As part of an ongoing partnership with Ellis Automotive, a Chevrolet dealer in Malone, a member of “The World’s #1 Youth Leadership Team” wrapped up his final visit of the school year with St. Regis Falls Central School District students on March 3.
Pat Fish, a BRAVE and Circle Specialist with Sweethearts & Heroes, has spent the year working with students in the district through the dealership’s sponsorship. Sweethearts & Heroes focuses on preventing hopelessness, bullying and suicide by teaching empathy, compassion and teamwork through engaging, student-centered programs.
The organization offers several services, including:
* A signature presentation centered on HOPE (Hold On, Possibilities Exist), empathy and action.
* Circle, which uses the ancient practice of meeting in a circle to build communication skills and understanding.
* The BRAVE Youth Leadership System, which trains older students to run bully drills and model leadership for younger students.
* The Kennedy Columbus STEP Program (Student Teacher Empathy Program), which prepares high school students to deliver Sweethearts & Heroes’ assemblies to grades K–2 and 3–5.
This year, Fish helped St. Regis Falls students develop the BRAVE Youth Leadership System. Tenth graders Colten Regan and Austin Lincoln said the experience gave them valuable skills.
“Younger students don’t always look up to adults, but they look up to older students,” Lincoln said. “Working with them during the bully drills helps them learn from us, and it also gives us experience encouraging them to open up.”
Regan said the training has built confidence. “Now that we understand the techniques, we feel confident leading the drills ourselves,” he said. “The last few times, Pat stepped back and supported us while we took the lead.”
Lincoln added that the program helped him strengthen essential interpersonal skills. “Working with Pat has helped me build a positive outlook and learn how to make younger students comfortable sharing their feelings,” he said. “Every student has a different personality, and this helps them work together.”
“Pat’s an amazing guy, and what he does is awesome,” Lincoln said. “I’m glad schools offer programs like this because they help communities grow and give younger students something to aspire to.”
Ellis Automotive and the North Country Chevy Dealers have long supported Sweethearts & Heroes.
“Sweethearts & Heroes does powerful work helping students understand their value and the impact they have on one another,” said Jason Ellis, president of Ellis Automotive. “We are honored to support a program that encourages empathy, leadership and positive choices among local youth.”
For more than 16 years, Sweethearts & Heroes has presented what Director and Co-Founder Tom Murphy calls “the ‘stop, drop and roll’ of bullying” to more than 2.5 million students across the U.S. and Canada. The organization also offers professional development for businesses, nonprofits and civic groups.
Its published works include Boredom School by Fish; 13 Pillows For Affective Teachers by Murphy and Brian McKeon; and A Bridge Named Amos by Sgt. Rick Yarosh, Sweethearts & Heroes’ HOPE expert and a Purple Heart recipient.
The team also recently launched The HOPE Classroom, a digital subscription service designed for schools of various sizes and grade levels.
For more information, visit Sweethearts & Heroes on social media.
