It was a beautiful Saturday morning when The Blue Heart Foundation met with partner organization Outdoor Outreach for a two day Surf Camp trip. The next two days would open the mind and challenge the young men of HEART to come together as a team and live outside of their element. Both organizations utilize outside the box experiences to provide youth with the support, relationships, resources and opportunities they need to become successful adults. Two primary drivers facilitate positive transformation in the youth we both serve: 1) the opportunity for ongoing experiences that are safe, fun, positive and challenging, and 2) the relationships built and deepened within these organizations.
As we took to the road all were excited and looking forward to an experience that few had previously experienced… From the start, excitement filled the air as the group arrived to their destination where sand and surf waited. Brothers Jamil and Amir were initially hesitant but once the safety and surf lesson was complete took to the water as if it was a natural experience. Jamil normally quite reserved would later say “Man, I had a great time … Yeah I’d do it again” with huge smile.
After lunch the group packed up and prepared to head to San Clemente State Beach for the rest of the weekend. San Clemente State Beach is located at the south end of the city of San Clemente, California. The area around San Clemente is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish Colonial style architecture. The city slogan is “Spanish Village by the Sea.” Visitors are attracted to the San Clemente area for its intense winds and dramatic location. Park Hours 6:00 am-10:00 pm
The beautiful mile long beach stretches between the curling ocean surf and the foot of a steep bluff was the perfect setting to set up camp and spend time away from the inner city. First thing, first the young men set up camp, pitching four six person tents and getting their area prepared to spend the night. Once done it was off to the beach again… Now these waves were no joke. Kameron marveled saying “Wow… These are way bigger than the last beach!” as he grabbed his boogie board sprinting toward the crash waves. After a couple hours in the water it was time to head up for dinner.
The evening wrapped up with time to watch the sun go down and learn a higher appreciation of each other as well as life. Next thing you know Smore’s wear on deck and once all had their fill one by one each young man hit the tent for a night’s sleep. The next morning there were pancakes and more of the same surfing and fun. Julien framed the time perfectly by saying “it was nice to get away and just chill with the bro’s…I definitely want to do it again.”
Through these experiences our guys garner a sense of achievement, which increases their confidence, self-esteem and resilience, and enables them to see new possibilities for their lives. Our youth form long-term mentor relationships through these types of experiences. When youth consistently show up and are supported, it allows them to break out of the negative cycles in their lives, like drugs, gangs, poverty, abuse, and neglect, and replace them with new positive cycles.
Thursday, Aug. 21st we joined The San Diego Padres Volunteer Team in sorting and bagging over 8000 lbs of nectarines at the San Diego Food Bank to help fight against hunger. Presented by Toyota the Padres Volunteer Team is a county-wide volunteer force created to give back to the greater San Diego area. It calls up Padres fans to join with our players, alumni and staff to donate their time to San Diego’s nonprofits, civic organizations, and Padres Foundation activities.
Our joint mission is to build awareness of and inspire participation in serving the greater San Diego community. Our vision is to inspire volunteer service that benefits the greater San Diego community. As Peyerre Hart would later state ” It was fun hanging out with the guys and helping people at the same time.”
The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. Last year, the Food Bank distributed 22.3 million pounds of food, and the Food Bank served, on average, 370,000 people per month in San Diego County.
The Food Bank receives food from the USDA, food manufacturers, food retailers, the agricultural sector, food drives, and through financial contributions that enable us to purchase protein-rich foods, fresh produce, and dry staple foods such as beans, oatmeal, and rice. The also benefit from the generosity of more than 28,000 volunteers annually that help to sort and distribute donated and purchased food products and on this day we were proud to join them. Jamil Duke shared “It was good to help people, I’m glad the fruit is being distributed to people that can’t afford food.”
On the campus of San Diego State University, Saturday July 18th it was a busy day for The Blue Heart Foundation. A day that will continue to develop the minds and determination of the young men of HEART (H.E.A.R.T) as they begin to prepare for the 2015-2016 school year. Focusing on their personal and professional future today was an important piece in learning to market them both visually and on paper. Jacques Morgan (HEART Member) would go on to say “Saturday’s event was a great experience, it really opened my eyes into possibilities and opportunities in the world. All the presentations were great and made me want to achieve more.”
The day started with a professional magazine photoshoot with the team of RLM – Real Legit Magazine and Valerie Johnson (The Multi MediaDiva). A two time “Hollywood Award Winning” Magazine, Real Legit Magazine was co-founded by Ron Morales and Latricia R. Price showcasing unique high fashion styles with Celebrities nationally as well as internationally on the red carpet beautifully captured the essence of our young men.
After what was an exciting photoshoot our guys will never forget, it was time to take care of business with our education empowerment workshops. These Interactive college prep workshops presented by Shana Collins and Anthony Haile Jr. from San Diego’s HBCU network and Cal SOAP included:
– The Morehouse College Experience
– Value of Education
Shana Collins of San Diego’s HBCU Alumni Network stated “Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of this program, the young men from the Blue Heart Foundation are both sharp and talented gentlemen.
Followed by a Meet and Greet and lunch with Yousef Abraham Assistant Coordinator of San Diego State University’s Center for Intercultural Relations
The day’s events closed with a workshop on preparing your personal statement when applying for college admission presented by Karla Whitaker from CalSOAP. This workshop is critical to defining how young men perceive themselves as well as learn the ability to market themselves as an assert to universities in which they apply. Dallas Edge would later say “The college entry essay workshop provided me with information that I was not previously informed on, and I am glad to have attended it.”
We firmly believe in work/life balance and it is important to feed and build up all aspects of a young man. This includes Character, Service as well as Educational Empowerment. With these things in mind the belief is that each young man can be taught the value of education as well as the value of self-worth and esteem.
The Blue Heart Foundation in partnership with the Old Globe Theater provided a night out for the youth and families from the HEART mentoring program, Man UP! as well as local foster youth. HEART (Higher Education And Rising Together) is a locally based mentoring program that is focused on the empowerment and education of under-served youth. Our program is based on nine (9) core competencies which fall under three categories: 1) Abilities, 2) Applications, and 3) Character. Man UP’s mission is to teach our male students lessons in self-improvement, empowerment, responsibility, and cultural awareness. The club meets with all members on a weekly basis, teaching students lessons that will make them marketable in today’s society.
As part of our program we feel it important to expose youth to events they may not normally have the opportunity to see and in this instance we viewed Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”. Shipwrecked and alone in foreign Illyria, young Viola masquerades as a boy and becomes the go-between for the lovesick Duke Orsino and the beautiful Countess Olivia. Soon Viola finds herself in the middle of a topsy-turvy love triangle with lunacy on every side. Roosevelt Johnson stated “This was a great opportunity for the guys from ManUP to see a play in which they had recently read; we just acted this a week ago!”
We believe culturally enriching field trips matter. They produce significant benefits for students on a variety of educational outcomes that schools and communities care about. The effects of field trips to see live theater demonstrates that seeing plays is an effective way to teach academic content; increases our youth’s tolerance by providing exposure to a broader, more diverse world; and improves the ability of students to recognize what other people are thinking or feeling. These are significant benefits for students on specific educational outcomes that schools pursue and communities respect. Especially when considered alongside our community service efforts.
Not all learning occurs most effectively within the walls of a school building. Going on enriching field trips to cultural institutions makes effective use of all of a community’s resources for teaching children. You can never know what may impact a child’s life. Ann (an Old Globe usher) said excitingly “It’s so amazing to see such young people engaged and following Shakespeare… We normally don’t get that here.”
The Blue Heart Foundation’s mentoring program had the opportunity to volunteer and attend the San Diego Symphony’s Summer Pops. One of San Diego’s most exciting musical summer traditions the San Diego Symphony launched Star Spangled Pops—a patriotic extravaganza with special guest TV’s American Idol and San Diego native Jessica Sanchez along with the San Diego Master Chorale led by Academy Award-winner Bill Conti conducting.
H.E.A.R.T. had the opportunity to contribute to this exciting event as they volunteered by welcoming all attendees and insuring all the littlest fans were provided with glowsticks, becoming a part of the celebration. Our young men also assisted Education Programs Assistant Allison Morrisey in the kid zone where young people made their own firework bling rings as well as wrote letters to our troops serving overseas. Allison would later say “Thanks for bringing your guys to volunteer with us on Friday. They did a great job and were incredibly poised young gentlemen. I was so grateful to have their help and am impressed at their maturity and willingness to help out!”
Afterwards we enjoyed the San Diego symphony featuring Jessica Sanchez and fireworks! The Star Spangled Pops will celebrate Independence Day like no other. It was a great, colorful and festive party on San Diego Bay. Located on picturesque Embarcadero Marina Park South behind the Convention Center, the Star Spangled Pops featured God Bless the U.S.A., America the Beautiful, Battle Hymn of the Republic, a salute to the Armed Forces and a special rendition of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy which was performed by Jessica Sanchez. It’ll was a special night night to remember. Dallas Edge stated “This was a great opportunity to come out and participate in helping our community and show support for our troops… I have never been to the symphony and this was amazing!”
As we took to the road all were excited and looking forward to an experience that few had previously experienced… From the start, excitement filled the air as the group arrived to their destination where sand and surf waited. Brothers Jamil and Amir were initially hesitant but once the safety and surf lesson was complete took to the water as if it was a natural experience. Jamil normally quite reserved would later say “Man, I had a great time … Yeah I’d do it again” with huge smile.
The beautiful mile long beach stretches between the curling ocean surf and the foot of a steep bluff was the perfect setting to set up camp and spend time away from the inner city. First thing, first the young men set up camp, pitching four six person tents and getting their area prepared to spend the night. Once done it was off to the beach again… Now these waves were no joke. Kameron marveled saying “Wow… These are way bigger than the last beach!” as he grabbed his boogie board sprinting toward the crash waves. After a couple hours in the water it was time to head up for dinner.
The evening wrapped up with time to watch the sun go down and learn a higher appreciation of each other as well as life. Next thing you know Smore’s wear on deck and once all had their fill one by one each young man hit the tent for a night’s sleep. The next morning there were pancakes and more of the same surfing and fun. Julien framed the time perfectly by saying “it was nice to get away and just chill with the bro’s…I definitely want to do it again.”
Diego’s HBCU network and Cal SOAP included:
grateful to have their help and am impressed at their maturity and willingness to help out!”
