue eyes and if I’d written that hackneyed opening phrase in one of her university writing classes she would mark a big red slash through it. And then she would tell me it was a good try anyway.

Luminari Teen Writer! Camp
Director Gina Catanzarite

  And then she would encourage me to keep writing, because words are vibrant and beautiful and, at times, the only true things on this planet.

    If that seems overly dramatic, it’s because Gina finds the drama in her work. As the director of Luminari’s TeenWriter! Fantastic Fiction camp, she coaxes young writers to find the right words. Next summer, Gina will lead the camp for the seventh time, coaxing fresh perspectives from middle and high school students in her writing workshop. Her teaching departs from the typical classroom approach of research, syntax and grammar. She is selling the idea of a sentence as a living, breathing thing.

     “Emily Dickinson said, ‘I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine,’” Gina said, quoting the 19^th century poet.

      ‘When you write from the heart you can see the words shine,” Gina said, adding that it is through finding the gleam in a word that a writer finds his or her own, unique voice.

    Her love of language has filled her career. Her work as a writer and producer for both commercial and public television have earned her eight Emmy awards and countless other accolades. As a contributing producer for WQED-TV, she has tackled topics as widely varied as human trafficking, the gender pay gap and efforts to save Pennsylvania’s bats. She is the author of non-fiction books and has written for newspapers and magazines.

     A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Gina has taught journalism and broadcast courses at Robert Morris University and, currently, Point Park University. Her students are simultaneously frightened and awed by her dynamic and inspirational classroom style.

     “We had a hash tag of #wwgcd while we were there,” said Claire Gysegem, a student in Gina’s class at Point Park in 2012. “It meant, What would Gina Catanzarite do? She had a way of making an impression that would stick.”

    Gysegem, now a graduate student in public media at Ohio University, credits Gina with igniting her love of television production and writing. “She is upfront and honest and blunt, but probably the most encouraging person you’ll ever meet.”

     Gina is known for her intense, demanding teaching style—suffering no foolishness, laziness or phonies.

    “She expects you to be authentic and be yourself,” said Gysegem. “She taught us that your voice is your own, and when you write, you have to claim it as your own voice.”

     That conviction is evident in the way Gina leads Luminari’s Teen Writer! camp. Last summer, she took students on a field trip to Phipps Conservatory. It was the hottest week of July, and the students stood perspiring in the humid hothouse jungle.

   “Describe what it feels like!” Gina shouted. “If you’re uncomfortable because it’s hot, find the words to say it.”

     That direct and inspirational style was evident to Danny Allman, another Point Park student who served as Gina’s teaching assistant for the Luminari writing camp in 2009.

    “Those students learn from the best,” said Allman, now a news assignments editor at a TV station in Baltimore. “Gina puts so much energy and exuberance into making sure her students enjoy writing, and that they succeed.”

    Gina says enjoys teaching teenagers, because of how they view the world.

    “The kids that age believe they can do anything, “ she said. “There is a lot of life ahead of them, and they tend to be thrill seeking—they enjoy the exhilarating feeling of putting their thoughts down on paper.”

    Gina likens her role of teacher to that of a mother falcon.

    “She carries her babies up high and then throws them off,” she said. “They learn to fly in the free fall. The magic is in the free fall.” It’s a take on life with which she is well acquainted: Gina and her husband Howard Shapiro are the parents of twin teenage sons.

     Her home life feeds her personal writing. She has journaled every day since she was a child, a habit that has left her home littered with “stacks of notebooks everywhere.” They are the words of a woman whose mind travels many miles a minute. To converse with Gina is to be welcomed into a tornado of smart ideas.

     I chose to write this piece in the first person, because Gina is my friend. Our occasional coffee chats are always the liveliest and most inspirational few hours of whatever week I’m in. When Gina talks, you can see all the wheels turning, the eruption of ideas firing along the synapses, all the shining words rolling out. She is aware of how all that energy affects people. She is a lot.

    “My tombstone will read She Meant Well,” she said, laughing.

     This article about Gina began with a cliché. Do I dare insert another?

     What, I ask, is her philosophy of life and teaching?

    “Like me or dislike me; I’ll at least make enough of an impression that students will react to it, “ she says.

    “Do something to let people know you were here.”

Recipe: Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Prune Puree, Harissa and Walnuts

by Leslie Bonci, Enjoy!

QUIT POUTING, GET SPROUTING!

ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS WITH PRUNE PUREE, HARISSA AND WALNUTS

1 pound Brussel sprouts, washed, stems cut off,  outer leaves removed  and cut tin half

2 Tablespoons olive oil

¾ teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 Tablespoon harissa paste

1 teaspoon Balsamic vinegar

2 Tablespoons plum puree*

½ teaspoon honey

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil. In a bowl, combine Brussel sprout halves, olive oil, salt, pepper and Harissa paste. Mix until blended. Place Brussel sprouts on the cookie sheet and roast about 20 minutes. Check halfway through to flip them to ensure even cooking.

Remove from heat and add in Balsamic, plum puree, honey and walnuts.

Dried plum puree

1-1/3 cups dried plums

6 Tablespoons hot water

Blend in a blender or food processor until pureed. Keep in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Servings: 4 ½ cup servings

Per serving:

Calories: 170

Total Fat: 13.6 grams

Total Carbohydrate: 11.5 grams

Fiber: 4.95 grams

Sugar: 2.75 grams

Protein: 5.3 grams

CONGRATULATIONS 2015 TEEN WRITERS!

Luminari is happy to announce the winner of the first annual Teen Writer! Luminari Award: 

  
Charis Allen, 17, of Penn Hills wrote the winning essay; she wins a full scholarship to attend the Teen Writer! Fantastic Fiction camp being held July 6-10, 2015. The judges were very impressed with the quality and sincerity of the essay and commend her for her thoughtful and thought-provoking entry. 
  
Ms. Allen is the daughter of Cassandra Allen and Oliver Allen of Penn Hills. Charis will be a senior at Winchester-Thurston School, where she has been a member of the track team, the Black Students’ Union and the Social Justice League.  Charis became interested in writing in 8th grade, when she wrote a poem for her grandfather’s funeral. 
  
After high school, Ms. Allen hopes to study medicine, and plans to use her love of writing in her career. 

---

Luminari is also pleased to recognize Katrice Stallworth as the runner-up in our First Annual Teen Writer! Luminari Award. 

Once all the judges’ votes were tabulated, we found that the results were extremely close, and all judges noted the high quality and sincerity of Katrice’s essay. We felt that Katrice’s entry was worthy of being recognized. She will receive a scholarship to attend the Teen Writer! Opinion Workshop on July 10, 2015. 

Miss Stallworth, 13, will enter 8th grade at Sacred Heart School in Shadyside. While a student at Trinity Christian in Forest Hills, Katrice was a forward on the basketball team, and has earned a green belt in karate. Katrice has organized book drives in her community, donating more than 400 volumes to youth organizations. She is the daughter of Karla Stallworth and Thomas Stallworth of Penn Hills.  
 

---

Teen Writer! Series 

Fantastic Fiction Writing: 4-Day Summer Camp for Teens  is a 4-day summer workshop for teens (rising 8th to 12th graders) that generates original works by teaching how to craft a logical storyline, structure scenes for maximum impact, and devise realistic conflicts with satisfying resolutions. July 6 - July 9, 2015 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (daily) 
WQED Multimedia, 4802 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 
Tuition Fee: $395.00 

Journalism and Opinion Writing Workshop is an intensive one-day workshop for teens (rising 8th to 12th graders) on how to turn unique observations into thoughtful and thought-provoking writing. July 10, 2015 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (1-day) 
WQED Multimedia, 4802 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 
Tuition Fee: $159.00 

For more information, please call ( 412) 877 - 1888  or email  luminari@luminari.org .  

Luminari Award Winner Rohit Nandakumar

Meet one of our 2015 Luminari Award Merit scholars, Rohit Nandakumar, a freshman at Fox Chapel Area High School. Rohit plays tennis and is involved in the Technology Student Association (TSA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA). Rohit's other interests include computer programming and playing the violin.

Rohit was nominated by Mrs. Jennifer Klein, who teaches AP US, Government and Politics and the Gifted Support program at Fox Chapel Area High School: “I nominated Rohit because of his wonderful essay and his diligence in continuing to apply year after year. Rohit expressed a strong desire to learn about foreign relations and diplomacy. Since he applied three years in a row, I was thrilled that he was awarded this opportunity.”

“The ‘I want to be an Ambassador!’ program is a special opportunity that encourages student involvement in the global community and fosters a dynamic environment in which students can grow. Fox Chapel Area High School students who have attended in the past, have truly enjoyed the program for the scholarly speakers, simulations, and real world experiences that were made available through the camp,” said Mrs. Klein.

Q & A with Rohit: 

What your expectations for the 2015 “I Want to be an Ambassador!” Camp?

“In the I Want to be an Ambassador program, I hope to gain the necessary leadership and speaking skills to help me achieve my future endeavors. As a rising sophomore, I hope to learn new and exciting skills at this camp that will be a stepping stone into other opportunities.”

“I would like to learn about diplomacy a little bit more. I am already interested in government and global affairs, but I have the urge to learn more.  It will be exciting to visit embassies and how everything works in politics, which is why I was interested in participating in this summer program. I can't wait to go on the trip to Washington D.C.!”

 What does “diplomacy” mean to you?

I feel like diplomacy means to tactfully communicate to someone to help solve issues and develop meaningful relationships.

What does 2015 have in store for you (or what are your future plans/career goals)?

I would like to major in computer science.

What/Who inspires you and why?

Someone who inspires me is Steve Jobs.  He showed that no matter how low your life gets, you can always pick yourself up and catapult to success.

Can you share something with us that people may not know about you?

I love to program.  It's what I do for fun sometimes if I have nothing to do.

1. I’m currently reading: Romeo and Juliet (for school)
2. My favorite movie of all time: The Bourne Series
3. My favorite hobby: Programming
4. My top 3 food picks in Pittsburgh are: Primanti Bros, The Original Hot Dog Shop, Olive Garden
5. I’m looking forward to summer because: School ends!
6. Thing I cannot live without: My family
7. The quality I most value in my friends: They are trusting and faithful
8. The quality I most value in myself: Being responsible
9. The quote or mantra I live by: By Steve Jobs: "My favorite things in life don't cost any money.  It's clear that the most precious resource we have is time."
10. My biggest pet peeve: People with a short temper
11. My most significant lesson learned: Always use your time to your fullest; you won’t get this exact minute ever again
12. Project I’m energized by: Something that motivates me to get up and do something is that aftermath of that.  I think about how much time that I will have after I finish my work, and how I can do whatever I want with it.

6-Word Autobiography

Cool, nice, smart, tactful, happy teenager

Breaking Fast

By Leslie Bonci, Director, Camp Delicious

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day for brain as well as body benefits. To get  the day off to a great start, protein needs to be part of breakfast to optimize the health of muscles and bones. Many people find that it takes too long to prepare food in the morning and are more likely to grab a cereal bar or bagel. However, this recipe is an easy way to get protein and vegetables in a grab and go form. Theses mini quiches can be made ahead of time, cooked, frozen and then defrost the night before, or bake them the night before, refrigerate and they are good to go in the morning accompanied with fruit or a mini bag of trail mix.

You can modify the recipe by using different cheeses, meat and vegetables to fit your taste buds. So let’s get into the kitchen to create so that your taste buds and body can appreciate your culinary efforts!

CRUSTLESS BROCCOLI AND CHEDDAR MINI QUICHES

1 can (12 fluid ounces) evaporated 2% milk
3 large eggs, beaten
2 Tablespoons flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Dash of cayenne pepper, if desired
1.5 cups (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup finely chopped smoked turkey breast ( optional)
1 cup finely chopped green onion
2 cups chopped frozen broccoli, thawed and drained, or 2 cups raw broccoli
½ cup chopped red bell pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray mini muffin tins with non-stick vegetable spray.

Whisk milk, eggs, flour, salt ,black pepper and cayenne pepper in medium bowl until blended. Stir in cheese, smoked turkey, green pepper, broccoli and red pepper. Spoon 1/3 cup of mixture into muffin tins, filling 2/3 of the way. Stir to evenly distribute ingredients.

Bake for 23-28 minutes or until knife inserted near centers come out clean and tops are lightly browned. Cool in pan for 15 minutes. Run knife around the sides to loosen.

Yield: 24 mini quiches

DEADLINE EXTENDED for TEEN WRITER! Scholarship

Calling all teen writers!

The deadline for our Teen Writer! Luminari Award scholarship competition has been extended! Entries will be received through midnight June 20, 2015. The winner will be announced by June 26, 2015.

The Luminari Award is a merit-based scholarship. It is designed to recognize teen writers who display noteworthy commitment to academics and community issues. This scholarship competition is open to teens who will be in 8^th – 12^th grade in Fall 2015.

One entrant will be selected for a full scholarship to attend the 2015 Teen Writer! Fantastic Fiction camp held in Pittsburgh from July 6 – 9, 2015. This scholarship is valued at $395.00.

To submit an entry for the Teen Writer! Luminari Award scholarship:

• Write a 500 - 700 word essay on the importance of contributing diverse opinions and ideas to the public through creative and journalistic writing. Also state how you, personally, want your writing to broaden the minds of readers.

• EMAIL YOUR ENTRY essay to:  Luminari.inspire@gmail.com and in the subject line, write "TEEN WRITER LUMINARI AWARD ENTRY."

• In the body of the email, please INCLUDE your name, your parent or guardian's name, and contact information.

Essays will be read and judged, and one winner will be selected, by a panel of writers and academics.

From coming up with story ideas to developing great plotlines to building characters and writing with style, Teen Writer! Fantastic Fiction is an exciting four-day workshop based on techniques the pros use to build skills and get published! Learn more about the 2015 Teen Writer! camp and the many exciting activities planned for this year by visiting our website http://www.luminari.org/Teen_Writer!_Series.html 

Don’t miss out on this exciting scholarship opportunity!

Luminari: Call for Writers

Luminari is seeking writers with an interest in sharing their knowledge and expertise in a variety of topics including current events, diplomacy, economics, politics, journalism, cooking/nutrition, creative writing or environmental issues. A writer for this series should have an interest in providing clear and useful information to the public in a fun and informal manner (previous writing experience is helpful).

This is your opportunity to submit educational, informative and encouraging content that promotes growth in all aspects of life from business to personal development. Submissions may be published both in the Luminari eNewsletter “LUMOS!” and the Luminari Blog.

Luminari eNewsletter

Luminari Blog

How to Participate...
Once Luminari receives your initial article, you will be invited to participate as a regular contributing author to the Luminari eNewsletter and Blog. 

Acceptable Article Format:
WORD COUNT: Entries may range in length from 500 to 1,200 words.

Submission Requirements

COPYRIGHT: If you have used any reference material to help prepare your article, it is vital that you include the proper credits along with your article. Without this you may be found liable for copyright infringement. If Luminari feels that an article does not display the proper copyright credit, we have full authority to refuse your article without notice.

How to Submit Finished Article

1. E-MAIL SUBJECT: LUMOS! SUBMISSION
2. Submissions may be provided by e-mail in the body of the message in plain text format or as a Word attachment.
3. Article Title
4. End Article with 35-50 Word Biography of the author; include Full Name, and Title)
5. PICTURE: Luminari will accept/publish photography and artwork with any submission. Please submit with your entry a FULL COLOR digital photo as an attachment to pilardesigns@aol.com in one of the following formats: PDF; JPEG; TIFF

PLEASE NOTE: 

1. EDITING. All articles may be edited for content and space at the full discretion of the editors.
2. At the present time, Luminari does not pay for submissions. This is a labor of love that is an indirect way to promote yourself or subject dear to you. Even though the content does not endorse you or your business in any way, you are introduced through the biography at the end of your article where you can tell the readers who you are, where you can be reached and display your Web site information. Be creative, this is in essence your advertisement for yourself.

QUESTIONS? Please contact us at: Luminari 

Your Contributions Strengthen and Grow Our Community. On Behalf of Luminari staff and readers, Thank You for Your Support!

Bi-Cultural, Bi-Lingual Leaders of the Future

All across the United States, children whose first language is not English make up a significant portion of the student population. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, there are approximately 47,567 English Language Learners (ELLs) speaking 229 different languages in Pennsylvania alone.

In an article for Scholastic, Kenneth Shore, Psy.D., wrote: “it is estimated that this population (ELL) is growing two-and-half times faster than that of native English-speaking students.” These are students with a wide variety of life experiences, interests and attributes that can significantly enrich our schools and enhance learning for all of our students.

English as a Second Language (ESL) programs are a vital part of the education system because they provide opportunities for success for non-native English speakers, they foster an appreciation of cultural and linguistic diversity, and they enrich the learning environment by encouraging all students to connect with their own cultural heritage as well as show an interest in others.

With this in mind, Luminari launched a new opportunity to engage these bi-cultural, bilingual leaders of the future by inviting ESL teachers and programs across Allegheny County to participate in its annual Luminari Award by nominating an ESL student to participate.  

Working within local school districts, the innovative leaders and educators at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) who help to develop programs and curriculum that celebrate and value diversity in the classroom, enthusiastically embraced our program.

It is our honor to introduce you to the very first ESL Luminari Award winner: Vladyslav Makarenko, a student at Mellon Middle School in the Mt. Lebanon School District who was nominated by Charlene Byrd, M.Ed., K-12 ESL teacher.

By Sarah McCluan, Supervisor, Communication Services, Allegheny Intermediate Unit

When 13-year old Vladyslav Makarenko grows up, he would like to be an engineer, just like his dad. With soft brown eyes and an infectious smile, Vlad is like many students his age. He likes sports and grilled chicken. His favorite class is tech education. He is a member of the swim club. And he loves cherry pie.

           

But as a recent immigrant from the Ukraine, Vlad’s life experiences have already given him wisdom beyond his tender years. In December 2012, Vlad and his family emigrated from Kiev to the United States, and settled in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. “It was in the winter, and it was very cold,” he recalled.

He enrolled in Mt. Lebanon’s Mellon Middle School and soon was scheduled in an ESL class led by AIU teacher Mrs. Charlene Byrd.  A passionate educator, Mrs. Byrd is inspired by her students, and loves helping them adapt to their new culture and language. “I try to stay one step ahead of them.  They have already faced so many challenges in their young lives, yet they are invariably pleasant, motivated and hard-working,” she said.

           

Although somewhat hesitant at first, Vlad has quickly made friends in his new community and sees differences between his new school, and his old one in the Ukraine. “Here we have lockers, more computers and Google Drive. There is a looser dress code here too,” he said smiling.

           

While Vlad has quickly adjusted to his new routine, the conflict that continues in the Ukraine is still very much part of the fabric of his life. As he Skypes and texts with his friends in Kiev, Vlad is keenly aware of the effects of world events, and seeks to gain a greater understanding about them.

This is one of the reasons why Vlad is excited to be part of the Luminari’s I Want to be an Ambassador! Camp. Luminari is a nonprofit organization founded to broaden minds, inspire innovations and promote community engagement. At its annual I Want to be an Ambassador! Camp experience, which will be held in June, middle and high school students will be introduced to the art of diplomacy while increasing their cultural awareness and sensitivity. Vlad was awarded a scholarship to the camp, and he will study at the Heinz History Center and at various locations in Washington DC. 

           

Vlad earned the scholarship after completing an essay which explained why he would benefit from the experience. “I want to learn how to be an ambassador to solve some family conflicts. Right now my dad and his father have a conflict about the Ukrainian situation with Russia. They have two different main ideas about that situation…If I learned how to be an ambassador, I would use negotiation and make them tolerate each other faster.”

Congratulations to Vladyslav Makarenko for his enthusiasm, determination and resilience.

Vlad's award was featured on the Mt. Lebanon School District's web site.

Meet our Culinary Artists

Camp Delicious! has a full menu of summer fun planned for area teens that’s designed to boost their confidence, strengthen essential cooking skills and promote an appreciation for delicious, nutritious food. In order to accomplish our goals, we are excited to welcome back some familiar faces and introduce a few new ones to our team. Campers will learn from experienced chefs and professionals the importance of food preparation, discover healthy food choices and gain an appreciation for where food comes from -- all while having fun in this truly hands-on summer camp experience (Join us July 6-10, 2015).

Guest Chefs:

Chef TONY PALATUCCI, Head Clubhouse Chef for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Campers will have the opportunity to learn from Chef Tony Palatucci who creates delicious and nutritious pre- and post-game meals for athletes including Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker, Josh Harrison and more of your favorite players. Chef Palatucci is also the Executive Chef at Ches Anthony’s in Brentwood. This spring, Chef Palatucci teamed up with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to create healthy recipes from donated ingredients. You can download the recipes cards from the Pirates website.

Chef TONI PAIS, Award-winning Executive Chef and Entrepreneur 

Chef Toni Pais, Executive Chef and Owner of the Mediterranean restaurant Café Zinho in Shadyside, returns for his second year as a guest chef for Camp Delicious! Born in Portugal, Chef Pais moved to the United States in 1978 where he's been creating award-winning dishes and incorporating healthful ingredients into his already wholesome recipes. 

Culinary Partners:

JULIE BUTCHER PEZZINO, Executive Director of Grow Pittsburgh

As executive director of Grow Pittsburgh, an urban agricultural nonprofit located in Pittsburgh, Julie is committed to demonstrating, teaching and promoting responsible urban food production in the region. Campers will meet with Julie and visit the different Homewood Gardens operated by Grow Pittsburgh.

In the Kitchen: Students will work directly with some the best chefs, nutritionist and health coaches in the city. Read their stories:

LESLIE J. BONCI, Director, Camp Delicious

Leslie J. Bonci, MPH,RD,CSSD, LDN, is the director of sports medicine nutrition for the Centerfor Sports Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). She is past chair of SCAN. She is the director of sports nutrition for the University of Pittsburgh’s department of athletics, and is a nutrition consultant for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Toronto Blue Jays. In addition, she is the company nutritionist for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Leslie is a consultant to the NCAA and has worked with elite athletes including Garrett Weber-Gale, Usain Bolt, Kelly Kuehne and Tara Lipinksi,and Hines Ward in his 2013 Ironman debut.

She is the author of the American Dietetic Association Guide to Better Digestion and Sport Nutrition for Coaches. She is the co-author of  Run Your Butt Off ( 2012), Walk Your Butt Off (2013) The Active Calorie Diet (2011) , and Bike Your Butt Off (2014). She has contributed chapters to several sports medicine texts and the SCAN sports nutrition manual.

Leslie is an adjunct assistant instructor in pediatric dentistry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and also serves on the faculty of Pitt’s sports medicine fellowship training program.

LISA SILBERG, Chef, Intellectual Nutrition
Lisa is a dedicated heath coach and talented personal chef offering specialized food services in the Greater Pittsburgh area. She is passionate about cooking and sharing her knowledge to help others develop lifelong, healthy habits

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Lisa holds a Health Coaching Certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and a culinary degree from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where she received the President's Award for excellence. She is also a member of the American Association of Drug-less Practitioners. 

KELSEY WEISGERBER, Food Service Director, Environmental Charter School

Kelsey is the Food Service Director for 630 kids at the Environmental Charter School, or as she is known by her students, "The Lunch Lady." Her lunch program is based on healthy, from scratch and locally supplemented meals and she is working on making the model economically and sustainability ready for it to be reproduced by other schools in the region. Kelsey heavily relies on food education as the back bone to her programming and has partnered with over 50 local organizations and chefs to bring hands on learning to her students.

She is a board member for the local chapter of Slow Food Pittsburgh and is co-teaching cooking classes across the city with her program "Teaching a Community to Cook." She is an international ambassador for Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Campaign and has championed the cause in various projects in schools, community organizations and represented Jamie Oliver in South Africa for an international summit. Kelsey is passionate about food education and access for everyone and celebrates good, clean and fair food.

Describe the Camp Delicious! experience: It was an incredible program last summer! I volunteered with Luminari and had the opportunity to watch students engage positively with food, cooking and collaboration in the kitchen.  All of the students were so passionate about trying new things, working together and expanding their culinary literacy!  My favorite moment of the program was actually the last ten of fifteen minutes of the program seeing how proud all of the students were of the work they accomplished during the week and how eager they were to attend Camp Delicious again, it was clear this experience was much more than just a summer camp.

Favorite Dish: Recently I've been inspired by curries! I have spent a lot of time making my own curry and coconut milk! I love a spicy red pineapple curry!

TARA CONROY, Health Coach

Tara is a Holistic Health Coach, marketing consultant and mom of four teenagers, shares one of her favorite recipes with Luminari. She received her health coach certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Tara also worked directly with our Camp Delicious students lending her nutritional expertise and guidance. She coaches individuals and groups, presents Wellness Workshops to community organizations and businesses and teaches healthy cooking to children, teens and adults.

ALYSS ARDOLINO, Camp Delicious Teaching Assistant

Alyssa is a Junior Nutritional Sciences major at Penn State University. On campus, she is the President of the CHAARG chapter. Our mission is to help college-aged women embrace a happy and healthy lifestyle. In addition, Alyssa works in a Metabolic Diet Study Center. In her free time, she loves to cook, run, craft, and take photos. 

Describe the Camp Delicious! experience: Last summer, I had the opportunity to assist in the first ever Camp Delicious! I absolutely loved the experience! We planned, prepared, and cooked healthy dishes as well as learned where food comes from and why it’s so important. We toured Phipps, Whole Foods, and Grow Pittsburgh before culminating at the Arts Institute of Pittsburgh to cook a Mexican fiesta for all of the parents. Even as a college Nutrition student, I learned so much and I am so excited about helping out again this summer.

Favorite Dish: Sweet Potato Oatmeal Breakfast Casserole (pictured right)

Best Cooking Tip: Make it fun! Cook with friends and family and don’t forget to take a picture when it’s done : )

HANNAH WILLIAMS, Camp Delicious Teaching Assistant

Hannah is a senior studying Nutrition and Dietetics and fitness at the University of Pittsburgh. She loves showing off her creativity through cooking, baking, and sewing. Throughout the school year, Hannah is most often found studying, sipping coffee, and rooting on Pitt in football and basketball. 

Describe the Camp Delicious! experience: The Camp Delicious experience was the highlight of my summer last year.  Not only did I get to work with knowledgeable professionals and some fantastic kids  but I learned quiet a few things myself and found a new passion teaching cooking!  I am unbelievably excited to be a part of Camp Delicious again this summer.

Favorite Dish: Panzanella Salad - What’s better than loads of veggies, yummy bread, and delicious cheese?! (pictured right)

Best Cooking Tip: Don’t be afraid to experiment and try to new flavors, especially when it comes to spices! I tend to try putting cinnamon on everything!  

NICOLE DESTEFANO, Camp Delicious Teaching Assistant

Nicole attends the University of Pittsburgh and is studying to be a Registered Dietitian. She was raised on a small farm in New York and traveled to Italy every other summer to visit her family (and eat delicious foods.) Growing up in an Italian family, food was a part of life. Fifty-Four years ago Nicole's grandparents immigrated to America, like so many before them, in hopes of a better life, and bought a farm. She considers herself an extreme food enthusiast and feels so fortunate to be a part of the Camp Delicious team.

Nicole is new to the Camp Delicious! team, and she is really looking forward to sharing her passion for food, and more importantly, to pass on the message that food is something to be enjoyed and can be really fun!

Favorite Dish: Every time I went to Italy, my Uncle would make sure that our fridge had all the ingredients for us to make Arancini (rice balls) together. My Uncle Angelo, Zia Francesca, my sister, my mom and I would sit around the table all with a specific job, someone to make the rice into a ball shape, another to stuff it with pees, meat and cheese, someone to egg it and bread it. To make one batch of Arancini’s it would take hours but every second was worth it!

Best Cooking Tip: Experiment with a recipe! Make it your own and have fun with it. No recipe is ever written in stone so don’t be afraid to try something different.

MCKENNA ELDER, Camp Delicious Teaching Assistant

McKenna is a junior Nutritional Sciences major with a focus in the Dietetics Option at Pennsylvania State University. She will graduate from Penn State University in May 2016.  McKenna works at the Diet Assessment Center on campus. She is a Nutrition Interviewer who obtains 24-hour recalls through phone interviews from varying populations ranging from 6 to 60 years of age. Once she graduates with a Bachelor's Degree in Nutritional Sciences, she plans to pursue a career in Sports Nutrition or Pediatric Nutrition. 

McKenna is new to the Camp Delicious team this year, but she hopes to advance her skills by helping teens learn the basic skills needed for cooking. She also hopes to educate teens on the importance of eating healthy as well as provide them with the knowledge needed to chose healthy foods. 

Favorite Dish: Grilled salmon and asparagus (pictured right)

Best Cooking Tip: Store spices in a cool, dark, place, not above your stove. Humidity, light and heat will cause herbs and spices to lose their flavor. 

Technology Leads to More Teen Writers

by Gina Catanzarite, Program Director, Lumiari TEEN WRITER! camps

According to a Pew Research Center study titled Writing, Technology and Teens, a whopping 93% of teens say they write for their own pleasure . . . however, much of their personal writing consists of instant messaging, phone text messages, emails and material written on social networking sites.

Here’s the problem: Most teens also say they don’t consider that material to be “real” writing.

I disagree!

Those informal text communications consist of personal messages to friends re-telling events of the day, and that displays storytelling skills, opinion-writing skills, and even basic journalism skills (who/what/where/when/why/how). Teens bloggers are writing about social issues and personal experiences. Other teens are writing material ranging from journal entries to fan fiction to music lyrics --creative formats that inspire both the writerand the reader.

Sure, young people usually ignore the rules of capitalization, punctuation and grammar in those electronic and digital communications and I’d like to see that change – but let’s not overlook the victory and significance of so many teens engaged in writing!

Key research shows personal writing about life goals makespeople happier; creative writing leads to improved academic, social, and emotional intelligence; and strong writing and communications skills were rated by 97% of executives as‘absolutely essential’ or ‘very important’ in a study about skills employers value.

As the French novelist Gustave Flaubert once said, “The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.”    

So, parents… don’t get discouraged if your kids are constantly on those handheld devices because there really is some valuable skill-building going on.

And kids, I’m talking to you now, and I can’t stress this enough: Don’t devalue that content you’re creating!!

Those personal communications and creative “scribblings” really do count as “real” writing. And there are plenty of us out here you can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

Read the full results of the Writing, Technology and Teensstudy here and discover what teens are writing, how parents feel about the topic, and what schools can do to feed the teen writing habit!        

AND… indulge your teen’s love of writing by checking out this year’s Teen Writer! camps, Fantastic Fiction! and Journalism & Opinion Writing!