ADR NEW BEGINNINGS EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE TO BRING COMMUNITIES AND STUDENTS TOGETHER.

 

https://adr-nb.org/

ADR-New Beginnings is a national, community-based charitable organization, that offers programs that will bring better understanding and acceptance between school-age children from all diversities.  We offer three programs that are simple in concept and easy to implement: Gatherings, outside the classroom fun and interesting group activities, managed and organized by like-minded community members.  They function in coordination with local school administrators but are supervised by our members, and Pathways, which consists of two short in-class activities, designed to bring Pride and Respect to and between students, through short biographies and stories about people who have contributed to the local community or the world itself.  Pathways does not interfere with the current school curriculum and is designed to add only a few hours of classroom time each year.  Our website details these programs, offers structure with examples, and explores the science behind each program.  Our third program, Councils for Peace and Prosperity will be available in early 2024, which is designed to bring together communities in distress to examine and understand the essence of the negative emotions that result in prejudice and intolerance.  It is based upon the “Councils Against Hate” program developed in 2005 by Mayor Andrew Berk and Deborah Levine, in Chattanooga, TN.  

 

We help establish Branch Locations, working closely with community leaders, politicians, educators, law enforcement, and faith-based organizations.  Our focus is our children, but adults who become involved benefit too.  The Gatherings and Pathways programs take a passive, simple, and non-confrontational approach that does not place blame on one race or another; does not seek to debate the accuracy of American history, and does not assess right from wrong.  We seek to remove the obstacles of negative speech that have hampered other organizations’ efforts.  Our programs can be easily modified and customized by the Program Manager at each Branch Location according to the unique personality of their community.  We offer a win-win outcome, which we believe is the only lasting solution to our social problems.  Who would say that a fun activity for a small group of children, that involves a visit to a fire department or meeting with a local politician to learn about our government is a “bad” experience?   

 

New Beginning’s structure is simple: Local Branch Locations are established and managed by their community, under the direction of the National Organization; just two levels of management.  We are a “Flat Organization”.  This is accomplished because all the necessary information about the organization and its programs are contained on our website; which allows each Branch to function independently; and negates the need for middle-level layers of management.  National selects and establishes each Branch Location and assists in creating the successful implementation of our programs.  National and Local Branches continue to work closely together, providing each other with information about the programs, new ideas, and feedback as we continue to improve and expand our programs. 

We will establish three or four Branch Locations during the summer of 2023 and offer several Gatherings activities in each as “test” activities.  This will give us the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness and improve the programs. 

 

If you would more information, please email us at: richardwellington.nb@gmail.com