Challenge Day Information

What Participants Say About Challenge Day Since its inception in 1987, the Challenge Day Program has received numerous awards and recognition. It has been featured in an Emmy award-winning documentary and the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and honored with a Governor’s proclamation from the state of Wyoming. Of course, the most powerful and important acknowledgments come in the form of testimonials from our participants, the people who have used the Challenge Day experience to change their lives and the world around them. “Now I’m not afraid to come to school. Now I’m looking forward to each day…” – Student, Wenatchee, WA

“I am so glad that I went to Challenge Day – it changed my life for the best!” – Student, Hartland, ME “I have never been so inspired by any event in my life. I made amends with people and solved a lot of problems. I’ve expressed feelings to people there who were close to me, things were let out that needed to be said.” – Student, West Boylston, MA “[At Challenge Day], I was honored to be witness to a level of courage and compassion rarely seen in today's youth. In my 30+ years of dealing with people, I have never seen a program that has made such an impact as I saw with Challenge Day. Of all the programs available to help youth empower themselves with courage and strength, this has to be at the very top of the list.” – Bob King, former law enforcement officer; high school security staff, Wenatchee, WA

“Challenge Day reminded me of the pain and pressures that teenagers face on a daily basis. By providing us powerful lessons of compassion and understanding, it helps participants break down the social barriers, leaving us to deal with a person's character and not their background.” – Ron Johnson, Associate Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County, CA

“This was the best day of my life. I can't believe I hugged people today that I hated yesterday.” – Juan, 15 year old gang member, Austin, TX

“Your program brought my daughter back… I thought I had lost her forever!” – Helene, parent, Benecia, CA “When I signed up for Challenge Day I thought I was going for the kids. Clearly it was the gift I needed for myself.” – R.C. Kelly, Police Activities League, Atlanta, GA

“Challenge Day works better than any other program I've seen locally or nationally.” – Tim Monroe, former Mayor and Councilman, Casper, WY

Percentage of Reduction in Suspension Rates Natrona County, WY 100 80 60 40 20

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I n addit ion, t he Nat r ona Count y School Dist r ict in Casper , WY, r epor t ed t hat use of t he Challenge Day pr ogr ams signif icant ly cont r ibut ed t o t heir abilit y t o achieve t he f ollowing r esult s. Accor ding t o Pr incipal Wayne Br ady, “The f ocus of t he Challenge Day pr ogr am is lit er ally t o change t he hear t s of par t icipant s because only t hen can t hey begin t o change t heir behavior . I t wor ks. …Use of t he Challenge Day [wor kshop] is clear ly t he pr ogr am leading t o f ewer suspensions and mor e academic time on task....”.

After Challenge Day

3237 Alhamb ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553 Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 [email protected] a non-profit organization

A Case Story

Challenge Days

Shared joy is double joy. Shared sorrow is half sorrow. Swedish Proverb

My name is Tony. I always looked out for myself because I thought no one else would, and I thought it would always be that way. I go to school because it seems like I have to. That changed the day I got out of class for something called Challenge Day. The people running it had big hopes of helping us join together and making us leaders. I just wanted to get out of class. I figured that after signing in I would sneak out. In the school gym, I found myself sitting in a big circle in the school gym, face to face with a hundred students that no one could have paid me to spend the day with. I was keeping up my front, my cool, but I was kind of nervous. I’m used to—either sitting hidden in the back of a classroom waiting for a break, or skipping school and hanging with the guys. I wasn’t used to not knowing what was going to happen. I made fun of how a bunch of kids were dressed and of a girl who was fat. Some of the girls had worn pajamas and brought stuffed animals. Pretty stupid, I thought. The day started with each of us standing up and saying our names into a microphone “loud and proud.” A bunch of kids were really shy, but since I rap sometimes, I acted really cool when it was my turn. No one knew there was a lump in my throat. You see, I’m from a tough neighborhood, and showing your weakness only makes you a target. I was a target when I was real young, both for my brothers and for the people who called themselves my friends. We sure didn’t know how to be friends though. Fighting and putting each other down were a normal way of life. Anyway, we started playing these games I thought were really childish. I hung back a little with my buddies, acting cool and not playing like a little kid. After a couple of games, though, it didn’t seem like anyone else was hanging back, and they were all having a good time. I thought, “Why not me?” I have to admit, I was playing a little rough, but it beat sitting on the edge. What happened next was almost unbelievable. Carl, one of the only guys who is more feared and respected than me at school, was helping one of the leaders demonstrate how to give hugs. Everyone was laughing at first, but it was getting harder and harder to put anyone down that day. The leaders kept teaching us to open our hearts and minds, to share our true feelings and and to give put-ups instead of put-downs. It wasn’t what I was used to. Then we did an exercise called “the power shuffle.” Before the game started, the leaders talked about oppression. “Yeah,” I thought, “like they really know what it is like to be oppressed. Here I am, a young Latino growing up in a white society. I get harassed and pushed around every day by store owners, teachers and all these adults who think I’m a gangster just because of the color of my skin. Yeah, I act hard, but what am I supposed to do when I have to watch my friends drop from drive-by’s?”

3237 Alhamb ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553 Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 [email protected] a non-profit organization

The leaders said we had to be silent, to make it safe for everyone. They called out broad categories and asked us to cross over the line if we fit into the category. I was still snickering in my buddy’s ear as the first few were called out. But the leaders meant it about being quiet. One of the adults softly put his hand on me and said, “You’ll want them to respect you; please respect them.” Category after category was called out. In silence, group after group, people crossed the line. Then a topic was called that I fit into, and I figured I would be the only one who experienced this kind of pain. “Cross the line if you’ve ever been hit, beaten or abused, in any way.” I walked heavy in my shoes. Looking straight down as I walked, I turned around, having a hard time not laughing to cover what was going on for me. But as I looked up, half the group was walking with me. We stood in silence, looked into each other’s eyes, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I wasn’t alone. One by one, we dropped our masks. I saw that these people, whom I had judged before, were in reality very much like me. Like me, they, too, knew how it felt to be hurt. I walked back across the line. My friend tried to joke with me but it didn’t seem right anymore. Another topic was called, one where all the women and girls crossed. I had never seen before how much men and boys disrespect and hurt women. I became more uncomfortable as I noticed tears appearing in many of my friends’ eyes. We crossed the line next for having lost someone close to us in gang violence. So many of us crossed that line. It just wasn’t right! I started feeling really angry inside, and tears were coming to my eyes. The leaders kept saying, “When the tears are on the outside, the inside is healing,” and “It takes a strong man to cry.” I had to make the choice of whether or not to have the courage to show my tears. I was still scared of being called names, but the tears came out. I cried, and with my tears I proved that I was a strong man. Before we left that day, each of us stood and shared our experiences. I stood up, again not sure if I should fight the tears or not. The leader encouraged me to look out at the group and ask if it was okay for a man to cry. So I did. Then each person stood up in front of their chairs to show they respected me for showing my tears. Amazed, I started talking. I said I was sorry to a few of those people I had judged and pushed around in the halls because I thought they had it so much better than me. With the tears in their eyes, they came up to me, one by one, and gave me a hug. Now I know what it is really like to share love with someone. I hope I can do this with my dad some day. Here was a day I thought I was cutting from school, but instead I found myself telling the people I hurt that I was sorry, and people were saying the same thing to me. It was like we were all one family and we never knew it until that day. It wasn’t magic—we just looked at each other in a different light. Now it is up to us. Do we look through these eyes for just one day, or do we have the courage to remember that most people are just like us, and help others learn that it is safe to be themselves?

As told to Andrew Tertes

3237 Alhamb ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553 Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 [email protected] a non-profit organization

Challenge Day Program Price List The Challenge Day Youth Programs are $2,700.00 per day* and include the following: One 6-hour pr ogr am (Challenge Day, Ment or Tr aining, Mentor-Ment ee Challenge Day, Facult y Tr aining, Challenger Tr aining, et c.) f or a maximum of 100 yout h and a minimum of 20 adults. Pre-program survey and needs assessment Unlimited phone consultation In-person consultation 2 trained leaders

*Schools or organizations that require travel by air or are more than a 2hour drive from Martinez, CA must book a minimum of two consecutive days.

Additional costs for schools or organizations more than a 1-hour drive from Martinez, CA: Item 2 hotel rooms for every night prior to your Challenge Days

Estimated Expense $200 per day

Equal to or above the quality of a Holiday Inn. Schools have had success with local hotels donating rooms for these events.

Additional costs for schools/organizations outside of Northern California (sample costs – for budgeting purposes only): Item 2 roundtrip airline tickets from Oakland, California Contingent on distance from CA, flight availability, etc. All flights will be made 21-14 days out.

2 hotel rooms for every night prior to your Challenge Days Equal to or above the quality of a Holiday Inn. Schools have had success with local hotels donating rooms for these events.

Rental car (van or SUV required) beginning the day prior to your Challenge Days 20 small boxes of tissue 10-15 rolls of masking tape 2 -100’ extension cords Thick water-based (washable) markers (1 per person) 2’x3’ poster paper (1 per person + 5 extra) Can use flip chart paper cut in half

Name tags – one per volunteer adult facilitator TOTAL (Estimate for 2 days)

Estimated Expense $600-$2000

$200 per day

$70 per day $20 $10 N/A $50 $25 $5 $1,080 - $2,480

3237 Alhamb ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553 Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 [email protected] a non-profit organization

Video Request Form T

hank you for your interest in Challenge Day! The most powerful ways to understand the spirit and impact of a Challenge Day is to either attend a Challenge Day or to watch the video featuring a Challenge Day. To support the cost of video reproduction and mailing, and to assist Challenge Day in keeping the price of its programs as low as possible, we request that you either make a donation to offset the cost of your video(s) in advance or commit to returning it to us. Please complete the following information and return this form to us. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! Yes! I would like to see a video featuring an actual Challenge Day! Please send me the following: Quantity Tape of the full 90-minute documentary Teen Files: Surviving High School, which includes footage of an actual Challenge Day. 16-minute excerpt from the documentary Teen Files: Surviving High School that shows only an actual Challenge Day.

Minimum Donation of

Total Donation

x $10 each x $5 each

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I intend to pay for my video(s) in the following manner: I have enclosed a check for the total amount shown Please charge my credit card for the total amount shown Name on card: (PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY)

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Card Number: Expiration Date: I am unable to pay due to financial hardship. Please have Challenge Day bear the cost of my video(s). I do not wish to pay for my video(s) and promise to return my video(s) to Challenge Day within two weeks of receiving them. Please mail my video(s) to the following location: Name FIRST

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Thank you for your interest in Challenge Day and your ongoing support of our non- profit services! We look forward to working in team with you! 3237 Alhamb ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553 Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 [email protected] a non-profit organization

Fundraising to Support Your Challenge Days It will come as no surprise that virtually no Challenge Day schools have money for the program when they begin. After experiencing its impact and potential, that can change, but at the beginning, fundraising is part of the process. Fundraising for Challenge Day can actually be relatively easy because the program has such a powerful effect on both youth and adults. This allows potential funding sources to see and experience the heart-felt desire of participants to be involved in the work. The potential for success is also significantly heightened when you involve teens. A young person honestly expressing why having Challenge Day at his or her school is a powerful and potent force for change. Showing the Challenge Day video (excerpt from Teen Files: Surviving High School) can also motivate potential donors. Many of our schools have had great success with the following:

Local Civic Organizat ions. Civic organizations such as The Rotary Club, Lion’s Club, Kiwanis and Soroptimists are excellent sources. These business people are committed to being of service in their community. Contact your local club, schedule a time to present at one of their lunchtime meetings, and speak honestly and openly about your needs and your vision. Many schools have received full funding for days from these organizations.

Local Businesses or Corporat ions. Most major companies—including prof essional sports teams--have philanthropy or community relations budgets, or you can get “in-kind” donations (rental cars, hotel rooms, lunches, etc.). They may also match their employees’ local donations. Remind them that you can publicly recognize donations, giving them a marketing and public relations boost, if they choose.

Law Enf orcement . A big supporter of our programs across the country. Some police departments use monies seized f rom drug criminals f or prevention programs. Community relations funds may also be available.

Communit y Foundat ions/ Local Nonprof it s. Look f or like-minded programs. I n several of our communities, local nonprof its f und Challenge Days f or multiple schools.

Fire Depart ment s. By using their community involvement budget, these public servants can be “heroes” in another way.

Students. I f appropriate, ask youth to donate $25$40 to attend Challenge Day, and scholarship those who are unable to pay. Consider a “Pay-It-Forward” strategy, asking Challenge Day graduates to contribute the fee for another teen to come to a subsequent day.

Chamber of Commerce. Again, these are business people coming together to support their community. A presentation to this organization will also get you access to individual corporations in your community. Grants. Availability and requirements vary by location, so check with other educators in your area f or ideas. Some schools use Service Learning grants. Check www.servicelearning.org for more information.

Parent s or ot her I ndividuals. In one community, a local dentist donated the full cost for a day. In addition, lots of small donations from many individuals can add up to a large amount of money! Fundraisers. These you know all too well: bake sales, car washes, auctions and the like not only generate money, they rally youth and parents to support the cause.

As you succeed, let us know! We’d like to include your learning to serve others!

3237 Alhamb ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553 Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 [email protected] a non-profit organization

Community Workshops Challenge

Day' s Communit y Wor kshops ar e a key component t o any communit y' s Challenge Day exper ience. As act ive par t icipant s in t hese t hr ee-day int ensive wor kshops, adult s and select ed t eens (age 15-19) gain t he knowledge, leader ship skills and personal gr owt h exper ience needed t o help keep t he Challenge Day spir it alive in t heir homes, schools and communit ies. As a r esult , par ent s, t eacher s, administ r at or s and concer ned cit izens can empower t hemselves t o be allies f or t eens, pr oviding t he envir onment in which compassion, accept ance and r espect can f lour ish and become a way of lif e. We especially encour age par ent s and t eens who would like t o cr eat e mor e love, connect ion, under st anding and communicat ion in t heir r elat ionship t o at t end as a f amily. Each wor kshop last s t hr ee days (usually Fr iday, Sat ur day and Sunday) and is t ypically held in t he San Fr ancisco Bay ar ea. Tuit ion is $ 350 f or adult s, $ 100 for teens.

N ex t St ep

Leader shi p Empower ment T r ai ni ng ( LET )

Next St ep is a highly experient ial workshop t hat examines a new philosophy for stopping teen violence and isolat ion; a compassionat e approach t o ending social oppression in schools, families and communities; and an act ion-based model f or socio-emotional learning. Part icipant s receive an in-dept h look at t he t heory and pract ice behind Challenge Day as t hey dive deeper int o t he issues it addresses, including yout h violence, racism, t easing, st ereot ypes, gender roles, social oppression and t he abuse of t obacco, drugs and alcohol. Part icipant s gain a deeper understanding of social oppression and how it affects each person individually, and have the opportunity to explore and heal t heir own experiences of social oppression. As a result , t hey become bet t er resources t o t heir communit y, able t o more ef f ect ively implement and sust ain t he pract ices and principles of Challenge Day in their everyday lives.

Unleash t he leader wit hin and experience your most magnif icent self at Challenge Day’s Leadership Empowerment Training (LET). This intensive workshop is f or adult s and select ed t eens seeking t o become more powerf ul and ef f ect ive leaders, present ers and individuals. Root ed in t he Challenge Day values of compassion, accept ance and f ull self -expression, t his workshop gives part icipant s t he opport unit y t o discover and work t hrough t he f ears and emotional blocks that keep them from being powerful forces for posit ive change in t heir communit ies. Part icipant s will explore t he roles of inclusion and af f irmat ion as t hey relat e t o group f acilit at ion, leadership and t eaching; learn to use energizers and ice breakers for effective group management; speak convincingly from a place of aut hent icit y and inspirat ion; and give and receive feedback in a respectful and loving manner.

Education Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for both workshops through California State University, Hayward (CSUH).

For more information, the current workshop schedule and to register online, visit our website at www.challengeday.org and click on “Community Workshops.” 3237 Alhamb ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553 Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 [email protected] a non-profit organization