Save the Date

Informational Release: From Alison Zajdel

  “Challenge Day”

 … is coming to Richmond High School, and we are looking for adults to donate JUST ONE DAY OF THEIR TIME to this amazing series of workshops!   Students from Mrs. Bolser’s class are putting this whole effort together including the fundraising (they raised over $13,000) and logistics.  Will you join me in surrounding them with a group of caring adults?  This is also a great chance for businesses to show their support for positive change at RHS by sending staff members to help!

Dates:  March 13th, 14th & 15th (volunteers choose which day they can help)

Participating adults will arrive at Tiernan Centerfor training at 7:45 am and be finished by 3:30pm.  Wear comfortable clothes.  Lunch is provided.  Number of people needed: 20 adults needed on March 13th, 10 adults needed on March 14th, and 10 adults needed on March 15^th.

Challenge Days are powerful, high-energy programs in which youth and adult participants are guided through a series of experiential learning processes. The overall goals of the program are to increase personal power and self-esteem, to shift dangerous peer pressure to positive peer support and to eliminate the acceptability of teasing, violence and all forms of oppression.

Courtesy of Zach Cordner from Challenge Days site

Challenge Day programs are designed to unite the members of the school and/or community and to empower them to carry the themes of the program back to the greater school population. Challenge Days successfully address the issues of violence, teasing, social oppression, racism, harassment, conflict management, suicide, peer pressure, alcohol and drugs. During the program, youth are given several opportunities to speak out about what’s really going on for them, and what they need from one another. Please note that while our program focuses primarily on global and community issues and concerns, individual students can and often do share personal difficulties and experiences with the group.

The process of sharing is often both empowering and emotional. For this reason, it is important that your child/ward be aware that while confidentiality is one of the primary norms for program participation, we can never guarantee confidentiality on a large group level following the day. (We will remind the participants of the importance of confidentiality.)  At the conclusion of the program, the majority of youth leave feeling bonded, empowered and committed to making a positive difference.”  Need more convincing?  Watch a video:

http://www.challengeday.org/videos.php (I like the Channel One News 4 Minute Feature)

Ready to help?  Write to : a.clark@copeenvironmental.org or email Leslie Bolser (leslieb@rcs.k12.in.us) with your contact information.  You can then complete the attached background check and send it to or drop it off at Central Office.  Thank you for stepping forward to be a change-maker!  -Alison Zajdel

Note: Karole Passmore of GWC  & First Bank Richmond will also be participating in this worthwhile event- so join me and sign up to show your support for youth in Wayne County.