Proud To Be Me

• 2008-09 Program Highlights

Located in Kalamazoo, Mich., Proud To Be Me is one of Turn 2's Signature Programs. The goal of Proud To Be Me is to provide fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders with the opportunity to increase their ability to withstand the pressure to use drugs and alcohol. For the past seven years, the Proud To Be Me program at Washington Writer's Academy has served an average of 15 students each year. Children participate in enrichment activities, study life lessons and develop leadership skills that help keep them healthy as they grow into young adults. In February 2009, Turn 2 expanded the PTBM program to its second site, the Douglass Community Association. Each PTBM program provides opportunities for students to grow academically, remain physically fit, work with other Kalamazoo community organizations,and receive mentoring from other Turn 2 Signature Programs, including the Kalamazoo Jeter's Leaders and Youth in Action.

NOVEMBER 2009

Due to increased demand and need, PTBM-Washington added a few additional students to its program in November. The staff was thrilled about the additions and the new participants were quickly brought up to speed.

The newly expanded group went on a full day trip to the Sherman Lake YMCA to work on teambuilding. Students were asked to step outside of their normal boundaries and work as a team to solve many different and difficult situations. The trip enabled the students to learn how to work better with each other and come up with new ways of solving problems.

The students also continued their regularly scheduled programs including Tae Kwon Do and sessions with the WMU Leadership Academy students.

Even though November included a few more days off due to school conferences and the Thanksgiving break, the Jeter's Leaders were also still able to make a visit. During this session, the Leaders helped the students with their homework and then oversaw a teambuilding game focused on concentration. The PTBM students had a blast and are looking forward to upcoming visits from the Leaders.

Upcoming activities include a trip to the West Michigan Glass Society and Turn 2's Holiday Express hosted by the Jeter's Leaders at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo.

OCTOBER 2009

The Proud To Be Me-Washington program got off to a great start in 2009! With only four returning students, the staff was excited to build relationships with the new students and their parents.

The first thing on the agenda was a field trip to Gull Meadow Farm. The trip was a small retreat where the students got to know each other and the expectations of the program better. While at the farm, the students quickly bonded and became friends.

During normally scheduled days at the site, the students begin with at least a half hour of homework time. Afterwards, they participate in fun and educational activities including Derek Jeter's 10 Life Lessons, teambuilding games, and fitness activities like Tae Kwon Do.

PTBM-Washington also began a partnership with the Western Michigan University Leadership Academy. The Leadership Academy is a weekly program that invites two students majoring in Counseling at WMU to visit the program and conduct activities that require the children to act and think outside the box. In October, the WMU students taught the children the important difference between hearing and listening.

Other mentoring activities included an initial visit from the Kalamazoo Jeter's Leaders. During their visit, the Leaders introduced themselves and led the students in an icebreaker focused on communication skills.

Although the program has only been active for a few weeks, the staff sees that the children are getting along well and will be a pleasure to work with. "We have been very impressed with the group that we have so far and are looking forward to a wonderful year!" said Mark Wilke, Proud To Be Me-Washington Program Co-Director.

• 2008-09 Program Highlights