Pathway to Harmony Partners
We want to acknowledge and thank our Pathway Partners for being the blessings they are because Pathway to Harmony, Inc. could not do all that we do without their help and the help of so many volunteers. They have been invaluable providing resources that make it possible for us to create and implement programs and to build capacity. Our partnerships work because the services offered by our Pathway Partners and the goals of their organizations are in alignment with Pathway to Harmony’s primary mission of helping youth and adults enhance their quality of life and minimizing chaos and stress in their daily life. We ask that you visit their websites to see the great works that they are doing to make life better for everyone and then support them in any way that you can. Whatever you do for them you do for us all.
JAPANESE CULTURE CENTER and AIKIDO ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
The Japanese Culture Center, Aikido Association of America, and the Aikido International Foundation have been invaluable Pathway Partners since 2006, providing assistance through their organizations as well as connections to resources outside of their individual organizations. They have assisted us through the use of their facilities for programs and events, provided program facilitators and instructors for events, awarded seminar scholarships, sponsored fund raisers, and provided mentors for our youth.
Japanese Culture Center
The Japanese Culture Center was established in 1977 in Chicago by Aikido Shihan (Teacher of Teachers) and Zen Master Fumio Toyoda to make some of the martial arts, crafts, and philosophical riches of Japan available to the public. Today the JCC continues this tradition, offering classes in over a dozen martial and cultural arts. The Center is not a museum where lifeless objects are displayed; it is a school where living skills are passed on person to person from generation to generation. You become an active participant in arts that have been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years. We invite you to visit and experience the richness and complexity of knowledge cultivated around the world. Upon entering the Center you will see a wooden panel on which are carved the characters “Ten Shin Kan,” or “Place of the Universal Mind/Body/Spirit”. In the spirit of the traditional training halls, the JCC is a true “Dojo”, or “House of the Way”.
Visit their website https://www.japaneseculturecenter.com
Aikido Association of America
The Aikido Association of America (AAA) is a nationally based organization, with an affiliation of over 140 facilities in the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, AAA provides instruction developed under the late chief instructor, Shihan Fumio Toyoda. Shihan Toyoda founded AAA in 1984 and brought over 40 years of Aikido training experience to AAA and its programs. The goal of AAA is to lift American Aikido instruction to its highest level, using traditional Japanese and modern methods of teaching Aikido arts and philosophy. To ensure that Aikido instruction in this country will be of the highest quality possible, and that it will continue at this level for future generations, AAA provides a variety of services to its members.
Visit their website https://aaa-aikido.com/aaa-services/
LASHANDRA HARRIS
Lashondra Harris has been a Pathway Partner since 2006 when she enrolled her daughter in the Pathway to Harmony Aikido Program. She is an invaluable Pathway Partner assisting in every area including the incorporation of Pathway to Harmony. She currently serves on our board of directors. Over the years she has participated in fund raisers, facilitated workshops and programs, provided transportation to youth, served as a mentor to students, and been a representative for Pathway to Harmony, Inc.
Lashandra Harris
Lashondra Harris, is the founder of LHM Enterprise. She is a personal finance expert who has a passion for helping individuals and small business owners to manage and grow their financial wellbeing.
With unsurpassed real-world experience in the financial industry, LaShandra provides her clients with professionalism, expert advice, and peace of mind. Her reputation upholds her as a trusted advisor to individuals and businesses to achieve profitability and to reach financial goals. As an IRS Registered Tax Professional, LaShandra knows that minimizing taxes today can enhance wealth for tomorrow.
LaShandra holds a MBA in Finance, and is licensed in Insurance. She is a long time resident of the Chicagoland area and a proud parent of her daughter.
Visit her website at https://lmhenterprise.com
BROTHER STEVE DAVIS and SAFEWAY OPERATIONS
Brother Steve Davis founder of Safeway Operations became Pathway Partners in 2006 when he and his family became students in the Pathway to Harmony Aikido Program. Since that time Brother Steve and his Safeway Operations organization has been instrumental in providing transportation and logistical support, program facilitators, financial assistance for various programs, youth and adult employment opportunities, college mentorship and resources.
Safeway Operations
In 2001, SAFEWAY OPERATIONS was established to provide a simple model of Tailored-Training, Mentoring, Leadership & Life Skills Coaching for individuals to enhance their quality of life. The mission of Safeway Operations is to provide “resources & supportive services” to our youth that will help them to strengthen their overall development and leadership skills. Our sincere hope is to touch all aspects of their life, which includes personal, spiritual, social, academic, charitable, extra-curricular and professional. We encourage our youth to follow their passions, set measurable goals and develop realistic plans of achievement. We truly believe that a strong family structure/network is important to the positive growth and development of our youth, so we focus on building and maintaining a strong foundation with positive long-term relationships.
- Life Skills Development
- Charitable Activities
- Illinois College Connection (ICC)
- Group Outings & Activities
MICHAEL BARAZ and GIFT OF FLIGHT
Michael Baraz has been a Pathway Partner since 2007 when he first volunteered to take Pathway to Harmony Aikido Summer Enrichment (P.H.A.S.E.) participants up in the air and expose them to the world of aviation. Always wanting to do more to help Pathway with its mission, in 2017 Michael introduced us to Gift of Flight, an organization whose mission was in alignment with ours and that he was a member. In 2018 they became Pathway Partners, partnering with us to implement the Pathway to Harmony Aviation-STEM program at Lindblom Math and Science High School, a Chicago Public School. They have generously provided their time and resources to help introduce youth to aviation and the STEM careers connected to the field. They have provided opportunities for Pathway participants to train for their FAA Pilot License, receive mentoring, helped with college and scholarship recommendations, participate in aviation related events and fly.
Gift of Flight, Inc.
Gift of Flight, Inc NFP is registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization founded to improve America’s future by inspiring careers and pursuits in aviation, aerospace, science, technology, engineering, and math — with special attention towards the underprivileged or at-risk youths (ages 14-21) by providing discovery flights, flight instruction, aerospace education, STEM training and competitions and scholarships.
Visit their website at http://giftofflight.org
MARC TAYLOR and THE ISLAND RECORDING STUDIO
Marcus Taylor owner of The Island Recording Studio is a new Pathway Partner. When I approached him with my idea for introducing youth to the business side of music production through our Pathway to Harmony Aikido Summer Enrichment (P.H.A.S.E.) program, he was enthusiastically saying yes before I could finish proposing what I wanted to do. His response was “Sensei I’m committed to helping you in whatever way you need.”. I learned that he has a deep personal commitment to nurturing youth and that helping them to find and pursue their passions is his passion.
The Island Recording Studio
The Island Recording Studio specializes in vocal recording and is home to the best music producers, composers, and award-winning engineers in Chicago. Conveniently located on Goose Island, we provide a comfortable and creative space while delivering the highest quality product. As an added bonus, The Island Recording Studio is happy to provide free, private parking on-premises. We offer competitive studio rates and an eclectic roster of producers in various genres. Our goal is to provide you with quality, comfort, and convenience on your next project.
Visit their website at https://islandchicago.com/
ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNITY WELLNESS
Advocates for Community Wellness have been Pathway Partners since 2012. Dale Cain, the founder has been a committed partner providing health and wellness information and resources, as well as providing facilitators for our health programs. Advocates for Community Wellness also provides a platform through forums and events for Pathway to Harmony, Inc. to get its message out to the greater Chicagoland Area.
Advocates for Community Wellness
Advocates for Community Wellness is a faith-based health promotion and disease prevention ministry without walls. We are a tight niche group of health professionals such as nutritionists, culinary arts enthusiasts, health educators, fitness trainers, nurses, healthcare providers and individuals who have a genuine interest in improving the health and wellbeing of everyone. The mission of Advocates for Community Wellness (A4CW) is to educate the public on the relationship of diet, proper nutrition and health. It is our desire that you live life more abundantly. Since 2003, we have been serving communities in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area through our Annual Health Awareness Education Outreach Programs. We also host and participate in monthly wellness forums, health fairs, and conduct nutrition education and hands-on cooking classes.
Visit their website at https://a4cw.org/about-us
NATIONAL WOMEN VETERAN UNITED
The National Women Veteran United (NWVU) has been a Pathway Partner since 2018 providing a meeting place and resources for the Pathway to Harmony Aviation-STEM program when needed. NWVU is committed to serving the families of military women veterans as well as the youth in the communities where their members live. When asked they immediately agreed to being a Pathway Partner because they recognized that youth and adults everywhere especially military families are being overwhelmed by stress from their deployments, their environment, family situations, finances, health issues, school, reintegration, and other areas of their life, and that our commitment to helping youth and adults minimize stress and improve their quality of life was in alignment with their mission. This summer NWVU is providing us with a base location for the 2022 PHASE program.
National Women Veteran United
The National Women Veterans United (NWVU) mission is to advocate, educate and bond with all military women veterans with special emphasis on women who are disabled, homeless, at risk or returning from deployment, to ensure they are connected to appropriate direct services and resources for readjustment and coping skills, as they return to employment, school and family. Ensure they have access to equivalent well-being services and programs as our male veteran counterparts. Educate women veterans on their VA benefits and entitlements such as healthcare, education, employment and training, vocational assistance, and other VA resources. Mentor and lend our leadership skills to youth programs such as the Girl Scouts, JROTC, Military Family Readiness Groups (FRG) or Gold Star family children.
Visit their website at https://nwvu.org