Reach Into Cultural Heights, Inc. (RICH) is a community-based organization located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. This organization is a collaboration of individuals, institutions, and families that focus on developing character and leadership of young people by engaging them in self-directed activities using communications technology. In 1991, RICH successfully introduced the "Reach for Success" model at York College, The City University of New York, a program designed to develop character and self-esteem in students grades 4 through high school.

One of the projects including in their curriculum this year has been the World Harmony Run and how it relates to their own lives and development. Jacqueline Dawson, the founder of the RICH program, wanted the World Harmony Run to get involver with RICH, in an effort to help young people to feel and express harmony in their lives through writing, speaking and growing into the values and principles that they feel are important in their lives.

The RICH curriculum is based on four principles: I Matter, I Am Responsible for My Behavior, I Am Considerate of Others, I Think Strategies for School Success. By focusing on one or more of these principles in their daily activities the children learn to inculcate positive values into their lifestyle helping them to become more harmonious and productive.

The children also learn how to communicate these experiences through skills such as speaking, writing, and online internet correspondence with other children and adults. Nabodita Diane Dayson, a volunteer for the program, guides the children online and coordinates their efforts to share their ideas, experiences and feelings in a positive and harmonious way. Diane, as a member of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team which administers the World Harmony Run, offers the children opportunities to access the WHR website and learn what others are doing around the world for harmony.

Salil and I visited the RICH program at York College on Saturday, November 4. After a short presentation of our international video and a brief explanation of our own experiences, the children asked some interesting questions which reflected their own efforts at trying to reach out to understand themselves and the rest of the world.

Faith Barclay, a former student from the earlier days of the program, came back to the program to facilitate the activities in the classrooms. She is one shining example of the positive results of the program, having been involved since the third grade in the 90’s and now a college graduate and teacher herself. She was quite comfortable as she worked with the children, some of whom have come from unstable family backgrounds.

Nabodita Dayson, who works for the parks department, volunteered her time to be here today and finally meet the children she has been working with online. After the indoor presentation, the excitement mounted as we prepared to go outside with the Torch to have a short run around the front yard with the children and staff. Usually the children are enthusiastic and excited whereas the adults get a little nervous, feeling that they are out of shape and may embarrass themselves by trying to run with the Torch. But we usually have a very slow and short jog around a circuitous loop so anyone who does get tired can walk or even stop.

Once we got outside, the cold air encouraged us to start running right away, although we did take time for a few group photos. All the children and some of the staff including Jacqueline Dawson, Nabodita, and Faith took turns carrying the Torch as we made a few loops around the front courtyard.

Running with the Torch, however short and slow, offers one the opportunity to carry the symbol of harmony that we try to share with as many people around the world as possible. It is not the running that is essential here, neither the symbol. But what they represent, the harmony in one’s heart being shared and passed on to others, is what is important and at the core of the efforts expended in this program or any other program designed to unite people in a positive and productive way.

We are very grateful to Jacqueline Dawson and all those involved in the RICH program, especially the children who come to this special program on a Saturday afternoon to learn and grow in a very special and precious way. It is because of the willingness, enthusiasm and the efforts of the children involved that this program, as well as the World Harmony Run, can succeed and be effective in facilitating positive change in an ever increasingly complex world.

For more information about the RICH program, please click on this link to their website:

www.richinc.org

Gratefully,

Arpan, Salil and the World Harmony Run

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