I don’t know why I am so fortunate to meet intriguing people. Recently, at one of my BNI (Business Networking International) meetings I met a gentleman who was there just to substitute for one of our regular members. He spoke about mentoring kids o that they understand that they have the power to chart their own destinies. It was about empowerment.
This is a theme that is near and dear to my heart as I was given the CT Youth Leadership Award from the University of CT many years ago for my years as a 4-H Leader. Of course, I needed to learn more, and so I sat down with the founder of this non-profit organization to find out what he does but more importantly WHY.
Wayne Winsley is the founder of this group and also a New Milford resident. He is a middle school social studies teach at the Faith Academy and also a multi award winning motivational speaker. Wayne grew up in the Foster Care System in Cleveland Ohio. How he got from there to here is an inspirational story in itself. At one point, he recalled, that after failing the 8th grade for the second time he was struck by what one of his friends father told his son. He said, “You can succeed and overcome anything if you pursue personal excellence. You can overcome family, prejudice, poverty, and situation. You have to know that “YOU ARE THE BOSS OF YOUR DREAMS.” This is a theme that is on the tee shirts that he hands out at the schools where he speaks.
Working through schools as well as through the local Kiwanis Clubs he reaches students throughout New England and hopes to take this message to a more national audience. At this point, it is the largest student motivational program in American, helping students succeed inspiring courage and providing support. He talks about how failing is seen as BAD instead of understanding that it is a learning tool to growth. Small people, he points out, are afraid of big ideas. A fact, I heard recently, that 2 year olds ask an average of 100+ questions daily? Middle schoolers ask an average of 2. School today is about learning facts to get grades on tests rather than asking questions to learn. Success, he promotes, is about the pursuit of lifelong learning and questioning. It is about becoming a VICTOR rather than being a VICTIM.
The funds that are raised by this organization go to fund scholarships through an essay writing excersize. Last year, for example, 6- $1000 scholarships were awarded to students at Danbury High School. Other scholarships went to students from UCONN, Yale and high schools all over New England. He commits to bringing 5-$1000 scholarships to every school he visits. Union Savings Bank has been a major sponsor of his programs. On how to get your school to be a BRAVE school visit their website at www.braveenoughtofail.org. You can also submit a donation and listen to portions of Wayne’s talk at the website.
Wayne is someone who has WALKED THE WALK and succeeded through adversity. He not only has the message, he has the personal story behind his incites. If his story moves you, as it did me, please consider donating or promoting his message.