Bath, Richfield use character education for asset
building
By Mike D’Agruma
BATH/RICHFIELD — The Bath/Richfield community is slowly putting together a wide portfolio of assets courtesy of Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Bath-Richfield (HCHYBR). The group isn’t building that portfolio with wise investing in stocks, bonds or mutual funds, however. It’s investing in people.
Healthy Communities Healthy Youth
is a national organization that was brought to the Bath/Richfield
area by CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief
Everywhere) and the Revere Local Schools District, according
to Kim Hemminger, president of HCHYBR. The group represents
a commitment of the Bath and Richfield communities to
cultivate positive character traits and developmental
assets within young people by guiding
them to be visible, active members in the community
and minimizing at-risk behaviors.
With regard to character education,
Hemminger places an important emphasis on the idea of
asset building. Assets are internal and external traits
that fall under such categories as support, empowerment,
boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time,
commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies
and positive identity. There are a total of 40 individual
assets that serve as a focal point of the program.
Hemminger said that through a
number of liaisons, HCHYBR attempts to encourage asset
building through various
sectors of the community. She said the idea is to try
to have these different sectors incorporate assets into
their programs. The goal of the HCHYBR is to foster
a collaboration of community members building on community
strengths and promoting the asset approach to benefit
youth, she said.
Richfield Village Mayor Michael Lyons,
who has been a supporter of the HCHYBR and the asset approach
since day one, said he makes time to attend the group’s
meetings and luncheons when able.
“The whole idea of a healthy
community and healthy youth — it identifies potential
connections to adults and in the
community,” he said. “It attempts to foster
those connections.”
Hemminger said that while the general
idea of character education in the community is understood
and championed, the asset concept tends to overwhelm some.
To overcome that hurdle, the HCHYBR is looking to increase
awareness of the importance of asset building.
One tool the HCHYBR has in place
to increase awareness and give young people a vocal
outlet is a youth commission. The commission takes 11
to 15 students between eighth and 12th grade and has
them work together to address youth issues in the community.
Hemminger said it’s
a way for teenagers to speak out, get involved, build
positive relationships with adults and organizations
in the community and prepare for future leadership roles.
“We need to listen to young
people,” she said. “We try to give them useful
roles in the community.”
Motivational speaker Dr. Mike
Thomson will explain the youth commission concept at
a youth assembly Oct. 12 during two presentations at
Revere High School. A separate presentation will take
place at 7 p.m. for other students and community members
in the Summit Room of Akron General Health and Wellness
Center—West, 4125 Medina Road. Membership on the
commission is open to students
in the Revere Local Schools District, or students of
that age who reside in the Bath or Richfield communities.
The students who are chosen will
participate in a two-day retreat Nov. 18-19 at Camp Y-Noah
in Green. Hemminger said the retreat allows the commission
to come together, bond and plan their agenda for the year.
They’ll also meet monthly at Bath Town Hall and
Richfield Town Hall to implement that agenda and discuss
community issues that are important to young people.
During the four years the HCHYBR
has been around, Hemminger said a number of youth, entities
and other individuals have been drawn
to the program, many after it was first implemented.
Hemminger herself was immediately
drawn to the concept when it was introduced. She said
she attended the very first informational meeting and
realized the positive effect the HCHYBR could have on
the community.
“I went to it and immediately
realized it was one of the more effective and efficient
things I could do for the community and for my own kids,”
she said. “So me, as a parent, instead of running
after little things, I’m going to make the community
better for my kids.”
“It simply makes a lot
of sense to me,” Lyons said. “It has been
a positive experience, from my observation. The individuals
who have been participants have benefited, I think.”
For more information on the HCHYBR,
or for a youth commission application, visit www.hchybr.com.
Applications also will be available at the youth assemblies.
The deadline for submissions is Oct. 20..
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