Juan’s letter to Austin Schools

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Brock

I recently came upon a letter from a young student here in Austin. I thought I’d share his plea that I think relates to many of our students in this district.

My name is Juan Garcia. I live in Austin, TX with my grandmother and her daughter, who is my mother. I really like to play video games and watch T.V. We have cable television, so I can see my favorite futbol teams in Mexico. I would like to be a rock star someday, so I asked for a guitar for Christmas. It is awesome! I try to play it all the time, but I am so busy with school work and cleaning at home. Anyway, I am writing this letter because I need some help on a big test coming up. I’m pretty good in math, english, science and even band. But, there is one subject I’m afraid of and that is P.E.

Sometimes P.E. is fun, like when we play games or learn dances. I’m great at those. But when we play basketball, baseball, kickball, run around the track, or even futbol, I always seem to fall behind and get really tired. And it always seems like the tall, skinny boys get picked because they are good at running and can kick a ball really good. They always win at everything. I hate that! I don’t even feel like trying because I am husky, and never get picked for a team. I wish there was something I could practice, and get good at like my guitar.

I have a friend, Manuel, who lives in Seattle. He has P.E. like me, but he is doing pretty good in his class. He said that instead of running fast or jumping really high, he can row indoors and make good grades. He said that everyone, no matter if they were tall, skinny or good in sports, had to learn because it was new. He was even better his first time than some of the tall skinny boys! LOL!!

Manuel said that his whole school district had kids like him, who were ‘husky’, and were just too busy at home, or with other stuff, to be athletic or just play. (maybe that’s just me LOL!!) They were lucky to have an organization called Row to The Future, a youth development initiative of the George Pocock Rowing Foundation. They want to help the school district better engage kids like my friend who want to be active but in a different way. They want fitness to be fun and something kids can do for their whole life.

Manuel said it’s working! The P.E. teachers are excited because it fits in with their existing programming. And, because Row to The Future had really good relationships with other organizations doing similar things, it made it easier for the school district to introduce the Indoor Rowing machine to us.

Manuel said that teachers show him how to monitor his progress. All you have to do is just do it! It doesn’t hurt his feet or his knees. And what makes him good in science, band and dancing makes him good on the machine:-) He said best of all, because it was new to everyone, he felt part of a team. He wasn’t alone. There aren’t any teams to get picked. You get an ‘A’ based on your effort. I’m in LOVE!

Manuel said he drinks more water and doesn’t play video games as much because he wants to get better on the Indoor Rower and in band (and I want to get better on guitar!). His clothes fit better and he feels better in the morning. He and his friends can do this in P.E. and afterschool. The other kids said they want to try because it’s soo different! The tall, skinny boys want to be his friend now because he feels better about himself. He keeps wanting to get better.

I am writing this letter because I need the Indoor Rower in my school. I just want something different that I could get good at. I want to feel good all the time, and I know that means fitness. Someone said I could do this for the rest of my life? Is this true?

Thank you! I will help as much as I can to make this a reality in Austin!

Juan Garcia

 

**disclaimer** Juan Garcia is fictional. Russel Brand is pictured above and did not write this letter.

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Creating Leaders

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Brock

All I wanted to do last summer was teach some kids how to row to help them feel better about themselves, to help them apply the concepts of math & physics they were learning, and to help them be a part of something amazing. Incredible things that came out the first week of our summer math/science rowing program.

Do you know how difficult it is to get kids to embrace the idea of getting sweaty and working hard (not to mention working in tandem as a team) when they’re worried about looking cool? The first week of the program, kids came in all decked out – girls in makeup with their hair done, guys in jeans.

As a rowing coach, I had to very quickly adjust my approach. I was used to working with athletes who were used to challenging their bodies physically and were not at all uncomfortable with the sweat and tears of effort. Last summer, I was dealing with a bunch of kids who were afraid they wouldn’t look cool, who had never rowed before, and who were scared.

None of them would do anything unless one person did it. Once one person did it, the others would follow along. One girl, Treasure, wouldn’t row. She would say things like, “This is stupid.” Because she didn’t like it, none of the other girls would do it either.

Treasure represented my ultimate challenge of the summer. She was loud, almost obnoxious at times, but with patience, understanding, and reminding her that her expressions of frustration had a huge impact on the other girls, she started feeling like she had a stake in the success of the program. When she decided she loved it, the other girls followed her.

Coaches have such a critical role to play in recognizing and creating leaders. Some of these kids didn’t even know they had leadership qualities. Coaches play a huge part in building leadership skills, and an entire community can be affected by what a coach can do.

Sports coaches do more than just teach the sport; they foster the leadership and team skills of each person, motivating and leading them to be the best versions of themselves. You can establish authority without yelling; you can engage people by identifying and nurturing leaders. It’s important to me that coaches understand how crucial their role is in the lives of the youth they serve.

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Project 2015: Reflections

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Brock

Over the summer, I worked with US Rowing to teach 70 kids how to row. More importantly, we used rowing to help teach math and physics. There was a lot for us to be proud about that summer, but it wasn’t only the kids who learned a lot.

I learned that forcing kids to sit in a class room in the summer to learn math and physics was tough, and that if we figure out a way to incorporate the lesson with the actual rowing, the information will probably stick better.

I learned that, just because you have 70 kids enrolled in a summer program doesn’t mean they will always be able to be there, so you better be flexible.

And I learned that it’s really, really important to understand where the kids are coming from – the challenges they face at home, in particular – so that you can go further in meeting their needs.

Would I do it again?

In a heartbeat!

One of the biggest struggles we faced with the program was that some of these kids come from backgrounds that haven’t always led to the best academic outcomes. We had to scramble to adjust our approach in teaching once we realized the challenge some of these kids faced with just basic comprehension and math skills. Words and concepts like velocity and acceleration were difficult for them – and ones we went in assuming they would understand.

We also had to recognize that for many of these kids, both their financial situation and their culture meant that family came first. If something happened at home – the babysitter couldn’t come but mom or dad had to work, for example – they would not prioritize themselves but would rather sacrifice the day at program to pitch in with the family.

If you are in the midst of planning a program to reach kids at the margin, learn from our experience. Design your program to assume nothing, and make sure that in addition to the measurable goals you are trying to reach, that you have some way to hook the kids and make them want to succeed.

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Rowing Can Change Your Life

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Brock

Just because it’s summertime, it doesn’t mean the living is easy. In fact, for a lot of children, that’s unfortunately the case all year long. IBTU’s Sportsmanship program, in conjunction with US Rowing’s America Rows program, aims to change all that.

Imagine it: It’s a beautiful sunny day, you’re out on a lake with seven good friends, gliding through the water with speed, power, purpose, and unity. You all have become a lean, mean rowing machine, and there’s nothing that can slow you down.

OK, now stop imagining all of this, and come out and DO it!

Are you looking for a workout to complement your training in other athletic disciplines? Sportsman Rowing can help. Looking for a chance to be a part of a unique team sport? We’ve got you covered. Looking for a chance to gain new leadership skills, test your limits, expand your horizons? Check, check, and check.

Is it easy? Not always. Nothing worthwhile ever is. You will be challenged, and you’ll learn how much you’re capable of. But trust me — you WILL have fun! Don’t believe me? Dip a toe in the water and see what you’re missing.

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Sometimes you can only shake your head and say, “Did that really just happen?”

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Brock

That’s how I feel with the recent August release of Austin Monthly magazine. The one with the story about the top 10 eligible bachelors in Austin. The one with the story about the top 10 eligible Austin bachelors, one of whom just happens to be … well … me.

I know — can you believe it? (Don’t answer that.)

It’s humbling, to be sure, and I’m still not positive this isn’t just some sort of alternate-reality thing going on. All I know is, the magazine received nominations for 100 bachelors, it interviewed 30 of them, and when the dust finally settled and the votes were counted (or whatever they do to determine these things), I was among the 10 remaining bachelors.

I even got my picture taken at one of my favorite haunts (the Broken Spoke, of course).

I know, I know, you think I’m making all this up. Well, thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I can let YouTube do the talking for me. Here’s an interview KXAN-TV recently did to publicize the article.

 

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Project 2015: Building Confidence, Test Scores, and Community

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Brock

Do you ever remember sitting in your math class, wondering why you were learning this horribly difficult stuff? Did you ever just give up on it because it was too hard? For some kids, it’s less about what is happening in the classroom and more about what might be going on outside it – stress at home, coming to school hungry, or worried about other issues that make focusing on school more difficult.

The primary goal of It’s Bigger Than You is to improve the lives of children. Specifically, to help those children who haven’t had a fair shake in life, whose circumstances at birth have limited their choices. Since it is my personal calling to try and improve the lives of children in a special way, in a unique way, in ways that I think are fun and can stimulate all of us to get involved and be activists, I am so excited about my newest project!

The project, called 2015, is designed to help a group of high school students succeed where the local school is known for falling short. Within the past few years, math and science grades have not been up to par, and with an innovative technique, students will get the chance to perform better. About 100-200 incoming 9th graders will be improving their math and science skills by participating in the sport of rowing.

How can rowing improve math scores? The sport of rowing will encourage self esteem and give students entering high school the confidence boost they need. Rowing builds both teamwork and leadership along with creating a sense of unity. When participating in this program, students will spend the first half of their day learning how rowing relates to important math and science skills that are essential to their education. The second part of the day will be spent learning the sport of rowing, as well as building the social skills that every student needs to be successful in high school.

Other organizations, local, national, and worldwide, are joining together to make this project a success. U.S. Rowing’s America Rows program ensures that sustainable systems and structures are in place within It’s Bigger Than You that foster inclusion throughout the Texas rowing community. Row AustinTX is also supporting this project by organizing the local equipment and resource needs to make this project a success. These organizations are going above and beyond the basic needs of children and combining sportsmanship with educational opportunities.

IBTU is creating the face for project 2015 by encouraging sponsorships, acquiring contributions and providing coaching. But IBTU’s main purpose in this project is to build an effective, measurable curriculum. This organization is constantly providing ways to help children succeed and make their lives better. Through project 2015, IBTU and other local partners are giving this close-knit community an opportunity that they would not have had otherwise. Using the fun and interactive sport of rowing, these children can enhance their test scores as well as the self confidence – and that will make a difference in their daily lives. IBTU is eager to be a part of this incredible project, and we understand that a student’s success in high school relies on more skills than just being capable of completing a worksheet. Accomplishment is measured through more than grades; it is measured through self worth as well.

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Making a Difference Is a Full-Time Job

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Brock

I am Brock Sampson, and by night, I’m an activist and firm believer that every child deserves to have  opportunity. By day, I work as a rowing coach at Austin Rowing Club and give private rowing lessons through Texas Rowing Coach. We all have jobs to support us so that we can live, and for a long time, even though I loved my job, it was a job I worked separately from my passion for making a difference. It never dawned on me that what I do for a living could actually help me help the people I’ve been trying to reach.

That’s the great thing about deciding to do something – anything – to make a difference, though. Once you start, more and more opportunities open up for you. For me, my career as a rowing coach was separate from my efforts with It’s Bigger Than You.

Not anymore.

Rowing is a sport that engenders the spirit of cooperation, encourages teamwork, and empowers our youth to become leaders. It builds self-esteem. It was actually rather humbling to realize how intertwined my vocation and my passion for making a difference really was.

In order to put my skills to good use, It’s Bigger Than You will be focusing on Entertainment Activism, which engages and educates people through the use of music, dance, and performance. We will also be focusing on Sportsmanship, which helps leadership programs through sports, such as rowing, prosper.

Because our overarching goal at It’s Bigger Than You is to foster awareness programs that engage the community but also empower children by including them in unique ways that seek to improve their life, sportsmanship is perfectly aligned with our mission.

Not only are we partnering with U.S. Rowing’s America Rows program to help build sustainable rowing programs at more schools around the country, but we will also work locally in Austin to help build programs that build self-awareness, character, mental toughness, leadership and a commitment to serve the community through the sport of rowing in the community.

It’s Bigger Than You’s Sportsman Rowing from Its Bigger Than You on Vimeo.

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Look Ma, No Asterisks!

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Brock

Quick question: When you see the words “It’s Bigger Than You,” are there any asterisks at the end? You know, something — an asterisk, a footnote, whatever — that references some sort of small-print exclusion at the bottom of the page, like “… except for people between the ages of 17 and 22 who have auburn hair and big feet.”

Okay, maybe that’s not the best example, but I think you get the point. The answer is no. That’s because we don’t want anybody to be excluded. Any person, regardless of his or her situation in life, can contribute to our mission of improving the lives of children throughout the world. All you need is a heart and a brain that cares.

In fact, we’re really exploring ways in which we can make sure our energy is properly directed at our primary strategic effort: to improve the lives of children. One way we’re trying expand the IBTU tent is by reaching out to the deaf community. We want to make sure the programs we support in entertainment activism and sportsmanship are accessible to children from the deaf community, too.

If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, maybe you’ve been reluctant in the past to participate in activist organizations due to the difficulties of communication. Or maybe you’ve hesitated to let your deaf child participate because of concerns over their ability to fully experience. That’s understandable. It’s Bigger Than You wants to change that, though, and we have big plans to help empower the deaf children in the Austin community and give them the ability to make a difference in the lives of other children.

If you’re a deaf child, there is absolutely NO reason why you shouldn’t be participating in ITBU events. Not only have we gotten together with an organization called LotuSIGN to get the word out to the deaf community about our organization, but we’ll also be activating the Texas School for the Deaf and the National Association of the Deaf for their participation too. Austin’s deaf community is a tight-knit culture, and they have a lot to share with the rest of the world.

We’re going to be working directly with the deaf children in Austin to teach them how to run their own flash mob, infusing these kids with the power to make a difference. Ultimately, we’ll be doing everything in our power to take this group of children to India so that they can teach their new entertainment activism skills to deaf children there, promoting cross-cultural awareness. Imagine how empowering it will be for the children to know that they’re not alone in the world, that there are others who are sharing the experience!

We all see and hear the world in our own way, and It’s Bigger Than You is dedicated to making sure all children have the ability to be a part of the big things that will be happening. I hope you’ll join us.

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Running a Flash Mob Has Its Challenges

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Brock

In our exceptionally connected society, flash mobs can be an extremely effective way to bring awareness to issues and raise funds for meaningful causes. While this is certainly true for those directly involved – the participants and real-time observers – it also happens at a local level, following the event, when people chat in neighborhood coffee shops and when it is picked up by the local news. If the video goes viral, it can have both national and international impact.

The concept can be so simple: Gather incognito at the pre-selected time and location, suddenly break into song, dance or some other surprising and clever activity, and then disband and blend back into the crowd. The planning and behind-the-scenes organization of such an event is crucial for success, and the desired result is a message heard by hundreds or thousands.

First there is the concept and logistics. It must be witty, novel, shocking, flashy, or fun to catch and hold the attention of bystanders. Timing and location are important, to maximize availability of participants and the number of eyes and ears to witness the mob. Sometimes a business will agree to the event in their establishment or parking lot, perhaps even encouraging their staff to join in the effort. This can be highly effective, but the organizers must first develop a relationship with the business and agree to the details.

Assembling people is the next step. Social media is the cornerstone of the communications process for flash mobs – Getting people to “like” the concept and forward information to friends, family, and colleagues builds the pool of potential participants. It’s important to have a large group assembled in order to create a memorable experience, so we ask for commitments from people via event registration. Flash mob registrations grow exponentially, so once we reach a targeted number of registered participants, and communicate our success through social media, the event attains social status and suddenly it is the cool thing to do.

We can then take the registration information and organize any lessons that need to be done, teaching people the dance moves or songs to sing that make a flash mob something that causes onlookers to pull out their smart phones and record the fun to post on Facebook or send to others (who forward to others….). Everything about flash mobs is great fun, but this may be the best part of the preparation.

The day of the event, we ensure there are both formal, stationary videographers on site as well as mobile paparazzi – guerilla-type videographers – to capture the action, the smiles, and the banners, signs, and poster-sized photographs that will take our message through cyberspace. Still images are taken as well, in addition to any audio clips of people expressing their passion for the cause.

There are many details to which we joyfully attend, and there are occasional challenges that inevitably result in opportunities. In the end, a flash mob for a cause brings joy and hope, an opportunity to get involved, and real grass roots change.

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Help It’s Bigger Than You Change Lives for the Better with $4,000!!

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Brock

As you know, the reason I started “It’s Bigger Than You” in the first place, is to improve the lives of children and to help those children who haven’t had a fair shake in life. It’s Bigger Than You is founded on the belief that every child needs and deserves to have his or her basic needs met and that when their needs are met it literally transforms their lives. We are always looking for new ways to help children and ways to maximize our reach. It’s Bigger Than You, like many charities, tries to do as much as it can with the resources we can pull together, and now, we have a chance to make an even bigger difference.

We are so excited, because we have the opportunity to win $4,000 in a video contest – money that could go directly toward making a difference in the lives of children. We can’t do it without your help, though. In order to win the $4,000, our video needs to earn the most votes. We know we can do it – and you can help us by simply taking a moment to go to the link, vote for us, and then tell all your friends to vote for us too!

When you get to the website, you can vote for the video and then click the share button to share it with all of your Facebook friends. Just imagine how quickly the excitement could spread if all of you encourage all of your friends to vote and share it with all of their friends. More importantly, imagine what an impact we can make with $4,000!

Here’s the details:

Act now!! Voting ends April 27th!! Visit the Video for Change Nonprofit Contest website at www.UPGVideo.com/VFC and click on Vote Now. Find the ITBU video and vote! You can vote every day!! After you vote, please consider inviting your friends and family to vote too (you can log in through Facebook and share the video on your wall). Help us go viral with votes and see what an amazing impact it can have on our efforts! If you are on Twitter or blog, you can help us spread the word that way, too.

The Video for Change Nonprofit Contest is a wonderful way for us to make a difference. We appreciate you, and hope that you’ll support our journey, as it’s so much BIGGER than us, and You!

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