As a counselor who works with youth, I read with interest the article about the “Breaking Down the Walls” program that Snohomish High School brought in by the California company, Learning for Living (“Students ‘cross the line,’” Nov. 8). It sounded like a valuable learning experience for the students and staff, the kind of experience that cannot be found in books and the regular classroom setting. I am glad to see the Snohomish School District placing value on a program that promotes unity and understanding between youth.
What many people may not realize is that Snohomish County already holds a valuable resource that does those very things. CORE Seminars, based in Lake Stevens, has four-day seminars designed for teens. CORE stands for Courage, Ownership, Respect and Empowerment. The founder of CORE, Gail Manahan, is a counselor specializing in adolescents and a former school counselor.
I have personally witnessed the positive impact on groups of youth in these amazing seminars. I have seen the barriers between people and groups being broken down and trust being built. CORE has served youth from all over the county and beyond, and even received national attention after being featured on a television show.
Parents/gaurdians or other caring adults often wait until there is a problem with their child to send them to CORE, but it is a valuable learning experience for all teens. There needs to be more attention paid to prevention programs and services and to the local resources that exist to help our youth.
Lake Stevens
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