Young folks like to listen to successful people who are close to their own age. Kristy Tyson is still quite young.
When you listen to her story that includes lots of accomplishments despite some hard times, you are amazed.
A large part of Kristy's story gave God credit, actually she gave Him all the credit for guiding her.
People who allow God to guide them through troubles and abusive relationships, will learn from their struggles and become great leaders because of it. That describes Kristy Tyson.
     Her opening statement focused on Romans 8:28 "And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose." (Amplified Bible) 
     Kristy touched on a number of topics, most notably abuse in relationships. It was a timely message as the YWAP Director told the young people about attending a seminar called Reach Out that dealt with recognizing relationship abuse.
THE SAD FACT IS ~ ONE OUT OF THREE YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE ABUSED.
     Be proactive. Educate yourself on how to prevent and react when you become aware of abuse. If you need help or want to know how to help someone who is being abused, please go to their website at:
 https://www.reachoutwny.org/get-help/ or call for help.
     Know your resources to get help with an abusive relationship.
​If at any time you feel that you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call 911.
Reach out to trained expert advocates 24/7 for education and support for you or someone you love. Free. Confidential.
Family Justice Center of Erie County
716-558-SAFE (7233)
www.fjcSAFE.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline
800-799-SAFE (7233)
800-787-3224 TTY
www.ndvh.orgErie County Domestic Violence Hotline
800-862-4357 

     Young people under 12 years old are experimenting with drugs and alcohol.
     When a young and immature brain is damaged through addiction, the brain damage may be irreversible.
     Any time we get the chance to engage young people in healthy relationship building activities is a good time.
     Prevention is always better than intervention. On Thursday night 9-27-18, YWAP begins a new prevention program at The Bread of Life Center of Hope. Young people deserve a chance to have a wonderful life. They deserve a chance to know what Love is. They deserve an opportunity to share their feelings. Opioid addiction is a plague that steals, kills and destroys. It's time for a battle of prevention.
This short video that will give you a glimpse into what will happen this week. Teen Action Night At The Bread.
     We need folks to sponsor healthy meals. It would be great for folks to get up out of their Bible Studies and come and serve the young people. Can you sponsor or come and cook a meal? 716-830-8240

          Every once in a lifetime or maybe several times in your lifetime, something spectacular happens. It's usually not complicated and is borne through collaboration and unity. Change is generally precipitated by a season of brokenness; folks get so fed up with their plight and finally create action that will cause positive change. Spectacular is often simple, though maybe unique. After it happens many people are left wondering why they hadn't thought of the idea first. As parents, teachers, mentors and service providers, we are 100% in charge of creating once in a lifetime opportunities for our children.
          Buffalo is embarking on such a once in a lifetime as this. The City landscape will be brightened with new opportunities for children. Mentoring is as old as Adam and Eve. Mentors have long been known to be world changers in our lives. We know that mentoring works. Why will it become a force that can change our schools and our children? The answer is simple unity for a common cause - children.
      Mentor Force is a collaboration of Mentors who become teammates with teachers to help reinforce the study skills needed for a satisfactory education. We go right to the core of Character Education, helping students deal with social and emotional issues that are barriers to learning. Our team approach to mentoring helps to raise grades, reduce suspensions and minimize behavioral problems. 
       The brains of our young people are largely formed through experience. The goal of Mentor Force is to provide every student in the Buffalo Schools with a compassionate Mentor. Compassion gives birth to initiative. A child with initiative will learn how to create their own opportunities.  
      Mentor Force is all of us. In the next few weeks we will reveal a new paradigm of mentoring. It's a program based on unity in the belief that "All Children Are Gifted." Everyone can and should be involved. You may not be able to mentor "one-on-one" but you can support community organizations. You can help initiate, encourage and foster the collaboration of Mentor/Provider organizations.


In the next few weeks, we will outline a plan of action that is already taking place in a Buffalo School. Get involved - make change!

Thanks for your time. 
Go do something nice for somebody.

          Each new school year begins with a fresh start and sometimes fresh faces. This morning at Buffalo School #3 we witnessed the rare combination of fresh faces combined with folks who have unselfishly served the students at School #3 for many years. The new Principal is Mrs. (soon to be Dr.) Sharon Brown. YWAP had the pleasure of being with Mrs. Brown last year at Buffalo School #6 in their After School Program. In one of our most pleasant camping experiences ever, boys from Mrs. Brown's school attended Boy Scout Camp twice.
          Chanda Ramirez is a rock star who represents Catholic Charities and the Say Yes Program. She arranged a meeting of Service Providers along with School Administrators. Here is a copy of the email that I just sent to Chanda:

Thanks Chanda for a great meeting. 

Because of what you have done, I believe our goal of ensuring that "every child in Buffalo has a mentor" can be modeled at School #3.

What gives me that hope is the folks that you assembled this morning. Each of them brings a piece of life changing compassion that students need to become emotionally and academically successful. 

Thanks for all you do, we appreciate you.

Bob & Linda
 
"Find new ways, 
  in as many ways, 
    in more excellent ways, 
      on all of your days, 
        to show love." 
 
Bob Kuebler 
YWAP Director
Youth With A Purpose 
In School & After School
In The Mountains & In The Hood 
"All Children Are Gifted" 

157 Locust Street
Buffalo, New York 14204
716-830-8240
http://www.youthwithapurpose.org/

It's going to be a great School year!

          YWAP activities seem to slow down a bit as summer wanes. Folks are taking last minute vacations and getting ready to go back to school. The YWAP Directors took a vacation that including traveling in our gas savvy Civic and sleeping in our leaky,tarp covered canvass tent. We kept in shape for our Wilderness Program by reaching 6 US High points.We also had the privilege of sharing Acts 2:38 and a message of hope with over 300 inmates at Piedmont Correctional Facility in North Carolina.
          Last night I was at our Youth Center in the basement of Holy Cross Church on Buffalo's Lower West Side. Under the Directorship of Sharon Tell, many kids are spending a few hours smiling, snacking and getting exercise. Our After School Program Director Sharon Tell is making a big difference in the community with her unbridled and compassionate love for children. Thank you Sharon for bringing your unique talents to the children of Buffalo. Your name was bandied about today with honor at the Buffalo School #3 Providers Meeting. They miss you and speak highly of you.
          If you would like to help, we could use some cleaning supplies for our kitchen area along with paper plates, paper towels, garbage bags, a mop and bucket. The YWAP Phone is 716-830-8240.

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.

          The recent teenage murders in Buffalo have served to sprinkle some salt on old wounds. Kids have been being killed on the streets of Buffalo for many years. I believe Buffalo is on the verge of turning the corner on violence among our young people. 
         Our mentoring program began 10 years ago on 7th St on the Lower West Side. The Buffalo News used to call 7th St "World War III" because of all the shootings in our area. We lost our share of young guys. A heavy Police presence along with mentoring programs have changed this part of the City. Improvements are still needed and they continue. 
          We believe in building a Mentor Force to collaborate with the Police Force. Removing illegal guns is a good answer. A greater Police presence is a better answer. Building a Mentor Force is the best answer. 
Whatever anybody can do to rally around the families of these young men - please go the extra mile and show them that they are valued.
          We need a Mentor Force in the streets and schools with folks who want to form relationships with young folks. Many well meaning people want to hit the streets and pray and that's good. Prayer comes in many ways. It's supposed to be unceasing and the only way to do that is to live it by showing love. Go play basketball, sing a rap song, take some kids camping, feed them a healthy meal, teach them how to start a business, go to their school events, let them see the ears on your heart. Going door to door means going heart to heart. 

Thanks for your time.
Go do something nice for somebody. 
JLYASDW
mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com

          
     Nearing the end of Summer, the YWAP Staff engages in a slight relaxation. We operate year round and we need a chance to recharge our batteries and recover our strength. We thought we'd take a few moments to share our hearts with you.   
     School starts in a few weeks. The YWAP After School Program will open for our 12th year. Our In School Mentoring Program will visit at least 20 different School Districts. We Mentor in schools in Erie and Niagara Counties. We visit prisons, courthouses, churches, community centers and First Offender Programs. We teach anybody who will listen about the benefits of PBD's - Pearls, Butterflies & Diamonds. Those are character vitamins from the YWAP Theory of Mentoring.
     Everyone will experience irritation, struggles and stress throughout their lives. The YWAP Staff teaches folks how to embrace struggle as the key to immeasurable opportunity. The YWAP programs have expanded through Mentor Force. Our goal is to ensure that every child in Buffalo has a Mentor. 
     Mentor Force is a collaboration of Mentors who become teammates with teachers to help reinforce the study skills needed for a satisfactory education. We go right to the core of Character Education, helping students deal with social and emotional issues that are barriers to learning. Our team approach to mentoring helps to raise grades, reduce suspensions and minimize behavioral problems.
     As we step into a greater role of administration and teaching, we need more folks to come along side us. Mentor Force is made up of people who are like a "pass-through" organization. A Mentor is involved in a person's life for a limited time. They might maintain a life long relationship, but still they move on. YWAP is a "pass-through" organization. When you come along side us, we ask you to share the YWAP Vision, we don't ask you to stop dreaming or give up your own vision. Please come along side us and let us know how we can help you reach your vision. We call that: "Servanteering." We serve others as we volunteer to share our hearts.


Thanks for your time.
Go do something nice for somebody.

Bob Kuebler
Founder / Youth With A Purpose & Mentor Force

Mentor Force is an organization of initiators.
We help young people who are at risk of leading impoverished and violent lives.
We teach teachers, mentors, coaches, parents and youth leaders how to build healthy relationships that make young people feel valued.

Our goal is to ensure that every student has the benefit of being guided by a Mentor.
 If we can help you reach your potential as a Mentoring organization please contact us: 716-830-8240 
 mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com. 
www.youthwithapurpose.org

We are available for school assemblies 
and educator conferences.      

MENTOR FORCE NUGGETS OF WISDOM
Mentor Force is a collaboration of Mentors who work with teachers to reinforce study skills needed for a satisfactory education. Through the Common Core of Character Education, we help students deal with social and emotional issues that are barriers to learning. Our team approach to mentoring helps to raise grades, reduce suspensions and minimize behavioral problems. We mentor in the mountains. We mentor in the classroom. We teach mentors. mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com

Monday, August 11, 2014 
THE SCARED MENTOR
          
      Fear is universal, sparing no human being who has a heart beat. Fear can be healthy or destructive. Mentors who develop a healthy balance between compassion and healthy fear will create a nurturing emotional environment for Mentorees. 

          Examine the following list of actions. Most would cause fear in some of us. Fear may be universal and yet fear isn't equal in the sense of what causes fear.

• Climbing on a cliff without a rope. 
• Standing on the railroad tracks facing an oncoming train.
• Walking on a dark street in a city known for violence. 
• Someone you love abandons or rejects you.
• You have to mentor a child labelled with Antisocial Personality Disorder.
• Death, Divorce, Disease, Bankruptcy.
• Speaking in public.
• Getting a speeding ticket.
• Being accepted.
• Beginning a new relationship.
• The child you are mentoring dies violently.
• Your reputation might be tarnished due to a failed mentoring relationship.

          Some folks are perfectly comfortable on a cliff without a rope, walking city streets or speaking in public. It doesn't matter how you feel fear, it matters how you prepare and deal with fear when it happens. Fear can be passive, active or constantly shifting between the two. I won't bother to describe active fear because you'll know when you're scared by the perceived dangers on the battlefields in your mind. Here is the definition of the word passive as taken from Dictionary.com¹:
Passive
adjective
1.not reacting visibly to something that might be expected to produce manifestations of an emotion or feeling.
2. not participating readily or actively; inactive:
a passive member of a committee.
3. not involving visible reaction or active participation:
to play a passive role.
4. inert or quiescent.
5. influenced, acted upon, or affected by some external force, cause, 
or agency; being the object of action rather than causing action (opposed to active ).
6. ­­receiving or characterized by the reception of impressions 
or influences from external sources.
7. produced or caused by an external agency.

          Thinking about your fear of heights is passive. If you're planning on a mountain trek where you'll be exposed to new heights, your fear will begin to advance towards the stage of fear activation. A "Scared Mentor" can cause emotional damage to themselves and others when their fear becomes active. There are steps that you can take to deal with your fears.

BE PREPARED
There is an ancient Greek word; "gnosis" which means knowledge. A deeper meaning for the word is "intimate knowledge" or "knowledge from experience." Do you have an intimate knowledge of yourself? Do you know the root causes of your behaviors? Do you carry unresolved generational wounds from your family? You have to know your limitations. In the Movie; "Dirty Harry," Clint Eastwood plays a cop who is considered controversial, reckless and dangerous. Here are some quotes by Harry Calahan taken from Wickiquote,² my words are in parenthesis:

• "A man's got to know his limitations." (Set boundaries.)

• "Nothing wrong with shooting as long as the right people get shot."                    (Don't shoot other people when you are trying to conquer your own fears.)

• "This is a 44. Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world. It can blow your head clean off. You've got to ask yourself one question, Do I feel lucky?"      (Fear can be the most powerful weapon in the world.)

          You really need to know your roots and the fruit that'll grow from your emotional tree. Will there be fear in your foliage? Know your limitations and set boundaries. If you're not comfortable on city streets then don't go there without someone who has a "city street gnosis." There are fears that you can overcome, please don't conquer them at the expense of others. If you end up angry at a young person on the city streets, that anger has the potential to start a riot.
          What do you do when you are faced with the fear of working with a child who has been described as being anti-social? Treat them like any other child! All children are gifted and talented and deserve equal amounts of love. Many times we put labels on children who are reflecting the character that has been forced upon them at home. Injustice is not discriminatory in choosing which child to visit. Lack of compassion may be a generational scourge that becomes a burden laced with fear for a child. Be patient and don't give up. Seek out their particular uniqueness and help them flourish. Mentoring is a long term commitment. 
      Study to show yourself approved as a Mentor. You'll avoid fears that you can't overcome. You'll help others become overcomers by the fears you do overcome. 

Thanks for your time.
Go do something nice for somebody.

Bob Kuebler
Founder / Mentor Force

Mentor Force is an organization of initiators.
We help young people who are at risk of leading impoverished and violent lives.
We teach teachers, mentors, coaches, parents and youth leaders how to build healthy relationships that make young people feel valued.
Our goal is to ensure that every student has the benefit of being guided by a Mentor.
 If we can help you reach your potential as a Mentoring organization please contact us: 716-830-8240 
 mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com. 
www.youthwithapurpose.org

We are available for school assemblies and educator conferences.      

References
¹http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/passive
²http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Magnum_Force

     Block Club Basketball is nearing the end of another spectacularly successful season. Yesterday several games were played on the Belle Center Court. The YWAP Team plays their home games here although they were ofF yesterday. A Team form the Hope Center on Paderewski staged an amazing comeback and took the lead in with a couple of seconds left. They won with some heroic team play and outstanding hustle. 

Thanks Urban Christian Ministries for another great season.
We look forward to the Playoffs next week.
JLYASDW

MENTOR FORCE TIP of the WEEK
Mentor Force is a collaboration of Mentors who work with teachers to reinforce study skills needed for a satisfactory education. Through the Common Core of Character Education, we help students deal with social and emotional issues that are barriers to learning. Our team approach to mentoring helps to raise grades, reduce suspensions and minimize behavioral problems. We mentor in the mountains. We mentor in the classroom. We teach mentors. mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com

Friday, August 8, 2014
The Drowning Mentor

          Drowning is the cause of death for thousands of people every year. According to the Center for Disease Control, drowning is the fifth leading cause of death unintentional injury deaths in the United States.¹ Several years ago I watched a man save a 2 yr old girl who was drowning in a small pool at a hotel. In the midst of a large group of people, no one noticed her struggling until it was almost too late. A Man grabbed her and immediately initiated CPR, the little girl survived. Unfortunately many thousands of people drown every year.
          There is a wealth of preventative information posted on the CDC Website. They mention several key focus areas that can help prevent drowning. Here is some helpful information to help keep you and your family safe around water:
Tips to help you stay safe in the water

• Supervise When in or Around Water. Designate a responsible adult to watch young children while in the bath and all children swimming or playing in or around water. Supervisors of preschool children should provide “touch supervision”, be close enough to reach the child at all times. Because drowning occurs quickly and quietly, adults should not be involved in any other distracting activity (such as reading, playing cards, talking on the phone, or mowing the lawn) while supervising children, even if lifeguards are present.
• Use the Buddy System. Always swim with a buddy. Select swimming sites that have lifeguards when possible.
• Seizure Disorder Safety. If you or a family member has a seizure disorder, provide one-on-one supervision around water, including swimming pools. Consider taking showers rather than using a bath tub for bathing. Wear life jackets when boating.
• Learn to Swim. Formal swimming lessons can protect young children from drowning. However, even when children have had formal swimming lessons, constant, careful supervision when children are in the water, and barriers, such as pool fencing to prevent unsupervised access, are still important.
• Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). In the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could save someone’s life.
• Air-Filled or Foam Toys are not safety devices. Don’t use air-filled or foam toys, such as "water wings", "noodles", or inner-tubes, instead of life jackets. These toys are not life jackets and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
• Avoid Alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating, or water skiing. Do not drink alcohol while supervising children.
• Don’t let swimmers hyperventilate before swimming underwater or try to hold their breath for long periods of time. This can cause them to pass out (sometimes called “shallow water blackout”) and drown.
• Know how to prevent recreational water illnesses. For more information about illnesses from recreational water, see the More Information section below.
• Know the local weather conditions and forecast before swimming or boating. Strong winds and thunderstorms with lightning strikes are dangerous.²

          For information about helping the elderly avoid falls you can visit this website:
​          http://www.aging.com/preventing-falls-in-older-adults/
​
​          Have you ever felt overwhelmed as a Mentor? Have you ever felt like you were drowning in an ocean of deep responsibility? Let's copy some of the safety tips for preventing drowning and paste them into a plan to help prevent Mentor Drowning.

1. Use the Mentoring Buddy System. You should always have an accountability partner who is honest enough to speak truth that might be uncomfortable. If you have too many things going on in your life that are causing you to burn out (or drown,) it may be time to step back and let somebody else take your place. A Mentor needs to learn how to relieve stress. An accountability partner will help let you know that you are under stress. Most of us do not recognize burnout until we are already smoldering in exhaustion.
2. Report to a Supervisor. Regular reporting to a Supervisor will help identify any potentially troubling areas for you and your Mentoree. 
3. Be Prepared. Part of forming a healthy relationship is identifying any possible weaknesses that can cause collapse. If you have just mentored a person who has consumed you emotional energy and left you depleted, do not step right into another heavy relationship. You need to be prepared for each episode in your life. If one episode consumes too much energy, you need to take a break and get rejuvenated.
4. Be Alert for Potential Dangers. Alcohol and drug use, illegal and prescription have the potential to alter your ability to think clearly. If you feel lousy and you pop a pill to get through your mentoring session, will the pill cause you to be less coherent?
5. Know the Mentoring Weather Conditions. Emotions are like shifting sands and breaking waves. Moods can be volatile, erupting at the lightest agitation. Give yourself a moment to collect your thoughts and examine your emotional state before you meet with another person. Do you have a handle on your emotions or is there a potential storm brewing?

          Take some time to keep your family safe around water, drowning can happen to anybody. Take some time to ensure that your emotional health is ready to be a Mentor. Thousands of children die or go to prison every year. Building a solid Mentor Force is a powerful measure of protection.

Thanks for your time.
Go do something nice for somebody.

Bob Kuebler
Founder / Mentor Force

Mentor Force is an organization of initiators.
We help young people who are at risk of leading impoverished and violent lives.
We teach teachers, mentors, coaches, parents and youth leaders how to build healthy relationships that make young people feel valued.
Our goal is to ensure that every student has the benefit of being guided by a Mentor.
 If we can help you reach your potential as a Mentoring organization please contact us: 716-830-8240 
 mentorforcebuffalo@gmail.com. 
www.youthwithapurpose.org

We are available for school assemblies and educator conferences.      

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online]. [cited 2012 May 3]. Available from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars.
2. http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/water-safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html