Stay tuned to meet a
man that created a program
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that is preparing the
youth leaders of tomorrow...
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My name is Yvonne
Lewis and you're watching
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Urban Report...
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Hello and welcome
to Urban Report...
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My guest today is Jimmy Mcmikle
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Founder of the Dream
Youth Leadership Program.
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He's an author, a
trainer and a speaker...
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Welcome to Urban
Report Mr. Mcmikle...
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Hey... Thank
you for having me...
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Oh, it's so
great to have you here.
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May I call you
Jimmy? You absolutely may...
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Jimmy, I've got to tell
you that this Dream Now Program
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that you've
developed is so good...
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I looked through the
booklet... it's just got
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all of these different aspects
of youth leadership training
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tell us a bit about Dream Now...
What does Dream Now stand for?
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What does Dream stand for?
The acronym Dream stands for
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Developing Responsible
Educated Adaptive Minds...
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and it's an intensive
youth leadership program
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that develops some
of the core competencies
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critical to future
leadership proficiency,
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we really focus on 3 areas
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Responsibility,
Education and Adaptability
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so, in dealing with
responsibility... it's personal
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and social responsibility,
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as far as education
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it's kind of a
3-headed monster if you will...
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there's supporting
education in its formal sense
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they got to do well in school
and understand the importance
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of education... they
also have to have some
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common sense...
because book smarts
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with no common
sense is dangerous...
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just exposure... just
exposing them to people,
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places, opportunities and
experiences that they wouldn't
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normally come across in
the course of their life...
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and then the final area
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is adaptability...
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so building the adaptive mind
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in other words...
dealing with change effectively
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you know, we have our
plan and expect things to go
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a certain
way... but what happens
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when it doesn't... so
developing their credible
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thinking, conflict resolution
so that when change happens
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they're prepared to deal with
it Absolutely... this is so, so
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important...
unpack a little bit for us
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for example... with just
developing responsibility...
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talk to us a bit about
why that's so necessary
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the sense of
personal responsibility...
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Well, I mean it starts with
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you know... first
accepting the reality
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that you're responsible
for things in your life...
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and understanding that it
can't be anybody else's fault
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until you handle the things
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that you're
personally responsible for...
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and so it gets away from "them"
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and turns into "I"...
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so, there are things that I
have to deal with, as a youth,
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there are things that I have
to develop... to make me better
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to deal with the
things in life...
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that I need to deal
with and everything from
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you know, just understanding
the importance of making
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a positive first
impression, and all the factors
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that go into that...
and being responsible
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as a child, for things at home,
in school, in your community...
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you still have a
role to play in everything
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and you have to be
responsible for anything else...
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And see, this is a critical
piece because what I see
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so often is that...
sometimes we don't want to
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take
responsibility for things...
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life is about choices...
and so, the choices that we
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make... really have consequences
and those consequences
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can be negative or
positive so what you're saying
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in this Program...
with that sense of personal
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responsibility is...
the choices that these young
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people make... can
impact their lives forever...
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and so... you are
developing the sense of
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personal responsibility
in them, to help them know
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that their choices
can have consequences...
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That's absolutely correct...
and the earlier you start
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the better...
and... so that you go down
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the right path initially...
instead of having to re-learn
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things later in
life... which we all know...
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can be very difficult to
deal with change later in life.
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Yes... for sure... so,
how did the Dream Program
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come about?
Well, it came about...
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it's really a matter of
need intersecting with...
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my personal passion...
and so for the past 20 years
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I've been involved in some
capacity in youth education
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youth leadership programming
in the Greater Hartford area
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of Connecticut...
where I reside and, you know,
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you get an opportunity to
assess the needs and see things
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and interact with
children, I've mentored children
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on all levels...
Elementary School...
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Middle School... High School...
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as well as
students in College...
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and, when you see a need...
if you're a person that is
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their personal passion
is tied to changing lives
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you're
inspired... to do something
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about it... instead of just
talking about the problems...
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you do something
and try and change it...
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And that is so important
too because just sitting around
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and talking about
problems is not going to make
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a difference... of course,
we identify the problems...
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but then... we have
to have solutions...
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and so... what you're telling
us is that you are involved with
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not just identifying
what the problems have been
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but also with some solutions...
Absolutely, and, you know,
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it's funny because I
get asked... on occasion
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to serve on different
commissions or committees...
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and I'll go to a meeting...
and I'll sit there and after
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they'll ask...
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"Are you ready to participate?"
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I'll say, "Absolutely not...
" because I don't want to spend
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the next year of
my life trying to
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just do case studies
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and figure stuff out...
and they don't use stuff
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so, good luck
and hope it works out
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but I need to be
a part of... action
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You're an "action" person...
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Absolutely... So,
with your program...
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what age group does it target?
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so, we start from third
grade and go through high school
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Now, why 3rd
grade? Well, because...
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the student workbook
every child who participates
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in the program
receives a a student workbook...
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and there is a need
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at a younger age...
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to have some
leadership training but
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when you explore
the concepts that we do
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and some of the exercises
and what we try and draw
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out of the children and
and have them participate
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and it's important
that they are at an age
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where they grasp it conceptually
so 3rd Grade is about that age
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range where it really clicks
in terms of their ability to
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grasp what we're trying to teach
and so, we can customize it
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all the way up to high school
and what we've started lately
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we've added what we call
The Program Conference Tour
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and it's targeting specifically
high school students,
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college-age students that
we host on a college campus
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we're going to do our first
one the first week in December
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on a college
campus in Providence
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where we bring
local high school students
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to a college campus,
expose them to a college campus,
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and give them a full-day
Youth Motivational Conference
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so, we're trying to reach every
age range starting at 3rd Grade
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on through
college... That is so good...
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because really when
you think about it...
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if we can get our children
when they're really young
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to understand the
importance of their presentation
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and their
personal responsibility,
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their ability to adapt to change
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if we can get them
when they're really young
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and help them...
to shape their values
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we can really make a
difference in their outcome...
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Absolutely, it's easier...
it's absolutely easier to
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to ground them
younger and work with them
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so they grow up knowing
exactly how it's supposed to be,
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instead of trying to
change learned behavior...
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So, what's a
typical session like
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walk us through...
because we have some time
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walk us through
a typical session
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in the Dream Program...
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Well, so,
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it's very interactive
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the worst thing you can do
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with a group of children is
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sit them down
and just talk to them
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or kill them
with a PowerPoint...
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reach out and make
it very interactive
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so that they're engaged
from the time the Program starts
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to the time that we
end... I mentioned earlier that
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you know, one of the
things that we talk about is
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the importance of
making the first impression
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so we do a very
interactive piece with that
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where... we have an acronym
for making the first impression
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called, "Yes Sir" and we
deal with your appearance
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exude confidence, how to
smile, when you greet people,
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shake hands firmly
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introduce yourself
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with clarity...
respond appropriately
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in a conversation...
and so, we literally take it
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step by step...
we'll start off...
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we'll have a person
coming in displaying a
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poor
appearance... and we use them...
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to critically
assess... what's not right
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about this situation...
they get a kick out of it...
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a lot of laughs... a lot of
fun, but then we get them up
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we break them into
groups, and we go through
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we practice
those types of things
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so that they understand
that you make eye contact
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with a person when
you shake their hand...
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they understand that... you
introduce yourself with clarity
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and confidence so
that your head's not down,
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you're not looking
around... you talk with people
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in a certain way... that
when a person speaks to you
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you're supposed to
respond appropriately...
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and be able to
continue a conversation
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and so, we deal with
those types of things
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we talk about how... that
first impression matters...
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but, we do a
combination of things...
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we use a workbook... so
it's always a combination
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of workbook activities...
group activities...
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individual presentation,
we put kids on the spot
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because in leadership,
you may get put on the spot
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to come and make
comments and make remarks
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that you weren't prepared to do,
so no two sessions are really
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ever the same... we
structure... on a weekly,
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a bi-weekly or
monthly type of programming
00:10:08.18\00:10:11.60
depending on what the school
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or the
organization wants us to do...
00:10:12.96\00:10:15.25
the children plan
and develop their own
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Community Service
Projects and so, one month
00:10:17.45\00:10:20.33
we may be in the classroom
for a couple of sessions
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and the next month, we
may be out on a field trip
00:10:22.45\00:10:24.46
and out doing
Community Service Projects
00:10:24.49\00:10:27.45
so, we keep it fresh,
we keep it interesting
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and allow them to
develop this... very hands-on
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That is so great... you know...
as I was listening to you...
00:10:34.34\00:10:38.75
some of the things that are
missing when you meet a young
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person and they're not
looking you straight in the eye
00:10:43.26\00:10:46.94
you might tend to not
trust them and it's just that
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they might be
totally trustworthy
00:10:50.67\00:10:52.97
but they don't know
that... that's a social skill
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that they need to
have... maybe they weren't
00:10:56.79\00:10:58.50
taught that at home that
you look someone in the eye
00:10:58.54\00:11:01.54
that you give a firm handshake,
not a weak-willy handshake...
00:11:01.58\00:11:05.41
you know, things like
that that are so critical
00:11:05.44\00:11:08.66
to establishing
that first impression
00:11:08.70\00:11:10.88
and what you're doing...
and what it sounds to me
00:11:10.91\00:11:13.46
as though you're doing
is... you're really making up
00:11:13.49\00:11:16.70
for some of the
deficits that some of these kids
00:11:16.74\00:11:19.88
don't get... they don't learn
these things... maybe at home
00:11:19.91\00:11:23.94
some of them... and so
you're really making up
00:11:23.98\00:11:27.17
that piece... helping them...
00:11:27.21\00:11:28.41
when they go for that job
interview... what do they do?
00:11:28.44\00:11:31.58
When they meet
somebody for the first time
00:11:31.61\00:11:33.31
what do they do?
How do they look?
00:11:33.35\00:11:35.37
I mean... all of
this is so critical
00:11:35.41\00:11:37.36
and this is often...
not being taught at home...
00:11:37.40\00:11:40.59
Absolutely, and that's
one of the things that we see
00:11:40.63\00:11:43.79
that there's just no
one to positively instruct
00:11:43.82\00:11:47.15
or direct them... or
teach them these things
00:11:47.19\00:11:49.88
I think that everyone
who's been marginally successful
00:11:49.91\00:11:53.52
in life can point back to people
00:11:53.55\00:11:55.24
that have had an
impact in their lives...
00:11:55.28\00:11:57.36
to teach them things
and show them things...
00:11:57.40\00:11:59.41
and there are a lot of children
out there that don't have
00:11:59.44\00:12:02.97
that type of
influence in their life
00:12:03.00\00:12:04.53
and don't have
those people to teach them
00:12:04.56\00:12:06.85
right versus wrong or just
the subtle things of life...
00:12:06.89\00:12:10.87
leadership and being social
that they are going to need
00:12:10.91\00:12:15.11
to be taken seriously...
And that, oh, that whole piece
00:12:15.15\00:12:19.32
of being taken
seriously... is so important
00:12:19.35\00:12:22.50
because the way
you present yourself...
00:12:22.54\00:12:25.37
whether you have a
command of the language
00:12:25.41\00:12:28.21
whether you dress appropriately,
00:12:28.25\00:12:30.93
whether you
interact appropriately,
00:12:30.97\00:12:33.59
all of these things
are taken into account
00:12:33.62\00:12:35.75
their verbal and non-verbal
conditions that prevail
00:12:35.78\00:12:40.48
so, you're
teaching... with this Program...
00:12:40.51\00:12:43.33
you're teaching
these young people...
00:12:43.37\00:12:45.72
how to present
themselves in the best manner
00:12:45.75\00:12:48.58
to have the best
outcome... Absolutely...
00:12:48.62\00:12:51.38
and I think that
that's such an important thing
00:12:51.42\00:12:53.38
because nobody is
really doing it...
00:12:53.41\00:12:56.15
the way I see... this
Program... doing it...
00:12:56.22\00:12:59.28
and I haven't seen it in action
00:12:59.32\00:13:04.66
but what you're
telling me sounds as though
00:13:04.69\00:13:07.35
it's such a great
thing for young people
00:13:07.39\00:13:09.97
to take advantage of...
and so, you go to different
00:13:10.01\00:13:13.09
churches and do
this... this is not...
00:13:13.12\00:13:15.12
for our viewers our
viewers need to know...
00:13:15.15\00:13:17.65
this is not a
religious program at all...
00:13:17.69\00:13:20.73
it doesn't have a
religious component in it
00:13:20.77\00:13:23.78
you can add that
at your church...
00:13:23.81\00:13:25.86
at a later time but this has
00:13:25.90\00:13:29.25
Basic Leadership Skills and
00:13:29.28\00:13:32.56
Presentation and Responsibility
skills... and so it's kind of...
00:13:32.60\00:13:37.18
it's not a religious program
and I need to let our viewers
00:13:37.22\00:13:41.03
know that... but... it is
teaching children how to be
00:13:41.07\00:13:45.27
responsible, educated
and to adapt to situations
00:13:45.31\00:13:50.61
Am I correct in that?
Yes, absolutely correct... yeah
00:13:50.64\00:13:54.42
So how would
someone... let's say a church
00:13:54.46\00:13:58.13
wanted to bring you in...
to work with the young people
00:13:58.17\00:14:01.79
what would be the process?
So they would contact us
00:14:01.82\00:14:04.87
they can contact us
directly through the website
00:14:04.90\00:14:07.91
it's called Dreamnowprogram. com
00:14:07.95\00:14:10.69
and we'll get in
contact with them
00:14:10.72\00:14:12.72
sit down and discuss their needs
00:14:12.76\00:14:14.69
and we can tailor to
whatever their desires are...
00:14:14.72\00:14:18.92
really... so
it's something that...
00:14:18.96\00:14:20.89
it's so
customizable from every level...
00:14:20.92\00:14:23.29
the age range of
children that we work with
00:14:23.32\00:14:25.65
to the amount of
time that they have
00:14:25.69\00:14:28.20
for us to work with
them and we can absolutely
00:14:28.23\00:14:31.32
meet the needs of
anyone... That's great...
00:14:31.35\00:14:34.37
What made you decide... that
this was what you wanted to do?
00:14:34.40\00:14:38.62
In terms of the Program itself?
No, in terms of your life,
00:14:38.65\00:14:42.00
your calling... your
dream, your destiny...
00:14:42.04\00:14:44.53
well, you know, we all have
our individual passion points
00:14:44.57\00:14:51.38
and there's a song, I
think, by Whitney Houston
00:14:51.41\00:14:55.91
that says, "I believe the
children are our future...
00:14:55.95\00:14:57.50
teach them well and
let them lead the way... "
00:14:57.54\00:14:59.50
I'm not going to sing
it... because it could be
00:14:59.53\00:15:01.46
the next interview for me...
but I actually believe that
00:15:01.50\00:15:05.98
as corny as that may
sound, I actually believe that
00:15:06.02\00:15:09.07
and I think that there
is just unbridled potential
00:15:09.10\00:15:12.12
in all of our
children and there's nothing
00:15:12.15\00:15:14.41
in front of
them... but opportunities
00:15:14.45\00:15:17.04
so, I feel like... it's
my role to really maximize...
00:15:17.07\00:15:21.38
prepare them...
provide them the preparation
00:15:21.41\00:15:25.13
that will allow them to
maximize their encounters
00:15:25.17\00:15:27.89
with opportunity in life
and I think that we have to
00:15:27.93\00:15:30.62
plant the seeds in our
generation of youth now
00:15:30.66\00:15:33.39
so that it reaps the
benefits that we want to see
00:15:33.42\00:15:36.12
in the future... and
that... it enables them
00:15:36.15\00:15:39.17
to then plant
seeds in the future
00:15:39.20\00:15:41.79
so they can say, you know,
00:15:41.82\00:15:43.25
"This was shown to me... I
have to show... to others... "
00:15:43.29\00:15:46.57
and I think it
continues that generationally
00:15:46.60\00:15:50.21
and it's a big
responsibility and it's powerful
00:15:50.24\00:15:53.45
it's also a responsibility...
but it's necessary.
00:15:53.49\00:15:56.66
It is... and so...
what you're saying is...
00:15:56.70\00:15:59.19
you're teaching the young people
00:15:59.22\00:16:01.29
and they'll grow
up and reach back
00:16:01.32\00:16:03.32
and bring someone else along
and help someone else too...
00:16:03.35\00:16:06.79
and that is so, so, important...
what has been your journey...
00:16:06.82\00:16:12.01
tell us a bit about
your personal journey
00:16:12.05\00:16:14.57
to get to this point...
You know, out of college,
00:16:14.60\00:16:18.54
my first job out of
college, I came out of college
00:16:18.58\00:16:22.06
with this degree...
in Criminal Justice...
00:16:22.09\00:16:25.38
I was going to change the
world and I started working
00:16:25.42\00:16:28.87
for the State of
Connecticut with the
00:16:28.90\00:16:30.33
Department of Children and
Families as a Social Worker...
00:16:30.36\00:16:33.95
and I did that for six years,
and the first year was spent in
00:16:33.98\00:16:37.53
what was then called
Long Lane, which is the only
00:16:37.57\00:16:41.70
Maximum Security Unit
for... adjudicated youth in the
00:16:41.73\00:16:45.77
State of Connecticut
and had the opportunity
00:16:45.81\00:16:48.22
to deal with a lot of troubled
youth that had made some
00:16:48.25\00:16:52.32
mistakes and poor
choices and you get to work
00:16:52.35\00:16:55.78
pretty closely with them
and realize and understand
00:16:55.81\00:16:58.16
so many of these
choices were preventable...
00:16:58.20\00:17:02.37
and you realize that
what they were lacking
00:17:02.41\00:17:05.95
in their lives had led them
to that point in their lives
00:17:05.99\00:17:08.84
and so, I worked
there for about a year
00:17:08.87\00:17:10.69
and I switched out to
the Hartford Regional Office
00:17:10.72\00:17:13.80
and did Social Work
out in the Community...
00:17:13.83\00:17:15.67
and it was kind of more
of the same... I mean...
00:17:15.71\00:17:17.48
it was really exposure to a
troubling component of Society
00:17:17.51\00:17:22.34
for me... that our
children need more,
00:17:22.37\00:17:25.22
don't have the
avenues to receive it
00:17:25.25\00:17:28.03
and the need just continues
to grow and grow and grow
00:17:28.07\00:17:32.57
so, it frustrated me with my job
00:17:32.61\00:17:34.82
to the point where I realized
I can't make any type of impact
00:17:34.85\00:17:38.83
like I need to work in...
in 60 plus hours a week here
00:17:38.86\00:17:41.96
putting Band-aids
on things... and so...
00:17:41.99\00:17:44.21
I looked for
another way... I actually...
00:17:44.24\00:17:46.39
jumped out of the frying
pan literally into the fire
00:17:46.42\00:17:49.52
and switched careers and
joined the Fire Department
00:17:49.55\00:17:52.61
and... You mean,
you literally joined
00:17:52.65\00:17:56.02
the Fire Department?
I literally joined the
00:17:56.05\00:17:58.63
Fire Department... and
it gave me an incredible
00:17:58.67\00:18:01.22
amount of time off,
and I jumped full...
00:18:01.25\00:18:05.22
you know both feet in the pool
and this was just my passion...
00:18:05.26\00:18:07.81
and that's when I
started developing
00:18:07.85\00:18:09.68
and designing and
developing and implementing
00:18:09.72\00:18:12.13
the Youth Programming in
the Greater Hartford area...
00:18:12.16\00:18:14.13
and I've been at
it... for 20 years...
00:18:14.16\00:18:16.70
I've retired from
the Fire Department
00:18:16.73\00:18:18.95
and I went back to
School and got my MBA
00:18:18.99\00:18:21.14
and formed my own Company
and my focus has just been on
00:18:21.17\00:18:25.18
Youth Leadership and
Youth Leadership Development
00:18:25.21\00:18:27.70
I've authored two
additional books...
00:18:27.74\00:18:30.91
written directly to children
"Hey Big Boy" and "Hey Big Girl"
00:18:30.94\00:18:34.48
which are positive,
life-directional messages
00:18:34.52\00:18:37.50
for children... I've
got two children of my own
00:18:37.53\00:18:40.48
and when you have
children of your own...
00:18:40.52\00:18:42.51
my kids love books and
we've always read to them
00:18:42.54\00:18:46.15
there was this gap of
quality books that gave
00:18:46.18\00:18:49.75
life
directional messages to them
00:18:49.78\00:18:51.31
and so I decided to write
a couple... for children...
00:18:51.34\00:18:53.50
whoever needed it...
and that's been my passion
00:18:53.53\00:18:56.77
ever since
then... You know what...
00:18:56.81\00:18:58.22
this is so great... I
see such a trend with you
00:18:58.25\00:19:02.22
okay, because... what
you're telling us is...
00:19:02.26\00:19:05.95
when you're working
with the criminal justice
00:19:05.99\00:19:09.53
well, you took
Criminal Justice in School
00:19:09.56\00:19:13.04
and then when you were working
with the Correctional Facilities
00:19:13.07\00:19:16.39
and all that...
you saw problems...
00:19:16.43\00:19:19.92
you saw... issues
with the young people
00:19:19.95\00:19:23.37
that you knew...
perhaps could have been avoided
00:19:23.41\00:19:26.20
had they made
different choices...
00:19:26.23\00:19:28.08
and so, you identified
what the problems were...
00:19:28.11\00:19:32.14
but not only did you do that...
00:19:32.17\00:19:34.51
you decided to be a
part of the solution...
00:19:34.54\00:19:38.19
and so, you too are...
00:19:38.22\00:19:40.07
a Dare to Dream person
00:19:40.10\00:19:41.88
in that... you took
what your passion was
00:19:41.91\00:19:45.51
and you allowed
God to just direct you
00:19:45.54\00:19:49.07
which He did... it's
obvious that He's brought you
00:19:49.11\00:19:53.02
through to this place...
and so, He directed you into
00:19:53.05\00:19:56.93
this whole
trajectory of changing the lives
00:19:56.97\00:20:00.95
of young people...
and that is so good...
00:20:00.99\00:20:03.94
you didn't just see
the problems, Jimmy...
00:20:03.97\00:20:06.85
you really got in there
to be a part of the solution
00:20:06.89\00:20:10.73
you've authored books, and
you've founded this Program
00:20:10.76\00:20:14.57
for young people...
so, I really think that
00:20:14.60\00:20:18.31
you really represent
what we like to promote
00:20:18.34\00:20:21.73
at Dare to Dream and
that is Spirituality,
00:20:21.77\00:20:25.08
the Personal Responsibility,
and the whole idea
00:20:25.12\00:20:29.17
that your choices...
you can dare to dream...
00:20:29.21\00:20:33.19
you can follow your passion,
and that's what you did...
00:20:33.22\00:20:36.36
and so, I just
applaud you for that...
00:20:36.39\00:20:39.51
because you represent
what we're trying to teach here
00:20:39.54\00:20:42.49
with this
Network... Oh, thank you...
00:20:42.53\00:20:44.93
there's more work to do...
so we're going to keep working
00:20:44.97\00:20:47.25
and keep making a
difference and find new ways
00:20:47.29\00:20:49.93
to raise the bar... and
the standard of expectation
00:20:49.97\00:20:53.39
and excellence in your Youth...
00:20:53.43\00:20:55.01
That's great... tell us about
00:20:55.04\00:20:56.55
some of the young
people that have gone through
00:20:56.58\00:20:59.03
your Program and the outcomes...
00:20:59.06\00:21:01.05
that they've had
as a result of it...
00:21:01.08\00:21:02.95
Well, you know,
the first thing is...
00:21:02.99\00:21:04.78
when you interact
with parents and they say
00:21:04.82\00:21:06.95
that there has
been a change at home...
00:21:06.99\00:21:09.06
and a change of responsibility,
we, from the first day
00:21:09.09\00:21:12.52
of the Program... we
hand out... as an assignment
00:21:12.56\00:21:16.30
a chore
chart... for the children
00:21:16.33\00:21:17.43
to go home and
complete with their parents...
00:21:17.47\00:21:19.20
we hand out a hygiene chart
00:21:19.23\00:21:21.58
which is already
completed and it's just the
00:21:21.61\00:21:24.70
daily maintenance
itself... and, you know,
00:21:24.74\00:21:27.31
everything from, "I
took a bath" you know...
00:21:27.35\00:21:29.88
to "I brushed my
teeth this morning"
00:21:29.92\00:21:31.26
before I went to
bed... I put deodorant on...
00:21:31.30\00:21:33.84
I put lotion on my
skin... I did my hair... "
00:21:33.88\00:21:36.95
and at the end of
everyday, we challenge parents
00:21:36.99\00:21:39.44
to sit down with your
child and check it off...
00:21:39.48\00:21:41.90
did you do it or
did you not do it...
00:21:41.93\00:21:44.88
and so we... from
Day 1... we jump in
00:21:44.92\00:21:47.57
and we say, "Hey,
you need to do things
00:21:47.61\00:21:49.40
a certain way...
and... not doing it that way
00:21:49.44\00:21:53.05
is not acceptable... "
and so, we try and change
00:21:53.09\00:21:56.64
things from Day 1... and
then, when teachers tell you
00:21:56.67\00:21:59.04
that there has been a change...
I mean... it's powerful...
00:21:59.07\00:22:02.94
so, it's great to be able
to see increased self-esteem,
00:22:02.98\00:22:06.81
self-confidence... and improved
00:22:06.85\00:22:08.79
inter-personal
relationship skills
00:22:08.83\00:22:10.70
it's powerful... it
lets you know that your doing
00:22:10.74\00:22:13.19
things the way
they need to be done...
00:22:13.23\00:22:16.78
Yes... that is
great... so, if a Church...
00:22:16.82\00:22:18.15
let's say... a
viewer... watching
00:22:18.18\00:22:21.00
is part of a Church
that wants to bring in
00:22:21.03\00:22:24.12
the Dream Program,
how would that work?
00:22:24.16\00:22:27.25
Okay... so, we can
do a couple of things...
00:22:27.29\00:22:30.31
depending on where you
are, obviously, geographically,
00:22:30.34\00:22:32.52
we can't
physically be everywhere
00:22:32.55\00:22:34.57
but what do is... we'll go in...
00:22:34.61\00:22:36.56
and we'll train the
trainers if you will...
00:22:36.59\00:22:38.77
so, if you have a
group of volunteers...
00:22:38.80\00:22:40.91
be it a School, be it a
Church, be it a State Agency...
00:22:40.95\00:22:43.92
we can go in and
train your facilitators
00:22:43.96\00:22:46.26
to run the
Program... we want to train you
00:22:46.29\00:22:48.76
because we want it
run right... Right...
00:22:48.80\00:22:51.20
some have a faint version
of what we're trying to do here
00:22:51.24\00:22:55.65
so, we're going to come in
and train you on the Program
00:22:55.68\00:22:59.26
whether it's weekly
program or bi-weekly or monthly
00:22:59.30\00:23:02.84
and empower you
to run this Program
00:23:02.88\00:23:06.41
so that children will
receive the full benefit...
00:23:06.45\00:23:08.27
This would be great
for maybe... PTAs...
00:23:08.30\00:23:13.40
do PTAs ever do it
as well? No, more so...
00:23:13.43\00:23:17.15
just the Schools... we
have some teachers that
00:23:17.18\00:23:20.94
will volunteer... one
school... we had a Principal
00:23:20.98\00:23:24.38
that actually came to
every session and wanted to
00:23:24.41\00:23:28.18
participate... I think
initially there was some
00:23:28.22\00:23:31.92
concern with a group of kids
that they wouldn't behave...
00:23:31.96\00:23:34.27
but we've been doing
this for quite a while
00:23:34.30\00:23:39.39
but, yeah, so we, you
know... and then locally
00:23:39.42\00:23:44.44
where we are geographically
if we can... fit it... in to
00:23:44.47\00:23:48.53
personally
facilitate it... we'll come in
00:23:48.57\00:23:50.82
and personally facilitate...
but we empower it to happen
00:23:50.86\00:23:55.13
however it needs
to... That's great...
00:23:55.17\00:23:58.06
Do you have
videos attached to this
00:23:58.10\00:24:00.46
is it all... with the book and
00:24:00.49\00:24:03.12
personal training... In
terms of Program Sessions?
00:24:03.15\00:24:07.82
Yes... Yeah, so, we do...
00:24:07.86\00:24:10.23
there's personal facilitation,
we'll use some video of
00:24:10.27\00:24:15.87
scenarios... to show scenarios
00:24:15.90\00:24:17.87
and we'll critically
assess those scenarios...
00:24:17.91\00:24:19.90
we bring in people
from the outside...
00:24:19.93\00:24:22.10
in different fields...
depending on the topic...
00:24:22.14\00:24:24.75
that we're talking
about... in a couple of weeks
00:24:24.79\00:24:28.13
we've got some politicians
coming in... City Council...
00:24:28.16\00:24:31.47
State Reps that
are going to come in
00:24:31.51\00:24:33.41
and do a social
responsibility piece for us,
00:24:33.44\00:24:35.90
where we talk about
Government elected officials
00:24:35.94\00:24:38.36
and we're going to follow
that up with a field trip to
00:24:38.40\00:24:41.34
the State Capitol and do a
tour and meet with the State Rep
00:24:41.38\00:24:44.64
there at the Capitol as
well... so, we mix it in...
00:24:44.68\00:24:48.24
very creatively...
That is so great...
00:24:48.27\00:24:51.07
so where do you
see this Program going?
00:24:51.11\00:24:53.84
What's your vision for
it? So, my vision for it
00:24:53.87\00:24:57.24
actually is to be active
all across this Country...
00:24:57.28\00:25:01.02
to reach out and touch
the lives of as many children
00:25:01.05\00:25:04.76
as we can... so
our push is going to be
00:25:04.79\00:25:07.13
a Nationwide push to...
to push to school districts
00:25:07.17\00:25:10.76
to run it as a part of
the curriculum during school
00:25:10.80\00:25:14.91
or after-school program
and State Agencies for children
00:25:14.95\00:25:18.11
in Foster Care... who oftentimes
are children who fall through
00:25:18.14\00:25:21.98
the cracks... so that's a
very important demographic
00:25:22.02\00:25:26.00
for us right now...
we're working out the details
00:25:26.03\00:25:29.98
of the things with
the State of Connecticut
00:25:30.01\00:25:33.22
Department of
Children and Foster Care here
00:25:33.25\00:25:36.25
in Connecticut, and
so, that's our goal...
00:25:36.28\00:25:39.21
Nationwide impact and
influence on our children...
00:25:39.24\00:25:43.00
What a great idea to
reach out to Foster Kids...
00:25:43.04\00:25:46.77
who are... falling
through the cracks,
00:25:46.80\00:25:48.81
who are just being
relocated all the time...
00:25:48.85\00:25:52.86
and don't have a chance to
really bond with the family
00:25:52.90\00:25:55.61
and so, that's such a
great idea to give them
00:25:55.65\00:25:58.16
the skills that they need...
to be the Leaders of tomorrow...
00:25:58.19\00:26:01.61
Absolutely, and statistically
children in Foster Care
00:26:01.64\00:26:04.82
they fall through the cracks
00:26:04.86\00:26:06.77
with higher
frequency than others
00:26:06.81\00:26:09.33
and so, we have to get
those children that are
00:26:09.37\00:26:13.15
from one home to the
next... that may not be in sync
00:26:13.18\00:26:16.51
with who they're placed with
00:26:16.54\00:26:18.28
and so that Leadership exposure
00:26:18.32\00:26:19.99
may not be there where
they're willing to accept
00:26:20.03\00:26:23.12
what the person is
willing to offer...
00:26:23.15\00:26:25.15
the information or
advice that they need
00:26:25.18\00:26:27.32
so, we have to
service those children...
00:26:27.36\00:26:29.45
Yes... so you kind of step in
as, kind of, surrogate parents
00:26:29.49\00:26:35.77
in a sense... in
terms of instructing and
00:26:35.81\00:26:38.18
things that should have
been instructed in the home
00:26:38.21\00:26:40.90
that maybe
weren't... so you guys, kind of,
00:26:40.93\00:26:43.55
take up the slack in a sense
00:26:43.58\00:26:46.22
of some of the things
00:26:46.26\00:26:47.30
that should be
taught by the family
00:26:47.34\00:26:49.35
that some of these
children just aren't getting...
00:26:49.39\00:26:51.90
Absolutely, and I think
that that's really all of our
00:26:51.94\00:26:54.38
responsibilities regardless
of whether you're facilitating
00:26:54.41\00:26:56.98
a Program or not...
you know... that whole...
00:26:57.02\00:26:59.18
"It takes a nation... I mean,
a village... to raise a child"
00:26:59.22\00:27:01.81
concept should be
something that we all embrace...
00:27:01.84\00:27:05.60
I kind of see myself
as a Community Father...
00:27:05.64\00:27:07.81
I laugh because
I'll walk down the street
00:27:07.84\00:27:11.83
I'll see something that
doesn't look right... I'll say,
00:27:11.86\00:27:13.64
"Hey, young man, come
here... " and you know
00:27:13.68\00:27:15.56
and they look at you
like, "Who are you old man...
00:27:15.60\00:27:17.24
or something like
that... " and I say,
00:27:17.27\00:27:19.21
"Pull those pants
up" or "Don't do this"
00:27:19.25\00:27:21.12
or "Don't talk to her that
way" or "Don't pull on her"
00:27:21.15\00:27:23.77
or "Don't do
this" or you know...
00:27:23.80\00:27:26.70
I'm that guy...
call me crazy but,
00:27:26.74\00:27:29.53
"Hey, you didn't put
deodorant on this morning"
00:27:29.57\00:27:32.55
So, I'm that
guy in the Community
00:27:32.59\00:27:34.75
but we need that...
because when I was a child...
00:27:34.78\00:27:37.31
there were people that would
say, "Hey, come here young man"
00:27:37.35\00:27:40.59
"Knock that off" or
"Where do you live?"
00:27:40.63\00:27:44.61
"I'm going to take you home"
so, we don't have that... today
00:27:44.65\00:27:48.05
That's right... It's
something that we need
00:27:48.08\00:27:50.58
to provide... We do... we do...
00:27:50.62\00:27:52.34
Thank you so much
for being with us...
00:27:52.38\00:27:54.95
Our time is up...
but you have provided
00:27:54.98\00:27:57.52
some great information for us...
00:27:57.55\00:27:59.58
Thank you so
much for tuning in...
00:27:59.62\00:28:01.54
Join us next time...
00:28:01.57\00:28:02.66
It just wouldn't be
the same... without you...
00:28:02.69\00:28:04.78