Most people know that the CC! framework isn’t bordered by schoolroom walls, but it takes foresight and planning to spread the Six Pillars throughout a community. Iris James and Teresa Edwards are two character-education catalysts who will never be accused of being classroom-bound. In 1998, these Sapulpa Middle School teachers graduated from CC!’s Character Development Seminars and quickly established the framework in their district’s schools. Then they went community-wide: First, they presented workshops on CC! for Sapulpa’s civic leaders. Next they sent letters to the chamber of commerce, all churches and all parents in the district. In step three, they arranged for the civic leaders to present the program to these groups as well as to others, including law enforcement, youth-service, sports and civic organizations, and faith communities.
These diverse sectors now work together to make character development everyone’s business, as events have demonstrated. For example, local businesses and organizations were instrumental in the success of Sapulpa's CC! Week '99. James and Edwards conceived the “Pillar People Pushcart Parade,” in which students decorated shopping carts as parade floats representing the Six Pillars of Character. Pepsi Cola donated professionally-made banners for each of the Pillar values, a local trucking company provided an 18-wheel rig to transport the carts, and church buses carried participants to the area at the start of the parade.
Sapulpa’s commitment to character education became even clearer in January 2000, at the city's first “community mobilization” night. Law-enforcement representatives matched up with volunteers from Sapulpa High School to provide child care for all attendees. The meeting eventually split into seven groups, each representing a segment of town: law enforcement and social services, faith, business, parents, youth, civil service, and sports. Each received a set of character-related goals specific to its sphere, and each came up with ways to accomplish the goals.
By late 2000, the seven groups had translated their ideas into action. The civil service group put up road signs into the city that read “CHARACTER COUNTS! in Sapulpa.” The youth group established a high school club called THINK (Teaching Hate Is Not o.K.) to promote tolerance among youth. Many local businesses displayed CC! signs, the police force designated a school liaison to work with youth and incorporated the Six Pillars into its code of ethics. And local teacher/parent organizations were discussing CC! at their meetings.
Even more changes had occurred by December 2001. Sapulpa had received a character education grant, and part of it went to advance CHARACTER COUNTS! in the junior high and high school. Organizers hosted a leadership retreat for junior high and high school club officers. About 30 young people from seven different clubs, along with seven adult sponsors, attended the event on November 10. In the keynote speech, a judge told the young people how character would make a difference in their lives. In addition, attendees heard a description of the Six Pillars of Character, played games, ate plenty of food, and did group work on how they could use the information.
Sapulpa is also using the grant to bring the CC! into sports. For instance, the high school principal recently created a handout to distribute at home basketball games. It deals with good sportsmanship and explains that Sapulpa is a “CHARACTER COUNTS! city.”
By now Sapulpa has had five community-wide meetings, and it will hold its sixth on February 11, 2002. A local college football coach will deliver the keynote address and coaches will receive CC! sports cards. Organizers are also creating a sports patch for Little League players to wear on their uniforms. “We're still really busy and very involved,” says Teresa Edwards. “CHARACTER COUNTS! continues to make a real difference in our schools and in our community.”
