HYPLife
Winter Digest 2023
EDITOR'S NOTE
WELCOME BACK!
Dear Readers,
Kalo Mina! Kali Xronia!
The winter season is full of holiday festivities as we cross the threshold from one year to the next. While most of us spend a lot of time carefully mapping out resolutions for the new year, many fall short of fulfilling them, perhaps because we do not leave enough time for revelation and awareness about ourselves and our community. Many rush from deadline to deadline or home to home in the name of the holiday season, often struggling with feelings of being overwhelmed or held up to unreasonable standards by family and friends that set a person up for failure even before the new year starts. Mindful appreciation of self and others, of little gifts we are granted, of opportunities and resources that are available to us, is pivotal to steady fulfillment and flourishing, which are the two things that make a life worth living.
In the US, January is recognized as National Mentoring Month and represents a time of connecting with our advisors and mentors — or perhaps just making time to make a personal inventory of our goals and accomplishments to make sure we’re on a path that makes us happy. In February we join in celebrating Black History Month, remembering the faith and solidarity that has connected the Greek and African American communities since the time of Archbishop Iakovos and Dr. Martin Luther King. Staying unified with a sense of dignity and clarity about the world, united in the celebration of what makes us beautiful and strong, is a wonderful way to remember the legacy crafted by our ancestors.
Our Winter Digest provides articles and helpful tips related to Lifestyle, Career and Balance. There are also several featured young professionals and upcoming events that are showcased in the pages below. We hope you’ll enjoy and make use of the information provided.
We are here for you! The team at Philo4Thought specializes in helping young professionals set and manage their personal and professional goals to reach their potential and flourish in work and in life.
Philo4Thought Annual Passport Membership Registration is now available. Members enjoy reduced registration to several events, access to our VIP Vault of exclusive advisory materials, 10% off our standard professional coaching rates, and 80%-85% off professional certification and personal development courses available through our affiliates at New Skills Academy. As always, our goal is to educate, inspire and empower our readers and viewers. We’re here for you!
Have a question or topic you’d like addressed in a future video or newsletter? Please send your feedback to our team using the chat box at the bottom of the screen.
Relax and enjoy this issue of #HYPLife!
Please share with friends, family and colleagues!
Wishing you all an amazing 2023!
Table of Contents
(Underlined text indicates hyperlinks.)
Additional categories may be added in future based on community needs and interests.
For COVID-related updates, click the prompt at the top of our site.
XRONIA POLLA!
Featured Professionals
- A warm welcome to the newest members of the Philo4Thought Team, Anna Pierratos (Board Secretary; Co-Director, Creative Development; Co-Director, Recruitment), Stavros Stavroulakis (Committee Member, Grants & Fundraising; Strategic Partnerships) and Gabriella Pizzolo (Spring 2023 Philanthropy Intern).
- Congratulations to our Philhellenic proteges, Pedro Castillo Ruiz (Criminal Justice, St. John’s University) for procuring a great new internship at the Office of the New York State Assembly and Nandi Kelis (Rei) Brown (Animation, SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology) for his new appointment as Teacher at CinemaKidz.
- Hats off to our three latest honorees for their outstanding philanthropic achievements: Dr. Maria Papadaki (Risk Management Specialist; Special Lecturer, Columbia University; Founder, H2B, Crete), Lynn Huang (College Admission Consultant and Career Coach (New York); Real Estate Specialist (Compass)), and Stacey Varghese (Director of the Professional Development Series at St. John’s University Alumni Relations).
Featured Strategic Partners
Introduction: LiveMazi Event Registration Platform Exclusive for Hellenic Events
- Announcing a new strategic partnership with LiveMazi, an event platform exclusively dedicated to the promotion and support of Hellenic events and organizations.
Introduction: Sound Business Inc. (SBI)
- Announcing a new strategic partnership with Sound Business Inc., an educational platform dedicated to supporting students and young professionals in creative industries. SBI is unique in that it is the only in-residence, non-profit organization to operate within a New York City Department of Education high school (A. Philip Randolph Campus High School) for 31 years. SBI has been one of A. Philip Randolph Campus High School and Harlem’s best kept secret for over three decades. One of my main goals is to raise awareness about SBI and the specific IGC framework we use to enrich the lives of students of color. SBI-College and Career Preparatory Institute (CCPI) offers a series of programs, initiatives and events solely committed to expanding students’ world knowledge in the following areas: performing arts, college and career readiness, and youth & workforce development. For more information, please visit us at soundbusiness.org.
- We invite you to look at the list of upcoming musical and performative events scheduled for this season! The list appears under “Affiliate Events” in this edition of HYPLife.
Recognition: Long-Standing Partnerships
- Many thanks to the offices of the Consulate General of Greece in New York, New York State Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, New Skills Academy (US and UK), St. John’s University Alumni Association, Roos Advisors (US/Global), Your Instructional Designer, Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce and our many other long-standing affiliates.
Celebrate Traditions & Transitions
- A shout-out to all those celebrating name days, birthdays, anniversaries, and special seasonal festivities.
- Best of luck to all those celebrating new landmark moments in their academic and professional paths!
EVENTS & INITIATIVES
Philo4Thought Events & Initiatives
Philo4Thought Vasilopita Brunch (January 21st @12pm): Kicking off the season with a holiday brunch at Skinos Restaurant overlooking the St. Nicholas Shrine in downtown NY! For details and registration, click here. We encourage all those who plan to attend to register using the new event platform LIVE MAZI, which is exclusive to Greek Events.
Proceeds from all Philo4Thought events go towards our annual programming and scholarship initiatives.
SAVE THE DATE! Philo4Thought Mix & Mingle (February 17th @7pm): Join us for a collaborative Happy Hour event! Details will post to our event page on February 1st! Please click here for event updates and registration. We encourage all those who plan to attend to register using the new event platform LIVE MAZI, which is exclusive to Greek events.
Proceeds from all Philo4Thought events go towards our annual programming and scholarship initiatives.
SAVE THE DATE (May 6th @11am-2pm): We’re back! Join us for the return of our annual Symposium!
Pre-Sale (February 15th): Event details and discounted Early Bird Registration will be available on February 15th: click here. An additional discount will be available to those who register for our January or February fundraisers using LIVE MAZI,
Proceeds from all Philo4Thought events go towards our annual programming and scholarship initiatives.
Philo4Thought Empowerment Series Podcast Launch: We hope you’ll enjoy our new podcast series, which is a continuation of our Empowerment Today series! All podcasts will post to our YouTube Channel and to a dedicated page on our website (www.philo4thought.org/podcasts). New topics will be addressed once monthly and are free to the public.
A copy of our first podcast is also available in the Featured Videos & Podcasts section below.
As we build our podcast content, BONUS CONTENT will post to our VIP Vault, which is exclusively available to Philo4Thought Passport Members as part of their annual membership.
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Want to suggest a specific topic for one of our courses, podcasts or publications? Please send your feedback to our team using the chat box at the bottom of the screen or email your feedback to info@philo4thought.org!
Affiliate Events & Initiatives
- The Consulate General of Greek In New York invites you to join their Next Gen Greeks in New York initiative, which is designed to help unite members of the young professional community in New York. The initiative currently consists of a dedicated LinkedIn page designed to serve as a go-to informational resource for information about organizations, events and initiatives related to the Greek and Greek American community. All those interested in being part of the local, regional and global Greek diaspora are welcome to join this group. Please contact NextGenGreeks@gmail.com for additional information.
- SAVE THE DATE! National Hellenic Students Association (April 21st-23rd): NHSA invites you to attend their Spring 2023 Convention in Boston! All are welcome to attend. Details will post to the NHSA website later this season: click here.
- Sound Business Inc. (Multiple Events @ Randolph Auditorium): SBI invites you to attend one of their many educational and creative activities! All are welcome to attend. To register or learn more about SBI activities and events, please visit www.soundbusiness.org. The SBI January-February Activity List is as follows:
- (NEW SBI PROGRAM!) CCPI’s Automotive Technician Workshop (Jan 24th @ 9:00AM): SBI in partnership with Ford Motor Company and SUNY’s Rockland Community College (RCC) will be offering a unique opportunity to A. Philip Randolph Campus High School students to join Ford’s Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program. The ACE program is designed to help students explore automotive careers. Some of the topics include New Model Training, Electric Systems Engineering, History of Ford Motor Company & Steering Suspension. These are the same courses that certified Ford/Lincoln technicians receive. By their mid-twenties, students could potentially earn between 80K-150K a year! This will be Ford Motor Company and Rockland Community College’s first partnership with a Manhattan-based high school which makes this an extremely groundbreaking opportunity! *Invited guests include NYC Mayor, NYCDOE Chancellor, Local Elected Officials, Ford, RCC and Mt. Vernon High School.
- SBI Black History Month Series (Feb 2nd, @ 7PM): Brandon Woody Quintet-Jazz Café Pop-Up Benefit with Brandon Woody’s Upendo In Renaissance. Featuring: Brandon Woody, Trumpet || Troy, Piano/Keyboards || Michael Saunders, Electric Bass || Kweku Sumbry, Drums. Click here for event flier and QR Code!
- SBI Gospel Music Performance (Feb 9th @ 10AM): Featuring LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts High School Gospel Choir.
- SBI Dance Harlem! Contemporary Dance Performance Benefit (Feb 28th @ 7PM): Featuring AThomasProject Dance || Von Howard Project Contemporary Dance company || EMERGE125 Dance company.
- SBI Annual Career Day (February 29th @ 8am-3pm): The annual SBI College and Career Preparatory Institute (CCPI) Career Day and Mock Interview Competition has been an integral part of the Randolph High School experience since the late 1990s! The full-day school event has historically served the 75 – 100 CCPI students enrolled in our after-school Performing Arts Program and our College Prep Academy. Through the years, students have dressed in business attire, participated in the day’s modules which included (1) a career exploration networking event (2) performing arts entrepreneur seminar (3) various roundtable discussion groups demystifying professional career paths and encouraging students to dream. Ford Motor Co., Deloitte, Citigroup, Capital One, have been among the leaders in providing career day volunteers.
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SBI Annual May Showcase (May 16th-19th @7pm): The May Showcase is the culmination of students’ yearly hard work in CCPI’s Performing Arts Program. SBI believes that engagement in a performing arts experience is central to students’ personal development. It provides the young people served with the opportunity to create and perform in dance, drama, and music. The May Showcase incorporates the 8 Dance Ensembles, Spoken Word Workshop, Glee Club, 2 Step Teams and Theatre Tech Workshop participants. It is in this arts program that students gain a greater sense of community and experience what it feels like to trust, care, be receptive to new ideas, follow, lead, commit, dream, and believe.
For more information about SBI events and initiatives, please visit www.soundbusiness.org!
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church NYC: Annunciation NYC invites you to attend their many upcoming events, including…
- Taverna Night (Jan 29th @ 6PM): Full sit-down dinner and live music at the beautiful Kellari Taverna NYC, centrally located in midtown Manhattan. (Click event link below for flier. Please email info@annunciation-nyc.org to sign up.)
- Sip & Paint Night (Feb 3rd @7PM): Join the Annunciation Parea for an evening of creativity and fun! Paint your own wine glass! Proceeds go to the National Kidney Foundation. Please email philovp@annunciation-nyc.org to sign up.)
- HACC Virtual Forum (Jan 28, 10am-1:30pm): The Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Innovators and HELLAS International Chamber of Commerce invite you to a special collaborative international virtual lecture on Greek Tourism for All Seasons. Click link below to register.
JOB BOARD
Looking for a Job or Internship?
- Visit our Job Board to explore our vetted list of reliable company and hiring sites!
Want to Post an Available Job or Internship?
Email us at p4tinfo@gmail.com to discuss your hiring needs and our reviewing process, documents needed, etc.
All jobs and internships posted to our site must meet standardized federal and regional hiring criterion.
Qualifying internships must meet specific criterion (either salaried as minimum wage in the State of New York or eligible for the recognized 140-hour college credit program supported by Philo4Thought and its educational affiliates). We are happy to review these requirements with those offering a potential internship opportunity.
Need Help Posting Your Listing on Handshake? We can help!
- Handshake is increasingly becoming the sole source used by colleges and universities to streamline the hiring of interns and new graduates. Our team is able to provide some guidance to get you started.
- For assistance, please email p4tinfo@gmail.com to set up an appointment or contact your local college career center.
- As part of our “Promethean Fire” theme, we strongly encourage that Alumni from specific colleges recruit from their respective Alma Maters to support the next generation!
MENTORING & COUNSELING
Mentoring & Coaching Schedule:
- Free Philo4Thought Online Office Hour: These are free small group chat sessions. All participants are expected to uphold the safe space standards outlined in our Terms & Conditions. To sign up or to request a specialist in a particular topic, please email us.
- Philo4Thought Concierge Coaching (1-on-1 by appointment): To schedule an appointment, please email us. (Standard tutoring rates apply to non-members. Discounted rates for new and returning Passport Members in good standing.)
- Affiliate Counseling & Support: In addition to the career counseling offered at Philo4Thought, our Strategic Partners at Roos Advisors have added a new advisory component to their existing services (in collaboration with the Miracle Activation Center). The team at Roos Advisors now offers family intervention services, counseling, and case management for companies and families; they also offer a free Zoom support hotline for families and friends Thursdays (10am-11:30am EST). For additional information, please email Roos Advisors directly — and remember to mention that you were referred by Philo4Thought for your discount!
Winter Workshops, Training & Seminars: As promised, our team will continue to host collaborative events with our Strategic Partners at St. John’s University, Roos Advisors, Your Instructional Design and other affiliate organizations.
2-Part Mentor Training (March. 3rd & March. 10th) — Want to become a Mentor or Coach? Join us for our new 2-Part Training Series, which is designed to unlock your potential as a mentor or coach at work, school or for a philanthropic organization. Anyone interested in becoming a coach or mentor (at Philo4Thought or elsewhere) is welcome to register! Overview & Registration.
Year-Round Online Certification Programs: Looking to scale up your training to land the next new job? Connect with our Strategic Partners at New Skills Academy (NSA) to learn something new for your personal and/or professional development! Philo4Thought Passport Members receive 80-85% listed prices for available NSA courses.
- Struggling with a personal crisis? There is a new confidential counseling resource center available. Visit https://www.wannatalkaboutit.com for details.
MINDFULNESS TIPS
Top Tips: Lifestyle, Career & Balance
True and lasting transformation requires three things: Confidence, commitment and faith.
Mindful Lifestyle: How Do I Know I’m Making Good Choices?
- Understand Yourself. Know what it is that you want and commit to it.
- Trust Yourself. Have confidence in your personal process. You may not need the traditional path that others have in mind for you. Trust yourself to make the choices that are best for you.
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- Have Faith in Yourself. Have faith that you have taking the time to map your way out and are now ready to collect the wisdom and experience you need to pave the way to the future you want.
Mindful Career: How Do I Stop Procrastinating?
- Set attainable goals. Setting attainable goals for oneself is essential to ensuring success and progress. It’s great to think and dream big, but it’s important to recognize that big dreams are achieved with steady steps forward.
- Map out the resources needed. Line up the resources you need for success. Sometimes it’s easy to collect them at once, other times one can only collect a few resources at a time. Don’t let ONE missing resource cause you to lose your steam! It’s ok to move forward with some of your key resources and pick the rest up along your journey to success!
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- Be determined NOT to procrastinate! A healthy way to ensure that you move forward is to simply resist the urge to procrastinate. Set the small manageable goals and be determined not to procrastinate!
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- Practice Makes Perfect. The more you engage in this three-step process the easier it is to leave your procrastinating tendency behind. After all, as the great Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence… is not an act, but a habit.”
Mindful Balance: How Do I Cope with Anxiety About Change?
- Recognize change as a part of growth. Every moment is an opportunity to learn and grow as a person and as a professional. Changes at home, school or work can lead to increased productivity if you remain determined to learn from every moment.
- Understand the source of the change. Getting to know the source and reasons for a major change can help you put matters into perspective and make transitions easier to manage.
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- Understanding what you need to make a change positive. Some people become overwhelmed with the stress of change, whether major or minor, because they do not have the tools needed to cope with change.
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- Admitting when you need help. The most important factor in coping with anxiety caused by change — or navigating the phases of a major change in a positive and productive manner — is seeking the proper guidance. Hiding from your anxiety (or denying it) serves no purpose. It takes a stronger person to admit that they need a hand overcoming an obstacle.
Helpful Resources
- FREE Assessments are available at Philo4Thought! Click Here.
- Personal Development Courses. Explore a new skill or hobby. Learning a language or new skill (cooking, gardening, etc.) can help to unlock your potential by taking your mind off the every day.
- Professional Development Courses. Gain a better grasp of a skill you need for your current or desired job.
- Earn a supplementary certificate to advance in your current or desired career path.
- Meet with a reliable career coach when planning any type of transition (college-to-career, corporate to entrepreneurial, etc.).
- Expand your horizons through positive and proactive networking.
RECOMMENDED READING
Hidden Treasures (Lifestyle, Balance & Reflection)
- ARTICLE: Finding Your Life’s Mission
Philo4Thought Passport Members’ VIP Vault (Access with Passcode)
New advisory articles available at our FREE P4T E-Library!
FEATURED MEDIA
Pes Mou Empowerment Secrets (Podcast, S1:E1)
- Special thanks to Dinos Konstantinou, Consul General of Greece in New York, for being our first guest speaker! We look forward to many more collaborations as part of the Consulate’s NextGen and Educational initiatives!
- Would you like to be a featured guest speaker on our podcast? Email us at info@philo4thought.org.
Remembering Our Joint Legacy of Unity & Community Support
- Happy MLK Day (January 16th)! Our community shares a long history of fighting for equality and solidarity, represented in this iconic image of MLK and H.E. Archbishop Iakovos. This time of year serves as a reminder to our two communities that it is essential to work together with the dignity and clarity of our predecessors to support justice and progress for our people. We hope you’ll continue to uphold this rich legacy in your daily thoughts and actions. Remember your dreams and, once they are achieved, remember to help others achieve their dreams.
Our regular educational and advisory videos are available at our e-Library.
FEATURE ARTICLES
Articles
Corresponding Photo Galleries
- Philo4Thought Holiday Brunch 2022 (Photo Credit Rev. Father Sotirios Michalatos and Keegan Rupp)
- 24th Annual Capital Link Invest In Greece Forum 2022 (Photo Credit Philo4Thought & Strategic Partners)
- Annunciation Stewardship & Mistletoe Gala 2022 (Photo Credit ETA Image, RareCuts.com & Philo4Thought)
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
DONATE!
Winter Fundraising
Make a Difference in the Lives of Others!
Support our Programming, Publications, Training & Scholarship Initiatives!
- To learn more about our fundraising initiatives and sponsorship levels, please click here.
- To sponsor an event or make a donation, please review available Sponsorship Levels and select from one of the following options:
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Check
- Pay-It-Forward Option 1: Donate while taking courses and attending Philo4Thought (Seminars, Coaching, Special Events)
- Unlock Your Personal & Professional Potential! by working with one of our professional coaches for affordable rates!
- Philo4Thought Passport Members enjoy a reduced rate for all personalized coaching services, networking events and for our year-end Symposium.
- Community Giving: Proceeds from all coaching and training sessions goes towards our ongoing programming and scholarship program.
- Sign Up Today! To register for Philo4Thought’s available seminars and training options — click on our Courses & Training menu or email us schedule an appointment.
- Pay-It-Forward Option 2: Donate through your own self-improvement @ New Skills Academy (Courses)
Learn or Improve Your Skills! Gain additional incentive rewards towards future classes and give back to the community through this special offer!
Philo4Thought Passport Members enjoy up to 85% OFF available courses! New Skills also offers additional rewards (and select free classes) for returning clients.
Community Giving: For every course you sign up for with our colleagues at New Skills Academy, 1% of the proceeds comes back to Philo4Thought
Sign Up Today! Visit our Courses & Training menu for a list of available classes.
- Pay-It-Forward Option 2: Donate through your own self-improvement @ New Skills Academy (Courses)
- PASSPORT MEMBERSHIP LEVELS: Check out these and other available benefits available to Philo4Thought Passport Members.