Inspiring Our Youth, an organization dedicated to helping the area's young people find their way in the world, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony. It was the latest development for the increasingly influential nonprofit, which didn't even exist three years ago.
In the summer of 2015, while serving on a committee to address out-of-school suspensions disproportionately being meted out to African-American students, Arnold Anderson had an idea. He saw a way to help students who were struggling academically, socially and emotionally. A way that wasn’t being tried.
Rooted in Anderson’s nearly three decades of working with children and families, the idea would evolve into a grassroots movement, with a mission Anderson identifies as his “calling.”
The fulfillment of that idea, a nonprofit organization called Inspiring Our Youth A Game Inc., recently passed a major milestone. On the surface, it was a ribbon-cutting ceremony. But what it represented was something greater: recognition of the merit of Anderson’s idea by people from all levels of Flagler County and beyond.
“I think it’s a step,” Anderson said, “a great step.”
Not just a job
Inspiring Our Youth is a social, cultural and emotional enrichment program that connects mentors to youth, parents and families. It is designed to neutralize the effects of social and educational marginalization of youth in minority populations, particularly, though not exclusively, African-American students.
“We aim to do things differently,” said Anderson, 50, the father of two teens. He said reaching young people and their families requires first building healthy relationships.
“If you build healthy relationships, people start to trust you,” he said. “If you build trust, then you can see action.”
The program's aim is higher graduation rates, access to college preparation, prevention of juvenile offenses, enhancement of health education and a decrease in child welfare dependency.
If that sounds ambitious, it reflects Anderson’s fervor.
“This is not just a job,” he said. “This is not something that I just do. This is what I feel is supposed to happen.”
Since its inception, the program has offered two summer “camps,” involved youth in community and social action endeavors, guided those same youth toward a brighter future, and given parents some tools with which to help their children.
Anecdotally and in a pair of surveys completed last year, the program is showing indications of success.
The surveys were taken before and after the program's second summer camp, in 2017. Students who said they liked to read went from 22 to 53 percent. Those planning to attend college went from 67 to 74 percent. Those believing that they can achieve their goals rose from 61 to 79 percent.
Attitudes toward conflict resolution improved as well, as did interest in civic engagement. Before the program, 41 percent said they planned to vote once they were old enough. That rose to 79 percent after the 2017 program.
'Arnold wants to have a camp'
Not long ago, Anderson saw a 30-year-old picture of himself at the age of 19, the summer he worked at Little Flower Children’s Services on Long Island, New York. The charity serves youth and families struggling with developmental disabilities. In the photo, Anderson is surrounded by more than a dozen 11- and 12-year-old boys.
“I remember every single one of their names,” he said.
Over the years, Anderson’s career in social work took him from New York to Connecticut to the Carolinas and eventually to Florida. Throughout, he continued to work with youth, most recently as a community development administrator for the Florida Department of Children and Families.
After launching Inspiring Our Youth, however, he struck out alone, leaving the comfort of traditional employment and trusting in his vision.
At the beginning, Anderson approached Jerusha Logan, an officer with the Flagler County chapter of the NAACP, and showed her a video of “Bring Your ‘A’ Game.” The short film encourages young African-American males to complete their education and pursue goals that could bring them success.
He told Logan, “I’d like to do something like this.” He followed up by writing a 13-page program.
Later, he and Logan took their concerns to Flagler County School District officials. The superintendent at the time, Jacob Oliva, asked for their recommendation.
“Jerusha spoke up and said, ‘Arnold wants to have a camp,’” Anderson recalled.
With help from the school district, Anderson and a group of like-minded community members conducted their first summer program, 2016's “A-Game Camp” at Buddy Taylor Middle School.
The four-week summer program attracted 25 students, who embarked on a journey of self-discovery, learning who they were, where they were going and how they would get there. Speakers — “everything from firemen to digital-design people” — were brought in, and students worked on goal-oriented projects. At the conclusion of the camp, they toured Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach.
“It was so successful that the parents asked for us to continue,” Anderson said. “They asked me to do something with their students throughout the school year.”
In the following months, the adults who formed the foundation for Inspiring Our Youth took the students on field trips to the Florida Youth Challenge Academy in Clay County, and to see the movie “Hidden Figures,” the story of three African-American women and the roles they played in America’s space program.
The students helped the Rotary Club of Flagler County set up holiday light displays in Palm Coast’s Central Park and traveled to Daytona Beach to pack bags of food for families in need.
In March 2017, Anderson gathered a 16-member advisory council and incorporated Inspiring Our Youth A Game as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. As with any nonprofit, there is a need for funding, much of which has come out of Anderson's own pocket. Donations made directly by supporters and to a GoFundMe page that Anderson has set up do help, however. Many of those donations have actually come from people in Long Island, New York, where Anderson grew up.
"That says they have respect for what I've done," he said.
Freedom Schools
Last summer, the program took a new direction, partnering with Children’s Defense Fund to present its Freedom Schools program, a six-week experience designed to build and strengthen relationships, develop character and sharpen reading skills.
Flagler Schools once again provided classrooms and technology. It also provided $25,000 toward the project. Bethune-Cookman University contributed another $63,000. All of that funding was dedicated solely to the 2017 program.
Staff members, largely BCU education majors, were trained at a facility in Clinton, Tennessee, on the grounds of a farm once owned by Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Roots” Alex Haley.
(Freedom School: Children's Defense Fund program launched in Flagler)
Though youth participating in the program were assigned between three and five books to read, Anderson said it wasn’t just about reading.
“It was reading, comprehending, understanding, being able to speak to it,” he said.
Lynette Shott, director of student and community engagement for the school district, said that surrounding students with caring adults who are dedicated to helping them find their talents and develop skill sets to succeed in life is at the heart of an educational system. She added that this most succeeds when an entire community is united in that mission.
"Flagler Schools is excited to partner with community groups such as Inspiring Our Youth A Game, who for the past several years has collaborated with us to provide a summer camp where young scholars come together with community members to learn goal setting, literacy skills and how to be a leader in an inspiring setting," she said.
She pointed out what it is she likes most about the partnership between Inspiring Our Youth and Flagler Schools.
"Mr. Anderson and his team of dedicated volunteers develop relationships with families and maintain support and mentoring opportunities throughout the year with the A Game scholars," she said.
Of course, the prospect of a summer of reading wasn’t an easy sell to all of the young participants. Nina Abbas, mother of three, said her children couldn’t believe she was sending them to school during summer break. But, she said, once they started going, they enjoyed it — even coming home to sing songs they learned during the camp.
“By the end of the program, they actually wanted to participate next year,” she said.
She also noticed a positive change in their school work thereafter.
There was more to the Freedom Schools summer program than academics. The students demonstrated against childhood hunger during the National Day of Social Action. They also took a field trip to Fort Mose in St. Augustine. Established in 1789, Fort Mose was the first free African-American settlement in what is now the United States.
Moving forward
Following the success of the Freedom Schools, Inspiring Our Youth took on new energy. Using a workbook, participating students learned about everyday issues, such as personal finance, and mapped out their futures.
In February, a group of more than 50 youth enjoyed a private viewing of the Marvel superhero movie “Black Panther” for free, thanks to donors who picked up the tab.
(Donors buy 50 Flagler students 'Black Panther' tickets)
In March, they traveled to Parkland, Florida, to participate in the March for Our Lives, which was organized to protest gun violence after the Feb. 14 shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
That same month, Inspiring Our Youth A Game partnered with the University of North Florida — Center for Urban Education and Policy to present a Community Learning Exchange for leaders from a five-county region, including Flagler and Volusia. Participants shared perspectives, stories, strengths and solutions during what is hoped will be the beginning of regular collective strategizing and action throughout these communities.
DeVontae Williams, who has been with the Inspiring Our Youth program since the beginning, first as a participant and later as a leader, said it has helped him to set his goals.
“It’s a good program to get you going, instead of how most kids our age sit back with their friends, play video games and stuff,” he said. “It will get you further.”
Capping off the year, Anderson and wife, Denise, cut the ribbon for their program on May 23 outside the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce. The location was selected because the program does not yet have its own brick-and-mortar facility.
A month in Wakanda
Students are not the only ones benefitting from their participation. Another program under the Inspiring Our Youth umbrella is Parents for Generational Success, which meets monthly at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Palm Coast.
“I think if we didn’t have this parent group, I feel like I have no one to talk to,” said Cora Tripp, mother of four. “It really has been very, very inspiring. We should have a lot of parents come and join.”
“If I was to talk to anyone, I would tell them: You have to; it is a must for your child to come here,” said La’Vonne Curtain, mother of two.
“The ordinary stuff is what they do in school,” she added, “but the extraordinary stuff is what they’re doing here.”
Beginning Monday and running through June 29, Inspiring Our Youth A Game will conduct its third annual camp, a reading enrichment and STEM learning program inspired by Wakanda, the technologically advanced community portrayed in “Black Panther.” STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, math.
Participants will read two books and work on an airplane design project, among other things.
Anderson is already thinking beyond the summer academy. He said he would like to take a group to the nation’s capital or Haiti for a kind of mission trip.
Urged on by his belief in the program, he shows no sign of slowing down.
“This is a great cause,” he said. “It’s an important cause.”
Survey results
A pair of surveys were administered to students participating in 2017’s Freedom Schools program in Flagler County. One was taken at the start of the program, the other after. The results compared a change in attitude among the students. Here is what the surveys revealed:
Academic Engagement
- Students who liked to read went from 22 to 53 percent.
- Those who liked to talk about reading went from 33 to 68 percent.
- Those who read different types of books went from 44 to 89 percent.
- Those who wanted to attend college went from 67 to 74 percent.
Self-empowerment
- Those who believed they can achieve their goals went from 61 to 79 percent.
- Those who felt they would not give up when faced with a problem went from 37 to 43 percent.
- Those who were proud of themselves went from 52 to 63 percent.
- Those who believed they can make a difference went from 48 to 58 percent.
Conflict resolution
- Those willing to listen to different opinions went from 59 to 80 percent.
- Those who felt they could solve problems without yelling at others went from 22 to 27 percent.
- Those who knew how to cooperate to solve problems went from 40 to 43 percent.
Civic engagement
- Those who said they would vote when grown up went from 41 to 79 percent.
- Those who have sent letters to community leaders to express an opinion went from 7 to 21 percent.
- Those who have talked about political issues with family and friends went from 21 to 23 percent.
- Those who have volunteered with a group in the community went from 16 to 25 percent.
SOURCE: inspiringouryouthagame.net.