Press Releases:

Feb. 16 Challenge Day Reunion Seeks Adult Volunteers

KEY WEST (360 words) – Challenge Day Founder Yvonne St. John- Dutra said on Oprah’s “High School Challenge” show in November, “the problem isn’t a lack of people in school, it’s a lack of connection between them.” Monroe Youth Challenge Program, who hosts Challenge Days in Monroe County, has an open invitation for volunteer adults to help students connect. Do you have four hours to chant “I feel great, oh I feel so great UH!,” laugh, and other wise run around connecting with teenagers? Then your volunteer services are needed Friday, February 16 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Switlik School in Marathon where 75 teenagers plan to converge at the first-ever Challenge Day Reunion. Adult volunteers are needed to interact in small groups and support the training facilitators.

“The openness and ‘be-the-change’ energy created at Challenge Day is awesome. This reunion gives students the encouragement and support to continue their commitment to be the change they want to see in their schools,” said Monroe Youth Challenge Program (MYCP) Director Sunny Booker. MYCP, a grass-roots, non-profit organization under the Monroe County Education Foundation, is the event host.

At the Challenge Day Reunion activities similar to those used at Challenge Day are to be employed for ice-breakers and team building. From this four-hour session students anticipate planning for and training to be peer facilitators for MYCP’s 8th Grade Transition Programs. The transition programs are set for the Spring to benefit 8th grade classes merging into the district’s high schools.

Because space is limited, and a background check is required, reservations are necessary. If you have volunteered at a recent Challenge Day your background check should still be be valid. Please contact Michele Sutter in the Upper Keys at (305) 852-1664, Natalie Gimer in the Middle Keys at (305) 289-2206, or Mindy Vinson in Key West at (305) 293-1549 ext. 422.

Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information about this project or any other MYCP-sponsored program call MYCP Director Sunny Booker at (305) 293-1400 ext. 53319 www.monroe.k12.fl.us/mycp. For more information about Challenge Day visit www.ChallengeDay.org .