Home & News About NAREN Conferences & Workshops State-by-State Articles & Resources Multimedia NAREN Store Join NAREN Silhouettes e‑Journal Contact NAREN Associates Only: Program Profiles (password required) Please Support At‑Risk Kids! Yes! I would like to donate to NAREN! To donate a different amount, click here! Get on the NAREN Mailing List! Click here to subscribe!		At-Risk Education Multimedia On This Page: Teachers Who Succeed with At‑Risk Youth The Youth Mission Project El Sistema: Changing Lives Through Music A Game of Hope Brooklyn Kids Give Back in South Africa Olympian Transforms Poor Children's Lives through Judo Pete Carroll's Winning Coaching Style How Schools Stifle Creativity Tough Love in the Kitchen The Harlem Children's Zone Gustavo Dudamel's Musical Misson Teachers Who Succeed with At‑Risk Youth Angels & Warriors! A narrated PowerPoint by Dr. Anthony Dallmann-Jones. The Youth Mission Project STATEMENT of the PROBLEM: Adolescents making unhealthy or even dangerous choices regarding their expenditure of time, money and energy. DIAGNOSIS: Directionlessness PRESCRIPTION: A carefully crafted personalized and enthusiastic sense of purpose by which to measure one's potential expenditures. Of course, there is no easy or quick fix to the problem often called "misspent youth." Some even say that destructive decision-making on the part of adolescents is merely "part of the process" of human development. Hardly. Anyone thinking this would not have the courage to tell that to the parent of a teen caught in a deadly spiral of poor choices winding up in eventual suicide, or in an alcohol or other drug-related fatality. It would be difficult to convincingly justify as merely "part of growing up" becoming a teen parent, being adjudicated for crimes committed, or grinding one's life down into psychological and economic despair via continual poor choice-making. Nor would one, in the face of most current research, be able say with a straight face that the obesity, bulimia, depression, violence, and undue anxiety and confusion that torments some young people on a daily basis should be viewed as just a normal part of development and is, therefore, insignificant. We toss off these incredibly painful experiences of youth because we are in denial or we simply don't know what to do and, therefore, feel inept to the point of being in pain ourselves about it. We then rationalize what we are uncertain about and then look the other way. Understandable. It hurts to watch. The Youth Mission Process is designed as a non-sectarian attempt to make a proactive start in the direction of providing a measure by which adolescents can begin to size up their potential choices prior to acting on them. Without some kind of personal standard by which to measure potential choices, youth are left with: "Doing as you are told"; Adopting a school/church/parental/etc. standard; Following impulses; Repeating habits; Succumbing to peer pressure. Don't misunderstand me, these are not always bad standards of guidance for making judgements regarding what to do next. Any of the five could be the best means some of the time, or harmless in many other circumstances. But none of these are permanent and enduring solutions when you understand the nature of people and what they need in order to live meaningful lives. For example, it should also be acknowledged that rebellion against the first two choices above is a normal part of growing up and discovering one's own way. If there is no other constructive choice established, such as one's own personal sense of mission, then only 3 thru 5 above remain for the adolescent to "rebel towards." Each of us must eventually have "ownership" of what we are doing on a daily basis if we are to have the conviction and build the confidence necessary to feel productive and fulfilled as a human being. This does not mean that pieces of the "five" above cannot become part of one's purpose in life. But that is solely for the individual to decide. Youth love the idea that the mission statement they develop is theirs, a very personal and creative product that came from within them. The owning of a personal mission statement is one of the most important and creatively unique projects that can be undertaken in one's life. In a way, all other decisions are trivialized by it. If parents and schools are desirous of rising above triviality in helping young people set their life's compass, then the Youth Mission Process is a great place to begin. Somewhere in his or her adolescence every person would benefit from being exposed to the Youth Mission Process. Schools could easily integrate this into a required course that all students have to experience as part of their high school curriculum. Anthony Dallmann-Jones, PhD Originator of The Youth Mission Process This text will be replaced El Sistema: Changing Lives Through Music Straight from CBS' 60 Minutes (April 13, 2008): "Through a system of early training and local orchestras, Venezuela has not only provided an uplifting musical experience for its at-risk youth, but also developed an orchestra that is world famous." Read more on the CBS site, or view the entire segment below! A Game of Hope Kids from two Texas high schools learn how football can impact life beyond the field, thanks to one game. This clip illustrates how educational reform comes from the heart, not the budget! Read more on the NBC Dallas/Fort Worth site, or view the entire segment below! Brooklyn Kids Give Back in South Africa Brooklyn teens learn about the devastating effects of AIDS in South Africa through participation in "Journey for Change," a youth empowerment program founded by activist Malaak Compton-Rock (wife of actor/comedian Chris Rock). Read more on the CNN site, or view the entire segment below! Olympian Transforms Poor Children's Lives through Judo Bronze medalist Flavio Canto helps young people through free judo lessons, with more than 1,000 Rio de Janeiro youths enrolled in his Reaction Institute, teaching them discipline, humility, courage and determination. Read more on the CNN site, or view the entire segment below! Pete Carroll's Winning Coaching Style Byron Pitts profiles USC football coach Pete Carroll, who, in addition to his success in making the Trojans a football dynasty, is making positive contributions toward lowering gang violence in Los Angeles. Read more on CBS' 60 Minutes site, or view the entire segment below! How Schools Stifle Creativity Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity. Read more on the CNN site, or view the entire segment below! Tough Love in the Kitchen Wilma Stephenson might be the toughest cookie at Frankford High School in Philadelphia. Just ask the students taking her culinary arts class. Read more on the CBS Sunday Morning site, or view the entire segment below! The Harlem Children's Zone Geoffrey Canada's Harlem Children's Zone has helped put historically low-achieving students in New York on academic par with their grammar-school peers. CNN's Anderson Cooper reports. Read more on the 60 Minutes site, or view the entire segment below! Gustavo Dudamel's Musical Misson Now that he is the musical director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel wants to transplant in the U.S. the Venezuelan child orchestra system that changed his life. Bob Simon reports. Read more on the 60 Minutes site, or view the entire segment below! All original textual content on this site is copyright © NAREN and may not be reproduced in any way without explicit written permission. Web and graphic design for this site copyright © Psymon. All Rights Reserved.

At-Risk Education Multimedia

Teachers Who Succeed with At‑Risk Youth
The Youth Mission Project
El Sistema: Changing Lives Through Music
A Game of Hope
Brooklyn Kids Give Back in South Africa
Olympian Transforms Poor Children's Lives through Judo
Pete Carroll's Winning Coaching Style
How Schools Stifle Creativity
Tough Love in the Kitchen
The Harlem Children's Zone
Gustavo Dudamel's Musical Misson

Teachers Who Succeed with At‑Risk Youth

Angels & Warriors! A narrated PowerPoint by Dr. Anthony Dallmann-Jones.

The Youth Mission Project

STATEMENT of the PROBLEM: Adolescents making unhealthy or even dangerous choices regarding their expenditure of time, money and energy.

DIAGNOSIS: Directionlessness

PRESCRIPTION: A carefully crafted personalized and enthusiastic sense of purpose by which to measure one's potential expenditures.

Of course, there is no easy or quick fix to the problem often called "misspent youth." Some even say that destructive decision-making on the part of adolescents is merely "part of the process" of human development. Hardly. Anyone thinking this would not have the courage to tell that to the parent of a teen caught in a deadly spiral of poor choices winding up in eventual suicide, or in an alcohol or other drug-related fatality. It would be difficult to convincingly justify as merely "part of growing up" becoming a teen parent, being adjudicated for crimes committed, or grinding one's life down into psychological and economic despair via continual poor choice-making. Nor would one, in the face of most current research, be able say with a straight face that the obesity, bulimia, depression, violence, and undue anxiety and confusion that torments some young people on a daily basis should be viewed as just a normal part of development and is, therefore, insignificant.

We toss off these incredibly painful experiences of youth because we are in denial or we simply don't know what to do and, therefore, feel inept to the point of being in pain ourselves about it. We then rationalize what we are uncertain about and then look the other way. Understandable. It hurts to watch.

The Youth Mission Process is designed as a non-sectarian attempt to make a proactive start in the direction of providing a measure by which adolescents can begin to size up their potential choices prior to acting on them. Without some kind of personal standard by which to measure potential choices, youth are left with:

"Doing as you are told";
Adopting a school/church/parental/etc. standard;
Following impulses;
Repeating habits;
Succumbing to peer pressure.

Don't misunderstand me, these are not always bad standards of guidance for making judgements regarding what to do next. Any of the five could be the best means some of the time, or harmless in many other circumstances. But none of these are permanent and enduring solutions when you understand the nature of people and what they need in order to live meaningful lives. For example, it should also be acknowledged that rebellion against the first two choices above is a normal part of growing up and discovering one's own way. If there is no other constructive choice established, such as one's own personal sense of mission, then only 3 thru 5 above remain for the adolescent to "rebel towards."

Each of us must eventually have "ownership" of what we are doing on a daily basis if we are to have the conviction and build the confidence necessary to feel productive and fulfilled as a human being. This does not mean that pieces of the "five" above cannot become part of one's purpose in life. But that is solely for the individual to decide. Youth love the idea that the mission statement they develop is theirs, a very personal and creative product that came from within them.

The owning of a personal mission statement is one of the most important and creatively unique projects that can be undertaken in one's life. In a way, all other decisions are trivialized by it. If parents and schools are desirous of rising above triviality in helping young people set their life's compass, then the Youth Mission Process is a great place to begin. Somewhere in his or her adolescence every person would benefit from being exposed to the Youth Mission Process. Schools could easily integrate this into a required course that all students have to experience as part of their high school curriculum.

Anthony Dallmann-Jones, PhD
Originator of The Youth Mission Process

This text will be replaced

El Sistema: Changing Lives Through Music

Straight from CBS' 60 Minutes (April 13, 2008): "Through a system of early training and local orchestras, Venezuela has not only provided an uplifting musical experience for its at-risk youth, but also developed an orchestra that is world famous."

Read more on the CBS site, or view the entire segment below!

A Game of Hope

Kids from two Texas high schools learn how football can impact life beyond the field, thanks to one game. This clip illustrates how educational reform comes from the heart, not the budget!

Read more on the NBC Dallas/Fort Worth site, or view the entire segment below!

Brooklyn Kids Give Back in South Africa

Brooklyn teens learn about the devastating effects of AIDS in South Africa through participation in "Journey for Change," a youth empowerment program founded by activist Malaak Compton-Rock (wife of actor/comedian Chris Rock).

Read more on the CNN site, or view the entire segment below!

Olympian Transforms Poor Children's Lives through Judo

Bronze medalist Flavio Canto helps young people through free judo lessons, with more than 1,000 Rio de Janeiro youths enrolled in his Reaction Institute, teaching them discipline, humility, courage and determination.

Read more on the CNN site, or view the entire segment below!

Pete Carroll's Winning Coaching Style

Byron Pitts profiles USC football coach Pete Carroll, who, in addition to his success in making the Trojans a football dynasty, is making positive contributions toward lowering gang violence in Los Angeles.

Read more on CBS' 60 Minutes site, or view the entire segment below!

How Schools Stifle Creativity

Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.

Read more on the CNN site, or view the entire segment below!

Tough Love in the Kitchen

Wilma Stephenson might be the toughest cookie at Frankford High School in Philadelphia. Just ask the students taking her culinary arts class.

Read more on the CBS Sunday Morning site, or view the entire segment below!

The Harlem Children's Zone

Geoffrey Canada's Harlem Children's Zone has helped put historically low-achieving students in New York on academic par with their grammar-school peers. CNN's Anderson Cooper reports.

Read more on the 60 Minutes site, or view the entire segment below!

Gustavo Dudamel's Musical Misson

Now that he is the musical director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel wants to transplant in the U.S. the Venezuelan child orchestra system that changed his life. Bob Simon reports.

Read more on the 60 Minutes site, or view the entire segment below!

All original textual content on this site is copyright © NAREN
and may not be reproduced in any way without explicit written permission.
Web and graphic design for this site copyright © Psymon.
All Rights Reserved.

At-Risk Education Multimedia

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