Post #30 of 40

Did you catch I am now posting a number not a day? I will complete this project and make myself and all of you aware of all that is well in the world - all the places and people that make a difference.
Yvonne and Rich St. John Dutra are two individuals near and dear to my heart. I first met them when I was on staff for The Institute for Integrative Coaching by Debbie Ford. One of the staff members knew Yvonne and Rich and had the honor of attending a Challenge Day. This was in 2001 or 2002 and Challenge Day was struggling with budgets, over worked staff, getting the word out, and getting the amazing program into schools all over the U.S.
The vision Challenge Day held and still holds is: That every child lives in a world where they feel safe, loved and celebrated. As I participated in the high energy, big-hearted processes with 100 teenagers, I knew that this was the answer I needed several decades ago in the high school I attended.
This is not a posting about Challenge Day but please take a moment and check out the site, http://www.challengeday.org/ Bring the program to your school and be a part of the change.
Yvonne St. John Dutra began working with teens over 25 years ago. She was determined that her life, her teen mistakes would be used for the good of children everywhere. Yvonne is a vibrant, heart-centered woman who can join in with teens or their parents with equal ease. Her message of diversity, truth, the oneness we share, has had a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of teens and she has saved lives as she helps shape lives. Challenge Day was and is her baby to get the word out regarding what we can be when we take 8 hours to know who we really are and share it with others.
Rich has a high school teaching background and it is easy to see that he was a wrestling coach for many years. Rich and Yvonne combined their collective passion and experience to co-found the Challenge Day Program in 1987. What began as two people driving from school to school attempting to educate the faculty, parents and students about the oneness of our experiences despite the outward appearances, has turned into a hit show on MTV entitled If You Really Knew Me www.mtv.com/shows/if_you_really_knew_me/series.jhtml
Many people would love to have a hit TV show but Yvonne and Rich care more about the fact their message is being heard by the very segment of society they are dedicated to reaching, teens.
At a time when our news tells us about young people committing suicide before they even have a chance to fully experience life, a show such as If You Really Knew Me is not only important it is vital.
No overnight successes, Yvonne and Rich St. John Dutra held their vision, held their mission, held our children as they took the steps to assure that every child lives in a world where they feel safe, loved and celebrated. May they continue their journey.
Action Taken: Never give up. Keep the faith. Keep showing up and doing your part.
You can reach Yvonne and Rich through http://www.challengeday.org/