History

The Pre-History

October 1983 ... 
    shots were fired from a passing car ...

"Kids, get inside!"

"A gun was thrown into the parking lot!"

"Yellow tape was around our yard!"

"The light from the helicopter was shining on our neighbor's door!"

Frightened students from Eisenhower Elementary, Juan and Mario, shared their fear at school.  Unable to rally much adult help, these students joined with their classmates to "protect the little kids who would follow them."  They wanted their little brothers and sisters tohave more freedom and less fear.  They would make a positive difference toward making our neighborhood the safe and welcoming environment that every child needs and deserves.

The result was Kids REALLY Do Care, an active club led by students who chose to make a positive difference in their community by facing problems, finding collaborators and righting some wrongs.  This club, facilitated by Sharon Eivinsen, was the beginning of what would develop into today's Trendsetters through Education.

Current History

Trendsetters Through Education was created by Sharon Eivinsen and Caron Sada. The two worked in collaboration with the Mesa Public Schools to initiate Trendsetters in 1998; Trendsetters became an independent 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization the same year.

Trendsetters represents Sharon and Caron's combined expertise and philosophy.  It is also consistent with the Search Institute's research on Developmental Assets and America's Promise to Youth.  Following Kids REALLY Do Care, the first Trendsetters through Education club began at Eisenhower Elementary School. 
 
Co-Founders
Sharon Eivinsen & Caron Sada

Sharon Eivinsen served as a preschool and elementary school teacher for 20 years in Washington State and Arizona. As a State Farm Insurance Agent, she continued to be drawn to youth development and strength based approaches to mentoring which led her back to education and creation of the Trendsetters through Education approach. 

Sharon has presented in the United States and Canada on topics such as positive parenting and community collaboration to benefit youth. 

Sharon lives in Mesa, Arizona.

Caron Sada is a PhD candidate in organizational psychology, Co-Founder of Studio22 and Adjunct Psychology at Estrella Mountain Community College.  Caron lives in Peoria, Arizona.