“Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact, and that is that everything around you that you call life, was made up by people that are no smarter than you. And, you can change it.” ~ Steve Jobs

 

I am an optimist. I believe I can change it.

My belief was strengthened when I attended the July 31st graduation ceremony for the Children of Inmates (COI) Teen Leadership Summer Program 2013. For six weeks, the COI teens participated in classes in leadership, creative writing, music, and dance. Each day, they also received a “Daily Motivational Thought” I wrote for them based on the concepts in THRIVE! I was so overwhelmed by their graduation performance of original poetry, spoken word, music, and dance. Their performances expressed their life experience and their aspirations. I felt like I was watching the kids blossom. Here is a photograph I made during their performance:

They were impacted too. During the last few days of camp they had requested that the camp continue throughout the upcoming school year. They asked if they could develop monthly community service projects and local field trips. So, our COI Leadership Team has decided to develop a monthly training event with them. I have decided to expand the daily motivational thoughts for this emerging program. Recently, PRWeb published a press release about this program. To read the press release click on this link:

PRWeb THRIVE! Press Release

I am an optimist. I believe I can change it.

 

“You really can change the world if you care enough.” -Marian Wright Edelman

 

(I made the photograph of the beautiful flower above at Barrington Hall, Roswell, Georgia on July 13, 2013.)