Support PlusONE Mentors (or become a mentor yourself)

Ed Petersen was one of the north state's most beloved and respected leaders. His extraordinary community service career included work as a mentor, counselor, writer, teacher, pastor and historian. His life left an indelible mark in the lives of countless people and families in the north state and around the world. His heart for the poor and disenfranchised stands as a beacon to many achievers tempted to pursue only material rewards. His love for all people and his servant leadership were qualities of his life and character that were empowered by his abiding love for God as well as for his neighbor. Born as the only child of William and Hannah Petersen who owned and operated the old Cottonwood Feed Store in the 1930s, Ed was a graduate of Anderson High School, Shasta College, CSU and a Masters history graduate of the University of Michigan. Returning to the north state, Petersen taught school at Anderson High School, chaired the counseling division at Shasta College, and served on the Shasta College Board and numerous school boards in the area. He founded the Anderson / Cottonwood Neighborhood Church (ACNC) after it divided from its original mother-church, First Baptist Church of Cottonwood. He also went on the lead a unified, regular fellowship of ministers of the local churches in the County. More recently, Petersen went on to found and serve as board member of a community based volunteer mentor program, PlusONE Mentors, Inc. He had a passion for enabling at-risk youth and adults to develop their full, God-given potential and become productive citizens. PlusONE Mentors is a non profit, tax exempt service recruiting, training, and placing volunteer mentors with youth mentees who desire to learn and change. I believe every person at risk should have the opportunity to have a mentor, and every citizen should be given the opportunity to be a mentor. We can best preserve and serve our community as we apply the great command to love our neighbors as ourself. Today our community is facing a crisis of the breakdown of the family which contributes to failure in school and the workplace, unwanted pregnancies, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide and unhealthy co-dependencies. Governor Wilson has created the California Mentor Initiative to address this crisis. PlusONE Mentors is an active member of this initiative to serve at-risk people in the north valley. Mentored people are 46% less likely to get into drugs, 55% less likely to commit suicide; 59% get better grades or perform better in the workplace and 73% raise their goals. Now with YMCA: PlusONE Mentors ALSO see "No Room for Racism (Tom O'Mara)

They are Together :: Edward and Nadiene Petersen

Our beloved Nadiene Petersen entered into the presence of the Lord July 22, 2010. Her life was a shining example of God's redemptive love. Nadiene spent her life extending grace, kindness, and wisdom to those around her. Her life of ministry to her family, friends and community emulated the love she experienced through her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We will greatly miss our dear mother, sister, mentor and friend. Nadiene was born Jan. 31, 1932, in Quincy, to Frederick and Helen (Neer) Brown. She grew up in Crescent Mills, and spent many summers with her dad in Tacoma, Wash., after her parent's divorce. Nadiene graduated from Greenville High in June 1950, attended cosmetology school in Oakland and after passing her state boards exam in August 1951, decided against opening a beauty shop in Greenville and enrolled at Chico State College. Through the loving ministry of her roommate, Sally, and others, Nadiene responded to the irresistible grace of her Savior, Jesus Christ. God had more than academic preparation for Nadiene at Chico State as she not only received her degree in education in 1955; she also met the love of her life, Edward Petersen from Cottonwood. During her first teaching job on the Indian Reservation in Covelo, the romance with Edward continued and they married in Cottonwood, June 16, 1956. Nadiene began teaching at Meadow Lane Elementary in Anderson and Edward was drafted into the Army to serve in the Korean War. Edward was stationed in Detroit and Nadiene joined him. As they returned to Cottonwood, Nadiene returned to teach at Meadow Lane and later West Cottonwood, and Edward returned to his teaching position at his alma mater, Anderson High School, and eventually Shasta College. As their family grew with the addition of three girls, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Sarah, so did their connections and involvements in the community. Nadiene and Edward were instrumental in starting Anderson-Cottonwood Neighborhood Church. Their home in Cottonwood became the center for Bible study, ministry, community outreach, and discipleship. Nadiene was preceded in death by her beloved husband Edward (they are now hugging in heaven). She is missed dearly by her daughter Rebecca (Wion) with husband Doug and children Matthew, Nathaniel, Rebecca, Timothy, and Elizabeth; and daughter Elizabeth (Boyle) with husband Mark and children Heather, Grace, and Hannah; and by her daughter Sarah (Fitch) with husband Chris and children Rachel, Jonathan, and Bethany. Her family also includes her brother, who preceded her in death, Jimmy North and his wife Kay and children Chad and Lance, and her brother Harley North and Ann and their children, Tristan and Jill.

Dream Songs and Ceremony

Frank LaPena's book is the closest thing to a prayer that any combination of words and art can be. Its sensitive evocation of place --- and the ancient relationships of Native people to a living landscape, is truly marvelous. I can think of no other book in recent years which succeeds so well on so many levels. (Joseph Bruchac, poet and editor)