Kemper-Marley Train the Trainer 2015-2016 Final Report

" I Love You just the way you are."

2016 REPORT Thank you to The Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation for helping Arizona's youth Realize Our Hopes, Fears and Most of All, Their Dreams...

RELEASE THE FEAR'S BRIDGING POSSIBILITIES =

Thanks to the foresight of The Kemper and Ethel Marley

Foundation. 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 275 young lives and what they experienced together through the "Bridging Possibilities" 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 . .

.

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 Hopes, 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

Release the Fear's Train the Trainer newly trained Facilitator quotes: There are many ways to learn in life. The way that Release the Fear (RTF) approaches teaching its staff truly is life

changing. What better way to learn something that you’re going to teach to others; then to have you go through it.

That is exactly what RTF does. While being trained by RTF, you the trainer get to submerge yourself into the material that you’ll be teaching, so you get to experience just how powerful this program is. Although there is a program to follow, the beauty of Release the Fear is you get to put your own style into the program which helps make it special.

In other words, it’s not scripted you get to go with the flow of things. Seeing kids smile after getting to experience one of the workshops is a beautiful sight. You get to see their minds and souls begin to open up and blossom. When I first started working with RTF Mr. Miley told me “You can do anything Francisco.” “Reality is a projected thought” At first, I didn’t quite understand Mr. Miley, but once you go through one the workshops you realize that the only limit and the only barrier that can stop a person is themselves. -Francisco Dominguez -Facilitator RTF

When I leave a school after facilitating Bridging Possibilities, I am on a “high”. Endorphins rage as I leave wonderful children who have taken risks and allowed themselves to become involved with our workshop.

The curriculum is nothing less than brilliant. Over the three days of facilitation, the children, typically, become more involved and realize that the workshop is not only fun, but meaningful.

Being a facilitator for a program that helps change lives is not new to me having had lots of facilitation experiences.

But those opportunities have passed leaving a present void in my soul.

Facilitating with Release the Fear has eliminated that void by once again, putting me in the presence of children who are eager, needy and tons of fun.Whether public or charter school classrooms, or juvenile detention facilities and residential treatment centers , I love working in all of them because children are there mostly ready to experience something new.

Working with Release the Fear has allowed me exactly what we teach; to realize dreams, enhance self esteem, have fun and take risks. Sounds like the perfect job to me.! -Rosie Paluch -Retired high school counselor

The Release the Fear program helped me to grow as a person, artist and mother. I was introduced to Release the

Fear in December 2015 and began training as a workshop facilitator with the program in January 2016, bringing my unique artist approach to the program. I was immediately engaged with the children we worked with, taking inspiration from my own 4 children. Specifically my daughter who is living with Autism, assisting children in utilizing art and communication as an incredible form of expression opened by eyes to the brilliance of their minds. The hands on personalized training I received helped me to adjust my facilitating styles based on the students I was working with and guided me in providing the best possible workshop .-IxChel Tolteca -Trainer

Never in my wildest imagination would I have believed I would be living out one of my dreams at such a young age.

The privilege I have been given to change young lives is incredibly rewarding. I am truly honored to be part of such a great vision. These children are our future and the investment this organization provides can truly be seen. It is important these young students know that their fears don’t have to prevent them from reaching their goals. Release the Fear provides hope, strength courage and the knowledge these students need to believe and accomplish what they have set out to accomplish.

Amelia Hernandez

Inspiring and empowering youth with the tools to make better life choices.

. .

Together we can create an amazing New World...

RELEASE THE FEAR 2016 RTF Pre/Post Survey Results

The Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation OVERALL PERCENTAGES FINAL REPORT 275 Students (14 PB Workshops) Male 62% Female 38% – Youth Ages 10-19 86.4% discovered something new about themselves 89.0% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 60.9% compared to Post 76.3% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 86.6% compared to Post 94.1% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

80.8% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

88.2% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

Individual Workshop Percentages 1. February 9-11, 2016 Children’s First Academy 17 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 26% Female 74% – Youth Ages 13-19 100% discovered something new about themselves 100% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 74% compared to Post 76% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 95% 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.

2. February 23-25, 2016 Hamilton Elementary School 20 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 26% Female 74% – Youth Ages 12-13 100% discovered something new about themselves 100% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 73% compared to Post 100% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

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

89% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

95% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

3. March 1-4, 2016 Kuban Elementary School 23 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 65% Female 35% – Youth Ages 11-14 95% discovered something new about themselves 100% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 57% compared to Post 80% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 100% 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. March 1-4, 2016 Sullivan Elementary School 16 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 50% Female 50% – Youth Ages 13-15 100% discovered something new about themselves 93% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 57% compared to Post 80% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 38% compared to Post 36% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

93% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

79% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

5. March 7-10, 2016 Sullivan Elementary School 19 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 47% Female 53% – Youth Ages 13-15 84% discovered something new about themselves 89% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 70% compared to Post 79% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 95% compared to Post 100% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

84% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

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

6. March 21-23, 2016 Sullivan Elementary School 24 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 54% Female 46% – Youth Ages 11-13 88% discovered something new about themselves 88% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 74% compared to Post 83% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 87% compared to Post 88% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

88% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

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

7. May 24-26, 2016 Sullivan Elementary School 20 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 52% Female 48% – Youth Ages 10-14 55% discovered something new about themselves 82% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 41% compared to Post 73% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 70% compared to Post 100% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

64% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

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

8. July 6-9, 2016 Girls Ranch 22 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 0% Female 100% – Youth Ages 15-17 80% discovered something new about themselves 60% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 80% compared to Post 100% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 60% compared to Post 80% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

87% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

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

9. July 19-21, 2016 Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility 13 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 100% Female 0% – Youth Ages 15-17 77% discovered something new about themselves 93% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 46% compared to Post 80% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 85% compared to Post 93% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

60% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

87% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

10. July 19-21, 2016 Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility 13 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 100% Female 0% – Youth Ages 15-17 85% discovered something new about themselves 77% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 54% compared to Post 62% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 85% compared to Post 92% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

77% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

77% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

11. August 23-25, 2016 Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility 16 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 100% Female 0% – Youth Ages 15-17 81% discovered something new about themselves 81% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 63% compared to Post 81% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

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

50% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

69% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

12. August 23-25, 2016 Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility 17 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 100% Female 0% – Youth Ages 15-17 81% discovered something new about themselves 94% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 53% compared to Post 56% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 94% compared to Post 94% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

88% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

88% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

13. September 14-16, 2016 Kuban Elementary School 33 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 36% Female 64% – Youth Ages 11-13 73% discovered something new about themselves 97% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 64% compared to Post 94% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 79% compared to Post 94% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

91% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

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

14. September 14-23, 2016 Kuban Elementary School 23 Students (1 IO-BP Workshops) Male 57% Female 43% – Youth Ages 11-13 78% discovered something new about themselves 91% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 65% compared to Post 70% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 96% compared to Post 100% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

78% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

78% 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 2016 - 2020 Program Budget: Train the Trainer workshops: $25,000 in 2015 for 2016

Workshop Budget Cost Per Instructional Programming: Program Supervisor/Trainer Co-Facilitator / Trainee Reporting and Evaluations: Pre/Post Inventories Final Report Supplies and Other Workshop Exp Art & Printed Supplies Recognition for Students, Postage, Marketing Internal Support, Workshop Preparation/ Coordination Insurance Travel Expenses – Average TOTAL FOR 1 WORKSHOP Quarterly Assessment / Best Practices meetings Assessment and Best Practices quarterly, 2 hour meetings for 11 facilitators (7 current & 4 new), and volunteers 11 X $30 X 4 quarterly meetings New manuals for 4 new facilitators $50 ea. and New research materials (printed) TOTAL COST LESS RTF unrestricted funds TOTAL Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Gift

14 workshops and Training

$680 $300

$9,520 $4,200

$150 $ 70

$2,100.00 $980.00

$ 80 $ 60

$1,120.00 $840.00

$300 $ 10 $ 50 $1,700

$4,200.00 $140 $700 $23,800

1,320

250 $25,370 -$370 $25,000

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 Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 17 young lives from Children’s First Academy experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on February 9-11, 2016 - # 1 of 14 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 13-19.

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? : Skills or Tools Learned: We’re all the same. Might improve the communication. Make the bully feel better. Feel better about yourself. / We learned that we all have things in common. It can help us work together.

Treat others equally. Find common similarities in situations. / I learned other people’s experiences and how I will be careful towards them. May help with bullying. It will stop you when you want to attack others verbally. Realize what you see through and what you’re capable of doing. / A lot of people have the same thing in common. Know what people have been through. Communication. Not to be nervous telling people the way you feel. Showing other people the way you’ve been hurt. Making friends in other places. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

Creative story telling: Teamwork. Releasing the fear. Not being shy. Courage to stand up for yourself. Working with others. / To help each other with things and working together works better. Have good teamwork. It would help by working together and stop bullying. It’s better to work together than to do most stuff alone. / Teamwork, responsibility, and caring for each other. Making a new change and learning how to do better in life and always being outstanding. Stand up for the person rather than going against the person getting bullied. Confident in one another, and doing your best no matter what. / That stories are fun, it’s helpful in communication. Teaches us that we can always rely together. Comforting the bully is a better way than horrible violence. It can change teamwork in a better way by the six pillars.

Through the Hoops: Teamwork and cooperation. It can help for project. Teamwork can help by standing together. Friends can stick together. / Teamwork, work together. Forming a group to help deal with the person.

We are able to work with people we dislike. / Teamwork makes your dream work. Help each other with answers.

Team up against bullying and show that it is bad. In a group job you may have to team to help take down a criminal. / That you have to work together to get through the hoops. You can help your friends with there schoolwork. You can stand up to a bully and tell them that’s not cool. You will need someone to help you with your job like a lawyer.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Self-confidence being able to talk in front of others. Good grades, join activities and groups. Be able to say no to something you don’t want to do. We will get farther than those who did not believe in themselves. / I learned that you are always going to have something unique about you. You think about what you did before and reflect for the better. It wouldn’t apply because I don’t change for nobody.

Whenever you want to do something just reflect about how everybody will look at you if you did something bad. / That your hero makes you you. Confidence helps you. If someone tries telling you you’re not awesome, you would believe in yourself that you are awesome. Confidence makes you happy. / We started feeling good about ourselves. We can gain our confidence to do anything. We have confidence and you have to have courage to do anything. We can have confidence for our jobs.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (only) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: Happy. / Good, proud. / Happy and feel good for myself. / It makes me feel good to have blue eyes. / It makes me feel beautiful and feel good about my looks. / OMG it makes me feel amazing. Like bro I’m hella cute. / It makes me feel comfortable because I can be myself and no one else. / Happy, amazing. / Great! Makes me feel wonderful. / I saw myself as equal. It makes me feel good. / Great about myself. / Good. / Good, awesome. / Proud, 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 mom. She is my mom and she is always there for me. Honesty, respect, responsibility. / My mom because she always helps me with everything. / David DoBrik, Salice Rose Superman best friends. I really don’t know but, they all make me not want to pretend to be something I’m not. They make me want to be myself and not to change. / My mom. She is important to me because she’s always there for me and she cares about me. / Parents because they give me good advice. / He’s very brave and a very good leader! / My mom because she’s helpful to others / My hero is my mom because she’s amazing. / My mom is a very wonderful women that never gives up and is always respectful and trustworthy. I think she is important because she has always been there for me in everything. / My hero is Avi I love that goofy girl. She is always here when I need her, because I need them. / My mom because she is caring.. Because she wakes me up every morning for school so I can have a better future. / My mom because she is always there for me. She is important. / My mom and dad. I believe that they made my life the way it is today. / My mom because she has always been there for me through everything. Because she is the one who has never given up on me. / My hero is my mom. She is a single mother with three kids and works long days and takes college classes on line. She takes care of her family.

Seeing Beyond: Had to use mind to put it together and investigate. Reading, science where we have to investigate and find new stuff. Ask questions if you don’t know. / We learned to use our third eye and imagination and past. Social Studies. We have to imagine what happened in the past. Imagining what will happen in the future. / Takes patience. If math is troubling us it will take patience to find answers. Patience can take time to wait for friends in your life. / When you try to use your third eye. In math because you try to visualize it in your head. When you’re at the store paying for your food you don’t need a pencil and paper you can just do it in your head.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: That you are not alone with your fears. By we’re all the same and have stuff coming in. We can stand up to he/she or stick together. You will be brave enough to stick up for yourself. / Create your own path and decisions. You can fix your problems by doing what’s right. We can help change the bully into a new direction. Whenever you have drama, you can go to the positive way. / Create your own path, go through obstacles. Get through the problem. Never let them bring you down. Keep your goals in mind with everything going around you. / Create your own path. Understand that others may be in the same position.

You can talk to the bully and find about their lives. That there will be obstacles and we can confront them.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: How to reflect on self -experiences both good and bad. If I get a bad grade, use it as a motivation. When something bad happens, take it as an experience. / There is always a way to cope with stuff. There are positive and negative situations. Where there is positive there’s a negative, and where there is a negative there is a positive. / You have to work as a team and use your mind. When you start school you’re going to need help and to get that help you’re going to have to work as a team if it is with one or six people. You have to be mindful in life because if you are not, you’re going to have too many things coming at you in life and you have to crawl before you walk, it’s all about taking things one at a time.

Describe A Time when you had an experience that you perceived (thought/saw) as a negative, but through time or something you did, you perceived (thought/saw) the experience as a positive one. Draw on the other side of paper, a picture of how you felt about this experience. Draw how you felt at the beginning and how you felt when the change took place. Then, write about it below: I fought with my brother and my dad made us talk which I thought it was a

negative until we got along in a positive way. / When my teacher yelled at me and I was mad but it turned out that he was only trying to get me to listen. / My best friend stayed away from me because she didn’t want me to get hurt. That I didn’t get hurt. / Losing my mom was horrible but then it turned out to be a good thing because I got a better life..

Inspiring and empowering youth with the tools to make better life choices.

. .

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: Children’s First Academy %Male 26

%Female 74

Date: February 9-11, 2016

Ages 13-19

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

Pre %YES 74 %NO 26 %Other 0 Post %YES 76 %NO 24 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 37 % Sometimes 47 % All the Time 11 % No answer 5 Post % Not at all 12 % Sometimes 71 % All the Time 18 % No answer 0 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 56 % All the Time 44 % No answer 0 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 47 % All the Time 53 % No answer 0 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 5 % Sometimes 63 % All the Time 32 % No answer: 0 Post % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 65 % All the Time 29 % No answer 0 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 42 % Leader 53 % No Answer 5 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 47 % Leader 53 % No answer 0 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 68 % No 32 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 79 % No 21 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 53 % No 37

% No Answer 10

% 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: We can talk to the bully because they probably have problems going on. Because I will help others. / We can change the bully in a positive way. / Yes, because I learned that people bully because of their differences and that’s wrong. teamwork.

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 tell them to stop being a bully and that it’s not cool to do it. / Being them back up be there for them. / I would try to help them. / Get a teacher or an adult. / Stick up for them. / I would go and find an adult. / Yes, because I would feel bad. / I would help them because they are / Take the time to talk to the bully. / I learned that a negative can turn into a positive. / Listening to others. / To stand up for yourself. / I learned that bullies have trouble and they also need help. / To help others at all times. / Because I know that some people will back me up. / Care for others. / I learned that we can help each other to stop bullying by

getting hurt also verbally. / I would go up to the bully tell he/she that’s not cool and help the kid getting bullied. / Because I hate bullying. / Tell them that it’s not worth it and stand against it. / Yes, I would try to help him out. / I will talk to the bully. / Yes, because I know what that feels like and I wouldn’t want nobody else going through 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 68 % No 16 % No Answer 5 Thoughts Shared: Yes, because I realize anything is possible. / To understand and take things one at a time. / I learned that being respectful helps so people understand what you want. / I have to respect my decisions and take responsibility for my own life. / No, because I will never do something someone tells me to do. / I learned to make my own decisions on my own time. / Because with peer I work better. / I know that I need to walk away. / Always have confidence in yourself. / It’s better to respect each other and more stuff would get done better.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 84% Post 94% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Yes, it’s cool. / Nice. / It sets the mood. / It’s pretty. / I think that color is a way to express yourself. / Yes, I believe that color is a beautiful thing. / I’m color blind. / No I think color is just color. / I don’t think anything because we are all the same. / Color is a feeling. / I really don’t think about color. / Color is beautiful. / I think color is always imagined and the perfect image should be black and white. / Yes, I always think about the rainbow. / Colors are pretty cool. My favorite color is blue. / I think that color can sometimes show people’s emotions because color is like bright and dull.

Post: That colors are good for your fears and recovery and that your hopes and dream would be the color you hate. / Color has meaning. / That color can tell somebody’s personality. / That it is equal. / That people shouldn’t be judged by their color. / Color is just color, no matter what color you are we are all equal. / That color can express our emotions. / I learned that color is in everything. / A way to express. / That every color is a team. / That it is beautiful. / Nothing we are all the same. / I still think that color is a way to set the mood. / I think you can express your expressions. / I learned color can do many things. / Beautiful. That red, blue, pink, any color can be beautiful even if you don’t like the color.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 84% Post 94% Thoughts Shared: Pre: To become a software engineer and work for Apple. / Is to go to college probably try out for a football team. / To be a singer. / I don’t think any hoops or dreams, I just want to accomplish all. / Doctor or a plastic surgeon. / Make a positive change on at least one life. / Is to be an actor. / To be someone who can make a positive change. / My dream is to study hair. / I want to be in a good relationship and be successful in life and have one kid. / Is to be on Broadway. / To have a family. / Yes, my dream will come true. / Make my mom and myself proud. / Help animals. / To become a vet. / Yes, my dream will come true. / My most important hope for my future is not having to depend on anyone.

Post: To become an artist. To go through school, to have a family. / My most important dream is to help animals. / Is to be a mother, be successful, and study astro-physiology. / Is to feel comfortable talking in front of others. / Lawyer. / Is to meet my friends. / Is to be a soldier or a boxer. / Is to become a Navy Seal after I attend college. / To become an engineer for the Apple Company. / To be successful and have one kid. / Is to become a vet. / Having hopes and dreams. / Is to become a Broadway actress. / Still thinking about it. / Is to be a football player a running back or a wide receiver. / Is being able to be successful.

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

Thoughts Shared: Doing the right thing is always right. / To be honest nothing really. / That I can achieve my goals if I believe in myself. / That other people are somewhat like me. / I am fearless. / That I can speak up when I need to say something. / I did learn nothing about myself because I know everything. / That I am capable of doing so much if I try. / I learned that I am beautiful and I’m unique. / That I am a unique person. / Nothing. I know myself very well and I love it. / Yes. / That I do know how to talk in public. I just was afraid to. / Is that I am terrified of bugs. / That we are all the same.

What do you think Art can do for yourself or your community Post 84% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character.

Thoughts shared: Changes people’s lives. / It can help people communicate. / Make nicer. / Yes. / add possibilities to our hearts. / I think that it will help me in life. / It can help me be more open. / Inspire others. / I think it can help a lot of people. / Help people see the same thing differently. / Make a change. / I think art can help certain people and bring friendships. / It makes me have more ideas. / Help me learn new things. / Art can help and recreate structures and even recreate families and yourself. One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream: To never give up even though when I hit a brick wall. / I could do anything I want no matter what. / That if I can’t pass through I can make a new route to it. / If there are plenty of obstacles simply go around them. / Is face your dream. / It is better to work together than to work alone. / Keep my dream on my mind and work for it./ To deal with my problems. / Doing the right thing. / To help others and study harder. / I have to be patient. / Make your own pathway. / Some people do respect you when you are talking. / Is that I can make my own path. / One thing I learned is to never give up. / Is to ask for help. That we are all the same.

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: That we’re all the same. / We’re all the same. / I got to learn what some of my classmates want to be when they get older. / Star wants to work with animals. / That she was also like me about how she feels. / Yes it was very fun. Thank you. / That everyone is the same. / To all work together. / They lost a close friend. / That we have similarities. / We all have things in common we’re not so different from each other. / That most of my friends have the same fears as me. / We are equal. / That fear is in everyone and we have a lot of fears in common. / That they have the same fears as me. / I learned that some people do have the same problems and we should work together no matter what. / That they have the same fears as me.

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

Thanks to Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 20 young lives from Hamilton Elementary experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on February 23-25, 2016 - # 2 of 14 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 12-13.

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 about others. Find something new about each other. Find what’s wrong about the bully.

Find new people in life. / To know each other better. Make friends when you have things in common. Make your foes your friends. A lot of people to help with a team. / You get to know each other better. Make friends. Enemies to friends. Make new friends. / Things in common. Make new friends. You might have things in common with a bully. Have a lot of people helping you.

Creative story telling: Teamwork, creativity. During class working together with others. Speak up be nice to each other. We can trust and work together. / We use teamwork. We could use for sports. We could help the person being bullied. You won’t get fired from a job. / Helping others. Helping people not letting them feel left out. Standing up for people, make them feel better. Better personality by making new friends.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: It makes you feel good about yourself. Helps you to gain confidence. Focus on what you’re doing. Gets rid of stress. / How to feel proud about yourself. Will be able to make a presentation.

Help you gain confidence and respect. Help you gain confidence you deserve. Won’t be put down. / It makes me not to give up. Never give up in school work. To not give up and just do it. Never give up to hard management. / We learned to have more confidence in ourselves. Better attitude and a positive attitude. We won’t let words hurt us. Better communication/ talk to others.

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 good. / Weird but good. / Relieved, calmed. / It makes me feel good about myself. / I feel good about myself. / Good, happy. / It makes me feel great. / I feel good about myself. / It made me feel good telling myself that. / It makes me feel great like I can do anything in the world. / I felt good to say that. / It feels great. / It makes me feel awkward but good about myself. / I feel to not give up and keep working towards success. / Cool, weird, awkward. / It makes me feel good.

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 hero is my mom. They are important because she is a hard worker and she is always there for me. / My mom is the most caring mother because she has been there for me. / My hero is my mom because she always helps me

and cares about me and my family. Because she is always there. / My mom because she loves me. Because she takes care of me. / My mom. They are important to me because they help me in life. / Yes, they are important to me. Because he helps me in my life when things go wrong. / Mom, she is important because she does everything to keep me safe and happy. I love her always. Cares, helpful, she’s my world. / My mom is my hero. My mom is my hero because she always has a smile on her face ever if the going gets tough. She makes me feel like I mean something to this world. That I’m the missing piece. / My hero is my dad because he is nice and supportive. / My mom because she works hard to make life easier. / My mom because she cares about me and loves me. / My hero s my mom. She is my hero because she’s always there when I need her and she helps me when I need help, also she’s my inspiration. / My hero is my mom. I think she’s important because she is always there when I need her. / My mom she loves me for me. Because she loves me. / My mom because she helps me and supports me. / Mom she helps.

Through the Hoops: Skills or Tools Learned: Teamwork, trustworthy. Learning together as a team-help each other. Got each other’s back. Beat things in your future. You will achieve a goal or be successful. / Teamwork.

Working with others. Learn to communicate with others. You can do successful things. / Teamwork, patience.

Work with others. Strength in numbers. Get along with others, ask for help. / Teamwork, patience. School projects.

Beat bully up. Reach your goal.

Seeing Beyond: To use our imagination. Reading and writing: read: have to imagine the scene. Write: have to be creative. Have to imagine future plans. / How to be specific. It applies at school by being a good listener in reading.

By figuring things out. Knowing more. / Use our mind to figure out object. Science, reading, picture things in your mind. Use your mind to work.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Don’t let your fear bring you down. You won’t give up in school work. You won’t be afraid to speak up. You will reach your goals. / Some of us have the same fears and dreams. Keep our grades up and never give up. Something in common. We can achieve our goals. / Being relieved.

Become friends because you have something in common. Help find something in common with the bully. Sharing your thoughts/ How to express ourselves. Learn more about ourselves. Show others who you are. Have stuff in common. Know more about the bully, get to know them better. You’re not alone, know your goals and fears.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Trustworthiness, caring. Making friends and helping others. Will be trusted and responsible. / Shows you how to be caring and trustworthy. Sharing. Care about others. / That everyone helps others. Helps us care for each other and have teamwork. It teaches us to be trustful and caring to others. / To be trustworthy and caring. To care for your friends. You will be a better person.

Describe A Time when you had an experience that you perceived (thought/saw) as a negative, but through time or something you did, you perceived (thought/saw) the experience as a positive one. Draw on the other side of paper, a picture of how you felt about this experience. Draw how you felt at the beginning and how you felt when the change took place. Then, write about it below: I helped my mom with making food and she trusted me on being responsible. And I felt good. / I helped my mom with my brother. It felt very caring and I knew that she trusted me. / One day somebody was walking with a walker and she was going into the store and I seen her coming so I opened the door and she said “thank you”.

I appreciated that. / There was an old lady that needed a box and I handed it to her. And she said thank you and I said your welcome. / I was at the store last week then there was a six year old that wanted a toy car and he couldn’t reach it, so I stop and hand it over to him. It feels good helping that little kid. / I helped my dad with cleaning. It felt good. / I helped my cousin when he didn’t understand his homework. I felt good, it was something great because I was doing something to help someone. / I helped my mom when she was sick by cleaning the house for her. It felt good. / I helped my mom carry the groceries. / Once I helped my friend with homework and she trusted me to help her in the right. / I was caring when I helped people with their math when they needed help. / The time I was trustworthy and caring was when I helped a girl find her class. / I was trustworthy and caring when I helped my neighbor unload her groceries from the van she had gotten a ride to the store in. / I helped my mom with groceries. / Once I pushed my cousin in a deep ditch and I felt sorry so I grabbed her and pulled her out. / Somebody told me a secret and they told me that they trusted me and so I said ok and somebody said I could tell them but I said no. / I helped my dad push the car. / There was one time at my cousin’s house. Both of us were playing online two vs two Pokemon battle. My cousins last Pokemon lv 100 cosplay Pikachu in beauty form, was about to die by a lv92 legendary Pokemon. With my lv 100 Gardevoir used protect on my cousin’s Pokemon, it was a huge sacrifice but it was totally worth it.

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: Hamilton Elementary School %Male 26

%Female 74

Date: February 23-25, 2016

Ages 12-13

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

Pre %YES 73 %NO 27 %Other 0 Post %YES 100 %NO 0 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 27 % Sometimes 67 % All the Time 6 Post % Not at all 21 % Sometimes 63 % All the Time 16 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 60 % All the Time 40 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 42 % All the Time 58 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 94 % All the Time 6 Post % Not at all 5 % Sometimes 58 % All the Time 37 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 14 % Equal 33 % Leader 53 Post % Follower 16 % Equal 32 % Leader 52 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 60 % No 40 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 53 % No 47 Did you do anything? % Yes 20 % No 80 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 89 % No 11 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: To not care what they say. / Yes, because we might have something in common. / That I can help. / To speak up. / How to speak up for ourselves. / Because bullies have fears too./ To be kind to one another. / Yes, because I care about people I am caring. / I could do something about it. / To talk to people. / I learned that I might have some things n common with the bully. / People can work together. / We learned to communicate with bullies. / To stand up for yourself. / To stand up to them. / We didn’t really learn about it. / To be nice to people.

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

Post % Yes 95 % No 5 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I would help. / Because that’s the right thing to do. / Yes, because I would want the same. / I would stand up for whoever is getting bullied. / Because we have to be a good person, don’t let people hurt someone else. / People need help. / I would tell the bully to leave the person alone. / I would go up to them and tell them to stop. / I wouldn’t just leave someone there. / Because it is hurting someone. / I would tell a teacher. / Because it is not fair to be treated like that. / Because they will help you when you are being bullied. / Tell them to stop. / I would stop them. / They do not deserve to be bullied. / To go 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 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Yes, because they are helping me be respectful. / Responsible, caring. / You need to trust yourself. / That I am responsible. / To be a better person. / Yes, because you will complete your dreams and respect who you are. / Responsibility, to be trusted. / Because the workshop helped us. / I learned more respect. / Respect because it respects who you are. / I learned how to respect my decisions. / Nothing about skill to help. / Because we know how to act better with all the things. / I learned that no matter how pressured you are, go with your gut. / Yes, so others won’t boss me around. / Yes, because it’s my life. / Yes, it gives confidence.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 100% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: I think that colors are beautiful because they express things. / I don’t mind color. / I don’t think about colors. / I think color might mean something like how you feel. / I like color it is bright and pretty. / That it’s pretty and no I never thought about color. / That it is here to put color on your paper. / It’s beautiful. / I don’t mind color. / Different opinions. / Yes, I thought about color and how the bright ones make me feel happier. / That there is color on everything. / I don’t know never thought of it. / I thought about color red. / That it’s bright.

Post: It represents different things. / That it’s colorful and sometimes even helpful. / Color expresses someone. / I think that color can overcome your fear. / I think it has a meaning like how you feel. / Everybody is represented by a color. / I think color can express emotion. / It’s bright, creative, interesting, and unknown. / Some are happy and some are sad. / That it has emotional and sound. / That it all means something. / That color means something. / I think color doesn’t matter, that all colors are pretty. / Color can describe who you are. / It means something. / Color is not a problem to me. / That colors have meaning. / I don’t mind the colors. / That it’s to color your paper of beautiful.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 100% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: To go to college and become a doctor. / To become a soccer player. / Go to college for journalism. / To become a vet and help animals in need. / To become a doctor and help others. / My two most important dreams are going to Full Sail University to become a video game designer and learn about cameras and doing animations to become a U tuber. / I want to see my baby brother graduate. / My dream is to become a soccer player. / My most important dream is to become a nurse. / My most important dream is to be a vet. / I want to go to medical school to become a nurse. / My most important hope is to become someone in life- like a doctor. / My dream s to go to college and become an obstetrician. / Is to go to college and be an engineer. / My most important dream is to go to college and graduate to become a vet.

Post: To go to college and to find a home and a job. / My dream is going to college. / My dream is to be a doctor. / Support my baby brother to graduate and a new business with my best friend. / Being a cook. / To become a soccer player and be successful. / Is to go to college and become a doctor also help my mom. / To become a vet and to support my baby nephew. / To go to college and become a doctor. / Me helping my mom and little brother. / To have a puppy farm. / To help my mom out with stuff and go to college to be a doctor. / To go to medical school and be a nurse. / Go to college. / My hope or dream is to go to college and become an emergency room doctor. / My dream is to go to college and graduate to be a vet. / To become a doctor. / Becoming a doctor. / To be successful.

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

Thoughts Shared: Confidence. / Is overcoming my fears. / To talk to others. / I learned that no matter how hard the situation is, to never give up. / Not to give up. Maybe know that others might help you reach your dream with you. / Have citizenship. / Never give up no matter what. / To never give up and always reach for my goals. / To believe in myself. / To not give up. / Is no matter how mean someone can be you don’t have to be the same. / To believe in myself. / Is to keep going in life and never give up. / To never give up. / To not be scared. / Never give up. / Is to never give up and try. / To not bully. / To trust other people and 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 100% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count: To believe in myself. / Be nice to other people. / To talk out and complete my dreams. / Being responsible. / To be nice. / To be more responsible. We did fun activities. / Trustworthiness, they help it by making me share my fears and dreams. / To believe in myself. / It helped me improve because I finish on time. / Because it helped me be a better person. / They helped me by making me believe. / To be responsible and they helped me by learning new things. / I wanted to improve caring. It showed me that you can show caring in little actions. / Yes, it let me see what it really is. / Was on being helpful because now I know how to help more. It helped to see I could be helpful. / I improved in caring because I care more about people now. / Respectful. Not to talk while others are speaking. / Being shy. It helped me because they are so helpful and friendly. / It helped me with responsibility.

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: That we all have fears. We are all scared of something. / Some have the same fear. / They have the same fear as me. / I learned that a lot of classmates have the same fear as me. / That they have the same fear like I do of insects. / Same fear as I do. / Some of my friends have the same fear as me. / That not only one person has the same fear and goal. / That I’m not the only one scared of bees. / That my friends like me. / That a lot of people want to be doctors. / That some people are afraid of bees. / That they are scared of heights. / Most people have the same fear. / We have a lot in common. / What they are scared of. / That my friend wants to help out her mom by working hard. / Teamwork and leadership. / Their fears and dreams.

Inspiring and empowering youth with the tools to make better life choices.

. .

Thanks to Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 23 young lives from Kuban School experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on March 1-4, 2016 - # 3 of 14 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 11-14.

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? : Honesty, people have similar situations as you. Have good grades, education, Teach you what to do in a real life situations. Not get in a bullying situation. Being confident, follow your dreams, to study and go to school. / We are all similar and different. It applies because everybody is different and similar. It can show that both bullies and victims share. It could make the world a better place. / Being honest. Not getting into trouble, not being shy. Being completely honest about what happened. Telling the truth when in a situation. / Share, confidence, courage. It applies because you would be a leader instead of a follower. It would help people stand up to bullying. It applies in life because you would want to get a job instead of being in the streets.

Creative story telling: Participation, bravery, courage. If you talk out in front of the class. It would help with bullying so you can stand up to the bully. In college it would help you be brave to speak in front of the class. / Learning how to work together. Learning new ideas, communicating with others. It would help by having courage to speak up. By making the world a better place. / Responsibility. You being honest and considerate. You would be taking action on something that’s bad. You would have more opportunity in life. / Practice makes better, fairness.

Practicing skills makes good grades, helps you. Caring, being kind to others, helping others. Not to be judgmental, fair to others.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Family is first, a hero is important in your life. Your hero sets an example for you and family. Your family supports you. They’ll help you with problems, they’ll always try to comfort you. / Helps us on accomplishing our dreams. Having courage and faith. It helps calm down and lessen the stress. It makes the world a better place. / How you feel about yourself. When there is a different question confidence will help you answer it. You think before you act. Reflect on the bad things you’ve done and learn from your mistakes. / To be confident, proud, and to be yourself. You will be confident when talking in front of people. You start to feel like you can do. It will apply in life because speak and not be afraid in front of people.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: I love myself, I love myself, I love myself, I love myself. It made me feel like someone important and loved. / It makes me feel good about myself. / It makes me feel weird, but in the same time I’m in this world for a reason. / It makes me feel good and proud of myself. / It feels like I love myself it gives me a lot of feelings and it made my day. / It makes me feel confident and proud. / Confident, courage, accomplished, proud, encouraged. / It makes me feel better because you like the way you are. / It makes me feel weird, normal, and glad. / I love myself. It makes me feel happy. I will never give up. / It makes me feel happy of myself. / I love myself. I love myself. I feel a little different. / It makes me feel proud of myself and accomplished, amazing. I love you, I love you./ I’m proud to be who I am. I’m just okay of how I are.

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 hero is my parents. They have always been there for me. I look for niceness and helpfulness. / My mom. Because she took care of me when I was small. Helpful, powerful, and they are there when you need them. / Dad. Because he opened a company. Strong, kind helpful, cool and outgoing. / My mother and father. They are important because when I need them they never fail. Also when you fall they will help you get up. They help, love, and support you when you most need it and are respectful resourceful, responsible, and honest. / My mom is my hero because she takes care of me.

They are important because she loves me and takes care of me. The characteristics I would look for in my hero is to be brave. / My dad is important because he takes care of me. Protecting people around. Taking care of people. He also helps me when I need help. / I think heroes are important because without heroes the world wouldn’t be what it is today. Someone who is a leader, has courage, who helps others, understanding, and kind. / Dad. If Captain America was a real superhero they would make the world a better place. / My hero is Hillary Clinton because she won’t stop until she reaches her goal. She is important because if she becomes president that means it’s possible for women to also become president. / My favorite superhero is my mom. It’s because she can heal my problems. She cares for me a lot because I am her only son. / My hero is my dad because he was always there when I needed him. He’s important because he made me feel better on me becoming a doctor. The characteristics are inspired, courage, brave. / My heroes are my parents. I think they are important because without them I wouldn’t be where I am right now. The characteristics Or qualities I look for in a hero is leadership, brave courage, respectful. / My hero is myself. Because he’s always there for me. / Jack Swagger. He is important because he stood up to save someone else.

Through: Skills or Tools Learned: Working together finding new ways. It brings us together as a team. It will help deal with bullying because when one stands up others do too. It would apply in life because with a partner things will be easier. / Worked together. When you’re in a situation you work together to get out of it. By working together to stop the problem. When there is a situation working together would help you get out of it. / Working together.

Accomplish things together. Together we could find a solution. We can make the world more peaceful. / Working together. Two brains are better than one. It’ll help you on skills, also it will help other people. Working together to stop the bully. It’ll help your family and business.

Seeing Beyond: Things may not be what they seem. Clues to find an answer any subject. Why? Because it helps you find a solution. You learn from our ideas and mistakes. / You have to learn to use only your brain. It will apply because you need to solve problems. Life is full of problems. / Strategy. It would apply in school by the shapes.

The subject would be geometry because geometry involves shapes. It will apply in life when you have a problem using strategy will help you solve it. / We learned going beyond always. Science and geometry because you need your imagination to work out the problem. We learned to feel the shapes. It applies in life because you can use another angle.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Accept our fears, believe in ourselves and participate.

Won’t be embarrassed to participate. You will get over your fear and stand up for you and others. You will have confidence and stand out. / Confronting our dreams, hopes, and fears. You have more direction. You have empathy for bullies. Your goal would be more reachable. / We learned that some of us have the same dreams and fears. We get to learn each other’s dreams and fears. We will know what they are going through. We get to know each other more. / Dreams are possible, you are not alone. Someone will be there for you. You would not be alone. Someone will always have something in common with you.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Always be nice to people in need. Help someone with an assignment. Help someone with directions or just someone in general. / It showed us how kind we are. We get a better reputation. If you’re kind to them, they will be kind to you. / Helping people. When you see someone struggling and you help them out. When you see someone having problems you help them out. / To be caring, helpful, and trustworthy. It can help us when someone needs help finding a classroom. It would apply in life by helping others in need.

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: One time when I helped my mom with my little brother. / One time when my little cousin that is four years old got very sick, I bought her a teddy bear so she can feel better. I took it to the hospital and gave it to her. She laughed and hugged it. I felt glad because I made someone else happy. / I helped an old man pick up his cane. / I was trustworthy and caring when I helped a kid that was being bullied because he was overweight. I told the teacher and he wasn’t bullied again. It felt awesome to help. / I helped an old lady that needed help with her groceries. She was hurt and needed medicine. I felt really helpful and happy for myself. / I gave bread to an old man. / I helped my dad by taking inside a lavedada and he gave me ten dollars and he was happy and he said if I wanted something else. / The last time I did something nice was when we were having a barbecue and a homeless dog came and I fed it some meat and bread. / I helped an old man move into his new home. I felt proud and happy. I helped him because he was struggling. / I helped a little girl get to the nurse’s office because she was bleeding badly from her leg. Afterward I felt proud of myself and responsible. / The time I was caring for someone was when my brother had anger issues too much and I was helping him. / I was caring when my nana fell from a roof and had a third degree burn. After she came home from the hospital, she still had back pains so I helped her with things around the house. / The time that I cared for someone was when they were being bullied. How I helped was by standing up for them when I did it afterward I felt good for myself because I helped somebody with a problem. / I helped my mom when she was hurt. / I helped this old lady put her bags in her shopping cart. She was by herself. I thought it would be a nice thing to do. I felt happy when I did that. / When I was caring. I was caring to my dad, my mom, my sister, and my brother. I care about them because they are my family and always help me when I need them, that’s why they are the best.

Inspiring and empowering youth with the tools to make better life choices.

. .

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: Kuban School %Male 65

%Female 35

Date: March 1-4, 2016

Ages 11-14

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

Pre %YES 57 %NO 43 %Other 0 Post %YES 80 %NO 20 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 22 % Sometimes 61 % All the Time 17 % No answer 0 Post % Not at all 10 % Sometimes 60 % All the Time 30 % No answer 0 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 4 % Sometimes 39 % All the Time 57 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 30 % All the Time 70 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 8 % Sometimes 43 % All the Time 48 % No answer: 0 Post % Not at all 10 % Sometimes 50 % All the Time 40 % No answer 0 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 4 % Equal 48 % Leader 43 % No Answer 4 Post % Follower 3 % Equal 27 % Leader 70 % No Answer 0 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 35 % No 65 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 74 % No 22 % No Answer 4 Did you do anything? % Yes 57 % No 30 % No Answer 13 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I learned that working together will stop bullying. / Having empathy for the bully will definitely help. / I will tell a teacher. / To step up and tell a teacher. / I learned that maybe we are going thru the same thing. / I learned that we have to speak up and not have fear. / That working together will stop it. / That when one stands up others will too. / I learned that it is not safe to be mean. / The teachers helped us deal with bullies. / Tell a teacher. / I learned that getting bullied is really bad. / To help others. / You can tell a teacher for help. / I learned to stand up to the bully.

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 tell an adult. / Because we need each other’s help. / Yes, because that wouldn’t be nice. / Yes, I would tell because I don’t want people to get hurt. / It’s the right thing to do. / I would stand up to that bully. / Because it is important. / Because they don’t deserve it. / I would help him stick up for himself. / I would stand up for them and tell an adult. / I saw that maybe everybody has something in common. / Yes, because if you don’t do something, no one will. / I would tell a person or a teacher because no one will do something. / Yes I would do something. / I would go tell an adult.

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: I learned to encourage. / I learned to be a good citizen and have courage. / Because I learned to be responsible. / Because I learned to be confident. / I learned that responsibility can pay off. / I learned to be confident. / I learned to be confident and proud. / Because you should be nice to people and yourself. / No, because it is important. / Yes they helped bring out the best in me. / Do what you like. / I think respect and responsibility will help me accomplish dreams. / Yes you don’t have to listen. / Encouragement will help accomplish our dreams. / I learned about respecting others and helping others out.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 100% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: I think it’s pretty, vibrant and cool. / I think that color brings joy to my life. / I think about color is respect and there is no code. / What I feel about color it is art. / No, I have never thought about color. / Color is art and color makes me have more fun. / It’s a beautiful thing. / I think about blue when I hear the word color. / I think color is a great way to express things. / I think different colors can represent in what mood you are. / I think it’s something that nature made. / I think color is an awesome thing. Yes, I think about color when I see colorful things. / I think it’s better because now that you think of it there wouldn’t be anything to see. / Color is fascinating. I never thought about color. / When I think of color I think about a rainbow. / What I think about color is beautiful in the world. No, I haven’t thought about it. / Art because I like to draw anytime. / I think that color is unique. It sometimes expresses how you feel. / What I think about color is that it makes me better. / What I know about color is that it is magic. / I think that color is colorful and yes, I have only when I see a rainbow. / I think of art. / I’ve never thought about color before only when they ask me for my favorite color.

Post: I learned that color can represent music. / Color shares your emotions. / Art. / I think that color is just not color it is everything. / I think the same thing but I have respect. / I think it is good that color is here in everything. / What I think about color is fun. / I think color means feelings. / Color, I think it expresses music, emotions, and hopes. / I think that color is everywhere and I learned that color helps express yourself. / I think that it can express things. / I think color has meaning and the workshop taught me that. / I learned that color can be a message. / I think that it is colorful. / I don’t think of it as nothing. / What I think about color is that how it expresses. What I learned about color is that it can express people. / I think about feelings. / I think it is more than a feeling. / I learned that color is in everything. / I think it is cool. / I like to use the most calm colors My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 100% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: To be a doctor for cancer because my mom had cancer. / My most important dream is to go to university. / My most important dream is that I have a job, family and a desire so I can have a good job. / Is to become a soccer player or basketball player. / My most important hope and dream is to be a professional soccer athlete. / My most important hope is to be good in school and at home. / To be a scientist to help cure diseases. / My most important dream is to become a soccer player and to play alongside Messi, Suarez, and Naymer Jr. / I think my most important hope or dream is to grow to be a doctor and have a safe and healthy family. / Attend university and open my hospital to cure people. / My most important dream is that my dad could get out of jail. / My dream is to become a doctor. / I want to be a professional soccer player. / My most important dream is to be successful. / My dream is to go to a university get a job, and help my mom get papers and let her see her family again. / My dream is to become a U tuber and play video games. / To try to dream that I’ll succeed but I guess not at accomplished to draw something better. / My most important dream or hope for my future is to be remembered as someone special

like a singer or a famous cello player. / My most important dream is that I wanted a MP3 player. / My dream is to become a doctor so people don’t stay hurt or ill. / To graduate college and be a football player. / My dream is to be part of the Marvel Team./ I want to be a policeman to protect the innocent people.

Post: My most important hope or dream is to have a good education. / To go to university and get a good education. / Go and graduate from a university. / My dream is to be a national air force. / My most important hope or dream is becoming a professional soccer player. / Is to never give up. / My dream is to be a policeman and help the poor. / To become a scientist that studies cures to help people and my family. / My most important dream is to become one of earth’s most important people. / My most important dream is to be able to go to the university and to have a job. / My most important dream or hope is being remembered as someone special like a famous cello player who graduated from Julliard. / Is to become a surgeon and graduate from university. / I thing I learned is to have faith. / I really want to be a famous soccer player. / Becoming an oncologist. / An artist or police. / My dream is to be a soccer player. / Is to become a doctor or surgeon and find cures to diabetes type two and cancer. / My most important dream is being a professional soccer player. / My most important dream is to be a doctor.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 95% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: I learned to work with teamwork. / One thing I learned is to never give up and keep trying. / Have courage and you will accomplish your dreams. / Is to never give up and keep trying. / To not listen to peer pressure. / Never give up and go after what you want. / The people here told me stuff that helped me. / One thing that I learned is to have fun. / One thing that I learned that will help is to be confident. / One thing I learned is that I need to participate more and be more out there. / To be more confident in myself and to not have fear talking in front of people. / One thing I learned is that no one is alone. / To be confident and honest. / Is to respect people. / Is to be honest and confident. / Is never give up. / When you come up close it’s hard to see but when you go back it’s there. / I learned to never give up. / Is to be confident. / I learned that you have to be confident and have courage. If you have those, big things can happen.

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: I learned that I have more confidence and that I am not as afraid of speaking in front of people. / That we did a lot of activities. / I learned I am good speaking to a large crowd. / When something pops out. / I learned that I am more confident than I am. / What I learned was things you can do in reality. / I didn’t know I was respectful. / I learned that I am more confident than I thought. / I learned that I like to survive and thrive. / I learned that I can talk in front of people loud and clear without being embarrassed. / I learned that I can be more than what I expected. / I learned that other people have the same fear as I do. / To learn every day. / I learned that I have a lot of fears. / I am good at doing certain things and I’m different. / To never give up. / That I am special to my family and friends. / Nothing. / I learned that I could sometimes be brave. / Everybody has similar fears.

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: They all have fears. / I learned that my classmates share the same fears as I have. / That all of us share something in common. / That everybody is scared about something and have done stuff no one has done. / They have different issues. / They think differently in good and bad ways. / I learned about my classmate’s fears. / Not be afraid. / I learned that my friends are kinda scared to speak in public. / I learned that some of us have the same fears and hopes and others have different fears and goals and hopes. / I learned that not all people are afraid of their parents being sent back to Mexico. / I learned that everyone is afraid to lose their family. / That they have the same fear as me and that they have a great voice. / I learned to be honest to my friends and everyone. / What I learned was things they never knew about them. / That they have the same fear as me. / Not to make fun of someone even if there’re the loud ones. / I learned that he/she almost is the same as me. / That they have gone thru a lot of stuff. / I learned that they have the same fear and that they have gone through the same things as me.

Thanks to Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 16 young lives from Sullivan Elementary School experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on March 1-4, 2016 - # 4 of 14 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 13-15.

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? : A leader. Being a good person and respect others. By helping others. Having a positive attitude. / A person who can help others to fulfill their dreams. Helping people. Speaking up for the people who can’t.

Helping other that can’t help themselves. / To be a leader or comfortable. Be yourself, good grades. Confront them stop them. Doing what you want to do.

Creative story telling: We learned to help people. Working as a team when you have a group project. If we work as a team to stop the bully. In life people will have to work with people you don’t like and sometimes you have to deal with it. / By seeing what you have in life. Learning new things. Ask for help or ask others that are close.

Teaching young ones. / To be ready what life is gonna give you. To be ready. By speaking for each other. How to face things.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: They all have different heroes. How you act. Stand up for yourself. To be confidence of yourself. / Learn how to have confidence and ourselves. Teaching other how unite and work together.. By breathing deeply and remember the positive and let go of the negativity. Helping others in need. / Confident, comfortable. You could be yourself, role model. It will help you to stand up to people. Look up to them, do things better.

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 because I actually said what I feel about myself. / Good. / I didn’t feel nothing. / Happy. / I felt better. / Makes me feel good. / I felt awesome and good. / Good, awesome. / It makes me feel good. / Eh. / Good. / Confident. / Sad and lonely. / Really good. / Happy, cool, okay, wow. / I see myself like a leader to show people the way to success. I feel like I could change the future. / It made me feel better because I know that I like the way I am.

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 hero is my mom and my dad because they give me everything in this world. / Myself. / Shawn Mendez (the Wolverine) because I like him. / Triple G. / Mom and friends. / My mom is very important to me because she gave birth to me and without her I wouldn’t be born so yea. Because they have been a part of my life forever. / Batman because he is a good superhero. / My hero is my family because they motivate me and they are the best thing that the world has ever given me and they understand me but sometimes we have our ups and downs. / Mom she gave birth to me she is important. / I don’t know. / Friends. They always are there for you and not fake. Always have your back. They have my back. They are my only friends I have. They are really important. Belen, Jairo, Brianna, Lupita. / My dad because he is my dad and I love him. / My girlfriend because she is all my world. / Superman. / My hero is David Belle, he showed me the way to be free. He also helped me be free and open using the environment as my playground. Because they help him find the way to a better life and complete your dreams. / GGG and my dad and nana. They are my heroes. GGG is a boxer. My dad was a boxer. My nana was being there for me but she is gone. / Jon Huston is my hero because he kept skating to get better and better after you fall he still kept going that’s why he is my hero. He is important because he is awesome and he never quit trying.

Through the Hoops: Skills or Tools Learned: We got through it together. Helping each other. Never let someone tell you what to do. Never let your dreams come down. / Working as a team. Helping each other. Help the person that’s being bullied. Working together can help others succeed. / Teamwork. We could work as a team.

Helping people. You use teamwork when you go to school or job.

Seeing Beyond: To be specific on the things you want. To ask questions on the things you don’t know. Help you out on the things you want. / Being descriptive / Mathematics. It can help more. Teaching others how to be descriptive. / Looking beyond what you see, imagination. This can apply to math and get smarter. This can help you look beyond and use imagination.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: How we can compare different colors. Comparing the bad things and good. By comparing what we have and doing. Helping people in the streets. / To be open to people. When you need help you can ask for help. You can tell people when you or someone is getting bullied.

You could be open to people and how you think. / To express your fears, memory and dream. To be sure what you want to be. To not let anyone to tell you what to do when you grow up. To follow your dream.

Reflective Take Away Assignment. Describe A Time when you had an experience that you perceived (thought/saw) as a negative, but through time or something you did, you perceived (thought/saw) the experience as a positive one. Draw on the other side of paper, a picture of how you felt about this experience. Draw how you felt at the beginning and how you felt when the change took place. Then, write about it below: I helped my mom with making food and she trusted me on being responsible. And I felt good. / I helped my mom with my brother. It felt very caring and I knew that she trusted me. / One day somebody was walking with a walker and she was going into the store and I seen her coming so I opened the door and she said “thank you”. I appreciated that. / There was an old lady that needed a box and I handed it to her. And she said thank you and I said your welcome. / I was at the store last week then there was a six year old that wanted a toy car and he couldn’t reach it, so I stop and hand it over to him. It feels good helping that little kid. / I helped my dad with cleaning. It felt good. / I helped my cousin when he didn’t understand his homework. I felt good, it was something great because I was doing something to help someone. / I helped my mom when she was sick by cleaning the house for her. It felt good. / I helped my mom carry the groceries. / Once I helped my friend with homework and she trusted me to help her in the right. / I was caring when I helped people with their math when they needed help. / The time I was trustworthy and caring was when I helped a girl find her class. / I was trustworthy and caring when I helped my neighbor unload her groceries from the van she had gotten a ride to the store in. / I helped my mom with groceries. / Once I pushed my cousin in a deep ditch and I felt sorry so I grabbed her and pulled her out. / Somebody told me a secret and they told me that they trusted me and so I said ok and somebody said I could tell them but I said no. / I helped my dad push the car. / There was one time at my cousin’s house. Both of us were playing online two vs two Pokemon battle. My cousins last Pokemon lv 100 cosplay Pikachu in beauty form, was about to die by a lv92 legendary Pokemon. With my lv 100 Gardevoir used protect on my cousin’s Pokemon, it was a huge sacrifice but it was totally worth it.

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: Sullivan Elementary %Male 50

%Female 50

Date: March 1-4, 2016

Ages 13-15

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

Pre %YES 38 %NO 44 %Other 19 Post %YES 36 %NO 43 %Other 21 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 19 % Sometimes 69 % All the Time 13 % No answer 0 Post % Not at all 7 % Sometimes 79 % All the Time 14 % No answer 0 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 75 % All the Time 19 Post % Not at all 7 % Sometimes 50 % All the Time 43 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 56 % All the Time 31 % No answer: 6 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 50 % All the Time 43 % No answer 0 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 69 % Leader 31 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 43 % Leader 57 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 38 % No 62 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 62 % No 38 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 38 % No 50 % No Answer 6

% Other 0

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

Post % Yes 93 % No 7 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: That it doesn’t matter what you are. / I learned to never do something to someone that I will not like. / To try and help others in need. / Nothing much. / To just show help and how to help each other. / To step up. / To help other people. / What they showed me was to help other people. / I honestly don’t know. / Yes, it helps you deal with bullying. / To help them out. / I learned that try to become true. / To speak up. / Because being a leader you could help people./ Because I now know what colors mean.

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

Post % Yes 79 % No 14 % No Answer 7 Thoughts Shared: I would help the person and separate them. / I will defend them. / Confront them. / Yes, because I don’t like seeing people being bullied. / Yes because it is not right to bully someone. / I would defend them and call for help. / Tell a teacher. / I would help or ask a teacher or parent. / I will help him and stop the kid from bullying. / Just stop it. / Stop them and make them talk.

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

Post % Yes 71 % No 21 % No Answer 7 Thoughts Shared: Helping each other. / To never do bullying. / I will need people to help out. / No I did not. / Don’t let anybody ruin your dream. / I always make my own decisions. / Helping that person with her problem. How to become better and help people in need. / To never let someone ruin your dream. / Yes that you alway

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 86% Post 93% Thoughts Shared: Pre: I think that it’s cool. / Blue and green. / Eh. / Blue. / Black. / Helps you communicate. / I thought of color in a rainbow. / Helps communicate. / Blue. / Color is necessary. / The colors shows the emotions of how they feel. / Yes, that color we use that make us happy. / It’s important because if we didn’t have color we would see black and white. / It’s pretty and it’s anywhere. / I think color is just a fun way to think about it.

Post: I think I see more color, 101. / That it in everything. / I learned nothing. / I think everything has a color. / That my color is blue. / Just a color. / That each color is different. / That it changes. / That the colors are beautiful. / I think color is awesome. / I think colors show emotion. / What I think about color is that color is something beautiful that could express your feeling. / I learned that don’t do something wrong. / Color changes My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 86% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Thinking what I want to be when I grow up. / To become a nurse (pediatric). / That my dream is to have a good life and work hard. / To be a cop and help or be an artist. / Be a good doctor. / To become FBI. / To be a doctor. / To be a nurse. / My future will kind of come true in the future. / I have a lot of dreams and on them is to be a softball player. / Is to finish the marines and join leadership to help other students accomplish their dreams. / To be a pro football player or join the Navy Seals. / I am hoping for my family happy and be a father.

Post: To fight for my country and die for my family. / It’s to be a nurse because I want to help people. / To become a softball player or a doctor. / My dream is to become a Marine and live in a beautiful home. / The most important dream is to be a skater. / Become a nurse. / Is to be a hero. / To become a nurse and help people. / My dream is to have a good life. / My hope is my life. / Is to be a soccer player or a soldier in Mexico or the USA. / To become a soccer player. / My most important hope or dream is nothing. / To become a nurse.

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 specific in what I dream. / I don’t know. / To not care about what people tell me. / Is to go for what I want not for what others tell me. / To set my goals. / That to ask for help never stay quiet. / To always work as a team. / Always try hard so they become true. / To never give up and don’t let no one stop me. / I learned to have steps to reach your goals. / Never let yourself down. Follow your dreams. / To ask for help. / It helped me with my dream. To understand.

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 86% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count: To trust myself and believe in myself. / I learned to stay positive. / That I am worth it and that someone loves you. / I learned to help and respect others. / That I am a good presenter. / That always believe in yourself. / That never give your hopes up. / That I never have to say bad things to myself just positive things. / That I step up and not be afraid. / That pressure can’t hold me if I want to. / Just know something about me. / Be myself always. / I talk about stuff.

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

Post 93% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: That they are like me. / Their life and that they got bullied. / What their dreams or fears and memories. / Just to be chill with them. / That they all want to be a nurse. / That they have the same thinking as all of us. / That respect others if I want them to respect me. / To work as a team. / That they will always be there. / To respect others and to treat

Thanks to Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 19 young lives from Sullivan Elementary School experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on March 7-10, 2016 - # 5 of 14 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 13-15.

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? : Leadership reveal yourself. Leading students to be good in school. Would stand for people be the bigger person. Success to help others make friends. / Leader, leading myself and others. By telling an adult.

You would know how to defend yourself. / Have confidence, honesty. Not cheating, not being shy, good grades.

Speak up, see the truth. Persuading us to do better. / Self expression and experience. Showing the real you, making great choices. Telling an adult, be mature. Reaching your goals not getting into drama.

Creative story telling: Loud voice, teamwork, imagination, creativity. Art, electives, sports, partners, problem solving and projects. Speak up. In a career. / Imagination and creativity. It gives an aspect of what you are doing. By speaking up and standing up for yourself. It helps give confidence. / Participation, out speaking.

Teamwork, presenting projects. Speaking up. Scholarships, college, job interviews, get you where you want to be. / Citizenship, caring about others. Stand up for others, tell in adult. Be helpful in one on other.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Confidence, uniqueness. Have faith in yourself. Won’t let it take over you.

Help with jobs, if you’re confident you will get a job. / Being confident, responsibility. Taking action, get through trouble and problems. Make your own choice. Believing in yourself, don’t be a quitter. / To like yourself, be proud. Confidence, talking to others, better moods. For future career, and have a better life. / Leadership and respect. Have more confidence. Being a role model to someone younger. Look back to yourself and be proud.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: Yes because that what makes me be is me myself. Special confident because it shows your expression of the personality you have in you. / A little comfortable. / Confident, Like I can do more things in life, I can make it far. / It makes me feel nothing really. / Good. / It make me feel good. / Happy, cool. / More confident. / It makes me feel a little more confident. / Good. Make me feel unique. / Good, great. / My personality. Make me confident. / Well it makes me feel confident. / This makes me feel really good about myself. / I didn’t feel nothing. / It felt different because I don’t look at myself too much at it. / It make me feel happy. / It makes me feel like I can do anything as long as I put my mind to it.

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 hero is my cousin because when I feel let down she always keep me positive. Because she is the one I need to talk to and share my conversation with. / I don’t really have a hero. / In my opinion I am my own hero because after all I have went through, I can still smile and be positive. / My nest friends because we care for each other. / John Cena. Because I can’t see him. / My self. Because I respect myself. / Nicky. Why they are important. She can rap. / My hero is me. I inspire myself to do better. / My hero is Rey Mesterio. He’s important because he motivates me. My hero is my mom. She is important because she been through a lot and she is still caring and respectful. / Stone Cold Steve Austin. He’s cool unique and he doesn’t care for other people opinions. / John Cena because he’s unique. / My dad because he understands me, we’re alike. / Mom and dad. They are important because they are all there in my life. / Messi. They are important because they are really good at soccer. / My hero is Undertaker. They important because they are cool. / Mom and grandma. Because a hero is someone I can look up to and there an inspiration. / My father. He has been through a lot and still powers through. / I have 3 heros their names Gigi and my parents. They are important to me because Gigi gives good advice to people looking forward to do what she does. My parents because they support me.

Through the Hoops: Working as a team. Speak to each other. Speak with an adult. Help each other, face challenges to become successful in life. / Teamwork, obstacles, perseverance, sports. When you work in a group in a project. Someone can go in and handle the bully together. Go through obstacles and you’ll get through faster in life. / Teamwork, trust, working with others. Standing up for somebody. Accomplish your goals. / Teamwork, obstacles. Pass through what your doing. Tell teacher as a group. Life will be easier at overcoming challenges.

Seeing Beyond: Creativity, senses. Reading, writing, science. Because you have to use your imagination.

Never give up. / Senses, creativity, teamwork. Science, because you have experiments. Hypotheses .

Imagination, teamwork get done faster together, build relationships. / Working as a team work. Science, social studies and art. Being creative and memorizing. / Creativity and senses. It can help in Art. Thinking outside the box. By making smart decisions.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Express your feelings. People get to know you.

Saying to a teacher how the bully is. Be successful and get to know people. / Push yourself through tough times.

Have to be confident. Don’t let nothing stop you from going. Face your fears, by frightening them and going through them. / Expressing yourself, turning bad to good. Help express yourself, people to know you better.

Help people be nice to each other. To achieve them in the future, people learn about you. / Reaching your dream by working hard. Believing in yourself. Tell an adult. Achieving your goals.

Reflective Take Away Assignment.: Responsibility and opened minded. To do good and not bad. Work hard and make smart choices. / Have to be positive instead of negative. Keeps you out of trouble. You have to be positive at your job. / Work hard, keep going, not give up. Getting better grades. Fired from a job, get another one. Changing the negative to a positive. Having confidence in you. Staying positive, not letting no one get to you.

Describe A Time when you had an experience that you perceived (thought/saw) as a negative, but through time or something you did, you perceived (thought/saw) the experience as a positive one. Draw on the other side of paper, a picture of how you felt about this experience. Draw how you felt at the beginning and how you felt when the change took place. Then, write about it below: When I was playing soccer I hurt my leg and went to the hospital and they fixed my leg. / Moving to a new country and then it got better. / I dropped my phone and it cracked but I got a new one so it’s ok. / Went to a different school. / I was scared to get on a ride at the fair and on I went on the ride to get my fear away and I did. / I thought a roller coaster was going to be scary but when I got on it turned out to be fun. / The time when it was my first day of school I interned in pre school. I was afraid and didn’t wanted to go. I won’t ready I didn’t know anybody and I felt very scared not gonna pass through pre school or not make any friends. But then it turned out to be awesome through these days I had friends and was confident and don’t had to worry. / When my dad dies…it just showed me to become stronger and not to give up. / When my mom had twins I thought it was going to be hard and frustrating then the were not hard to handle and they listen. / My dog fought a pitbull and was taken to the vet and when he started to bleed it actually help his eye. / First day of school I got scared and then liked it. / Something negative when I moved schools. But later on I met my friend and they made everything better. / When I tripped and got back up. / My parents got divorced but now I have a great step dad. / When my friend moved houses and it turned out that some other kid moved in we became friends. / I thought my grandparents were gonna die but it turns out they just had cancer but now, there cancer free .me to do, he wanted give

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: Sullivan Elementary %Male 47

%Female 53

Date: March 7-10, 2016

Ages 13-15

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

Pre %YES 70 %NO 20 %Other 10 Post %YES 79 %NO 5 %Other 16 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 25 % Sometimes 65 % All the Time 10 Post % Not at all 5 % Sometimes 79 % All the Time 16 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 47 % All the Time 53 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 5 % Sometimes 60 % All the Time 35 Post %Not at all 0 % Sometimes 37 % All the Time 63 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 65 % Leader 35 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 37 % Leader 63 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 40 % No 55 % No Answer 5 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 55 % No 45 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 50 % No 30

% No Answer 20

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

Post % Yes 84 % No 16 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I learned to be nice. / To do something about it. / Stand up for myself. / Tell an adult. / Already learned. / Because I never got bullied. / Yes, I did. / To fight tough things. / To tell people and not keep it to yourself. / Helping others going through bullying. / Be a leader, be yourself. / To know you have friends you can count on. / To help tell someone. / That you can tell the teacher. / To stand up to others.

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 tell the bully to be nice. / Yes, I would help the person getting hurt. / I’ll tell the teacher. / I would stop them. / Cause it’s rude. / Because it’s not nice. / I will help them. / I will do something. / Because I would like someone to do something if I got bullied. / Nobody should be bullied. / Yes, I would say something, let someone know if not right. / Get in the situation and tell a teacher. / Tell the teacher or parents. / Yes, I would help them get through it. / I would tell an adult.

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

Post % Yes 79 % No 10 % No Answer 11 Thoughts Shared: Yes, I did learn respect and responsibility. / Yes, I choose not to deface the law. / I already know my own decisions. / Choose not to deface. / My decisions. / Because I expressed myself. / I learned a lot. / Just believe in myself. / Everyone is a leader. / Kinda it all depends. / Don’t clear what people. / Everyone is a leader. / I learned to express my feelings to others. / To be confident and honest. / I would be to nervous. / Just believe in yourself and confident.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 75% Post 84% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Yes. I think color is what makes life wonderful. / I have thought of the color black it’s dark. / Color can have so many thoughts and meanings to it depending how you look at it (negative or positive). / I think color for me is music, art. / Color explains your expression. / Color has meaning. / Blue and red is a bright dark color. / Idk because … no. / I think about blue. / I think it don’t matter because we are all humans. / I don’t think about color. / Red and white I like those colors. / To me color is a lot of things. / I don’t know what color is. / No! Still not a wrong answer. / Emotion. / Colors make me think about nature. / No, I haven’t thought about color. / What I think about color is it is colorful. / It expresses what you feel.

Post: What I think about color now the it represents things. / Different color means different things you feel. / I think color represents feeling. / The color is to express. / No. / That for your least favorite color but your fear. / I think color is cool. / It’s the real yo. / Color can be anything. / Music has color in it when its hard music it bright, slow, music turns it dark. / Colors create creativity. / Color can represent a lot of stuff. / That color is how you imagine it. / Color can be very beautiful. / That its like your feelings. / Color is how you express yourself. / Even when the situation is ugly still get through it.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 95% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Is for me to accomplish life. / To help out the homeless. / To be successful. Not to give up. / My most important dream for my future is to reach it. / For the young generation can look up to me. / To make my mom proud. / I say being a dentist. / Goal in life war. / My hope is to get my grades up. / My dream is to have a good job when I’m older. / To be a NFL player. / Be successful in life. / My dream is to become a good soccer player. / My most important hope or dreams is to be something special in life. / Good at computers. / I don’t have one. / My dream is to have a big house and have a nice job. / Faith. / To get fear over scary rides and to be really good at soccer. / To go to college.

Post: My most important hope and dream is to become a famous soccer player. / To go to college and pursue my passion. / My most important dream is to do coding. / Hope. / A career with computers. / Is becoming a NFL player. / To graduate high school. / Be in the NFL be rich. / Is to be successful in life. / To be a lawyer and help out homeless. / To be successful and get to reach it. Walking modeling runways. / To be a nurse for babies. / Is to do or go or be I Basketball player go to college, art. / My most important hope or dream is graduating. / Is to graduate and travel all around the world becoming someone in this world. / Is to be successful in life and pass/graduate school/college. / My most important dream is to be successful and see my fav singer. / Travelling and becoming successful. / To become something (doctor) one day and to help others make a change in the world.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 95% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: Never give up. / To be confident. / Is to be a leader and be confident. / Is to not be scared about what you want in your dreams. / Don’t give up in your dream reach for them. Don’t let anyone get in your way stay strong and positive. / Is to speak up. / Cear about yourself. / Never give up on yourself. Always go on. / Having confidence in front of others. / To work hard. / To always believe in yourself. / Try hard. / Never stop following your dream, work hard. / Don’t be scared. / Nothing I learned in the workshop that will help me reach. / One thing I learned is to not give up. / To not feel tempted to do something good. / One thing I learned is to work hard to reach my dream. / Respect, responsibility.

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 84% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count.

Thoughts Shared: To love myself more and be confident. / To be who I am no matter what it is. / That I can be a hero for my siblings. / I can be a leader and to ignore negative energy. / That I wasn’t the only one that was afraid and others had the same fear. / I am more than what I thought I was. / Loves yourself. / That I’m not alone. / I learned that I have different fear than everyone in the class. / To respect others. / That you always have to love yourself. / About color. / Nothing. / Not being scared of reaching you goal. / I didn’t learn anything new. / I learned that when you get cut like from a team to not give up. / That I have a good speakers voice. / Nothing. / To have fun.

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

Post 89% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: Some of them have the same fears as I do. / That some people have the same fears and dreams as me. / They can be a leader. / That we can be the same or not and learn what they don’t/do like. / Working as a team work and having contact and sharing our experiences. / Everyone is different and they all been through a lot. / Respect for others. / That they have a lot of things in common with me. / Most of everyone’s dreams in the class, what they are focused in. / That they fear the same as me and have feelings. / A lot of things learned about my classmates. / Your always going to make new ones. / Nothing. / That they’re scared of bugs. / No! / What I learned about a classmate or friend that they are a leader. / That their not afraid to speak. / I learned that Sanchez’s memory was going fishing with his father. / That they are scared to lose people.That they are like me. / Their life and that they got bullied. / What their dreams or fears and memories. / Just to be chill with them. / That they all want to be a nurse. / That they have the same thinking as all of us. / That respect others if I want them to respect me. / To work as a team. / That they will always be there. / To respect others and to treat others right. / I learned that a lot have been thru rough times. / I learned that they also need help. / I learned about their dream and memory. / About their dreams, fears, and memories for them or their future.

Inspiring and empowering youth with the tools to make better life choices.

. .

Thanks to Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 24 young lives from Sullivan Elementary School experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on March 21-23, 2016 - # 6 of 14 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 11-13.

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? : Kindness, Honesty, Loyalty. The teachers know who is being bullied. Tell the adults. Help people being truthful to people that are bullied. / Skills. Forget the fear. How to stop them. Get a good education. / Volleyball. To be honest, not be scared, stand up to bullies. To tell an adult. People could trust not alone. / To be honest and have same experiences. To get to know people better. Helping others. Protecting others. You will learn from the experiences.

Creative story telling: Paying attention to stay out of trouble. Not making fun of people. / Skills. Getting the same amount. Giving them a second chance. Everybody gets the same opportunity. / One is to clean up the trash. Keep the community clean. You can help kids when they need help. Work together. You can help people. / I learn by helping others. By caring about classmates. By tell bullies to stop. By caring about yourself. Stop bulling.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: That loving my self is something good and I will always love my self. / I think I am ok because I like the way I am. / Nothing. / I like my glasses. I like my cheeks. / It made me feel weird. / Happy. Proud. Sleepy. / Happy. Dumb. Loved myself. / It makes me feel happy, joyful. / I love myself. Happy excited normal good. / It make me happy and joyful. / Happy.

Handsome Cool. / I love the way I am because my parents made me that way. / Love my self. It makes me feel that I can believe. / It makes me feel great of myself. / love my self. Love. / Happy. Surprised. / Better, Wired, uncontrollable. / Happy. / Better, wired, uncontrollable. / It makes me feel nothing.

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? Batman. They are important by solving crime. / Batman. I think he is important because he scary people. / My grandpa. Because he is a cop. / My mom and dad are important to me because they love me and they are my parents. My mom and dad are amazing because they care for me and they love me. / They are important because she

inspirers me. / Parents. Batman. Cat Woman. Teacher. I like them because they are nice and they raised me and bought me things I needed and my teacher too she helps me too. / Batman. To save the city to solve crimes. / I’m my own hero. My mom. Because they protect us. She had me and protected me. She made me food buys me stuff. / Batman. To save the city. / Knight. To have fun. / A.K.E.E from plants vs zombies. Because it shoots it’s bullets from head to head. / My hero is Kasandra. Kasnadra is my friend she helps me every time and she is my hero. / Superman. Sometimes. / Mr Rubino. / Hulk.

Because he is strong. / Mr Rubino. I think they are important because they pick me up when I am down. / Mom. Joel. I think they are important because they raised me. / my teacher is my hero because she helps me makes me get smarter and she give my a lot of information and always there she gives us a lot of help and makes class fun. My thia and mom are my hero because they always are there for me and they take good care of me and treat me right and treat me with all their love. / The arrow flash speed:10 weapons: bow and arrows. He is important because he was and still one of my first comic hero’s ever made. / Batman because he is a hero. Because he rescue people.

Through the Hoops: You had to use your flexibility. You faced your fears of holding hands. Working together helps stop bullies. Trust a lot of people then you use to be. / To work in a team. So if your in a team football team you need to do team work. So they could make friends. So we can work hard in a team and become friends. / Friendship and teamwork. Help each other out. Is helping the person that is getting bullies. Being trustful, helpful. / Tools learned. Bring everybody together. Being an example for them. You would be able to accomplish stuff.

Seeing Beyond: It is very distractive and guessable. It helps us being more specific and more to express yourself. To share the to show more express. / Asking questions that are descriptive. Grammar because in grammar we have to describe for a example a adverb describes a verb. It applies life because to be more descriptive. / Were to be descriptive. In grammar because we can be more specific. You have to be respectful to others treat people you want to be treated. / Tool. It helps us on grammar science and math because has stuff to do wit it. Learn more things.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: You could use your skills to face your fears and everything else. People could learn about you more. You could face your fears. You could go through obstacles very fast if you face your fears, hopes and dreams. / The people have the same fears, hopes and dreams. You could help them that there not alone. So everyone could know and could help them face your fear. / to not be afraid. Not fear with bullies. To stop saying stuff the kids. This would apply in life by not saying mean stuff to the little kids. / I learned that I can be myself. Help you face fears. Explain to therm. Express your feelings.

Reflective Take Away Assignment.: Write about a time when you were trustworthy and 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: I was caring to my friend because she fell and I help her get up. I felt good. My dream is to be a lawyer in the future. / That happened once when I helped my moms friend then it felt weird. Dentist. / I want to be a doctor. / It felt great, I helped my mom wash dishes I told her you don’t have to do it I will. / I once helped a guy with his bags and afterword I felt happy for my self and also joyful that was the first time I helped a person. / My dream is to be a veterinarian and help cats and dogs because I love animals. When a old lady needed help with her garden because she couldn’t get up. / It felt awesome I helped my cousin take care of the house. / It felt great when I washed the dishes. / The time when I was trustworthy is when I helped someone pick up papers. It felt weird. / I am caring one time because I helped my big brother’s kids and by giving them food. / One day I saw a girl and she fell. I got her up and she said thank you. I knew that I was carrying about her. / One day I saw a girl that fell and I pick her up and she said thank you and I new I was caring about that girl. / I helped someone and was trustworthy and caring. Once I did that. I felt great. / A lady asked me if I can pick up her water bottle because she couldn’t bend. / I helped an old man named Jerry carry his bags of good to his house. / I was nice the time I helped when someone dropped their books. / I help this guy that need to go to get his thing. I said that I will get the thing for his house. / The time when I was trustworthy by telling others how do you do it. My dream is to be a football player. / One day I help a lady pick up her money and I feel shy. I want to be a basketball player. / I help my sister to do her homework and I known the answers. My dream is to be a NBA basketball player. / One day I help a woman with her bags. I opened the door for her. I felt proud. / I was caring to my brother when I helped him with his homework. I would want to be a teacher.

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: Sullivan Elementary %Male 54

%Female 46

Date: March 21-23, 2016

Ages 11-13

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

Pre %YES 74 %NO 26 %Other 0 Post %YES 83 %NO 13 %Other 4 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 30 % Sometimes 65 % All the Time 5 Post % Not at all 21 % Sometimes 71 % All the Time 8 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 4 % Sometimes 52 % All the Time 39 Post % Not at all 4 % Sometimes 67 % All the Time 29 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 22 % Sometimes 65 % All the Time 9 Post %Not at all 21 % Sometimes 67 % All the Time 12 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 35 % Equal 48 % Leader 17 Post % Follower 25 % Equal 33 % Leader 42 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 48 % No 52 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 91 % No 9 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 70 % No 30

% No Answer 0

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

Post % Yes 88 % No 12 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: They helped me in helping others. / Treat others with respect. / I think it is the same. / Not fearing. / Something I learned is that you can be trustworthy. / Yes helping people. / We need to stop bullies by telling them. / By help the ones that are getting bullied. / We need to stop bullies by telling them. / Tell the teacher. / Because I learn to stand up to bullies. / By telling us to be brave. / Everyone could help. / I learn that you could make them stop. / You can stop them. / By working together and playing together. / You can face your fear. / By working together. / By facing your fear.

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: I will tell the bully to stop. / Because it is not my business. / Tell the teacher. / Help him. / Because bulling is bad. / Help them. / I will tell them to don’s do that. / By protecting the good ones and deal with the bad ones. / If I see someone being bullied I will tell somebody. / I will tell them to don’t do that. / Tell the principal. / I will tell the teacher. / You need to stop bullying. / I will because I am kind. / That you could care about someone. / I would tell him to stop or tell a teacher. / I would go talk to a teacher about it. / I would tell someone. / Went and told the teacher. / I would go tell the teacher or principal / They have to stop.

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

Post % Yes 75 % No 25 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Because I’ve known to have faith. / Relating. / Not to touch peoples stuff. / To not let yourself down. / I make my own decision and my own thing. / To not let yourself down. / I learnt that respect is good and responsibility is good. / I can make my own decision. / When I am in a good mood. / I learn that it good to be respect. / That is just coping. / I learned that you have to work hard. / Being caring is good.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 78% Post 88% Thoughts Shared: Pre: I think that color is one of the best thing in life. / I never thought about color. / Yes all the time and the one I think is blue. / I think about color is bright. / Its colorful. / Yes I do think about colors. The color of green is nice. / I think color has a part of life. Eyesight. / Yes I like the color blue. / Never thought about color. / It’s beautiful and their a lot. / Is good. / It cheers me up. / I think about colors and how I think about colors is the ocean and a painting art. / I think color is something happy. It makes you be happy. / Blue. / I thought about color blue, purple. / The color of ocean. / I think about color is art because it has colors to do with it. / I can describe your mood. / No I never thought about color. / I sometimes think about color. / Yesit is red because I see it and use a lot. / I think that color is wonderful because color is bright and makes everything bright up.

Post: That it is a fear and memory. / That is beautiful. / Working together. / It is important. / I learned that color is important. / Color is important to life. / Not that much. / It doesn’t matter what color is it at least it’s a color. / Orange by being bright cool. / I think color are nice. / It don’t matter that color is it a least it’s a color. / I think that color is wonderful. / They are bright. / It was bright. / Color is a beautiful thing. / I think about color is bright. / Olive and green. / It change your mood. / I learned that there can be a lot of color in spring break. / That it express what you feel. / Color is something that describes something. / It is fun coloring.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 87% Post 88% Thoughts Shared: Pre: My most important dream for my future is to be a football player because football is the sport I love. / My dream is to become same thing in life like a basketball player. / My dream is that to at least help the kids that are suffering. / My dream is to be something like a basketball player. / No yet maybe later. / I am not sure about my dream or future. / Becoming a hero or savor. / To be a veterinarian. / Yes my dream for my future is go through collage. / Be a soccer player and a lawyer. / Finish college. / My hope and dream is to be a doctor. / I want to do is be the first president lady. / Doctor. / Have a good education live in a pretty house and have a family and a car and have enough money. / That my baby cousin does not get born all skinny. / To complete school and success. / Becoming a lawyer. / As a basketball player. / To be a actor. / I really want to be a lawyer. / I have a great job and help my mom.

Post: To be a lawyer. / Is to be an actor. / To become a basketball player. / Finish my college. / To become a football player. / Firefighter. / To graduate college. / To be a veterinarian and help the animals. / To own my own house. / To garget high school. / To be a veterinarian. / To become a teacher. / I want to be the president. / It is being a football player in the NFL. / You could make them true. / To be successful and to be a basketball player. / By going to college. / To be a lawyer in the future. / To be a doctor. / To go to college and learn a lot of stuff. / To be a veterinarian. / Respecting people.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 88% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: Never give up and work hard. / Is follow directions. / Stop bulling. / One thing is working together. / To not fear. / Because it is possible. / That when it comes to great power, comes great responsibility. / Trustworthy, respect, passion. / To work hard and get smart. / To have a good education on k-12 and university. / I need to pay attention. / To work and get smart each day. / I learned to never give up on your dreams. / By doing my work better. / I learn that we all have fears. / To never give up. / To not give up on your dream. / By paying attention and focusing on what we’re doing. / By working hard and trying. / Trying my best. / To work hard and never give up on your dreams. / To be caring and trusty.

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

Post 88% discovered something New in the workshop about themselves.

Thoughts Shared: Others can trust me. / That I can believe. / To not be scared. / I can believe in myself. / Color is important. / A lot of people have the same dreams. / Caring about others. / My trust, respect, my care for people. / I need to be respectful to other people. / Be with the ones that you used to hang out. / Be nice to other people. / Everybody has the same fear. / I could be a leader one day. / I am brave. / You could express yourself. / Everyone has the same thing. / We can express our self. / I could draw and we draw a lot. / I could try my best. / You are not the only person that has the same fear. / Everybody has the same fear.

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: That they have good dreams. / We can all be friends. / They can get scared to do something. / We have fears. / To trust them. / That they have the same dream. / That you have to show citizenship. / That some people are scared about stuff. / Help me to help my friends. / To be with them. / Being good and nice with your classmate or your friend. / Their fears and dreams and memories. / They might be the same as you. / Some people have the same dream and fear. / They have the same dream, hope and fear. / We can have the same fears and dreams. / They have the same fears as others. / My friend has the same experience. / They have some things that are the same thing that you have. / Friends have almost the same things.

Inspiring and empowering youth with the tools to make better life choices.

. .

Thanks to Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 20 young lives from Children’s First Academy experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on May 24-26th, 2016 - # 7 of 14 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 10-14.

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? : That people have similarities. Make friends. Confront the bully about their faults. Confront your boss and co-workers. / To learn about people. Learn new things about your classmates and teachers. Tell the bully that you have something in common. / Similarities. Common. Makes things easier. You find out you have a lot in common. Deal with fears. / To be respectful. Caring about others. Go tell someone. To be a leader.

Creative story telling: Responsibility. Not to be like Kobe and don’t forget stuff. Everything. / Teamwork.

Trustworthy. Help each other in school. Working together to stop it. Borrowing stuff. / Fairness. Help more with things. Stop bullying. Share more. Share more in it. / Trustworthiness. Working together and trusting that they do their part. Telling a teacher and trusting them. Trusting your boss and co-workers.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: To have confidence in yourself. Test taking, and getting your work done. To believe in yourself. To believe in yourself so they can believe in themselves. To overcome your fears and in school, at home or wherever you are. / Responsible. Taking care of others. Holding things. Getting a job. / Selfconfidence. Stronger than a bully. By reminding yourself you love you. Stand up for yourself. / To be a positive role model. You can have students look up to you. To ask the person you look up to for help. To follow the person you look up to by going to college. / Inspiring, helping out. Be a leader. Not afraid to say no. Walk away from danger and or in trouble.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: The words make me feel as if I am loved all around. You must learn to love yourself. / Happy and pretty. / Good. / It makes me feel awesome, alive and a princess. / The same as always I just tell myself that I like my eyebrows. / Very happy and alive. / Shy, nervous, asleep, handsome and feeling good. / The words make me feel as if I am loved everywhere. “You have to learn to love yourself, before you can learn to love someone else”. / It feels weird and embarrassing. / It feels weird. / Happy. / It feels weird. / The same.

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? Mom. / My dad because he takes care of me. / My mom because she helps me with every dog. / My hero is my mom. They are important to me because they mean so much to me. / My mom. She is my hero because she helps me do things and takes care of me. She is important because I look up to her and she inspires me. / Batman. He fights crime and protects and does all the seven habits and he is my hero. / A policeman because he helps you. / My cousin Ty. / My mom because she loves, cares for me and does a lot of things for me. / My mom. They care about me. / Superman and my mom.

They are important because they keep me forward and Superman taught me never give up and the same goes for my mom. / This is my mom and my mom is my hero because she is pretty like me and because she is strong and I can believe in her. / My mom she is my everything. She means the world because she does her best to keep me safe. She puts a roof over my head, feeds me, and doesn’t ask for much. I know she’s important because without her I wouldn’t know what to do. She is my leader. She leads me into great leadership.

Through the Hoops: Skills or Tools Learned: Teamwork. Working together to get something. Help someone out to stop bullying. Getting things done a lot quicker. / Teamwork. Work with your friends. There would be no conflict.

To help with chores in your home. / Teamwork. Everything. Getting together and stop bullying as a team. By getting along with others. / Teamwork. By working together to accomplish it. To stick up for each other. Getting stuff done faster and everyone’s ideas can contribute to something awesome. / Work can’t get done without a team. Teamwork with other students. Stop the bully and work together. Get more help from other people.

Seeing Beyond: To use your imagination. To imagine things in science and create it. To be more specific about things. / To be patient and proactive. Reading because if they read slow it’s good to be patient. If you want a job and waiting for a call you just have to be patient with it. / Concentrate. Writing because you have to think and concentrate. Concentrate in life for a job. / Seeing with the third eye. In math with word problems so we can see the problem in our head. Seeing the inner beauty. / Wording. You can use it in math with things. Know exactly what to do and exactly what to say.

Drawing one’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Accomplish goals. Having a positive attitude to look forward. Getting over fears and standing up for others and or yourself. Getting your grades up so that you can work up to your goal. / Realizing your dream. It makes you want to do better in school. It would make you not worry about bullies. By doing good in life and reaching your goals. / Confidence. Not to be nervous. Because you call other’s how you feel and feedback about you, so you won’t get bullied. Everything. / Common fears. Do classes to get to your dream. Help them out. To get where you need to be to help them out.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: 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 my friend was getting bullied then I went to go tell and then I got so mad and beat up another person. I hate bullies. / When I helped a kid get down from a tree so he won’t fall. / I was caring when my sibling was sad. She was crying really hard and I comforted her. It felt great. / I helped my mom throw the trash and I keep secrets. / Whenever one of my family members are sick I always take care of them and it makes me feel so good. / I was there for my cousin when she needed me the most and it made me feel awesome because I helped her. / When I helped someone out it felt the same. / When my friends told me something and told me not to tell anyone. / Yes I was trustworthy to my best friend. If she ever wants to tell me something she can come to me, and I felt good that she can come to me about anything. / At school when my friend peed her pants so I helped her to go to the office and it felt great. / A time when I was caring was when me and my brother went to the store and my brother wanted a bag of chips so I gave him two dollars.

Inspiring and empowering youth with the tools to make better life choices.

. .

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: Children’s First Academy %Male 52

%Female 48

Date: May 24-26, 2016

Ages 10-14

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

Pre %YES 41 %NO 56 %Other 3 Post %YES 73 %NO 27 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 26 % Sometimes 74 % All the Time 0 Post % Not at all 36 % Sometimes 45 % All the Time 18 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 4 % Sometimes 52 % All the Time 44 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 27 % All the Time 73 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 7 % Sometimes 67 % All the Time 26 Post % Not at all 10 % Sometimes 45 % All the Time 45 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a Follower. Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 44 % Leader 48 % No Answer 8 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 45 % Leader 55 % No Answer 0 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 67 % No 29 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 78 % No 22 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 63 % No 30 % No Answer 7 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 64 % No 36 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Because I don’t get bullied. / We talk about stuff. / Never talked about it a lot. / Because it makes me stand up to bullies. / Color is everything. / I learned how to deal with peer pressure. / To stop bullying. / To step up. / Work with the bully to stop them from bullying.

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: Because it is not cool. / Tell a teacher. / That is a leader. / I would call an adult and tell them to stop. / Help them (telling). / Because I would not want to be bullied. / I’ll tell them to stop and let someone know. / If it’s my family. / I can’t. / Yes, because bullying is not cool.

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: They taught that stuff. / I learned a little bit. / I can’t explain. / Because you can be yourself. / Yes by being these. / I learned my decision is the best decision. / To be color. / To relax. / To work together.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 70% Post 73% Thoughts Shared: Pre: My color is blue. / I like color and I have not. / Red. / No red or blue. / Blue it’s cool. / I think of color as a way of expressing my feelings and thoughts. / Black and white. / No I have not thought about color. / Cool. / Wolf. / I think it is cool. / Yea. / Black and white female or male. / Racism. / Wolf. / Purple. / Red, purple, green, blue, and yellow. / Color is cool. I really like blue. / The color of the sky is blue. / What kind of colored or blue? / Post: If you put color on fear it makes it look cool. / Color is everything. / Red. / I learned that color is not just color you can express yourself with it. / Color is everything. / There is a difference when a color is explained. / Blue. / Are fears and memories.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 70% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: To see an angel. To be a You-Tuber. / Study hard. / To be a medic. / Become a Unites States Marine. / To get a new phone. / To become a doctor. / To be a football player. / To become a hairstylist and a clothes designer. / To become a pastry chef. / I have a dream house and have three huskies. / Go to college and get a job. / To have a ferret. / To have a wolf. / Have a good family. / My most important dream is to become a game designer. / My hope and dreams are to make sure I am an actress. / My most important dream is to go to college and be successful. / My hope and dream is to go to college. / My most important dream is to become a professional soccer player.

Post: You-tuber. / To go to U of A. / My goal is to go to the Marines. / To become A NBA player. / To become an artist. / To be a robotic engineer. / My mom. / To become an engineer. / To become a football player and play for the 49ers. / To play basketball. / To become a game designer.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 82% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: Is never give up on your dream. / To work with others. / To help with teamwork. / Be a leader. / Is to be positive. / To get over my fears. / People cannot bully me. / Is to focus on school. / Pass your grade.

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 55% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count: I do know. / Kindness. / I can be helpful. / I’m not afraid of the dark. / That I can show myself more. / I learned that I’m always looking for more ways to learn.

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

Post 82% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: That others have some similarities the same as I do. / That they have the same fear as me. / We are the same. / She is shy and scared of spiders. / I have somethings in common with them. / They are adopted. / They are nice and calm. / They lost a family member. / You can help your friends in more ways.

Inspiring and empowering youth with the tools to make better life choices.

. .

Thanks to Kemper Marley Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 22 young lives from Girls Ranch experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on July 6-9, 2016 - # 8 of 14 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? : Goofy, weird, funny, adorable, and exciting. Keeping a positive attitude. Turn a negative situation into a positive one. Don’t let the hard times get you down. / Introducing ourselves. Being yourself when meeting new people. If you are confident in yourself you will be confident with others. This is who we are, we are not in life applying it to life we’re putting it there. / Shouldn’t judge others, the influences of peer pressure, same experiences.

Get to know others, making new friends, feel safe in school. Why not to bully because you don’t know what they’re going through. Learn from experiences; stay on track with life choices and desires, Can find helpful resources; can learn to ask for help. / We are all different but relate in similar ways. We all react to similar things in different ways. Speaking up, being the bigger person. We are all more similar than different.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Confidence, self-esteem, all different and beautiful don’t put down. Feel good about yourself. Confidence, self-esteem. Be you. / Learn how to love yourself. You can think you’re smart enough to do your work Standing up for yourself. You can be less vulnerable to unhealthy relationships and unhealthy behaviors. / To build self-confidence. When kids bully other kids, it takes a lot of kids to rebuild their self-esteem because of it. To love yourself no matter what people say. / Confidence, strength, love. If people approach you and all the things they say are negative you are able to push that out of your mind. You know that even though they are going to try and bully you into it and they don’t want to hang out with you anymore you know your worth and you know that you don’t need to do what they say just to fit in because you fit in with you. Self-love.

Creative Story Telling: Skills or Tools learned: Imagination, third eye. Art, English, writing. Stand up to the bully.

Used all the time solving problems. / Taking responsibility, other character counts. Taking responsibility, showing kindness, etc. helps with getting along with others, grades, social skills, being a better you. Showing those character counts to help with life lessons and inspire other people. / What our pillar actually means. Lost items returned to owner; more responsibilities, and privileges. Trust adults, trust ourselves to stand up for ourselves.

Being trustworthy.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: Brave, outgoing, good looking. / I feel that it is mostly true but there is a nagging doubt. / I feel that I’m lying to myself. I count chills thru my body. / When I did the mirror work I felt ugly and fat. I just have low self-esteem. / Gentile and kind. / Happy. / I feel okay I guess. / I feel bomb. / It makes me feel great about myself. / I feel that I don’t care anyone has to say about me or if they judge me for who I am. / It made me feel good about myself. / I’m beautiful. / Shitty because it’s not true. / It makes me feel like I’m pretty, smart, and no one can judge me. / I felt happy that I could say nice things about myself and knowing that it was true. / It makes me feel better, and I feel that if someone said something to bring me down, then I say in my head I don’t care what people think of me.

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? Brittney Griner because she’s an WNBA player who is outgoing. / My mom because my mom does whatever it takes to do things the right way. For an example she does whatever it takes to get me back. / Marilyn Monroe because she always was herself and she was an answer actor. She was beautiful. / My mommy. The reason why my mommy is my hero because she saved my life when I went thru hard times. / My hero is the girls and staff because they tell me that I am good mother and that makes me feel proud of myself and it makes me believe that I can get through it. / My family is my hero because they all support me in and out of difficult problems. / Ben because he makes me want to be a better me and more. / My dad because he’s always there for me. / My hero is my brother. He’s been thru so much and still going thru a lot. He’s just a strong person. / George Washington. He stood for what he believed in, in the face of odds and great opposition. / Gerta Klein survived the Nazi Germany concentration camp, won the Medal of Freedom from President Obama, lives here in the valley, wrote three books about her life. / She is my hero because I don’t know what I would have done without her because everyone needs a hero at some point of their life. / My mom is beautiful. They show me how to be a better person and stay believing in myself. Because my mom got through drugs by herself with no help. Justin Bieber because he gets up when knocked down. / Amy Winehouse. I feel like she saved me with her music. She poured her heart and soul into her music everything she felt, everything she was going through and every time I was upset or frustrated I listened to her music and I felt better. I know she was bullied by the press because the way she liked to dress and do her makeup but I think if everyone would have looked past all that they would know that she is just like all of us, insecure teens or even adults and that she is an amazing woman when I was at my lowest in life she lifted me up. Amy Winehouse is my hero.

Angelina Jolie she is my hero because she has adopted six children who are in need. She is also my favorite actress and I just love the way she acts.

Through the Hoops: Skills or Tools Learned: Teamwork, trust, effective communication. Work with others, trust teachers and peers. Trust adults that they’ll do something; work together against bullies and bullying. Ask for help; get a job, work, interview, and board meetings. / Teamwork. Teamwork goes to school. Teamwork can help with sports because you have to communicate with your teammates. Teamwork comes in a lot of ways with your spouse, teammates school. / Teamwork, trust, relax, good vibes. Group projects, de-stress for school work, friends. Hug a bully, sweet talk, party. Relax from hard day, become friends, earn trust work together. / Communication, trust teamwork. Working together in a school project you may be good at one thing but another person may be good at another so you have to work together. If someone is bullying you then if someone see’s it then they will stand with you and stop it. People standing together as one.

Seeing Beyond: Working together, public speaking, bravery, communication. Work together, get better grades.

Achieving things together. / To use our third eye. Be patient, be yourself. History, science, geometry, art, English.

At work, concentrating, be patient. / Using third eye is necessary. Creative writing because you have to visualize, physical education game plan. For everyday needs. You must use every day. / Trusting your instincts.

Art=imagination; English=imagining the symbols what you are reading. Not afraid to ask questions or trusting your instincts.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Finding the positive in negative situations. Thinking of the consequences of your behavior. Thinking positively. / Developing trust. Finding the positives in the negatives. Trust your teacher.

Change negative thoughts to positive. / Take a step back, look at it a different way. Being positive taking a test and thinking about it. When someone is getting bullied. Job, argument, children do something bad, when staff tries to better us as people. / Positive thinking. Ask for help, not talk down about things. Don’t let others get to you, coping skills. Talk about it.

Write about a time when you were trustworthy or caring and helped someone else in a positive way : When I first had my son and I didn’t really care for him. But then I got to Girl’s Ranch they taught me new skills and how to better myself as a mom. / Going to Florence Crittenton I had the idea I even made a whole plan to AWOL my first day. I’m glad I didn’t because it made me a stronger person. / The principle at my high school, called me into the office. I thought I was in trouble but he actually gave me a commendation for my grades. / I was going to go to a birthday party but I couldn’t and on the news there had been an accident. / I was sick and went to the doctor’s office. I was scared to get a shot but the doctor gave me medicine instead. / When I got back to Girl’s Ranch I am having new friends no matter how wild they are. / I felt so negative because when I had got pregnant I had thought that I wasn’t ready for being a mother, but when my baby was born I felt so happy. As my baby girl is getting so big and well taking care of the girls from Girl’s Ranch Scottsdale and staff tells that I am a wonderful mother and I am the proudest mother in the world and happy to be there for my daughter. / When I lived with my mom and she had her boyfriend living with us and I felt so angry because of the things that went on but now it is ten years later that the bad situation helped me become stronger in the long haul. / Well when I was home I use to follow my mom’s footsteps and when I came to Girl’s Ranch I learned to go into a positive direction, and it changed my life and now my mom has learned how her mistakes and so do I, and I feel better about myself. / Then I was living with my aunt. I use to get bullied because of the clothes I was wearing but when I came to Girl’s Ranch Scottsdale I started wearing the clothes I wanted to wear and I stopped getting bullied and started making friends.

Inspiring and empowering youth with the tools to make better life choices.

. .

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: Girls Ranch %Male 0

%Female 100

Date: July 6-9, 2016

Ages 15-17

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

Pre %YES 80 %NO 20 %Other 0 Post %YES 100 %NO 0 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 15 % Sometimes 60 % All the Time 25 Post % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 60 % All the Time 34 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 40 % All the Time 60 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 50 % All the Time 50 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 53 % All the Time 47 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a Follower. Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 10 % Equal 40 % Leader 50 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 40 % Leader 60 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 90 % No 10 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 85 % No 15 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 60 % No 20 % No Answer 20 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 87 % No 13 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Deep breaths. / Talking to people you trust. / Stand up and help others. / Everyone is different. / To not let people get to you. / Don’t fear people. / Everyone is the same. / You can stand up for them. / To believe in yourself. / To not let people get to you. / Yes, just give the bully a hug.

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: Speak up. / Tell someone. / Help. / Tell them it is not okay to bully. / I would help. / Everyone. / Because it’s not right. / Yes, because I know how it feels and everyone should be nice. / Go tell the teacher. / I would speak to the bully and try to sweet talk.

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

Post % Yes 80 % No 20 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Be myself. / Everything. / Responsibility is really important. / Be confident. / Yes, because I learned things I didn’t know. / I already learned these skills. / Respect is going to get you more with other people.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 60% Post 53% Thoughts Shared: Pre: I like it. / It’s different to others. / I think color is a way to express myself. / I think color is beautiful. / It is beautiful and gives things life. / Yes. / A blessing and a curse; opposites in the same origin. / Scarlett yes I have. / It’s cool. / Pink and purple. / It doesn’t matter to me. / I like it. / I love bright colors.

Post: That they all have a meaning. / I like colors because they express you. / You can make new color. / It resembles feelings. / Beautiful. / It has meaning. / Pink and green and purple.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 60% Post 80% Thoughts Shared: Pre: To be successful. / Grandchildren. / To go back home. / Dream. / Staying with my brother. / To get adopted by a loving family. / To go to college and graduate. / Go to college. / To get out of CPS. / That I have a well-paying job. / Becoming a Pokemon world champion. / My most important hope or dream is to be me.

Post: Dream. / Hope and trust. / To raise my kids. / Being loved and respected by my family. / To raise my daughter and to be her role model to her. / Meeting Brittany Griner. / Being successful. / To have a family. / To see Zeza grow up and be happy. / To be home with my family. / To be successful in life. / To be successful. / To be able to provide a safe environment for my son. / Finish high school and go to college become a veterinarian and have a family.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 80% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: Keep going forward and just believe. / Is to be confident in myself. / Is to be always positive. / To not fear anything. / You can do it. / Talk to more people. / Never give up. / Keep dreaming. / Hope and trust. / Is to believe in myself that I can get through it. / Being persistent and that I am not alone. / To raise my kids.

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 80% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count Thoughts Shared: Meet people. / To help me by believing in myself. / Temper. / Keep dreaming. / Courage. / To help me talk more. / Responsibility. / I want to work on being more confident and the workshop helped me by teaching me how to do that. / I want to improve in public speaking and the workshop helped me. / To not fear anything. / Thinking positive. They helped me by saying I love myself in the mirror.

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

Post 60% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: We have the same fear. / Some people share my fears. / That we are all alike in different ways. / They’re cool. / They have the same fear. / They have the same expectations as me. /Who cares if they judge just you. / We are alike. / It heals us. / Some have stories. / That we are all alike.

Thanks to Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 13 young lives from Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on July 19-21, 2016 - # 9 of 14 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? : Black, White, Hispanic, Native American. Desert Range, Ams, New Horizon, youth homes. Swing, rush, get pissed. Protect, protect, protect. / Communication, scientific skills, one and one. Starting the conversation, learn to get to know people, adapt. Tell an adult, confront the bully. Communication helps with girls, jobs, friends, family. / Respect, patience, honesty, expression, articulation. Respecting the teacher and peers; having patience when working with others; using honesty in constructive criticism; using expression in presenting yourself. Problems with the bully.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Self-reflection, realizing the impact I have on others. Stay focused in class because when I screw around in class, it affects other’s learning. Know that what I do should not be influenced by others. Reflect on what I do and think so I can fix problems before they become problems. / We learned that we are looked at by someone to be their hero just as well as we have a hero. To do positive things. To be your own person and be a leader. To always fight through obstacles in order to reach our goals. / Love yourself the way you are. Give me more confidence. To keep moving forward. Not to let little things hurt you, trust in yourself.

Creative Story Telling: Skills or Tools Learned: Work together, creativity, multi-task, imagine, when having a group project, dealing with people, be open minded. Learn to confront an issue properly. Use for jobs, relationships, socially, be open to other’s ideas. / Break barriers; Punctuality, teamwork, acting something out to learn about it. Over-achieve, break barriers, punctuality, work ethic. We can stop bullying by coming together, people can stop bullying. Being punctual will help in life with jobs. / Communication, listening. Responsibility and answering questions. By talking towards the bully. By listening and communication problems.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: I like myself. Good because it gives me confidence. / Strange. / It makes me feel confident and homesick at the same time. / I love

the way I look because my parents made me and I appreciate how I am a healthy kid. / Relieved, upset, ashamed, etc. / It makes me feel like a liar. / Uncomfortable, empowered, goofy. / Good about myself. / It makes me feel good.

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? Boosie is important to me because he’s motivational. I relate to his music. / My hero is my mom without her I wouldn’t have anything. / My step-sister. She as well as my family is the reason why I’m still living and why I can still keep going, and I love her the most. / I don’t have one. I think that they are important to have so that you have someone to role model after. / Jesus died for everyone’s sins, saving us. Son of God showed everyone love and kindness always. / My dad is dependable, responsible. This person is my dad. / My hero is important to me because his music is amazing to me.

His lyrics are dark but his voice is light which creates a great sound and is very soothing to me. The Weekend is a hip-hop, R and B songwriter and singer. He is of Ethiopian decent and is from Canada. / I think my dad because he is important to me and he never gives up. He is a strong person and so is my mom. She always is going to be here for me no matter what. / Superman, because no matter what you do to him nothing can hurt him. He keeps moving forward.

Through the Hoops: Skills or Tools Learned: Work together, we can get through it together with help. By talking, teamwork, being accountable. Talk to him, to know him better. Responsibility for your actions. / Overcoming adversity. Don’t give up. Self-defense, body, mind, coordination. There are an infinite number of obstacles in life, but one must pave his or her path. / Never give up. Teamwork, communication, trust, patience. Getting along with peers, group projects. Approach the obstacles in a professional way. Family, jobs, relationships, in the community.

Always have motivation.

Seeing Beyond: Creativity, imagination, thinking skills. Science because you use all five senses in the subject.

While working, creating things, architecture. / Descriptive, perspective. Reading and oral reports. / Imagination.

You can use it writing a story. By being an author.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Intuition. Use it in school. Follow your gut. / Gut feeling. Peer pressure.

Listen to voice. / Intuition. Listen to voice. Practice listening.

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: When my friends wanted to do something and I listened to my inner voice. To listen to your guts. / When I should of gone home and not of done drugs because I got arrested. To always follow your inner voice. / When I was in the streets, my inner voice said to go home or stay there. The attention to my inner voice because it can help me avoid problems. / When I didn’t listen to myself to stop smoking weed when I was on probation. I can learn to control my habit. / When I told myself not to fight.

When I fought my rival gang. That I could have killed him and I could have gone to adult prison. / When I decided to accept coming to Adobe. When you accept things, those things will be better. / When I am alone I would want to smoke weed, but I had to think to myself about what I was going to do. Questions is not a solution to a problem. / Didn’t go to a party and the people who did got caught. Have the courage to say no. / When I was in the streets, my inner voice said to go home and stay there. Pay attention to my inner voice because it can help me avoid problems. / Fight in treatment. It’s harder to not fight, than fight. / I had told my friend something that was going to happen and he didn’t listen and a few days later he was arrested. Listen to your gut feeling. / People who act immature and rude make me feel like I want to hit them but my inner voice tells me not to because the consequences aren’t worth it. I can learn that it is better to think about what the possible outcomes are before you make a rash decision. / I followed my intuition when I was at church and something told me to pray for a friend.

She cried when she told me that she was telling God to send someone to pray for her or she wasn’t going to make it through the night. Sometimes you have to do stuff that might make you uncomfortable but it can literally save someone’s life.

Drawing one’s Fears, Hopes, Dreams and Sharing: My dreams. Plan it. Learn their fears. Reach your dream. / Fears. Work on dreams. Talk about dreams. How to reach dreams. / Fears, dreams. Focus on future. Know similarities. Live to reach dreams, pass fears.

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: ADJC %Male 100

%Female 0

Date: July 19-21, 2016

Ages 15-17

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

Pre %YES 46 %NO 54 %Other 0 Post %YES 80 %NO 20 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 23 % Sometimes 31 % All the Time 46 Post % Not at all 20 % Sometimes 27 % All the Time 53 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 38 % All the Time 52 Post % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 27 % All the Time 67 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 46 % All the Time 54 Post % Not at all 7 % Sometimes 33 % All the Time 60 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a Follower. Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 15 % Leader 85 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 27 % Leader 73 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 38 % No 62 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 77 % No 23 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 77 % No 0 % No Answer 23 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 60 % No 40 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Just walk away. / Walk away. / Not to bully. / You can express yourself that might be able to help sometimes. / The mirror technique. / We can all work together. / Try to avoid problems by talking. / Approach it correctly. / Not to push people, be in peace. / I always deal with it in a good way. / Be and treat others equally.

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

Post % Yes 87 % No 7 % No Answer 6 Thoughts Shared: I will intervene to help the situation. / Talk to the bully. / Tell them to stop. / I would bully the bully. / Have respect and we are all equal. / I would tell an adult or talk to the bully. / Tell them the “golden rule”. / To help. / Stop it. / Depends on the situation. / Tell him I’d like to see him pick on me. / Tell somebody. / Even before I would say something if I saw someone getting picked on. / Did you learn any skills, such as respect or responsibility, to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 47 % No 47 % No Answer 6 Thoughts Shared: I don’t understand the language. / Not listen to others. / Yes. / Respect. / I already knew this stuff. / Follow your inner voice. / Talk to them. / Respect self, not get into problems. / All that we covered I already used. / You just have to be true to yourself and what you want, think, and feel.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 53% Post 87% Thoughts Shared: Pre: There are bright colors. / I believe color can express how you feel. / I think colors are beautiful. / It’s pretty. / That it represents color I bleed. / I think that gains attention. / It can show good things. / I think it is very useful.

Post: That every color means something special. / Color connects to emotions. / Color symbolizes more things than just itself. / It’s pretty. / It means things. / Colors can happy your mood. / That it expresses feelings. / Color expresses mood. / It’s everyday life. / Has color. / I stick to my colors and that’s that. / It’s just a color. / A form to express self. / Color brings us closer together when we celebrate.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 85% Post 93% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Become an electrician. / To be a UFG fighter. / To be a surgeon and professional soccer player. / Become someone in life. / Mechanics, artist, culinary arts. / Military and raise a family. / To take care of my son. / To finish barber school and get my GED. / To become a successful neuro-surgeon. / Go to MCC then transfer to ASU, and staying sober. / To marry the girl of my dreams. My current girlfriend. / I just want to have a family and give them stuff that I didn’t have and make their lives better than mine.

Post: Mental health. / Finish school and help my mom. / Being with family and my baby’s mama and my kid. / To be released and see my family again. / To have a dream. / School. / Aside from having a family, joining the military. / Be a fighter piolet in the Navy. / To be successful. / To be successful and make my parents proud. / Is to turn my life around. / To become a UFG fighter. / To reach it. / I have three. To be successful in my career; to marry my girlfriend; and to be there to benefit my family. / To be a rapper, take care of my family and have a car and house. / Having a family and giving them a better life than I have had.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 93% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: I have to overcome my fear. / To never give up. / Don’t let others define who you are. / Have a plan. / Better ways to handle things. / Is to stay myself. / Foundation. / My fear, I never really thought about that. / Perseverance. / Nobody can change what I think about myself. / Never give up. / Yes. / To keep moving forward. / Think about things before doing them. / Go to school.

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 77% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count Thoughts Shared: I am not alone. / That I can accomplish anything. / That I can communicate with a lot. / Nothing, I am the way I am. / Yes. / Group skills. / I am very valuable. / Nothing, although I did rediscover stuff. / I know I’m the same as everyone. / I can avoid problems by being me. / To accomplish what I set out. / That you should never give up. / You can achieve your dreams.

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

Post 93% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: Most of us have the same type of fear. / That they have too much pride for their own good. / Their fears. / That we have similar fears. / That we can relate to each other. / Most people fear death. / Everybody has feelings. / They care. / Nice people. / Their careers. / That they chill people. / That no matter what people say about you at the end of the day you know who you are. / The kids in the group took it pretty seriously, I thought they were going to mess around. / I don’t care about other people their problems are their problems, I worry about myself.

Thanks to Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 13 young lives from Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on July 19-21, 2016 - # 10 of 14 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? : Persistence. Motivation teaches self to obtain what is wanted. Peer pressure. To let yourself know you’re capable. Not give up on different goals. / To have a good character. People skills with youth. Tell a staff.

Cope with negative people. / How to not take no for an answer. Persistence. Talk to him. Perseverance.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: I am special. More confidence in yourself. You can say no without hesitation.

You know you’re worth something. / Self-esteem. To know you can accomplish stuff. Help you resist temptation.

High school. / To realize who we are and where we want to go. To know who we want to be around. To just say no. To know where you want to go and never give up. / Self-confidence. Won’t be afraid to ask questions. Won’t be hated to be a good classmate. You would want to believe in yourself to do good. You will know what you want and that you are capable.

Creative Story Telling: Skills or Tools learned: Presentation. You can show how you put yourself out to everybody. Lead a positive life to help others so they maybe follow you. Present yourself to others. / Actions speak louder than words. To learn to be a good citizen and show up. To just walk away. Actions speak louder than words. / Fairness, responsibility. Be responsible and finish work. Being fair makes people feel better. Everyone has responsibilities in life and no stopping them. / Actions speak louder than words. Helps people with stage fright.

Boosting confidence in classes. First impressions for job interviews.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: I feel ugly because they cut my hair. / Col and good. / Weird, happy because I am cute. / Great. / It makes me feel good about myself. / It kind of makes me feel ashamed a little bit because I’m here and I know I can do better. / Good in a way I’m not sure. / Makes me feel proud. / Makes me feel good. / I feel good. / Cool and fire. / I feel happy about myself. I like how I feel. / 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? He takes care of me and provides food. / Myself and my mom. Because she is my mom. / Antman. / My

father he is always there for me. / Grandma. She is my hero because she raised me when she didn’t have to. / My mother because she is independent and a great parent. Because she helps me become who I am. / Superman because he is awesome and does good things. / Batman and Jesus because they can help the world. / Martin Luther King, Sr. because he changed our society. / Batman because he has self- control and honor. He wants justice to be served to all criminals. / I think my girlfriend is important to me because she keeps me out of trouble and I need her in my life. / My brother. He had to grow up by himself, started working and came up in life. He’s always looking out for me. / He is Sam. I trust 100% and I can go to and get what I have off my chest. They are important because it’s someone we can talk or go to about something.

Through the Hoops: Skills or Tools Learned: Teamwork makes the dream work. Everyone helps each other out.

Peers can stand up for each other. Communication with peers. / Teamwork. Sports, games, activities. Ask people for address to stop the bullying. Teamwork makes the dream work. / Discipline. Be at school on time and be in classes. A sense that something will happen. Need to have some type of structure. / Teamwork. Sports teams.

Talking to bullies. In a job or work place.

Seeing Beyond: Discipline. Math to help you go to class even though you don’t like it. Help you to have selfcontrol. / To think fast. English to use your imagination. To be able to think fast and respond fast. / Seeing beyond. Being able to see yourself succeed and graduate. Being able to see yourself succeed in life. / Communicate, imagination, visualization. Science class for hypothesis. Reading books to visualize what’s going on. Sports, basketball. Jobs regulars.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Following your intuition. During a test cheating. Jobs, fast food right amount of change. / To follow my gut. Staying out of trouble in school. Staying out of jail. / Following your gut. To pass a test. Stay out of trouble. Guiding you in life. / Follow your gut. Not to cheat. Not to ditch class. Your gut is mostly right.

Drawing one’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Honesty. To help share about yourself so your classmates can get to know you better and you feel more comfortable and good. You are able to learn more. You can let the bullies know how you feel with honesty. You can get along with people better. / Recognize your fears, hopes, and dreams. Work for your dreams. Both have hopes, fears, and dreams. Get where you want in life. / Optimism. Help me get good grades. To look at the good side of it. To be able to keep moving forward. / Accomplishing your dreams you have to go through obstacles. Being able to face your fears. Being behind in credits you can pull through. Getting from point A to point B. Write about a time when you were trustworthy or caring and helped someone else in a positive way : When my inner voice said not to go to the neighborhood and something did happen bad. / In basketball I didn’t shoot the ball when I should of. Always trust your gut. / I was going out with my friends to the mall my intuition told me to go to school instead. Gut feelings are usually right. / The outcome was either good or bad. Always trust your gut (intuition). / I was walking down the street and something told me to look down and I saw a $100 bill. To trust your gut. / When I was telling myself don’t fight. I should of listened to myself. / One day I wasn’t going to go to school and I told myself it was best for me to go to school and my P.O. came. Don’t second guess yourself. / I had to follow my conscience when I wanted to steal a car and my gut told me not to. I can learn from this by following my gut and conscience when it’s telling me not to do something because you can get in a lot of trouble. / I was asked to do a bad thing and knew I shouldn’t have but instead I did. Gut feelings are usually right. / When my friend told me to go for a ride in a car but I had a bad feeling about it so I didn’t. He was arrested for grand theft auto three hours later. To trust your first instinct.

Yes/No: Skills or Tools Learned: To accept rejection. To avoid anger if someone rejects me. To just learn to say no. To help rejection or acceptance at a job or job interview. / How to not take no for an answer. If someone tells you to do something bad say no. To be able to say no. Not giving up on your goals. / Respect. Respect others. Ask nicely. Give respect to get respect.

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility %Male 100

%Female 0

Date: July 19-21, 2016

Ages 15-17

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

Pre %YES 54 %NO 38 %Other 8 Post %YES 64 %NO 38 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 38 % Sometimes 54 % All the Time 8 Post % Not at all 24 % Sometimes 38 % All the Time 38 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 54 % All the Time 46 Post % Not at all 16 % Sometimes 46 % All the Time 38 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 15 % Sometimes 31 % All the Time 54 Post % Not at all 15 % Sometimes 31 % All the Time 54 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a Follower. Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 31 % Leader 69 Post % Follower 15 % Equal 23 % Leader 62 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 38 % No 62 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 92 % No 8 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 46 % No 46 % No Answer 8 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 77 % No 23 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I am the bully. / Help out. / Everyone has fears. / Teamwork. / Optimism. / Not to pick on others that may not be as good as I am. / How to express my opinion. / To show that bullying is bad. / Helping me for when I get released.

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

Post % Yes 77 % No 23 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I’m not their father. / Help out. / Help them out. Tell someone. / Tell them to leave that kid alone. / I would help them. / Tell them to stop and help that kid. / Because no one deserves to be bullied. / Talk to him or talk to a teacher. / To be helpful.

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

Post % Yes 69 % No 21 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I’m a savage. / Respect peers. / Adults in work. / Responsibility. / Not to give up. / I went with my gut. / To respect my own decision. / A lot.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 77% Post 92% Thoughts Shared: Pre: It’s okay and nice. / It’s related to emotions. / No. I never thought about color. / Color is everything. / It’s nice. / I think color is cool and makes things better. / It’s eye opening. / It’s relaxing. / I think it’s beautiful. / I think color can stand for different emotions and feelings. / I think colors are like emotions color makes you feel better.

Post: Nice. / Color is emotions. / Kind of do. / It’s expression. / It is put as a certain color for a reason. / I love color. / Color is a great deal. / Red. / Racism. / It’s cool. / Color is just color. / Color could be a mood. / Every color has a meaning to it.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 85% Post 92% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Is to become a MLB player. / To become a physical trainer. / To be happy. / To stay from being incarcerated. / To become a surgical technologist. / Hope. / Be worthy. / Motor cross. / To live peacefully with my loved ones. / To have a big family and to be able to support my family. / To get a good job and future.

Post: Is to become rich. / Helping my mom out. / To become wealthy. / To be rich. / Be like El Chapo. / Family. / Getting married to Mia. / Tattoo artist or work in a barber shop. / A surgical technologist. / To have a cool low rider and money. / Motor cross. / Is to become a MLB player and to get released.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 85% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: Never give up. / I need help. / To never give up. / Go with my gut. / Not give up. / Respect. / Teamwork. / Hope. / Not give up. / Work hard not giving up. / Just to believe.

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 85% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count: Teamwork. / I am a good sport. / That I’m smart. / I hate people. / Hope. / Visualization. / I am awesome. / Skills. / I share fears with others my age. / That I should like the way I look. / That I’m caring.

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

Post 77% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: That they actually have feelings. / That I should help them out more often. / They are cool. / What they are feeling. / Perez is very funny. / Their dreams. / Teamwork. / They’re hard working. / Their most fears. / He’s just a person or classmate.

Inspiring and empowering youth with the tools to make better life choices.

. .

Thanks to Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 16 young lives from Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on August 23-25, 2016 - # 11 of 14 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? : Black, White, Hispanic, Native American. Desert Range, Ams, New Horizon, youth homes. Swing, rush, get pissed. Protect, protect, protect. / Communication, scientific skills, one and one. Starting the conversation, learn to get to know people, adapt. Tell an adult, confront the bully. Communication helps with girls, jobs, friends, family. / Respect, patience, honesty, expression, articulation. Respecting the teacher and peers; having patience when working with others; using honesty in constructive criticism; using expression in presenting yourself. Problems with the bully.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Self-reflection, realizing the impact I have on others. Stay focused in class because when I screw around in class, it affects other’s learning. Know that what I do should not be influenced by others. Reflect on what I do and think so I can fix problems before they become problems. / We learned that we are looked at by someone to be their hero just as well as we have a hero. To do positive things. To be your own person and be a leader. To always fight through obstacles in order to reach our goals. / Love yourself the way you are. Give me more confidence. To keep moving forward. Not to let little things hurt you, trust in yourself.

Creative Story Telling: Skills or Tools Learned: Work together, creativity, multi-task, imagine, when having a group project, dealing with people, be open minded. Learn to confront an issue properly. Use for jobs, relationships, socially, be open to other’s ideas. / Break barriers; Punctuality, teamwork, acting something out to learn about it. Over-achieve, break barriers, punctuality, work ethic. We can stop bullying by coming together, people can stop bullying. Being punctual will help in life with jobs. / Communication, listening. Responsibility and answering questions. By talking towards the bully. By listening and communication problems.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are: I like myself. Good because it gives me confidence. / Strange. / It makes me feel confident and homesick at the same time. / I love the way I look because my parents made me and I appreciate how I am a healthy kid. / Relieved, upset, ashamed, etc. / It makes me feel like a liar. / Uncomfortable, empowered, goofy. / Good about myself. / It makes me feel good.

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? Boosie is important to me because he’s motivational. I relate to his music. / My hero is my mom without her I wouldn’t have anything. / My step-sister. She as well as my family is the reason why I’m still living and why I can still keep going, and I love her the most. / I don’t have one. I think that they are important to have so that you have someone to role model after. / Jesus died for everyone’s sins, saving us. Son of God showed everyone love and kindness always. / My dad is dependable, responsible. This person is my dad. / My hero is important to me because his music is amazing to me.

His lyrics are dark but his voice is light which creates a great sound and is very soothing to me. The Weekend is a hip-hop, R and B songwriter and singer. He is of Ethiopian decent and is from Canada. / I think my dad because he is important to me and he never gives up. He is a strong person and so is my mom. She always is going to be here for me no matter what. / Superman, because no matter what you do to him nothing can hurt him. He keeps moving forward.

Through the Hoops: Skills or Tools Learned: Work together, we can get through it together with help. By talking, teamwork, being accountable. Talk to him, to know him better. Responsibility for your actions. / Overcoming adversity. Don’t give up. Self-defense, body, mind, coordination. There are an infinite number of obstacles in life, but one must pave his or her path. / Never give up. Teamwork, communication, trust, patience. Getting along with peers, group projects. Approach the obstacles in a professional way. Family, jobs, relationships, in the community.

Always have motivation.

Seeing Beyond: Creativity, imagination, thinking skills. Science because you use all five senses in the subject.

While working, creating things, architecture. / Descriptive, perspective. Reading and oral reports. / Imagination.

You can use it writing a story. By being an author.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Intuition. Use it in school. Follow your gut. / Gut feeling. Peer pressure.

Listen to voice. / Intuition. Listen to voice. Practice listening.

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: When my friends wanted to do something and I listened to my inner voice. To listen to your guts. / When I should of gone home and not of done drugs because I got arrested. To always follow your inner voice. / When I was in the streets, my inner voice said to go home or stay there. The attention to my inner voice because it can help me avoid problems. / When I didn’t listen to myself to stop smoking weed when I was on probation. I can learn to control my habit. / When I told myself not to fight.

When I fought my rival gang. That I could have killed him and I could have gone to adult prison. / When I decided to accept coming to Adobe. When you accept things, those things will be better. / When I am alone I would want to smoke weed, but I had to think to myself about what I was going to do. Questions is not a solution to a problem. / Didn’t go to a party and the people who did got caught. Have the courage to say no. / When I was in the streets, my inner voice said to go home and stay there. Pay attention to my inner voice because it can help me avoid problems. / Fight in treatment. It’s harder to not fight, than fight. / I had told my friend something that was going to happen and he didn’t listen and a few days later he was arrested. Listen to your gut feeling. / People who act immature and rude make me feel like I want to hit them but my inner voice tells me not to because the consequences aren’t worth it. I can learn that it is better to think about what the possible outcomes are before you make a rash decision. / I followed my intuition when I was at church and something told me to pray for a friend.

She cried when she told me that she was telling God to send someone to pray for her or she wasn’t going to make it through the night. Sometimes you have to do stuff that might make you uncomfortable but it can literally save someone’s life.

Drawing one’s Fears, Hopes, Dreams and Sharing: My dreams. Plan it. Learn their fears. Reach your dream. / Fears. Work on dreams. Talk about dreams. How to reach dreams. / Fears, dreams. Focus on future. Know similarities. Live to reach dreams, pass fears.

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: ADJC %Male 100

%Female 0

Date: August 23-25, 2016

Ages 15-17

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

Pre %YES 46 %NO 54 %Other 0 Post %YES 80 %NO 20 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 23 % Sometimes 31 % All the Time 46 Post % Not at all 20 % Sometimes 27 % All the Time 53 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 38 % All the Time 52 Post % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 27 % All the Time 67 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 46 % All the Time 54 Post % Not at all 7 % Sometimes 33 % All the Time 60 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a Follower. Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 15 % Leader 85 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 27 % Leader 73 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 38 % No 62 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 77 % No 23 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 77 % No 0

% No Answer 23

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

Post % Yes 60 % No 40 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Just walk away. / Walk away. / Not to bully. / You can express yourself that might be able to help sometimes. / The mirror technique. / We can all work together. / Try to avoid problems by talking. / Approach it correctly. / Not to push people, be in peace. / I always deal with it in a good way. / Be and treat others equally.

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

Post % Yes 87 % No 7 % No Answer 6 Thoughts Shared: I will intervene to help the situation. / Talk to the bully. / Tell them to stop. / I would bully the bully. / Have respect and we are all equal. / I would tell an adult or talk to the bully. / Tell them the “golden rule”. / To help. / Stop it. / Depends on the situation. / Tell him I’d like to see him pick on me. / Tell somebody. / Even before I would say something if I saw someone getting picked on. / Did you learn any skills, such as respect or responsibility, to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 47 % No 47 % No Answer 6

Thoughts Shared: I don’t understand the language. / Not listen to others. / Yes. / Respect. / I already knew this stuff. / Follow your inner voice. / Talk to them. / Respect self, not get into problems. / All that we covered I already used. / You just have to be true to yourself and what you want, think, and feel.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 53% Post 87% Thoughts Shared: Pre: There are bright colors. / I believe color can express how you feel. / I think colors are beautiful. / It’s pretty. / That it represents color I bleed. / I think that gains attention. / It can show good things. / I think it is very useful.

Post: That every color means something special. / Color connects to emotions. / Color symbolizes more things than just itself. / It’s pretty. / It means things. / Colors can happy your mood. / That it expresses feelings. / Color expresses mood. / It’s everyday life. / Has color. / I stick to my colors and that’s that. / It’s just a color. / A form to express self. / Color brings us closer together when we celebrate.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 85% Post 93% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Become an electrician. / To be a UFG fighter. / To be a surgeon and professional soccer player. / Become someone in life. / Mechanics, artist, culinary arts. / Military and raise a family. / To take care of my son. / To finish barber school and get my GED. / To become a successful neuro-surgeon. / Go to MCC then transfer to ASU, and staying sober. / To marry the girl of my dreams. My current girlfriend. / I just want to have a family and give them stuff that I didn’t have and make their lives better than mine.

Post: Mental health. / Finish school and help my mom. / Being with family and my baby’s mama and my kid. / To be released and see my family again. / To have a dream. / School. / Aside from having a family, joining the military. / Be a fighter piolet in the Navy. / To be successful. / To be successful and make my parents proud. / Is to turn my life around. / To become a UFG fighter. / To reach it. / I have three. To be successful in my career; to marry my girlfriend; and to be there to benefit my family. / To be a rapper, take care of my family and have a car and house. / Having a family and giving them a better life than I have had.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 93% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: I have to overcome my fear. / To never give up. / Don’t let others define who you are. / Have a plan. / Better ways to handle things. / Is to stay myself. / Foundation. / My fear, I never really thought about that. / Perseverance. / Nobody can change what I think about myself. / Never give up. / Yes. / To keep moving forward. / Think about things before doing them. / Go to school.

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 77% discovered something in the workshop to improve their Character Count Thoughts Shared: I am not alone. / That I can accomplish anything. / That I can communicate with a lot. / Nothing, I am the way I am. / Yes. / Group skills. / I am very valuable. / Nothing, although I did rediscover stuff. / I know I’m the same as everyone. / I can avoid problems by being me. / To accomplish what I set out. / That you should never give up. / You can achieve your dreams.

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

Post 93% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop Thoughts Shared: Most of us have the same type of fear. / That they have too much pride for their own good. / Their fears. / That we have similar fears. / That we can relate to each other. / Most people fear death. / Everybody has feelings. / They care. / Nice people. / Their careers. / That they chill people. / That no matter what people say

Thanks to Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 17 young lives from Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on August 23-25th, 2016 - # 12 of 14 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? : Bravery. Stand up to bullies. Beat him up, stand up for yourself. Don’t take stuff from anyone. / Psychically capable, fresh. Don’t like it most of the time. Less anger. Independent. / Not be follower, public speaking. Listen to teacher. Talk it out. Remember everyone has their own experiences. / We all have something in common. By sticking up for each other. We can relate. More of a social circle.

Creative Storytelling: Not everyone is the same. Don’t judge. Bullies are bullies. Some are weaker and have no motivations. / Imagination, creative thinking. Listening when other people are talking. Standing out for yourself and everyone else. Create something new no one has seen. / Public speaking, follow directions. Be able to talk in front of peer.

Speak up for yourself. Learn to work with other, being successful. / Being brave, how to go about helping others. It gives you the courage to be a helpful classmate. It will help you to step up to bullies. Being brave could help you make better friends and go out of your comfort zones which could open more possibilities in life.

Through the Hoops: Teamwork. You have to talk to one another, communicate. Talk amongst yourself. You have to want to succeed as bad as you wanna breathe. / Teamwork, boundaries, cooperation. Working together.

Friends help work against bully and give positive feedback. Teammates win as a unit. / Working with peers, compromise. Learn to share. Realize the effects of your actions. How to come over obstacles. / How to work together to be sympathetic and empathetic. Help to understand where your peers come from and how they feel.

Show bullies where we come from and what we have in common with each other. It helps you to relate to people.

Mirror Work: Wow, that’s me. / Good. / It makes me feel good because I love myself. / It makes me feel ok. / Mad, regretful. / I love myself. / It makes me feel good. / Good, respectable. / Positive, influenced, loving. / It makes me feel as if it’s not really true and that I want to make a change in myself. / Good inside. / It made me feel great. / Good. / Good. / Me senti muy bien volverme a ver. / It makes me feel more confident and happy. / It makes me feel good.

Hero: Kobe Bryant. My idol. / Me. I’m the best. / Myself. Because I can save people if I want to. / Because I’m cool. / Family always comes first. I wouldn’t be me without them. I wouldn’t be here if it was up to me. / MLK. The CRM helped black people. / Dad. Because he changed his life for the better. / Mark Zuckerberg. He made it out on his own by creating a websites that makes billions in revenue. / I don’t have one but myself. Because I’m the only one that can change. / I don’t have one. None. / My hero is my father. He is my father figure. / Mom. Because she my only mom in the world! / My momma. She is the strongest person I know. / Mi madre. Es la que siempre me en apoyado y es mi razon de querer volver ami pais con ella. / Mom and sister. Because all we do is love each other. My mom is a perfect woman to me. / I’m my own hero. Because I’m important.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Don’t throw a fit if something’s taken. You’re not gonna cry when your pencil gets taken. Take away the peers that pressure. Choose wisely. / Confidence, independence. Not falling bad influenced. Think before you act. Being yourself and mature. / Self-respect. You will respect other how you respect yourself, opportunities. Respecting your body. Friendships and being safe in all ways. / It helps to identify both sides of us as a person. This skill could help to make new friends and keep our emotions in check. It helps us to be more confident. It shows your weaknesses and strengths which could help to get a job.

Seeing Beyond: Guessing, imagination. Reading and seeing the end before it happens. Seeing yourself in some better place living the way you want it. / Communication a basic detail. Math because there a lot of talking.

Communicate you’re not gonna get far if you don’t talk to anyone. / Imagination. Science because it requires you to bend your mind. Have a better understanding that most things are black and white. / Helps us interact with our 6th sense. Writing we can be more creative. Helps your plan of action.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Fears can be overcome. Work through fears. Fears are normal. Reaching your dreams are capable. / Dreams are real. Part of making dreams real. Connect. Live out my dream. / Dreams to live for. Work forward to reach goals. We all have goals. Move beyond fears to reach dreams. / Fears are real. Work to gain goals. They have fears. Have a plan.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Reminisce on good deeds the past. Doing good even if bad comes to you.

Using your past experience and making in the present. / Take away negativity. Take away things that you think deserve to be taken. Help other make better decisions. / Openness, open-mindedness. Let your mind be willing to learn. Always have new experiences and opportunities. / Different approaches to caring for people. We now have a variety of techniques we can use to help people. Helps you maintain steady friendships.

Write about a time when you were trustworthy or caring and helped someone else in a positive way. How did it feel afterward? When I imparted of my substance to the needy! / When my friend told me stuff she’s never told anyone and still kept her promise not to tell anyone. / I helped an elderly woman put groceries into her car. It felt filling and made me happy. / I found a wallet and gave it back. / My friend was going through some problems and I was there for him and had his back. / Well I remember when one my cousins were sad and I cheered him up by taking him to the store and buying him candy. / I helped my little sister do her homework. I felt great helping out. / Cuando cuidaba a mi hermanito chico cuando mama trabajaba por las mananas y por la tarde llevada y lo cuidaba ella y espera para que lo salgo de esto. / Recuero cuando te cuidaba de bebe para mi te sentia como si fueras mi hijo. El amor que te tenao es inesplicable. Sufro por no poder verte se que me necesitas como yo te necesito espero poder salir pronto y volver an pasar tiempo de hermano como siempre emos echo te amo. / I asked my neighbor if I could help her with her grocieries and she said yes. I felt good. / I helped someone stop using drugs. It felt great. / Helping someone who down and how did I feel afterward uh hum I feel better and good. / One time me and my friend Justin went to go buy a mini slushee at my school and the girl charged my friend an extra dollar so I went back and I asked for the dollar. Made me feel mad. / When someone asked me to watch their baby and I did it for free. / I didn’t take a car when I ahd the chance. I was caring when some chick I didn’t know was going to get raped and I did something about it and fought them. / One time I saw this 3 year old girl fall into a canal and no one was around so I jumped in and saved her. Then her family came out to look for her then I said if this is your daughter? She said yes. I said I saved her from drowning.

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: ADJC %Male 100%

%Female 0

Date: August 23-25th 2016

Ages 15-17

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

Pre %YES 53 %NO 47 %Other 0 Post %YES 56 %NO 31 %Other 6 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 29 % Sometimes 59 % All the Time 12 Post % Not at all 12 % Sometimes 63 % All the Time 25 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 59 % All the Time 41 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 56 % All the Time 44 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 47 % All the Time 53 Post %Not at all 0 % Sometimes 56 % All the Time 44 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 29 % Leader 71 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 44 % Leader 56 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 53 % No 47 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 88 % No 12 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 76 % No 24

% No Answer 0

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

Post % Yes 88 % No 12 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: How to speak up. / Stand up for kids my ages. / Aprendi a defenderlos. / Just lean each other’s similarities. / Don’t judge. / Empathy. / I will stick up to bullies. / Not worth it. / Not judge. / Bullies are bullies. / Speaking up. / Ah defenderlo y avisar a la autoridad correspondiente. / I learned to speak up against the bully. / Because we are connected.

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

Post % Yes 88 % No 12 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I would stand up. / Help him out. / Because bullying is never the answer to anything. / Lo defendere siempre. / I would reason with the bully. / Stand up for that someone. / I have stepped in the past. / I will tell an adult. / Shoot em. / I would put an end to it. / Lo dependere. / I would explain to them how much it hurts them. / Yes I would.

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

Post % Yes 69 % No 25 % No Answer 6

Thoughts Shared: I have a choice. / I learn different skill that would help me. / Porque no tomo mis decisiones. / Just help myself. / Thinking before doing. / Be yourself. / I learned how to say no. / Take away negativity. / Devo tomar mis proprias decisiones. / I learned that you’ll be respected more if you respect others. / Yes be humble.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 71% Post 81% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Black. / No importa los colores que mi entras se usen para aser arte en el mundo. / Colores opino que son divertidos y bonitos ave inciviso despiertan la vide en el mundo y en pinturas adibujos. / Everyone is a different color. It doesn’t matter but we’re human. / I see your true colors. / I think about CSU. / It’s indescribable. / Color is what distinguishes an object among others. / No. / Makes life. / Variety. / No. / The vibe people give off. / Yes some colors make brighter of situation. / I never thought about color. / No. / Nope, everyone is human and some are just lost.

Post: It is used to express feelings. / Color that I see is dream. / No. / Color can define how you feel. / No importa el color que usen mi entias sea arte para el mundo. / I still have the same thing. / To cooperate and do better. / Variety of color. / That everyone has a different color. / Use to express. / Expressive. / Everyone has their own. / Not much. / Que la da sentido y vida ola vida. / Color is great.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 94% Post 94% Thoughts Shared: Pre: I don’t have one. / Salir de la prision y tener un future y volve a estar en prision. / Salir de kprison. Volver ami pais para poder segir estudiando terminar la preparatoria en ingresar a la escuela de medicina. / To go home and not have to register as a sex offender. / To get out with a completed program. / Got out finish probation. / To become a good person and have a job in network security. / Finish school. / To not go to adult prison. / NBA player. / To go home and change. / Be in NFL, buy parents a house. / Is to become a NBA player. / I want to be a sign language teacher. / To get stupid rich.

Post: To earn a Master’s degree. / To fix up my life and move on. / None. / Is to work in a treatment center and help kids who need help. / Salir de esto y ser algien en la vida y no seguir aser gamas. / To leave home successfully not registered as a sex offender. / Being a provider. / To become somebody. / To become a teacher for the deaf. / Becoming MLB. / Take care of my family. / Being successful. / Basketball. / Ser sirusano. / To become someone and have a job in network security. / Is to get super rich spiritually and worldly.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 88% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: To never give up on your dream. / Is to not get mad so much and it’s nice to see myself like this. / To try. / Is never give up too easy. / A confortarme mayor y aparte medieron oportunidades para aser mis estudios. / Nothing. / By being creative. / There is no trying. It’s either you do or don’t. / Use my third eye to picture myself in the dream. / Be patient. / Never give up. / Dream big. / Nothing. / Tener un major comporamiento en pensar major los rosas y tomar mejores decisiones. / Integrity and to work together. / Be humble, go get PT, and run over haters.

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

Post 81% discovered something new about themselves in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: If I tell myself in the mirror that I love myself. / That I did learn something that I did not know before. / None. / I learn that now I willing to accept help from people. / Aprendi que tengo control con las rosas. / Nothing. / Open myself. / That I’m not the only one. / I am very talented. / I have a lot in common. / I can talk to people. / Things can change. / Nothing. / Ave soy muy enajon. / I learned I’m a good painter. / That I’m more humble.

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

Post 94% discovered something new about classmates or friends in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: People be courageous. / If a classmate look like he’s bad and you get to know them, they’re cool. / Nothing none. / That we are going through the same stuff in life. / Aprendi que los con paneros no me descriminan por ser mexicano y no saber ingles. / Understand similarities. / We have difference. / We relate to each other. / Most of us have a chance to change our behavior. / Same as me. / They can talk to me. / You can hum and plug your nose at the same time. / They’re very caring. / Que estamos prisoneros no aviere decir ave seramos major personas. / I learned I’m not the only person who struggles a lot. / That he too is humble. \

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

THANK YOU. .

.

Thanks to Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 33 young lives from Kuban Elementary School experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on September 14-16, 2016 - # 13 of 14 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 11-13.

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 person who helps out. We can help students with their work. You can defend people. We can help others in need. We are leaders that set examples to others. / Have confidence, have similarities and differences. We learned to be honest. You have to be honest to everyone. Differences don’t matter. You can stand up to bullies, stand up for yourself and for what’s right. Don’t ever doubt yourself, never give up, always have confidence in yourself. / Act better, show love for other people. Help out friends, show love for your friends.

To be compassionate, show bullying to act better. Show love to other people, act better and achieve goals in life. / We learned that our classmates have similarities and differences in their personal life. It applies in school because we don’t know what could be going on in their life. It help with bullying because we might not know what they’re going through. It applies in life so we don’t judge people of how they look. / Courage and confidence.

Speaking in front of audiences. Courage to stand and speak up. For a goal or something better or to know who you are.

Creative Storytelling: Unique ideas to make a story. Help them with their work. Tell your teacher ideas in what’s happening in bullying. Let people understand you. / Care for others, be kind, and trustworthy. You have respect for everybody. Stand up, help the person being bullied. Teaches to be a leader, be a role model, be fair. / It was really fun.

We can use our imagination. You can show confidence and can be creative. Show confidence to stand up to their bullies.

You can get a good job by being creative and having confidence. / We learned how to represent the character counts. We can be caring to other. It helps with bullying because you can prevent it by caring and help out. You can have a better life. / How to have fun and respect. Making learning fun and respect teacher. Have fun making posters to prevent bullying. Later in life, having fun takes away stress.

Through the Hoops: We show others how to act. Help stand up for others. Role model for others. / Teamwork is important. Solve things. Work together to stop it. Help others, get through things together. / Need teamwork.

Strategize, think. Problems, to solve for project. Teamwork to stop bullying, to tell an adult. You need to strategize for plans in life, to build something. / We learned how to strategize. It applies to school because we can strategize when there is a problem. It would help by telling an adult. It applies in life because you can confront problems. / How to use teamwork. It applies in class projects. Speak up. Work with colleagues.

Drawing one’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: Many people have the same fear and dreams. You know that you’re not alone and trust people. You’re never alone when you deal with a bully. If you release your fear here, then you can feel confident about yourself. / Everyone has different hopes and fears. Sometimes it’s good to tell your feelings. Some people are scared of speaking in front of the class. Maybe telling someone you have the same hope will make them happy. Help stop bullying. If someone has the same hope as you, you can achieve it with them. / Some people have the same fears and dreams. People with the same goals can help each other to achieve our goals. Share each other’s fears. It applies in life because it face fear. / Many people have the same fears. It applies in school because we get to know each other better. Bullies are not alone. We also share things in common. Because you know what you’ll want and know what you’ll study or do.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Everyone is trustworthy and caring. You can be trusted by teachers and principals. You have better chances in achieving in life. / To do helpful things, to be positive and honest. Positive vibe, be honest to everyone to stop bullying. If you are positive, everyone will be positive. More people would want to work with you. / It’s important to help others because it makes you feel happy and proud. Because if you feel proud of yourself, you will do outstanding work. It applies in life because you will be able to help others. / We learned that being trustworthy and caring makes you feel better. It helps because you understand other students.

It helps you be a better person and helps the community.

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.: The one time I was trustworthy or caring was when I paid for what my mom wanted when my dad didn’t have money. / An old person dropped a 20 dollar bill, I returned it and got 5 dollars in return. / One time when I was caring or trustworthy was when I helped my mom with groceries because she couldn’t carry them all by herself and I was caring for doing that. / One time I was caring when I was defending my cousin from bullies and afterward it felt good / A person told me a secret and I’ve been keeping it for years. / I cared for my brother when he was sick / I felt happy I helped another person / That time was when someone was getting bullied / I was trustworthy when I told my family that the house was on fire / I standed up for someone I felt so mad I told them to stop. I standed up for him because I been bullied and it wasn’t funny / One time I was trustworthy was my friend told me a secret / The time I was caring or trustworthy was when someone was getting bullied and I was there to help them. How it felt afterwards was good. / One time a girl fell and I helped her up it felt nice to help someone / It felt nice. I help a friend that fell and I went to him. And helped him up / I was trustworthy when they made my little cousin a surprise party. For a week I kept the secret even though she visited me often. The party was a success thanks to the trustworthy of everybody. / A time when I was caring was when I helped a little boy find his mom. A time I helped someone was a lady at FoodCity / I was caring when my friend was crying because her brother had left to the military. It felt nice to help her feel good / I was caring when someone was making fun of my friend because she was scared of the dark. / There was this boy that was bullying my brother I stopped it. It felt good. / One time my friend was hurting and I went to ask him if he was okay. / One time my friend told me a secret that I couldn’t tell anyone. One of my friends kept asking what the secret was but I didn’t tell them. / I gave a guy and a lady on the street a warm bread. It felt cool. / I was caring when I saw my friend Angel was crying. He was crying because his da wasn’t gonna be there for his birthday. / I’m caring when I’m with my friends family and other people. Sometime I’m trustworthy and that my friend doesn’t tell my secret. / I was caring when a boy was bullied because he was overweight. It feel awesome to help. I told the teacher. / I once helped my grandma carry heavy items to place to place because I didn’t want anything bad to happen to her. I felt like I did a good favor and a good person. / A time when I was caring was when my nana was in the hospital and I helped her with things. Afterward I felt proud because I was helpful to her. / A time I was trustworthy was when my friends told me something and I did not tell anyone. And when I was caring I helped my friend buy his dad a gift. / One time we were going to have a Christmas party and my little brother wanted a bike. I had to be caring and help my parents pay for the bike and I had to be trustworthy and keep the secret. My brother was happy.

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: Kuban Elementary School %Male 36%

%Female 64

Date: September 14-16th 2016

Ages 11-13

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

Pre %YES 64 %NO 33 %Other 3 %No Answer 0 Post %YES 94 %NO 6 %Other 0 %No Answer 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 9 % Sometimes 61 % All the Time 27 %No Answer 3 Post % Not at all 12 % Sometimes 64 % All the Time 24 %No Answer 0 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 9 % Sometimes 45 % All the Time 45 %No Answer 0 Post % Not at all 3 % Sometimes 39 % All the Time 52 %No Answer 6 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 3 % Sometimes 55 % All the Time 42 %No Answer 0 Post %Not at all 9 % Sometimes 36 % All the Time 52 %No Answer 3 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 3 % Equal 52 % Leader 45 %No Answer 0 Post % Follower 9 % Equal 27 % Leader 61 %No Answer 3 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 48 % No 52 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 67 % No 33 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 52 % No 30

% No Answer 18

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

Post % Yes 91 % No 9 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: What I learned is to stand up for someone getting bullied / Peer pressure / Help other in anything they need help / I can stop it / It can be talking to the person / What would help me to deal with bullying is not to be mean / What I learned was to be confident / Yes it bad / I learned that people have the same fear / I learn to stand up for others / How to help others / Be confident in what you believe is right / Yes I learned that being a leader can help you deal with bullying / Exception with help / With peer pressure / To be yourself / I am not alone / We should help them with their problems / I learned to stand up for what’s right / Be understanding toward the bully / About people lifetime / Yes I learned that you should tell the teacher / I can stand up for them / That it is not right / Stand up for yourself / I learned to share experiences.

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: I would help someone because it is good to be caring / I would call an adult to stop the bully from bullying him/her / I know how it feel to be bullied / No because I don’t feel like it / I would defend them and tell an adult / I would do something about it / Stop it / Yes because nobody should be treated like that / I would because I don’t want them to go through the same thing I went through / It’s the right thing to do / I would

try my best to stop it but it would work better or stronger with a group / Yes I would tell the teacher and be caring to that child / Because I care / I will because they will help me / Yes, it’s not right / I would tell an adult / I could try to stop it because that would be the right thing to do / I would help and care for them / That something made them wanna bully / I would say don’t bully this person because the person that bully people is not okay / I would tell the teacher / I would tell them something / I would watch and probably do something / Yes, because it wouldn’t be nice / Now I know it is bad to not say something / No I will not get in it I would do something to help others.

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

Post % Yes 94 % No 6 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Yes, I’ve learned not to do anything I don’t want to / Yes because I learned to respect others / I learned to respect others / I don’t know / What I learned is to be confident / I learned to be responsible / Yes because peer pressure / I learn to stay with your answer even when being peer pressured / Yes, I learned to go for I believe in / I learned to go with the right choice no matter how tempting it is / Yes, I learned that it’s okay to show your emotions / It is my decision / To respect other people / I learned that I must respect my decision / I should listen to myself not to others / I learned to be myself and to have confidence / You should respect dreams / I learned to take deep breath and calm down / I will make my own decision / To not let anyone make your decisions / Yes, make your decisions / I know to make my own decisions / I learned how to be responsible.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 91% Post 88% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Yes I have when I think blue yellow pink green red black gray trees leaves shoes. / They’ll make me calm down / I think it’s useful / Very creative, express feelings / I think it is pretty / I think that color is beautiful and creative / It does not matter what color you are / No / I think that color has many meanings depending how you use it / What I think about color that it is nice to see / I always think about color as in the rainbow / I think that color can express many things (emotions etc.) / What I think is that some are bright and they make you feel happy / I think color brings joy to life / I think that color is magical and yes I think about color. / I think color is cool and I know the color / I think color is beautiful / What I think about color is bright / I think that color is beautiful / I think that color brings beauty to the world. P’s green is the best color / Color is a beautiful amazing thing, it can explain emotions / It colorful and beautiful / I think they can express your emotions / I about have problems with people. Everyone is my friend / I don’t care about people’s color just the way they act / I think color is bright yet dark for me it’s dark. No I have never thought color. / Everything is colorful in life / I think it’s colorful and pretty, full of joy / I think it’s colorful / When I think color I think dreams, joy, or thoughts, that are happy / I think color is bright / When I think color I think joy or thoughts / Post: Color is an amazing thing / They help others in many things / I don’t know / It is a way to express yourself / I think that color is beautiful and passionate / It does not matter what color u are / That it color / Color has many meanings depending on how you use it / I think about color is that is something nice / Color helps express feelings / I think color can represent many things and express it. / I think of beautiful things / I think color can express your fears, dreams, and memories / Some colors are meant for bad / Color says so much / What I think about color is pretty / I think nothing / I think it show your feeling / Color is a wonderful thing / I learned color can explain feelings / It expresses who you are / I think that colors express your emotions / Everyone is my friend. I don’t have problems / I don’t mind if I have a friend a different color / Bright yet dark / Life is colorful / It is still beautiful and colorful / Colorful / I now think dreams when I think color / I still think color is bright / I now think dreams.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 79% Post 94% Thoughts Shared: Pre: My most important hope and dream is no more bullies and my dad come back to life. / Not to be kidnaped / IDK / Don’t have one / My dream is to become a doctor / To graduate from college and get a job / Personal / My dream is to become a doctor that helps people in need / My most important hope is to become a soccer player / My most important hope or dream would be making my parents happy and proud of me / My most important hope or dream is to grow older happy / My most important hope or dream is to become a professional soccer athlete / I want to go to college / My most important dream is to have a successful career / My dream is to become a football player / My dream is to be a veterinarian / I have a dream to pass all my grades and go to college / My most important dream is to have my dream job / My most important hope is to have a big happy loving family / Becoming a research scientist so I can cure my little brother / To be an actor / My most important dream is to become a doctor / I don’t think I have one / I don’t have a dream or hope / My hope or dream is to become an actor or to achieve my goals. / I have a dream that I can someday be in the FBI / I don’t think I have one unless it is a doctor / My most important hope or dream is to make my mom proud / My dream is to graduate college and get a job / My dream is hope is to make my mom proud.

Post: My hope or dream is to not lose my family because I love them. / My most important dream is to have a happy family and to still have my parents / It is to be a singer and give charity / Going to college / To be a skater / Be a Youtube star / My hope is that my family doesn’t die and my dream is to become a doctor / I wish I become a doctor / Get an education / Is to become a doctor / My dream is to become a soccer player / I dream of always have friends and family with me / My most important hope or dream is to become a professional soccer player in team FC Barcelona / My most important hope or dream is to go to college and buy a house / My most important dream is to become a football player / My dream is becoming a football player / My dream is to see my cousin / Being a wrestler / My dream is to have a happy family / My most important dream is to have a beautiful family / My most important dream is to cure my brother / That it rains candy and I can share with my friends and the homeless / Is to become a doctor / To overcome my fear and be a doctor / I don’t have one / My most important hope is to study acting then go to NY and make a career out of it / To become a agent / Be a doctor / Not yet / My most important hope or dream is to graduate and make my mom proud / My dream is to graduate college / Is to be proud of myself and hope go to college and get a good scholarship.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 94% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: One thing I learned is to not give up because but its okay to take a break. / One thing I learned is that I could tell people what my dream is. / Be yourself. / One thing I learned was how to have confidence or courage. / One thing I learned in the workshop to help me reach my dream is how to be caring. / Is stop bullying. / Is similarities. / Not to be a bully / Was to never lose hope / Is friendship / I learned to respect people / One thing I learned is that to keep on reaching my goal / I learned to believe in myself and talk to other’s about important information. / One thing I learned is self confidence and how important it is / Is just by believing in them / To have hope, it’s okay to have fears and to not have fear speaking in front of people. / To respect others or help others / Is peer pressure / Believing yourself / Is that to never give up / To keep on believing on myself / I learned to never give up / If you believe in yourself and have support you can reach your dreams / To be caring / Is to have self confidence / To try and overcome my fear / To be confident / Is that to have courage / Never lose confidence / Don’t have dreams / One thing I learned was to open up my thoughts.

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 73% discovered something new about themselves in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: Character Count I would want to work on is having responsibility. / Never be afraid. / I am very confident / I didn’t learn anything new. / I learned how to open up which I didn’t know I could do. / Not at all. / Other people have the same differences. / Respect and I will respect people / That to be confident / Caring / No / I wanted to improve on leader. It help me to improve because it show me what a leader does. / I learned about my other fears / I learned that I am not afraid to express my feeling / A little / The character count that I wanted to improve was fairness / I want to improve caring. I improved because I helped others. / Caring because when someone cries. / Be yourself / I learned that I have confidence / That I’m not the only one that has the same fears / I learned that I’m a very strong person / I don’t understand question. / I learn people fears and if they’re confident. / I didn’t want to improve anything / I didn’t learn anything new / Citizenship / Citizenship / Fears / I learned that if you can dream something you can make it come true.

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: I learned that they are going through the same thing I am. / What I learned about a friend is that we have the same fear and we kinda have the same dream. / They might have the same feelings as me. / They have the same fear as I do. / I learned things they wanted to be and bad things. / I learned that many of my classmates have the same fears as me. / That people have sad lives. / They are caring / I learned that always be kind and caring. / That they are feared of death. / That it similarities and differences / Yes that many people have same fears as me. / I learn that my classmates have the same fear. / I learned that we are all the same and are very similar / I learned that they have things in common with me / Yes / I learned that many students have the same fear as me / Some of my classmates have the same feelings as me. / I did not there problems / They are helpful / They have some similarities / I learned that some have bad fears / I learned my class mates have sad memories and need to be cared for. / They have fear that make you sad and they have dreams to accomplish. / I learn what there life time might be. / I learned that we share something in common. / I learned some people have same or different fear / That a lot have different fears and hopes and problems / We both have the same fears / I learned that my friends are confident.

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

Thanks to Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation, 23 young lives from Kuban Elementary School experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on September 14-23rd, 2016 - # 14 of 14 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 11-13.

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? : It will help me know I am not alone. It will help me know what to do. It will have a lot of feeling with other people. / Brave, fair, smart, beautifulness. Being able to help or speak out. Being able to talk. For when you don’t agree, you can tell what you feel. / Learned, lot of common. Be more open in class. Call an adult for help. / We learned to be brave. Being brave can help by standing up to bullies. Being brave can help to stop bullying. Brave can help in life by standing for others.

Creative Storytelling: We learned that no matter what you will always persevere and help each other. It will help us to be patient and to do teamwork. It will help to be patient to stop bullying completely. / Being able to interact with one another.

You’ll get used to performing and getting used to one another. This will help with when you don’t feel like talking, you can express your feelings. To interact with people through performance. / Fairness take a lot of heart. Everyone will be fair to one another. If everything was fair, there will be no bully. If you be fair in life, it will lead to new possibilities. / We learned that we had to be respectful, responsible, fairness, and more. It can help in school. We can learn lots of things. We can develop lots of stuff. I can help deal with bullying by telling the truth if there’s a bully messing with a citizen. It can help in life by getting a scholarship. Being the teacher’s favorite student.

Through the Hoops: We had to make a plan who worked together. It will help us tell a better school. It will help us by tell the bullies the consequence. It will help us tell story to kids. To tell in front of the class. / Working together and being able to trust one another and being mature. This will help in school to work together and taking time. This will help with bullying by letting kid interact with one another. This will teach you to take your time and interacting with people. / Teamwork and friendship.

We apply in school by working together. We apply in school by working together. No one can bully if you’re a friend with them. We could learn by other people. / We learned teamwork. Teamwork helps by knowing your trust. Teamwork can help with bullying by having someone who can help you with the person who’s bullying.

Teamwork can help because you can cooperating, try, and never give up.

Mirror Work: I like myself because I was born like this. Fun, active, bored. / It makes me feel like nobody and I’m not perfect. / It made me feel weird. / This makes me feel happy and I feel like someone loves me. / It makes me feel good. / I feel good. / I feel find and happy. And I love myself. I am fine with my friends and family. / It makes me feel happy and glad to be the way I am. / Good, relaxed, happy. / I feel beast and chill. / It makes me feel proud and good because I will remember all the good things I’ve done in my life. / I feel smart, stubborn, and chill. / That makes me feel happy. / It makes me feel happy the way I am. / It makes me feel happy the way I am. / It doesn’t make feel anything. / I felt like anyone can be themselves. / I love the way I love myself. Good, happy, sad, and stressful. / I feel happy. / I love myself. / It makes me feel glad because I’m happy that I’m still alive and I’m with my family. / It makes me feel so good and makes me respectful.

Hero: Lego Ninjago. They are important because they always save the day. / My hero is Sabrina Carpenter because she makes me happy and feel I’m here. They are important to me because she makes me smile and her song makes me smile and be happy. / My dad. Because he saved my life. / Valery is my hero. I do think she is important because she is my BFF and she is my everything, plus my hero. What I look in a hero is kindness, respect, fun, and caring. / MLK. He changed the world with the color of your skin. / He sacrificed himself for everyone. / Batman. I like him because he saves the city and world. I think they are important because he is a super hero. / My hero is my cousin in Mexico because she is smart and she has a scholarship. I think she is important because we are not a rich family, but she is working really hard. / Susan B. Anthony. She worked for women’s rights and all men and girls should be able to. I think she is important because she fought for women’s rights and to this day, women can do whatever they want. / Mom and dad. Because they love me and take care of me. / My grandmother is my hero because she is kind, helpful, and you can always trust her. She’s always helping people. Grandmother will always remind me to help others. She is important because she is a big part of my life.

She is always there when I need her and she’s always supporting me to try my best. / Zendaya. She doesn’t care what anybody says or thinks about her. / Mom. They are important because she encourages me to keep on going. / My hero is my tata because he was in the Army. Also he loves us as much as I love him. He’s important because I knew him since when I was born. I don’t care what I need. I care at what I have. / Bruce Lee. Because he was so strong. / I think my mom is my hero because she taught me many things in life I didn’t know. / My cousin is going through cancer and I hope he survives it because he is the best cousin ever. My cousin means the world to me. Because he has cancer and he is fighting it. / My mom if fun and funny and kind. She is important because she is really helpful. / My sister is my hero. They plug a big hole is my life and she is happy about life. / My hero is my dad because he is the one I love the most and he is my favorite. They are important because there are the most important in my family. I don’t have a hero. I think they are important because maybe they are part of your family. The qualities are to make me be safe to be nice.

Seeing Beyond: We learned we have to use our 3rd eye. We can use it in reading when we see what the books are about. We imagine the books. It can apply in life if we ever have a challenge we weren’t expecting. / Helps with our imaginations. We learned how the 3rd eye helps us imagine things. It also helps us reading because we could image what is happening in the story. It helps us speak up for ourselves. / We learned that creativity will help you get where you want and take a chance in all your schoolwork. Those will apply in school by being able to talk your mind and your own business. This will apply in life by problem solving life. / We learned to use our 3rd eye. We will use it in reading by have imagination. It will help us by getting all our clues before jumping to conclusions.

Drawing One’s Fears, Hopes, and Dreams and Sharing: We learned about other people. It applies in school by art, coloring, and drawing. It would help with bullying by knowing what the bullies fears are. By knowing what other people are going through and helping them in a sort of way. / We learned about other people’s fears, dreams, and hopes. By helping other people with their dreams. By showing bulls that other people are dangered.

To follow our dreams and help other people follow their dream. / We learned is how other people dream and the only way they will be able to achieve their dream is to believe. It applies in school because without education, we have no future and we’ll be dumb. Because when you’re older or now you can put a stop to it. Chasing your dreams and believing yourself. / We learned that some people have same dreams. It will help us to help others achieve their dreams. I’ll jump in and help that person. You may never know who’s watching. It will help us try hard to achieve our dream.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: We learned to be respectful, fair, kind, and trustworthy. It applies in school by being nice to everyone. Be fair with workers and trust other people. / We learned that working or helping people makes us feel good. It will help us help people in need. You will never know who is watching. It will help us by helping more people like homeless.

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 that caring was when I was my family. I was help unpack. / One time I had saw someone who had nothing to play so I let her play soccer with us. At first I felt shy then when I saw her happy I didn’t anymore. I was really happy that I helped a girl when needed a partner, a person, or a friend. / I was caring by helping my family member by doing stuff for them. / I was caring once when I helped a puppy from starving in a park. I gave him food and water and then I took him home and cared for him. I felt very good after that because I had saved a dog’s life. / Last year and the year before that. I helped my friend Jocelynn because she has asthma. So I took her to the nurse because she couldn’t breathe. It felt good to help her. / One time I helped a guy up and it made me feel good. / I was caring for an old friend. He was getting bullied and he had no friends so I became his friend. / One time when I was caring I help my grandma clean her house when she was sick. I felt really happy after. My experience was really good.

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

Funded By: Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Location: Kuban Elementary School %Male 57

%Female 43

Date: September 14-23rd 2016

Ages 11-13

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

Pre %YES 65 %NO 30 %Other 4 Post %YES 70 %NO 30 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 13 % Sometimes 87 % All the Time 0 Post % Not at all 4 % Sometimes 74 % All the Time 22 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 13 % Sometimes 52 % All the Time 35 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 52 % All the Time 48 Rate this statement: I respect my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 9 % Sometimes 65 % All the Time 26 Post %Not at all 17 % Sometimes 48 % All the Time 35 Complete this statement: I am trustworthy and see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 57 % Leader 43 Post % Follower 22 % Equal 43 % Leader 35 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 65 % No 35 % No Answer 0 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 65 % No 35 % No Answer 0 Did you do anything? % Yes 48 % No 48

% No Answer 4

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

Post % Yes 78 % No 22 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: How to work together. / Yes because I don’t want anyone getting hurt. / You need to respect other people and not bully. / Be respect. / To step up for myself. / Help. / Working with other people. / No because I don’t know what to do. / Because I can tell them that what if you were the one getting bullied. / That if I’m bullied I have to back out. / Working together. / Because you should do something. / Everyone needs to be their own way. / Yes, because people will stop bullying if they will learn about people. / I think it will help because I don’t want to bully others. / Because it is helpful. / Ask for help. / Yes help people out. / I learned that I could help other people. / Not that much.

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

Post % Yes 78 % No 17 % No Answer 4 Thoughts Shared: I would tell an adult. / I would tell a teacher. / I would tell someone that a kid is being bully. / I will work. / I will stop. / I want everyone special. / No because I don’t know what to do. / Can the closest adult. / I would help that person. / Hide him. / Because I’ve been bullied and I know what it feels like. / I would tell an adult. / Yes, because it is very nice. / Call teacher. / Yes because I want someone

to do the same to me. / Because I am scared. / Tell a grown up. / I will tell a grown up. / I don’t want no one to get hurt. / Yes. 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 learned how to help each other. / By help me each other. / I learned respect about making your own decision. / I will work. / Yes. / I learn to respect other people. / Some other people get bossed many times. / To respect others. / Respect. / I learned to respect others. / Yes, because respect and responsibility are big words. / I won’t do it. / No because I’ll still have people telling me what to do. / Because they give you an example. / Tell parents. / Tell parent. / I learned about respect to other people. / No. What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 83% Post 78% Thoughts Shared: Pre: I’m good at football. / I think the color of my shoes. / What I think about color is my dog color. / I am good at basketball. Ya. / No I haven’t. But now that I think about it, I think it expresses someone. / No I don’t believe in color. / No I haven’t thought about color. / No. / Yes, my shoes. / I think the color blue is beautiful. / I don’t care about color. It doesn’t matter about how the person looks like. / I think that color looks good. / I think color is awesome. / I think that is really cool. / When I think about the color my hair. No, I never thought about color. / What I think about color, I look at my shoes. No I haven’t because you can’t explain it. / Yes, I think about color. / The color I think about is blue. / I think about color is no ugly color. / I think that color is ok. / I am good basketball. / I think about it that it’s cool. / Faces. / No. Post: I think that color is all the same. / I learned a color can help us. / I think color is nice because it describes it. / Blue and green. / It doesn’t matter what color you are. / Pink and green is happy. / I don’t believe in color cause it defines so many things. / I didn’t learn about color. / Blue because it my favorite color and inspires. / That color is beautiful. / Are positive. / I learned that color doesn’t matter. / It is beautiful and it tells feelings. / That color does not matter no matter what. / I like it. / About how the color tells you have similar fears. / Color now is cool. / Blue. / Blue. / What I learned is the color gold. / I learned that it a beautiful color. / Nothing.

My most important hope or dream for my future is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 96% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: My dream is to be an Arizona Cardinals NFL player. / The most important hope is (illegible) not to win and help myself and my family. / Dream was Xbox 1. / I hope I can be rich and help people that don’t have money. / I either want to be a lawyer or actress. / Make a change. / I want to be an engineer. / Drawing. / My dream is to be a famous musician one day. / Is to become a vet. / I do not think I have one. / To be a pro soccer player. / I want to help people with my work. / My dream is to be a YouTuber. / My dream is to be rich and have a job I love. I want to be a vet. / My most important hope or dream is having a mansion and getting a good job. / My most important dream is to stop people being racist to color people. / My dream is becoming a YouTuber. / My dream in my future is being a make-up artist. / To help other people like they helped my mom. / I basketball. / What I want to do is to be famous and rich. / Mexican singer. / No.

Post: Is to become a vet. / My dream is to be an AZ Cardinal. / My most important dream is to play soccer. / Yes, I do see more colors when I think of colors. / Have 100 trillion. / To become a vet. / My hope is to pass high school. / Being happy and being a lawyer. / I dream of being an engineer. / Is become a YouTuber and be maintenance worker. / Is to be a successful man and be with my parents. / Be a singer. / To make a difference in the world. / I want to be a famous musician tour around the world like the 2 Cellos. / My most important dream is to be a nurse to help my family if they are hurt or sick. / Not sure. / I want to get married, be a lawyer, and live in a house. / I to hit 1,000,000 subs. / Have a nice home and education. / My dream is to be in the NBA. / My most important dream is to help animals and adopt them. / Is to have my own home and be alone. / Is kill Donald Trump.

One thing I learned in workshop that will help me reach my dream is: Post 96% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: How to believe in myself. / Is that don’t stop trying. / One thing that helped me is always do it your way not other people’s way. / I learned that you never know who’s hearing. / Work hard. / Was to be respectful. / Helping people. / Is to believe in yourself. / I learn that I have to believe in myself. / By being nice and respect others. / Is that my dream matters. / Never give up. / That everyone is different. / That you may never know who’s listening to your dream and they might help you make that dream happen. / Respect myself. / To follow my dreams and believe in myself. / To push my dreams. / Make smart choices. / That never say you can’t reach the dream you want. / The thing I learned is to believe in myself. / Is to never quit a thing. / I don’t know.

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

Post 78% discovered something new about themselves in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: I learned that I am good at drawing. / Is don’t be afraid. / I learned that always listen and be respectful to other. / I learned that I have an advantage because I have my male family. / Release the fear. / By respect. / Helping me. / I learned how I can be respectful. / That many people have same fear. / That some have my fear. / Nothing. / I learned about myself is I am like everyone else. / That my siblings are being bullied by other people. / No. / That if I tell my feelings to my classmates, I can feel more comfortable talking to them. / Nothing. / Responsibility – completed work. / That other people go through the same thing as me. / I learn not to bully other people. / To not let yourself go. / Not that much.

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: I learned that some students are scared of death. / That I can trust them. / I learned that always trust the friend you trust in your life. / I learned that a friend has the same dream as me. / Learn with my friend is respect. / That they are not alone. / Is helping. / They go through so much but still make people happy. / I learned that they are afraid of something. / That some people are embarrassed. / That something happen in their family. / Probably. / I learned what they’re dealing with. / They all have different fears and think differently. / I learned that they have the same hopes, dreams, and fears. / No. / That why all have similar fears. / I learned that no one is the same. / Not feel sad. / That some classmates need help. / I learn everything from a friend. / A lot.

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

Thank you Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation for this 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