Wells Fargo Final Report 2016-2017

WELLS FARGO 2016 REPORT Thank you Wells Fargo for helping us start to realize we can Release our Fears and see our Hope and Dreams are Possible...

RELEASE THE FEAR'S BRIDGING POSSIBILITIES =

Thanks to the foresight of Wells Fargo. This report

reflects how the creative processes through the "Bridging Possibilities" and our Train the Trainer programs, enabling us to expand our reach to enlightened and enriched more youth. These results from 57 young lives and what they experienced together through the "Bridging Possibilities" A Character Education program. 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

.. .

"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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

"In the Bridging Possibilities workshop we realize that you have to go .through a few hoops to achieve your dreams. . ." John D.

...

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

For ten years, Release the Fear has had the opportunity to interact with over 9,500 disadvantage and at-risk 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 2016, Release the 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 2016, 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.

RTF-Youth/Yr. # of Students

2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

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(2016) (2015) (2014) (2013) (2012) (2011) (2010) (2009) (2008)

Female:

921

697

452

256

295

185

170

221

259

Male:

1054

791

764

560

495

398

370

394

229

RELEASE THE FEAR 2016-2017 RTF Pre/Post Survey Results

Wells Fargo OVERALL PERCENTAGES 57 Students (3 BP Workshops) Male 79% Female 21% – Youth Ages 12-17 83.7% discovered something new about themselves 89.7% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 51% compared to Post 82% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 86% compared to Post 98.7% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

95.3% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

87.7% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

Individual Workshop Percentages 1. December 20-22, 2016 Kennilworth Elementary School 26 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 54% Female 46% – Youth Ages 12-14 96% discovered something new about themselves 96% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 88% compared to Post 86% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 85% compared to Post 96% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

96% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

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

2. January 25-27, 2017 Adobe Juvenile Detention Center 13 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 100% Female 0% – Youth Ages 14-17 92% discovered something new about themselves 85% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 46% compared to Post 85% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 92% compared to Post 100% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

92% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

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

3. January 25-27, 2017 Adobe Juvenile Detention Center 18 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 100% Female 0% – Youth Ages 15-17 63% discovered something new about themselves 88% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 19% compared to Post 75% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 81% compared to Post 100% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

75% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

94% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

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RELEASE THE FEAR 2016 WELL FARGO FUNDING Program Budget:"Bridging Possibilities" A Character Building Education 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 Wells Fargo RTF

Actual for 3 Workshop

$680.00 $300.00

$2,040.00 $900.00

$150.00 $ 70.00

$450.00 $210.00

$ 90.00 $ 60.00

$290.00 $180.00

$300.00 $ 50.00

$900.00 $150.00

$1,700.00

$5,120.00 $5,000.00 120.00

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 In-Kind ADJC Staff -6 hours X 2 staff =12 hour X 2 workshops= 24 hours at adv. $30 per = $720.00

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 Wells Fargo, 26 young lives from Kenilworth Elementary School experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on December 20-22nd, 2016 – #1 of 3 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 12-14.

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?: We learned more about us and to be more honest. Being honest and being truthful with school work and not lying to teachers if you see someone getting bullied. Be honest when you do tell a teacher. Something and if you keep lying it’s going to make it worse. / Thinking and courage. Listening and trustworthy. Gets some help. Friendly, courage, and behavior. / Trust and Bravery and Pride and Responsibility. Be brave to be smart.

Participate. To stand up to the bully. The courage to stand out and share knowledge. / Learned not to judge people. People can change. To think before you speak, changing your actions. Relate to your friends. Be open to people. Speak up and tell an adult, tell that person to stop. In job interviews could probably ask things like what we learned.

Creative story telling: Being creative. By being yourself, not trying to be others. Think of different ways to stop bulling. Being responsible when you have a job. / Carrying and responsibility. Responsibility and trustworthy.

Stand up for them or tell the teacher. Fairness and carrying. / Responsibility. Keeping space clean, meeting expectations. Be responsible to do something about it. Take care and know consequences. / Should be trustworthy, caring, responsible. Teat people the way you want to be treated. Being caring and speaking up for you yourself and other. Community and helping friend and family.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Self-confidence, inspiration, self-trust, self-motivation. Having confidence, asking for help, having motivation getting good grades. Say no to the bad things. Want get frustrated, helps you make good choices. Help you be more social and inspiring siblings, to be good in life. / Who inspires us. Positive things. Respect everyone. Heroes can help in life. Someone that motivates you. / We learned that we are unique and we should be happy for who we are. Don’t be afraid of your personality. Help. It gives you strength to do the right thing. Keep practicing the behavior. / Have different inspirations aware of your actions. Set example for other kids. Respect, self-confidence on what you’re doing believe in yourself. Hopeful, confident, strength.

Respect and they will give it back.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: Happy, Amazing, Wonderful. / It makes me feel loving and happy. / It made me feel the same. / It makes me feel happy because I like the way I look. / It makes me feel confident in myself. / Makes me feel better. / It inspires me to not say that “ I wish I was like her”. / It makes me feel good about myself. / It makes me feel good about myself. / Joy, makes me feel happy. / Happy and weird and little the same and why I’m doing this. / I love myself how the way I look and my eyes. / It makes me feel proud and the way how I was born. / I love how I look and myself in the mirror. I feel good when I look in the mirror. / When I look at myself in the mirror I feel happy because of who I am and I am happy to be that person. / The same person because I know I am liked and loved. / I feel weird and embarrassed. / I love and like myself just the way I am. / Good, Happy. / I feel like I am confident and beautiful. / The way I feel is weird. / impressed, emotional.

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 family, because they have been there for 12 years and care. / My parents. They were always there for me. / Tia. I used to feel unloved and replaceable, unwanted and useless but when they came into my life I felt like that they understood me and loved me and I am just thankful and happy. / Mom and Dad and Sister. They care for me, they are very important. / My family and friends. / They protect me and love me. / My dad. There are so many things he does for me. #1 is he won’t leave me. / My mom. She is always there for me and helps me with things when I can’t yet accomplish. / My oldest big brother who helped me from a criminal. Police because they help people. / My mom. She is always there for me. My brother Alex because he believes in me and helps me. / Einstein. / Mom and Dad. They raised me from the start and were always everything to me. / Mom and Dad. I look up to them. I am inspired by them. / Mom. She inspires me and motivates me to do good things in life. / My mom. They help me in life. Helpful, makes food and does chores. / Doctors. They help save lives. / My mom is my hero. She is always there when I need her. Someone who cares. / My tia, she had cancer but she fought it and now she is coming home on Thursday. / My family. I know I can count on them whenever. Caring. / My mom. They are in my life and take care of me.

Through the Hoops: Teamwork, trust, multitasking. Group activities, listening to teachers while writing notes.

While someone is saying something while you are thinking about it. Trusting teachers and friends. Get things done with your family. Trusting your business workers. / Trust and teamwork. Confident and teamwork. Working together to stop bullying. Help each other out. / Teamwork and communication. It helps you get better at what you are not good at. Your friends help you feel better and help you stand up to the bully. To get things accomplished you didn’t think was possible. / Trust, having fun, teamwork, communication. Group work, use teamwork. Helpful and confident. Using communication instead of actions. In jobs they will be able to trust you.

Multi-task.

Seeing Beyond: Teamwork, communication, visualize, creative with peers and teachers, teamwork with groups in school. Visualize goals, working as teams in jobs. / Teamwork, asking friends for help. All subjects apply to this. Think before you say it, always be yourself and don’t be someone you are not. / Teamwork and group of thinking. Basically in everything because we always have to think and work as a team. Think before you talk. / Imagination, creativity, teamwork. Working with groups which is teamwork. Help other people with ideas in creativity.

Drawing one’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Learned that we are not alone in our fear. Relate to others. Talk to others about bullying. Be more social and caring about other people’s dream. / Common fears.

Plan of action. Help bully face their fears. When you believe in yourself you can reach your goals. / Knowing about each other. Help each other to get to their dreams. Don’t let them get you down. Be successful, care about each other’s dreams. / To never give up, you can always accomplish your dreams. Be successful, helpful to other classmates. By being kind and caring keep your head up. Don’t let them get to you. To be nice to people, always meet your dreams without giving up, you can inspire other people.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Caring, trustworthy, responsibility, honest, compassion. Responsibility having a job, caring for peers, helping peers and teachers. Responsibility having a job. Taking care of the family. / Help others accomplish their dreams, all have a different dreams, reach your goals and don’t give up. Do well in school, having determination, believing in yourself. Visual your goals, manifest, set your goals, picking up the little information people give you. /Trustworthy and caring. Helping a friend dealing with bully. Not being rude in workplace, be respectful. / Caring about the feelings of others. Looking out for your friends and making sure they don’t get in trouble. When someone is having a hard time, we should ask for help.

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. Then draw a picture on the back of what the experience looked like. Helping my mom with laundry. / My grandma was sick and I helped her and felt good cause I helped someone. / When I opened a door for a girl and it felt nice and kind of caring. / I had to babysit my little cousin and she is only 4. They really had to trust me. / When my mom left and dad and I took care of niece for a while until they came back. / I was caring when I helped my little brother with his chores or with his homework. / Helped my mom with chores. / There was once a girl that was always lonely. Nobody liked her everybody was mean to her. One day a boy was saying mean things to her and I went up and said you better stop. The girl thanked me. I felt very proud and happy. / When my friend was having a bad day and I talked to them and they felt better and were smiling and laughing and I felt better. / I gave a friend my jacket since it was freezing cold outside and I am used to the cold mostly. I was happy to help him. / I gave food to a homeless person. / A friend was being bullying and I defended her and then I felt better and pride. / A person was being mean to another person and I defended a person and it made me feel special and happy and proud. / I took care of my dog friend. / I helped my mom with the bag of food. / I babysat my little sister while my mom was cooking. / I was caring when I made sure me and my brother eat when my mom and dad are not home. / Whenever I go somewhere outside my home I smile at people.

Release the Fear, Inc. TM

PO Box 3815 Phoenix, AZ 85030 www.releasethefear.org

Funded By: Wells Fargo Location: Kenilworth Elementary School 54% Male

46% Female

Date: December 20 – 22nd, 2016

Ages 12-14

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

Pre %YES 88 %NO 8 %Other 4 Post %YES 96 %NO %Other 4 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 23 % Sometimes 65 % All the Time 12 Post % Not at all 4 % Sometimes 67 % All the Time 30 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 58 % All the Time 42 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 38 % All the Time 62 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 12 % Sometimes 54 % All the Time 31 % No answer 3 Post % Not at all 8 % Sometimes 50 % All the Time 42 % No Answer 0 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a Follower. Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 8 % Equal 54 % Leader 38 Post % Follower 8 % Equal 38 % Leader 54 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 58 % No 38 % No Answer 4 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 77 % No 23 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 50 % No 46

% No Answer 4

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

Post % Yes 96 % No 4 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Defend them cause I can be in the same situation. / Everyone is afraid of something. / Helping each other out. / Stand up for each other. / To speak out. / There telling you how to deal with it and let you say other ways with solving bulling. / What to do when someone is bullied. / Games and talking groups. / It helped me change. / We are not alone. / You should always be caring for other people. / Not the only one. / To not allow it. / Understanding that most people want to help. / To help or at least call someone to help along. / Being trustworthy and caring.

How to stop bullying. / I will tell them to stop. / Hold my ground. / Protect each other. / To help people that are victims of it and to tell an adult. / Knowing that bullies are afraid of something too. / Respect others no matter who they are or what they like.

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: Defend them and talk to the bully. / It is what I want someone to do for me. / Get an authority. / Stop the person bullying the other. / Find a teacher/ staff/ principle ASAP to solve the ordeal. / Help them defend them. / Help and tell an adult. / It is not right. / I would defend the person. / I would speak up and tell an adult. / I would tell an adult or speak up. / I would speak out. / I would try and help the person being

bullied. / Tell a teacher and help the victim. / Help. / They are getting hurt. / It is not right to be bullied. / Calling a teacher. / I would step up and defend them. / Protect them. / Tell them to stop and tell an adult. / I would stick up for them then tell the peers.

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

Post % Yes 96 % No 4 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: We can be free because people can’t judge me. / I am secure with myself. / Try to prove people wrong. / Respecting my parents. / To take more responsibility if someone ever gets bullied. / Respect peers. / I learned to respect others. / To respect other people. / Don’t do what others pressure you to do. / Always do what makes you happy. / Respect my own choices and opinions. / Make the right decisions. / Be respectful. / Ignoring your friends. / To set a good example. / Everyone is like the same but not. / To be respectful to others and ourselves. / I can be responsible without peers.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre % 73 Post % 96 Thoughts Shared: Pre: I think that represents our feelings. / Color has meaning. For example red means mad and blue means sad. / I think of color as a thing people use to embrace them self. / I feel colors are how I feel and what my mood is. Like red is my favorite because it shows love. / Color is life. / Color is vibrant and makes art come to life. / When I am mad I see red. / I think of how it feels to look at color like how it might express emotions or thought. / Color is cool. / Color can express who your true self is, they can be your favorite or remind you of a special time in your life.

Post: That color is amazing and we can use it for express ourselves. / Color describes feeling. Adds emotion and individuality. / Color works for emotions. / Color is good. / Color can express our emotions. / Colors can match songs and words. / It is in a lot of things it can tell emotions. / Colors have meaning. / Red. / Color is emotion. / Emotions. / Colors have emotions. / Color can make you feel and appreciate beauty in all things.

Adds uniqueness. Red counts with me because it shows everything good. / Color can express what we are all like. / You can express feelings. / I think they are all beautiful. / To associate color with dreams and you. Your dreams are bigger than your fears. / Color can express who you are and express your feelings. / Emotions. / Red and orange. / Color is what I am and bring the difference out of me. / I think about emotions. / Color expresses emotions and moods. / Emotions. / Each emotion has a color. / Color represents feelings, music, even personalities. I think it is amazing.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre % 85 Post % 96 Thoughts Shared: Pre: I want to be a doctor. / When I get older I want to go to London and become a photographer. / I have one but I don’t feel like sharing. / To be a doctor and to change the world and how people get treated. / Getting to travel and having a good job so I can help my family. / Finish my school and go to college. / I can see my family every day. / I will be an actor and a singer. / To be there for my family and do what they couldn’t do. / Stick with my family. / To help inspire others. / To become a nurse. / Being a football player. To be happy and make those around me happy. / My dreams are to be a Veterinarian and a soccer player. / Go to the NFL. / To become a scientist and take care of my siblings after I am 18. / To be rich and helpful. / Football. / To be a football player. / To become a heart surgeon in children hospital. / To personally succeed in life and done what I have wanted to do not what others do.

Post: Go to Harvard and finish my career. / To be happy and secure with my family and to make sure they have a home. / Swimming assistant. / To be in the NFL. / I want to be a scientist. / Being a scientist. / Go to college, have a family be a doctor, have a lot of money. / To travel around the world. / To be a dentist or a football player. / Become a nature photographer. / To be successful. / To be a basketball player. / To be successful. / To be happy and a good person. / Be a lawyer and personally know that I have succeeded. / To get a big house. / To be happy. / To be a singer and actor. / NFL player. / To uplift those around me. / Going to high school and college. / To be successful in school and college and become a nurse. / To travel the world with friends.

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

Thoughts Shared: Believe in myself. / I learned that we are all close to each other. All people have need for love. / Respectful and trustworthy. / Never give up. / Is hope and determination. / Others are willing to help. / To be confident in myself. / Believe in yourself. / Trustworthiness, respect and caring. / To be successful. / To persevere and work hard. / Never give up and keep your head. / To keep trying. / To manifest my goals. / To never give up. / To keep trying and they are not going to achieve themselves they need me. / To try hard to get there. / Is to believe in yourself. / Is not making fun of each other’s dreams. / Set goals. / Respect. / To not follow other people and just love myself. / Be myself, not let anyone get in my way and do what I want. / To stay motivated.

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 96% discovered something new in the workshop to improve: Thoughts Shared: Responsibility. / Kindness. Open up and give. This helped me be friendly. / Responsibility. / Responsibility and hard work. / Responsibility. / Trustworthiness. / Fairness. / To be kind and people change. / To be nice. / Fairness, being fair with others. / I was a little shy and now I am not as nervous or shy. / Improved in responsibility to be more successful. / Do more chores. / Responsibility. It reminded me to take baby steps. / I am not the only one that goes through things I do. / In respect because I know I don’t want other people to hurt me so I don’t want to do that to others. / Helping out each other by opening the door. / Think about my heroes are. / Respecting people. / I have changed my attitude and now I am more happy. / It helped me to do teamwork. / Responsibility I helped more and did what I was supposed to.

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

Post 96% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: They have the same fears as me. / We all have walls and feelings that are hard to express. / Everyone has the same dream and fear. / They have the same problems. / There emotions. / Some fears that I thought they would never have and dreams I would never been able to guess mostly because I don’t know much about them. / I didn’t know someone was really sick. / That we are the same but different. / Treat them right. / Everyone is friendly. / I learned more about my best friend Gio, he doesn’t really discuss it. / That we have some similar things. / Made me respect more. / That we all have similarities. / Everyone has dreams and fears. / We are similar in multiple ways we didn’t know. / We are more alike than I thought. / You are not alone. / Because they help you. / Other people are like me. / Peer pressure. / Aimee is an awesome facilitator. / I have some things in common. / I am not alone and other people have the same fears.

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

Thanks to Wells Fargo, 13 young lives from Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on January 25-27, 2017 - # 2 of 3 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 14-17.

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? : Independent individuals. Focus. Being a leader. Keep our word. / Not judgmental, people have similarities and struggles. Open minded. Step in, stand up for others. Open minded. / Things in common. Different. Make friends. Prevent it.

Stronger community.

Creative story telling: Everyone should be respected. McBride’s glasses are strong. Get everyone a pair of those. Respect peers. The Golden Rule. Respect everyone. / How to care for others. Self-less. Prevent bullying. Showing that the victim isn’t alone. Help people less fortunate than you. / Responsibility, people skills. Turn in work. Speak up. Able to communicate with one another.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Proud of ourselves. More confident. Able to say no. More confident. / Self-confident, self-reflection. Study for grades/tests. Reflect on how our past actions have affected us. Easier to make good choices. / Selfesteem, self-confidence. People won’t bring you down. Knowing right from wrong. Help lead people in the right direction and learn from others mistakes.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: Write in a couple of words, how does it make you feel? Like a normal person. / Confident in how I can express myself. / It makes me feel good. / Makes me feel good. / Made me feel curious. / Warm feeling. Good, with a difference. / Feels good. / Somebody who has seen things I wish I could un-see. / Powerful, grateful, smart. / Like somebody cares. / It makes me feel happy, gives me motivation, inspires me to keep pushing in life. / Feel better 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? Superman he saves the world. Strength, and able to fly. / Honest, confident, respectful, caring. I don’t have a hero. / Respect. I don’t think they are important. / I don’t have a hero. Take care of themselves, independent, free. / Superman, he saves the world and I’m his son. Super strength and fly. / Because she put me on this planet. Support. / Superman because they help people. Heroic, strong, respectful, trustworthy. / My mom because she has gone through difficult stuff. Strength. / Ghandi he was the world’s leading pacifist. They help inspire the idea of equality and independence

in India. The ability to lead. / Superman because I just think so. / Jesus Christ. He created life and is always helping me no matter what, especially through the hard times. Intelligence, caring, big heart, their past, supportive honesty, motivated. / My dad is important because he’s my family and I care about him. Super strength and super speed and be able to transport.

Through the Hoops: Teamwork and to work together. Help from others. Start a school anti-bullying system. Work the task or objective with teamwork and with a family support system. / Teamwork, cooperation, determination. Work on extra credit and relationships with teachers. Work with the victim to fight back. Find solutions to problems. / Get through obstacles in life.

Get through homework. Not let people affect you. Get through struggles.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: That most people are the same with fears and have different dreams. In art class. By putting together their brains and stopping it. By doing what you gotta do to make your dreams come true but all fears are bad and everybody is soon going to die. / Self-expression. In art classes. Being assertive. Expressing feelings. / Sharing dreams and fears. Interact with one another. Being able to stand up to their fears. Being able to understand one another.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Helping others when needed. Bully awareness. Charity. / Help people. Help kids with work. Help others with life. / How to be proud of ourselves. How to be able to lead in school. How to examine ourselves and improve ourselves.

Seeing Beyond: Problem solving, imagery, take risks. Solve test problems. Math, drama, art because you have to solve problems in math and take risks in art classes. You can’t get anywhere in life by being uptight. / Communication, using senses. All subjects by using communication and listening. Culinary have to taste, science have to see, art or woodshop you have to feel. By knowing what you have to do or in a job you want. / Learn to picture things in our minds. Math, because they solve the problem in our head. To work with our emotions.

Reflective Take-Away Questions: We all 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? What can you learn from this situation: Whenever I would sit by my mom’s side when she was sick even skipping school at times. It felt good and responsible. / I talked to someone when they needed someone. It felt good. / A time when I helped somebody in a positive way was when I played soccer and somebody got hurt and I helped them afterward I felt like a better person. / It felt good when we picked up a hitchhiker. / When I was a freshman I was good at geometry. There were kids who did not get it and I helped them. It made me feel important. / A friend gave me money to give to another friend and he was very trustworthy of me and I gave it to the other friend. / I felt better about myself because I helped my friend that was homeless. / When my mom fell I was trying to help her up. / I was locked up and a girl was struggling with some personal problems. I asked her if she wanted to talk about it, we went over the situation, afterward she felt better and told me thank you for helping me out. I felt really good afterwards, not only did it heal her heart, but it healed mine as well. / My brother had aa tough time on his homework so I helped him complete it. Good because I was able to teach him something. / When I was in eighth grade I stopped a kid from getting bullied. It made me feel better about myself. Kid was up against the wall. Bully in front. I told the bully to quit being a pussy by picking on somebody smaller than them. They said f___ you and walked away.

Release the Fear, Inc. TM

PO Box 3815 Phoenix, AZ 85030 www.releasethefear.org

Funded By: Wells Fargo Location: Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility %Male 100

%Female 0

Date: January 25-27th, 2017

Ages 14-17

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

Pre %YES 46 %NO 39 %Other 15 Post %YES 85 %NO 15 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 8 % Sometimes 69 % All the Time 23 Post % Not at all 7 % Sometimes 62 % All the Time 31 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 46 % All the Time 54 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 23 % All the Time 77 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 31 % All the Time 69 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 31 % All the Time 69 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 48 % Leader 62 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 23 % Leader 77 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 15 % No 85 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 85 % No 15 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 38 % No 54

% No Answer 8

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

Post % Yes 92 % No 8 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Be more confident. / It teaches me how to prevent it. / Standing up. / Speak up. / Stop it. / Stop it. / Programs, everyone is different. / Defending myself. / Language barrier. / To stand up to people who are being belittled by someone.

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: Because I use to be bullied and I don’t want people being hurt by people. / Yes. / Depends. / Tell someone. / Tell them to pipe down. / Standing up for what’s right. / I would stop it. / Tell them stop. / Tell them to stop. / Speak up. / Help them stand up for themselves. / I will make sure that it ends right away. / I would stand up to it.

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: How to express myself. / It helped me focus more on my actions. / Respect. / You’re greater than that. / Learned to think individually. / Don’t do what others do, make your own choice. /Just be a leader and not a follower.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 88% Post 77% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Blues are my favorite colors. / Skin. / It’s a way to express yourself. / Blue. / I love black and neon colors.

Very cool. / Green. / Color doesn’t mean anything to me, everyone is equal no matter what color.

Post: Self-expression. / Blue is special. / Form of communication and affects mood. / You can speak with color. / They are a subtle communication. / It is something about nature. / Different colors can express different emotions. / That there’s more than color its self. There’s more emotion towards it.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 92% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: To make my mom proud. / To work in a library to make a living off it. / To become an artist or poet. / To be a good father to my son. / To go back home. / To get out of the system. / Have my own business and record label. / To be a mechanic. / To become a business manager. / To own my own barber shop.

Post: To become a positive leader to others and become a basketball player. / To be successful in life and get my education. / To get out of Adobe. / Play in the NFL. / To get rich. / To be a leader. / Be a producer. / Getting out. / Mechanic or UFC. / To work at a library or bookstore. /Do right for my loved ones and son.

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

Thoughts Shared: Too much to say. / Yes, to study. / Patience. / Life ain’t easy. / Have a goal. / How to maintain balance. / Imagination. / Focus on it. / Respect. / Cooperation and respect. / Not believe what people say I can’t do.

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

Post 92% discovered something new in the workshop about yourself: Thoughts Shared: That I can stand up to people. / That I am a helpful and caring guy. / Responsibility. / In ways I’m good. / I am worth more. / I can do anything. / More comfortable speaking and presenting. / My level of patience. / A lot. / Yes to value things.

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

Post 85% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: Their feelings. / Fears and dreams. / They have similar fears. / Helping is not bad. / Everyone’s different. / They have a lot of the same fears. / We all have similar struggles. / Fears. / We‘re alike in some ways. / Same stuff as me. / They are respectful and caring.

Thanks to Wells Fargo, 18 young lives from Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on January 25-27th, 2017 - # 3 of 3 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?: We all have a lot in common. We can relate. We can probably have the same strengths and weaknesses. We can stand up to bullies for the people who have done it before. All the negative emotions I identified. I can work on them. / Self-confidence, set goals. Speak in class, get good grades. Stand up for yourself. Helps you to be successful. / Similarities between peers. Be mindful that peers probably has some sort of similarity. Everybody is different. It will help to be tolerant with people. / Others have something in common with you, others deal with peer pressure. Get along with you better. Don’t get friends, have acquaintances. Learn more about people you socialize with. Be more social.

Creative Storytelling: We all learned how to use teamwork and think as a group. We learned how we can collaborate as a team to come up with ideas. Gave a situation on how to handle bullies in a proactive manner.

You can make your dream work with teamwork 113%. / How to be a good citizen in school. Be helpful. Be a good role model. Get involved in the community. / There is ways to show the 6 Pillars non-verbally. Use the 6 Pillars. Care for the people being bullied and help them. Help others. / Everyone can be an actor. Helps you become more tolerant in your work. Stand up for yourself. Makes you more open-minded.

Through the Hoops: Teamwork. Ask for help. Get people to stand up against. Teamwork makes the dream work. / Teamwork can accomplish a lot. Ask for help. Standing up for someone being bullied. Trust the people around and find ways around obstacles. / Life isn’t easy, sometimes you need help. Even if school is hard, with assistance you will succeed. Manning together as a group. Even if there are obstacles, you can get through things. / Teamwork, trust. Learn how to work in groups and to trust your partners and teachers. Helps you trust people more.

Mirror Work: Good, happy. / I don’t know. / I’m wonderful. / Wonderful. / It makes me feel happy that I like myself. / I feel the same. / Like I’ve been through a lot. / I like it. / I do love myself the way I am so I still feel the same. / I make myself feel really good about my cuz am me. / It makes me feel very good. / I feel comfortable with myself.

Hero: Mom. She takes care of me. Personality. / My dad. Because if they were not alive, I would not be alive. I don’t know. Respect maybe. / My mom. She’s been there since forever. / Me. Because I look up to them. All of them. / My hero is Batman because he is cool. Because they can fly. I look in their powers. / My mom. She loves and cares for me.

Respect, caring, trustworthy, etc. / My grandma. She’s an almost perfect example of who I want to be. Because even though she’s been through a lot, she’s still pushing. Leadership, perseverance. A good sense of right and wrong knowledge. / My mom. They raised me. Respect, citizenship. / Dad. He is my hero because without him, I would not be the man I am turning out to be. Because he is my father and I love him. Protective instinct. / My mom is my hero. Because that’s my mom. She brought me into this world. I look for my hero to give me good advice. / Deadpool. Because he is very cool. He can grow his limbs back and he can’t die. / Me. I’m a hero to myself and my mom is my hero. Cause my mom my whole world. Loyalty.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Perseverance, build yourself. Self-confidence. Being a leader. Helps you be successful. / To be confident of yourself. Be confident about your schoolwork. Ignore them and be you. It could help you do things in life better. / That we have people looking up to us. Try our hardest to be the best.

We would want to be a leader. Be a leader and keep those who are looking up to us close. / Confidence, selfrespect. Makes you more interested in your work. Makes you respect your decisions more. Makes you believe in yourself more.

Seeing Beyond: Strong imagination. Thinking. It give you knowledge and ideas. / Mindfulness and interpreting hints. Help you pay attention. Open up your mind. / You must work as a team and be extra mindful. You must pay close attention to everything because when you pay attention you understand and when you understand, you achieve more. / To learn to use your imagination to the fullest. Learn how to expand the use of your imagination.

Learn creative ways of avoiding a bully.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Artistic, self-confidence. Use as tool to learn someone. Bully might same fears or dislikes. Gives you ideas. / Everybody has fears. School can help you achieve your dreams. Help the person being bullied not be afraid. Not be afraid and try your best. / We all share a lot of the same things. If graduated high school that can be a dream. Maybe people’s fear is bullying. In everyone’s life, we have fears and dreams. / Takes a lot of confidence and braveness. To help you speak up and out more. To help you speak out and to get a bully to stop. Breaks your stage fright in case you go to an interview.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Responsible. Help others. Help family out. / Being trustworthy, caring goes a long way. If you care about your schoolwork you will get better grades. People will want to be around you if you are trustworthy. / We learned that you get more in life when people trust you. Our teachers won’t think we cheat on the test. People will trust us more. / That being trustworthy and caring can take you a long way. Being able to trust the people in our environment. Can give you the skills to get by in life.

Write about a time when you were trustworthy or caring and helped someone else in a positive way. How did it feel afterward? A time I helped someone was when I helped my little sister with her homework and I felt like I was making sure I upheld my responsibility. When I told my baby mama that I loved her and that I understand what she’s going through while I’m not there with her and my son.

Release the Fear, Inc. TM

PO Box 3815 Phoenix, AZ 85030 www.releasethefear.org

Funded By: Wells Fargo Location: Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility %Male 100%

%Female 0

Date: January 25-27th 2017

Ages 15-17

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

Pre %YES 19 %NO 81 %Other 0 Post %YES 75 %NO 25 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 44 % Sometimes 44 % All the Time 12 Post % Not at all 12 % Sometimes 38 % All the Time 50 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 25 % All the Time 69 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 12 % All the Time 88 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 44 % All the Time 50 Post %Not at all 0 % Sometimes 12 % All the Time 88 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 19 % Leader 81 Post % Follower 6 % Equal 6 % Leader 88 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 81 % No 19 % No Answer Did you do anything? % Yes 50 % No 50 % No Answer 0 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 75 % No 25 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Turn the cheek homie. / Don’t let anyone put others down. / How to stand up to a bully. / Peer pressure. / I didn’t know nothing I know already. / Talk to a staff. / Stand up for others. / I didn’t learn anything to help deal with bullying. / Speaking out. / Help others out when getting bullied. / Teamwork makes the dream work. / Not to bully. / Sticking up for others with low self-confidence.

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

Post % Yes 94 % No 6 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Yes, talk to the bully. / I would stop the kid immediately. / I would defend that person being bullied. / Help them out. / No, I wouldn’t do nothing cuz that’s not my problem. / Talk to staff. / I would try to stop it in a respectful matter. / I would tell them wassup ese chill out before I beat your ass. / I don’t like bullying. / I would stand up for them. / I would help them out./ I would stop it. / Make the bully leave him/her alone Did you learn any skills, such as respect or responsibility, to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 81 % No 19 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Do what you gotta do. / I learned more self-confidence. / Learned that no matter what, you should listen to your decisions not others. / Learned respect. / I didn’t know nothing I know already. / Learn to be responsible. / Respect. / These skills were refreshed. / I didn’t learn anything about that. / Respect. / I did anyway. / Assertiveness.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 69% Post 88% Thoughts Shared: Pre: It’s strange how do our eyes see color. / It is cool, makes things come alive. / Only the ones I wear. / I never thought nothing about color. / No. Black, gray, white. / Yes, green. / Purple. / Green is my favorite color. / Nope. / Rojo is my favorite color (red). / Nope, red. / Red all day. / Red all day. / Nothing color don’t matter to me. / Nothing everybody equal. / Color has a lot of meaning. / No it is who I am.

Post: Red all day. / It reflects a lot of things. / That you pay more attention to the color you dislike. / Color is everything. / I think of life. / I really don’t think nothing about color. / I think of life. / I think color is beautiful. / It had a lot of meaning. / Color affects the way you think. / It’s unique. / Color has a lot of meaning.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 81% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Is to be a legend in the hood. / I want to be a Marine with a happy family. / To be a firefighter.

Getting out of jail. / For my son to have a dad cuz I didn’t. / IDK yet. / Going to school and being successful. Own a business. / To go home to my daughters and family. / Get rich, live till 25. / Is to get a good job and have a nice car. / Have a better life for kids. / Is to be a good father toward my son and be a good person Go to college. towards my family. / To open my own mortal bike shop./ Having a family, a place of my own making music.

Post: Be a good dad. / Have a family. / Is to open up my own motorcycle business. / Be a great father. / To be a good family man. / My dream is to become an electrician. / To be a good family man. / To live until 25. / Is to be remembered. / To stay in school. / Going to college. / To become a phlebotomist. / Is to have kids and a car. / Being a Marine and have a happy family. / Make money. / Being a good dad.

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

Thoughts Shared: Patience. / Self-confidence. / How to deal with pressure from others. / Be respectful, be responsible. / Not to judge people. That’s what I think I learned. / Be respectful and responsible. / Respect. / Teamwork and dedication. / Just be opened. / It is possible for me to reach my goals. / Speaking out. / Is to respect. / Teamwork makes the dream work. / Never give up. / Self-confidence.

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

Post 63% discovered something new about themselves in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: I’m cute and smart. / I’m a leader. / I didn’t learn anything new about myself. / My fears. / To follow your dreams. / Nothing new. / I am a leader. / I learned nothing. / I can maintain. / Nothing really. / Nothing. / Bullies have the same fear as other people. / Nothing. / I can speak in front of people.

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

Post 88% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: They ugly and dumb. / They have fears of dying. / That some of them have the same fears as me. / Have the same fears. / To be good and to put effort. / To not fight Ahama. / To be good to people. / That some of my homies are followers. / They all learned how to use teamwork. / Same fear. / People have the same fears. / Nothing. / Nothing. / We can have the same fear. / They are nice. / I have a lot in common with my roommate.

Thank you Wells Fargo 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 57 more youth that are much closer to finding their gifts and they are able to share it 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