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Laura Elliott, First Presbyterian Pastor Adam Quine and Scott Brown.
Pastor Quine initiated and obtained a grant to fund the program as a
way to engage Lincoln’s youth. He then reached out to Elliott to act
as the facilitator. She has a deep background in public relations.
Scott Brown is the first outside speaker for the summer series, a
man with a long history of mentoring and engaging young people
through his role as a police officer and director of Lincoln Tae
Kwon Do karate club.
An idea and a grant application soon lead to the
reality of the program. Through contacts in Lincoln he soon became
acquainted with Laura Elliott who agreed with the concept of the
program and stepped into the role as facilitator. During each free
session held at the church students can discuss their feelings in a
safe and nurturing atmosphere and engage in activities such as art
and music.
Elliott indicated that road trips to local educational sites will
soon be part of the program.
First Presbyterian Center for Creativity and Community facilitator
Laura Elliott introduces speaker Scott Brown.
One important aspect of the program that Elliott
definitely wanted to implement is to have speakers come to the
sessions and engage the kids in topics that are important to them.
To this end, her latest presenter is local karate expert and
long-time Sheriff’s Deputy, Scott Brown.
Brown has always had a way of reaching school kids with his honest
approach to the issues that are important to them. He gets it, what
it means to be a student in today’s atmosphere of social media and
intense peer pressure. “I always want kids to know that they can
trust a police officer, that we are not just there to enforce the
law, but guide them and provide a safe space for them regardless of
their issues,” he said.
Using his long history with Korean karate, he stressed that the form
of fighting is not just moves to disable an opponent, but to a
greater extent a means to develop character and emotional strength.
Brown challenged his audience to come up with character traits that
are important to them and in their future roles as responsible
adults. “I stress making great first impressions. People we meet,
possibly important people who will be vital to our success in life
such as teachers and employers, need to see a confident and
respectful person right off the bat,” he said. A poor first
impression is very difficult to overcome.
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In karate, we always bow to our opponent before
starting a match as a show of respect to the other person. “In
karate as in life, respect shown to people we meet creates a
positive first impression,” he said.
“One of the most important attributes one can develop
is a respect for ones’ own reputation. Karate teaches that how we
treat others has a strong influence on our reputation,” he said.
Brown stressed that how we treat others has a profound influence on
a person’s reputation. A person’s positive reputation can go a long
way to engender respect from others. “We just can’t go along with
our peers regardless of what they want to do. Dare to say that what
your friends want to do goes against your best instincts,“ he said.
“Let them see that you value your reputation more than just being a
member of a possibly misguided group,” he said.
Karate teaches strength of character as well as physical strength.
“A person’s reputation and honesty always has an impact on a
family’s reputation. That is one vital impact of a person’s
conduct,” Brown stressed.
“Karate teaches that we are all unique, and the discipline teaches a
higher level of education, confidence, strength of character, and a
life style that stresses longevity through treating our bodies with
respect,” Brown concluded.
Brown didn’t talk at the kids, but brought them into his life
experience with frankness and the positive role karate played in it.
Elliott, Brown and volunteer Cherie Aper with the group of students
who attended the Thursday afternoon discussion.
The Center for Creativity and Community is open to
sixth and seventh graders and is a free program. The next scheduled
programs are set for Tuesday, July 2, Wednesday, July 3 and
Thursday, July 4 from 12:30-5 p.m. [http://www.preslincoln.org/home].
Youth meet at First Presbyterian's third floor Youth Center, 301
Pekin Street, Lincoln.
Youth are welcome to join at any time. For inquiries please email
fpcyouth@preslincoln.org
or call 217-732-6141.
[Curtis Fox] |
