The
name Leonardo likely conjures up a variety of images and memories
that are specific to each of us as we grew up. For many in my
generation, he was the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
clad with blue bandanna and katana swords. On perhaps a more serious
level, Leonardo is the genius inventor, engineer, artist and
quintessential renaissance man from Italy who helped inspire many of
the ideas which permeate the world as we know it today. As cool as
the Ninja Turtles are, however, it's the latter image that usually
evokes inspiration and ambition.
For
me, that inspiration was initiated during my late teenage years in
the summer of 1996. That year, I met a young boy of age five or six
named after that famous historical figure who unknowingly planted a
seed in my heart that has apparently taken nearly 17 years to
germinate. Leo came across my path while I was with my church youth
group. In those days, we would spend our weekends working with an
inner-city ministry group based out of Atlanta, home to some of the
oldest housing projects in the nation. During our trips we would
visit places like Carver Homes, Hollywood Courts, etc. and take the
afternoon to simply spend time with the kids who lived in those
locations. It was incredible to see how badly they just wanted
someone to sit and listen to their stories and give them a few hours
of attention. It was Leo's story that sticks with me to this very
day.
The
specifics of the tale now elude me after so many years, but in
general, Leo told us of how he saw his father murdered in front of
him over a drug deal gone bad. In particular, I remember him sitting
there, well-groomed, clad in multiple gold rings, a gold necklace and
brand new Nike shoes as he recounted the event of his father's
demise, telling us of the multiple gunshots his father received to
the face. Those words coming out of the mouth of a child who was less
than 7years old were impactful to say the least.
Obviously,
one question that may come to mind is, Why does this kid have
gold rings and new Nike shoes if he is so needy? The
"support" he was receiving made me wonder. Obviously his
material needs seemed to be getting met, but what about his emotional
needs? What about his experiences with adults and his point of view
on how the world works? From just a few minutes of conversation
with the young man, I could tell that these more important issues
where not being positively resolved. Only now though, after years of
thinking back on this experience, do I start to come to some
revelations. It's not Leo's fault that he had to witness what he did.
It's not Leo's fault he had to grow up where he did. It's not Leo's
fault that he had a litany of prescribed excuses for failure laid out
in front of him before he probably even knew how to walk. However, it
is OUR fault if we choose to ignore the problems of kids like Leo and
still expect society to improve. That said, there is something we can
do.
Positive
adult mentoring and leadership can make a huge difference in the
lives of children like Leo, and there's a movement coming here to
Atlanta to help make that happen. Big
City Mountaineers is a non-profit organization based out of
Colorado that seeks to influence the lives of disadvantaged youth
through wilderness mentoring programs. I have taken on the task of
helping establish Atlanta as one of the next hub cities for BCM
within the next 2-3 years. The journey begins with the recruitment of
individuals willing to participate in BCM's Summit
for Someone program which serves as a major source of
funding for the mentoring programs and the week-long expeditions that
serve as the centerpiece of the participants' experience. I'm looking
for 20-25 people to commit to a climb to help raise the money needed
to begin operations in Atlanta. As a 3-time SFS climber myself, I can
personally attest to the fact that these climbs are absolutely
incredible. You get to take part in trips with some of the best
guides on the planet and meet people like Dave
Hahn and Peter
Athans who are some of the greatest climbers in the world.
Each trip has its own special surprise, but the only way to find out
is to sign up! It would be especially impressive if we could get a
group of Southeast-based climbers to all go on the same trip!
Additionally,
I am working to establish local connections with businesses and
individuals who are willing to help support a BCM operation in
Atlanta. To give you a better idea of who these programs help and how
successful they are, take a look at the data below from BCM's own
website:
The Facts on BCM Youth:
- 100% are eligible for free or reduced lunch programs.
- 83% are from families that report an average household income of $15,000 or less.
- 71% are from single parent or guardian-led households.
- “Not interested” is the number one reason for lack of outdoor participation by non-Caucasian youth.
- 7hrs
a day is
the average screen time spent by urban youth.
The Results of BCM Programs:
- 88% of BCM youth report that they will apply what they learned from their BCM trip, and it will help them in their future and in their day-to-day life.
- 100% of BCM youth report significant improvements in these key areas:
- Commitment to Learning: motivation to do well in school, does homework, reads for pleasure.
- Positive Values: cares for other people, promotes equality, has integrity, is honest and responsible.
- Social Competencies: plans and makes good decisions, can resist peer pressure, seeks to resolve conflict non-violently.
- Positive Identity: feels in control, has high self-esteem, is optimistic about personal future. - In
2012, Big City Mountaineers delivered over 1,800 program days (1
Program Day = One youth participating for one day) of recreational
mentoring to our teen participants in four regions, including the
Rocky Mountains, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest and the San
Francisco Bay Area.
You'll
notice that the Southeast is presently missing from that list of
regions, but that is about to change. I can't do it alone though, so
if you or someone you know would like to help, please contact me.
Let's give stories like Leo's an incredibly positive and inspiring
ending.
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