Ambassadors of Compassion’s (AOC) journey focuses on character and leadership development including Core Ethical Values is *building capacity and creativity by inviting teens to over 40 “call to action” applications.

A Team Coach (Mentor) along with 8-10 teens begins by building trust, creating a safe place to learn, extending invitation to join the 12 week journey. Each week the team assesses a new situation or an issue, while considering what strengths of character are paramount and then respond with options and solutions. This process helps each teen discover heightened capacity in the face of challenges and new levels of creativity in their response to problems. (The AOC journey requires which character traits guide your actions for each challenge encountered.)

The goal is to create a new awareness of who we are, (identity) why we are here (purpose). Teens are discovering in their weekly team meeting that “you can accomplish your dream with your team.” Their team coach guides them in being accountable and supportive of each other. They each discover the importance of not letting others define them, They are also learning to doubt their own doubts of the past and believe their new found beliefs formulated in the Ambassadors of Compassion journey.

Applying character as the foundation builds capacity and creativity.  It is work.  It is hard work.  But, we are learning from the process and applications that teens get stronger and more resilient with each weekly discovery. The disengaged and disinvited (the kids that don’t trust adults and the kids that feel left out ) respond favorably to each invitation. With the assistance of a nurturing team coach teens are changing their internal compass in believing in their future and what’s important. Active research reveals all kids are profiting from this unique “life ready” journey! www.aoclife .org

Gene Bedley

*Our capacity (our ability to respond to challenges in current and future situations) and our creativity (our ability to use imagination or original ideas in solving problems )