Lake Country Power is sponsoring Rachel’s Challenge for the community of Aurora and surrounding areas on Tuesday, September 13. The evening program is free and open to parents, teens, and community members starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Mesabi East High School Auditorium, located at 601 North 1st Street West. Individuals will be challenged by this powerful message of kindness and compassion. 

Since 2010, Lake Country Power has worked with Rachel’s Challenge to stimulate academic achievement and social-emotional learning by focusing on the connection between students, faculty and staff. Using the remarkable story of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the 1999 Columbine High School tragedy, Rachel’s Challenge awakens individual hope and purpose, which in turn promotes safer, more connected schools and communities.

Rachel Scott wrote several journals and said, “I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go.”

Dr. Robert Marzano, respected education researcher and author states, “Rachel’s Challenge is the most powerful intervention I have seen in 40 years of working in education.” Rachel’s story unlocks the desire for change. Then, its programs come alongside the existing efforts of the school to sustain a culture where harassment, violence and self-harm are reduced; where teachers are free to teach, and students are empowered to learn.

An independent study conducted by Multi-Dimensional Education, LLC, a nationally recognized educational program evaluator, found that, “Schools implementing Rachel’s Challenge with fidelity achieved statistically significant gains in community engagement, faculty/student relationships, leadership potential, and school climate; along with a reduction in bullying behavior.”

Using age-appropriate programming for K-12, Rachel’s Challenge schools have reported up to 84% reductions in disciplinary referrals. As many as 150 suicides are averted annually, as reported by students themselves. In a pre- and post-attitudinal survey of 9,881 students from socioeconomically and demographically diverse schools across the US and Canada, respondents reported a 282% increase in the number of students feeling safe at school after participating in Rachel Challenge.

In just over two decades of social-emotional and mental health training, Rachel’s Challenge has reached over 30 million students, educators, and community members. Rachel’s Challenge continues to work hard to turn the ideals of kindness and compassion into actionable strategies that help promote a safe and productive learning environment.

For more information about Rachel’s Challenge, visit www.rachelschallenge.org.

Photo Caption: Rachel Joy Scott was a regular 17-year-old high school student and is making an impact on the world, just like she said she would.