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SPRING
2011
maskmatters.org
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for the work we do today.”
With his background in family
counseling and drug intervention, and her
experience developing prevention and
intervention programs for teens, Rich and
Yvonne started the Challenge Day program
in Livermore, Calif., in 1987. Since then,
the couple has worked tirelessly to build
connection and empathy between teens
and their peers through workshops that tear
down the walls of separation, and celebrate
diversity and full expression.
“Our goal is to bring kids together—
kids with different bodies, skin color,
backgrounds and experiences,” says
Yvonne. “We want them to connect in their
hearts, not just tolerate each other.”
In the Challenge Day program,
workshop leaders guide participants
through carefully designed exercises
that explore ways that people separate
from each other. Leaders also share their
own stories of alienation and oppression,
and discuss the importance of outwardly
expressing emotions. Students then
participate in group discussions, in which
each student begins their story with the
words, “If you really knew me…”
“This is the foundation of what we do,”
says Rich. “We give teens the permission
to connect, to open their hearts in a setting
where they are all equal. People are moved
by the universality of the message.”
GROUP HUG /
Challenge Day
participants connect
through sharing per-
sonal experiences
(above), while fun
games and exercises
further bridge the
gap between them
(left).
LETTING LOOSE /
Challenge Day
leader Vinny Ferraro
encourages par-
ticipants to let their
guards down and
have fun.
With his background in
family counseling and drug
intervention, and her experience
developing prevention and
intervention programs for
teens, Rich and Yvonne started
the Challenge Day program in
Livermore, Calif. in 1987.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Challenge Day