“Looking for the Good” in Lake Orion

By Angie Olson
 

You can find good in every situation.

That's the message Unity Church of Lake Orion in Michigan is sharing with its community through a program involving at-risk youth.

Late in 2008, staff members at the church developed an essay contest for young people with the theme “Look for the Good.” The contest encouraged participants to see what was working in their lives instead of dwelling on what wasn't. Students were asked to describe what “Look for the Good” meant to them in 1,000 words or less.

The Association of Unity Churches International launched its own “Look for the Good” campaign during the 2008 U.S. Presidential campaign. The national program encouraged people to pay attention to “political positives” and ignore negative campaigning.

“We (church members) were inspired by the Association's program,” said Rev. Gregory Guice, senior minister at Unity Church of Lake Orion. “We wanted to take the campaign deeper and to use it as a way to galvanize our community.”

Guice encouraged young people from Crossroads for Youth (Crossroads) to participate in the essay contest. Crossroads is a nonprofit organization that offers a variety of programs for at-risk youth. The church received more than 25 essays from youth at the organization.

“It was so inspiring to read these essays,” Guice noted. “These kids have had hard lives. Many of them are from broken homes. They've gotten in trouble and on the surface it appears that their lives are going nowhere. Yet they were able to find the good—to be positive.”

Guice says that finding value within themselves is a critical step for at-risk youth. “How can these kids turn their lives around if they don't start believing in themselves?” he asked. “By writing about the good in their lives, we wanted them to find some hope. But the interesting thing is that reading their essays gave us hope.”

Reading the essays led some church members to begin volunteering at Crossroads. Many volunteers are now very involved with the program and mentor some of the youth on a regular basis. Guice says the mentoring process has “burst open a foundation of love” between the church and the kids.

The Look for the Good campaign has also brought together community, business and government organizations in the Lake Orion area. Staff from local schools judged the essays, and three winners were given gift cards donated by local businesses. The church will conduct the essay contest again this year, this time including art and music components.

In addition, the campaign has sparked collaboration between a number of faith, civic and business groups in the area. Through interfaith prayer and peace-related activities, the church is partnering with other organizations in new ways. Church Board President Don Stickler believes the program has been a positive event for the entire Lake Orion community.

“Working with the Look for the Good campaign has been a rewarding experience. I feel a oneness with all those involved and look forward to continuing this experience with our community," he said.

Guice agrees. “We're coming together as a complete community,” he notes. “There is a wonderful synergy happening in Lake Orion—and it all started by looking for the good.”

For more information, contact Unity Church of Lake Orion.

This winning essay was written by a 15-year-old from the Crossroads for Youth program in 2008.

The definition of what Look for the Good means to me.
When I think of Look for the good I think of the positive in any situation no matter how rough it may be and not focusing on the mistakes I've made in the past. I'm 15 years of age and these are the things I Look for the Good in:

FAMILY: I've been away from my family now for three years. My family moved away right after I was first put into placement in 2006 along with all my brothers and sisters. My mother got married and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. I've spent many birthdays and holidays by myself. As it goes for my father, he wasn't a big part of my life. When I look back on all of these events and memories I feel the best thing to do is Look for the Good. I feel as though this only makes me stronger, and this is the plan God has planned for me. I also think of all the good and change in myself that has and will happen.

SCHOOL: Before I attended Crossroads for Youth I received bad grades because that's all that I put in. I felt sorry for myself along with my family problems that I made at home. I thought I wasn't smart enough. I thought skipping school and fighting was the answer to everything. What made the situation worse was that I had a negative outlook on school. Now being here at Crossroads I've looked for the good in school. When I first got here I told myself that I would make the best out of it and I will try my hardest. I have received ten “Student of the Weeks” and have been on every Honor Roll since November 2007. I have searched and seen the good with a strong and positive attitude while attending school.

CROSSROADS FOR YOUTH: I've been at Crossroads for Youth for almost one year. Since my family lives so far away I don't attend any home passes. I have two outgoing phone calls twice a week to my family, and with all of this going on in my stay at Crossroads I continue to look for the good.  I feel as though Crossroads has provided everything and more. I get the privilege to attend an off grounds school soon. With the money that I've earned I got the privilege to go out into the community with one of the staff at Crossroads. I've been in many of the programs at Crossroads such as the Mentoring Program, the Arts Program, and I have the opportunity to go on the best recreation activities that Crossroads provides. I will continue to get the best opportunities that Crossroads will provide along with the positive attitude that I put into my present and future.

Through all the mistakes, changes, and obstacles that have been in front of me, I'm still living strong. Now everything that's put in front of me I go into with a positive attitude and look for the good while I'm in that situation.