I now have my website: excelsioryouthcounselor.com. I am officially opening on Monday the 3rd; looking forward to meeting and greeting you!

As I previously stated my mission is to bring to you programs to enhance initiatives that support the development of our youth: please recognize the following information that is most important to you and your families!

The College & Career Lab is a tuition-free, six-year program offered as a multi-week intensive workshop during the summer and Practice Lab sessions during the academic year to prepare students to succeed in their post-secondary education and career paths. In short, this program prepares our youth for college-bound starting in the 8th grade and continues throughout their post-high school year!

When I started my mission, I am the gatekeeper of our children, please believe what I say! These programs that I support: educational & apprenticeship opportunities keep our children out of the streets and puts them into enrichment environments to support their dreams, interests and goals; helping them to succeed as leaders in their families and communities! This information supports my vision!

I continue our journey in enhancing/improving our communities but before I get started, I would like to take a moment to express my appreciation for all you do, to support my platform! And just know, I understand in these times some of us are doing well but lets face it, some of us are just making ends meet! However, we continue to strive and move upward fulfilling our dreams and ambitions! Why because children are our future!

To be clear, I came out of retirement to share, support and give guidance for our children to have as many opportunities to succeed and develop their fullest potentials!

Many may ask the question: what can you do or many may think, some of our youth are unreachable! Honestly, you may be right however, I continue to ask the question, at what age, do you stop dreaming? Especially, when at times the harsh realities of life are immeasurable!

I am not super women but I am a dreamer of life and honestly my passions to show, convince, impress and encourage others will always take center stage in my life! Your contributions helps me to do just that!

So what have I been up to after taking time out to heal, reflect and refocus my ambitions! I left you with a project I have been researching (2 yrs.) and have a compassion to learn! My retaining wall … yes, so lets get to it!

The rationale: simply bringing an Apprenticeship program in Concrete Designs to our students! As you may know, collaborating with Bottom Line Construction & Youth Construct, CEO Alexis McSween, our mission to develop our youth in construction & engineering etc., have proven to develop mathematics, critical thinking and reading comprehension skills, enabling students to achieve various certifications in construction as well as job ready skills coming out of high schools!

Well did you know when engaging students in concrete applications: retaining wall, driveways and building construction require just as much learning as all the skills mentioned as well as other skills: interacting with others, communication, working in groups/teams to accomplish said goals! And it is certainly, imaginative, interesting and fulfilling! Helping our youth to gain confidence and believing in their dreams!

To date, most of the funding have come from me! Yes, me because I believe in my mission! Needless to say, I know I can introduce many more students with more resources so I humbly ask, if you can find it in your means to further this exciting adventure with me and keeping in mind, I already have the foundation! If we can get more youth to work with their hands to learn a vital skill to grow, that supports our youth!

Tips: to start follow how I challenge my goals one by one! You start where you are at. Yes, visualize your dreams and each day continue to draw or map out how you would go about it! The hard work especially with new challenges, you may have an interest or passion for and more importantly work at it! The beauty is, you never know how it will turn out but starting the project is the hardest!

Currently, I am collaborating with A1 Asphalt & Concrete Services, LLC to bring an Apprenticeship program for students to learn Concrete Designs! While my website will be up and running shortly, if you would like more information feel free to let me know and remember your funds will be matched by my personal funds to make this a successful program not just for our youth but also for our environment! You see most things are connected b/c what follows is landscaping apprenticeship programs to help our youth learn about the origin/history of how grass grows, the science behind successful planting flowers, trees, etc. The importance of learning basic upkeep of the earth! All praises to Jesus Christ!

It is official! I have my LLC to practice virtual counseling in the State of New York! I am just so thrilled to have this opportunity and to be able to open up another chapter in my life. After 4 1/2 years in retirement, I started hearing about all the gun gang violence, disregard for human life and consequently youth getting involved in senseless, sometimes fatal instances! I decided I wanted to see what impact I could still have on children and by doing so; positioning myself to be able to talk to our kids anywhere they may be in crisis! Counseling is my passion! I really do appreciate everyone’s support and input. God bless you all! Virtual Counseling allows me to reach you anywhere! I am here for you!

My name is Mary Bowden retired School counselor at the New York Department of Education 26 yrs., and I hope to raise money for mental health, community mental health programs, and mental health/grief counselors. Included are empowerment programs (CBOs), to encourage and educate our youth, in careers, internships/grants/scholarships and college programs.

Initiatives in community health fairs to provide information on health clinics, nutritional importance, and exercises! Basically, to enhance community services in communities where it may be needed!

And let us not forget our medical attention to our other family members, our beloved pets! Ensuring much medical attention is given to our pets that we love so dearly!

Keep in mind, small steps turns into big steps & all it takes, is to try that first step! I learned from my mother & she would encourage us to believe in our dreams & she would say, “you have to try because nothing beats a failure but to try.” My love for nature & everything in it inspires the passions & desires in me to seek out how I can make a difference, in making life better for others! So follow along with us on this exciting journey making life better for our families & communities!

Keeping in mind services are broken up into three categories:

providing seniors with companionships, ensuring nutritional meals, personal grooming, hair, baths, etc.!

Another category: to provide career counseling, information on college grants, internships etc.! Helping students to set goals, inspiring them to seek out their dreams! More importantly helping them to build self-esteem & confidence to reach their fullest potentials!

Third category: establishing relationships with school administrators/school counselors as well as community base programs to introduce a volunteer learning service program! This program allows students to work in any community service capacity as long as you have working papers that is easily obtained by asking your guidance counselor at your school! I am hoping to develop & allow students to go into nursing homes to read to our seniors or just basically sit with them; introduce themselves & tell a senior person a bit about yourselves! More importantly, support our students to learn about empathy compassion for others! Those types of engagements programs, could certainly lift one’s spirit up! Also, some seniors that do not have family or any other persons in theirs lives to care for them would greatly appreciate you! In return: students will receive extra credits that always look good when applying for high schools/college admissions, job applications b/c the interviewer is always looking at that person that goes that extra step, that extra mile and to be able to present yourself in the image that you see yourself! Exhibiting confidence and having a clear direction in terms of your goals, and what you hope to achieve in life, learning communication & listening skills, talking to people helps to build confidence in our children especially, learning communication & listening skills! A Volunteer Service initiative program provides some incentives:

1) receiving $50 towards opening up a bank account

2) learning financial/banking information, credit, loans,

mortgages, etc.!

3) credits towards high schools & college applications

4) providing fees to obtain their drivers licenses’

5) providing resources for job interviews, etc.

6) college & job references/recommendations (usually a teacher, counselor, or even people in your community, to tell, how great you are as a person).

And for parents, relief is on the way! As we say, I love you & so very proud of you; but guess what, I have given you sound advice & will always love you! Now it is time for you to show the world what you are made of: Principles, compassions dreams & the desires to help others! And just think, your generation will show inspiration, dreams & hope towards a better future as well as the next generation! Pass the baton! God Bless you on your journey towards adulthood! You can make a difference in your life by making the Earth, a better place to raise our families!

If we can keep our children off the streets by engaging them in knowledge content base programs, as well as other enrichment experiences; it would be one less child, that we would not have to hear about, another senseless killing by gun violence! My mother would always tell us, “there is nothing in the streets, but trouble!” Our children needs to have a place/places in our communities where they can feel safe & have meaningful positive experiences!

Remember, each day we take one step at a time!