Who Am I?

I am a former award-winning newspaper columnist who was nominated twice for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize. I left journalism in 2008 to follow my heart's longing to become a full-time artist, MBA-trained creative consultant and K-12 writer in residence, as I wanted inspire children to develop a love for words. As I have personally experienced, when children find their voice through writing, the way they interact with the world changes.

Through my work in the schools, I discoverd so many young children who are shy, feel unworthy, and/or are regularly bullied. I also was once a shy, insecure middle child who was bullied at school and at home. And I never had anyone talk to me about what it meant to be brave. So, I wanted to actually do something to help build self-esteem and reduce bullying in children today.

That led to:

In the Fall of 2012, I wrote and illustrated my first children's book, titled "The Awakening of Sharyn: A Shy & Brown SUPER Gyrl," based on my childhood experiences. Instead of a regular book signing, however, I decided to hold something more meaningful for those who attended. So, I created a Super Hero Awakening Ceremony, where we made masks, capes, talked about the importance of courage, kindness and compassion as "super" powers. Then, the adults gathered around the children and sang an empowerment song. Afterward, parents told me that their child later wore the mask and cape to bed and would ask to sing the empowerment song over and over and over.

And, then:

That feedback led to me developing a comprehensive, courage-building campaign, which shares empowering messages, easy-to-remember songs, and self-reflective writing activities that teach children of all ages, races and backgrounds that they currently have "super" powers they use in everyday life. For example, cleaning up after yourself shows the "super" power of responsibility; facing your fears shows the "super" power of courage; and when you sit at lunch with the shy kid with no friends, you exhibit the "super" power of compassion.

Here's how it works:

The Super Hero Awakening Campaign will train adult Courage Crusaders to replicate these courage-building ceremonies in their schools, community centers, libraries and/or homes. I will recruit from fliers, FB posts, schools and my extensive personal network. As I am just one person trying to wear many hats, I need to create a more sustainable model of instituting this strength-based approach to how children confront bullying - not as victims, but as empowered SUPER heroes. And, even when fear takes over, as it sometimes does, this project will provide each child participant with a Courage Stone they can carry in their pocket or backpack to remind themselves that they can always access their courage whenever they desire.

What I Need & What You Get

In order to move forward with this campaign, I want to start a 3-month pilot project in my town of Portland, Ore., and evaluate its impact so I can then modify it accordingly before I take it to the next level of expanding the Super Hero Awakening Campaign nationally and internationally. I am partnering with the Portland non-profit Urban Bridges Inc., (http://urbanbridges.org) a personal development & Life Skills Academy, so all donations are tax-deductible. 

I need funding to:

• Pay 10 Courage Crusaders a $75 stipend for going through a half-day training. ($750)
• Pay fees to get a criminal background check, finger printing and ID badge issued through Portland Public Schools for each Crusader ($750 - $75 each)
• Pay for printing of recruitment fliers and development of materials, binders, forms, evaluation surveys, pictures, etc. ($250- $25 each)
• Purchase materials for each Courage Crusader to have access to enough supplies to hold their own ceremony for at least 10 children, who will make capes and masks (supplies include fabric, feathers, stickers, markers, scissors, hot glue guns, glue sticks, glitter, etc.) ($180 - $18 each)
• Purchase 10 books of "The Awakening of Sharyn" ($150 - $15x10)
• Sharyn T-shirts for each Courage Crusader, which read "Courage is my new BFF" ($150 -10x$15)
• Courage Stones for 100 children ($100 @ $1 each/10 for each ceremony)
• Healthy snacks for the half-day training ($50 - $5x10)

Depending on the amount, the perks for your generous donations include:

• A specialized Super Hero Awakening Ceremony conducted by campaign organizer S. Renee Mitchell. Includes tote bag full of Sharyn goodies for up to five children.
• An autographed copy of "The Awakening of Sharyn: A Shy & Brown SUPER Gyrl," which also comes with a Parent/Teacher Handbook that lists activities and questions to reinforce your child's learning.
• A limited edition recording of the "Be Brave" song. Lyrics include: "When you stand up to your fear / you can be a leader, too/ Having courage is a choice / and you know just what to do / You stand steady when your toes are scared / You speak up though your voice might squeak / Shoulders back, stand as tall as an oak tree / Even though your knees feel weak"
• A blank 8.5x11 Sharyn journal, includes a specially designed tote bag and a box of colored pencils to encourage drawing, doodling or writing
• A Sharyn courage button
• A Sharyn Courage Stone

The Impact

Did you know the word "courage" comes from the Latin word "cor," which means "heart?" So, when you encourage someone, you pour into their heart. That is what the Super Hero Awakening Project is all about. We want to develop this project to have an international reach and pour empowering messages into the hearts of shy children, bullied children and marginalized children all over the world.

I have conducted previous successful empowerment campaigns in the 14 years I have lived in Portland, Ore., mostly around the issue of domestic violence. I organized and facilitated several Community Healing Ceremonies to help my neighbors deal with their grief after a spat of domestic-violence related murder suicides. I created and organized an annual Redefining the Blues Campaign to help women understand the realities of depression. And I was part of a research team, based at Portland's Oregon Health & Science University, that lowered depression scores in African American women who were also survivors of domestic violence. The research was published in 2009 in the American Journal of Public Health, by far the most respected public health journalin the United States.

Other Ways You Can Help

Just because you don't have money doesn't mean you can't support the Super Hero Awakening Project. Please help get the word out by using the Indiegogo share tools and posting on your FB page. Or if you are in Portland, feel free to volunteer to compile the training packets or cut out masks and capes out of fabric. And THANK YOU for considering donating to this important empowerment and courage-building initiative.

Keep raising hope,

Renee