2016 final mid report rico 6 of 12 (2)

" I Love You just the way you are."

2016 MID REPORT Thank you Maricopa County Attorney's Office and RICO funds for helping disadvantaged and at risk Arizona's youth through the Second Chance Program, Realize Hopes, Fears, and Most of All, Their Dreams...

RELEASE THE FEAR'S BRIDGING POSSIBILITIES =

Thanks to the foresight Maricopa County Attorney's

Office and RICO, This mid report reflects how the creative processes through 6 of the 12 "Second Chance" program that enlightened and enriched youth. These results from 98 young lives and what they experienced together. Demonstrating the power and importance of inspiring and empowering our youth with the essential tools so that they are able to make better life choices, find their gifts and know that they matter! Allowing them to lead a more meaningful productive life and become tomorrow's leaders in Arizona and around the world, for a brighter tomorrow for all.

Inspiring & empowering kids with the tools to make better life choices . .

.

W

hat: Release the Fear, a non-profit health and human services organization, teaches Arizona’s youth the

life skills needed to combat the effects of Peer Pressure, Gang involvement, Bullying, Abuse, and Violence in our society and to make better life choices. Release the Fear (RTF) has worked with thousands of at-risk youth and adults in Arizona and around the world, offering experiential programs that help reverse the paralyzing effects of fear and diminished self-worth. Our programs encourage youth to explore safe and healthy lifestyles and to overcome disabilities through the development of leadership and social skills through evidence-based curriculum that meets National Common Core standards. Arizona Department of Education, accredited Release the Fear program as a Character Education program

H

ow: These programs stimulate whole-brain thinking and develop metacognitive thought processing by utilizing

new applied-knowledge teaching methods. These programs demonstrate options that awaken a creative consciousness and expose the unlimited potential of critical thinking and problem solving to help participants develop better cognitive behavioral skills. Our trained facilitators guide participants through interactive creative activities and analytically explore the connectedness to their lives. Release the Fear utilizes inquiry-based learning experiences, an educational practice where the teacher/facilitator uses controlled questioning to serve as a learning guide in order to move students towards new understandings. Educational research shows that student retention increases when new learning is discovered through inquiry practices, as the student is able to take ownership of these findings. The teacher/facilitator must act as guide while being an expert questioner, thinking of the end objective at all times and posing questions to allow students to reach objectives on their own. When this is done, students are able to create new thought patterns which connect and build on their applied knowledge and personal life goals.

Without these essential life skills, the still- maturing minds of detained youth view their future as bleak with no hope for a “normal” life.

A

pproach: Through experiential programs, we encourage participants to develop valuable core life skills, better

critical problem solving, and a healthy sense of understanding of self and others. Through the RTF programs, participants discover that anything is possible, that they have a purpose in life. They see why they do matter to the world, to the community, and most of all to themselves.

T

ransformation: The Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Office released a 2010 report demonstrating the value of

Inside Out Bridging Possibilities workshops on 357 of their juvenile population. Thirty percent of incarcerated youth recidivate—meaning three out of ten will again find themselves in conflict with law and society and back behind bars.

For the incarcerated youth who participated in just one Release the Fear workshop, that recidivism figure dropped by 23 percent. For those who were able to benefit from multiple workshops, it dropped by 16 percent nearly half. That is an impressive impact on any child’s future as well as the community in general..

Release the Fear, Inc. has worked with youth in Arizona and internationally, in such places as Guam and El Salvador, instilling positive life changes for thousands.

"It amazes me how each one of the individual canvases come from created different people from different backgrounds, different eccentricities. Yet we were able to come together and bring them together and create something beautiful as one understanding one masterpiece, almost like a metaphor for what we can do as a community,.. As a new world."

M .B. age 16

Thank You For Helping Us Realize Our, Fears, and Most of All, Our Dreams

Comparison of Recidivism Rates of RTF Workshop Particpants to All Juveniles in ADJC Care 68% 70%

57%

60% 43% 50% 32%

40%

Recidivated No Recidivation

30% 20% 10% 0% ADJC Recidivism Average 2011 to 2013

Release the Fear Workshop Participants 2012 to 2015

Average of 450-500 Arizona youth per year have found themselves in secure care or behind the fence at Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) Out of that a three year longitudinal study was conducted 2012-2015 on 928 youth that participated in the Release the Fear program.

Above (left) percentages display the ADJC recidivism average from 2011- 2013; The percentages on the right are based on youth who have attended one or more RTF Character Education “Inside-Out Bridging Possibilities� programs either in secure care or while on parole within the community

Together we can create an amazing New World...

Through Understanding.

RELEASE THE FEAR 2016 RTF Pre/Post Survey Results

2016 RTF Pre/Post Survey Results

MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE -RICO FUNDING MID REPORT OVERALL PERCENTAGES SECOND CHANCE WORKSHOP 98 Students (6 PB Workshops) Male 49% Female 51% – Youth Ages 12-17 94.8% discovered something new about themselves 96.7% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 71% compared to Post 88.2% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 91% compared to Post 96% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

89.3% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

90.2% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

Individual Workshop Percentages 1. March 18-19, 2016 Florence Crittenton Girls Ranch 18 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 0% Female 100% – Youth Ages 13-17 91% discovered something new about themselves 91% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 77% compared to Post 91% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 92% compared to Post 91% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

100% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

100% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

2. March 21-23, 2016 Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility 16 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) AM Unite Freedom Male 100% Female 0% – Youth Ages 13-17 100% discovered something new about themselves 100% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 81% compared to Post 87% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 81% compared to Post 93% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

67% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

73% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

3. March 21-23, 2016 Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility 12 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) PM Unit Challange Male 100% Female 0% – Youth Ages 13-17 100% discovered something new about themselves 100% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 67% compared to Post 80% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 93% compared to Post 100% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

100% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

100% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

4. April 16-17, 2016 Streetlight 18 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 0% Female 100% – Youth Ages 11-18 86% discovered something new about themselves 97% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 50% compared to Post 79% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 97% compared to Post 100% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

86% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

86% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

5. April 19-21, 2016 ACYR 20 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 45% Female 55% – Youth Ages 14-18 100% discovered something new about themselves 100% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 65% compared to Post 100% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 90% compared to Post 100% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

100% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

90% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

6. May 18-19 2016 ACYR 14 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 64% Female 36% – Youth Ages 14-18 92% discovered something new about themselves 92% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 86% compared to Post 92% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 93% compared to Post 92% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

83% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

92% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied .

For nine years, Release the Fear has had the opportunity to interact with over 8,500 troubled youth; these youth now know they have a life purpose. They know their wishes and dreams can come true. They know they are worth it and that they matter!

Our evidence-based curriculum has helped .

troubled kids in schools, jails, detention, and treatment centers. Through the creative processes of art, music, and communication, we teach kids cognitive behavioral skills to build self-esteem. They learn tools to help them succeed in school, conflict resolution, and to address peer pressure, and bullying.

Between the years 2007 and 2015, Release Fear has shown constant improvement upon youth’s pre- and post-reporting’s learned about perceptions of themselves.

In addition, during the years of 2012 and 2015, Release the Fear has contributed to an overall improvement of youth’s self-reported willingness to assist another if bullied. Despite a decline of reported learning’s about proactive options to prevent being bullied, their learning consistently remained over 78 percent.

TM

RELEASE THE FEAR 2015 - 2016 Program Budget: RTF Character Education, Second Chance program Proposed Budget Per Workshop Instructional Programming: Program Supervisor/Trainer Co-Facilitator / Trainee Reporting and Evaluations: Pre/Post Inventories Final Report Supplies and Other Workshop Exp Art & Printed Supplies / Snacks Recognition for Students, Postage, Mktng Internal Coordination, Support & Workshop Preparation Travel Expenses – Average TOTAL FOR 1 WORKSHOP

Actural Mid Report 6 of 12 programs

$680.00 $300.00

$4,080.00 $1,800.00

$150.00 $ 70.00

$900.00 $420.00

$ 90.00 $ 60.00

$540.00 $360.00

$300.00 $ 50.00

$1,800.00 $300.00

$1,700.00

$10,200.00

Cost Breakdown per workshop with average of 15 youth each: Average cost per daily session: $566.67 Average cost per youth per session $37.78 Per Capita cost per youth workshop:$113.33 TM

In-Kind Other Facility Staff -6 hour X 6 workshops=36 hours X 2 staff =.

(Staff in each facility where program was delivered) 72 hour at adv.$30 per = $2,160.00

Release the Fear’s mission, since 1996, is to counter the effects of violence in our communities by turning fear, anger, and hate into acceptance, hope, and self empowerment, bridging endless possibilities through the creative process.

Thanks to RICO Funding, 18 young lives from Florence Crittenton Girls Ranch Phoenix and Scottsdale, experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on March 18-19, 2016 - # 1 of 12 Opening up possibilities for the young minds of Arizona’s youth for a brighter tomorrow.© “Bridging Possibility” workshops.

Through stories, activities and artwork, Release the Fear’s Workshops will help students to:

     

Draw One’s Fears and Awaken Hopes and Dreams Stimulate Creative Listening and Communication Bridge Understanding Discuss How Color Affects Us and Our Environment Senses Heighten Visual Awareness of Our Environment Turn Pain into Possibilities into Purpose.

The students are divided into groups or teams that they remain with throughout the workshop. In their small group, the students may be asked to complete an activity, to share responses, or to reflect on an exercise. Often times these groups can have students with different beliefs, various backgrounds, and even opposing gang affiliations.

The workshop will end with a group created painting to be displayed for the public.

Participant Responses Participants are asked to reflect on several of the activities and then share with the group.

These responses are written in their words without edit.

The following responses are from the students who range in ages from 13-17.

The students are asked to reflect on the following question: How do you think this activity could help you in your daily life (In School, Out of School, or In Your Career)?

Who am I? : Be Ourselves- love who we are. Student saying I’m weird for liking something. Making sure everyone is seen as equal. When someone judges you. / To love/know yourself. Ignore bullying. To not listen to all those mean words. Have more confidence. / Similarities. Shouldn’t let people judge/get to know you. Stick up for who you are. You can make it. You might think strangers are strange but they care just like you.

Creative story telling: Bullying and sticking up for someone. Respect and self and others. To know that you care about someone. Just keep giving that person respect and you will get respect.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Love yourself and don’t be afraid to show it. If someone makes fun of you, you can tell yourself this in a mirror. By not letting what they say influence you. When someone in life make you unconfident with yourself. / To be more confident. Go to school bathroom and repeat quote. Not to listen to bad labels. Love ourselves. / Love yourself, self respect, love who you are. No bullies, you love yourself too much.

Loving yourself and expecting who you are. More confidence.

Mirror Work: I am cool and amazing. / I am a great mother, I am beautiful. / Beautiful, happy, sleepy, relaxed. / It made me feel very warm and happy inside. / I am beautiful and gorgeous.

Hero: My mom. Because my mom is my favorite. / My baby is important to me because she has changed my world. / Mrs. Moore because she is a caring people how like to help people just like me. / My super hero is Mr. Robert because he is Awesome, I just love going to Release the Fear. Thanks for being my super hero. The reason why I think Mr. Robert is important he is always putting a smile on face when I see him. / The world and its people inspire me. Because in this world, there’s so many people hurting. And so many people going without. And when though they don’t know it yet, they are loved.

Be it by anyone but at least one out of the billion of people on earth is thinking about them. And due to that, they inspire me to be the change I wish to see.

Seeing Beyond: Trust what they say and do. Visualize. You can use it on a test like English, Math, Drama, Writing, and also reading. What you do before you do it. / We learned that visualization can help us in the future.

Say a subject you don’t like, you can imagine yourself passing it. By imagining yourself as being awesome and successful.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Bring back memories and to be brave to get over your fears. Keep pushing forward to your dream. To graduate from school. Bullies have fear maybe because they were bullied and they want to. Never give up on your dreams. / That dreams may not be easy but they are within reach if you try hard enough. You could apply these in school by in visioning yourself and your dreams to be successful. It would help by showing self confidence. By knowing and assuming yourself that you’ll be successful when if you don’t really think so.

Release the Fear, Inc. ® PO Box 3815 Phoenix, AZ 85030 www.releasethefear.org 602-818 6959

Funded By: RICO Date: March 18-19, 2016 Location: Florence Crittenton Girls Ranch Phoenix and Scottsdale %Male 0

%Female 100

Ages 13-17

Do you think others (Kids my age, older & younger, Adults) have the same Fear as I do?

Pre %YES 77 %NO 15 %Other 8 Post %YES 91 %NO 0 %Other 8 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 31 % Sometimes 46 % All the Time 23 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 45 % All the Time 55 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 8 % Sometimes 61 % All the Time 31 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 18 % All the Time 82 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 15 % Sometimes 38 % All the Time 47 Post %Not at all 0 % Sometimes 18 % All the Time 82 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 8 % Equal 54 % Leader 38 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 55 % Leader 45 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 92 % No 8 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 92 % No 8 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 70 % No 15 % No Answer 15 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Be confident. / Ignore it. / Visualize yourself helping others. / Love myself. / I learned that you shouldn’t let people bring you down. / I am someone who can help. / By being the person you really are. / That it’s okay to be different.

After attending the character education workshop and learning about compassion, if you saw someone being bullied, would you do something?

Post % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Deal with it in an appropriate way. / Help them feel better. / Someone needs to. / I would go tell an adult. / I would take my confidence and give it back. / I would stand up for that person.

Did you learn any skills, such as respect or responsibility, to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Everything. / Already don’t bend. / Respect myself. / I learned that you need to take responsibility for your own actions. / I’ve never let my get caught up in peer pressure. / Just keep giving that person respect. / I learned how to respect people even if they don’t give me respect.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 83% Post 64% Thoughts Shared: Pre: I like dark colors. Color makes thing bad or good and I only sometimes like color. / No. / It’s what brings things to life when they are dull. / My favorite color is blue. / Love it. / Color doesn’t matter though. / Color defines so much mood personality without color the world as we not it would not be the same. / I love color, specifically color that are bright and wild. / It all right. / I don’t as like in race I see everyone the same. / No I never thought about it.

Post: That they are all equal. / Love it. / You see the future in wonderful colors. / Putting bad things in your color can help them be brighter. / Color is just a color. / Color is you. / Blue. / That is cool.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 92% Post 91% Thoughts Shared: Pre: None. / My dream is to finish high school and go to college and be a vet. / I think dream are what go to make you success. / My dream is to be a WNBA basketball player and to complete high school and go to college. / To make the world a better place for my son and I. / To be successful when I’m older. / UFC and study of religion. / I’m not sure. / To be happy and successful. / I want to open a bakery. / Going to college. / Be happy I guess. / My dream is to keep my baby safe. / Post: To be me. / To be who I want. / Finishing high school, go to college, and be what I wanted to be. / To own a bakery. / To be somebody. / My most important hope or dream is to go to college and become a cumba prayer and a pediatrician. / Become my vision in the world. / Dream. / Going home. / My most important dream is to help animals when I go into college and raise my child. / Dreams is because I know that I will make it.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 91% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: Self confidence. / To love myself through it. / Always stay positive and reach your dream. / Believe I can. / Love myself. / One thing I learned is to take one step at a time and don’t try to do it all at once. / I am strong. / I don’t know. / Never went to a workshop. / Is to push myself into things and do what I have to do to reach my dream and goal. / That I need more then one thing to reach my dream.

Coming into the workshop, which Character Count did you want to improve or work on to help you? How did the workshop help you improve it?

Post 91% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count.

Thoughts Shared: By showing me who I am truly. / Love myself. / Responsibility and love. / Trust. It made me realize that some people are the same as me. / I’m popin. / I want to improve my citizenship. / I know my worth. / I don’t know. / I never went to a workshop. / By talking in a group and help me by sharing my things like my goal and fear. / I would like to work on respect. The workshop me because even if someone don’t give you respect you still need to show them respect because one day they will show you respect.

What did you learn New in the workshop about a classmate or friend?

Post 91% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: We all have similarities. / That others go through things and stuff. / Don’t be like them and head toward your goal. / My friend want to be an astronaut. / They are probably going through something to. / I learned that we are all alike in different ways. / We have similar fears. / Nothing. / That they are amazing person. / To be respectful and becoming over my fears. / That everybody is different.

Thanks to RICO Funding, 16 young lives from Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility experienced their Possibilities. AM- Unite Freedom This workshop took place on March 21-23, 2016 - #2 of 12 Opening up possibilities for the young minds of Arizona’s youth for a brighter tomorrow.© “Bridging Possibility” workshops.

Through stories, activities and artwork, Release the Fear’s Workshops will help students to:

     

Draw One’s Fears and Awaken Hopes and Dreams Stimulate Creative Listening and Communication Bridge Understanding Discuss How Color Affects Us and Our Environment Senses Heighten Visual Awareness of Our Environment Turn Pain into Possibilities into Purpose.

The students are divided into groups or teams that they remain with throughout the workshop. In their small group, the students may be asked to complete an activity, to share responses, or to reflect on an exercise. Often times these groups can have students with different beliefs, various backgrounds, and even opposing gang affiliations.

The workshop will end with a group created painting to be displayed for the public.

Participant Responses Participants are asked to reflect on several of the activities and then share with the group.

These responses are written in their words without edit.

The following responses are from the students who range in ages from 15-17.

The students are asked to reflect on the following question: How do you think this activity could help you in your daily life (In School, Out of School, or In Your Career)?

Who am I? : Honesty, mindful, communication. Mindfulness, trustworthiness, compassion. Being friendly and interactive. Be out going and out-going non-judgmental. / Learned more about peers. Stand up to bullies. Try and help them understand. Make you feel better about yourself. / Needing resources and materials to pass a bridge.

Teachers can be your resources. You would know how to stop bullying. It helps you succeed your goals in life. / How to be motivated, similarities. You need motivation in school. People won’t have low self-esteem. So you will be motivated to reach goals.

Creative story telling: Participating. So you will get good grades. It wouldn’t help. It would help get active. / Caring. Care about your education and work. Can help stop bullying. Can care about your family and your own life. / It’s better to actually do it. You get better understanding for being fair. No one would really get a strike. Treat people how you want to be treated. / That everybody has a story and you should not judge. Treat everybody with respect so you will get it. Don’t disrespect so everybody is treated fair. Be loving and caring to everyone.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: There’s more to a person than what the eyes see. Make you do better in school because when you look at yourself your thinking you can do better. It could help be letting you know that you should not treat people how you would not want to be treated. Treat people how you want to be treated. / Self up lifted and loved. Others will have a good attitude like yourself. Less likely to fall in to pressure. Be a happy person. / I learned who my hero is. Learn what teacher possesses. We draw who we are. We know who we are. / Self-reflection. Check in. Self-esteem. When I get bullied I feel better about self. Focus on yourself. Would have more self-confidence.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: Makes me feel good about myself and builds my self-esteem. / It makes me feel uncomfortable, curious. / It feels like a lie. / Good. /

Makes me feel? Good sometimes, satisfied. / It made me feel like I’m a real one. / It made me feel happy about myself. / Weird. / It makes me feel like I can do more. / I do that all the time and it makes me feel good about myself.

Hero: Who is Your Hero and Why do you think are they important? What characteristics or qualities, would you or do you, look for in a Hero? My mom is my hero .My mom is important because she is always there for me no matter the situation. / Jesus. I was raised like that. / My hero would be my uncle JJ because he’s always been there for me. / MLK. Because he is a hero he helped black people. / Batman he has super powers. / I don’t have a hero. / Jesus Christ. They do it because they are powerful. / My hero is Muhammed Ali. I think he is important because he is my hero and he won a lot of fights. / Superman because he is always trying to help someone. Because they are always trying to help. / Immortal Technique is my hero because his versatility and capabilities on getting his message thru music. He is not important he is my role model.

Through the Hoops: Skills or Tools Learned: Teamwork. Mindfulness. When working in a group at school and you work with other peers. You have a group of friends you’ll hangout with and they stick up for you. Being aware of who’s around you and also using your five senses. / We learned how to use teamwork and mindfulness. You can use this to get a good grade and by being mindful. Everyone can use teamwork to stop the bully from bullying.

It can help you accomplish more things in life and make a good future for yourself. / Mindfulness, teamwork, leadership. Mindfulness, teamwork, participation, compassion. Compassion, teamwork. Can help be a better person and more compassionate. / Using teamwork. It will help you. You can deal with it. Deal with tough situations.

Seeing Beyond: Be mindful and observant. Reading to get a better picture of what you’re reading. Learn to look outside the box. / Communication. Listening skills, teamwork. Art, science, social studies, math. Most likely will help with teamwork and communication. / We learned how to work together as a team. Sciences it applies to school because you need to work as a team. You need to work together in order to move forward in life. / How to describe things. When you’re doing math in school and explaining it. You can explain things better to people younger than you.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Learned more about self. You need to be open to learn more skills. Keep you motivated and focused. You learn something new every day. / That everybody is different and important to someone. Trying to put everyone in your shoes. It would help because you know people’s intensions and help us know each other. Treat everybody how you want to be treated. / How to express ourselves. We can express it through trying hard in school. Express how bullying. We express ourselves in everyday life. / We learned how to be mindful of our situations and made us think about some different things. It could help you realize what you need to work on to be what you want to be in life. It could help you realize what you want to do in life and where you want to go.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover give it a chance. When you meet people in class don’t be judgmental towards them be mindful. You shouldn’t judge people because you don’t know what they are capable of, like in the streets, at work or even when you are locked up. / Seeing the bright side of things. When school is hard it still will help. When bad things happen see the positive. / Leadership, responsibility, ownership. Leadership, responsibility. Ownership, responsibility. / Every negative has a positive. Turn bad day into a good day. Always look at the positive.

Write about a time when you were trustworthy or caring and helped someone else in a positive way. How did it feel afterward? Describe the experience below: When I said no to drugs it made me mad about it because they asked me then I was happy because I said no. / When I went to my friend’s house for a sleepover I was scared I would embarrass myself in front of all my friends but later that night I started to have lots of fun. / When I went to church I was nervous but after I was there for a while I felt better. / I think when I finally went back to school I was nervous because it was a long time since I was in public school. But after my third day I felt happy. / The time would have to be when I fought the bus driver for my little brother it was bad because he went to the hospital but good because I protected my little brother. / I smoked weed and I felt bad but then I told my p.o. that I did it for responsibility and felt better because I was owning up for it. / When I had my daughters I thought it was a negative thing and that I was not ready to have a kid but it was not negative it was a positive thing for me to have a kid. She is the most beautiful thing in the world.

Funded By: RICO Date: March 21-23, 2016 Location: Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility AM - UniteFreedom %Male 100

%Female 0

Ages 15-17

Do you think others (Kids my age, older & younger, Adults) have the same Fear as I do?

Pre %YES 81 %NO 19 %Other 0 Post %YES 87 %NO 13 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 19 % Sometimes 62 % All the Time 19 % No Answer 0 Post % Not at all 12 % Sometimes 61 % All the Time 27 % No Answer 0 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 56 % All the Time 38 % No Answer 0 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 47 % All the Time 47 % No Answer 6 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 32 % All the Time 62 % No answer: 0 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 47 % All the Time 47 % No answer 6 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 32 % Leader 68 % No Answer 0 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 27 % Leader 73 % No Answer 0 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 63 % No 31 % No Answer 6 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 88 % No 6 % No Answer 6 Did you do anything? % Yes 44 % No 50 % No Answer 6 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 67 % No 27 % No Answer 6 Thoughts Shared: Everyone is equal. / Negative could be positive. / Help others, be fair. / Because bullying is bad. / Stand up for others. / Leadership. / Stand up for others. / I don’t get bullied. / Nothing, all the stuff I already knew.

After attending the character education workshop and learning about compassion, if you saw someone being bullied, would you do something?

Post % Yes 73 % No 27 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Help them out of a bad situation. / Everybody deserves help. / I would let higher authorities know. / Stop it. / It is not right so I would do something. / I would get mad. / Confront them. / I would try to help. / Yes. / It’s only right. / Because I ain’t a hero. / No one bullied.

Did you learn any skills, such as respect or responsibility, to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 73 % No 27 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I know the ones we learned. / Because in life we need it. / I know these things. / Yes always. / All skills that were presented. / Make better. / I did learn how to make own decisions. / I learned how to stop

bullies. / They are very important. / I learned how to be competitive and respectful at the same time. / Yes respect goes a long way.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 75% Post 87% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Color is cool. / Color is color. / Yes it has a lot of different meanings. / It’s nice. / What kind of color? / Yes, that colors mean a lot of things, it’s not just a color of beauty. / I like color my colors are red and black. / It doesn’t matter to me color is just nothing to me. / I think color can control your mood. / Painting. / I love colors my favorite colors are black and white.

Post: I still love black and white. / It’s cool. / It shows emotion. / I have a like of black and red. / That it has meaning. / It’s good. / It’s important. / It has meaning. / Brighter pictures. / Everyone is fair and equal with each other. / Color is awesome and cool. / It’s cool. / That there is a lot of oneness.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 81% Post 93% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Being successful. / I don’t have one yet. / I want to be a barber. / I don’t think I have one at this time. / My most important dream is to be a UFC fighter. / To be a music producer or part of the military. / Tattoo artist. / Rapper or barber. / To live longer than thirty. / Baseball player. / To be a chef. / I am not sure at the moment. / Open my own machine shop.

Post: To become successful and become whatever. / Open up a machine shop. / Is to be a mortician. / Having a nice life. / My little brother living well being successful. / Be successful. / To become part of the military or make music. / Be successful. / Baseball and college. / Music career. / To be a good dad. / Is to make my mom proud of me. / Is a UFC fighter. / Pilot.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 100% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: I can do it no matter what. / Is respect. / Follow your dream be mindful and use teamwork. / Teamwork, leadership. / Never stop. / Work on one thing at a time. / Be mindful. / Keep striving. / Yes. / To move on and be a leader. / Be motivated. / Be respectful and not cuss. / Be mindful. / Always keep on trying.

Coming into the workshop, which Character Count did you want to improve or work on to help you? How did the workshop help you improve it?

Post 100% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count: That I’m like a lot of other people. / It’s easy to speak out. / I didn’t know I had a cussing problem. / That I’m a leader. / Be like myself. / Yes anything is possible. / I have other fears and need to express them. / I can speak in front of people. / That I’m a good person. / I am confident. / I think about people. / I have hope and a future. / That I use to be selfish but now I’m not as much.

What did you learn New in the workshop about a classmate or friend?

Post 100% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: I found out their fears and dreams and memories. / That they have their own problems. / We have same fear. / That they love their family. / We have stuff in common. / That everyone is equal. / Everyone has fears. / That they have the same fears as I do. / Leadership. / Their fears. / They are just like me. / That everyone has dream and fears. / The fears that they have. / It’s cool. / That we are a lot alike.

Thanks to RICO Funding, 12 young lives from Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility experienced their Possibilities. PM - Unite Challenge This workshop took place on March 21-23, 2016 - # 3 of 12 Opening up possibilities for the young minds of Arizona’s youth for a brighter tomorrow.© “Bridging Possibility” workshops.

Through stories, activities and artwork, Release the Fear’s Workshops will help students to:

     

Draw One’s Fears and Awaken Hopes and Dreams Stimulate Creative Listening and Communication Bridge Understanding Discuss How Color Affects Us and Our Environment Senses Heighten Visual Awareness of Our Environment Turn Pain into Possibilities into Purpose.

The students are divided into groups or teams that they remain with throughout the workshop. In their small group, the students may be asked to complete an activity, to share responses, or to reflect on an exercise. Often times these groups can have students with different beliefs, various backgrounds, and even opposing gang affiliations.

The workshop will end with a group created painting to be displayed for the public.

Participant Responses Participants are asked to reflect on several of the activities and then share with the group.

These responses are written in their words without edit.

The following responses are from the students who range in ages from 13-17.

The students are asked to reflect on the following question: How do you think this activity could help you in your daily life (In School, Out of School, or In Your Career)?

Who am I? : Honesty, respectful. Not cheating. I would step up and help. Having integrity, not stealing. / Honesty, tell the truth. By tellin’ them what’s up. By being honest with my wife. / How to relate with others.

Being able to friend everyone (social outcasts, new kids). Being able to be-friend bullies and steer them away from their abusive lifestyle. At work/being able to relate to people who you normally wouldn’t relate to makes life easier overall. / Commonality. Working with people the same intelligence level. Sympathy and empathy. Use when dealing with the other people.

Creative story telling: Respect and trustworthiness. Respecting and trusting teachers. By trusting yourself enough to tell someone. Could improve your business relationships. / The importance of character traits , teamwork. Working to complete a task with other youth. The six character traits will tell us what to do. Whenever you need to complete a task, use teamwork and the six character traits.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Have confidence in yourself. You know you can be successful. Having selfconfidence gives you power over yourself. You have proper mentality as in you can do all you put your mind to. / Self-respect. Applying best effort in school. Knowing yourself and your limits. By being driven towards your goals.

Mirror Work: It makes me feel weird. / I felt good. / It makes me feel special, unique, important, and loved. / Confident of success. / Awesome!!! / Good because it’s me and who I am. / It makes me feel ignorant. It makes me feel that I need to improve.

Hero: My friend Salem, because she was always there to give me support when no one else would as a friend. Because I have yet to meet someone who cared for me the same way. / My brother because he help me when I’m down. / My dad.

He’s 44, father of 5 kids, me and my 4 sisters. He’s a car mechanic he will do anything for his kids and he’s a very funny loving caring and outgoing person. I think my dad is important because he is my dad, he loves me no matter what. He’s always there for me, he is caring, and he loves his kids more than anything else. / Walter Gropius. He was a great pioneer of his own architect school and had much respect from very powerful people that were above him. / Mom: caring, loving, smart, joyable, fun, funny, honest, real. She cares for me and raised me. / My mom because she’s always there carrying, supportive, and a hard worker. Because even though I’m not a good kid. My mom still supports me and always tries her best to keep me safe and be a better person. / This is my grandpa. He was the wisest man I ever knew, even though I only knew him for 5 years. He past from cancer in 2012.

Seeing Beyond: Reasoning. Problem solving. Math, science, art, English. When making life decisions. Math = how to solve equation correctly. Art = to decide what mediums to use for strongest messages. Science = when observing an experiment. English = to use proper grammer. / Things may not be what they appear to be. Things may be wrong and not as good as they look. Take the time to get it right. Multiple subjects. Math, Art, Reading, history because what you think may not be the right answer or view. Things may look appealing but they might not be. If you make a decision on what to do based on what it appears to be without taking the time to know what it really is, you may end up with a bad result.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Expression of emotions. Creativity and imagination.

Help someone express themselves. Being yourself and know yourself. / Drawing out something helps view something in a different perception. Helping identifying your dreams and ears. Keeping your memories for when your angry. Knowing what you have to change is the first step to changing.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Don’t assume the worst. Work with what you got. You have the right mindset when it comes to being positive and expecting. It clears you of a whole lot of worries. / Look at thing in a positive way. Making positive goals. Making better choices.

Describe a time when you had an experience that you perceived (thought/saw) as negative, but through time or something you did, you perceived (thought/saw) the experience as a positive one. This event has when I had to leave home to go to treatment and got violated. I felt very angry about it, but I later realized it actually helped me and I felt more happy at peace with it instead. / I saw these kids smoking but when I went to the group they were actually arguing and asking the person is she could leaving because they don’t want to smoke. / When I help a random kid with his classwork. When I thought about it I thought it was stupid. / When I was drawing a picture for an art contest. I thought it looked horrible but it won the contest. / Being locked up and not caring about life or how it turns out. I saw it as positive because I’m still consider a kid and I wasn’t have to go to adult prison and my charges can still be cleared up once I’m done with parole. / Being Native I kind of thought that going to a Christian Church was a bad thing but learn it wasn’t and learned that there different religions. / Them putting me by my door b/c I do bad out in the lounge so they put me there. But actually it is good b/c I get less o’s and on Proud too. / When I got locked up, I was very mad. I was no longer free… No more outside world! I was very angry about this until one day, someone told me to really think about it. If I stayed out, I’d be dead. Now, I’m so happy I’m here. I’m very much appreciative that I’m here at adobe over being dead!

Release the Fear, Inc. ® PO Box 3815 Phoenix, AZ 85030 www.releasethefear.org 602-818 6959

Funded By: RICO Date: March 18-19, 2016 Location: Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility PM - Unite Challenge %Male 100

%Female 0

Ages 13-17

Do you think others (Kids my age, older & younger, Adults) have the same Fear as I do?

Pre %YES 67 %NO 33 %Other 0 Post %YES 80 %NO 20 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 33 % Sometimes 47 % All the Time 20 Post % Not at all 10 % Sometimes 60 % All the Time 30 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 7 % Sometimes 33 % All the Time 70 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 20 % All the Time 80 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 7 % Sometimes 40 % All the Time 53 Post %Not at all 0 % Sometimes 50 % All the Time 50 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 7 % Equal 33 % Leader 70 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 40 % Leader 60 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 67 % No 33 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 73 % No 20 % No Answer 7 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Being in a leadership role. / Use better skills on communication. / Treat others the way you want to be treated. / Step up. / Respect them. / I can express myself more. / Not take things to heart. / To be confident in my actions. / Being comfortable speaking.

After attending the character education workshop and learning about compassion, if you saw someone being bullied, would you do something?

Post % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I would speak up. Because I’m not gonna sit and not react. I would stop it. / Stop it. / Report to others. I would tell someone. Help them understand that the bullies are just nothing but trouble. Report for help.

Did you learn any skills, such as respect or responsibility, to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Responsibility. / Having integrity. / To influence myself. / Love and peace. / Ask to leave alone. / I learned responsibility and trust. / My opinion is better than others. / Respecting myself. / Trustworthy.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 87% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Never thought about it. / That red is the best one. / That color means a certain feeling and your emotion. / I think its unique. / Color is nice and is an emotion. / It explains emotions. / I think its what makes the world actually worth living in. / It is all unique. / Color has power. They each represents some aspect of personality. / No, because its something that we naturally come to recognize in life like we need for need. / Nothing. / Yes its nice. / I think that they are very important. / I think they are beautiful. / It can express anything and every color has equal value so I like all colors.

Post: Color explains character, mood, setting. / It shows emotion and explaining feelings. / That’s it important. / It what makes up the world. / Mystery in others. / I think about color the same. / Color tends to follow your emotions of feelings. / Color ties into emotions and can alter your angle a lot. It can unify others. That it’s helpful.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 93% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Being a famous dancer. / Don’t have one. / To be a model photographer. / Is to not stay in prison longer than 10 years. / To be a cook/chef bigger all most all a musician. / Hoping you can achieve what you put your. / To become a poet. / Be successful. / To start a guild/live in a forest. / I have a dream to someday save the world in some way. / Go to college. / Become a doctor. / I want to become a famous rapper. / To be a prosoccer player. / To become an architect, structural engineer or genetic engineer and become a billionaire and eventually a trillionaire.

Post: To go to college Not to Registar. / To be a chef/cook/baker or musician. / To become famous. / A poet. / Plastic surgeon. / To be a helicopter pilot. / To someday save the world by helping it go into space and explore. / Be successful and have my own family and take care of them. / Has become dearer and I’ve become more confident. / Being a model photographer.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 100% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: Releasing my fears and facing them. / Use skills I’ve learned on the outs. / Help others when needed. / Positivity always. / Never give up. / Step back. / Anything is possible to do, if only you ask for help. / Keep focused and learned how to help myself. / Knowing more of myself can help my dreams. / Being more trustworthy.

Coming into the workshop, which Character Count did you want to improve or work on to help you? How did the workshop help you improve it?

Post 100% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count.

Thoughts Shared: Respect. I watched how my words affected others and learned from this. / To open my mind to my fears and to conquer them. / To learn to better express myself. / That I can change. / Colors about least and most. / I what are my fears. / I am a lot similar to other people than I thought before. / How much potential I really have. / Was kind of surprised I enjoyed it as much. / That I can speak the truth.

What did you learn New in the workshop about a classmate or friend?

Post 100% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: Some people don’t know when to stop and also people who don’t have respect. / That they have similar fears. / They’re all smart. / They are just like me. / Fears with others. / They are their fears. / Some people have the same feelings and dreams as me. / Common things that I have with them. / That they raved about their family a lot. / That everyone is different.

Thanks to RICO Funding, 18 young lives from Streetlight USA experienced their Possibilities. This workshop took place on April 16-17, 2016 - # 4 of 12 Opening up possibilities for the young minds of Arizona’s youth for a brighter tomorrow.© “Bridging Possibility” workshops.

Through stories, activities and artwork, Release the Fear’s Workshops will help students to:

     

Draw One’s Fears and Awaken Hopes and Dreams Stimulate Creative Listening and Communication Bridge Understanding Discuss How Color Affects Us and Our Environment Senses Heighten Visual Awareness of Our Environment Turn Pain into Possibilities into Purpose.

The students are divided into groups or teams that they remain with throughout the workshop. In their small group, the students may be asked to complete an activity, to share responses, or to reflect on an exercise. Often times these groups can have students with different beliefs, various backgrounds, and even opposing gang affiliations.

The workshop will end with a group created painting to be displayed for the public.

Participant Responses Participants are asked to reflect on several of the activities and then share with the group.

These responses are written in their words without edit.

The following responses are from the students who range in ages from 11-18.

The students are asked to reflect on the following question: How do you think this activity could help you in your daily life (In School, Out of School, or In Your Career)?

Who am I? : To be open, free. To be more active. By stepping up. To participation. / To get to know each other, expression. Reading, socializing, art, PE. Thinking, talking about it. Ignoring, reflection. / I learned something about myself. Express myself. Stand up for them. Use it every day. / Comfortable, social, honest.

Being social, comfort with students/teachers. Honestly stepping up. Comfortable with the decisions you make, social for jobs/interviews.

Creative story telling: Acceptance, confidence, teamwork. Listening, participation. Accepting people for who they are. Being confident with things. / Teamwork, honest. Participation. Speak up, honest. Teamwork, how to work with other people. / To be honest, teamwork. To not lie, be responsible. Speak up and tell someone.

Overcoming your fear. / How to portray pillars of characters. Good characters = good student = good person.

Fairness and respect the bully or you’re just bad. Good person, good karma.

Through the Hoops: Challenges, trust, teamwork. Working together. Overcome the challenge to trust. Help you understand, to get through obstacles. / How to get through the hoops, problems, challenges. Communication, problem solving, stay positive, be yourself, confidence. Talking about it, speak up. Encourage each other, don’t give up. / Trust, taking a challenge. Teamwork, making friends, having fun. Speaking up for someone. To take a stand. / Teamwork, comfortable, trust, encourage. Group working teamwork, not being self-cautious. Banding together again the bully, teamwork. Comfortable with your obstacles because everybody has them.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Confidence, self-control. Pay attention. Cause you’d feel comfortable with your decision. Be confident with who you are. / Confident, to love yourself, expressing your feelings. Speak up to teachers, students. Saying no. To be secure, practice self-confident. / Learned to fight my way through rough times. A strong person that helps someone else. I’ll use my coping skill. When there’s a will, there’s a way. / Confidence, importance, with great power comes responsibilities. Hard work (responsible), helping others

(confidence). No matter what people think, say no (confidence). Confidence in order to move forward. If not you will be stuck in the same place Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: I felt better. / It made me fell weird but good. / Beautiful and all the above. / Strong. / Made me feel good. / I love you, I like you. / Whatever, empty, weird. / Pretty, myself, me. / Loved, happy, sexy. / Comfortable, okay, shy, awkward. / Makes me feel like I’m worth something. Makes me happy. / I love me. Loved, cared, just self control.

Hero: IDK Myself. / Ian Somerhalder. He uses his fame to make a difference in the world. / Kendrick Lamar. Because his music made me feel that my skin color is beautiful and that I’m not alone. He’s dealt with things. / Don’t have one yet! My hero is Kevin Durant. / My mom. She’s important because she’s my mom and a role model to me, I love her too. / My sister. Cause she going to get me. Also she like a twin to me. I love her. / My mom. She’s always there. Cause she’s my mom. / Nana and Family. She doing stuff for me. Because they love me. / Mom, dad. / My hero is my brother and my aunt ‘cause she saved my life. My aunt is important to me because she saved me!! / My brothers because they help me through my downfalls and help me get back up. / Jesus is my hero. Because he is the god. He is Jesus.

Seeing Beyond: Take a step back. Art because everything to make a sculpture. Start now, stop before begin. / Senses, communication, details. Acting, drama, science, math, working with chemicals. How to speak up and use every senses. / Teamwork, trust, building sensory. Every subject, group projects, sports. Lost, work environment, relationships, in the dark. / Imagery, clues together, senses. English class, writing, science, clues work together, give an object different conclusions. Lose something picture where you last found it. Finding something you don’t know the name of.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Be open, share. Give it your all. Not to be afraid of challenges. Because your dream and moving forward. / Worked through path. Writing them down.

Communication. Look forward. / Bravery and confident, overcoming challenge. Presentations, speaking mind.

Suggesting changes. Learning how to adapt in life. / Achieving, detail you are the more real it becomes. Being successful, some people need school to achieve dreams. Help people, not discourage your dream. Visual understanding of how your life would look like ahead of you.

Release the Fear, Inc. ® PO Box 3815 Phoenix, AZ 85030 www.releasethefear.org 602-818 6959

Funded By: RICO Location: Streetlight USA %Male 0

%Female 100

Date: April 16-17, 2016 Ages 11-18

Do you think others (Kids my age, older & younger, Adults) have the same Fear as I do?

Pre %YES 50 %NO 29 %Other 14 %No Answer 7 Post %YES 79 %NO 14 %Other 7 %No Answer 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 14 % Sometimes 57 % All the Time 29 Post % Not at all 7 % Sometimes 57 % All the Time 36 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 50 % All the Time 50 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 36 % All the Time 64 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 22 % Sometimes 57 % All the Time 43 Post %Not at all 21 % Sometimes 36 % All the Time 64 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 14 % Equal 36 % Leader 50 Post % Follower 14 % Equal 22 % Leader 64 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 86 % No 14 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 71 % No 22

% No Answer 7

Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 86 % No 0 % No Answer 14 Thoughts Shared: Security in yourself is the best defense against bullies. / Step back. / To stand up. / Some of it. / Be nice. / You would want someone standing up for you so stand up for others as they stand up for your. / Understanding everyone’s different. / Ignore. / Self assurance. / Standing up for myself. / Yes I can be more empathy. / Stand up for them.

After attending the character education workshop and learning about compassion, if you saw someone being bullied, would you do something?

Post % Yes 86 % No 7 % No Answer 7 Thoughts Shared: If you allow bullying to go on you are just as guilty. / I don’t know. / I would stand up. / Being bullied is not fun. / Stand up for them. / Because standing up for someone is characteristic you express includes the 6 pillars. / No one deserves to be bullied. / Speak up to it. / I’m not good @ making a stand. / Yes I would say something. / I would help them like tell a teacher.

Did you learn any skills, such as respect or responsibility, to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 93 % No 0 % No Answer 7 Thoughts Shared: Respect yourself because the decisions you make at one point, you justified. / Not to bully. / Yes, respect. / It shouldn’t what others think, believing in yourself. / I’ve learned to be confident in my decision. / If I don’t want to do something I’ll say no. / Respect. / Yes I learned to have more respect. / I learned self control.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 57% Post 97% Thoughts Shared: Pre: No. / Color is fascinating. / Colors. / Color is beautiful. / No, I really don’t know. / IDK / I haven’t really thought about it. / I think color is a mix of strange colors that made one. / No. / I love bright colors. / I think the colors people chose tells a lot about an individual. / More probably. / I like blue.

Post: Color can have any meaning you give it, it adapts. / To put your mind into it. / Color is great. / All the above things about the facilitators. / Color represents anything you make it. / Beauty / I still think color is beautiful. / Feelings, emotions. / To be an artist of color / It a way to express yourself / Color represents how we feel / I think color is a way to express ourselves / I think it show who you are.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 97% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Yes a lot. / Indecisive. / Going home. / My most important hope and dream is to either become a cosmetologist or basketball player. / To hustle, be back home. / Yes. / To helping my mom when she gets older. / To graduate high school. / Basketball player, police officer, singer. / To be successful. / To be successful in whatever I chose to be in life. / Dream being a lawyer. / To get adopted. / Getting my own place.

Post: To keep moving forward and accomplish all my hopes and dreams. / Being a lawyer. / To get adopted with family. / Getting my own place. / College. / To accomplish who and what I want to become. / To be successful. / Becoming a basketball player and cosmetologist being successful. / To hustle, make my mom proud, give her money, take care of her. / Art movies / All dreams / To give my brother the life he wants / Being a marine. / A basketball player, singer, army, a police officer. / One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 100% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: To be good and helpful. / Say it because someone can help you with it. / Everybody has obstacles and we can work together to overcome them. / Confidence / Patience / Never give up be able to love who are as an individual / Have patience / Understanding that there will be obstacles / “Where there is a will there’s a way” / To open up / Self control / Step back / Is patience and how to deal with others. / Never give up. When there’s a will there’s a way.

What did you learn New in the workshop about yourself, that you did not know before?

Post 86% discovered something New in the workshop about themselves.

Thoughts Shared: I don’t know. / Just be you / Be kind to your inner child / Looking at myself in the mirror / Opened / I, as an individual uses the 6 pillars / For me to follow my Dreams / By helping me with empathy / Respect, if you want respect you have to give it / Just to lead how to open up / Respect / I’m not sure / It

helped me by putting me in a group and discussing things with them / It helped me a lot. Learning to overcome my challenges / What did you learn New in the workshop about a classmate or friend?

Post 97% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: To respect and don’t bully. / I don’t know. / People have similar fears as me. / Confidence / That art complicates sometimes / Their able to trust others / That everyone wants success / People have different/deep stories about their life / We all have fear / To be open / They are unique / Their dreams / A lot of us have similar dreams / That Rebecca dream is to find her mom when she turned 18.

Release the Fear, Inc. ® PO Box 3815 Phoenix, AZ 85030 www.releasethefear.org

Thanks to RICO Funding, 20 young lives from ACYR Elementary experienced their Possibilities. This workshop took place on April 19th, 20th, and 27th, 2016 - # 5 of 12 Opening up possibilities for the young minds of Arizona’s youth for a brighter tomorrow.© “Bridging Possibility” workshops.

Through stories, activities and artwork, Release the Fear’s Workshops will help students to:

     

Draw One’s Fears and Awaken Hopes and Dreams Stimulate Creative Listening and Communication Bridge Understanding Discuss How Color Affects Us and Our Environment Senses Heighten Visual Awareness of Our Environment Turn Pain into Possibilities into Purpose.

The students are divided into groups or teams that they remain with throughout the workshop. In their small group, the students may be asked to complete an activity, to share responses, or to reflect on an exercise. Often times these groups can have students with different beliefs, various backgrounds, and even opposing gang affiliations.

The workshop will end with a group created painting to be displayed for the public.

Participant Responses Participants are asked to reflect on several of the activities and then share with the group.

These responses are written in their words without edit.

The following responses are from the students who range in ages from 14-18.

The students are asked to reflect on the following question: How do you think this activity could help you in your daily life (In School, Out of School, or In Your Career)?

Who am I? : I am a student. Talk to other students. Stand up to bullies. Taught how to communicate. / Confidence. Being able to speak in front of others. Stop them before they act. Confidence and helping others could help with certain obstacles in life. / Opening up to personal questions. Being able to talk to new people. Step up.

Learning to be more out going. / We all experience and relate to each other. We can get along more with our peers. It would help with them to relate. It will help you understand others and see what they are doing.

Creative story telling: The different aspects of citizenship and social environment. You need to understand them to excel in social settings. People can stand up for people they see being bullied. People can get along without problems. / Learning different ways to be respectful. By raising your hand. Giving respectful opinions. Be respectful to others. / Citizenship. You can help hold the door for someone. Helping around the school. Work together come up with ways to help. Helping opening doors. Picking up trash. Helping someone asking for help. / Fairness. Treat people the same as you want to be treated. Stand up be the person. It gets you through life.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: We learned how to love and appreciate ourselves. More confident in work area. Turn down peer pressure. Get through tough situations. / Self-confidence. Motivates you. You can avoid.

Inspire others to do better. / Learning self-confidence. Expressing yourself with confidence. Keep yourself focused.

Keep yourself prepared for anything coming your way. / Collaboration and persistence. Can help each other learn difficult concepts. Work together to understand the situation. Make friendships and help others with their problems and get help.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: It makes me feel happy. / It makes me feel good and happy about myself. / It makes me feel confident about myself. / It makes me feel confident, better, and good about myself. / Makes me feel good and confident. / Proud, tired, happy strong. / Joyful, self- sufficient, confident, strong, satisfied. / Happy. / It makes me feel good about myself. / I don’t feel anything. / Confident. /

I couldn’t feel anything. / I don’t know sometimes I just look and wonder why am I the way I am or I just think about everything almost that I go through or I need to change.

Hero: Who is Your Hero and Why do you think are they important? What characteristics or qualities, would you or do you, look for in a Hero? She’s been my hero since day one and I will always count on her. / My mom is my hero. It’s important because without her I wouldn’t be here or know right from wrong. / My mom is my hero. She is important because she provides for me and gave me life. / He is important because he fought for our country. / Leonardo Da Vinci. He was an immensely interesting person. He was a genius. / I’m my own hero because I see myself being my own person growing and accomplishing everything. I think I am important because I’m very sufficient. / Mom she is important to me because she always tells me to not give up and she never lets me down. / My hero is my mom. Because she’s someone who will always be in my life. / Because my mom convinces me to go to school and to try harder which makes me want to succeed. / He helps me with my problems in life. / My mom because she has always been there for me. / My dad and mom they always support me in everything. They’re important because they’re supportive. / Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson. When I was in boxing I wanted to be like them. They’re legends. In boxing history they are real important. In life on a normal basis they are real caring and nice people. / Flatbush. These three rappers talk about how life really is. It can get tuff but not to stress too much because it’s all going to be alright. They give me a positive vibe when I listen to them since 2012.

Through the Hoops: Skills or Tools Learned: We learned how to feel good about ourselves as well- being confident. It will make you. It will make you feel more comfortable and show your confidence. / Teamwork. Class assignments and projects. Step up to them. Many students coming up together to prevent it. Help others and ask for help if you’re in the need. / Teamwork. Teachers and classmates help and understand. Preventing them from getting bullied. The struggles or obstacles you go through there will be different people or ways to get through them. / Teamwork. Work together to get better grades. Work together to stand up to bullies. Help get through struggles.

Seeing Beyond: How to use my third eye. Helps in multiple subjects like writing and reading. Helps you be more creative. / We learned to use imagination and our third eye. It will give you your own opinion in school and give you a chance to tell what you think with your tools. If you listen to your intuition like your voice and learning it yourself. / Asking specific questions. Every subject because it would help us learn more about each thing. Asking questions to learn more about our surroundings and communicating using specific questions. / Listen correctly. School to get better grades. Making better choices in the future.

We can remember a time when we did not listen to our intuition or inner voice. We would like you to think of an example when you did follow your intuition: Waking up for school but noticed it was Friday so then I followed my voice to shower and get ready. Follow my inner voice. / There was this time I woke up early to get ready for work but I was ready so I decided to leave earlier than leaving at a certain time. I get to work and my team mates needed help so it helped get through the rush. / I do not remember a time when I listened to my inner voice. I would probably learn something good though. / I remember a time I listened to my inner voice, and that was when I was little. I was around maybe seven or nine and I was in an accident with my mom and brother. I wanted to go to sleep but just before I could I told them both I love them. I learned that the inner voice can go along way because it’s crazy if I didn’t say it then I don’t know what my last words could have been. / Something was telling me to go check on my nephew. When I went he was in the street. That I need to listen to myself. / Listened to my intuition when I felt something and I imagined the picture in my head. I learned how I can see colors based on what I’ve seen with my eyes. / I remember one time I did not follow my inner voice when I should have.

To be more careful and maybe listen to my intuition next time. / When I was walking home one day my inner voice told me to look down so I did and found a gold charm. Sometimes you just got to follow your inner voice. / The time I listened to my inner voice when I did not go with my friend. I should listen to my inner voice more often. / Once I was home alone and my older brother and I were in the living room but something told me to go to the back and I ignored it. Some guy was trying to jump the gate over to our house. That you should always listen to your inner voice because sometimes the situation could be really bad. / One day when my best friend invited me to a house party with other friends, but I didn’t feel like it would be a good idea to go to my inner voice would tell me that something could happen or go wrong so I didn’t go. Latter my friend called me to tell me there had been a shooting and someone was injured. I learned that it’s good to listen to your inner voice. I was thankful that I did not go.

Funded By: RICO Location: ACYR %Male 45

%Female 55

Date: April 19-21, 2016 Ages 14-18

Do you think others (Kids my age, older & younger, Adults) have the same Fear as I do?

Pre %YES 65 %NO 35 %Other 0 Post %YES 100 %NO 0 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 5 % Sometimes 90 % All the Time 5 Post % Not at all 8 % Sometimes 59 % All the Time 33 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 5 % Sometimes 30 % All the Time 65 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 10 % All the Time 90 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 40 % All the Time 60 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 8 % All the Time 92 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a Follower. Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 5 % Equal 20 % Leader 75 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 8 % Leader 92 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 55 % No 45 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 80 % No 20 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 70 % No 10 % No Answer 20

% Other 0

Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: There are many ways to deal with bullying. / Yes. / Step up for not bullying. / Team up with others. / Talking with others about it. / Yes, stand up for others, work together. / To step in and help. / Because you can see we’re the same. / Talking about it. / To stand up for others. / Stand up and help. / Even if you’re not that person someone out there will sometime need your help.

After attending the character education workshop and learning about compassion, if you saw someone being bullied, would you do something?

Post % Yes 90 % No 10 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I would help because if it was me I’m sure I would want help. / I would stop whoever is bullying. / Bullying is bad. / It’s not my business. / Yes I would. / Everyone needs to be friends and respect each other. / Yes, I’d tell them to back off. / Team up and beat them silly. / Of course. / I would stop the bully with compassion and other skills I learned this week.

Did you learn any skills, such as respect or responsibility, to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Yes, I did learn to respect my decisions. / Yes. / Teamwork and public speaking. / Do what I want, not what others want. / Yes, I learned to be more caring. / We are individuals. / To be respectful to others. / Respect for others and myself. / I learned that your own decisions matter but affect you if they are wrong.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 85% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Colors give everything life. Dimension. / Color makes things stand out. / I think about crayons. / Gold. / I think color lights up everything. / It’s a color nothing more. / Art, amazing. / Every color is unique. / I think of rainbows and black and gray. / I think color is unique. / I’ve thought that colors have meaning. / Color of the sky.

Responsibility and positivity. / I like the color black. / It expresses things. / It’s all equal. / I think it brings out people’s personality. Colors have meanings. / I think color can be very good with showing emotions and feelings and shows how a person can feel.

Post: To accomplish my dreams and be a successful person. / Have my own family and be successful in life. / To make it through life successfully. / My son. / To be successful and also become a dentist. / To play pro basketball and give my mom and my girl the things they have always wanted. / To make a lot of money and be a veterinarian. / To be able to provide for my son and have a house with my boyfriend. / To have my own mechanic shop. / To become a jeweler. / To make it or forget it. / To finish school and go to the military.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 90% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Is to be a good business leader. / My most important dream is to become a fashion designer. / My dream is to have a house for me, my son, and my boyfriend. / To finish high school and get a good job. / To be successful and have a good future with a family. / I want to be a policeman. / To have a career, a good job, a nice family and be happy. / To play in the NBA and give back to the people. / Is to become a boss. / To establish my own home. / Get where I want to be. / Finish school by next year. / To have a lot of cars, money houses. / My boxing career and making more money. / My dream is to become a music producer and making custom jewelry. / The youth. / To finish high school and have a good future. / Is to get through all the struggles, have a good job and family, my boyfriend or husband when it’s time and be satisfied.

Post: To finish school and go to the military. / Is to make it or forget it. / To play pro basketball and give my mom and my girl the things they have always wanted. / To keep dreaming for it. / To make a lot of money and be a veterinarian. / Is to research about how I can reach my dreams. / To have my own mechanic shop. / To accomplish my dreams and be a successful person. / Be positive and love myself. / To make it through life successfully. / My son. / To be successful and become a dentist.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 100% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: Keep going keep trying. / Confidence. / To never give up. / Be positive and love myself. / I learned to stay confident. / Trustworthiness, to trust others and step up for people. / To face my fears. / That I’m not afraid to go for it. / To keep dreaming for it. / Is to be confident in myself and not to give up on my dreams. / That all people have something in their way and their dream to over come it.

Coming into the workshop, which Character Count did you want to improve or work on to help you? How did the workshop help you improve it?

Post 100% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count: Be more respectful. The workshop helped me improve by listening to everyone. / It helped me learn more and new things. / To speak in public. / They were able to help me not hit back. / Speak out loud, the workshop helped me not be shy. / To trust others. / I learned to stay confident. / To be more confident, because before I didn’t like talking in public. / It helped me become more confident. / I love myself. / Understanding. / To be more sufficient in myself.

What did you learn New in the workshop about a classmate or friend?

Post 100% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: We all have the ability to work together. / We have similar problems and struggles. / Everybody has their own struggles. / About their feelings personal life. / Their struggles and their cares. / That my classmate also went through hard times just like I have. / That they also go through most of the same life obstacles as us. / That everyone has a fear. / We can all relate. / That we all go through things and sometimes it’s the same. / They have the same situations as many of us. / That one of my classmates had an addiction and some of them have something in common.

Release the Fear, Inc. ® PO Box 3815 Phoenix, AZ 85030 www.releasethefear.org

Thanks to RICO Funding 14 young lives from ACYR experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on May 18- 19, 2016 - # 6 of 12 Opening up possibilities for the young minds of Arizona’s youth for a brighter tomorrow.© “Bridging Possibility” workshops.

Through stories, activities and artwork, Release the Fear’s Workshops will help students to:

     

Draw One’s Fears and Awaken Hopes and Dreams Stimulate Creative Listening and Communication Bridge Understanding Discuss How Color Affects Us and Our Environment Senses Heighten Visual Awareness of Our Environment Turn Pain into Possibilities into Purpose.

The students are divided into groups or teams that they remain with throughout the workshop. In their small group, the students may be asked to complete an activity, to share responses, or to reflect on an exercise. Often times these groups can have students with different beliefs, various backgrounds, and even opposing gang affiliations.

The workshop will end with a group created painting to be displayed for the public.

Participant Responses Participants are asked to reflect on several of the activities and then share with the group.

These responses are written in their words without edit.

The following responses are from the students who range in ages from 14-18.

The students are asked to reflect on the following question: How do you think this activity could help you in your daily life (In School, Out of School, or In Your Career)?

Who am I? : Everyone’s different and communicate. Social skills. There wouldn’t be none. Connect with people. / Today we learned how to socialize, face fears, and be honest. It applies by helping to interact with others. This would help by standing up to the bully. These things apply in life by socializing more and interacting more with other people. / All team is fine and we learned how to step up and be honest. Responsible for your own actions by being 100%. You call for help or tell them to stop. By facing your problems and taking action. / Honesty. Being honest with our teachers. If you’re honest there’s nothing they can say about you. You’ll become trustworthy and people will become you.

Creative story telling: We learned to be equal with each other. We can all be fair and help each other out. Help out some because you don’t know what they are feeling. By treating others equally and no one will be feeling down. / When you do positive vibes in life. Respecting the staff. Working together and shows bullies to have heart.

Help others. / Some skills I learned is to be respectful. This applies in school by respecting students and teachers.

If you’re being bullied stand up for yourself. This applies in life so you know how to respect but also stand up for yourself./ How to be caring. Helping others that need helping. Standing up for others. Not being selfish and care for people that need help.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Building yourself to have strong self-esteem. Help with confidence you’ll feel more open and not so afraid to ask. I think it helps to know your work and more life acts. By feeling good within yourself. / It teaches you how to be strong and share personal stuff. It shows a better attitude by more confidence.

Shows you how to be independent. Help you be a better person and make life enjoyable. / We learned about our heroes. Motivates us to do better. Being there for yourself. Not letting people impact your life with negativity. / Selfacceptance. Shows in confidence. Know yourself. When you know yourself they can’t tell you who to be or what to do. You can accomplish anything when you fail you’re not so hard on yourself.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have the courage. / I feel the same but it made me laugh a little. / Yes I do safe. / It felt good. / A little weird because it’s not something we do all the time. / It makes me feel confident. / It made me feel good and happy.

Hero: Who is Your Hero and Why do you think are they important? What characteristics or qualities, would you or do you, look for in a Hero? My grandma she is important to me because she changed my life. / My mom is the most important. She supports me in everything. / My hero is my boyfriend. This guy actually saved me from a lot of problems. I thank him from the bottom of my heart. / My mom because she brought me into this world. Because without her I wouldn’t be here. / Muhammed Ali and Mike Tyson. Because I love to box and they are legends in boxing. / Jesus because he is God. / My hero no matter what has to be my mom. She stays strong. She’s an amazing person with a big heart. / My mom. I know it may sound corny but I’ve seen her go through so much recently and bounce back. I pray that I become even half the woman she is today. / My brother. He has helped me out all my life. Their personality and actions and what they do.

Through the Hoops: Skills or Tools Learned: We learned to work as a team. We can help and support others.

Help those who are down. Reach out to others and ask for help. / Teamwork. Helping out others. Sticking up for each other. There’s obstacles that will bring you down sometimes you have to learn to overcome them and be more positive. / Working together can get you further in life. This applies in school by helping each other. It would help dealing with bullies by communication with others. This can apply in life by connecting with people you may not know well. / Teamwork. Every one of us helps each other out. Helping each other will help solve problems.

Work together.

Seeing Beyond: Using our third eye. Reading and writing because you’re learning to be descriptive with writing.

By reading you’re able to picture what you’re reading. It can help you imagine or see your goals. / Makes you think in different ways. Improves your vocabulary and reasoning skills. Makes you see life at a different perspective. / Using your third eye. It helps you in all subjects to find the answer to your problem by using imagery. By helping you think more and using your imagination more. / Using your third eye. Help look at things in many different perspectives, risk taking. Use third eye to visualize.

Drawing one’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Skills or tools learned: Creative story telling. Knowing you’re not the only one. Sharing your stories with others may prevent them from hurting you. By being more social and build your confidence. / I learned my goals and my weaknesses. Makes us focus and makes us connect. It could help us overcome our fears. Help us reach our goals and have self-confidence. / You learn that everyone has a fear. Your hopes and dreams can be used as motivation. Overcoming the person bullying you. You can set a goal to reach your dream. / I learned to open up with others. Knowing about others and yourself by finding stuff in common. Showing the bully that they’re not alone with their fears. More opportunities and friends when being open and honest.

Release the Fear, Inc. ® PO Box 3815 Phoenix, AZ 85030 www.releasethefear.org 602-818 6959

Funded By: RICO Location: ACYR %Male 64

%Female 36

Date: May 18-19, 2016 Ages 14-18

Do you think others (Kids my age, older & younger, Adults) have the same Fear as I do?

Pre %YES 86 %NO 14 %Other 0 Post %YES 92 %NO 8 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 14 % All the Time 86 Post % Not at all 8 % Sometimes 83 % All the Time 8 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 64 % All the Time 36 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 33 % All the Time 58 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 7 % Sometimes 29 % All the Time 64 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 25 % All the Time 75 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a Follower. Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 7 % Equal 36 % Leader 57 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 50 % Leader 50 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 43 % No 57 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 86 % No 14 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 50 % No 29 % No Answer 21 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 83 % No 17 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: That we are all still equal and we’re not alone. / That some bullies have the same problems. / Already know about it. / Yes stand up for others. / Don’t give them what they want. / Learned being confident. / Help stop bullying. / I will help anyone who feels helpless. / Step up. / Stand up. / The world wouldn’t be like this if people just hated.

After attending the character education workshop and learning about compassion, if you saw someone being bullied, would you do something?

Post % Yes 92 % No 8 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: To be honest I would want to talk about this. / Help to stop the bullying. / Help the one being bullied. / Step up not necessarily start a fight but help the person being put down. / I would talk to them. / No one should be bullied. / Yes, because I don’t like people picking on someone. / Stop them or tell. / I would help. / Because bullying isn’t right. Of course I would do something about someone being bullied always. Tell the teacher.

Did you learn any skills, such as respect or responsibility, to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 83 % No 17 % No Answer 0

Thoughts Shared: I could say that my opinion matters and if I have anything to say I can. / Yes I’ve always had respect. /Respect. / Because we have to do what we won’t. / Yes I do what I feel is best. / Respect and understand who you truly are. Respect I already know. Yes I can make my own decisions not based on peer pressure.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 64% Post 67% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Red. / I think like it shows emotions and how a person can be or think. / No color doesn’t matter. / Boring. / It’s unique. / Yes I always think about color because I think that’s what life is about. / When I think of color I think of rainbows. / Skin to one color blind. / No I never thought about it but we are all equal.

Post: Not sure. / Color can mean anything if you want. / Color is something special. / That color is beautiful. / I still think the same. / Doesn’t matter really all races are equal. / I think the same as before. / When I think of color I always think of emotions or feelings.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 93% Post 92% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Have a house and a car with a healthy family. / To be successful. / Is to be successful. / I want to be an NBA legend. / To be healthy. / To own a mechanic shop. / Have a house in the hills. / I hope I can support my family. / To be successful in life. / To become a professional boxer. / I don’t think I have one. / My most important dream is being who I want to be and completing my goal. / Is to make things happen make it in life. Have a house be and live happy with a family. Not to worry anymore. / My hope is to get a studio. My dream is to be a music artist.

Post: To become a professional boxer and be a champion. / To be successful and help anyone in need and never be judgmental. / My most important dream is to produce music and be a song writer. / To follow my dream to be an RN. / To get a good job and achieve all my goals. / Is to make something happen to for fill my goals. Make it not only for my loved ones but happy for myself. / Being successful and confident about my choices. / To play pro basketball. / To help people in whatever they need. / Become happy in what I do. To own my own mechanic shop.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 92% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: Set a goal and don’t give up until you achieve it. / Become happy with what I am. / Be confident. / Never give up on my goals. / Confidence and respect are good ways. / One thing that I learned is I can do it and to always keep faith no matter what comes my way. / I learned how to overcome my fears. / Is to have much respect and always stay positive. / Be honest with myself and love myself every day. / Believe in myself.

Coming into the workshop, which Character Count did you want to improve or work on to help you? How did the workshop help you improve it?

Post 92% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count: I can be more social. / My feelings towards my mother are so strong. / Don’t mean to sound stuck up but I always knew myself. / That I am unique. / I learned that life is like building a bridge. / I feel like it helped me bring the fear out. / I learned that I am capable of everything. / That I can do what I want. / To be more.

What did you learn New in the workshop about a classmate or friend?

Post 92% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: They have the same fear as I do. / We all relate. / I learned some people are going thru rough times. / That they have the same fears as me. / That they like go through the same things. / That everyone has been thru a lot. / We have the same fears. / Some of us have the same thing in common. / That a lot of us share the same fears. / They have problems similar to me. / Some of us have the same fears.

Thank you Maricopa County Attorney's Office and RICO funds for opportunity and

for believing in our mission and vision.

For your understanding that each and every child is deserving to be inspired and empower with the tools to make better life choices. Today because of your support,, they are that much closer to finding their gifts that they have to share with the world around them.

Most sincerely,

Robert J Miley CEO and Founder

Office- 302 W. Monroe- in Downtown Phoenix Mailing-332 W. Lynwood Phoenix, AZ 85003 info@release the fear.org www.releasethefear.org