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Home » TV & Movies » 'Law & Order: SVU': 5 of the Dumbest Things Said on the Show, According to Fans
'Law & Order: SVU': 5 of the Dumbest Things Said on the Show, According to Fans
Law & Order: SVU has highlighted critical issues for over two decades. But in that time, the NBC drama has also had its fair share of cringe-worthy moments. Here are some of the "dumbest" things fans suggest they've heard on the show.
1. When Rollins says she hates elevators in 'Law & Order: SVU' Season 13, Episode 6
In the Law & Order: SVU Season 13 episode titled "True Believers," a young music student is accompanied by a man in her building elevator and later alleges that he sexually assaulted her at gunpoint. When the SVU team is going over surveillance footage, Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) comments she doesn't like elevators. And one fan suggested her reasoning in that moment sounded pretty dumb.
Quoting Rollins' dialogue, a fan wrote in a Reddit thread, "'That's why I hate elevators, you know? No, no girl's gonna smile at some stranger who tries to get into her car' is it for me."
2. When Stabler investigates a rear-end banana in Season 1, Episode 12
In "Russian Love Poem," Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) investigate the murder of a millionaire who slept with a string of escorts. While interviewing one of them, Stabler asks if she knows about the unusual circumstances surrounding his murder.
"Did you put the banana in Andrew's rear end?" Stabler asks.
"Yes, he is allergic to bananas," she answers. "But if that killed him, it was an honest mistake."
"I loudly cackle at that line," a Reddit fan shared. "Every. Time."
3. When 'they leveled up' in 'Law & Order: SVU' Season 16, Episode 14
In the Law & Order: SVU Season 16 episode, "Intimidation Game," Rollins finds a victim who's been assaulted at a gaming convention. The victim reveals that she was targeted because women aren't welcome in the gaming world. And when Rollins asks her what they did to her, she gives a pretty lame answer and replies, "They leveled up."
"You can tell that NONE of the writers have any idea about gaming," one Redditor wrote about the dialogue. "Dumbest, most cringe quote of the entire series, in my opinion."
4. When Olivia didn't stab the Captain 'with a pickle' in Season 12, Episode 5
In the Season 12 episode of Law & Order: SVU titled "Wet," Olivia comes across a pot of boiling poisonous mushrooms and takes a whiff. Later in the interrogation room, she gets a little loopy and says odd things.
"I'm not the one who stabbed the Captain with a pickle," she yells just before passing out.
"The reason I think it's stupid is because that isn't how people talk when they are confused from drugs like of any kind lol," a Reddit fan suggested. "Perfectly normal cadence and rhythm but just random words inserted."
5. Anything internet or social media-related on 'Law & Order: SVU'
Law & Order: SVU pulls some of its social media and tech-related stories straight from the headlines. But it sometimes fails when trying to get the lingo to sound authentic. Some fans find the show's fake version of Facebook called "Face Union" kind of strange, and others think it's weird anytime an episode references the deep web.
And after watching the recent Season 23 episode, "Fast Times @TheWheelhouse," some thought it was kind of cringe-worthy. "I think it's hard for writers to write about things with which they are not familiar without sounding cringe," a Redditor wrote. "Those episodes are often very hyperbolic and snark-worthy."


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Syria, United Nations, UNSC
Statement of H. E. Bassam Sabbagh at the UNSC on the "Political & Humanitarian Situation" in Syria
Posted by Internationalist 360° on August 24, 2021 September 3, 2021
Syria calls for removing coercive measures as they target Syrians' livelihood
24 August، 2021
Geneva, SANA
Syria's permanent representative to the UN, Bassam Sabbagh, said that Syria exerts its efforts to facilitate the return of refugees to their homeland as its cooperation with friendly countries, the UN and international organizations has given fruits for the return of a large number of them.
Sabbagh added at a session of UN Security council about the situation in Syria that the US and its allies hinder initiatives related to the return of the Syrian refugees and distort facts through claiming that the appropriate conditions for their return are not available.
He went on to say that to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria, this requires the removing of western, coercive measures that target the Syrians' livelihood.
Sabbagh said that those measures prevent Syrians from having food, medicine, fuel and other basic needs and they directly affect the level, quality and efficiency of humanitarian and relief operations conducted by the UN and other international organizations in Syria.
He added that the US occupation of areas in the northeastern part of Syria and the Turkish regime occupation of regions in north and northwest Syria, and stealing the resources and national capabilities of the Syrian people aggravate the suffering of the Syrians which require an end to the US and Turkish occupations of Syrian lands and the lifting of unjust Western measures.
Sabbagh stressed that Syria continues to follow up on the efforts of UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, and renews its commitment to a political process led by Syria and its positive and constructive participation to facilitate the holding of the sixth round of the Committee of Discussing the Constitution.
He referred to the need for fully respecting the committee's references and rules of its procedures and not to interfere in its work or attempt to impose illogical and unrealistic conclusions or timetables.
As for Daraa, Sabbagh said that Syria stresses its categorical rejection of the baseless lies included in the statements of some countries about the situation in Daraa.
"The terrorists in Daraa have assassinated 250 members of army and police, 18 municipality chiefs and more than 115 citizens, while the wounded have reached to nearly 500 ones from civilians and army members," Sabbagh said.
He added that Daraa al-Balad has witnessed an escalation in hostilities by armed terrorist groups that breached, by orders of their operators, the truce agreements.
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Successful real estate investors are those who venture into different investments in the real estate business. Experienced investors have the ability to make money in any real estate field regardless of the market economy. Changing investment strategies can help you find the perfect investment type for you, make the right decisions all while earning major profits simultaneously.
Flipping homes has been known to produce some of the largest profits in real estate investment. How does flipping works? Basically you find an old and worn out or broken down home and negotiate for a cheaper price from the seller. Once you sign a purchase contract with the seller, you are allowed to assign the contract to another buyer for conveniently cheaper amount. Once the home is renovated, you can sell it at a conveniently higher price to gain some income.
This is one of the best strategies in the real estate investment business; you buy a home that is subject to an existing mortgage, this means that you are using the sellers existing financing when you are purchasing the home. Through some legal documents, you make an official agree to make the mortgage payments left and the seller will transfer all the legal documents including the title deed to you. People who no longer need to keep a home are constantly selling them to real estate investors.
You can choose a real estate option with a lease. This means that you will have all legal permissions to lease part of or the whole property. The lease options allow the real estate agent to buy the property for a specific period of time at a given price. It is similar to renting the property but here you make the whole payment once if possible. Keep in mind that the leasing option does not give you any ownership obligations to the property. You do own the property that you are renting but only for a short period of time. The tenants are required to make a deposit that is non-refundable if they plan on ultimately buying the home.
Using private money to buy real estate is one of the easiest no money down strategies to purchase property if you have the right means. The private money sources typically allow you to complete a real estate deal without touching a cent of your money. Hard money is considered the most expensive forms of private money.
The lender will not look at your credit report to give you the loan, but they will check out the property for repayment. If you fail to complete the payments you will hand out the title deed to the lender. Even though hard money is expensive, it can offer you many opportunities in the real estate business. Soft money on the other hand is less expensive but may be a bit faster to find. You can ask close friends and relatives for a soft private money loan but it is not a guarantee you will get it.
Simple Personal Loans provide bad credit loans for those in need.


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Inside Yolanda Hadid's Tragic Battle With Lyme Disease
Jamie Mccarthy/Getty Images
By Desirée O/Oct. 25, 2019 10:16 am EST
Yolanda Hadid may appear to live a charmed life thanks to the fact that she's a former model, an alum of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and the mother to models Bella and Gigi Hadid – not to mention their younger runway-walking brother Anwar Hadid. But the Hadid matriarch also faces a continuing battle with Lyme disease, which is caused by tick bites and leads to symptoms like joint pain and debilitating fatigue.
First diagnosed with the disease in 2012, Yolanda Hadid revealed in October 2019 that she was in remission, telling People, "I feel better than ever. ... I had a really bad year last year but I found a new frequency healing device and it's been amazing for me. It took away 90 percent of my symptoms. It helped with my joint pain, the exhaustion, the brain fog, all the symptoms that come with Lyme disease."
"[My journey] was so painful but the spiritual part of my soul was saying there is a higher purpose," Hadid explained. And while she says that it "sucks that it happened" to her, she acknowledges that she's able to use her fame to help others who are also unwell. "I put a face to the disease that nobody knew anything about. It's very real. And lot of people are suffering. But God put me on this path to make a difference. That's what keeps me going."
Bella and Anwar Hadid also battle Lyme disease
Yolanda Hadid is also motivated by the urge to help her two children, Bella and Anwar Hadid, who also suffer from Lyme Disease. Diagnosed in 2012, the same year as their mother, Yolanda opened up in January 2016 about watching her children battle the disease while sharing a photo on Instagram of herself in bed beside Bella, who was hooked up to an IV at the time.
"Watching my brave babies suffer in silence in order to support me in my journey has struck the deepest core of hopelessness inside of me, it is because of them that I continue to fight relentlessly," the concerned mother captioned the image. "I will not allow them to live a life of pain and suffering....... I will prevail and walk to the end of the earth to find a cure for them and millions of others debilitated by this invisible disease!!!! We all deserve to live a healthy life, don't you think?"
While Gigi Hadid hasn't contracted the disease, she explained to W magazine in February 2019 that it's difficult to watch her family members suffer. "I also felt a lot of guilt for being the one person in the family who didn't understand what they were going through," she said. "It's hard when your whole family is in pain and you don't know what to do."


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You are at:Home»Current in Noblesville»Noblesville Cover Stories»Trolley takeout: Couple converts antique vehicle into food truck
Mike Stacey prepares an order on The Urban Artisan. (Photos by Anna Skinner)
Trolley takeout: Couple converts antique vehicle into food truck
By Anna Skinner on August 25, 2020 Noblesville Cover Stories
When Noblesville couple Mike and Stacey Spencer concluded that the restaurant industry was over-saturated, they decided to go in a different direction with their eatery.
They converted an antique trolley into a food truck.
"You see big companies constantly shutting their doors, and this is pre-COVID, anyway. The industry is overly saturated with restaurants popping up left and right and places constantly closing," Mike said. "It's really hard to run a brick-and-mortar business because of all the overhead expenses and competition."
Having noticed a successful trend in the food truck industry, the Spencers went that direction with their business.
"It was becoming more and more popular," Mike said.
Mike earned a business degree in college, and after working in health care for 22 years, he was ready to pursue an entrepreneurial venture. That's when he and Stacey found an antique trolley and decided to convert it into a food truck.
"We went and looked at it and wound up buying it too late in the season to start building it out, so it sat," Mike said.
This spring, the Spencers converted the trolley into a food truck and branded their business The Urban Artisan. Previously, the Spencers worked out of the Noblesville VFW branch selling food to members and through DoorDash to raise brand awareness.
"We figured with the uniqueness of the trolley and the proven reviews of our food, if we did this correctly, it would be successful and we would have control over it," Mike said.
Initially, the Spencers planned to take The Urban Artisan to corporate offices during lunch time and rotate between businesses Monday through Friday and then cater events in the evening. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they changed their business plan to focus on small events, apartment complexes and housing communities.
The Spencers receive two to four inquiries a day about booking the trolley for an event.
"The word is getting out there that we are now taking on events, and it's taking off, which is good because we are trying to salvage what we can of this year," Mike said. "Once some normalcy comes back to everybody's lives, we look to be running every day for lunch and going back to our original plan doing big events like GenCon, Comic-Con and events with the City of Noblesville."
Mike learned to cook from his father.
"He was a better cook than my mother, so I picked it up and I've always enjoyed it and it led into this," he said.
The Urban Artisan is a 1985 model 34-foot trolley previously used for tourism. The Spencers bought it through Facebook Marketplace from a man in Peru, Ind. Typically, food trucks are approximately 20 feet long.
"He owned a semi-trailer business and there was a packaged deal with this trolley in with a bunch of semi-trailers, so he bought the whole package and put the trolley up for sale," Mike said.
The trolley only required minor engine work before it was up and running. Mike said it was difficult to trace its history.
The Urban Artisan primarily travels to events in Hamilton County.
For more, visit taucatering.com.
The Urban Artisan specializes in sandwiches and French crepes.
"One thing we noticed in the food truck industry is they do just sweets or just savory, and they don't do a combination," said Mike Stacey, a Noblesville resident and owner of The Urban Artisan. "With the trolley being as large as it is, we could offer both. If you have a sweet tooth, we could do that or savory. We have that covered. It opened up our customer base."
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Having put 2017 in the rear view mirror, some military families are turning to the first big deadline of 2018: finalizing their Scholarships for Military Children applications in time for the program's Feb. 16 application cutoff.
Applying for one of the 700 available $2,000 scholarship grants is straightforward. Requirements include providing a completed two-page application; the student's official transcript indicating a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for high school applicants, or college transcript indicating a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for students already enrolled in college; and a typewritten or computer-printed essay of 500 words or less, and no longer than two pages.
This year's essay question addresses the effect of the internet on modern society and the family: "With the development of high speed internet, you are now living in a world that is completely different than 20 years ago. What are the pluses and minuses for society and the family? How would you address the minuses?"
"With the deadline to submit your application for the Fisher House Scholarship for Military Children fast approaching, make sure you double-check the list of items required to be submitted to be eligible for the scholarship," said Marye Dobson, the Defense Commissary Agency's scholarships program liaison.
The two-page application, your high school or college transcripts and the short, typed essay all have to be submitted in one package.
Eligibility for the program is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants should ensure that they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current military dependent ID card. The applicant must also be planning to attend or already be attending an accredited college or university, full time, in the fall of 2018 or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program.
All rules and requirements for the program, as well as links to frequently asked questions and the downloadable application are available at the Scholarships for Military children website.
Students enter brief background information and educational goals and the search tool will identify military-affiliated scholarships they may be eligible for based on their input. Once the search is complete, students receive a list of scholarships with a summary of eligibility requirements, points of contact and links to the scholarship provider's website. Students can elect to have a PDF file of the results immediately emailed to them for use in selecting which scholarships to apply for.
According to Brian Gawne, vice president of community relations for Fisher House, the Scholarships for Service search engine is never used to collect data for marketing purposes. "We're not using this to collect data and then send email or other solicitations," he said.
The Scholarships for Military Children program is managed by Scholarship Managers, a national, nonprofit organization. If students have questions about the scholarship program application, they should call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them at militaryscholar@scholarshipmanagers.com.


Volunteers week is a time to thank volunteers for the fantastic contribution that they make.
Fundamentally, I need to know whether policies are working.
That is good news. Can I make an argument for it being higher up the agenda?
I hear what you say and I will not argue with that, but I would like to ask about the process.


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Home Family and Kids On the Podcast 'Super Mamás,' Local Sisters Are Creating a Judgement-Free Zone...
Photo: Courtesy Super Mamás
On the Podcast 'Super Mamás,' Local Sisters Are Creating a Judgement-Free Zone for Moms
Not everyone's experience of motherhood is the same
Brittany Martin
Not everyone's experience of motherhood is the same, and it doesn't always look like an Anne Geddes photo. But if you ask Paulina and Bricia Lopez, sisters, new moms, and co-founders of the podcast Super Mamás, that's totally OK.
The duo found themselves juggling demanding careers (the siblings run the Oaxacan dining destination Guelaguetza), personal lives, and child-rearing—and also juggling the competing pressures and traditions of their Mexican heritage and modern Los Angeles lives.
While they knew they couldn't be the only women trying to strike that particular balance, they didn't see themselves reflected in the existing media targeting young moms. So, like any good entrepreneurs, they decided to do it themselves.
The show gave them a platform to bring on a diverse group of women to talk frankly about the joys and challenges of parenting, and it found an adoring audience. Episodes address matters from raising bilingual kids and coping with mental illness, to tips for traveling with babies and staying fit.
A post shared by Super Mamas Podcast (@_supermamas) on Apr 20, 2018 at 8:31am PDT
The popularity of the podcast has spilled over into an in-person gathering, the Super Mamás Social on May 12. It gets the mom squad out for a day of family-friendly celebrations, including a live taping of an episode of the show, and keynote talks by chef and star of the Food Network's Mexican Made Easy, Marcela Valladolid, and celebrity fashion stylist Monica Rose.
"The Super Mamás Social experience is tough to put into words," says Paulina Lopez. "It began as a way for us to connect with our listeners in person. At our first event, three years ago, we had no idea whether or not people would show up. When 500 guests showed up we knew we had something much bigger than ourselves."
Now backed by some pretty big names—Target, Delta Airlines, and Munchkin, Inc.—the social is bigger and more elaborate than ever. They encourage not just moms and tots but whole families to come by. They've even rolled out a new Super Papás arcade and lounge space for dads who tag along.
While the Lopez sisters were running around prepping for the event—and Bricia had to run off to present a James Beard Award at the ceremony in Chicago—we spoke with Paulina about how the podcast came to be, what she didn't know before becoming a mom, and why it's so important to find your tribe.
What inspired you to share your motherhood journey in the form of a podcast?
When I had my first baby, I fell into a really bad post-partum depression. I felt incredibly lonely because most of my friends didn't have kids. I decided to join a Mommy and Me group where we would share our experiences and that helped me feel normal. I realized that we were all going through the same struggles.
One of the mommies suggested we should check out a podcast about motherhood, and when I heard it, I really enjoyed it, but I realized that their motherhood experience was very different from mine.
I was born in Oaxaca and living in L.A., so my parenting style was and its still is very different. I have a lot of traditional practices like rubbing an egg on my daughter after a hectic day, as my mom would do to me in Oaxaca. I co-sleep with my children, I pierced their ears at four days old. I felt like my practices were seen as foreign.
I knew that there were more girls out there having the same experience as I was, but that wasn't reflected in any podcast out there at the time.
Do you find that your cultural background gives you a specific lens on modern parenting?
Definitely. I feel like my parenting is a mix of how I grew up, everything that I'm learning now, and things that I wished were talked about. I am open with my kids. I feel like kids were very underestimated when I was growing up and I want to change that with my kids. I want to give them a voice and make them feel secure.
My culture is a big part of who I am. In my house, what we eat, what we listen to and watch, it's all influenced by my upbringing. But I also realize my kids are growing up in a totally different culture, so I think they are growing up with an amazing mix of both worlds.
What are some things you have learned that you would share with a new mom now?
I think we always want to give new mothers so much advice! Do this! Don't do that! There is so much information that it becomes overwhelming at times.
On the other end, I feel like there were a lot of things I wish I knew beforehand, like all the weird things that happen to your body post-partum—how much my nipples would hurt, how my hair would fall off.
Mental health is one of the topics we believe we should all be discussing openly and honestly. No one told me I could become depressed, and it has been such a big struggle for me, but getting help and talking about it has helped so much. I am so inspired to help other women and be an advocate on this subject.
A post shared by Super Mamas Podcast (@_supermamas) on Jan 26, 2018 at 10:54am PST
On Super Mamás we have touched on a lot of subjects that are not usually talked about in our Latino community, like miscarriage, domestic violence, finances, and even sex. One in particular was when we brought my own mom on the show. We learned so much from her, things we didn't know about her when she was a kid and a young woman. The fact that it is now recorded for our kids and grandkids to hear, it's incredible
How do you manage to pull off all the challenges of being a mom, having a career, taking care of yourself, and getting it all done?
Our culture today is very demanding and as women we have so many pressures to do it all, but the truth is that motherhood is not meant to be done alone. We do not do it all! That is a huge misconception.
We are surrounded by a lot of incredible people that help us accomplish everything that we need to. Our husbands, nannies, teams at work, teachers, siblings, friends that lend us a hand when we need it—I wouldn't be able to do any of what I do without all of them. I am incredibly thankful to have them in my life.
A post shared by Super Mamas Podcast (@_supermamas) on May 13, 2017 at 3:32pm PDT
This is why a tribe is so important. We need to help one another in this crazy ride that is motherhood—and womanhood in general. Our grandmothers, and even some of our mothers, had a whole group of women, tias, abuelas, and neighbors.
Motherhood is hard! We need to help and encourage one another, normalize the fact that we don't have it all together, and accept that motherhood is messy and whatever our parenting decisions are, they are OK, because they work for us. Making friends as a mom is really hard, and the last thing we need is other moms judging us. We need to create a support system.
RELATED: Hit the Subscribe Button On These 9 Local Latinx Podcasts
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Celebrating Families
ESL Classes & GED
Immersion Preschools
2019-20 Preschool Applications
Bilingual at Central Campus
Bilingual at Lockhart Campus
Bilingual at St. James Campus
2019 #ChangingLives Campaign
As an nonprofit organization, we understand that getting involved in our community benefits all those involved. We strive to become an integral part of the lives of not only the children and families that we serve, but also our community as a whole.
Below are just a few of our news items for you to view.
New T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships now available
childcareservices.org
Are you working in a North Carolina licensed child care facility unwilling to sponsor employees on a comprehensive T.E.A.C.H. scholarship? Help is still within reach! Please check out the Working Scholars scholarship. This scholarship is for use in the state of North Carolina only and should not be replicated.
Starting in Fall 2018, UNC-Greensboro will be offering the brand new Leadership in Infant and Toddler Learning (LITL) Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program. In support of this program, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® North Carolina is now offering a new scholarship for those working with Infant and/or Toddler children and/or on behalf of their teachers.
Charlotte symphony brings music to local preschool
August 8, 2018 | Erin Weeks, Independent Tribune
From the minute the first string struck to the final, quavering note, the audience sat, transfixed. Then, almost as one, the dozens of children swarmed the musicians with enthusiasm, exploring up close something they had never seen before in their lives: the symphony.
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra performed for about 80 families from Families First bilingual early childhood education programs in Cabarrus County in late April. The free concert was part of the symphony's community outreach program and one of the first geared toward preschool children.
Families First looks to future, growth
January 24, 2018 | Erin Weeks, Independent Tribune
Five new pre-schools in five years might appear a bit ambitious—and it is, Spencer Swain of Families First said. But when the mandate is help students pass kindergarten so they have a chance at a better life, no goal seems too lofty.
Families First is a Cabarrus County nonprofit that seeks to educate the entire family. Through preschools, in-home visits, tutoring and adult classes, the organization focuses specifically on immigrant and Hispanic families, trying to set not only the children but the parents up for success long-term.
Spencer Swain and his wife, Aurora, hope to take their mission to the next level and reach even more families. As part of that effort, they applied for the SEED20 in Charlotte last year, an event that chooses 20 area nonprofits to go through a training process. Ten finalists give a brief on-stage pitch to an audience, including a panel of judges, which awards first, second and third prize cash awards of up to $20,000.
Though Families First didn't win an official prize, the group did meet up with an investor interested in helping them meet the five-year plan. A presenting sponsor from the Foundation of the Carolinas Reemprise Fund approached Aurora Swain after her presentation for SEED20 last spring and scheduled a meeting to talk about her plans.
Local educator wins national award
January 3, 2018 | Erin Weeks, Independent Tribune
Last year was a big one for a little bilingual preschool and family education nonprofit in Cabarrus County—little in size, at least, though not in mission.
Families First has set big plans in motion, opening a second preschool over the summer and winning national awards to boot. Director of Operations and founder Aurora Swain recently earned the National Parent Educator of the Year for her efforts to reach the entire family in the population she serves.
"It was really amazing and humbling," Spencer Swain, Aurora's husband and executive director of Families First, said. "More than that, I think it just brings for Cabarrus County and North Carolina the strength of an in-home visiting program to get kids ready for kindergarten and parents ready for kindergarten."
Seed20 video: Families First in Cabarrus Countyh
Congratulations for 2017 Parent Educators of the Year
Pictured left to right: Constance Gully, Aurora Swain, Amy Hoffman, Amanda Johnson, Patricia Kempthorne, PJ West, Kerry Caverly and Karen Shanoski
SEED20 ON STAGE: Families First in Cabarrus County
CHARLOTTE-BASED REEMPRISE FUND AWARDS GRANT TO FAMILIES FIRST IN CABARRUS COUNTY
Earlier this year, Aurora Swain of Families First in Cabarrus County pitched her nonprofit's innovative ideas to an audience of over 900 people during Social Venture Partners' SEED20 OnStage. Aurora's supporters filled up the front row of Knight Theater to cheer her on as she represented Families First and the families she helps every day.
"I will never forget the first day when parents struggled to sign their names and even hold a pen," Aurora said during her pitch. "You see, in Latin American countries education is not mandatory like in the USA. Obviously they couldn't read or write. We resolved the problem by opening a school for adults, Monday – Saturday. I promise there is nothing more inspirational than this, seeing the power and freedom adults gain when learning how to read and write. We are educating the whole family.
Aurora's pitch helped Families First gain support from the Charlotte-based Reemprise Fund, who recently awarded the Cabarrus County nonprofit a grant in the amount of $25,125. The grant helped them hire a consultant with Amy Clinton & Associates to help them build capacity and remain organizationally stable in attaining their vision of 5 schools in 5 years.
Families First, a direct service provider for the Cabarrus Partnership for Children, provides early childhood education and free parenting programs for parents who are struggling with parenting, poverty, addictions, and/or living linguistically isolated and their children. They operate an in-home visiting program utilizing the best practice Parents as Teachers model, the 5-star Cabarrus Bilingual Preschool, and support groups, with the goal of finding families who need assistance, give them a voice, and provide support to ensure success at home, school, and life.
Local nonprofit takes early education to next level
Independent Tribune
Much of childhood education hones in on developing the whole child.
But at Families First, that emphasis envelops the entire family.
"A lot of organizations focus on just the kids, which is great," Aurora Swain, co-founder of Families First, said. "But if you don't have the parents involved or you leave the parents behind, then you're going to hit a wall. You're going to hit a point where if my mom can't help or my dad, who will?
"So the fact is we are bringing everybody with us. We're not leaving anybody behind. I'm talking about English; I'm talking about learning how to read or write; I'm talking even social and emotional. We're preparing our parents with other problems, celebrating families."
That innovative approach to preschool caught the attention of the SEED20 competition in Charlotte, a competition among nonprofits that are positively impacting their communities. And while Families First didn't leave with the grand prize, the organization walked away with some great experience and exposure, to boot.
WBTV - Through Their Eyes: A father's fight
November 7, 2017 | WBTV
One man helping change everything, all for his little girl.
Click the image below to view the video of this amazing story.
April 26, 2017 | Erin Weeks, Independent Tribune
Local preschool a SEED20 finalist
March 24, 2017 | Independent Tribune
Families First, a bilingual preschool in Cabarrus County, is one of 10 finalists for the SEED20 OnStage competition, which gives out more than $45,000 in cash prizes.
Aurora Swain, director of operations at Families First, will participate in an on-stage competition Monday, March 27, at the Belk Blumenthal Center in Charlotte where the 10 finalists present fast-paced three-minute pitches in front of a live audience.
Putting Families First: A Local Partner
Cabarrus Partnership for Children
As part of our mission to better the lives of children in the community, we've teamed up with Families First in Cabarrus County, a local nonprofit organization serving at-risk children and families, to help provide children and their parents with needed resources they need to improve their lives both at home and in school.
Founded in July, 2014 by Spencer and Aurora Swain, FFCC works to make a positive impact in the lives of Cabarrus County children by implementing three separate programs aimed at improving early childhood development. Programs include Parents as Teachers, Celebrating Families, and Cabarrus Bilingual Preschool, each one fully offered in both English and Spanish.
Local nonprofit nominated for regional award
December 6, 2016 | Independent Tribune
Families First in Cabarrus County, a local nonprofit, is a finalist for Charlotte's Seed20 award.
The organization includes the Cabarrus Bilingual Preschool, PAT and Celebrating Families
Each year, Seed20 accepts a class of local nonprofits and hosts an educational evening where each nonprofit does a three-minute pitch. The organizations receive training, coaching, feedback and mentoring over the two months prior, working on effectively telling their story.
Seed20 selects 10 nonprofits for the final pitch, and Families First was one of them.
'Buzz' Word Spelling Bee fundraiser helps support learning literacy to change lives
September 6, 2016 | Michael Knox, Independent Tribune
Rosita Rivera works third shift with a cleaning crew, and her shift runs from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. But when her shift is finished, Rivera doesn't race home to go to bed. Instead, she fights to stay awake so she can pick up her friends to head to class to learn English.
Rivera moved from Guatemala to America in 1995 after her husband came here and over the years relied on her daughter to translate for her. Now, she wants to learn English herself rather than rely on a translator. She got her chance thanks to the Cabarrus Literacy Council.
Rivera was among seven adult students involved in Cabarrus Literacy Council's first group class for English as a Second Language, which was hosted at the Cabarrus Bilingual Preschool at 985 Central Dr NW, Concord.
Cabarrus Bilingual School is a division of the Families First non-profit, developed by Aurora Swain and her husband, Spencer Swain, with their site used to host the group classes offered by Cabarrus Literacy Council.
985 Central Drive NW
office@familiesfirstcc.org


text:
Two Modis in London
Updated: Nov 24, 2015, 13:56 IST | Malavika Sangghvi
On the face of it, there couldn't be two individuals who appear more different. One born a humble tea stall owner's son and the other the scion of a leading industrialist's family with the proverbial silver spoon in mouth
On the face of it, there couldn't be two individuals who appear more different. One born a humble tea stall owner's son and the other the scion of a leading industrialist's family with the proverbial silver spoon in mouth.
Not only that but even as adults they have grown up as opposites: one a profligate flamboyant libertine, a lover of the good things in life and the other a rabble rousing ideologue, workaholic and stern disciplinarian.
Lalit Modi and Narendra Modi
And yet their surname yokes them together and gave rise to much hilarity recently when both Lalit Modi and Narendra Modi found themselves in London at the same time.
"It has just been clarified that almost 50,000 people who came to Wembley yesterday, actually thought that Lalit Modi was going to be there at the Alisha Chinai concert!" posted the IPL architect who has taken refuge from Indian regulatory authorities in London about his namesake.
Come to think of it when it comes to massive egos and delusions of grandeur they're not that different after all.
In her own right
Her husband the late businessman and hotelier Lalit Suri had belonged to the inner circle of Rajiv Gandhi's Doon school friends and many a Lutyen's luvvies had dined out on stories of meals being catered for the first couple from the kitchens of their hotel in Connaught Place.
Jyotsna Suri (in orange) was the only woman to be included in PM Narendra Modi's team that visited the UK last week
So it is a tribute to her own handwork and talent that after his untimely demise in 2006, Jyotsna Suri, who had until then lived under her famous husband's shadow, has emerged as a respected businesswoman in her own right, taking the reigns of her husband's empire which included hotels in Delhi, Mumbai, Srinagar and turned them around.
And as proof of this achievement, the soft spoken and graceful lady in her capacity as President of FICCI was the only woman to be included in PM Modi's UK trip last week. And whereas that in itself is commendable enough, it is her successful segue to an entirely different political leadership that has brought in the admiration and applause.
Talent in the genes
Talent sure runs through the Padwal genes. News comes in that artist Sunil Padwal and wife Tanuja's son Satt gave his third solo performance at Mumbai's Suburban Music Circle over the weekend playing Raag Ahir Bhairav on the sitar.
Tanuja, Satt and Sunil Padwal
"The Gat was composed by Pandit Shashank Katti in teen taal under the guidance of Chintan Katti and he was accompanied by Tanay Rege on the tabla," says the proud mom. Nice!
Of cities, communities and culture
Our friend the architect and designer Anuradha Parikh has reason to cheer: her much awaited dream project the G5A Foundation, a centre for contemporary culture, has finally opened its doors this week.
Bunty Chand and Anuradha Parikh
Located at the Shakti mills lane at Mahalaxmi, the former mill focuses on culture, community and the city and the vibrant intersections that arise between the three.
Parikh, trained in architecture at the Rhode Island school of Design, whose engagements have been included a stint as production designer on Zoya Akhtar's Luck By Chance has already kicked off G5A's programming with a workshop on theatre, design and digital media by Anthony Black earlier this month.
Not for art's sake alone
Oh dear, things seem to be getting a tad hairy for this enigmatic and monumentally charming cultural maven who had shaken up the art world a few years ago with his plans to start an auction house, a publication division, galleries museums, etc.
It was his legendary charm that had won him many backers and investors and which now seems to have deserted him, as things have come to a head with many crying foul and demanding their monies (or at least a bit of their interest back.)
"Is this what the LSE and Oxford teach you," thundered one of these hapless souls in a missive that goes on to enumerate the many transgressions of the once blue-eyed boy of the art community. "He continues to carry on with his lavish lifestyle with no thought to his investors," says the letter. "Is this art for art's sake?"
RIP, Saeed Jaffrey
We were saddened to read about the passing of thespian Saeed Jaffrey, who we had the pleasure of knowing during the eighties when he acted in the Bollywood movie Star, produced by members of our family.
Saeed Jaffrey
For a man who had worked with the likes of directors like Satyajit Ray and David Lean and acted alongside the greats like Sean Connery and Michael Caine, it had occurred to us that Jaffrey was remarkably sanguine about being part of a commercial Bollywood film directed by Vinod Pande with Kumar Gaurav and Rati Agnihotri as his co-stars.
He had a florid, somewhat maudlin air to him, his exceptionally expressive eyes conveying myriad different moods during the course of a single evening and his rich and textured voice mesmerising listeners, as he regaled them with the memories of an extraordinarily varied life.
He was an artist, a gentleman and an aristocrat. RIP Saeed Jaffrey, you must be regaling the angels with your stories now.
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