Children and teens enrolled in the Gifford Youth Achievement Center summer program made their way through a gauntlet of cheering community leaders, fire and law enforcement officials, and members of various youth and community organizations at the second annual GYAC Tunnel of Hope.
“We were designated a ‘Kids at Hope’ last year, the first in the county,” said GYAC Executive Director Angelia Perry. The initiative began in Phoenix in 1993 and was introduced here by the Executive Roundtable of Indian River County.
It is now also at Dodgertown Elementary, Vero Beach Elementary, the Alternative Center for Education, and the Boys & Girls Club of Indian River County.
The idea is to make a fundamental paradigm shift from the potentially devaluing characterization “at risk” to the more positive “at hope” by providing guidance and encouragement to all children, without exception. “If they do their best we believe that children can become successful. Adults are the treasure hunters in the lives of these children,” said Perry to the gathered crowd before the children arrived.
“We teach our young people that every child – every child – can be successful and succeed with no exceptions,” added perennial cheerleader and GYAC Public Relations Director Freddie Woolfork.
The adults – carrying signs with adages such as “Dream Big!” “No Exceptions!” “We Believe in You!” and “You Rock!” – were also given a “Treasure Hunter’s Pledge” to recite to the kids stating that they are “committed to search for all the talents, skills and intelligence that exists in all children and youth. I believe that all children are capable of success … no exceptions!”
The adults formed a two-line Tunnel of Hope, while students from grades one to nine made their way through the enthusiastic line, the adults drawing ever closer to high-five the smiling children.
“There’s lots of energy in here,” smiled Alfonso Chester, GYAC academic success coordinator, watching as the noise level intensified with kids clapping, singing and eventually reciting the Kids at Hope Pledge of Positivity.
GYAC teacher Jasmine Bell led the seventh- to 12th-grade Dream Chaser Girls in an upbeat “I am a kid at hope” cheer, and Kenny Brown Jr. led the Dream Chaser Boys in a precision “stomp” before all the youngsters sang out with gusto, “I am a kid at hope. I have goals to reach to turn my dreams into reality.”
“GYAC is awesome!” laughed Barbara Pearce, GYAC executive assistant.
“Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic,” said Woolfork. “I always say, if you put something in, you can expect something to come out. These kids are energized from this today.”
