Daniel and Max spent the entire summer helping the boys identify their unique talents, explore the meaning of their lives, and develop a future vision of them, expressing their passions in ways that brought value or service to others. The three-month voyage provided numerous opportunities to teach the troubled youths the life skills they were lacking. A succession of sailing adventures brought up topics such as mapping a journey, connecting with others, and self-esteem, providing an ideal platform for group discussions about discipline, team building, and friendships. Daniel and Max wove the Principles of Grace into the fabric of their daily lives, and by summer’s end they could see dramatic changes in the boys. However, when the time came to say goodbye, they both felt that they could do more to help.
With this thought in mind they decided to do some research into the gang phenomenon. They discovered the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency National Youth Gang Survey and learned that there were a million gang members active in 30,500 youth gangs in the United States. Youth gang members were estimated to be involved in more than 3,300 homicides annually, 28 percent of all larceny and motor vehicle theft, and 13 percent of all robberies. The problem was particularly acute in their home state of California, where juvenile detention facilities provided minimal rehabilitation, virtually guaranteeing that more troubled kids will major in a life of crime. Moreover, half of all juvenile offenders released from juvenile facilities commit new crimes.85
The two men began brainstorming about a way to help more juvenile offenders turn their lives around. Ultimately, they decided to build Awakening Grace, a middle-school/learning center hybrid offering a sixth-to-eighth-grade curriculum with project-based learning, use of technology, career exploration, and character development. The facility was specifically designed for youths who had been convicted of crimes. Working in coordination with juvenile court judges, they offered kids a “last chance” option to avoid incarceration in juvenile facilities. Daniel and Max both believed that if they took a child who was destined for a life of crime and ensconced him for three years in an educational environment that emphasized the Principle of Grace, he could be transformed into a productive member of society.
Daniel spent the entire first day of class explaining how their school came to be, reading Grace’s letters and outlining the curriculum. He hoped to get the students excited about learning the Principles of Grace. Before dismissing class for the day he said: “Each and every one of you was born with a unique gift or talent and a purpose in life. My goal is to help you discover that purpose, to teach you how to nurture your special abilities, and to inspire you to achieve your highest potential as a human being.”
Dare To Be Successful Page 11