Partnering Facilitators

Heather Acres of Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada is a Master Facilitator for The Virtues Project™ and a community & program development specialist concentrating most of her efforts in Western Canada. She has been facilitating personal growth and character building workshops along with providing personal coaching services since 1995. During 1998, Heather founded Virtues 2000 & Beyond, an innovative community mobilization project that serves to integrate the strategies of The Virtues Project throughout the community of Flin Flon, Manitoba. In response to her dedicated effort, Virtues Project founder Linda Kavelin Popov selected her as one of the first nine master facilitators in North America. Heather is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal awarded by Canada's Governor General. She serves on the Manitoba Women’s Council. Heather has facilitated Virtues Project workshops for adults and youth in schools, organizations, communities, and First Nations communities throughout Canada. Service, Excellence, Orderliness, Respect, Compassion, Reverence and Unity are among Heather’s core virtues.

Heather has designed a program to mentor children in the virtues called the Sacred Bundle. She collaborated with Betsy Lydle Smith in writing and publishing Mastering the Five Strategies of The Virtues Project: A Personal Journal to Enrich Your Life in 40 Days. She has also collaborated with Betsy and Pamela Auffray to write and publish Introduction to The Virtues Project Workshop Outlines and the Master Facilitator Workshop Manual. Heather and Betsy Lydle Smith co-facilitate Worldwide Webinars on The Virtues Project.

"What are the gifts you really want to give your children? I want my children to see the best in themselves, in others and in the world. The Virtues ProjectTM (TVP) is an effective and easy framework to accomplish those goals. After receiving training in all 5 strategies, I am forever changed. TVP has changed the way I communicate with others and interact with my environment, wherever I may be. It has helped me grow personally and professionally."

Natasha Nimmo is a Virtues Project Trainer and Facilitator who has been conducting workshops since 2009. She has been the presenter of the "Mentorship Day" for the Virtues Summer Institute in Seattle for the past 2 years. She was recently appointed by the principal of Tyee Middle School to the Safe and Civil Schools Committee as the sole parent representative. She works along side administrators and staff members to create, implement, and evaluate all kinds of activities aimed at improving and sustaining a culture of caring. Virtues are one component of the new Bellevue School District Bullying Prevention and Social Skills Curriculum and parent education is Natasha's passion. Natasha has developed monthly lesson plans for Pre-K thru 8th grade students, defining, inspiring, and empowering them to practice the Virtues Project daily in their own lives.

Natasha is the proud mother of two middle school aged children. She is the founder of the Parenthood Development Program that won a 2009 Promising Practice Award from the National Character Partnership. She is a certified Roots of Empathy instructor, a trained mentor and she chairs the Parent Education Committee of the Bellevue PTSA Council. In addition, she is the coordinator of the 40 Developmental Assets™ activities for the Kennydale Neighborhood Association in Renton, Washington. Enthusiasm, caring, generosity, commitment and excellence are among her many assets. Natasha enjoys spending time with her husband, reading a good book, and exercising in the great outdoors.

Rev. Harriett Walden of Seattle, WA, has been a Virtues Project™ facilitator since 1992, trained by Virtues Project founders Linda Kavelin Popov and Dr. Dan Popov. She founded Mothers for Police Accountability in Seattle in 1990 and has worked actively for many years for social change. She developed the Pledge of Excellence Program to encourage parents to be involved in the academic achievement of their children. Rev. Walden also founded The Family Empowerment Institute, which includes the Breaking the Silence on Black on Black Violence Initiative. She is the adminstrator for a Year of Prayer for Children. An inspirational speaker, she has spoken at many conferences, such The Children’s Defense Fund. Rev. Walden has raised four sons and has six delightful grandchildren. Some of Rev. Walden’s core virtues are justice, service, love, respect, gratitude, perseverance, and unity. She and Betsy Lydle Smith have collaborated on many projects and training for community organizations.