Local high school students advocate peace
Messages shared through poetry, essays and artwork at recent event
Messages of peace were spread by local students recently through poetry, written essays and artwork at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
Selected high school students throughout Yuma participated in the Day of Peace event hosted by the Yuma Sunrise Rotary Club.
The event featured students who participated in a 10-month college accredited program and served as “mentor leaders” and “peace” ambassadors.” They promoted messages of peace conflict prevention and resolution throughout the community in workshops held at several local elementary and middle schools throughout the Crane School District and Yuma School District 1.
The event included a brief history of the SHINE Program, which is an after school sports and character education effort for youth.
According to SHINE Program coach Michael Morrissey, 18 students graduated from the SHINE Mentor Leader program.
“The students completed a 38-week training program with the Day of Peace as their capstone project,” he explained. All students received college credit in human relations because the program followed an Arizona Western College course curriculum taught by him, an adjunct professor with AWC.
“Many of these Mentor Leader students also committed to volunteering weekly with The SHINE Program’s afterschool sports and character education program for youth at local elementary and middle schools throughout Yuma as well as within several low-income communities throughout the city,” he said.
All 18 students from the SHINE Mentor Leader program, as well as seven Peace Ambassadors from San Luis, Mexico, participated in the Day of Peace, Morrissey noted.
“All students prepared artwork, wrote poetry, and delivered messages of peace at this unique international event,” he said. “The Boy Scouts of America Troop 8168 ‘Warriors’ honored the flags of the United States of America, Mexico, and the state of Arizona. Mayor Douglas Nicholls presented a Proclamation of Peace to commemorate this inaugural event.”
The invocation was led by Lt. Jeff Breazeale of the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club. Additionally, the event celebrated Kids at Hope, a belief system that “All Kids are Capable of Success…No Exceptions!”
Morrissey said that the event was “designed to engage young leaders in understanding the world in conflict around them and their role in helping to identify and resolve issues to aid in transforming this world into a more healthy and peaceful environment for today and future generations.
“The students gained significant confidence in sharing critical communication through various methods such as, art, poetry, writing, and public speaking,” he said. “The students also developed relationships with other like-minded youth both within their community and across international borders. They learned to collaborate effectively, support unconditionally, and engage wholeheartedly with others on shared issues. They also gained experience on facilitating a community forum to discuss topics that have a significant impact on our quality of life.”
Approximately 60 community members attended the Day of Peace event.
“Many shared their thanks and appreciation for the effort of the Mentor Leaders in bringing awareness to many of the issues that plague our community,” Morrissey said. “The attendees admired their confidence and conviction on these issues, as well. Also, the attendees made helpful financial contributions totaling approximately $700 to aid in strengthening and further developing the Mentor Leader Program.”
The SHINE Mentor Leaders, he noted, are already preparing for next season, beginning in August 2018.
“Arizona Western College has approved curriculum in the Fundamentals of Management and Leadership,” he said. “Students have the potential to earn additional credits. More courses will follow as the program grows. More information will be shared with local high school students prior to next season. Only a select group of 24 students will be chosen to participate.”
For more information on the SHINE Program, visit www.theshineprogram.org or call 928-782-3823.