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Meet Greater Cincinnati’s Role Models Who Are All Under 18
I’d like to introduce you to some of Greater Cincinnati’s most outstanding humanitarians. They’re mentors, volunteers, fundraisers, athletes, and scholars. And they are YMCA of Greater Cincinnati’s Character Award honorees. I’ve got to say…one of my pleasures in doing public relations for the Y and working on the bios for this program is getting to know such outstanding role models. Each with their own unique story and gift to this world, they give so much and they truly understand what it means to be a good person.
Take for example…
Raquel Brown (pictured on the left), a student at Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Arts, who has been described as a young woman with a smile that lights up a room and a maturity far beyond her years. Such a deep appreciation for living comes from her own inner strength as her determination overpowered juvenile diabetes that, at the age of 9, almost took her life and required multiple surgeries.
or
Wyoming High School’s Brandon Weiss (pictured on the right), an incredible teen who sees the need of those around him and strives for meaningful ways to make an impact. He has a passion for interfaith relations and spent last summer in Israel and Poland learning about the effects of the Holocaust.
or
Natalie Bryans (pictured below), a student at St. Ursula Academy, who has said some of her greatest inspirations, her heroes, are her friends because ‘they are all so kind and welcoming.’
With youth development being one of the YMCA’s core focus areas, the YMCA Character Awards are an opportunity to celebrate young people who exemplify the Y’s core values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility. The YMCA Character Awards Event will begin at 6 p.m. on April 11 at the School for Creative & Performing Arts. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for youth.
To register, please call the Community Services YMCA at 513-961-3200.
All 40 YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Character Award honoree bios are on the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati website. You may just know one of them.
A Cincinnati Valentine’s Day Card That Gives Back
This Valentine’s Day, give a card that gives back. What a special project for these children in Kennedy Heights, teaching them about social responsibility while encouraging their creative minds.
Bess Lindeman, a student at Kennedy Heights Arts Center, suggested a project where kids could create handmade art cards for Valentine’s Day, sell them to the public and donate the proceeds to a local charity. She put the word out and the response was, well overwhelming. What a wonderful idea from such a caring and inventive girl.
Kennedy Heights Arts Center teamed up with artist April Cooper and 15 high school volunteers from Ursuline Academy for a day of service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. On that day, 35 youth, ages 5 to 12, created three types of cards: watercolors with original poetry, pop-up cards and prints made from etchings on a press. The cards – more than 100 unique varieties – are on sale for $3 each at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center now through Valentine’s Day.
The students selected The Caring Place – a food pantry serving families in Kennedy Heights and Pleasant Ridge – as the beneficiary of their proceeds.
So, this Valentine’s Day, instead of purchasing a mass-produced card, consider giving one of these unique, handmade cards to your loved ones. Your purchase will support families in need in our community.
Cards may be purchased in the art shop at Kennedy Heights Arts Center, 6546 Montgomery Rd. Hours are Tuesdays through Thursdays 10am – 6pm; Fridays 10am – 5pm; and Saturdays 11am to 4pm. For more information, call 513-631-4278 or visit www.kennedyarts.org.
YMCA Kids Brightened The Holidays For Soldiers In Afghanistan
This is so truly special. To anyone who has ever wondered if your thoughtfulness made an impact, please read the letter below. The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati works hard in every program to instill caring, respect, responsibility and honesty in children at very early ages. It’s just such an important part of raising compassionate young people who are learning that kindness does matter.
So one example is a project from one of the YMCA’s Early Learning Centers. If you read the letter, you’ll see how some very special children brightened the season of some extraordinary men and woman who are making huge sacrifices for us all.
Dear Kelly,
My name is Sergeant Major Richard Wolfe and my Soldiers recently received a care package from the YMCA Early Learning Center, Cincinnati, OH 45237 that included a note from your children. I specifically picked up a card from *Michael thanking our troops and wishing us Happy Holidays. I am the senior Non-Commissioned Officer for a few hundred Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen and on behalf of them I want to thank you all for remembering us here in Afghanistan this holiday season. I am the dad of 4 boys, ages 28, 26, 22, and 6 and recognize the YMCA as wonderful organization doing great things for our youth. God Bless you for what you do. I want you to know that what you and the folks do in support of our troops matters and we appreciate it very much. We have troops from Ohio serving with us and my dad is originally from Salem, Ohio. You and the kids are a great example of the wonderful folks from the Buckeye state. Again, God Bless you all and your families and have a blessed Christmas and New Years. Please tell the kids that their notes arrived safely and we thank them.
*For privacy I have changed the boy’s name.
Monnasia Is A Teen Without A Home, But She Has A Spark Thanks To The YMCA
Working with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati I am so fortunate to be around people who are completely dedicated to enhancing the lives of others. I’ve seen so many children who in their brief years already have to learn out of necessity how to find their inner strength from overcoming personal hardships. They do that because of the nurturing guidance of YMCA staff and volunteers.
Rebecca Kelley, executive director of the Community Services YMCA, had shared this story with me. It’s a story she shared at the 21st Century Community Learning Center Conference in Washington D.C. earlier this year. Rebecca was speaking about the influence of supportive partners like JCPenney on her branch’s ability to help young kids succeed but the story itself is what inspired me.
Monnasia’s story
could be any of a number of Cincinnati area children who benefit from YMCA led afterschool programs.
“Her smile captures your eyes first, then her dark brown eyes hold your attention,” Rebecca explained. “Monnasia attends the YMCA’s CincyAfterSchool program at her school, where she experiences nine research-based program components. With help from JCPenney tutor volunteers, she’s improving in math and reading scores. She enjoys expanding her knowledge and skills in global learning via the foreign language club, Skyping with students from Ireland, and salsa dancing that brings other cultures to life. She serves on her program’s Youth Advisory Council to develop her leadership skills and engage in service-learning. Right now, Monnasia is enjoying Cincinnati Public Schools’ Fifth Quarter, an extension of the school year for four weeks of instruction and enrichment delivered by school staff and community partners.”
Then Rebecca explained how the little girl so excited about learning told her YMCA CincyAfterSchool coordinator that drawing her self-portrait made her sad and proud at the same time. Monnasia was at the global family portrait project at the Cincinnati Museum Center; and, while she liked opening her mind to other cultures, it reminded her of incredible pain. The kind of pain no child should have to endure.
“You see, Monnasia’s family portrait looks different. She’s homeless.” Rebecca went on.
“Although Monasia receives support from caring adults and staff, as well as JCPenney’s generous gift cards for school supplies and clothing in the past, Monnasia has to think about which house she’ll be sleeping at this week. When her school principal and YMCA site coordinator announced she would be honored as one of 28 CincyAfterSchool All-Stars, she had to figure out more logistics than most 12-year-olds on how she would get to the event and make it safely to her lodging that night.
“In nominating her for our All-Star Award, the principal noted how Monnasia has discovered her spark through the YMCA ArtWheels program. She’s exploring college and career options already, and learning which classes she needs to take to fulfill those dreams in her eyes. She demonstrates care for others by reading to Kindergarteners and listening to 1st graders read. We know she’s going to succeed!,” Rebecca concluded.
Robin and Brock Teach Kids About Character Values
It started out as any other day for the group of Bloomfield Elementary School students. That is, until the door opened and 130 pounds plus of pure love stood before them, his tail wagging like a windshield wiper caught in torrential rain.
Brock, the greater than life teddy bear whose mission in life seems to be spreading joy and friendship, is a jet black Newfoundland who has become quite a celebrity among school age children throughout Butler County area schools.
He and his sidekick Robin Atyeo have been visiting students for about six years now. Actually, I’m not quite sure who is whose sidekick. I guess it would be more appropriate to call them partners.
Together through reading and activities they encourage children to think responsibly and make good decisions. It was actually Robin’s idea – Brock just happily tags along. You could all his a job with ‘perks’.
They’re actually a small nonprofit called R.S.B. Character Education (created to help Robin raise enough funds to keep the program going) aimed at teaching kids lessons in character values. How do they do that? Well, Brock’s Adventures is a series of books drawn by Robin’s now 17 year old son featuring everybody’s favorite larger-than-life teddy bear and local recognizable venues specific to local neighborhoods. In the classroom, Brock sits quietly while Robin first reads a book to the kids sitting round and then has a discussion about choices. Petting and hugging times comes after they’ve listened and participated.
The second part of the lesson comes after Robin and Brock leave. Kids can earn the status of ‘Brock’s buddy’ by completing character building activities throughout the month.
Robin recently received a grant to produce videos for teachers, giving classes more flexibility in teaching the lessons. Through the video program students will earn a visit from Brock through their completion of character building exercises.
So what drives this mother of four – that’d be two human kids and two that have four legs (did I mention the Altyeo’s just got puppy Brody, another Newfoundland, to be a teacher’s aide also?) – to give so much of her time and energy to her program?
“I had worked for the Butler County Juvenile Court and saw so many young people making bad decisions that were life changing. To teach kids that they have it in them to make good choices is really rewarding,” Robin said. “I hope Brock’s Adventures helps them to pause and think about the consequences of their decisions.”
I’d say by the number of Brock’s Buddies – she definitely has.
For more information on Brock’s Adventures, please visit their website.
(right – Brock & his illustrator, Scott Atyeo)
