"A practical and fun way to make your students understand why achieving
academically is so important."
Shuntell
Anthony, Teacher
Manual Arts High School, South-Central Los Angeles
"Most
children are trying to make it. They just need high expectations and
the support of people like those at the Overcoming Obstacles program.
I hope
you and I will stand up together to build such a movement."
Marian Wright
Edelman
Founder & President, Children’s Defense Fund
"Overcoming
Obstacles works very diligently to positively affect the youth who will
eventually run our society. The program inspires them, encourages them,
and helps them realize their own self-worth. It is a much needed catalyst
to prepare our youth for the future."
Tamisha
Donald, Teacher
Gompers Middle School, Los Angeles
"The
Overcoming Obstacles program helps reduce gang involvement, youth
violence, and dropout rates, while increasing high school graduation and
the employability of each young person. Now you too can be a part of the
Overcoming Obstacles team."
Muhammed Ali
Greatest Athlete of All Time
"Overcoming
Obstacles came to me with the strongest and most enthusiastic recommendations.
Both the materials and the organization are wonderful! We are looking
forward to our second year with Overcoming Obstacles this fall."
Terry
Swords, Coordinator Ninth Grade Success Academy
Cobble Hill School for American Studies, Brooklyn, New York
"The Overcoming Obstacles program does wonderful work by giving kids
the tools to be more productive. The people at the Community for Education
Foundation time and again show how wonderful they are as citizens."
Larry King
Host, “Larry King Live”
"Living itself is an act of courage and living
with obstacles with the help of a marvelous program like Overcoming Obstacles
should help make us bolder."
Rita Moreno
Award Winning Entertainer
"I
have been at it (teaching Overcoming Obstacles) for the last six years
and the results have been remarkable. Our attendance rate has improved.
Our student graduation rate has increased to 70%. Most importantly, our
students have learned to exhibit the like skills and knowledge that will
guide them for the rest of their lives. The Overcoming Obstacles curriculum
with its emphasis on relevant skills has been the key factor in their
success."
Perry
Cecchini, Head Teacher
“15 Together” Program, Dickinson High School, Jersey City
"Overcoming Obstacles has been an invaluable resource for
me as a facilitator. The teens I work with have been informed, entertained,
and engaged all at the same time by the Overcoming Obstacles activities
we've done in our group. This curriculum offers a broad range of lesson
plans that can be easily adapted to fit the needs of nearly any class
or group. In fact, I'm currently training older students to lead some
of the activities from Overcoming Obstacles with younger students in the
program!"
Andrea
Kamins
After School in Lincoln Square, MLK High School Campus, New York
"Overcoming Obstacles
is a program that teaches the value of goal setting,
communicating, problem solving, decision making, and resolving conflicts.
Those are the skills that are important in school, on the job, on the
football field, and in marriage."
H. Wayne Huizenga
Founder, Blockbuster Video; Owner, Miami Dolphins
"Since the founding
of Overcoming Obstacles in 1992, the Conrad N. Hilton
Foundation has provided annual support. Jill Siegal and her committed
team provide the tools young people need to help them set goals, develop
job seeking skills, and communicate more effectively. Overcoming Obstacles
is doing just that—assisting young middle and high school students
to overcome obstacles and become more productive, successful members of
society."
Steven M. Hilton
President, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
"We have been using the program for four years
at the Children's Aid Society and have found it to be a great asset to
our youth programming in community schools. The program has provided critical
content for our Freshman Seminar and Town Meeting programs, which serve
to prepare incoming students for success at the High School and Middle
School levels, respectively. Our staff like Overcoming Obstacles because
it is flexible, allowing them to extend and adapt the program to the particular
needs and culture of the students. Also, the subjects covered answer real
needs our students have, such as the Problem Solving and Study Skills
components. And there are so many activities and extension ideas that
we will have enough material to keep the students engaged from year to
year."
Sarah Jonas, Director of Education Services
The Children's Aid Society, New York City
"The Overcoming
Obstacles program gives our children the coping skills not only to survive,
but to excel!"
Kenneth I. Chenault
Chairman & CEO, American Express
"Every young person should have the opportunity to receive the relevant
skills instruction that the Overcoming Obstacles program offers. With
your help, we can spread the message that this program carries to every
corner of America, helping more and more young people gain the skills
they need to achieve their dreams."
Christine Todd Whitman
Former Governor, State of New Jersey
"I use
it periodically to enhance and enforce themes, conflicts, choices in literature
and it is an invaluable tool for teaching students skills they might not
otherwise obtain. The activities are accessible and topical to all students
who seem to truly enjoy them without feeling like it's ‘work’."
Elizabeth DeBetta
New Dorp High School, Staten Island, New York
"By teaching communication skills, conflict resolution, decision
making,
goal setting, and job seeking skills, the dedicated individuals of the
Overcoming Obstacles program are helping middle and high school students
across the country build a brighter future for themselves and their
communities."
Al Gore
45th Vice President of the United States
"The Overcoming Obstacles program proves that communication, decision
making, and goal setting can be taught and reinforced with success."
Mannie L. Jackson
Chairman & Owner, Harlem Globetrotters
"The Overcoming
Obstacles program does what this country needs a lot
more of—it instills the skills and values needed to set a child
on the path
to a successful future."
Dr. Rudolph Crew
Former Chancellor, New York City Public Schools
"Our teachers
were committed to teaching a course called Pathways to Success to our
ninth graders, but did not have the proper skills or materials. Overcoming
Obstacles provided an amazing curriculum with relevant and engaging activities
that teach the important lessons of decision-making, problem-solving,
goal-setting and conflict resolution. The lessons come complete with step-by-step
instructions, thematic connections and necessary handouts. In addition,
Overcoming Obstacles helped us to structure the materials in the course
to meet the needs of our particular student population. I know that our
students benefited from this program as they learned skills, like communication
and time management, that aren’t explicitly taught in their traditional
classes, but that are essential for them for their careers in high school,
college and beyond.
In my current role as a Regional Instructional Specialist, I have recommended
Overcoming Obstacles to several schools who have an Advisory system and
the region is using one of those schools as a model site for their advisory
and conflict resolution programs. Next year, I will be the principal of
a new school. One of the main components of our school program will be
our Advisory program. I know that I will be able to count on the curriculum
and support of Overcoming Obstacles to make this important aspect of our
school a success."
Elana Karopkin, Principal
The Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice, Brooklyn, New York
"Overcoming Obstacles is a program which in
my view is almost without parallel in terms of its impact and effectiveness.
Its eventual objective is that all young people will have relevant skills
instruction as part of their basic education. That will be a remarkable
time for all of us."
John S.Chalsty
Trustee, Columbia University
"Our company is
very proud to be a part of Overcoming Obstacles. I’ve had the opportunity
to participate in many great, worthwhile organizations and there are none
anywhere that are better than Overcoming Obstacles."
Philip J. Purcell
Chairman & CEO, Morgan Stanley
