What is a Challenge Day?

Since 2007, Cleveland Metropolitan School District has hosted Challenge Days at area high schools. Defined as a powerful, high-energy program, it is an opportunity for youth and caring adults to participate in a series of activities designed to build cohesion, draw awareness to violence and bullying, and empower each individual.

The morning will begin with an ice-breaker session where the adults and youth can get to know one another. This will be followed by a segment called "If You Knew Me." During these emotional, and sometimes painful discussions, youth will open up to each other and the adult leading their group. In the process, they learn that everyone is struggling with something. This is such a unique opportunity to teach our young people the power of compassion and empathy.

Following lunch, the popular "Step to the Line" activity shows all of the participants that we probably have more in common than we think. After coming to that realization, the final activity of the day gives the youth an opportunity to say whatever is on their mind to the entire group.

Challenge Days provide a safe environment where young people can learn to come to terms with the painful things that are going on in their lives and grow closer to their peers. It is the goal of the program to build a culture of understanding and cooperation in schools, and aims to end the violence between teens that all to often leaves another desk empty in the classroom.

Want to get involved? We need more adults to volunteer to spend the day participating in this unique and powerful event. Why not spend a day helping to influence the lives of our inner-city youth. I promise you, it will be a day well spent!

To sign up for one of the following dates, email Kasey Morgan at kasey.t.morgan@cmsdnet.net 
John F. Kennedy High School: April 26th, 27th, and 28th, and May 2nd
Martin Luther King Jr. Career Campus: May 3rd, 4th, and 5th
East Technical High School: May 10th, 11th, and 12th

Fun Photo Friday: Cleveland's Youth of the Year

Kinyatta E.

At our Recognition Breakfast this morning, Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland named our 2011 Youth of the Year, Kinyatta, an honor roll student in her senior year at John Adams High School and a member of the Mt. Pleasant Club. Kinyatta told the audience the story of her struggles and the tremendous impact the Club has had on her life. Kinyatta has faced many challenges in her short life. At the age of 11, she and her family became homeless. For the two years her family had no place to call home, Kinyatta found a home of sorts in the Club. The building and the people inside of it became her lifeline as she endured with a child's resiliency during that time of uncertainty and fear. At the Club, she would eat what was usually her only meal of the day; she found a refuge from the outside world where she felt safe; she found caring adults and friends who were supportive and helpful; and, with our staff's help, she managed to do her homework every day, even though her mind was often occupied by worry. In the fall, Kinyatta will be heading to college where she plans to study to be a nurse. She is the perfect example that with determination and a guiding hand, dreams can come true!


Listen to Kinyatta's touching speech.

We also heard an inspiring speech from Tom Cook, Honorary BGCC Board Member and head of the Cleveland Association of Taco Bell Restaurants. He accepted the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award on behalf of his team, and shared with the crowd why he believes the work of Boys & Girls Clubs is so important and why he has been a long time investor in our youth. You can listen to his full speech here.


Listen to Tom Cook's moving speech. 

Dan Salamone, News Director of WOIO-19 Action News, was also on hand to accept the award for Media Partner of the Year. Dan was himself a former Club kid, and understands perhaps better than most, the important role it can play in the lives of Cleveland's youth.

While we know why the work we do is so critical to our communities, we also know that we could not do any of it without support of others. We are grateful to take this opportunity each year to recognize the success stories of our youth and at the same time, give a little something back to those that have given so much.