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Annual Circus Appeal: And it's green - we've gone paperless!
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"I coached a circus outreach program for kids serving time for actions of violence, vandalism and drugs. I had one student who started out sitting as far away from the action of the trapeze class as possible. As the weeks went by, he moved closer and closer to the group. The day I introduced standing on the trapeze bar, a skill that can be scary for beginners, this young man volunteered to try it first. Everyone else in the class spotted him and talked him through the process until he successfully completed the skill. He participated in the rest of that class and every class after that, through the end of the program. On the last day, when each student was asked what they learned, he replied, "I'm not a total loser. I can help people do things, try things, that scare them, and these people care enough to help me as well." This is just one of the many life-changing experiences made possible through circus." Darden Longenecker |