A voice. HEALING. TRANSFORMATIONS.
“I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank each of you and the peer navigators for today. I could see in the residents’ responses they were taking it seriously. Today was emotionally hard on some of them, but they opened up during lunch and after it ended to be vulnerable and process. This is an important and needed program for youth in the system. Too often, they feel like no one wants them or even listens to them…Too many times, the system sets these kids up for failure. Most kids don’t enter the system because of their behaviors (some do and some develop these behaviors after being constantly moved around). Most enter due to circumstances out of their control and then feel they are being punished. These are not bad kids or throw away kids and don’t deserve to be treated that way…Anyways, what I am saying is thank you for caring enough to put this program together in order to give these kids a voice. I appreciate what you are doing.”
~ Angela (Service Provider, West Virginia)
“My brothers and best friend are coming over Friday for an Easter dinner. My laptop charger broke and ended up being $110 to replace. That cut into my budget a lot more than I expected and I was stressing over what I was going to feed everyone for dinner Friday. About twenty minutes later I got a message from my great grandma. “Grandma has a pre-stuffed frozen turkey that I would like you to have for your family for Easter, if you would like to pick it up. You can let me know please. No work to it – just put it in the oven.” I’m still in awe. She has provided us further to that with a full dinner. She of course is invited but that’s the power of HEERO.”
~ Youth Participant
“We have had several peer support groups and they are going well. We are in the process of facilitating additional network meetings with youth and their important people/support system. The youth seem to be embracing the concepts learned in the workshop and are putting them into practice during their network meetings and as we are plan for their transitions to the community…Thank you for the support.”
~ Bryan (Service Provider, Kentucky)
On our part I want to compliment you all on your prep, organization, attention to every detail and the amazing facilitation. Everything we needed was at our fingertips and the treasure box you sent us had every single thing we needed! I know you observed as we did the transformation that occurred with these young men from the beginning introductions to the final drumming circle. It was my honor to be part of this experience this weekend and an experience it was. Some of these resilient young men have experienced traumatic journeys in their short lives and I truly felt healing occurring in that room of areas they guard very tight.
Thank you Jeff, Dan and to all of the amazing peer navigators that spent the weekend with us. My young men wanted to make sure that they get to keep meeting with you all, so you all really connected with them.
~S. (Service Provider, West Virginia)
Heero Consulting 