I attended this symposium last night. To say that Antwone Fisher's life story is poignant, tragic and inspiring really understates the truth. The event opened with Rick Miller describing the means and methods used to instill into each young person the gift of hope for their future as well as the tools to enable them to achieve their fullest potential.
And then, Antwone took the stage. He's a tall, slender man who obviously keeps himself in great physical shape. His voice is gentle, as he detailed the very troubled circumstances of his childhood. But there is humor, too, as he engaged his listeners.
Using clips from Denzel Washington;s directorial debut movie, Rick Miller illustrates key aspects of his youth development strategy "Kids at Hope - Every Child Can Succeed."
Throughout his childhood, Antwone, who is dyslexic, would express his emotions by writing them out, sometimes in the form of poetry, on scraps of paper (now a book of poetry), which he would then destroy. Here is one of Antwone's early poems, expressing his tumultuous past.
By Antwone Fisher
who will cry for the little boy?
Lost and all alone.
Who will cry for the little boy?
Abandoned without his own?
Who will cry for the little boy?
He cried himself to sleep.
Who will cry for the little boy?
He never had for keeps.
Who will cry for the little boy?
He walked the burning sand
Who will cry for the little boy?
The boy inside the man.
Who will cry for the little boy?
Who knows well hurt and pain
Who will cry for the little boy?
He died again and again.
Who will cry for the little boy?
A good boy he tried to be
Who will cry for the little boy?
Who cries inside of me.
As poignant as Antwone's poem is, he is but one; there are millions of children struggling to find the hope in their lives and for their future. They are our future, our national pride, just as Antwone is justifiably proud of being, as he told his mother, "a good man."
By adopting the Kids at Hope cultural strategic framework the following will be achieved:
Children become much more optimistic
Children not only understand the concept of hope, they can model it
Children learn and practice the power and self-fulfilling prophecy (belief system) of positive self talk (Kids at Hope Pledge)
Children learn about personal strength based inventory and practice it
Children’s academic and emotional achievement matures
Adults learn and practice the power of the self-fulfilling prophecy to support a child’s achievement
Adults learn and practice how to measure a child’s potential, not just their behavior (Kids at Hope Report Card)
Adults learn and practice how to instill hope in every child, without exception (Passport to the Future)
Adults learn and practice the types of meaningful and sustainable relationships needed by children (Aces)
And now, Antwone's work is to visit communities to inspire them in the soul, the science, and the culture of hope for development of their community's youth.
