Release the Fear has partnered with Kenilworth Elementary School in Phoenix for the second year in a row to provide what the foundation’s volunteers describe as a powerful, experiential program for local youth.
“We don’t believe there is a bad kid; we believe kids that are acting out just haven’t found their gifts yet,” said Robert Miley, creator of the program, which works with underprivileged youth. “We target middle school students and implement what we call character education.”
Release the Fear aims to inspire and empower youth with tools to make better life choices through character education, Miley said.
In a study by the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections on 928 ADJC juveniles, results demonstrated that Release the Fear helped reduce recidivism (the tendency for a criminal to reoffend) from 43 percent to 32 percent between 2012 and 2015.
The program incorporates “whole-brain thinking” and ultimately gives students alternative ways to handle and approach situations.
“You can only make decisions off of what you’ve been taught, and if you get told you are stupid because this and that, then it is understandable that it reflects in your life decisions,” Miley said.
During the program, letting the students know they matter has given them a tremendous amount of hope and confidence in a very short amount of time. “It is extremely powerful,” facilitator Aeimee Diaz said.
The program is specifically geared toward the middle school demographic, in hopes of having a positive impact on students during a critical development stage.
Miley personally credits his middle school teachers for helping him find his self-worth by urging him to focus on his work ethic rather than test scores. He was able to excel in many facets once he took this message to heart.
“Robert Miley is a genius; the curriculum he has created is nothing short of genius as well,” said Rosie Paluch, retired education professional and Release the Fear assistant facilitator.
The curriculum came when Miley combined two life passions: art and activism, as reflected by his sculpture in Roosevelt Row made from recycled materials coming from situations of conflict, showing how good can be made from bad.
The first day of the three-day-long program is about establishing trust and involvement, and the goal by the third day is that the students have established an increased sense of self-worth, as well as the ability to express themselves in a healthy manner, Paluch said.
Release the Fear aims to combat the effects of peer pressure, gang involvement, bullying, abuse and violence through character education activities.
“I see a hesitation at first to participate, but a community (is) formed by the end, even with the most reluctant kids crying by the third day,” Paluch said.
This display of emotion reflects to Paluch the trust that comes from forming a community during the program.
An open discussion, with students seated in a circle, is one example of how the program works with students to build trust among one other.
Other activities are as simple as placing your hand in front of your face, touching your nose and then moving your hand back to better see it. “It helps to build a perspective,” Paluch said.
“I walked in on an activity where students would share a memory, fear and dream,” Kenilworth educator Ashley King said. “It was a really beautiful moment to see the students share with each other.”
King attributes the program for improving the sense of community among sixth graders before and after the program.
“’Mean girl’ situations this year have occurred, and the program gives an opportunity for the students to work through the problem in a healthy way,” Erin Patton, a Kenilworth teacher, said of the program’s immediate impact on the students.
“Your reality is your projected thoughts,” Diaz said, when talking to students about the importance of self-worth.
During an activity describing a hero, a student hesitantly said, “I don’t have a hero.”
Diaz quickly challenged the statement when she said, “OK, can you be your own hero?”
This is just one of the many tough questions Diaz and Paluch posed to students during the day’s activities.
“I want people to know that the program works,” Paluch said.
Contact the reporter at Melissa.C.Stocks@asu.edu.
