Carlie Wopperer - A Guiding Heart Counselor

For the last 6 months, the students at Buffalo Public School #3, D'Youville Porter Campus have experienced a heart storm. Carlie Wopperer has a title within the school system that says Guidance Counselor. The description of her heart cannot be confined in a title. The contents of her heart could be described as nuggets of compassion. Carlie takes wounded young hearts and infuses them with a touch of love and confidence. She drops emotional nuggets that heal and guide wounded hearts. Carlie Wopperer is a "Guiding Heart Counselor."

One of the blessings of my life includes the opportunity to Mentor to the students at Buffalo Public School #3. That's how I got to meet Carlie. I have witnessed many interactions between Carlie and the children in her school. At Youth With A Purpose, we are Relationship Mentors and we teach people how to build healthy relationships. It is a joy when we have the opportunity to partner with somebody who embodies the compassion that we teach. Carlie goes the distance in providing a safe haven for young people.

Carlie is like a candle burning on both ends. Her compassionate heart is a wick that helps to ignite dreams in children.

Several weeks ago, I walked into Carlie's office while she was talking to several students. I struck up a conversation with the students and they shared a life event that some would call catastrophic. I often ask young people if they have someone in their life that they can trust with their heart. Trust is huge with young people and it seems to be in short supply. I asked this young lady if she had someone she could trust and she pointed to Carlie. She didn't just point to Carlie, she looked at her with eyes that were connected to her heart. There was a "knowing" that seemed to pass through the air in that room and connected hearts through a bond of trust.

Being in the classrooms and hallways of School #3, I get to see the respect that the students have for Carlie. She is organized, compassionate, focused and energetic in her vocation. It is an honor to know and learn from Carlie Wopperer. The lives of the young people at Buffalo School #3 have been touched in the way of compassion. I believe that the seeds of compassion that Carlie has planted in those children will be multiplied throughout their lives.

Thank you Carlie for who you are: 

 A Bright Spot in the lives of children.

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

"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

157 Locust Street

Buffalo, New York 14204

716-830-8240

"All Children Are Gifted" 

http://www.facebook.com/bob.kuebler

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youth-With-A-Purpose-Inc/111808805513470

http://thebrightspotreport.blogspot.com/
A Scholarship for a young person to attend a 3 day Wilderness Adventure in the Adirondack Mountains is valued at $185. We are a 501c3 and your donations are tax deductible. You may give online at:
http://www.gofundme.com/73te4
If you are looking for a speaker for parents or youth or both, please call us. 
 

Mentor: Expanding the world of quality mentoring.

Mentor: Expanding the world of quality mentoring.

Kerri Baish - Her Heart Won't Sit Still

Her heart won't sit still and it's contagious. If someone were to introduce her, the typical introduction might be something like: "I would like you to meet Kerri Baish, she is a Teacher." A Teacher is one of the most important occupations in the world. That statement alone would give you reason to believe that she is a special person. Sometimes we need to look a little deeper to really appreciate the extent of a Teacher's impact upon young people in her class.

I think Kerri Baish is a Heartbeat Maker. As Director of the Youth With A Purpose Relationship Mentoring Program, I have had the honor of being in the classroom with Kerri this year. I watched how children respect her. They enjoy being around her. Her classroom has a lot of peace in it. She does not stay in one place. Many Teachers stand in front of the class and stay there. Some Teachers sit behind a desk and stay there. Kerri goes where the hearts are. Her heart won't sit still. She moves to the place where the children are at. I don't mean that in a physical sense. Kerri is emotionally present with her young people and they feel respected and valued. When there seems to be a student who could use some behavior modification, Kerri moves into the students space of chaos and creates peace. A heart can beat in anger or a heart can beat in peace. Kerri Baish is someone who helps young people to create heartbeats of peace.

 

Kerri is part of a Buffalo School that is making a difference in the lives of children. Last year we had the honor of working alongside Matt Boyle. Matt is another great Teacher in a School that is becoming known as a School of great Teachers. Pauletta Stines, the Principal, along with Assistant Principals Diane Sauer and Marianna Cecchini help to create a nurturing environment that invites all children to discover their own unique giftings. Lori Cilano is responsible for inviting the YWAP Relationship Program at School #32. Her office is always full of children needing help or friendship and they know they are always welcome.

PS 32 Bennett Park Montessori

342 Clinton Street

Buffalo 14204

Grades: 3Y-8 • Hours: 9:00-3:30

716. 816.4603

1. We believe children learn best in multi-aged settings.
2. We believe children learn best in child-centered classrooms.
3. Montessori philosophy emphasizes the use of age-appropriate, hands-on activities to engage children in their own learning.
4. We believe multidimensional family involvement is integral to a child’s success in school. 
5. We believe it is the responsibility of our school community to meet the diverse needs of our children.

Kerri Baish is changing the world through the heart beats of children - one heart beat at a time. She is a Heartbeat Maker who is a Bright Spot in the Buffalo Schools. Thank you Kerri for allowing us to trust you with our children.

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

 

"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

157 Locust Street

Buffalo, New York 14204

716-830-8240

"All Children Are Gifted" 

http://www.facebook.com/bob.kuebler

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youth-With-A-Purpose-Inc/111808805513470

http://thebrightspotreport.blogspot.com/
A Scholarship for a young person to attend a 3 day Wilderness Adventure in the Adirondack Mountains is valued at $185. We are a 501c3 and your donations are tax deductible. You may give online at:
http://www.gofundme.com/73te4
If you are looking for a speaker for parents or youth or both, please call us.  

The Superintendent Had A Gun

It was incredible! The Superintendent of the Buffalo Schools, Amber Dixon had a gun. The streets were filled with teachers, parents and students. Even Darth Vader was there (unless he was a poorly dressed nun!) She pointed the gun (in the air) and pulled the trigger. All of the teachers, parents, students and community supporters began to run through the streets of Buffalo. That's how it all began, the inaugural running of the 1st Annual Sedita Dragon 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run.

Here is the Mission Statement for the Race: 

Our Mission:The Sedita Dragon 5 K and Fun Run is a
celebration of school and community. Our mission is
to promote the physical and emotional fitness of our
student: through sports, academics, and multi-cultural
awareness within the Buffalo inner city community.

 This was a community celebration. People ran in the race. People volunteered for the race. The Police helped to control traffic and protect the runners. Some people had to be patient as they couldn't park in their driveways until all the runners had passed. Neighbors cheered the people running by their homes. I even had somebody send me a text message that said they were sitting in a barber shop and saw me running a marathon!

When I got to the finish line where I finished 4th (in my age group,) I grabbed some water and watched the rest of the runners come home. There was a man standing next to me cheering everybody on. I noticed he put extra effort into cheering for the students who came in. I asked him if he was a teacher and he introduced himself as Todd Miklas the Assistant Principal. Todd hustled to the finish line to encourage other runners to finish. His job as an Educator is really more of a calling in his life that causes him to serve children 24/7. The Frank Sedita School in Buffalo, New York is a great place to be with many great Teachers who care about children and go the extra mile (or 3 miles) to prove it!

A Buffalo school helping students create unity in the community.

 
This is just one more of the many good things happening in the Buffalo Schools. Once again, the Superintendent was there. Leadership begins at the bottom, that's where true servants help to create trust in the people they serve. Trust is beginning to be rebuilt in the Buffalo schools because of dedicated Administrators, Teachers, Parents and Students. The hour has come for Buffalo, the time is now. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody!

 

"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

157 Locust Street

Buffalo, New York 14204

716-830-8240

"All Children Are Gifted" 

http://www.facebook.com/bob.kuebler

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youth-With-A-Purpose-Inc/111808805513470

http://thebrightspotreport.blogspot.com/
A Scholarship for a young person to attend a 3 day Wilderness Adventure in the Adirondack Mountains is valued at $185. We are a 501c3 and your donations are tax deductible. You may give online at:
http://www.gofundme.com/73te4
If you are looking for a speaker for parents or youth or both, please call us.  

Flashbacks and Weightlifting Part 2

Taking the steps necessary to cross over a trail that leads up the mountain of emotional freedom.

Flashbacks and Trauma  

It was the 4th of July, and we were at a party. There were a lot of people sitting in the back yard of a friends house. When the fireworks started, one guy went into serious convulsions. He was terrified, and his body shook uncontrollably. He was a war veteran living through a flashback of war. He experiences war flashbacks every time he hears fireworks. Many people experience flashbacks caused by traumatic wounds that have not been healed. Violence of any kind can trigger lifelong flashbacks if they are not healed. But a flashback is an extension of a wound, and healing is possible. It is not easy, but neither is weightlifting. Before we outline the steps involved in our weight lifting process, we will identify some of the weights we will be lifting.

A solid plan can be a lighthouse during a flashback storm.

 A traumatic memory generally does not fade away. If it does, the fading is temporary. The removal of fear from the memory can become the mechanism by which character becomes stronger. Self-discipline is the weight lifting program that will help build character and remove fear. Suppressing the memory is like tamping a powder keg. Eventually, it will become pressurized and explode as it is triggered by an event reminiscent of the original trauma. Therefore, a person must find a way to deal with the traumatic memory.

 A flashback is only one damaging byproduct of trauma. Self injury that is often unconsciously inflicted can be even more damaging, and will feed flashbacks.  When guilt and shame are associated with trauma, it is possible that the victim will begin to blame himself or herself for the trauma. In some instances, the inability to remove shame causes the victim to act out in shameful ways - as though they deserve to be mistreated as punishment for their feelings of guilt. Low self-esteem pushes the victim into the pit of self-denigration.

Safe on the edge of a flashback. Enjoy the view of how far you have come.

The victim's lack of forgiveness for both the perpetrator and themself, can wreak havoc on recovery attempts. Within the unconscious mind may be the seeds of revenge and the desire to make someone else suffer. A friend of mine got into a fight and was beaten badly by 7 people. He later hooked up with a friend and they went looking for the 7 people to get revenge, but couldn't find them.  They eventually killed 3 people who had nothing to do with his beating. People filled with pain and fear will eventually hurt themselves and other people. More importantly, the history of my friend includes a childhood of horrible abuse. In this way, victims of violence become perpetrators when they flashback on what they've experienced. Men punish women for childhood abuse suffered at the hands of other women. The same holds true for women punishing men. The cycle of trauma continues: the victim becomes the victimizer and continues the victimization.

Perseverance will reveal sun rays of hope that bring warmth to your soul.

Memories and Muscles

Weightlifting causes the breakdown of muscle that will rebuild itself through rest and nutrition. The process of Flashback Weightlifting, or breaking the fear down into manageable terms, leads to the ability to rebuild courage and self-esteem. The goal is to rebuild the memory without the attachment of fear, and to rid oneself of any associated guilt. Take some time and identify the weights that you are going to lift. Make a list of possible flashback causes and identify anything that you believe could be a trigger. Weightlifting cannot begin until you properly identify the weights that will be lifted. The next chapter will focus on weightlifting techniques. It is important to note that all people are individuals. Every plan of action needs to be tailored to the individual. There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all.

A team of trusted friends will help you bag the peak of emotional wellness.

Turning Pain Into Gain

It's important to focus on yourself as a valued and highly esteemed person.You are the only you that's ever been created. If you don't become the best you that you were created to be, then you will have wasted you. You are special, you need to believe that and own that. Peel back the layers of fear on your heart the same way that the birch tree sheds it's bark in the forest. Let the wind of positivity blow a breeze of self belief upon your heart, and breathe your way into a new life of worth and strength. Lift whatever is weighing you down, and allow yourself to rebuild, stronger than ever before.

***************************************************

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

Two Ladies of Compassion

There are some people who spend their lives pouring out healing and compassion on other people. I have traveled the country as a Professional Speaker and I have been given the opportunity to address many audiences. I have also had the opportunity to work with many speakers. Every once in awhile I am privileged to work with people who have enormous compassion and empathy.  Jill Johnston and Tina Donovan are a couple of ladies whose words have a healing touch.

I was honored to work with both of them at the "POLICE, YOUTH, & COMMUNITY RELATIONS SEMINAR" on Friday, January 6, 2012 at Niagara County Community College. Both Jill and Tina were "Small Group Discussion Leaders" along with members from the Youth With A Purpose Team. Approximately 400 High School students from 5 High Schools in Niagara County came to the Seminar.  The YWAP Team delivered the Keynote Address in the trademark style that incorporates "Learning, Listening and Laughing." After the Keynote, the students rotated through different discussions held in classrooms through out the College.  

The Small Group Discussions are where the real learning happens. This is where both Jill and Tina shine. They relate to the audience on a personal level as they instantly form bonding relationships. They usually don't stand in front of the crowd. They will sit at a desk like the rest of the students and almost become one with the audience. It's not just eye contact that happens here it's more like heart contact. This is where the healing begins. The topics were deep and their delivery was thorough. They covered topics like conflict resolution, bullying, abuse - both sexual and emotional, alcohol and drugs, violence and self esteem. Students were encouraged to participate and ask questions. Here are a few comments by the students:

 "I could relate to their story because I have a friend who is going through something very similar."

"Teaches many life lessons."

"Their story was inspirational and inspired me to change."

"This session was really good, deep and informative. It was really an eye opener, talked about a lot of real life things that a lot of people may go through."

 Both Tina and Jill have shared in front of many different audiences of all ages. They are excellent in a women's leadership setting as well as audiences of both men and women. They have worked in schools and hospitals. They also serve the community in many ways through membership on several Boards and Churches. If you are looking for a couple of powerful presenters that can touch the hearts of an audience, call Jill Johnston and Tina Donovan. Their compassion and empathy will bring inspiration and healing.

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

 

"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

157 Locust Street

Buffalo, New York 14204

716-830-8240

"All Children Are Gifted" 

http://www.facebook.com/bob.kuebler

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youth-With-A-Purpose-Inc/111808805513470

http://thebrightspotreport.blogspot.com/
If you are looking for a speaker for parents or youth or both, please call us.  

 

WHAT THE LADY DID WAS POWERFUL

The smallest actions can cause the most powerful reactions. This is a story about a lady that I don't know. I only met her once and I still don't know her name. She did something (by standing still) that should be taught to all young ladies. This is a story about expectations of honor and respect - giving and receiving - sowing and reaping.

A lady with self respect can cause a man show honor.

  Last week I was invited to a meeting at Boy Scout Headquarters. It was an honor to be able to share stories of the young people at Youth With A Purpose. I parked my van and began walking up the sidewalk. At the same time, a lady whom I did not know was walking towards me. I smiled and said: "It's good to see ya!" I walked ahead of her towards the two sets of doors at the entrance of the building. I opened the first one and said: "You should expect a guy to open a lady's door at Boy Scout Headquarters.!" The lady stepped in and smiled and then did something so powerful - she stopped and stood still.

A promise is a concrete covenant in your heart.

At the second set of doors the lady waited motionless with her arms by her side. Without movement, she was giving and receiving. She expected that door to be opened. That expectation was not rooted in any kind of arrogance, she was actually giving the opportunity for respect to be received. The smile on my face was stretching from my heart as I grasped the opportunity to honor her by opening the door for her. You might think I'm a fruitcake for getting excited about opening a lady's door. IF YOU HAVE ANY GUTS, yeah - that's a challenge, open the door of your heart and at least listen to the rest of this story.

Are you prepared to wait for a door to be opened.

As the Director of a Youth Center and Mentoring Organization, I see young ladies treated like toys and furniture. Looking for a father's love, they end up with a young man looking for sex. I have seen gang members urge a 13 yr old girl to jump up and down to watch her breasts bounce. She didn't know any better, she had never been taught how to respect herself. Just for the record, I did stop them and gave them a very loud lesson on respecting a lady. In a fatherless generation, it seems like many women have accepted and become accustomed to men who know how to give physical pleasure without commitment. A fatherless generation has created a cold climate almost devoid of emotion. Infatuation has become accepted as an acceptable expectation. The desire for real love seems to be frozen by fear. Emotionally  motionless, the frost of fear kills any hope for real love. It is hard to believe in something that you have never had.

Each moment is the only one you have. You don't have yesterday or tomorrow, you only have this moment today -"Do your best."

Can you believe in what you don't see? Can you see with the eyes of your heart and call into existence what is unseen by the world? I believe so. I read the following in a book called The Message from a Chapter called Hebrews 11: 

Hebrews 11

Faith in What We Don't See

 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. 

 By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, 

what we see created by what we don't see. 

The lady who didn't move, moved me emotionally. Her lack of action has caused a powerful reaction. I saw an action within the stillness of inaction. What the lady did was powerful and there are two lessons that I believe that we need to teach our young people.

1. A lady needs to respect herself in a way that commands the respect of a man. Her body, her heart and her soul are precious and highly esteemed by God. She should hold herself in the same high esteem. She is not a toy to be used until it is broken and then discarded. Her dreams are valuable and her desires have been known before she was formed in her mother's womb. There is a purpose and a plan for her life, only those who will partner with her should be allowed to touch her.
2. A lady needs to understand that her self respect will cause a man to feel honored to serve her. The act of allowing yourself to be served causes a man to feel honored. The esteem of a man can be raised giving him opportunities to serve.

These are lessons that will be taught in our Relationship Mentoring Program in the Buffalo Schools. I am forever grateful to the lady who waited for a door to be opened. She was humility in action. She had no idea that her actions would touch so many people and change so many lives. 

WHAT THE LADY DID WAS POWERFUL;

 she just waited for me to open the door. 

Now the rest is up to you. 

Thanks for your time.

 Go do something nice for somebody.

It's time to teach young men to "Scout out" opportunities to honor young women.

"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

157 Locust Street

Buffalo, New York 14204

716-830-8240

"All Children Are Gifted" 

http://www.facebook.com/bob.kuebler

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youth-With-A-Purpose-Inc/111808805513470

http://thebrightspotreport.blogspot.com/
If you are looking for a speaker for parents or youth or both, please call us.