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Designed to succeed
Pinning hopes on building kids' self–esteem
By Gillian R. Swart
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One day a few years ago, Newburyport resident Ronna Rosenblatt had an epiphany. She concluded that working in the corporate world was not for her and that she was meant to be a voice for children.
To this end, Rosenblatt uses her company, Pinnovative Designs, and its new retail line, Back Talk, to help empower young people to be real. She has aligned herself with programs that focus on developing the emotional intelligence, if you will, of the child. Her end of the bargain with, in this case, Newburyport's Youth Services, is to produce pins with catchy slogans that will hopefully encourage children to build on a natural inclination. A portion of the proceeds from sale of the pins goes directly to the city's Youth Asset Building Initiative administered through Youth Services and part of the B.E.A.C.O.N. Coalition's community efforts to address issues of underage substance abuse. "Through teaching kids, you realize how open the kids are and how they're really here to teach us," Rosenblatt said. "They have the courage to be genuine, the courage to have courage ... and the self–confidence to dare to be different." The vivacious mother of two worked for many years in the corporate world, promoting products through pins and other marketing devices. But she discovered that world was not conducive to people, including her, expressing who they really are. She ultimately faced obstacle after obstacle in her personal life. She restructured her life, moved here and began her new mission. She feels it's important to start educating people early in order to turn them away from substance abuse. "What kids and teens ultimately need is to feel that they really matter," she said from her Liberty Street home. She was dressed casually but chic in slacks, turtleneck and big chunky necklace that she could never have worn to work in her previous life. Since moving here such a short time ago, Rosenblatt said, she has connected with some of the most generous people and feels a good energy with the work she's doing. "We're just so excited about it," said Andrea Egmont, supervisor of Youth Services. "I think there's always something really very nice about knowing there are people who go out of their way to benefit other people ... She came in and connected with us, and this initiative is really connected with her personal values. It's a great statement." Plus, Egmont added, it's the perfect tie–in to get word out to people about the city's youth asset initiative. Rosenblatt said all eight designs of her pins express who she is, which makes sense since she is the one who designs them. Each pin is attached to a brightly colored postcard bearing an inspirational message such as, "100% genuine ... a track record that can't be beat." Another, on a baseball theme, says, "Share! ... step up to the plate." All of the cards also carry the message that `It's Cool to Care!' Youth Services is working with Rosenblatt to develop some other ideas for designs. The current selection is on sale at Pink Hearts Blue Soles on Water Street and at Eureka in The Tannery. Pinnovative Designs also produces pins for corporate sponsors, such as New Balance, which sponsors the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Walk. Little rubber sneakers bearing pink ribbon laces, the New Balance `N,' and the slogan "Lace Up!" will be given away at its 115 sponsored walks nationwide. Pins are also available individually on the company's Web site, www.pinnovative.com. |
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