What Participants Say About

Challenge Day
Since its inception in 1987, the Challenge Day Program has received numerous
awards and recognition. It has been featured in an Emmy award-winning documentary and the
best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and honored with a Governor’s proclamation from
the state of Wyoming. Of course, the most powerful and important acknowledgments come in the
form of testimonials from our participants, the people who have used the Challenge Day
experience to change their lives and the world around them.

“Now I’m not afraid to come to school. Now I’m
looking forward to each day…” – Student, Wenatchee,
WA
“I am so glad that I went to Challenge Day – it changed
my life for the best!” – Student, Hartland, ME
“I have never been so inspired by any event in my
life. I made amends with people and solved a lot of
problems. I’ve expressed feelings to people there
who were close to me, things were let out that
needed to be said.” – Student, West Boylston, MA
“Challenge Day reminded me of the pain and
pressures that teenagers face on a daily basis.
By providing us powerful lessons of compassion
and understanding, it helps participants break
down the social barriers, leaving us to deal with a
person's character and not their background.” –
Ron Johnson, Associate Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of
Monterey County, CA
“This was the best day of my life. I can't believe I
hugged people today that I hated yesterday.” – Juan,
15 year old gang member, Austin, TX

“[At Challenge Day], I was honored to be
witness to a level of courage and compassion
rarely seen in today's youth. In my 30+ years
of dealing with people, I have never seen a
program that has made such an impact as I
saw with Challenge Day. Of all the programs
available to help youth empower themselves
with courage and strength, this has to be at
the very top of the list.” – Bob King, former law
enforcement officer; high school security staff,
Wenatchee, WA
“Your program brought my daughter back… I thought I
had lost her forever!” – Helene, parent, Benecia, CA
“When I signed up for Challenge Day I thought I was
going for the kids. Clearly it was the gift I needed for
myself.” – R.C. Kelly, Police Activities League, Atlanta,
GA
“Challenge Day works better than any other program
I've seen locally or nationally.” – Tim Monroe, former
Mayor and Councilman, Casper, WY

Percentage of Reduction in Suspension Rates

I n addit ion, t he Nat r ona Count y School Dist r ict in Natrona County, WY
Casper , WY, r epor t ed t hat use of t he Challenge 100
Day pr ogr ams signif icant ly cont r ibut ed t o t heir 80
abilit y t o achieve t he f ollowing r esult s. Accor ding 60
t o Pr incipal Wayne Br ady, “The f ocus of t he
40
Challenge Day pr ogr am is lit er ally t o change t he
hear t s of par t icipant s because only t hen can t hey 20
begin t o change t heir behavior . I t wor ks. …Use of 0
t he Challenge Day [wor kshop] is clear ly t he
ll
gs
y
ts

l
ho

ra
nc
cc
gh

pr ogr am leading t o f ewer suspensions and mor e

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ua
ba
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academic time on task....”.

Before Challenge Day After Challenge Day

3237 Alhamb
ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553
Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 office@challengeday.org
a non-profit organization
 A Case Story

Challenge Days Shared joy is double joy.

Shared sorrow is half sorrow.
Swedish Proverb

My name is Tony. I always looked out for myself because I thought no one else would, and I thought it
would always be that way. I go to school because it seems like I have to. That changed the day I got out of
class for something called Challenge Day.
The people running it had big hopes of helping us join together and making us leaders. I just wanted to get
out of class. I figured that after signing in I would sneak out.
In the school gym, I found myself sitting in a big circle in the school gym, face to face with a hundred
students that no one could have paid me to spend the day with. I was keeping up my front, my cool, but I
was kind of nervous. I’m used to—either sitting hidden in the back of a classroom waiting for a break, or
skipping school and hanging with the guys. I wasn’t used to not knowing what was going to happen.
I made fun of how a bunch of kids were dressed and of a girl who was fat. Some of the girls had worn
pajamas and brought stuffed animals. Pretty stupid, I thought.
The day started with each of us standing up and saying our names into a microphone “loud and proud.” A
bunch of kids were really shy, but since I rap sometimes, I acted really cool when it was my turn. No one
knew there was a lump in my throat. You see, I’m from a tough neighborhood, and showing your weakness
only makes you a target. I was a target when I was real young, both for my brothers and for the people who
called themselves my friends. We sure didn’t know how to be friends though. Fighting and putting each
other down were a normal way of life.
Anyway, we started playing these games I thought were really childish. I hung back a little with my buddies,
acting cool and not playing like a little kid. After a couple of games, though, it didn’t seem like anyone else
was hanging back, and they were all having a good time. I thought, “Why not me?” I have to admit, I was
playing a little rough, but it beat sitting on the edge.
What happened next was almost unbelievable. Carl, one of the only guys who is more feared and respected
than me at school, was helping one of the leaders demonstrate how to give hugs. Everyone was laughing at
first, but it was getting harder and harder to put anyone down that day. The leaders kept teaching us to
open our hearts and minds, to share our true feelings and and to give put-ups instead of put-downs. It
wasn’t what I was used to.
Then we did an exercise called “the power shuffle.” Before the game started, the leaders talked about
oppression. “Yeah,” I thought, “like they really know what it is like to be oppressed. Here I am, a young
Latino growing up in a white society. I get harassed and pushed around every day by store owners, teachers
and all these adults who think I’m a gangster just because of the color of my skin. Yeah, I act hard, but
what am I supposed to do when I have to watch my friends drop from drive-by’s?”

3237 Alhamb
ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553
Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 office@challengeday.org
a non-profit organization
The leaders said we had to be silent, to make it safe for everyone. They called out broad categories and
asked us to cross over the line if we fit into the category. I was still snickering in my buddy’s ear as the
first few were called out.
But the leaders meant it about being quiet. One of the adults softly put his hand on me and said, “You’ll
want them to respect you; please respect them.”
Category after category was called out. In silence, group after group, people crossed the line. Then a topic
was called that I fit into, and I figured I would be the only one who experienced this kind of pain. “Cross
the line if you’ve ever been hit, beaten or abused, in any way.” I walked heavy in my shoes. Looking straight
down as I walked, I turned around, having a hard time not laughing to cover what was going on for me.
But as I looked up, half the group was walking with me. We stood in silence, looked into each other’s eyes,
and for the first time in my life, I felt like I wasn’t alone.
One by one, we dropped our masks. I saw that these people, whom I had judged before, were in reality very
much like me. Like me, they, too, knew how it felt to be hurt.
I walked back across the line. My friend tried to joke with me but it didn’t seem right anymore. Another
topic was called, one where all the women and girls crossed. I had never seen before how much men and
boys disrespect and hurt women. I became more uncomfortable as I noticed tears appearing in many of my
friends’ eyes.
We crossed the line next for having lost someone close to us in gang violence. So many of us crossed that
line. It just wasn’t right! I started feeling really angry inside, and tears were coming to my eyes. The
leaders kept saying, “When the tears are on the outside, the inside is healing,” and “It takes a strong man
to cry.”
I had to make the choice of whether or not to have the courage to show my tears. I was still scared of
being called names, but the tears came out. I cried, and with my tears I proved that I was a strong man.
Before we left that day, each of us stood and shared our experiences. I stood up, again not sure if I should
fight the tears or not. The leader encouraged me to look out at the group and ask if it was okay for a man
to cry. So I did.
Then each person stood up in front of their chairs to show they respected me for showing my tears.
Amazed, I started talking. I said I was sorry to a few of those people I had judged and pushed around in
the halls because I thought they had it so much better than me. With the tears in their eyes, they came up
to me, one by one, and gave me a hug. Now I know what it is really like to share love with someone. I hope I
can do this with my dad some day.
Here was a day I thought I was cutting from school, but instead I found myself telling the people I hurt
that I was sorry, and people were saying the same thing to me. It was like we were all one family and we
never knew it until that day. It wasn’t magic—we just looked at each other in a different light.
Now it is up to us. Do we look through these eyes for just one day, or do we have the courage to remember
that most people are just like us, and help others learn that it is safe to be themselves?

As told to Andrew Tertes

3237 Alhamb
ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553
Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 office@challengeday.org
a non-profit organization
 Challenge Day Program
Price List

The Challenge Day Youth Programs are $2,700.00 per day* and
include the following:
*Schools or organizations
One 6-hour pr ogr am (Challenge Day, Ment or Tr aining, that require travel by air
Mentor-Ment ee Challenge Day, Facult y Tr aining, Challenger or are more than a 2-
Tr aining, et c.) f or a maximum of 100 yout h and a minimum of hour drive from Martinez,
20 adults.
CA must book a minimum
Pre-program survey and needs assessment
of two consecutive days.
Unlimited phone consultation
In-person consultation
2 trained leaders

Additional costs for schools or organizations more than a 1-hour drive from Martinez, CA:

Item Estimated Expense

2 hotel rooms for every night prior to your Challenge Days $200 per day
Equal to or above the quality of a Holiday Inn.
Schools have had success with local hotels donating rooms for these events.

Additional costs for schools/organizations outside of Northern California

(sample costs – for budgeting purposes only):

Item Estimated Expense

2 roundtrip airline tickets from Oakland, California
Contingent on distance from CA, flight availability, etc. All flights will be made
$600-$2000
21-14 days out.
2 hotel rooms for every night prior to your Challenge Days
Equal to or above the quality of a Holiday Inn.
$200 per day
Schools have had success with local hotels donating rooms for these events.
Rental car (van or SUV required) beginning the day prior to
your Challenge Days $70 per day
20 small boxes of tissue $20
10-15 rolls of masking tape $10
2 -100’ extension cords N/A
Thick water-based (washable) markers (1 per person) $50
2’x3’ poster paper (1 per person + 5 extra)
Can use flip chart paper cut in half $25
Name tags – one per volunteer adult facilitator $5
TOTAL (Estimate for 2 days) $1,080 - $2,480

3237 Alhamb
ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553
Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 office@challengeday.org
a non-profit organization
 Video Request Form

Thank you for your interest in Challenge Day! The most powerful ways to understand the
spirit and impact of a Challenge Day is to either attend a Challenge Day or to watch the video
featuring a Challenge Day. To support the cost of video reproduction and mailing, and to assist
Challenge Day in keeping the price of its programs as low as possible, we request that you either
make a donation to offset the cost of your video(s) in advance or commit to returning it to us.
Please complete the following information and return this form to us. Thank you for your
understanding and cooperation!

Yes! I would like to see a video featuring an actual Challenge Day! Please send me the following:
Minimum Total
Quantity Donation of Donation
Tape of the full 90-minute documentary Teen Files: Surviving High
School, which includes footage of an actual Challenge Day. x $10 each
16-minute excerpt from the documentary Teen Files: Surviving High
School that shows only an actual Challenge Day. x $5 each
TOTAL:

I intend to pay for my video(s) in the following manner:

I have enclosed a check for the total amount shown

Please charge my credit card for the total amount shown

Name on card:
(PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY)

Card Type (CIRCLE ONE) Visa MasterCard

Card Number:

Expiration Date:

I am unable to pay due to financial hardship. Please have Challenge Day bear the cost of my video(s).

I do not wish to pay for my video(s) and promise to return my video(s) to Challenge Day within two
weeks of receiving them.

Please mail my video(s) to the following location:

Name
FIRST LAST

Address
NUMBER AND STREET CITY ST ZIP

Thank you for your interest in Challenge Day and your ongoing support of our non- profit services! We
look forward to working in team with you!

3237 Alhamb
ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553
Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 office@challengeday.org
a non-profit organization
 Fundraising to Support Your
Challenge Days
It will come as no surprise that virtually no Challenge Day schools have money for the program
when they begin. After experiencing its impact and potential, that can change, but at the
beginning, fundraising is part of the process.
Fundraising for Challenge Day can actually be relatively easy because the program has such a
powerful effect on both youth and adults. This allows potential funding sources to see and
experience the heart-felt desire of participants to be involved in the work. The potential for
success is also significantly heightened when you involve teens. A young person honestly
expressing why having Challenge Day at his or her school is a powerful and potent force for
change. Showing the Challenge Day video (excerpt from Teen Files: Surviving High School) can
also motivate potential donors. Many of our schools have had great success with the following:

Local Civic Organizat ions. Civic organizations such
as The Rotary Club, Lion’s Club, Kiwanis and Soroptimists
are excellent sources. These business people are
committed to being of service in their community. Contact
your local club, schedule a time to present at one of their
lunchtime meetings, and speak honestly and openly about
your needs and your vision. Many schools have received full
funding for days from these organizations.
Local Businesses or Corporat ions. Most major
companies—including prof essional sports teams--have
philanthropy or community relations budgets, or you can
get “in-kind” donations (rental cars, hotel rooms, lunches,
etc.). They may also match their employees’ local
donations. Remind them that you can publicly recognize
donations, giving them a marketing and public relations
boost, if they choose.

Law Enf orcement . A big supporter of our programs Communit y Foundat ions/ Local Nonprof it s.
across the country. Some police departments use monies Look f or like-minded programs. I n several of our
seized f rom drug criminals f or prevention programs. communities, local nonprof its f und Challenge Days f or
Community relations funds may also be available. multiple schools.

Fire Depart ment s. By using their community
involvement budget, these public servants can be “heroes”
in another way.
Chamber of Commerce. Again, these are business
people coming together to support their community. A
presentation to this organization will also get you access to
individual corporations in your community.
Grants. Availability and requirements vary by location,
so check with other educators in your area f or ideas.
Some schools use Service Learning grants. Check
www.servicelearning.org for more information.
Students. I f appropriate, ask youth to donate $25-
$40 to attend Challenge Day, and scholarship those who
are unable to pay. Consider a “Pay-It-Forward” strategy,
asking Challenge Day graduates to contribute the fee for
another teen to come to a subsequent day.
Parent s or ot her I ndividuals. In one community,
a local dentist donated the full cost for a day. In addition,
lots of small donations from many individuals can add up to
a large amount of money!
Fundraisers. These you know all too well: bake sales,
car washes, auctions and the like not only generate money,
they rally youth and parents to support the cause.

As you succeed, let us know! We’d like to include your learning to serve others!

3237 Alhamb
ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553
Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 office@challengeday.org
a non-profit organization
 Community Workshops

Challenge Day' s Communit y Wor kshops ar e a key component t o any

communit y' s Challenge Day exper ience. As act ive par t icipant s in t hese t hr ee-day int ensive
wor kshops, adult s and select ed t eens (age 15-19) gain t he knowledge, leader ship skills and
personal gr owt h exper ience needed t o help keep t he Challenge Day spir it alive in t heir homes,
schools and communit ies. As a r esult , par ent s, t eacher s, administ r at or s and concer ned cit izens
can empower t hemselves t o be allies f or t eens, pr oviding t he envir onment in which compassion,
accept ance and r espect can f lour ish and become a way of lif e. We especially encour age par ent s
and t eens who would like t o cr eat e mor e love, connect ion, under st anding and communicat ion in
t heir r elat ionship t o at t end as a f amily. Each wor kshop last s t hr ee days (usually Fr iday, Sat ur day
and Sunday) and is t ypically held in t he San Fr ancisco Bay ar ea. Tuit ion is $ 350 f or adult s, $ 100
for teens.

N ex t St ep Leader shi p Empower ment T r ai ni ng ( LET )

Next St ep is a highly experient ial workshop t hat
examines a new philosophy for stopping teen violence
and isolat ion; a compassionat e approach t o ending
social oppression in schools, families and communities;
and an act ion-based model f or socio-emotional
learning. Part icipant s receive an in-dept h look at t he
t heory and pract ice behind Challenge Day as t hey
dive deeper int o t he issues it addresses, including
yout h violence, racism, t easing, st ereot ypes, gender
roles, social oppression and t he abuse of t obacco,
drugs and alcohol. Part icipant s gain a deeper
understanding of social oppression and how it affects
each person individually, and have the opportunity to
explore and heal t heir own experiences of social
oppression. As a result , t hey become bet t er
resources t o t heir communit y, able t o more
ef f ect ively implement and sust ain t he pract ices and
principles of Challenge Day in their everyday lives.
Education Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for both
workshops through California State University, Hayward (CSUH).
Unleash t he leader wit hin and experience your most
magnif icent self at Challenge Day’s Leadership
Empowerment Training (LET). This intensive workshop
is f or adult s and select ed t eens seeking t o become
more powerf ul and ef f ect ive leaders, present ers and
individuals. Root ed in t he Challenge Day values of
compassion, accept ance and f ull self -expression, t his
workshop gives part icipant s t he opport unit y t o
discover and work t hrough t he f ears and emotional
blocks that keep them from being powerful forces for
posit ive change in t heir communit ies. Part icipant s will
explore t he roles of inclusion and af f irmat ion as t hey
relat e t o group f acilit at ion, leadership and t eaching;
learn to use energizers and ice breakers for effective
group management; speak convincingly from a place of
aut hent icit y and inspirat ion; and give and receive
feedback in a respectful and loving manner.

For more information, the current workshop schedule and to register online, visit our
website at www.challengeday.org and click on “Community Workshops.”

3237 Alhamb
ra Ave., Suite 2, Martinez CA 94553
Phone/925-957-0234 Fax/925-957-9425 office@challengeday.org
a non-profit organization