CLAREMONT, N.H. – As part of an ongoing partnership with a local Chevrolet dealer, an amazing duo of superheroes without capes from “The World’s No. 1 Youth Leadership Team” recently delivered HOPE (hold on, possibilities exist) to students in Claremont, N.H.
Tom Murphy and Sgt. Rick Yarosh, of Sweethearts & Heroes, were at four SAU6 district schools from Monday, May 11, through Thursday, May 14, with a sponsorship from Key Chevrolet of Newport.
Sweethearts & Heroes aims to prevent hopelessness, bullying, and suicide by providing dynamic, inspiring content that centers on the human interaction skills necessary for schools and other organizations to change all aspects of their culture – skills such as empathy, compassion, and teamwork.
Sweethearts & Heroes’ vast menu of services includes (1) a profound, engaging signature presentation that calls for HOPE, empathy, and action; (2) Circle, which is built on the ancient ritual of communicating in a circle to build compassion and empathy; (3) the BRAVE Youth Leadership System, which trains older students in bully drills that they, in turn, teach to students in lower grades, thus creating a sustainable, student-directed initiative; and (4) the Kennedy Columbus Student Teacher Empathy Program (STEP), which teaches high school students how to present Sweethearts & Heroes’ signature assemblies for students in grades K-2 and 3-5.
Sweethearts & Heroes’ central team of traveling presenters includes Murphy, director and founder, of St. Albans, Vt.; and Yarosh, a HOPE expert, Purple Heart recipient, and motivational speaker from Vestal, N.Y., who was burned severely while serving in Iraq.
From May 11-14, Murphy and Yarosh brought their antibullying presentation to Stevens High School, Disnard Elementary School, Maple Avenue Elementary School, and Claremont Middle School.
Additionally, Yarosh held a community meet-and-greet event at Key Chevrolet of Newport on May 11. Yarosh signed free copies of his illustrated children’s book, “A Bridge Named Amos,” the true, inspiring story of his late hero and service dog, Amos. Veterans and students attended.
Key Chevrolet of Newport and the North Country Chevy Dealers are longtime, supportive partners of Sweethearts & Heroes.
For more than 16 years, Sweethearts & Heroes has presented what Murphy calls “the ‘stop, drop, and roll’ of bullying” to more than 2.5 million students in school districts from New England to Hawaii and north into Canada. Sweethearts & Heroes also tailors its presentations and professional development workshops for businesses, nonprofits, and civic groups. Murphy said, “We go where we’re needed. That’s what heroes do.”
Sweethearts & Heroes’ other books include “Boredom School: For Those Bored in School,” a collection of captivating, humorous, and thought-provoking poems by Pat Fish, the team’s BRAVE program director and Circle specialist; and “13 Pillows for Affective Teachers,” a novel by Murphy and Brian McKeon, also of Vermont, that covers the themes of HOPE, empathy, and action in the Sweethearts & Heroes curriculum.
For more on Sweethearts & Heroes, visit www.linktr.ee/sweetheartsandheroes.