By Staff
"Challenge Day was awesome!"
This was a quote from an eighth grader who participated in the Challenge Day program at Dowagiac Middle School Nov. 20-21.
This year all eighth graders, many staff, parents and community members had the opportunity to participate in this inspiring, life-changing event.
Challenge Day is a non-profit organization committed to stopping teen violence and alienation.
Its award-winning programs are designed to tear down walls of separation, inspiring participants to live, study and work in an environment of compassion, acceptance and respect.
The program has received numerous awards from the juvenile justice system, the DARE officers association and was featured on "Oprah" the week before they visited Dowagiac.
Some other feedback from students:
"Challenge Day was a lot of fun. It showed me that I was not alone. Others need help with their problems, too."
"I didn't tell people a lot about me, so it was stuck in me till Challenge Day. For some reason it was easy to tell people about my past and problems. Again, going back to the group (process), that is why it was so easy for me."
"It also affected the school because a lot of people were crying and others would go comfort them. It showed how much other people actually care about one another. It changed the school when people got up and started to say they were sorry to one another on the microphone."
Students are volunteering to be part of the "Change Team" to carry on the feelings of peace and power that they experienced that day.
Adults who participated in the program are concerned that this day should be provided for others and are looking for ways to make that happen.