Press Releases:

Challenge Day Surpasses Volunteer Benchmark

KEY WEST (792 words)  -- Being real for a day is tough for most people especially for adults – in front of hundreds of teenagers no less. But this year’s Challenge Days hosted by Monroe Youth Challenge Program (MYCP) in all three county high schools surpassed all projections with adult volunteers coming forward to support our county’s young people. MYCP District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter said, “I’ve never seen anything like it. I had people come back and volunteer the second day because they loved it so much the first day.”  

And that’s a huge turn around from projections earlier in the planning season. “We did additional promotion to get volunteers this year because it was the first year of compliance with the Jessica Lunsford Act. The back ground screening forms came in right up to the deadline, we were amazed at how many people were willing to go the extra mile for the kids,” said Sunny Booker, MYCP Chief Administrator and Monroe County School District Safe School Coordinator.

The good news for all volunteers screened this year is the back ground check is good for approximately five years. Applications are still being accepted for adults who would like to volunteer with on-campus Challenge Day follow up activities or who would like to get ready now to volunteer at next year’s Challenge Days.

Challenge Day is a non-profit organization that sends trained staff around the world to host one-day programs designed to teach people how to “be the change.” Quoting M. K. Gandhi, Challenge Day Founder Rich Dutra-St. John says, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” Through illustrations, stories, and exercises Challenge Day leaders reinforce their formula for change, “Notice. Choose. Act.”

As a mentor and adult volunteer for Challenge Day, Julie Botteri of Marathon best characterizes her first-time experience as compelling. She said, “The motivations behind it are to give of one’s self without reservation. As adults, we have as much (if not more) to learn about humility and the people surrounding us, interacting with us each day.

“Challenge Day’s facilitators bring you face to face with the most basic, yet over looked, levels of humanity: kindness and empathy. It’s best to leave preconceived notions at the door and flow with the laughter, the fun, the tears of joy and forgiveness. Be real for a day. It’s an emotionally uncovered experience the kids and adults are first shy about, although at the end of the day you’ll embrace it, live it, and pay it forward.”

Another first was the number of volunteers that came from a non-profit organization known as Project H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People in Emergencies). “All the Project Hope volunteers made a huge difference for us this year because they had six or more representatives at each Challenge Day,” said Booker. Lower Keys Prevention Coordinator Mindy Vinson added, “I’m especially thankful for the H.O.P.E teams who supported us with enthusiasm and also provided follow-up counseling both in Marathon and Key West.”

Project H.O.P.E. is a federally funded grant program working under the auspices of the Department of Children and Families and the Guidance Clinic of the Middle Keys. The specific design of the program is to provide the emotional support needed to help all Keys residents during the recovery process following Hurricane Wilma. It is a crisis counseling team that provides outreach, public education, information and referral services to all residents throughout the Keys. “The mission of our organization is reflected in the name Helping Our People in Emergencies (H.O.P.E.) and in a very simple philosophy: Reach out to all areas of the Keys and help people help themselves. We were happy to do that for Challenge Day and Monroe Youth Challenge Program,” said Florida Keys Project H.O.P.E. Community Liaison Diana Reagan.

Another good thing MYCP Founder Judy Greenman applauds are the voluntary donations provided for Challenge Day staff and daily activities of the kids. “I especially want to thank Keys Fisheries of Marathon, First State Bank, Arizona Tea, Coke, Publix, TIB Bank, and Winn Dixie for all they gave us,” said Greenman.

Countywide, Sutter recognized two other volunteers as crucial in their level of support to Challenge Day. Jimmy Anderson of Tavernier did much of the leg work at Coral Shores to make it happen and he volunteered both days. Katrina Wyatt of Conch Key spent weeks recruiting adult volunteers for Marathon High School. “We are so thankful for Katrina’s efforts. Even after doing all she did for Marathon, she volunteered as an adult facilitator at Key West. We are blessed to have generous people like her and Jimmy on our team,” said Sutter.

In all, MYCP hosted four Challenge Days this year: two at Coral Shores High School Sept. 12 and 13; Marathon High School Sept. 13; and Key West High School Sept. 14 for a total of 405 students. “It was truly amazing. I wish I could give each volunteer a hug and say, ‘Thank you – let’s do it again next year!’” said Sutter.

Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information about this project or any other MYCP-sponsored program call MYCP District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter at (305) 852-1664 or go to  www.monroe.k12.fl.us/mycp. For more information about Project H.O.P.E. visit www.projecthopefloridakeys.org.orr call  (305) 434-9034