We are at a crossroad in the history of this organization. Needless to say, this has been a dream year in many ways. The demand for our work has skyrocketed. The world is awake and ready. People everywhere now know that love and connection are possible in our schools and communities.

• Imagine living in a world where every parent, before they say or do anything with their kids, first stopped and asked themselves the question "Is what I am about to say or do going to leave my kids feeling safe, loved and celebrated?"
• Imagine if every teacher, administrator, student, sibling, spouse, partner, friend, employee, and employer asked themselves the same question about the people in their lives?
• Now imagine a world where every world leader, politician, and government official asked themselves the question "Is the decision or policy I am about to make going to leave the people I represent or the people of the world feeling safe, loved, and celebrated?"

Oprah said, "This is how we change the world." She was talking about Challenge Day. She said it was simple and it is. We know what needs to be done. The world is calling - and we know how to respond!

There is so much more we can do - powerful assemblies, national and international conferences, community-based trainings, and curriculum development with accompanying videos; the possibilities are endless for youth and their communities to take leadership in being the change they wish to see in the world.

And the truth is, we need your support to make it happen. We need your help to be able to do things tomorrow that we were not able to do yesterday. The more generous our supporters are willing to be today, the more things we can do tomorrow.

On March 10, 2007, over 1000 people joined us at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco to learn about Challenge Day and to extend their support for our vision to create a world where EVERY child feels safe, loved, and celebrated. We received financial contributions in many forms, from one-time donations to annual pledges for five or more years; from offers to host home introductions to being named as beneficiaries as part of estate planning; from stock donations to company matched gifts. We extend this opportunity to support Challenge Day on to you.

Oprah said our work was Martin Luther King's Dream fulfilled. We hope you will generously support this dream and together WE CAN ALL CHANGE THE WORLD!

All of the feedback that we have received is that the program was inspiring and more impactful than ever.

A special thanks to our event sponsors Phillip Garrison, who has continued to underwrite a portion of every fundaiser to date; to Buzzledom, for their amazing publication; and to David White and Associates, Private Eyes and Passing Lane for their generosity. Most of all, thank you to our supporters for their benevolence in giving to continue the work of Challenge Day as well as for sharing our program with friends and family.

It is through programs such as yours that they are able to experience another avenue. I, too, was able to experience your message, and see things which have become all too familiar in my life. At the age of 63, I guess so much of what you presented had just become second nature to me and my daily life.

May God bless you in your daily lives. Your message was powerful and it was reality.

I believe that I and others involved in the workshop will make a difference in the world and learn to listen to what others have to say. But most of all, it showed me that we may all look different but when we crossed that line we weren't so different. I came to realize we were more alike than we all thought. I hope to see this workshop again someday, but I plan to do what you guys showed us and hopefully cause "a chain reaction" like others have.

I thank you again for taking the time to come to my school.

Tisa Mendoza has been a longtime Challenge Day supporter. A former board member, Tisa has continued to bless Challenge Day with various gifts. Most recently, her company Buzzledom donated 1,250 twenty-page programs for our 6th Annual Fundraiser - The World of Change! The program was incredible, filled with teen testimonies, a Challenge Day historical timeline, and information about all of our programs including Challenge Day, Circles of Change, and Be the Change School Teams. We are grateful, not only for the incredible generosity, but also in the way which it was given - with love, grace, and excitement.

As Challenge Day continues its incredible growth in the world, we have been met with equally incredible people to help us spread our message of Safe, Loved, and Celebrated. One such powerful and committed person is Patricia Moore, who we are proud to honor as Coordinator of the Month for March.

Patricia is the Principal of the Kalamazoo RESA Juvenile Home School in Kalamazoo, MI. This school feeds from nine school districts in Kalamazoo County, teaching general and special education to students aged 13-16 who come to them through court placement. What is unique about this program is that while the focus of the students is usually around credit recovery, the staff and administration have engendered strong character development elements into their curriculum. "We strive to prepare students to become competent, socially responsible, life-long learners fully prepared to transition to their community, school, work and family. We accomplish this with a staff that is caring, dedicated, proficient, and respectful of individual students' needs, while teaching a relevant curriculum in a safe and nurturing environment."

Patricia comes from a family of educators and has a background in clinical social work. She got involved with Special Education early in her career, and really enjoyed it. Having worked in a Juvenile Home School in Wayne County, she was intrigued by the offer to take up Principalship at Kalamazoo, bringing with her insights from her experience. "I think it is important to recognize that everyone deserves a second chance, and when working with youth, especially at-risk youth, they need to know that you're going to listen." Patricia adds, "I also think it is important for them to feel that what they do today, you're not going to hold it against them tomorrow. We model not getting stuck on issues so that they will live by that, and hopefully generalize that to their peer groups in the community".

Patricia, along with Program Manager Tamica Frison, co-wrote a grant to bring Challenge Day to the school in February. After the program, one of the things that really struck was how unifying the experience proved to be. "One thing that stood out was the team building; working together. Very often kids don't feel that they can share. In that forum, they shared and we got to learn about them. Even though we pride ourselves on being well connected with our students, it was great to see the connection (between staff members and students)."

Patricia also appreciated the resonance she found in Challenge Day's philosophies. "It has reaffirmed things that we had already been doing. Some of the key concepts were aligned with what we teach. I think that when you deliver the message of hope to kids who have not heard it, and they can hear it over again in a different program, they discover 'I don't have to give in to my path, I can be me. I can achieve my goals'."

Thank you, Patricia, for Being the Change by furthering that message of hope in our world!

IF YOU REALLY KNEW PATRICIA MOORE...

My real passion is working with young people. I have this great desire to make all young people feel they are valuable and worthy.

I grew up in conflict and always tried to find ways to escape to my bedroom in my desire to avoid it.

I love music.

I had dreams of growing up and living on a ranch with horses. If you really knew me, I wish there were no cars and we could just ride horses.

I wanted to be a track star, but I had a knee injury.

I have never really grown up. I laugh to tears! I think that is why I work best with kids - they know they can have fun with me.

I know that you are well aware of the amazing power of the program, but still ... the tears, the hugs, the new friendships, and the connection that happen are so miraculous! Even though it happened almost a week ago, the kids are still walking taller and connecting with each other on a level that never happened before. They are so proud of their school now!

Our community and high school have suffered so much with suicides and other difficulties that our identity began to revolve around those issues. Challenge Day helped these kids redefine themselves, their community and their school. God bless you all for that wonderful gift!
- Toni (Coordinator, Ohio)

My Challenge Day leaders inspired me to make a change and a difference in our school and our community today. To stop blazing on people about what they have and how much money they have. It all does not matter anymore to me. I just wanted you to know what I really learned to day. Thank you so much.
- Stranton (Student)

I loved it. BEST day of my life.

You really opened my eyes to what's really going on in our schools today. After Challenge Day on Monday, I was so emotionally drained because it was a long time since I had a good cry, and a chance to express myself, especially in front of my own peers. I know that it'll be a challenge to keep the promise that I made to you about seeing people for who they really are, and pushing stereotypes aside, but I promise you that I will try.

I've already seen some changes in my friends and other students' as well. Thank you so much.
- Shawn (Student)

The Regional Conference today was absolutely amazing. I was the redhead from Northwood ... and we keep the spirit alive at our school by doing more activities. Thanks for all you've done! YOU'RE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Student

We have had a meeting where we all sat in a big circle next to our not-close friends and had anyone share good or bad things going on. Then we split into smaller groups and carried more into these things. Apparently it worked; everyone was crying, hugging, giving the I love you sign and NOTICING, CHOOSING, AND ACTING. =] We do a lot of mix it up stuff like lunches and we are setting up a Challenger Week and having a Challenge Day pep rally on that Friday.
- Student

Going to Challenge Day was the most amazing experience of my entire life. It was cool to see what people go through in their daily lives. I would have never expected some of the things people told me by the way they looked. It was really good to just get everything out of our system and just cry. There’s a lot of things I have never told anybody and it was interesting to see how easy it was to tell a complete stranger your entire life story. thank you very much!!
- Kristin (Student)

Dear the people who are in change of Challenge Day, I'd just like to say THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for being there when I needed to talk, a shoulder to cry on when I was crying - that really meant alot to me! And you did an exercise that made me see I'm not alone or anything. I know now that people are there to help me and to make sure I'm okay and to talk to me! I'd just like to THANK YOU!!!

Because of you, my guy friend and I are friends again because he said he was sorry and most of my friends and I are too! We talked together and now we can be open minded and we can talk about anything because of what you said and did! SO THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Student

I think you all should be proud to be doing this because it is hard to tell some one something about your life. You don't know anyone in that room and you shared your stories. I know it was hard for me just to do it in my group. And you go around to schools everywhere and do that - WOW! You guys are my hero's!!!!! You listen and you really help people ALOT!!!
- Cassie (Student)

Today my junior class participated in Challenge Day, and I was one of them. My program leaders were amazing. I just wanted to say my feelings about the day, and then what happened afterward.

The day was amazing. At first, I of course thought it was a bunch of brainwashing, judging everything before it even starts. But the day made me feel so much love for those around me. It showed me that how all the people that I thought had no trouble in the world really do, and that all the people who I had labeled, without even thinking I had, really were so much like me in the fact that they feel insecure and they don't want to be bad people. None of us do. Before Challenge Day, I believed that every person was truly good. But know I know it as fact.

I love everyone that was in that room with me today, and I felt it. I found that I was more emotional for their problems than my own sometimes! I wanted to be there to support every person in the room through their struggles, and I wanted to know them all as beautiful people. Also, I didn't think I would really be very emotional.

Some pretty major things have happened in my life, but it was long ago and I had believed that I had moved beyond it, wasn't affected by it anymore really. But I think I am. Because when I began to talk about it, and when we did the Power Shuffle activity, I cried. More than I expected of myself. I know that my life is good now compared to the things that happened when I was younger. I am happy.

Most of all, I am excited for tomorrow, to see how my classes feel, how my school day feels, if anything is different. If that tight love and respect felt in the Challenge Day room is still eminent at all. I am sure there is a change. I just wonder exactly what!
- Student

As active participants in these three-day intensive workshops, adults and selected teens (age 15-19) gain the knowledge, leadership skills, and personal growth experience needed to keep the Challenge Day spirit alive in their homes, schools, and communities. As a result, parents, teachers, administrators, and concerned citizens can empower themselves to be allies for teens, providing the environment in which compassion, acceptance, and respect can flourish and become a way of life.

Our Community Workshops are also exciting explorations in self-realization and personal growth. As such, they're perfect for individuals who are interested in growing, changing, and creating relationships that are based on deep and lasting connection.

Please see our calendar below for dates and contact information. You may also want to check out our website at http://www.challengeday.org/find-out- more/next-steps.html

Important Dates

Next Step to Being the Change

Concord, CA
April 20 - 22 (full)
May 18 - 20
Contact Challenge Day Workshops Email

Bassano, AB, CANADA
April 13 - 15
Contact joanne.medeiros@grasslands.ab.ca

Toledo, OH
July 13 - 15 (full)
Contact AmyC@accesstoledo.com

We get a lot of emails and calls from people asking, "What is a Circle of Change?"

A Circle of Change is a group of passionate adults and youth leaders working together to create the community of their dreams. Circles cover a geographic area, usually a city or county, and commit to serve their schools and Be the Change Teams by:

Living It: Circle members are living examples of the principles that the Challenge Day program teaches. They show the possibility of respect, compassion, forgiveness, and creating the life of your dreams.

Funding It: Circles raise funds to support their schools and Be the Change Teams to provide Challenge Day programs for their community.

Supporting It: Circles support their individual schools and Be the Change Teams to meet their goals. They provide valuable networking between their schools and hold the bigger vision for the community of their dreams.

A Circle's goals are self-defined. This year Alachua County Circle of Change in Gainesville, Florida reached their goal of providing Challenge Day Programs for every school in their county, whereas the Glenn County Circle of Change focuses on hosting positive social events for the youth in their community.

Congratulations to Teena Ellison, our Snohomish County Circle leader in Washington, who received a grant last month to support her Circle work. Bravo to Dawn Taylor and Amy Clark of the Northwest Ohio Circle of Change and Spring Green Educational Foundation for hosting their second annual conference which brought together students and staff from the over 20 schools that they support in the Toledo area.

At Challenge Day we recognize that in order to create a world where every child feels safe, loved, and celebrated our youth must be supported by the adults in their communities. However, Circles of Change are not just about supporting youth. For many Circle members, attending Circle meetings and events is something to look forward to, a place where they get to laugh, play, support, and challenge one another. You could think of a Circle of Change as "Friends with a Purpose" and you could think of Circle meetings and events as "Parties with a Purpose."

What might you and your friends accomplish if you focused your time, energy, and talents on creating the community of your dreams?

At a Challenge Day, a young student with cerebral palsy sat in a wheelchair. During the Speak-out, she stood up and said "we should always be the change in our school. It doesn't take two people with red shirts to come in here and tell us to make the change. We can be the change. If it takes a red shirt in order to change the school, then I'm going to change my whole wardrobe." When Christopher Foster came to Challenge Day, we were deeply blessed. This story represents the true heart and spirit that is Chris. At a Challenge Day, a young student with cerebral palsy was in a wheelchair. During the Speak-out, she stood up and said "we should always be the change in our school. It doesn't take two people with red shirts to come in here and tell us to make the change. We can be the change. If it takes a red shirt in order to change the school, then I'm going to change my whole wardrobe."

Chris was so moved by this young woman that he immediately took off his red Challenge Day shirt and gave it to her. Chris commented at the end of the day that he will remember that moment forever because he was so inspired by the courage and strength of this young woman.

Chris was born and raised in Southern California, and moved to the Bay Area to attend UC Berkeley. After only three years of study, he received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Mass Communications. Since then, Chris has worked as a video editor far a Bay Area television station.

His spirit, heart, and passion for people is displayed in his work with his church; Covenant Worship Center in Berkeley, where he serves as Youth Pastor. It is here where Chris implements innovative and creative programming that is designed to reach and impact everyone. He is currently pursuing his Masters Degree at Fuller Theological Seminary.

"2006 was a year filled with heartbreak and devastation. In the midst of this pain, Challenge Day has been vital in my internal development and fortification, proving that my life has been destined to collide with Challenge Day."

If you really knew me, you'd know that:

• I place a high premium on character and integrity.
• I am committed and have strong convictions towards anyone or anything I devote my heart to.
• I can be in a room filled with people, but still feel completely alone.
• I am the first recipient of any lesson that I endeavor to share with others.
• I love hard, and it is extremely difficult to get me to stop loving, once I have started.

Here are some hints about navigating the new site:

1. Want to order T-shirts? Click the SHOP link to go to the Challenge Day Store link or click on Get Involved > Take Our Challenge > Wear the Gear. The store also has its own domain, and is reachable at http://www.c hallengedaystore.com/.

2. Want to attend a Challenge Day near you? Click the CALENDAR link located under our logo. Please note: only days seeking outside facilitators are listed. The process for attending has been changed slightly, so if you find a day you wish to attend, you will need to contact the school coordinator directly.

3. Coordinators, watch for changes to our scheduling process. You'll find everything you need to know under Get Started > Bring a Challenge Day http://www.challengeday.org/get- started/bring-a-challenge-day.html. We are continuing to post new pages with revised policies and procedures, so please check this section often.

4. Donating to a local Circle of Change? Look under Get Involved > Make a Gift. You can reach our online donation page at: https: //secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.. On this page, there is a Designate Your Donation drop down where you will find all of our Circles of Change.