December 2018 Newsletter

Student Spotlight: Cici

 

Cici is a freshmen at Lanier High School in Austin, Texas. She is the true definition of a strong and dedicated leader. In addition to being a place to learn about fitness and nutrition, JKL has been a place of refuge for Cici after recently suffering some family trauma.
When her JKL instructor, Ms. Willis, asked her why she keeps coming to JKL, she replied, “I’m safe here and I know that I am cared for- so why go home to be alone when I can be in JKL doing something constructive”. The just keep livin program has provided CiCi with a safe place where new friendships have been made.
She has found a passion for Zumba and enjoys keeping an active lifestyle. Her goal after high school is to obtain her business degree and cosmetology license. She hopes to one day own and operate a hair studio.
 


 

Gratitude Quote of the Month

"I’m grateful that JKL has helped me improve my relationships with my parents, especially my dad. I’ve been able to teach my parents a little about exercising and making healthier choices and my dad and I now go on walks in the evening before bed.”"
— Luis, John H. Reagan High School
 


 

JKL Students Beautify Cleveland Public Library

 

 
On October 27th, students from our JKL program at John Adams High School in Cleveland, Ohio participated in a community service event at the Cleveland Public Library. The activity was an end of the season clean-up and street beautification project.
The purpose of the project was to restore community pride, create environmental safety, and bring members of the community and community partners together. The JKL team assisted in picking up trash and debris off of the sidewalks as well as planting flowers. JKL student, Jazmyne Peterson, said, “It doesn’t make sense that people throw all this stuff on the ground when they could put it in the trash.” Let’s all do our part to keep our environment clean!
 


 

Fabletics Donates Sports Bras to JKL Students

 

 
Thank you Fabletics, Kate Hudson’s activewear company, for donating your amazing Sports Bras to just keep livin students in New Orleans!
One of the main components of our programs is physical fitness, and without the proper support, our students are not able to get the most out of their workouts. Fabletics stepped up to help provide our students with the gear they need to reach their fitness goals! Said JKL student, Haley, “I run track, and this sports bra is way better than the one I have now.” Added JKL member, Doris, “Now I can give my mom her bra back, since I have this one.” Thank you Fabletics for changing the game for these JKL students when it comes to fitness!
 


 

Dodgers Foundation Invites JKL to College and Career Panel

 

 
Our amazing partners at the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation invited our LA JKL students to a College and Career Accelerator Panel. The students had the opportunity to meet admissions directors from UCLA, USC, Pepperdine University, Cal State LA, and Cal State Northridge. The students asked questions about applying to college, and learned how to be successful in college and beyond. Thank you Dodgers Foundation!
 


 

AMC Hosts Exclusive JKL Screening for the New Movie Tiger

 

 
On Tuesday, November 13th, 100 Los Angeles JKL students got to attend a screening of the new film, Tiger, as well as a Q&A with Prem Singh and Michael Pugliese, who play the two main characters in the film.
The students each received free popcorn and drinks, courtesy of AMC Theatres. They were inspired by this true story of overcoming adversity and loved hearing the actors’ talk about what it was like to produce this film. Thank you to the Tiger team and AMC Theatres!
 


 

Dr. Tommy John Empowers JKL Students in San Diego

 

 
JKL Students at Morse High School in San Diego came out in droves recently to hear a motivational speech from Dr. Tommy John, a former pro baseball player who obtained a Masters in Health and Exercise Science and opened the Dr. Tommy John Performance and Healing Center.
As the son of renowned Major League Baseball pitcher Tommy John, who played in the Major Leagues for 26 seasons and was the first person to comeback in 1974 from the revolutionary surgery named the Tommy John Surgery, it is not surprising that Dr. Tommy developed a passion for proper healing and physical function as he witnessed firsthand the outcomes of injury, innovation and principled healing.
It was so inspiring to hear him talk about the importance of tapping into the healing power inside of themselves and how visualization and meditation can help them achieve their goals. Said Dr. Tommy, “if you’re on the side of the majority, step back and ask what’s wrong” – an important lesson for these kids to stay true to themselves despite whatever obstacles they may face!
 


 

Camila’s Tip: Winter Tea for Kids

 

 
This time of the year, kids always seem to be fighting some kind of cold — It’s constant, and usually unavoidable. Growing up in Brazil, whenever I got sick, my Mom would make this tea for me, and it always made me feel better. Eventually she started making it to help prevent me from getting sick. Now I have carried on the tradition, and I make it for my children this time of year, whether they are sick or not.
Ingredients:
3 tbsp of honey
1 tbsp of sliced ginger
Juice from 1 lemon
2 slices of turmeric
4 cups of water
Directions:
Start by placing your honey in a medium saucepan over low heat and stir. You are going to want to cook it until it becomes dark in color. While that starts to cook, add in your chopped ginger. Next, squeeze your lemons and leave them in the pot, and add in the two sliced of turmeric. Finally, pour in your water and let the tea simmer in the pot for a few minutes and then serve!
 


 

Beller Nutrition Recipe of the Month

Balsamic and Garlic Roasted Cauliflower
Rachel Beller MS, RDN

 

 
It seems that white foods don’t get as much attention as the colorful ones and that needs to stop. True, some of them are not that nutritious (we all know to stay away from white bread and white rice!) but are all white foods equally bad for us? The answer is NO! Take for example cauliflower – it is a super powerful veg that is packed with disease-fighting compounds like fiber, vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, selenium and potassium. Whoa! That’s a lot of good stuff! Add some garlic (another awesome white food!) and turmeric and you got yourself a crucial cruciferous cancer-fighting and waistline-friendly dish that your whole family can dig into. Warm it up or eat it cold, share it with your fam or pack it as a veg side dish for school lunch – you are in total control!
Servings: 1
Ingredients:
2 heads cauliflower, (about 8 cups roughly chopped)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon turmeric
4 cloves garlic, minced
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (optional and can be regular or glazed)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, toss cauliflower florets with oil, turmeric, salt and pepper and spread onto the baking sheets.
Roast for 25 minutes then add the garlic. Roast for another 5 minutes until you can smell the garlic. Remove from oven and then drizzle the balsamic if desired.
 


 

Free Gift with Donation

 

 
This month, donate $100 or more to the just keep livin Foundation, and you will receive a free JKL bumper sticker! Donate here.

Donate Now »

 


 

Swag of the Month


You will be on trend with this tried and true 950 trucker cap. Decorated with a camo twill front, just keep livin logo, and American flag embroidery.

Shop Now!

 

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