We had an amazing time during our Exercising Your Character Event today! Many thanks to Antone Green, Prevention Coordinator, HNNCSB, and Coach Antoinette Jackson Hunt, Head Coach, Girl's Basketball, Phoebus High School, for their support! Their presentations on mental health and character development in sports were enlightening and informative! Thanks to our very own Carol Ellison and Thomas Anthony for moderating and engaging the youth in various games and crafts. And to our long-standing leaders and volunteers, we thank and salute you for your service!
Maximizing Character's MXC Thrive Program hosted the Exercising Your Character Fun Day with the support of the City of Hampton's Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunities. The event featured old school games and activities like jump roping and hula hoops, as well as football toss, limbo game and fitness drills. People, young and old enjoyed the arts and crafts table which featured kindness rocks, COVID-19 coloring books and character values coloring pages.
Our speakers presented on mental health resources for youth and families. Now, more than ever before in our lifetime, we need behavioral health resources to combat the mood disorders, addictions and other mental health issues that have affected communities as a result of COVID-19. Mr. Green did a phenomenal job of, not only sharing informative information about Mental Health First Aid, community based counseling, mentoring, support groups and other resources, but also fielded questions from the children and adult participants. The presentation itself was therapeutic as individuals shared their own personal experiences with mental illness including themselves, family, friends and co-workers.
Coach Hunt presented on the importance of good character in sports. While students may demonstrate good character while engaging in sports and other extra-curricular activities, Coach Hunt stressed the importance of maximizing their character every day because character building goes beyond the court or the field. Participants of all ages were reminded that character shows up in our homes, and communities, including school and the workplace.
The Exercising Your Character Fun Day was a great success. The weather was mild for late October, a whopping 72 degrees! Even in the midst of COVID-19, Maximizing Character provided an opportunity for families to dust off their sneakers, get some fresh air, fellowship, and hone their hula hooping and jump roping skills for a fun-filled day.
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