[ult_infobox color=”#ffffff” backgroundcolor=”#2C2976″ bordercolor=”#FED801″ icon=”comments_check” ]Highlights care of UPI Exec. Management and U-Team Member, Rod Ambrose[/ult_infobox]
HAPPY FATHERS’ DAY U-TEAM!!!!!!!!!
Even though our focus and ceremony may be on all things male and daddy; let us also give a shout out to all of our single mothers & grandmothers who have by virtue of time and circumstance had to represent both roles in the lives of theirs and other people’s children for decades!
Each week of our Summer Teen Leadership Camp is truly a vital accomplishment. The fact that so far going into our third week we have maintained a core group of 9 to 12 young men, without a mandate from Juvenile court or to satisfy some condition of Probation or bribery by parents to attend! Quite naturally we all hope and pray that they shall remain consistent in both attendance and their participation through to the end of camp on Saturday, July 25th.
Each facilitator of our U-TEAM have been nothing less than outstanding role models! Don’t believe it gets any better than adult males of their own stripes and achievement bonding as men and actually following thru to keep their promises to the Young Males of color during a time when they are being assaulted on Any Street USA.
SUMMARIZATION
Ø While we pushed our SANKOFA review assignments back to this week, it is an ongoing project for each young man until each has completed it and has the hard copies in their journals.
Ø Week started well with Frank delivering on a ‘TALKING DRUM’ presentation which effectively engaged the Cadets on the topic of Starting & Owning a Business, a topic a few of the Cadets have expressed real interest in and the session answered a lot of questions the Cadets most likely didn’t know how to ask.
Ø I filled in for Ghazi & Raheem with our ‘STAND & STOMP’ drill routines (still quite basic with Face Movements, marching in cadence call and beginning to learn new chants ) Also addressed THE LAW OF RESPONSIBILITY correlating it to everyday life skills from Washing, dishes to making up beds and practicing good hygiene to study habits.
Ø Terry & Hank came in and as customary to them delivered a very engaging discussion on THE LAW OF ATTRACTION which seemed to reach each young man’s sense of consciousness while learning some things about how the sub-conscious works inside of us.
Ø Billy & Michelle are actually helping the Cadets with writing assignments for instance Essay I “MY DREAM IN LIFE IS TO BECOME…..BECAUSE” Essay II “IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT THE WORLD…IT WOULD BE!!!” and Essay IV “THE STORY OF MY TROUBLE BEGAN…..WHAT I LEARNED FROM IT IS……….” Along with each young man’s SANKOFA project are undergoing revision and amendment over the course of the week beginning June 22nd and June 25th so that the material can be composed into a scripted journal that will be work shopped and rehearsed over the next three weeks and presented before a live end of 2nd annual Summer Leadership Camp audience of parents, family & friends.
Ø Coach Sebastian Payton was re-introduced by a brief reading from the “UP ON GAME” handbook in which my son Mookie described him as his favorite coach and a great coach, after which this great coach proceeded to run their tongues out with ball drilling routines. Old School ballers Frank & Rod stayed on the end of the court where nothing great was expected. LOL!!!
Ø On Thursday morning, the young men were motivated by the down the earth compelling speech by Attorney Gerald Richard! He shared his own experiences growing up and coming to Arizona from South Chicago, and how when he used to stand up to speak before young men of color, they would simply stand up and walk out on him because he represented law enforcement. When these young men say they want to see a speaker again? You better believe that person reached his audience!
Ø Michelle has been like clockwork managing our Breakfast & Lunch routines & Oscar continues transporting Cadets to Harmon Park Gym for “UP ON GAME” sessions. Please continue to help Michelle as she follows up on applications & pre-post Surveys.
NEXT WEEK:
Ø We will go further with our SANKOFA assignments with the assistance of Nazeeh (Monday or Wednesday) Brother Ghazi will combine STAND & STOMP drill with ‘THE LAW OF FORCED EFFIENCY’ (Monday, Tuesday and/or Thursday) and ‘THE ME NOBODY KNOWS’ Essay writings as facilitated by Billy Ramsey (Tuesday or Wednesday)
Ø We will continue with “UP ON GAME” as Coached by Sebastian Payton Tuesday & Thursday
Ø Our “TALKING DRUM” spokesperson is Stacia Holmes City of Phoenix Coordinator of the Deer Valley Community Center, trainer with the YOU GO GIRL RITES OF PASSAGE PROGRAM
AS ALWAYS EACH PERSON ON OUR U-TEAM MAKE UP THE HEART & SOUL OF THE CAMP/ TRY PLEASE TO RESPOND TO OUR ALREADY ENCRYPTED TIME SLOTS FOR PRESENTATIONS. PLEASE DO REVIEW YOUR MANUAL & KEEP UP WITH WHERE CADETS ARE IN THE LEARNING FORMAT & PROCESS & BE MINDFUL OF THE LAW FOR THE DAY (SO THAT YOU CAN REINFORCE THE LAW DAY THEME IN THE BODY OF YOUR PRESENTATION.
GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY & SERVICE.
Rod 🙂