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With another exciting year under our belts, we're diving into 2015 with big dreams, goals and expectations. After all, it is our 15th anniversary. In 2000, Cathy Tijerina founded The RIDGE Project with little in hand, but much in heart. Ron was still serving his 15 year sentence for a crime he did not commit. But, even in those tough times, they both knew something bigger and better was in store for them. They knew their calling would take them places where no one else would go. Since then, the Tijerinas, in conjunction with The RIDGE Project, have reached hundreds of thousands of individuals across this state and nation, and even from countries as far away as Saudi Arabia. What's most exciting is that we are not losing momentum after 15 years, but rather we are gaining it at considerable speed. We will continue with our mission of strengthening families, instilling responsible character in youth and adults, and alleviating the generational cycles of poverty and incarceration, and we can't wait to see what the next 15 years bring.
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A Word from Our Directors
The Importance of Focus
As Co-Executive Directors at The RIDGE Project, our lives, both business and personal, tend to run along at a pretty fast pace. Trying to balance all of the meetings, appointments, phone calls, and leadership duties with personal time, family time, household obligations, and extracurricular activties can surely be a challenge! Most of you can probably relate to this in your own lives. Sometimes you get stressed, burned out or even sick. One thing that we've learned over the years to help us better manage our precious time is to take time each day, each week, each month and each year to focus your energy and intentions.
This one key thing can make or break you both your personal and professional lives. Without focus we are like a flashlight with weak batteries. We've all been there, right? Your lights go out due to a storm or other problem. You go to get the flashlight in the cabinet. But, when you turn it on, there's barely enough light to see where you are going. The dim light disperses vaguely in the dark and you are left thinking to your self, "Why didn't I replace these batteries". That's how we sometimes go through our daily routines. When we lose our focus, our leftover energy is simply scattered. It goes here. It goes there. You can stumble around and get where you need to go, but you're just surviving.
Now, contrast that with a powerful flashlight that you just bought and filled with brand new Duracell (or Energizer bunny!) batteries. You turn it on and you feel the power! You can twist the head of the light and focus the beam to a nice bright circle of optimal size. Now you can walk around the house, find the items you need, shine it in the direction that you heard that strange noise, and even make shadow puppets with your kids.
That's the powerful difference between being focused in your life and being scattered. When you put all that energy into a single, focused direction, you can accomplish so much more. You become energized in the process, not deleted. On the contrary, when you lack focus, you are constantly going in so many different directions that you run your batteries down. You're literally spinning your wheels, wasting energy.
So, as you move forward in the new year, take a moment to figure out where you are going and where you want to end up. Do this in both your personal life and your professional life. Find your focus. By doing so, you'll recharge your batteries and have a clear picture of what's in front of you. When life throws a curve ball at you, take a time out and refocus again. By doing so, you'll feel more empowered, more energetic and be able to better navigate the road ahead.
Ron and Cathy Tijerina
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Headline News at The RIDGE Project
TAC - Leading the Way in How We Stay Connected
When it comes to accountability for our lives and the decisions we make, you can't underscore enough the importance of staying connected to peers and mentors who will keep you on the right track. That's why we're so dedicated to giving our TYROs the right tools for success after they've completed their program. There's nothing more frustrating than getting motivated, feeling like you've got a new direction for your life, and then to be dropped like a hot potato by those who helped you get so far.
That's where our newly renamed TYRO Alumni Community (TAC), previously known as the TYRO Accountability Fraternity, comes into play. This established group of TYROs allows members to stay connected to their facilitators and case managers, to keep up to date with their TYRO peers, and to get connected with tools to hold them accountable for their actions. These actions help to ensure continued success in the areas of cultivating positive relationships, gaining and maintaining quality employment, and processing life decisions that will keep them on the straight and narrow.
The TACs function in several ways. There are regular, local meetings which TYROs can attend and interact with others on a more personal level. These meetings encourage the members to keep moving forward, even during rough patches. Struggling TYROs find motivation by seeing that success is possible through hearing the real-life and real-time accomplishments of other TYROs. Another important aspect of the TAC is the group's mobile digital platform, which is accessible by members via a cell phone application. This creates a digital space where TYROs have instantaneous contact and feedback with their peers, mentors and other champions on the platform. This tool is crucial for success and will continue to pave the way with better outcomes for both curriculum participants and their case managers.
2015 Gala Event: "A Night to Remember"
You probably have already heard the chatter about The RIDGE Project's 2015 Gala Event, "A Night to Remember". This important gathering will be held on April 16th at the historic Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio and will highlight the monumental paradigm shift that is gaining momentum today in America. The event will feature fine dining, music, comedian Jeff Allen, and several other engaging speakers throughout the night. There will also be an opportunity for site tours (before the gala event) of this unique venue, which is best known for its role in the film "The Shawshank Redemption".
In today's world, especially here at home in the U.S., The RIDGE Project's work and mission is more important than ever. We are positively impacting our social environment, breaking cycles of generational poverty and incarceration, and reducing the overall associated social and economic costs to citizens in Ohio and around the country. We have made huge strides over the last 15 years, but there is still much more to do. The heart of our success is in attacking the debilitating culture of entitlement that has become so prevalent in today's society. By joining us in this fight, our efforts are multiplied and we can become the ant idote.
Consider purchasing your admission to the gala today. There is very limited space available, so we expect tickets to go quickly. We believe our purpose is firmly in place and our mission is boldly calling. We ask for your help to continue improving the world in which we live. Please join us on April 16th in fighting for our future. For more information on the event, please contact Special Events Manager Chuck VanRenterghem at [email protected].
Other Newsworthy Items
The RIDGE Project was recently mentioned in the "Friday Facts" newsletter produced by the Ohio Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, for our revolutionary new initiative TYRO 2.0. This initiative is an ongoing effort to train incarcerated men to be TYRO Coaches. Read more about this exciting program here.
We were also featured in Corrections Today, a publication that reaches many part of North America and is an industry-respected resource. The article was titled "Ohio Puts Its Faith in Faith", and focused on the positive changes taking place within the Ohio prison system and how faith-based organizations play a part. RIDGE was mentioned in conjunction with our TYRO Dads program and our mobile digital engagement platform.
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Full Speed Ahead! Updates on Some of Our Industry-Leading Initiatives
Next Culinary Course Begins February 2nd
We are excited to announce that our next culinary course is set to begin on Monday, February 2nd. Chef Tony's successful program builds individuals from their foundations up, utilizing our TYRO program curriculum while simultaneously teaching students basic culinary skills. Later on in the course, students take on the finer culinary techniques needed to equip them for a successful career in the field. Click here for Chef Tony's personal invitation to the program.
 TYRO Coaches: Taking TYRO to The Next Level
You can feel the change in the air as our first few rounds of TYRO Coaches are officially teaching their own TYRO Dads classes inside prison walls. These men are incarcerated individuals who have successfully completed the TYRO program and have now taken the next step by becoming certified as a "TYRO Coach". TYRO Coaches function the same way as case managers or facilitators do, with one key difference - they are still incarcerated themselves. This is the first time that something so bold has ever been done, as some have doubted the efficacy of such a program. But, results so far have been very positive. This type of initiative has the potential to reach vast numbers of incarcerated individuals, thus creating a much larger impact within our society, against the culture of entitlement, and in furthering the effort to end the generational cycles of poverty and incarceration that affect so many. Stay tuned for more updates!
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TYRO Transformation: Check Out These TYROs!
Toledo, Ohio TYROs Truly Making a Difference in Their Community
 A group of TYROs in the Toledo, Ohio area recently participated in the fifth annual "Dunkin' 4 Donations" charity event held December 21 at Scott High School's Ben E. Williams Field House. Founded under the brand, Hands Over Hearts, the basketball charity event is held each year to raise money and collect toys for local shelters and less fortunate and needy families. RIDGE case man ager and facilitator Willie Knighten helped to organize a group of nearly 20 TYRO men to either participate or attend the event. The TYROs, along with other local men, not only gave back in the form of donations, but also demonstrated to the city's urban youth population what a good role model looks like - something desperately needed for many of today's inner city youth.
The event was featured in "The Sojourner's Truth", a local Toledo publication. Society editor Carla Yvette writes, "Former gang leader Willie Knighten, Facilitator and case manager for The Ridge Project, an organization that specializes in healthy families, responsible fatherhood and healthy marriage along with men of TYRO, an accountability community for ex-offenders, says they were honored to be a part of the event when approached by organizers and donated over $200 in toys to help less fortunate children." Click here to read the entire article and see photos of the event.
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Family Engagement Focus
The following is a submission by one of The RIDGE Project's TYRO ROP youth leaders.
"The True Spirit of Giving" by Alex Moss
I love seeing the generosity of children. Kids notice things that many of us adults just glaze over - the little things. We often forget how the simplest gesture can make a huge impact in another's life. This year, our students made Christmas cards as a community service project. The cards were then given to local nursing homes and hospitals. We explained that many people staying there have a difficult time during the holiday season, especially when they don't have many family members or friends to visit.
It was so inspiring to see the joy in thei r faces as they put thought and effort into each word and each drawing. Every time I was asked, "Now, Alex how do you spell 'Merry Christmas' again?", I couldn't help but think how blessed I am to work with such amazing kids. All of them are in different places in their life;  some have gone through some very tough things, and for some this year has been very difficult for them.
Regardless of their situation, as soon as they heard the meaning behind the cards they were all in, with a smile on their face. With the help of our TYRO ROP students, I was reminded what Christmas is all about. It's not about the glamor and business. It's about the simple things. For me, my faith is what drives me. That is the nature of what compels us to do what we do here at The RIDGE Project - to continue to give others hope. In my time here at RIDGE, I have learned many different things, but this one rings most true to me; no matter where you are in life, there is nothing that brings more joy to someone than the ability to give and do something for another. I cannot think of a person that does it better than a child.
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