Cox 2012-13 Report

THE REAS ON TO DISCOVER U

CELEBRATING

16 YEARS

OF HELPING KIDS MAKE BETTER LIFE CHOICE, THANKS TO SUPPORTERS LIKE COX CHARITY.

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believe there are two things that impact our lives the most—Love and Fear—and we get to choose which we will use to form our life.

Out of this belief, Release the Fear was born. One day, over sixteen years ago, I saw Skip Rimza, then mayor of Phoenix, on the cover of the Arizona Republic newspaper. He was standing next to three large barrels of confiscated weapons. Mayor Rimza thought of those weapons as obstacles to eliminating violence in the City of Phoenix.

As an artist, I knew something could be done with those weapons to impact our thinking about how to move people away from violence and its tangible toll on our society. The raw material in those items had been used to intimidate and harm, which gave me the idea to form a sculpture representing the ability to form our lives from Love rather than Fear. The melted metal’s new life could serve as a symbol to inspire others to overcome obstacles in their own lives.

That was sixteen years ago, and now, standing tall in the middle of Central Avenue at the gateway to downtown Phoenix, stands that statue. My idea was ten years in the making. It contains four tons of destroyed weapons—all previously used in violent acts. In 2005, this human Phoenix-like symbol was raised twenty-five feet toward the heavens. At its base, hundreds of names reflect the village it took to build it, accompanied by a favorite phrase of mine, "Reality is a project of thought." I think projection is the key. What we project in our life is our reality, our truth. The ten years it took to bring my idea to fruition were daunting at the time, but my gut and words from my dad had taught me to "work your way through it and never give up."

On a day I was faced with some major obstacles, I called board member Rebecca McClain to consult with her. She said, "Robert, stop. Look out your window. Look at the tree in front of you; see the beauty in its twists and turns.

Think of the movement of a stream, think of the Grand Canyon." She continued, "As reflected to us in nature, a thing of beauty has been created by resistance." I replied, "Then this sculpture should be really beautiful!” I included Rebecca’s words to me with other quotes from around the world on a plaque that accompanies the statue.

These thoughts symbolically cause the sculpture to erupt from the earth.

What an incredible journey this has been thanks to supporters like the employees of COX and the belief from Cox Charity. And yet more work needs to be done. In the last ten years, our organization has worked with over 5,000 troubled kids. These youth were in jails, detention centers, treatment facilities, and schools. Through the creative processes of art, music, and communication, we have taught cognitive behavioral skills—the crucial life skills needed to succeed. The young people we work with learn tools to help them in school and to help them with peer pressure, bullying, and conflict resolution, while building self-esteem. Maricopa County has studied our program and found it reduces reoffending by nearly 50 percent. Currently, the Arizona Department of Juvenile Correction is doing a three-year longitudinal study on the long-term effects of Release the Fear. There is also a conclusive study

by New Mexico State University, which will be published about our Discover U Summer Camp.

These are all great things, yet much more work remains to be done. We receive many more requests from kids and facilities than we are able to help. In 2012, we were able to reach 790 youth—a 35.5 percent increase over 2011.

Our goal in 2013 is to positively effect over 1,000 kids and ultimately have enough facilitators to reach 3,000 a year. These kids have never had any positive influence in their lives. They need to know that they have worth and that they matter. Please help us continue to change these lives by giving them the power to change their world.

COX Charity thank you all for Believing. Dreams do not happen without that.

Robert J Miley CEO / Founder

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hat: Release the Fear, is a non-profit health and human services organization, teaches Arizona’s youth the life skills needed to combat the effects of peer pressure, bullying, abuse and violence in our society and learn to make better life choices. Release the Fear has worked with thousands of at-risk youth in Arizona to decrease the enticement of gang involvement by 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 meeting Arizona education standards.

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ow: These programs stimulate whole-brain thinking and develop metacognitive thought processing by utilizing new applied-knowledge teaching methods. These programs demonstrate options that awaken a creative consciousness and expose the unlimited potential of critical thinking and problem solving to help participants develop better cognitive behavioral skills Our trained facilitators guide participants through interactive creative activities and analytically explore the connectedness to their lives. Release the Fear utilizes inquiry-based learning experiences. Inquiry-based learning is an educational practice where the teacher/facilitator uses controlled questioning to serve as a learning guide in order to move students toward 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 experiences which connect and build on their applied knowledge and personal life goals. Without these essential life skills, the stillmaturing minds of detained youth view their future as bleak with no hope for a “normal” life.

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pproach: Through experiential programs, we encourage participants to develop valuable core life skills, better critical problem solving, and a healthy sense of understanding self and others. Through the RTF programs, participants discover that anything is possible, that they have a purpose in life, and why they matter to the world, to the community, and most of all to themselves.

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ransformation: The Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Office released a 2010 report demonstrating the value of Inside Out: Bridging Possibilities workshops on 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 46 percent—nearly half. That is an impressive impact on any child’s future.

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.

Each day Empowering and Inspiring Kids to make better life choices.

302 West Monroe Street Phoenix, Arizona Mailing ~332 West Lynwood Street Phoenix Arizona 602-818-6959 ~ info@releasethefear.org ~ www.releasethefear.org

RTF Advisory Board Member Bridget Pettis WMBA Super Star participating in workshop.

Budget Narratives, Bridging Possibilities (BP) Workshop Budget for an Bridging Possibilities (BP) Workshop Release the Fear’s - Inside-Out Bridging Possibilities Workshop One 3 Session Breakdown Per Workshop:

Four Workshop:

Revenue $7,500.00

$1,500 Expenses

3,200 Instructor/Artist Specialist

640

Pre/Post Inventories, Evaluations & Final Report

150 30

Art Supplies/ snacks Recognition for students certificates & marketing

120

Stipend for trained Facilitator and new training

240

Internal Coordination & Support Travel expenses Total Expenses

200

750 150 600 450

90 1,200 1,000 150

30 $1,500

*Maricopa County Sheriff's office M. C.S.O 680 X 2= 1,360

$7,500.00 Cox $8,860.00 Total

Average Breakdown Per Workshop: This averages $500 per session for each Bridging Possibilities Workshop 20 youth per = $25 per youth for each session $1,500 divided by Average of 20 youth per 3 session workshop Per Capita Cost = $75.00 per youth

*We have collaborated with Lower Buckeye Jail- Hard Knocks High to be able to offer youth in this high-security facility these life-changing program workshops. This means that our class is the only be no more than 10 students. So that Maricopa County Sheriff's office (M. C.S.O ). Help subsidize with additional fees of $680.00 per workshop to that we could have our facilitators there all day doing to workshops that are offered here by Cox Charities.

In-kind donations: The space and equipment at the juvenile detention center.

The time of two Detention Staffers from in facility, for a total of two different detention staff, during the entire duration of each workshop. Also staff is instrumental in the selection of participants for workshop from Pre applications. A supervisor level staff to oversee the tracking of recidivism rate, of all workshop participants for the overall evaluation of long term success of workshop. Volunteers to coordinate the preparing of documents, organizing all supplies and assisting facilitators prior to and during workshops.

In-kind:$450.00-Per X 5 = $2,250 RELEASE THE FEAR'S MISSION: To counter the paralyzing effects of violence in our communities by turning fear, anger, and hate into acceptance, hope, and self empowerment, by bridging endless possibilities through the creative process.

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harles Flanagan has said, “The Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections

(ADJC) has a longstanding and positive working relationship with Release the Fear. The youth adjudicated to us often have a range of issues to address, including delinquency, substance abuse and dependence, mental health, and trauma. Release the Fear workshops, held at ADJC several times per year, provide a safe place where the youth can be honest and open about their behavioral problems. The workshops take place over a number of days and a large number of youth have been served for several years through this program. Dedicated facilitators assist youth in developing the life skills needed to address the life issues they face, including peer pressure, gang involvement, bullying, abuse, and violence. The value of this powerful program is that it reinforces, in a relaxed and non-judgmental fashion, the treatment interventions that our youth receive while they are with us in secure care. Consequently, all interventions, including those provided by Release the Fear, add to a youth’s ability to successfully transition to the community with transferable skills. ADJC is appreciative of this program and hope that our youth continue to benefit from the workshops.�

Charles Flanagan, Director Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections

2012-2013 COX OVERALL PERCENTAGES PRE AND POST SURVEY RESULTS 90 Students (6 PB Workshops) Male 62.2% Female 37.8% – Youth Ages 9-20 85% discovered something new about themselves 97.8% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 61.4% compared to Post 81.6% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 90.8% compared to Post 98.8% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

86.6% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

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

Lower Buckeye – 33 students Genesis Academy – 22 Students Florence Crittenton – 19 Students Drug Court Casa Grande – 16 Students Individual Workshop Percentages 1. November 27-29 2012 Genesis Workshop Results 22 Students (1 IO-PB Workshops) Male 50% Female 50% – Youth Ages 14-21 94% discovered something new about themselves 100% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 45% compared to Post 76% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 95% compared to Post 94% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

100% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

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

2. January 29-31 2013 Lower Buckeye Workshop Results 16 Students (2 IO-PB Workshops) Male 100% Female 0% – Youth Ages 15-17 100% discovered something new about themselves 100% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 75% compared to Post 80% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 94% compared to Post 100% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

100% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

93% stated that they would do something if they saw someone being bullied.

3. February 12-14 2013 Florence Crittenton Workshop Results 19 Students (1 IO-PB Workshops) Male 0% Female 100% – Youth Ages 14-17 74% discovered something new about themselves 89% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 72% compared to Post 79% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 89% compared to Post 100% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

68% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

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

in workshop, that will help them in the

2012-2013 COX PERCENTAGES PRE AND POST SURVEY RESULTS 4. February 26-28 2013 Playcourt Casa Grande Workshop Results 16 Students (1 IO-PB Workshops) Male 75% Female 25% – Youth Ages 13-17 57% discovered something new about themselves 100% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

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

Pre 88% compared to Post 100% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

71% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

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

5. March 6-8 2013 Lower Buckeye Workshop Results 17 Students (2 IO-PB Workshops) Male 100% Female 0% – Youth Ages 15-17 100% discovered something new about themselves 100% discovered something new about classmates and friends.

Pre 65% compared to Post 94% realized that they are not alone in their fears.

Pre 88% compared to Post 100% realized that they can make their dreams a reality.

94% learned something to help them deal with bullying.

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

Thanks to Cox, 22 young lives from Genesis experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on November 27-29, 2012.

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 Awaken Senses Heighten Visual Awareness of Our Environment Turn Pain into Possibilities into Purpose.

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

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

These responses are written in their words without edit.

The following responses are from the students who range in ages from 14 - 21.

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? : Communication, respect. To get to know your peers. So you would get to know that person instead of judging them. To communicate with people and meet new people. / Communication, social skills. Get to know your peers. To think about the causes and effects. To practice being confident. / Allowed to communicate. Get to know other people. Get to talk to them on why they do it. Help other people and get the word out.

Creative Storytelling: Memory, testing, responsible. Memorizing tests, be creative, help study. To recognize others feeling and ideas. To recognize others feeling and ideas. Good communication with other and to remember what people say in life, to make it better. / Visualize the future, imagination. Test, memorize, brainstorming, interacting. Express who the real you is. Decision making, plan ahead. / Help us remember, no wrong answer, imagination. Remember for a test.

We know why he does it and that he does it. Remember to do your day to day activity.

Through the Hoops: Teamwork help, caring. Help get along, even though you don’t get it, soon it will happen with hard work. Have fun with others and stay connected. People helping each other while going through obstacles that are difficult. / Communication, trust, patience. Not be afraid to ask, challenge yourself. Have patience to listen to someone living that situation. Overcome obstacles. / Communication and memory. Learn communication with peers. To help people talk it out. Life is full of obstacles.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: No one is the same, everybody is unique. Not judge, because everyone isn’t the same. You’re not forced to be like say you got something better to do somebody else. Learn to be your own person. / Accept yourself for who you are. Equality for everybody. Be confident, not be influenced by easily. Recommend it, preach it, express the love without being embarrassed. / Accept people for who they are. Not judging people. Don’t take sh** from other people. Respect others if you want to get respected.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are.

Good with myself, happy, feel better. / Happy, proud, respected. / It’s different, but it’s good to encourage myself. / Unique, confident, conceited, selfish. / Like a free bird. / Makes me feel good. / It sounds corny and girly but it actually made me feel pretty good about myself and it gave me confidence and gave me self respect like Superman. / I like myself. Good I like it. / Good, great, and awesome. / I love myself just the way I am. It makes me feel good because it’s my first day. / It made me feel good. I love myself. / It made me feel weird but good because I never did it before. / At first it makes me feel weird and then I realized how beautiful my green eyes are. I can also see that I need to make a appointment for a new facial lol. / It makes me feel better inside.

Knowing I’m proud of who I am. / It make me feel good and great. / It made myself feel great. / It makes me feel good about myself. / Humble, strangely enough. / Like a liar. / I feel unique.

Hero: Who is Your Hero and Why do you think are they important?

Lizette. I think she is important because she is always there for me when I need her to be. She is someone I want to be like. She is someone I can rely on. / My self. Because I made my self happy by doing good and I am proud for my self. / My grandfather is my hero. He is important to me because he is honest, caring, humble, trustworthy, smart. / My hero is my mother because she is the one who brought me into this world, has made me the woman I am, she’s the reason why I do what I do, she’s my motivation. / Superman. Strong, smart, handsome, friendly, polite. They are important because they help people build trust and good relationships. / My family. They keep me motivated and always tell me to do the right things and make good choices. / My mom. She’s been through hell and back for her kids. / My dad. They make me want to do better and more. / My nana, she’s an amazing person.

Because I love them. / My cousin Johnny is my hero. They make a difference. / El Chapo Guzman, Pablo Escobar, and my cousin Marisela. They made a difference. / My mom. She is a big part of my life. She is my reason for doing good and she is just more than a hero to me. My role model. / The most important person I look up to is my awesome wonderful mother. She has work so hard to become father and mother figure for me and my brothers. / I don’t have a hero, but I have lots of inspiration from music. I think music is important to me because it inspires me. / Brothers. They look up to me. / Batman. He is a vigilante and all of Gotham City looks up to him. / Bob Marley. That he loves peace and tried to make it worldwide. / Winston Churchill. Led UK through WWII. Was the model of a great-souled man. / Batman. Black and yellow, tough, respectable. He’s the sh**. / My dad is my hero because he is the only one that can teach me what he knows.

Seeing Beyond: How to think outside the box. To expand your mind. See things others can’t. Art because it express what you have in mind. You think more. Picture things to help figure out problems in life. / Attentive, creative, brainstorm. Art, history, math, helps critical thinking, expand mental capacity. Creativity for new projects. / How to use our thoughts and imagination and to apply in life. Pay attention and creativity and listen to details. Remembering other stuff you imagine.

Drawing one’s Fear’s, Hopes and Dreams and Sharing: How to be creative and express our minds. To step back and be considerate of others hard work and goals. To not be afraid and overcome your fears. To take a breather and think about what your purpose is to have in life. And whatever’s in your mind, just let it be free and speak your mind. / Color can’t define any situation. Colors are used in art class to express our feelings. Taking out anger on a piece of paper.

Makes us look forward into the future. / The color of music and to release our fears. Putting stuff down visually. By telling somebody, know what’s happening. So we know our obstacles and accomplish our goals.

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

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Whatever struggles or hard times you been through will make you more successful person and wanting more in life. Helps you be more motivated and better for yourself. To push yourself forward and don’t let the struggles you’ve been through step in the way of being a better person. / Negative can turn into a positive no matter the situation. Genesis has given us a second chance to keep going on and not give up. Makes us grow up and mature. “Every cloud has a silver lining”. / It helped us remember a problem we faced, that we worked through it and accomplish. School has its good and bad, but we can achieve them. Life has its ups and downs but it shouldn’t get the best of us.

Describe a time when you had an experience that you perceived (thought/saw) as negative, but through time or something you did, you perceived (thought/saw) the experience as a positive one.

At the beginning when I found out my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer, I was devastated. 3 months later he died and I died inside, not only did I lose my grandfather, but I lost a big chunk of my heart. / At the beginning I was going to Mexico see my Tata because I heard he was sick, then I go and he beat cancer. / The negative experience that I perceived when I first started going to a new school. / One time I thought studying about other religions would be bad or against my own religion, but it really helped me understand better and learn about other religions and cultures. / When our apartment got on fire and at first I felt like everything fell apart, but at the end it all happen for a reason because this brought us up to where we are at. A new home way better than where we were at. / One day we ditched school and we had my friend’s car and I decided to not get in and they crashed when they left, so didn’t get hurt, luckily neither did they. / I was scared to move to schools. Genesis was the school and it turned out to be good.

Gave me a bunch of opportunities and everybody is cool with everybody. / Didn’t want to move houses but then I loved the new house I moved to. / I think that getting hospitalized was my negative experience, but surviving and being able to move forward is the positive part. / When I moved schools, I didn’t want to go to the high school but then I started liking it and I don’t want to move. / This workshop thought it was going to be boring but it was cool and awesome at the same time. / Going through lots of trouble like going to Juvie. I think it just made me stronger and successful. / When my bro passed away I saw myself as negative. I didn’t believe in myself or that I could do anything right. After time I saw myself being a better person, my boyfriend Jose and cousin Lizette helped me push myself, and I overcame being negative, and now I know I can reach any goal. / I was really bad going downhill, not going to school and stuff, then my brother got locked up. / An experience I thought was bad at first was when I lost a friend because she betrayed me. I felt sad but throughout time I realized it was good it happened because I learned that I had to see who I tell my stuff to and who I trust. At the end I realized you can only trust yourself.

Color: That everybody’s thoughts can come together as one. To let your mind set free. Be creative in your thoughts wherever you are in reality and life. / Colors help us express ourselves. Makes us accept our classmates. Makes us accept ourselves for who we are. / Colors represent emotions. We can express our emotions through painting. Color express everything you see every day.

Overall, something New about Self or Others in your Group: To move forward and don’t let anything hold you back.

Expressing ourselves in colors, letting go of our fears, past doesn’t define who we are or our future. / No matter how bumpy the road is we can still get through our problems no matter what.

(R)

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

Funded By: Cox 1 of 5 Location: Genesis %Male 50 %Female 50

Dates: November 27-29 2012 Ages 14-21

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

Pre %YES 45 %NO 55 %Maybe 0 Post %YES 76 %NO 24 %Maybe 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 9 % Sometimes 68 % All the Time 18 % No Answer 5 Post % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 65 % All the Time 29 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 feel comfortable making my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 41 % All the Time 59 Post % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 18 % All the Time 76 Complete this statement: I see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 55 % Leader 45 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 71 % Leader 29 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 23 % No 77 Thoughts Shared: Never in my life. / Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 91 % No 9 Did you do anything? % Yes 59 % No 32 % No Answer 9 Thoughts Shared: Helped out.

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

Post % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Don’t let them make you feel less. / Tell someone about it. / Prevent it from happening. / I learned how to release my fear. / By facing your fears. / That it’s bad. / You can ask for help. / To stand up for what I believe in. / Stay friendly and equal. / Accept yourself for who you are. / Believe in yourself. / To tell them to grow up. / Talk to someone. / Help people understand everybody is equal. It’s not worth it.\

Now, after attending the workshop, if you saw someone be bullied, would you do something?

Post % Yes 88 % No 12 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: It’s bad and I’m against it. / Help them. / I would stop it. / I wouldn’t want to be bullied. / I would talk to that person. / I would tell him/her something. / Yes I would stop and help. / We are all the same. / Leave them alone, we are equal. / I would interfere with the situation. / I would help them.

Did you learn any skills to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 88 % No 12 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Don’t let them suck you in. / Not listen to them and be focus. / Yes I can help my self now. / Painting. / By not bullying a bad person. / Believe in myself. / To not follow. / I never been peer pressure. / Yes always believe in what I was taught. / Take a step back and look at the picture as a whole. / Both. / I am me.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 95% Post 94% Thoughts Shared: Pre: I think color is a way to express your feelings. / No, I see everyone the same. / Color is awesome. / I think it is stupid. And no I have never thought about color. / Yes and I think color is crazy and it’s always black. / Color has nothing to do with the person’s personality. I don’t have anything against color. / Every color has a meaning and no. / Pink and black. / Drawing. / Racism. / Rainbow. / Red and the rainbow. / Black, white, grey, red. / Color doesn’t really matter to me. To me I think of racial profile. / Purple, royalty, sexy. / It’s a need in life. Without color there is no expression. / Green. / Have no problem at all. Love every color. / Rainbow. / Pink! No never we are all equal. / Drugs (green). / Yes. Think about my favorite colors, race, and nature.

Post: That it’s a good way to express our feelings. / It has meaning. / Colors represent many different things. / I think about rainbows, a more colorful picture in my head. / I learned color is good. / Colors express feelings. / They are important. / It expresses emotions. / Color expresses anything you feel and how you feel. / I think that everything has its own color. / It is beautiful, and you could be creative. / Color can define feelings or situations, anything. / Express my feeling. / You can make it into a light situation. / I always. / Color has sound. / There all different types of problems.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 95% Post 97% Thoughts Shared: Pre: My most important dream is becoming a college football coach. / To become something in life. To finish school and get a decent job. / To become successful. / My most important hope and dream is to finish school and do something with my life. / To finish high school, graduate and go to college, and get a great job. / My most important dream is to become a nurse to become someone in life, succeed. / My most important hope/dream is graduating college and having a good job/future. / I wanna be a nurse. / Get any real true career. / To become someone that makes a difference. / Undecided. / To be a nurse.

I want to be a billionaire. / My important dream is to make a living out of my life. / To be the best I can be. / Become a doctor. / Making my dreams come true. / Is to graduate high school and be successful. / To graduate college or university. / My most important hope is to graduate this year and my dream is to own my own spa one day. / To become a chef on Food Network Star. / Is becoming a cosmetologist.

Post: Getting my mom her future house. / To reach what I want in life. / My most important dream is to become successful in any way. / My most important dream is to become a nurse so I can help others when they’re ill or sick. / To be the best I can be!!! / My most important dream is become college football coach and a good dad. / Is to become a chef. / Both. / My most important hope and dream is accomplishing my goals. / My most important dream is to finish school and go to college. / To be successful and finish school. / Fight for my dream, never give up, and my motivation are my parents. / Doctor. / To open my own bakery. / Is to be myself always. / To be successful. / 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: Never stop believing. Obstacles appear, but I can accomplish them. / To overcome my fears. / Don’t let anything bring me down and keep my hopes up at all times. / Believing in myself and others around me always be there for others. / I learned that I should never give up. / To never give up on my dreams and be ambitious. / Don’t be scared and go for it. / Never stop believing in myself. / You can get through any obstacle or anything just to get to your goal. / I learned not to be afraid and take chances. / Everybody’s equal and to stay positive and never stop. / That I need to appreciate everyone around me. / Believe in myself. / Let go of my past. / Ask for help. Someone can help you lead you to your dream. / Not let anything hold me back. / To never give up.

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

Post 94% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: Never give up. / To express yourself about things you feel. / That I’m not afraid to talk. / To motivate myself no matter what. / I learned that I can make a difference in the world. / That I am a pretty good speaker in front of people. / Not to be scared of your dreams. / That I shouldn’t let nothing get in between my dreams. / That through any situation, I can accomplish my goals/dreams. / That I could do anything I put my mind to. / That I can talk in front of others and communicate better. / I met new people, classmates I don’t talk to. / Myself, how to express myself. / I need to let go of my past and embrace the future. / No. / I am a strong person and I can make anything happen. / There is more to me.

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 are all the same/equal. / What they fear and a bad time they went through. / They were once afraid to talk in public and now they’re not. / To not judge a book by its cover to get to know someone before thinking anything. / Friends are a good way of support and love. / That they are just like me and we all have the same problems to go through. / You can trust yourself and others. / To not to judge people you don’t know. / To accept anyone just the way they are and that I’m not alone. / Well I got new friends and learned about them. / They are respectful and care about each other. / Their fear and how they feel about themselves. / We might have the same problems. / That we all have our own different problems. / Things they haven’t been through. / We are scared about same things.

Thanks to Cox Charities, 16 young lives from LBJ experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on January 29th-31st, 2013.

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 Awaken Senses Heighten Visual Awareness of Our Environment Turn Pain into Possibilities into Purpose.

The students are divided into four 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? : Talking getting to know each other. Meeting new friends, different subject help. Speak out.

Communication and work with others. / Communication, observation. Meet new people, learning new things. It won’t stop if you don’t express yourself. How people are different, how to learn new things. / We have learned not to be judgmental and communication, ethics. Sometimes you can’t judge a book by its cover and learn how to deal with people with other opinions. Get to help the bully and talk. Never disregard anybody, everybody counts, get to know before you get to judge them. / We learned how people are legitimately different and also to appreciate diversity. With this we learn how treat everyone with respect and learn more about people. Let the bully know that everyone is different. Treat everybody equal and with respect.

Creative Storytelling: People are creative, memory and imagination. Study test, remember the work. Communication with others, memorize. Creative. / Creativity, imagination, memory. Use pictures to study, memories what I have to learn. Express your feelings on paper. Imagine you and your bully in different place switching passions! Creativity and be imagine your dream before you accomplish it. / Visualization can help you, sometimes remember goals and who you are. Sometimes studying for a test or a speech you can use images to remind you. Introduce Release the Fear exercises like this storytelling to see what he would draw, then help him. Your image may be memorable and can be taken from this program to a possible drawing journal at home that keeps fearless goals you want to achieve. We learned cooperation and communication skills. Teamwork as well as trust. Can help brainstorm ideas, teamwork can help in all sports. Cooperation with the teacher because it takes two to learn. It helps communicate with them to solve We need to communicate even with people we don’t like such as co-workers and trust that they are as mature as you to talk about your issues. / I learned that by visualizing things will help you better speaking about anything. This will help you in school by visualizing for test. It can make the bully see the creative. I think that it can help in life by visualizing what you want to be in life and how to reach your goals.

Through the Hoops: Teamwork. Helping others. Work together with others to stop bullying. Help someone out when needed. / Teamwork, strategy. Help working with others and collaboration. Help and others. Work together. / We learned how to trust others and how to work with others. It will help you value cooperation. It will help by working together with everyone. It can apply in life expressing trust, cooperation, teamwork and confidence with others.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Inspires you to do right. Helping others do right. Not listening to peer pressure.

Making right decisions. / Thinking life lessons. To remember to do your homework. Be yourself and choose the right leader. Choose the right leader. / It helps self-satisfaction and self-comfort. Can allow you to place yourself above average by your confidence. Respect yourself more than your peers. Your confidence can shine thoroughly. / Reflection, self-esteem, self-confidence. Everyone is the same and equal, diversity. You are your own person.

Everyone has the power to think for themselves and feel appreciated for who they are.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are.Confidence. / Made me feel good about myself (confident). / I don’t feel anything. I kind of feel as if I’m lying to myself. I need help on being self satisfied because my inner critic is always weighing me down. / It made me feel better and more confident. / When I looked in the mirror at myself I really didn’t feel anything different. / It makes me feel good about myself. / I felt I was lying to myself. I need help on my self-satisfaction. My inner critic needs to be quiet but it’s obnoxious. / I look good! / It makes me feel confident in myself and have more respect for myself. / Happy. / It makes me feel confident about myself. / Confident. / Okay. / Good, confident, and proud I’m still alive. / It makes me feel weird. / Self-confident and makes me feel good about myself.

Hero: Who is Your Hero and Why do you think are they important?

My brothers. Because they showed me lots of things. / My sister. Because she always there for me. Helps me through everything I go through. / My hero is my mother because she has raised me as a single mom and is strong even when times are hard. She is a go-to person when I need to smile. / My hero is my brothers. He’s been with me like my dad. My brother is very important because he’s with me regardless. / My favorite superhero is my father. Because I know he will never give up on me. / My mom is my hero because she is a single mom and was able to raise me my whole life. She is important because without her I wouldn’t be here. / My mother is important because she raised me as a single mother and I realized just how strong she is. / My mom is my hero because she is a cancer survivor. / I’ll say my big brother. Because he always helped me out and gave me good advice when needed to do better. And he showed me that he changed from his bad habits so I can have hope in myself and do the same. / God. He helps me get through every day. / Michael Jordan. / Mom. She’s everything to me. / Grandmother live longer. / Cause he help the Miami Heat win the championship in 2012. / Because they showed me a great lesson in life. / My mom. Because without her I wouldn’t know how to proceed in life.

Seeing Beyond: Imagination. You could apply in art by being creative. Trying new things. / Using imagination.

Science when giving details about something everyone couldn’t see at the moment or picture. Be creative and using our imagination. / Use imagination and take chances. Art, writing, and science can help be descriptive and imaginative.

Can help creativity and interactions with one another. / Visualization, imagination, description and how to express yourself in a positive way. Art, being able to use your imagination, writing by know how to describe something, science because you have to gain a hypothesis without seeing it. It helps you see things in different ways and beyond your imagination.

Drawing one’s Fear’s, Hopes and Dreams and Sharing: You can overcome any obstacles in life. Never give up.

Telling others they can achieve. Never give up on your dreams. / Learn not to judge things on people. Get along with others. Prevent others from getting hurt. Treat everyone with equal respect. / Some of us have the very same fears.

Express yourself because people may relate. Don’t be self-conscious, do not worry about others what they think.

Bullies may also have the same fears and dreams. You wont fear your dreams, help accomplish your goals. / That you’re not alone, express ourselves and tell a lot. By expressing ourselves. By telling and speaking with the bully what’s his fear. By reaching your life goal and releasing your fear!

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

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Never hang on to a negative thought. Don’t take negative for granted. Take something negative, try your best to turn it to a positive. / How to bring the past bad back and find something positive.

Learning good experience in the bad. Using the tool bag in life. / memory we didn’t think we remembered. Even though we don’t like school, it’s for the best. Make better choices. / We learned as a group to try new things and the bad and good in everything. To try new subjects because you might succeed. To always think positive even in a negative way.

Describe a time when you had an experience that you perceived (thought/saw) as negative, but through time or something you did, you perceived (thought/saw) the experience as a positive one.

I thought having to do community service at the YMCA was going to really suck but then when I found out I got a job it was a good thing. / When I committed my first crime. I kicked the window to get into the house and the whole time I felt wozzy. Then I got charged with it and had a daughter on the way so I had no choice but to chill and ever since then I never stole again. / Stepping in the way to stop someone bullying another person. I thought I shouldn’t step in their business but it felt good to stop someone from bullying. / I thought moving was a negative, but later turned into a positive. It made me feel dumbfounded. / Being in LBJ is a negative but it makes us think about the positives we have in front of us. / I was playing catch with my lil brother and I threw the ball at him and it hit him in the head and fell down playing like he was knockout but he was hurt. / When my mom wouldn’t let me go to the store because it was late, but it was a good thing because my friends got in trouble and I didn’t. / When my mom told me not to part anymore and I got mad but I stopped in a way and when I stopped my friend got in trouble, people got shot and a lot of my friends got arrested. / I got onto a cliff called the 5150 and once I got to the top I was scared to jump. I seen my mom in the parking lot saying we got to go so I jumped. / My mom didn’t let me go to a party and some of those friends that were at the party showed up to the house saying that they got stopped and the car was taken since they didn’t have license. They walked for miles so I got lucky. / Cuando entre aqui pensara negativo. Persara que no iva a salir. Pero ahora pienso que podre salir algun dia, pienso positivo. (Translation: When I came here, I thought it was negative. I thought that I wasn’t going to leave. But not I think that I can leave someday, I think positive.) I see jail as a positive one but before I saw it is as a negative one. I felt mad because I now feel better because I accept it. / When I saw all my friends smoking funk I felt bad, so when they handed me the pokie I got it and I throw it at the floor, I felt better. / I thought jail as a negative but now I think of it as a positive because I’m getting my education, learning a lot of new things. / It was a great life experience and it made see my self more. Something I thought was a negative was being here. Now I think it’s positive.

Yes/No: No is not always gonna stay a no. When someone says you can’t do it, motivate yourself. Tell yourself that you can do it. Never give up, push yourself to the limit. / That even if someone said no, don’t give up. That never give up everyone going put you down, never give up. To let other people know your feelings and you’re proud of them. Be proud of your goals and have confidence and achieve your goals. Gain accomplishments.

Color: Color can express emotions and feeling. Express yourself. Colors can show who you are. / Color can really bring out expressions in music or life. By bringing out things you couldn’t see in art. Giving creativity and showing the true colors of emotions. / To be artistic, and listen to our feelings. Wearing your mood i.e. colors of clothes. Show your personality and don’t be someone you’re not. / That you have to see things from a different perspective to conclude his meaning. Learn how make right decisions. Learn how see things from different point of view and makes you think things to make a right decision in a situation.

Overall, something New about Self or Others in your Group: Teamwork is very important for yourself or groups. / We learned to respect others and everyone has the same fears and emotions. / Others think the way I do, and I don’t have to be ashamed or embarrassed, I also think we all gained leadership qualities that can help us succeed in life.

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

Funded By: Cox Charities 2 of 5 Location: LBJ %Male 100

%Female 0

Dates: January 29th-31st, 2013 Ages 15-17

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

Pre %YES 75 %NO 25 %Maybe 0 Post %YES 80 %NO 20 %Maybe 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 12 % Sometimes 88 % All the Time 0 Post % Not at all 7 % Sometimes 63 % All the Time 30 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 38 % All the Time 50 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 40 % All the Time 53 % No Answer 7 Rate this statement: I feel comfortable making my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 50 % All the Time 44 Post % Not at all 7 % Sometimes 40 % All the Time 53 Complete this statement: I see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 6 % Equal 38 % Leader 56 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 27 % Leader 73 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 38 % No 62 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 94 % No 6 Did you do anything? % Yes 50 % No 38 % No Answer 12 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Express your feelings. / Expressing yourself. / I learned to have no fear to do good. / They say just words that no one can bring you down. / To have confidence in our self. / To have confidence in our self. / Teach him how treat with respect. / Conversate with him. / To help everyone. / Don’t let it happen and tell them something to figure out the bully. / Helping others. / Everyone’s equal, don’t instigate. / People shouldn’t judge things by its cover until you see what it means. / Walk away or talk the situation out.

Now, after attending the workshop, if you saw someone be bullied, would you do something?

Post % Yes 93 % No 7 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I would tell him to be in his position. / Stop the bully. / I would try to help. / I would say why you messing with ?? / It’s their problems. / Tell him to quit. / I would help push him away. / Talk to them. / Tell. / I would try and stop it from happening. / I let thing know to treat people how you want to be

treated. / I would say think if that was you. / I would step in the way and turn their negative to a positive.

I would convince him to change.

Did you learn any skills to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 100 % No 0 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: Be confident, express yourself and see ahead of you. / Be yourself. / Yet because they are good and can get out of trouble. / To not have fear and to do good. / Paint. / Paint. / Yes by not living open myself. / Respect yourself. / I can think for myself. / Listen to my thoughts and think first. / Stop and breathe. / Do good and don’t follow. / Be my own person and be creative. / Don’t be someone that you’re not.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 81% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Que estan bonitos, que dan color a la vida (Translation: That they are beautiful, that they give color to life.) / It tells how you really feel like your emotions. / Color brighten a dull gray day; mood. / It has to do with moods, brith, dark etc. / I think colors can define a mood. / I think it describes stuff. / I like color, never thought about it but without color everything would be blank. / I don’t know. / Color expresses you and how you feel. / Life would be different without color. Color brightens your day. / Without color the world wouldn’t look the same. / Colors are beautiful. / I think color does not matter. / No it don’t make sense. / No never really cared about colors or what they did for us. / Without color everything be plain.

Post: Color can express moods or how you feel. / Color expresses feelings. / I think it explains a mood and feelings. / Colors can express your moods or how you’re feeling. / I’m feel good. / Color is life. / Color evolves around everything. / Color signifies mood. / It is expressive. / It express a lot of feelings. Every color means something. / Color makes the world look better. / Color can really show who someone is. / Think colors are full of surprises. / Color brings out the contrast and emotions to a lot of things. / Color brings out your emotions.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 94% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: Estar con toda mi familia toda (Translation: To be with all of my family all the time.) / I dream is to be out with my family. / To receive my Masters and work on a career, rather than a job. / To become a successful businessman. / To become successful in life and be someone. / To be successful. / Is to raise my kids successful and be responsible and get out asap. / Be someone with success. / I want to be a rapper. / Dreams is the most important. / Change my future. / I want to have house in Hawaii. / Is to take care of my brother and sister when my mom dies. / To be happy with my baby’s Mama. / My dream is to be a basketball player.

Post: Succeed in life without looking back. / To be something in life. / To get out of prison one day and have my GED. / To provide everything for my daughter and family. / Stay with my family together. / Be successful. / To get out and support my family. / To become what everyone says I will never be, a somebody, a world changer. / Have a job, family. / My dream is to become a better person. / Live happily with my daughter. / My dream is to be a fireman. / To go home to my baby. / Is to overcome everything I couldn’t achieve. / To be reunited with my family.

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

Thoughts Shared: Make my dream seem real so I would be more motivated. / Being yourself is important. / To not let fear stop me from reaching my goals. / To always do what’s good and keep my mind clean and away from bad things. / Never give up. / Never give up. / Confidence. / I have to believe in myself. / Selfesteem, I can get a job. / Be confidence in my self and help others. / Stop and breathe. / To take a minute to breathe. / Do good no matter what my environment is. / Keep working hard for what I want. / Never look back at the past.

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

Post 100% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: Imagination, how I express myself in front of others. / That if you take a quick breather could help. / That I can take control of everything I do and made good choices in life. / That there was fears I didn’t know I had. / I have so much hope. / I have to love myself just the way I am. / That I can achieve my goals. / I learned that I am confident. / I am creative and successful. / That I can express myself to others and talking to people. / Use my imagination. / How to move through the turns and loops in life. / That you can imagine things to help you calm down. / I have things to overcome I didn’t know what would come on my way. / I can be a better person if I put myself to it.

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 are creative and teamwork is important. / We all might be different but we got something in common. / That we all have problems and sometimes go through the same things in life. / others have the same problems as me. / That working together we can’t achieve anything. / That working together we can achieve anything. / That some have same fears or dreams (foundation). / They have similar hopes and dreams as well as fears. / Respectful, honest. / Tell them right to wrong when they do wrong. / That we all think the same in a way. / That everyone can express themselves. / That you don’t have to be white to be Jewish. / They might have the same difficulties. / Respect others the way you want to be treated.

Thanks to Cox, 19 young lives from Flo Crit experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on February 12th to February 14th, 2013.

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 Awaken Senses Heighten Visual Awareness of Our Environment Turn Pain into Possibilities into Purpose.

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

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

These responses are written in their words without edit.

The following responses are from the students who range in ages from 14-17.

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

Who am I? : Communication, stereotype, finding things in common. Find friends, be successful, standing up for yourself.

Turn people’s day around, help them see the positive. Be successful, positive role model, better and brighter future! / Communication, eye contact, learn new things about each other. Meeting people and making friends. Help learn about someone/each other before it gets to bullying. Communication skill easier to learn about people helps when time comes to getting a job. / Communication, socializing. Need to communicate with peers and teachers. You need to communicate bullying to teachers. Need to communicate with boss, co-workers, parents, friends. / Communication getting to know each other. Speaking up for help. Knowing what they are afraid of. Approaching respectfully a positive mindset and tone toward others.

Creative Storytelling: Memory, using imagination, creativity. Visualization, coping skills, creative writing. / Solutions to solve problems. Helps you get around things that are difficult, help with memory. / Work together in a group, never say never, communicate with each other. Listening to each other ways to learn. Not judging book by it’s cover. Communication skills, getting along. Working together no matter the difference. / Using your imagination, working together. You need to imagine outcomes in science, work with people. If you can imagine a better future, you can work with people to stop bullying. Need to be creative in life and work together with co-workers. / Memory, listening, doing something you think you can’t do. In class and use in poems and stories. By helping them by listening and getting background on that person. In work and you need your memory for good or important info.

Through the Hoops: Overcoming obstacles and confusion. Trusting each other and working together and fun. To come together to come to peace. Work together to come to positive solution. / Teamwork, trust, learning to do difficult things.

Having fun, communication, working together. They feel welcomed, feel heard. Stand up for yourself, building relationships. / Teamwork, communication, trust, paying attention. Teamwork = groups, communication with teachers and peers, trust = need trust with friends/teachers, pay attention = so you know what you supposed to do. Teamwork so you can get together with other people to solve the problem. Teamwork with co-workers, trust your boss will pay you. / Teamwork, balance, struggle. Trust in teacher, figuring out things, have fun. Inviting a victim/bully to an event. Getting through tough situations and trust in someone.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Acceptance, strength, love yourself so others can. Confidence and being open to making more friends. To have confidence to say no and trust yourself. Trust your decisions and to take advantage of opportunities and strength. / Build confidence, shows your inner self. Being confident and not shy. People won’t look down on you because you give off a confident attitude. You don’t have to bring yourself down by peers. You can stand alone and be a leader. Work, dealing with negative situations. / People will look up to us, open and honest, role model.

Need to be open with teachers and counselors. You need to be open and honest with teachers if you’re getting peer pressured to do bad. Need to be honest with everyone who means something to you and yourself. / Motivate you to do better. Push you to do right in school. Not to do things you’ll regret later. Motivates you to do the right things in life.

Turning yourself around.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are.

I didn’t feel anything. / It felt awkward and I didn’t like it. / Good because I know it is the facts! Beautiful, cute. / Unique, funny, outgoing, and smart. It makes me feel like I’m own person, but I didn’t like it. / It made me feel more confident in myself. / I felt great. / It’s hard to do because I know all these great things about me but it’s hard to hear and I don’t know why. / It makes me feel good and like I deserve it. / It makes me feel loved and special. / Very uncomfortable. / Outgoing, funny, good listener, loyal, confident about myself. / I’m strong. I deserve the best. I’m beautiful. I believe that if I keep telling myself positive things I will be more happy and focused. / It makes me feel good. It makes me love me more. / It makes me feel happy and good. / I really like the mirror exercise.

It worked good. / It made me feel weird cause there was a lot of people around looking at me. But when I did it I felt OK cause I knew it was the truth and no one could never stop me. / It was weird. / I liked it. Good and proud. / I didn’t feel anything.

Hero: Who is Your Hero and Why do you think are they important?

My dad is my hero. Because he was there for me and my siblings when I was kiddo. / My aunt and grandma. They’re my greatest support. / Stepmom. Because she is always there for me no matter what if she is mad at me or anything, she is there for me. / I think Marilyn Monroe is important because she is my role model. She was a very well independent woman. She didn’t really care what people said about her. She pretty much ignored negativity and focused more on positivity. / Brittany. She is my role model and taught me right from wrong. / My Auntie Annie. Because she’s very supportive of me. Helps me through good and bad. / My family, because they are all doing great and they still love me through all my b.s.. They motivate me and they encourage me to be my best and they’re all great role models. / My mommy. They have always been there for me and loved me, like, never gave up on me. / Mom. She is important to me because she guides me through life. / Myself. Because I need to learn to love me. / Annmarie, Angel, Ceaser, Duane, my real mom, Adam Sandler, Mrs. Jessica, Mr. Mathew, Mr. Robert, Mrs. Antie, Mrs. Jenn, All staff at Devereux. All staff at Devereux is still there for me and willing to talk to me even if I’m not a client anymore. I love everyone there. Annmarie: Known and been best friends for 5 years. She has always been there for me. Adam Sandler: makes me laugh anytime anywhere no matter my mood. Angel: Understands me and doesn’t udge me for who I am and he’s my boyfriend. Duane: There for me and doesn’t judge me.

Ceaser: Just a sweet kid whose been through a lot. My real mom: Gave birth to me and loves me no matter what my decisions are.

Staff at Devereux: Believed in me, are there for me even if I’m not a client anymore, there for support. / My mother. Because she is the person that will always be there for me when times were rough. She is positive and strong for me and my sister. / Mary J. Blige.

She makes love being a singer and she’s the reason I love music. Because she’s a very beautiful and talented and she’s great. / My grandma because she is a very strong person and smart. She gives me good advice and she is very strong and smart and very independent. / My hero is Marilyn Monroe and Nicki Minaj. / My superhero is my brother Nick. / My little brother Riko and my big brother Chris. They are important to me because they push me to do good for myself and my children. Not only that but they been there and done a lot that I’m going and experiencing and they keep a smile on my face and make me laugh hard also keep me motivated and I can’t be mad around them. / Mom. Because she is always there for me and never lets me down. Gives me good me advice. / My mom. She there for me all the time.

Seeing Beyond: Reminded to use our imagination. All subjects because they all use creativity to test our problem solving skills and putting things together. Apply in all aspects of life. / Using your imagination. Reading, math, solving problems, imagining what you’re reading. Working as a team. / Memory, 5 senses, imagination, communicate. Science – hypothesis (imagination), memory-math (formulas). Need your 5 senses eat, hear things, touch communication for everything. / Observing, focusing, listening. Math, for the focusing. Science, for the observing. History for listening, writing, describing.

Focus on one thing, pay attention to your surrounding, find the possibilities in everything.

Drawing one’s Fear’s, Hopes and Dreams and Sharing: Where we go in life. Commonality. Make new friends, decide what you want to be. Could help them decide what they want to do in life. Helps get a better job. Shoot for the moon and if you miss you’ll land among the stars. / That everyone has the same feeling. We’re not along and we each have things in common. It will help encouraged to keep moving forward. To know fears, hopes and dreams are that we can do it because we have it on paper. Because some people have the same things in common. By keep moving and not let fear bother the future and dream come true. / Goals, honesty, memory. Need to make goals like do my homework, need to be honest with teachers, memorize formulas. You can make a goal to stop bullying. Need to make goals for your future, honesty. / I’ve learned not to let our fears hold us back from our dreams. To strive for what we want, work hard for our dreams. Not to let fears paralyze you. Not let anything bring us down, overcome our fears.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: How to look at a negative in a positive way. Projects that are pointless can actually be used in real life. To perceive life’s challenges/obstacles as blessings. / Not everything bad stays bad it can be for the better.

Going to a new school, be open-minded. Life might throw you something difficult but once you solve it, it might be for the better. / Optimism, learning from your mistakes. Need to stay optimistic in bad situations. Need to try and find the positive in life so you can be happy, learn from your mistakes so you can be successful. / Make you see negative in positive way. Find positives when you dump into certain situation. Helps you see the positive outcomes in negative situation.

Describe a time when you had an experience that you perceived (thought/saw) as negative, but through time or something you did, you perceived (thought/saw) the experience as a positive one.

A time when I had an experience that I perceived as negative was being adopted. I was adopted at 13 even before I was in the house since I was 10. My adoptive mom Amber and I never saw eye to eye. If I was going to go into detail about it all for it to make sense. I would have to write a book. But long story way short, I got into a lot of trouble with the law and with drugs and all the above. I was the FMC, Flagstaff Medical Center, then got sent to Devereux Arizona which I loved it there. Then sent here to Flo Crit. It is for the better because now Amber and I are starting to communicate in a positive manner and we will have a healthy relationship. Which is really hard to say because for the past 6 years I hated her and didn’t want anything to do with her. / When I came to Florence Crittenton, I thought I was going to hate it but it turned out to be a big help and very beneficial for me. / I thought about running away from my family. I stop my negative thought and thought about the positive thoughts and freedom. / Florence Crittenton, I thought it was gonna suck, but now I see it’s helping me. / When I went scuba diving in the lake, but I went to a pizza place and I got mad at my family. / Going to Aurora. Coming to Flo Crit. / I felt like I didn’t want to deal with the past. / Kids being bullied. Going to college. / Being here and good because I need help. And being here is accepting the help. / I got into a car crash and I thought it was my fault. / I think it helps because you start to think about what you really want to do or change. / The experience that I first thought was negative then turned out positive was coming to Flo Crit. At first, I hated it and didn’t want to be here but I realized that I need the help and without Flo Crit, I’d be a really bad heroin addict and I would be in an abusive relationship with someone that I can actually see killing me. Now, I’m happy, sober and I love who I’m going to become. / When I came here I hated it. It helps but now I love being there. / When I saw my mom go to jail I didn’t like it. But through time I seen it was best for her. / When I came to Flo Crit and went to jail because I thought it was horrible and how bad that meant I was doing, but in reality it turned out I was exactly where I needed to be getting the help I need. / I went to rehab. I thought it was negative cuz I’ve been there 3 times. It was positive because I’ve changed and I’m accomplishing things and achieving my goals. / The beginning I hated CPS but they protected me from my father so I am thankful.

Color: To see/think outside the box. See things from another point of view. To see things that were once a negative and now positive. / You need a solid foundation. Getting involved. Being solid and getting involved. Visualizing and putting it on paper to fulfill a dream or whatever. / Teamwork, imagination and creativity. Teamwork with peers, imagine stories, be creative in English. Need teamwork with co-workers, need imagination and creativity to come up with solutions. / Cope, teamwork. Work with others in school. Be able to make something out of nothing.

Overall, something New about Self or Others in your Group: We learned that even though we are different we also have many similarities. / What I got out of this workshop is instead of looking at yourself in a negative way bring out the positive. Also working together with people you don’t know that well or don’t get along with. And making a negative situation into a positive. Making the best of a situation. / You need your imagination, creativity, honesty, teamwork and communication in every aspect of your life, no matter how old or young.

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

Funded By: Cox Location: Flo Crit

%Male 0 %Female 100

3 of 5

Dates: February 12th-14th, 2013 Ages 14-17

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

Pre %YES 72 %NO 11 %Maybe 17 Post %YES 79 %NO 16 %Maybe 5 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 17 % Sometimes 72 % All the Time 11 Post % Not at all 16 % Sometimes 68 % 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 16 % All the Time 84 Rate this statement: I feel comfortable making my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 5 % Sometimes 62 % All the Time 33 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 37 % All the Time 63 Complete this statement: I see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 33 % Leader 67 Post % Follower 0 % Equal 10 % Leader 90 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 83 % No 17 Thoughts Shared: And I’ve bullied others too.

Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 95 % No 5 Did you do anything? % Yes 62 % No 33 % No Answer 5 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 68 % No 32 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: To be myself and get through struggles. / No. / By helping the bully become a peer. / On the fire worksheet. / That we can stop bullying if set aside the differences. / Stand up for me because I’m worth it. / No. / To express myself with bullying. / Creativity. / You can come together to find a solution for bullying. / Walk away. / I didn’t know it was based on bullying. / Helped with expressing feelings. / To invite the bully somewhere. / To face my fears. / I don’t get bullied.

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

Now, after attending the workshop, if you saw someone be bullied, would you do something?

Post % Yes 90 % No 5 % No Answer 5 Thoughts Shared: It’s not right. / I don’t know. / Because it wouldn’t be right to leave. / Address the bully. / I wouldn’t let it happen in front of me. / Heck yeah! / Help them out. / Because it ain’t cool. / Report it and help stop from preventing. / I would step in. / I would immediately make them come with me to tell an adult. / They can stand up for themselves. / Because no one deserves to be bullied. / Because I know it’s the right thing to do. / I would help and stand up for them. / Stop it.

Did you learn any skills to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 68 % No 32 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: No. / Because I’m stronger. / That I am confident and can make my own decisions. / Learn that I’m not alone. / It’s all the same. / Because I have to in life. / I need to stay true to me and who I am. / I’ve never had a major problem with that. / Helped me open up. / Well kind of.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 83% Post 79% Thoughts Shared: Pre: I think we are all equal and should be treated fairly. / It depends on what type of color. Skin color or colors like the rainbow. But I think about both. / I think color is beautiful. / Yes, I think everyone thinks of color. Color makes everything come to life. / People have many different opinions about color. / I think color is a wonderful thing because color represents who we are. / I think color should be equal. / I love colors. / It everywhere, no. / I love it, it is all equal to me. / Nothing. / Rainbows. / Personally, I don’t like red obviously cause I’m in a gang to us it’s not really a gang cause it’s nun buh family but I don’t really care as long as you don’t disrespect on my set cause we take it as if you’re disrespecting my family. / I think color shows what your true feelings are. / It has a lot of meaning and emotions. / Well it whatever. / Colors are beautiful. Something god made to let us enjoy. / That colors are pretty.

Post: Not sure. / I just learned about color and music. / They beautiful. / They can mean different things to everyone. / I think it has more meaning. / It’s everywhere and beautiful. / Learned about music. / Music. / That color has a sound and a meaning. / It changes and is seen differently. / I love color. But now I see it has a meaning for people. / The same. / It is music. / I learned nothing new. / There is different kinds of color. / I think color is a wonderful thing. / Color describes and shows how you feel. / That it can say something. / Not sure, I don’t know.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 89% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: To stay sober. / Is to become a registered nurse and become a mom who can provide a happy life for my kids. / Sing and dance. / My most important hope and dream is to have a positive healthy relationship with my family. / Want to travel the world and be a nurse.. / To be the first one to finish high school and go on to college to become a elementary school teacher. / To be a kid doctor. / To become successful. / Raise a family, stay sober, get married. / Yes to finish school. / No. / My dream is to live on my own with my children, have a good pay job. My hope is to be successful in life and too my dream. / I hope I can see my biological mother and tell her I forgive her and love her. / Is to lease my fear and overcome it. / To become a jet pilot. / Is to be successful in everything I do. I hope I make a difference in the world. / To be a famous photographer.

Post: To stay sober and follow God’s plan for me. / Is to focus on my self so I can finish high school. / To be a doctor. / Becoming a cosmetologist and a lawyer. / Singing and dance. / To marry my girlfriend, have a maily and be successful. / To finish high school and get my diploma. / Traveling the world helping people. / Is to face my fear. / To go to college and become successful. / To be happy, successful and independent with a family. / Becoming a lawyer. / To pearce cars. / Be at peace. / Being sober and going home to be with my family. / Is to become a vet. / Have a healthy family that loves me for me. / To be a confident, independent woman. / Photography.

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

Thoughts Shared: To strive for what I want. / Communication. / To speak up. / Sticking to what I know. / Is not let my fears control my future. / Visualize. / To live life to the fullest. / Facing my dreams. / To focus and let go of my fear. / That we are all important and can do anything we put our minds to. / My past is not who I am today. / IDK. Everybody has the same fear. / Never give up communicate. / Didn’t learn anything. It didn’t relate to me. / To never give up on what I want to achieve. / To use my imagination. / Keep going and don’t let the strike of a ball keep you from playing the game. / Anything is possible you have to just try. / I’m not alone in my fears.

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

Post 74% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: I can be who I want to be. / I’m worth respect. / That I’m very smart. / I have positive things about myself. / That I’m not alone and I should look from the inside out. / I’m a good speaker. / nothing I know me already. / That I can do things right. / That I’m independent. / I am anxious. / I can’t look in the mirror and tell myself I’m beautiful. / Nothing. / That I can accomplish anything. / Nothing, I know me. / I like to stay to myself. / Nothing really. / I can overcome a lot. / Nothing at all that I didn’t know.

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: We all can come together as one. / Nothing much. / That we are all different. / Everyone has a positive trait in them. / That all of us been through a lot. / We are more alike than I think. / We have the same fear. / That they can succeed in life if they are willing. / They have dreams and fear that I have. / We have similar fears, ideas and comforts. / A lot of people have the same dreams and fears as I do. / Nothing.

They’re mostly scared of spiders. / They have the same fear. / We have similar opinions. / Everyone is different. / That we have a lot in common. / Everybody is somebody. / They have same issues/fears as

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

Thanks to Cox, 16 young lives from Drug Court Casa Grande experienced their Possibilities. This workshop took place on February 26th-28th, 2013.

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 Awaken Senses Heighten Visual Awareness of Our Environment Turn Pain into Possibilities into Purpose.

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

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

These responses are written in their words without edit.

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

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

Who am I? : Profiling, learn about people. Choosing who to hang out with. / Don’t to judge others. Don’t profile. The bully won’t judge a person that they want to bully. Not to judge people, even if they talk weird or dress weird. / We learned people judge people a lot. Talk to people or make friends. Learn to walk away. Making better choices. / Group work.

Work together. Defend yourself. Be strong and better!

Creative Storytelling: Memory, learn faster, visual. Remember, note taking. I don’t know. Same as in school. / That love yourself. Be happy with your decisions. You can accept yourself. If you’re happy, everything is good. / To love yourself. Helping others and memory. Stop it. Watch your cool. / Create an image. Helps you learn and write better stories. Help the bully realize the effects. See things a better way.

Through the Hoops: Sometimes you’ve got to depend on other things than your sight. You depend on your brain and the things you read and remember debate class. It would help you by listen to your instinct and remember what a responsible adult told you. To don’t always judge someone by its cover when you don’t even know them or to trust people that you know you can trust. / Trust people. You can learn easier like trusting the teacher is smart. You can trust people with problems like snitching. You can trust people instead of yourself.

Release the Fear, Inc. TM PO Box 3815 Phoenix, AZ 85030 www.releasethefear.org 602-818 695

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are.

Confident. / Different, beautiful, proud. / Feel good. / Kinda good. / It made me feel great! / Makes me feel great. / Good, accomplished, handsome. / I felt good cause I know I look good. / Relaxed and calm. / Great. / Happy, cool, funny. / Retarded, because I was talking to myself. / It feels weird. / It made me feel good and more confident.

Hero: Who is Your Hero and Why do you think are they important?

My hero is my godfather Anely. / Jesus Christ because he died for my sins. My parents because they put a roof over my head. He didn’t have to die and get tortured but he did for we didn’t have to go to hell. / Eminem. / Because she supports me on everything and always been there for me through good and bad. / Because he created us. / Baby Jesus. They give me power. The power makes me feel better about myself. / My dad. Make me not wanna go to prison cause he has been there. / Aunt Cindy. My Aunt Cindy is my hero because she is always there for me, tells me the truth and loves me for who I am. Because they help me in life and they are always there for me. / My mom. Because she’s always there for me and she’s a good mother does not do any drugs. / My dad. / Jesus. Because if you’re scared, go to church. / I am my own hero because I don’t want to be like anybody but me. I am important, obviously to help myself. / Robin Williams. He’s cool. Their funny. / My mom because she’s always there. They’re my family.

Seeing Beyond: Rely on other senses. Have different ways of learning. Use other parts to identify objects.

Drawing one’s Fear’s, Hopes and Dreams and Sharing: We’re not alone in our fears. Sometimes our fears can stop us from accomplishing something good to overcome our fears. When we fear something in school that to remind ourself about dreams and goals. To not fear a bully. / Obstacles on road. Always chase dreams. Help and support. Encourage vs not to stop. It keeps us going – Help others to a higher responsibility.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: To be happy. To relax. Ask for help. / Not everything for a bad reason. To wait till the end and not mess up. Not give up and to not think bad thoughts. Describe a time when you had an experience that you perceived (thought/saw) as negative, but through time or something you did, you perceived (thought/saw) the experience as a positive one.

I didn’t know it was a good thing for about 2 months. / I started to do ecstasy at raves and I got into Hardstyle and now I produce it and I am good at it. / At the beginning I felt like crap not doing my work. Then when the change took place I felt better about myself. / When I went to treatment/rehab for the first time I thought it would be bad however it turned out to help a lot. / Being on probation it changed my life around now I’m know better and staying clean. / Being in Juvie made me want to do good and never go back and make better decisions. / When I went to detention I thought it was the end of the world but I got through it. / I was smoking pot for about 3 years straight, but then seen it was dumb then decided to quit. / The time that I got arrested. I thought it was really bad but it changed my life around in a good way and made me better. / At first I didn’t wanna do it but then it turned out to be a good thing because now I can go back to school and come here with you guys and be with my family. / I was arrested and I got on probation, it changed my life. / When I went to jail I was angry and thought the whole ordeal was dumb. Now I’m happy that I went, because now I am clean and doing much better.

Yes/No: That there is going to be someone that doesn’t support your dreams but show them that you can do it. When a teacher tells you you’re not going to pass, you work your butt off by studying and passing test. When someone keep asking you to do drug you say no and follow your dreams. Don’t let no one bring you down keep your head up keep going. / Got to keep going towards our dreams. Different opinions from different people. To prove people wrong. Don’t let anything bring you down.

Color: A color represents someone how they feel or act. When we do good our color gets bright when we do bad get dark.

To always stay bright and represent ourself. / Everything’s worth the time. Keep working till the end. Learn how to cope with different people and situations like more than one color.

Release the Fear, Inc. TM PO Box 3815 Phoenix, AZ 85030 www.releasethefear.org 602-818 695

Funded By: Cox 4 of 5 Location: Drug Court Casa Grande %Male 75 %Female 25

Dates: February 26th-28th, 2013

Ages 13-17

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

Pre %YES 50 %NO 38 %Other 6 % No Answer 6 Post %YES 79 %NO 21 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 88 % All the Time 13 Post % Not at all 14 % Sometimes 50 % All the Time 36 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 50 % All the Time 50 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 21 % All the Time 79 Rate this statement: I feel comfortable making my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 25 % All the Time 69 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 21 % All the Time 79 Complete this statement: I see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 29 % Leader 71 Post % Follower 6 % Equal 24 % Leader 71 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 38 % No 63 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 94 % No 6 Did you do anything? % Yes 41 % No 41 % No Answer 18 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 71 % No 29 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: The breathing exercise. / It’s not good. / Take deep breaths. / It is good to stand up. / To help face the bully. / Follow my heart. / Stand up for yourself. / Encourage not to.

Now, after attending the workshop, if you saw someone be bullied, would you do something?

Post % Yes 79 % No 21 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I would stop it. / Fight the bully self-defense. / I would get a teacher. / It’s not my business. / Not my problem. / Help them. / I would talk to them. / Help them.

Did you learn any skills to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 71 % No 21 % No Answer 7 Thoughts Shared: Think twice. / Learn to say no. / Every I already know. / Tell them I’m in control of my life. / Yes, use my gut feeling. / Breathing.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 44% Post 86% Thoughts Shared: Pre: No. / No a color is just a color. / I am not sure what you mean by color, so no I have never thought about color. / Color is nice and no I never thought about color. / No. / Nothing. / I always think about color. It makes me wonder. / I don’t really know. / It’s awesome. / Um no? / Without color I would not be able to see. / I like it. / I think a world without color would suck. / I think people are people we should all be treat the same. / I think nothing about people or color.

Post: Something is always part of a bigger picture. / It has different meanings. / Everyone represents a color. / Color represents music. / All colors represent something. / That any color can be good. / To paint. / Color is more than what it seems. / Learn to like other things as well as colors. / Every color can have a different meaning. / It’s just a color. / I learned nothing about color.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 88% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: To be happy. / Being a NFL football player. / Is to become a successful DJ and get a Bachelor’s degree for music concentration at ASU. / One dream is to be good in the automotive business. / To play in sports. / To open my own beauty salon. / I have no idea. / To become an orthopedic surgeon. / To be rich. / Graduate high school and cosmetology school. / Get though treatment and probation successfully. / To be successful. / I hope to be a rapper/producer. / My important dream is to pass high school, go to college and get a career to support myself and my baby. / My most important dream is to go to college.

Post: Joining the Marines. / Is to be happy with my own things. / To graduate high school and college, get a career. / Sleeping in bags of money. / Is to be a DJ. / My dream is to have a healthy family and open my own business. / Graduate high school and college. / To be a teacher. / Studying for cosmetology. / To become a rapper. / Engineer. / Being successful. / To go to heaven.

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

Thoughts Shared: Not to profile people. / Never give up. / Never let someone bring you down. Show them you can accomplish it. / Get over my fear. / Never give up. / Don’t worry about who puts you down but who will bring you up. / Patience. / Follow my heart. / To believe in yourself. / To chase it and believe in my dream. / Not let my fears get in my way. / Keep trying. / To deal with anger.

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

Post 57% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: I don’t know. / I can believe. / To believe yourself and to love yourself. / Nothing. / I love myself. / To have fun. / Nothing. / Nothing. / Learned that I could see things differently. / I feel comfortable speaking in front of others. / The same. / I like to explore. / I learned nothing.

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: The person’s name. / Some are immature. / Everyone has a fear and a dream. / That they’re scared of spiders. / They hate spiders. / That they can be cool without trying. / A lot. / They go through some of the same stuff. / What they wanna be when they are older. / Some people aren’t who they seem. / They have the same fear as me. / All friend. / They’re cool. / I learned Ashley is drug free.

Thanks to Cox Charities, 17 young lives from LBJ experienced their Possibilities.

This workshop took place on March 6th-8th, 2013.

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 Awaken Senses Heighten Visual Awareness of Our Environment Turn Pain into Possibilities into Purpose.

The students are divided into four 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? : Get to know each other, don’t judge. Making friends, feel comfortable. Talk the bully out of it. Being open minded, effort and respect. / Communication, comparing. Being more diverse. Not judging. Accepting people’s differences. / An intelligent person, similar. Helping us learn about others, don’t judge. To not judge people because you don’t know what they’re going through. To not judge by their cover. / Learning to communicate. Associate and get along.

Talk to them appropriate. Psychiatrist, counseling.

Creative Storytelling: Memory, concentration, creativity. Being focused, listening, think outside the box. Noticing it, coming up with a solution to stop it. Focusing on your goals, be patient. / Comparing, memories, imagine. Study for test, working in groups. Looking at the bigger picture. Dealing with big situations. / We can remember anything from images.

See things in another way. Learning in a different way, remember for tests. Think, help someone draw their problems. Art, see a job in a different way, picture things differently. / Imagination, remembering. Creativity, studying, notes. Create a distraction. Write book, become an artist.

Through the Hoops: Teamwork, trust, patient. Trust the teacher, working with people around us. Patient, peacefully, workout solution. Achieving dreams, jobs, respectful. / Trust, dependency, teamwork, responsibility. Turn in work on time, projects with partners. Trust yourself to get the bully to understand respect. Take care of your family, be on time for work, pay bills, be accountable for your choices, take your consequence, think before you do. / Trust, teamwork, cooperation, reflexes. Trust each other, help each other, study together, math, language arts. Communicate with others, teach the bullied not to bully. To trust other people, cooperate with other people overcoming obstacles. / Trust. Be a leader, communicate. Teach not to bully. Trust in yourself, persevere, help others.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Responsibility, confidence, patience. Complete assignments, homework, test. Calm down, confidence, comfortable. Doing what’s necessary, patient to achieve goals. / Self-confidence, motivation, shame, disappointment, ambition. Not be shy to ask questions, try out for teams and clubs, even if in doubt, go for what you want.

No pressure to fit in, priorities first. Start from the bottom and work your way to the top, less shameful and not a disappointment to self. / Confidence, to see ourself in a different perspective. They been with through thick and thin. To communicate to succeed in our future. To believe in ourself, to think what we are going to do, what we think is right. To not live other people’s life we are gonna live our life. / Trust in yourself, believe in yourself, faith and change. Trust others, teach others, help, communicate. Tell yourself not to do it. Perseverance, help others, lead your community.

Mirror Work: Look at Yourself in the eyes (ONLY) and tell yourself that you love or like yourself just the way you are.

Yeah I like myself the way I am. It makes me feel good to see myself alive still but it sucks to be in jail and not on the outs with the family. / I love myself the way I am. When I look myself in the mirror it makes me know how I look like and it gives me this feeling of knowing how God created me beautiful. / It makes me feel good about myself. / It make me feel good about myself. / It makes me look at myself different. / It made me feel more confident than usual by knowing that I have to love myself regardless. / Makes me feel like I’m a bad kid because I’m in jail. / It makes me feel better about myself. / It makes me feel whatever. I don’t really care. / It makes me feel confident/good. / It makes me feel strong, proud, confident. / It makes me feel good about myself! / Good because no one perfect. / It makes me feel good about myself. / I feel good when I tell myself I love me. / It makes me feel like I’m two people, a good person and bad person, but I’m overcoming the bad. Also makes me feel like I have a meaning in life. / Loved, kinda hated and special.

Hero: Who is Your Hero and Why do you think are they important?

My dad is my hero because he’s always been there for me and always will. They are important because without them we might not make it. / My parents are my heroes. They are the most important people in my life and I love them. My parents are important because they bore me. They teach me the way of living and how to be a better person. / I feel like Jesus was the most person in history because he help us and protect us every day from evil thing. / I look to my mom and dad because they went through a lot for my family. I think they’re important to me because they’re always by my side. / My mom. Cause I wouldn’t be here without my mom.

She’s my world. / My brother. Because my brother been through the same as I been. But even though the gang and drugs he’s been with his family. No matter what he’s a good person. He’s my hero. I love him. / God is my hero. Because he saves people and he died for our sins. I love God. / My mom is my hero. My mom is my hero because of her always being there for me even as a single parent she did her best to raise. I appreciate everything she has done for me. / My mom and dad are my heroes cause they never give up on me and they work hard to provide and take care of me, my brother, and little sisters. / My mom. Because she takes care of me and loves me no matter what happens. / Jim Carrey. I think he is important cuz he has a good talent. / My dad. Because he leads me in the right direction. / My mom because no matter what she make sure we get by. Because she doesn’t ever judge and she always by my side. / Family because they never let me down and they try to do what they mean. Because they are my life. / God is my hero because he died on the cross for us. / My mom because she’s strong, confident and smart. Always been there for me.

Because she’s done a lot in life. She’s a good person all around. Funny, classy, smart. And I’m really happy to call her my mom. / My Tio Frankie. Because he’s always been there for me in my life.

Seeing Beyond: Senses, touch, Mind’s eye. Science, hands on experiments. Art, molding shapes and sculptures.

Calculate certain amounts of liquid. / Senses, imagination, creative question. Math – for stop problem. Read – for your imagination and creative. We learned questions. Finally math you could apply everything when you are talking on the phone or start telling stories. / If you don’t understand word try a different perspective. English or Language Arts, ask but not with words try with actions. To help see what people mean, to give emotion. / Sincere, imagination, attention.

Discipline, detail. Writing a book, become architect.

Drawing one’s Fear’s, Hopes and Dreams and Sharing: Memory, overcoming obstacles. Get through the work you don’t want to do, to appreciate. Remembering previous experiences. Remembering the good and simple things. / Planning for your life. Making choices. Keep practicing until you get it right. Tell the teacher or adult. Face your fears, accomplishing dreams. / See things in different perspectives. To know how people interact with people. By help know e been through good and bad. It help to you to remember the good even in a bad situation. / To let our fears stop us from achieving. Telling ourself we can achieve. Don’t show fear. Telling ourself we gonna make it.

Reflective Take Away Assignment: Patience, perspective, creativity. Tests, disliked subject, be creative/art. Got to have patience to achieve goals. / Patience, perspectives, creativity. You can apply patience in class by learning a subject you don’t know well. You can apply this in life by getting other people perspective with your own creativity. / To notice not everything bad is not always for the bad it could be for the good. Bad things turn out for the good. To not give up even if it’s bad. / Think positive, learn from mistakes. Learn from bullying from others. Doing what you’re told, listen to elders.

Describe a time when you had an experience that you perceived (thought/saw) as negative, but through time or something you did, you perceived (thought/saw) the experience as a positive one.

There was a time I was in jail but it turned out for the best. Of it cause I would have been dead or in here for something worse. / Me coming to jail was not a good thing but it helped me learn something to change and make positive and good choices. / I thought jail was negative but it turned positive because I’ve learned a lot of good things. Specifically in Release the Fear class. / When I was a little kid I saw my mom and dad fighting. I felt sad after I told to stop fighting. I felt good because my mom was spending time with me. / I thought jail was negative but it turned positive because I got closer to God and I saw myself become like butterfly that just changed from a cocoon now I’m free on the inside! / Jail because I never thought I was never going to be in adult jail. I always thought I could same things everyday. / It thought that when I heard that I was going to Lower Buckeye Jail (county) I thought that I was going to be bad but I turned out to be alright and also good for me. / When my tio yelled at me (negative). I should have listened. / When my mom told me not to go out so I didn’t and I’m glad I didn’t because I would have been locked up with my friend. / 4 years ago my uncle got sick and my aunt end up in the hospital. Then my uncle died and the doctors said my aunt was going to die too so our whole family was sad but did want to believe that my aunt was gonna die. / It was wrong for me to be in jail…but I think it is best that I learn now that I’m young because who knows I could have did something very bad and got myself in prison for life or even dead. / When I had to go to a mental health facility I was extremely mad As the time went by there I realized it wasn’t that bad and I was getting the help I needed. / I wanted to go to a party but my mom said know and I was mad because I wanted to have fun but didn’t go but them later my friend called me later said that they got shot at and the cops took a lot people to jail. / / Jail, cause if I was on the outs I wouldn’t be able cause of all the influences such as drugs and friends. No drugs to alter my mind and no peer pressure from friends to do bad. / When I was in the outs I used to think I was all bad but being in jail has made me different.

Yes/No: Create, being open minded. Think outside the box. To take a step back and realize what’s going on. Make wiser decision. / Creativity to never give up. . That even if you are the one being bullied don’t let the bully put you down. To never give up on your dreams. / To keep trying even if people turn you down. If they tell you you can’t succeed to keep trying no matter what they say. To be the bigger person. You could succeed in life for doing good choices. / Accept no and keep trying. Don’t give up if you get bad grade. Use no as an answer. Don’t give up on dreams.

Color: Imagination, thought process. Use your imagination if you got a project. You can use thought process before you act upon your first thought.

Release the Fear, Inc. TM PO Box 3815 Phoenix, AZ 85030 www.releasethefear.org 602-818 695

Funded By: Cox 4 of 5 Location: Playcourt Casa Grande %Male 75 %Female 25

Dates: February 26th-28th, 2013

Ages 13-17

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

Pre %YES 50 %NO 38 %Other 6 % No Answer 6 Post %YES 79 %NO 21 %Other 0 Rate this statement: You feel comfortable speaking in front of others.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 88 % All the Time 13 Post % Not at all 14 % Sometimes 50 % All the Time 36 Rate this statement: I believe I can make my hopes and/or dreams come true.

Pre % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 50 % All the Time 50 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 21 % All the Time 79 Rate this statement: I feel comfortable making my own decisions even when dealing with peer pressure.

Pre % Not at all 6 % Sometimes 25 % All the Time 69 Post % Not at all 0 % Sometimes 21 % All the Time 79 Complete this statement: I see myself as a __. Follower, Equal, Leader Pre % Follower 0 % Equal 29 % Leader 71 Post % Follower 6 % Equal 24 % Leader 71 Have you ever been bullied? % Yes 38 % No 63 Have you ever seen someone being bullied? % Yes 94 % No 6 Did you do anything? % Yes 41 % No 41 % No Answer 18 Did you learn something in the workshop that will help you deal with bullying?

Post % Yes 71 % No 29 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: The breathing exercise. / It’s not good. / Take deep breaths. / It is good to stand up. / To help face the bully. / Follow my heart. / Stand up for yourself. / Encourage not to.

Now, after attending the workshop, if you saw someone be bullied, would you do something?

Post % Yes 79 % No 21 % No Answer 0 Thoughts Shared: I would stop it. / Fight the bully self-defense. / I would get a teacher. / It’s not my business. / Not my problem. / Help them. / I would talk to them. / Help them.

Did you learn any skills to help you make your own decisions not based on Peer Pressure?

Post % Yes 71 % No 21 % No Answer 7 Thoughts Shared: Think twice. / Learn to say no. / Every I already know. / Tell them I’m in control of my life. / Yes, use my gut feeling. / Breathing.

What do you think about color?

What % gave more thought and shared them about color.

Pre 44% Post 86% Thoughts Shared: Pre: No. / No a color is just a color. / I am not sure what you mean by color, so no I have never thought about color. / Color is nice and no I never thought about color. / No. / Nothing. / I always think about color. It makes me wonder. / I don’t really know. / It’s awesome. / Um no? / Without color I would not be able to see.

I like it. / I think a world without color would suck. / I think people are people we should all be treat the same. I think nothing about people or color.

Post: Something is always part of a bigger picture. / It has different meanings. / Everyone represents a color. / Color represents music. / All colors represent something. / That any color can be good. / To paint. / Color is more than what it seems. / Learn to like other things as well as colors. / Every color can have a different meaning. / It’s just a color. / I learned nothing about color.

My most important hope or dream is. . .

What % gave more thought to their Dreams becoming reality.

Pre 88% Post 100% Thoughts Shared: Pre: To be happy. / Being a NFL football player. / Is to become a successful DJ and get a Bachelor’s degree for music concentration at ASU. / One dream is to be good in the automotive business. / To play in sports. / To open my own beauty salon. / I have no idea. / To become an orthopedic surgeon. / To be rich. / Graduate high school and cosmetology school. / Get though treatment and probation successfully. / To be successful. / I hope to be a rapper/producer. / My important dream is to pass high school, go to college and get a career to support myself and my baby. / My most important dream is to go to college.

Post: Joining the Marines. / Is to be happy with my own things. / To graduate high school and college, get a career. / Sleeping in bags of money. / Is to be a DJ. / My dream is to have a healthy family and open my own business. / Graduate high school and college. / To be a teacher. / Studying for cosmetology. / To become a rapper. / Engineer. / Being successful. / To go to heaven.

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

Thoughts Shared: Not to profile people. / Never give up. / Never let someone bring you down. Show them you can accomplish it. / Get over my fear. / Never give up. / Don’t worry about who puts you down but who will bring you up. / Patience. / Follow my heart. / To believe in yourself. / To chase it and believe in my dream. / Not let my fears get in my way. / Keep trying. / To deal with anger.

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

Post 57% discovered something new in the workshop.

Thoughts Shared: I don’t know. / I can believe. / To believe yourself and to love yourself. / Nothing. / I love myself. / To have fun. / Nothing. / Nothing. / Learned that I could see things differently. / I feel comfortable speaking in front of others. / The same. / I like to explore. / I learned nothing.

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: The person’s name. / Some are immature. / Everyone has a fear and a dream. / That they’re scared of spiders. / They hate spiders. / That they can be cool without trying. / A lot. / They go through some of the same stuff. / What they wanna be when they are older. / Some people aren’t who they seem. / They have the same fear as me. / All friend. / They’re cool. / I learned Ashley is drug free.

To All at Cox Charities for Believing we are worth it.

THANK YOU, The Kids, Community and all of us at Release the Fear, Inc

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