What’s New at This Year’s Rise Above It Event?

It’s almost time for Rise Above It, one of our favorite community events here at the Hancock Health Connection Center. This year features all the self-care resources you remember from prior events, as well as several new features!

Rise Above It is scheduled for 5 pm – 8:30 pm Tuesday, November 12, at Mount Vernon High School in Fortville. The event is being hosted this year as a partnership with the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation. As it has in prior years, Rise Above It will feature local organizations introducing participants to various self-care and wellness products and activities. But this year we’ll be taking it a step further, with a keynote speaker main session and breakout sessions throughout the evening facilitated by the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation Parent University.

This year’s keynote speaker is Jessie Hyde, M.Ed, a training specialist with Hope Alight. Hope Alight works to bring hope and healing to children who have experienced adversity. Jessie will speak on “Attuned Parenting: How to Balance Structure and Nurture to Raise Healthy, Competent Children.” 

Jessie will discuss how to balance structure and nurture with authoritative parenting, a blend of support and boundaries. Research shows that authoritative parenting provides the most positive outcomes as our children grow and develop. This session will equip parents with tools to foster empathy and resilience in their children through healthy connections to their parents. At the same time, parents will understand the importance of boundary setting to help children grow into their healthiest, most productive selves. 

Parenting can be a challenge, and this year’s breakout sessions address some of the common challenges parents face today:

Navigating Today’s Technologies: Insights from Parents and Teens will be led by Seth Hamilton, CETL Director of Technology for the Mount Vernon Community School Corporation. 

In this breakout session, parents and teens will come together to explore the evolving world of social media and technology. Through a dynamic panel discussion, participants can dive into the positive and negative aspects of social media, the mental health impacts, and how families can foster responsible usage. This session offers a unique opportunity to bridge generational perspectives, share personal experiences, and gain practical strategies for navigating the digital landscape together.

Building a Strong Sense of Worth in Our Children will be presented by Jessie Hyde with HopeAlight. 

Self-worth is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. So many children believe the lies that they aren’t good enough, smart enough, or that they don’t belong. Some children believe they are unlovable or have made mistakes they will never overcome. Those lies can all be unwired if we have the tools, language and understanding to build healthy attachment and increase self-worth in our kids. Researchers have found that those with a solid foundation of worth have a high degree of competence, are well-liked, can use their voice to get their needs met, are persistent, are creative, trust others, value relationships and are socially competent. This session will help parents understand how worth is formed and give them the tools to build worth in their children.  

Infusing Joy: Creating Engaging and Memorable School Experiences will be presented by George Philhower, Ed.D., Superintendent of Eastern Hancock Schools.

Joy is an essential part of a child’s education, helping to create meaningful, memorable, and engaging learning experiences. In this session, we’ll explore real examples of joyful learning in action and discuss how fostering joy in the classroom leads to deeper engagement, personal growth, and academic success.

Dance can be a powerful tool for expression and conversation, and this year’s Rise Above It event will feature performances by two local dance groups.

Arc of Hancock County’s adaptive ballet class is a program designed for individuals of all ages with disabilities. See how dance transcends all levels of physical and mental challenges to make a statement we all can understand and appreciate. 

En Pointe Indiana Ballet will inspire and encourage the audience with an interpretive dance called “Jekyll and Hyde.” The piece touches on the journey of a young boy with a mental illness that in a way “controls” him and his actions. He is very clearly fighting against it. However, sometimes fighting a mental illness is not something we should do isolated or on our own. Just like any other illness, mental illness deserves the attention and treatment options offered through mainstream health care. Our hope is that “Jekyll and Hyde” will be an impactful story told through dance to help reduce the stigma, promote conversations and bring attention to this important area.

Dinner and childcare are available for the event, but you must register in advance and select those options at https://www.hancockhealth.org/event/rise-above-it-2/ . While Rise Above It is a family-friendly event, some parents may want to take advantage of the childcare options in the Mount Vernon High School library.

If you’ve attended Rise Above It in the past, you know that it comprises several fun self-care activities. This is your chance to indulge in a manicure or haircut at no cost. You can also sample yummy healthy snacks or break out your moves during our Zumba demonstration. (Participation is strongly encouraged!) Check out our growing list of stations scheduled for the event:

Make sure your schedule is clear for Tuesday, November 12. Self-care is not selfish! Treat yourself to a night out – and don’t worry about dinner or childcare – and find out why Rise Above It is such a popular event each year.