 |
You-Turn Fall/Winter 2009 Newsletter
'Be A Giant' Campaign Launch
 |
October 26, 2009, the Youth of Honor team kicked off its BE A GIANT campaign to an assembly of approximately 800 middle school students at Mabry Middle School (http://www.cobbk12.org/mabry/) in Marietta, Georgia in support of Red Ribbon Week. While the Organization's Personal 'You Turn' program, designed to target incarcerated youth, continues to assist these young people with bouncing back in life and helping them to become community contributors, the BE A GIANT campaign targets middle school-aged youth as we recognize the fact that both of these age groups are being confronted with new challenges and pressures everyday.
YOH President & Founder, Mr. H. Ron Brashear passionately addressed the youth in Mabry Middle School's auditorium letting them know that they can have a sense of empowerment and courage to fight peer pressure and say NO to negative behaviors related to tobacco, drugs, alcohol and violence. "I want the youth of today to know that each and every one of them is a GIANT and they can rise above the negative influences they face in life and not only say NO to them, but they can also positively influence their friends and help them resist the negative behaviors as well," stated Mr. Brashear. That's our primary mission behind our BE A GIANT campaign.
 |
BE A GIANT T-Shirt Contest We are giving away a FREE Be A Giant t-shirt (Sponsored by UPS) as long as quantities last, to every youth who submits a short essay (<250 words), describing how they are being a GIANT in any of the five following dimensions: (1.Home, 2.Classroom, 3.Friends, 4. Community, 5. Environment). The only way to get a Be A Giant T-Shirt is through this campaign or attend one of our Be A Giant sessions.
The contest is easy (click here or on the button to the left) to begin. This is a great way to share how you are being a giant and making yourself and/or your community a better place. We look forward to hearing your story so be sure to enter today before the t-shirts run out, and be the first person in your school to wear a BE A GIANT t-shirt! | |
Youth of Honor Addresses the Giants in the First Tee Program
 Each year the PGA Tour's top thirty golfers face-off at The Tour Championship at East Lake Country Club in Atlanta. Thanks to the continued support of the PGA Tour, the Youth of Honor team was on hand this year to capture words from some of the 'giants' in attendance. It did not take the team long to find a group of 'giants' in the media center as we prepared to hear comments from the world's best golfers.
After the media questions were asked, the lights dimmed and the golfers headed back to the driving range for some final tuning, YOH Founder and President H. Ron Brashear placed some chairs in the room in a circle and conducted an inpromptu question and answer session with four youth from the First Tee Program of Atlanta. As the interview to the right details (just click on 'play' button), these youth are leveraging the First Tee Program and the values it is teaching so they can become 'giants' in life and serve as role models for others. While the First Tee Program's mission is to positively impact the lives of Atlanta's young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf, these youth are taking these lessons from the golf course to heart and improving themselves in the classroom and at home. We commend these youth and hundreds of others in the program as they reach new heights in life and continue to grow. |
|
Women of AT&T GRANT Brings Personal 'You-Turn' Training to Macon YDC
|
Thanks to funding provided by the Women of AT&T (Southeast), the Youth of Honor team journeyed to Macon, Georgia for a munch-needed return visit to the (Macon, GA) Youth Detention Center to conduct yet another Personal 'You Turn' session to the over 100 incarcerated young women in the facility. Serving time due to making poor decisions, these young ladies are serving time ranging anywhere from a few days to several years, but in the end, the larger majority of them will be back in our communities. So, through the support of the Women of AT&T, the Youth of Honor team took this opportunity to encourage them to change their ways, set goals for themselves and help them realize that they are of value and can achieve greatness in life although change is required.
For many youth, they do not realize what 'losing your freedom' really means. Instead of spending their time enjoying the luxuries of a teenager like texting friends, going shopping and wearing any outfits they choose, incarceration takes all this away and more, and it only takes one poor decision to lose it. For the 100+ ladies in attendance, they heard how the decisions that got them there are in their rear view mirror and that it is the decisions they make while in Macon and outside the walls on their release that will set their course for the days ahead of them.
"They must choose to leave some of their old 'friends' behind and not go back to the 'cutting corners' lifestyle that landed them behind barb wire," stated Tom Grason, Executive Director of Youth of Honor Organization. In some cases, these young ladies will have to stop their life of crime, dependency on alcohol or narcotics, and work to earn success," he said. "They learned that the choice is theirs to make but the consequences of poor choices could quickly land them back behind barb wire or worse. It could cost them their life."
"Without the generous support of groups like the Women of AT&T, this trip would not have been possible and the opportunity for at least one youth in attendance to walk away from the session with a rekindled hope and belief in a better tomorrow, would not present itself," stated Youth of Honor Founder and President, H. Ron Brashear.
We thank the Women of AT&T for their support, and thanks to the funding provided, each youth in attendance will receive a copy of 'Bouncing Back... Living life the right way' when they exit the facility or in many cases, they will receive it while still within the confines of the center.
If you would like to sponsor a session, we encourage you to contact us today and discuss different options available. Your investment and support could make the difference in the life of a youth in need of a spark to light a new path in their life.
|
|
Executive Director, Tom Grason, conducts a Q&A session with youth as a part of the Personal 'You-Turn' Training
Ron Brashear, Youth of Honor Founder, has a volunteer help with understanding their value as a person doesn't change even though they have made mistakes.
|
Youth of Honor Holiday Christmas Drive
|
Tom Grason and Ron Brashear pose with one of the families after delivering holiday gifts and best wishes for the New Year.
Gifts provided by Youth of Honor supporters fill the tree and flow into the family's room.
|
As the holidays approach each year, the kids of the house begin creating their wish lists, and eventually the stores are filled with parents shopping to find that perfect gift. Since the Youth of Honor Foundation's inception, the YOH team has reached out into the community to find and support families in need who are challenged to put gifts under the tree, much less pay their monthly bills.
While last year we sponsored two families in the Atlanta area, the Youth of Honor team realized that many families were having it especially rough in 2009 so the Board of Directors agreed to sponsor four families this year. Although the list of families provided to us was over twelve, the YOH team narrowed its choice to the four families that demonstrated the greatest need. We immediately began reaching out to local supporters for assistance, and with donations of gifts, gift cards, and cash coming in, the team soon recognized that the generosity being provided would ensure that the selected four families would wake up Christmas morning with plenty of gifts to be opened by the kids.
With gifts collected and wrapped, the Youth of Honor team loaded up vans and delivered gifts to the families. As each door was opened, we found that each family greeted us with tears of appreciation. For many families, the gifts delivered would be the only ones under the tree. As we brought and stacked the gifts in the house, we were amazed at the love in each house. Though times were economically tough, these families' homes were full of love and hope for a better tomorrow.
The Youth of Honor team makes every effort to assist in times of need. During these tough economic times, our hearts go out to everyone affected by the downturn of our economy. We trust and hope that as those businesses and individuals who are blessed to donate to our cause will continue to do so. We are grateful for our supporters, but continue to stress that the need is constant so please continue to support us. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
|
Youth of Honor YOH Cast Interview with Tennis Champions, The Bryan Brothers
Before you can rise to the pinnacle of your given trade it takes numerous hours outside of the spotlight practicing and refining your skills, so when you are on the world's biggest stage, you perform to your optimum level. In the world of tennis, the Bryan Brothers (Bob and Mike Bryan) have not only risen to be the world's #1 Men's Doubles tennis team in the world, they also take time to reach back through their own support medium, Bryan Brothers Foundation Through a YOHCAST interview with the Youth of Honor team, the Bryan Brothers are helping Youth of Honor Foundation inspire youth to overcome obstacles and reach the fullest of their potential.
Besides serving and volleying their way to seven grand slams and earning over 50 individual doubles titles across multiple continents, Bob and Mike Bryan have also continued to refine their musical talents and have released a new Bryan Brothers Band album, 'Let It Rip'. We encourage you to listen to this special YOHCAST and set a new course for success for yourself. |
|
DeKalb County Youth Empowerment and YOH
Charlette Wynn, Excutive Director of the Small Business Center www.thesmallbusinesscenter.org, invited YOH Founder and President H. Ron Brashear to address the youth in support of their summer employment program for individuals between the ages of 18-24 who reside in DeKalb County, Georgia. This program provides a 6-7 week work experience at various worksites within the DeKalb and Metro Atlanta areas. This program also provided the following training and enrichment activities:
* One-week pre-employment training course - to help prepare the youths for their work assignments. Topics presented in this training will include business etiquette, customer service, safety in the workplace, problem solving, computer basics, etc.
* Lunch & Learn sessions during the pre-employment training
* Dress for success workshop
* High school graduation boot camp & GED prep class to assist with obtaining a high school diploma or GED
* Career/life skills training - to provide continuous training in other areas to be determined after assessment
* Field trips and/or team building events
On August 31, 2009, as part of the Lunch & Learn sessions, Mr. Brashear shared his life's journey and how he was able to turn it around and climb the corporate ladder from entry level customer service to IT Directorship. The feedback that we received from the youth and the Small Business Center was extremely favorable. Mr. Brashear stated, "It's important to let the youth know that there is someone out here who truly believes in their abilities. That within itself, can have a profound impact and inspire them to pursue landing a job with confidence." |
|
|
  |
|
Youth Statistic: Survey Results on Children’s Exposure to Violence
|
 More than 60 percent of the Nation's youth have been exposed to violence within the past year, either directly or indirectly by witnessing a violent act; learning of a violent act against a family member, neighbor, or close friend; or experiencing a threat against their home and school. The types of violence children were exposed to included assault with a weapon and/or injury, sexual victimization, child maltreatment, and dating violence. Nearly 1 in 2 were physically assaulted at least once in the past year, with more than 1 in 10 injured in an assault. These are just a few of the disturbing facts emerging from the National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV), the most comprehensive study of its kind. The NatSCEV study was funded by OJJDP's Safe Start initiative and supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In interviews conducted by the University of New Hampshire's (UNH's) Crimes Against Children Research Center between January and May 2008, NatSCEV gathered data on both past-year and lifetime exposure to violence across a number of categories, including physical assault, bullying, sexual victimization, child maltreatment, dating violence, and witnessed and indirect victimization.
Following are just a few more of the NatSCEV findings:
- One in four of the children and adolescents surveyed were victims of robbery, vandalism, or theft during the past year.
- One in 10 suffered from child maltreatment (including physical and emotional abuse, neglect, or a family abduction).
- One in 16 were victimized sexually.
- Nearly 1 in 10 saw one family member assault another.
- Multiple victimizations were common: more than one-third experienced 2 or more direct victimizations in the previous year; more than 1 in 10 experienced 5 or more direct victimizations in the previous year; and more than 1 in 50 experienced 10 or more direct victimizations in the previous year.
Reports of lifetime exposure to violence were generally about one-third to one-half higher than reports of past-year exposure. Nearly seven in eight children (more than 86 percent) who reported being exposed to violence during their lifetime also reported being exposed to violence during the last year, which indicated that these children were at ongoing risk of victimization.
To read the full report, visit http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/news_at_glance/228325/topstory.html |
Corporate Supporter Highlight
 |
Founded in 1907 as a messenger company in the United States, UPS has grown into a $49.7 billion corporation by clearly focusing on the goal of enabling commerce around the globe. Today, UPS is a global company with one of the most recognized and admired brands in the world. They have become the world's largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services. Every day, UPS manages the flow of goods, funds, and information in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
The Youth of Honor team is proud to have UPS as a corporate sponsor for our 'Be A Giant' campaign. UPS is a giant in their field, and they continue their long-standing tradition of being supporters of the community. |
|
 |