Vicky Elkins’ Cultural Care Au Pair Site - Memphis

Cultural Care Aupairs learned about Self Defense

Posted by: velkins on March 24, 2008

Photo Caption of Cultural Care Aupairs when they were having a Self Defense Aupair Meeting at Cordova TKD in Cordova. The training is part of Cultural Care Au Pair’s ongoing Continuing Education Program (CEP). The Commercial Appeal newspaper.

Memphis, TN, March, 2008 – Memphis is one of the most dangerous cities in United States, according to Morgan Quinto Press and FBI statistics. Therefore, it is important for Memphians to learn how to protect themselves.  One group that is taking action to do so is a group of local au pairs.  These au pairs are young people from abroad, and who live with local host families and care for their children.  Area au pairs learned important self defense tips last March 9 during a safety event sponsored by Cultural Care Au Pair and Cordova Taekwondo. 

The au pairs, currently living with host families in Memphis, Germantown, Cordova, Collierville, and Millington, together represent the countries of Peru, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Russia, Germany and Ukraine. Au pairs are very busy, often taking their host children to and from school or activities, and having fun in their free time. Cultural Care Au Pair stresses the importance of making sure that the au pairs understand how to best protect their precious cargo and themselves. 

“Self Defense class is always important, but learning how NOT to be a victim, is just as important,” said Local Childcare Coordinator Vicky Elkins. According to Vicky Elkins, a resident of Shelby County, the training is part of Cultural Care Au Pair’s ongoing Continuing Education Program (CEP). As a U.S. Department of State regulated program, au pairs receive safety and childcare education throughout their year long stay in the United States, beginning with a week of intensive courses at the Cultural Care Au Pair school in New York. 

Held at Cordova Taekwondo location, Mr. Chris Miller, 5^th degree black belt and owner/Chief Instructor, taught the au pairs many valuable skills.  Miller showed them how to protect themselves, how to be alert at all times, how to use their strength effectively, how to size up a situation and decide what they should do, and how to break an attacker’s grasp. 

Vicky Elkins suggests these personal safety tips for local families: 

·  Understand your surroundings. Walk or hang out in areas that are open, well lit, and well traveled. Become familiar with the buildings, parking lots, parks, and other places you walk. Pay particular attention to places where someone could hide — such as stairways and bushes. 

·  Avoid shortcuts that take you through isolated areas. 

·  If you’re going out at night, travel in a group. 

·  Make sure your friends and parents know your daily schedule (classes, sports practice, club meetings, etc.). If you go on a date or with friends for an after-game snack, let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return. 

·  Be sure your body language shows a sense of confidence. Look like you know where you’re going and act alert. 

·  Carry a cell phone if possible. Make sure it is programmed with your parents’ phone number. 

·  Make sure to carry the police’s phone number. 

·  Be willing to report crimes in your neighborhood and school to the police. 

For more information on inviting an au pair into your home, call Vicky Elkins at (901) 268-2449 or visit Cultural Care Au Pair online at www.culturalcare.com.  For information about self defense classes, call Chris Miller at (901) 377-6551 or go to http://www.cordovatkd.com 

April Aupair Meeting in a Karaoke Restaurant

Posted by: velkins on March 14, 2008

Our next aupair meeting will be Thursday, April 17 at 7pm. We will eat and sing in the restaurant MUSIC CAFE.

For the ones that live in Collierville and Germantown take Poplar Avenue like going to Memphis then turn left in Ridgeway, then left in Mt. Moriah. Music Café will be on your right. You will see Music Café sign with big red letters.

Self Defense Class for March Aupair Meeting

Posted by: velkins on March 4, 2008

We will be taking an hour and half of self defense class at the Cordova TKD. March 9 at 2 p.m. Please be ready to do a lot of execises.

See the picture below for directions:

2965 N. Germantown Rd. Suite #130 in the shops of Wolflake, behind the Hampton Inn on the corner of Germantown and Hwy 64.

http://www.cordovatkd.com/index2.htm

Baby and Me Stories

Posted by: velkins on March 3, 2008

http://ws52.hanwi.com/WeeklyUpdate/LibraryFebruary25.pdf