I AM A DREAMER

Culture-up is a children’s leadership training project, geared towards coaching very young children into realizing their purpose and maximizing their potential in preparation for becoming leaders. 

The Project's major components are: (1) A Children's World Leadership Congress; (2) A Children's Leadership Coaching Reading Series, and (3) Leadership Training and Coaching sessions titled "Coaching Children For Leadership Development". The training sessions are held for targeted groups throughout the year and are facilitated by Original Kids (OK) Lead Facilitators. The arts are the mainstream medium utilized to attract children to the Congress. These programmes promote the integration of positive leadership attitudes, values, standards and practices as cultural norms. 

In 2010 The Culture-up Arts Leadership Award was instituted to honour and celebrate the achievements of very young children, recognition of their skills and outstanding leadership service in the arts. David Allen, Edsel Ambrister and Davara Chase were the first time recipients of the prestigious accolade, “STAFF”, our Culture-up Arts Leadership Award. 

This award is significant because it symbolizes God’s authority and His presence that will always be with the recipients. The “STAFF” is to decree upon the lives of the winners God’s divine authorization and empowerment (Is. 10.26)that will enable them to walk in their divine purpose, always being endowed with the power of God. It is also bestowed as a symbol of humility and strength in arts leadership.

The Leadership Training Congress now caters to thousands of children around the world, annually, along with their teachers, parents/care-givers, guidance counsellors, youth and children church directors and care givers via electronic and interactive streaming.

This Project is managed by a Project Administrator, Mrs. Barbara Taylor with the assistance of a team of expert technical personnel and more than one hundred volunteers. The choral director is Mrs. Sharon Gardiner-Taylor, professional musician and expert human resource expert. Mrs. Betty Knowles is the banner ministry director and protocol advisor. Dr. Mlyes Munroe,  is the master teacher for the event, visionary and our inspiration.

Culture-up is a product of The Children's Fine Arts Conservatory of Bahamas Faith Ministries International. It has the endorsement and sponsorship of both The Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture and the Ministry of Education. Major corporate sponsors are Bahamas Telecommunications Company, Bahamas Faith Ministries Fellowship, Phil's Food Services and Bahamas Air. The Congress is also implemented in collaboration with local churches in The Bahamas. 

DEFINITION OF CULTURE

The customs, beliefs, traditions, social norms, behaviors, language  and material traits of a social group that distinguishes them from other groups.

A set of shared attitudes, values, goals, standards and practices (adapted from Myles Munroe, 2007).

Your culture is what you do on a daily basis. How you behave or respond to any situation.

Our culture is communicated through our behavior and our lifestyle.

Culture denotes the shared values of a certain community of people.

Every nation or country has its own culture and its own government.

Our culture is the behavior which is typical of the people of any nation based upon the nature and wishes of the ruler/s.

Culture is the visible expression of a kingdom that is manifested through its subjects as they live their daily lives.

The culture of The Kingdom of God is characterized by righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit which is the nature and character of God. Romans 14. 17

We must then conform to the image of Christ.

(Sparling, 2007).

STANDARDS FOR MY COMMUNITY

1.Positive values – beliefs, standards.

2.Positive attitudes – opinion, way of thinking, mind-set.

3.Positive relationships – association, link, connection, friendship.

4.Positive behaviors – performance (academic), actions (discipline, conduct), deeds (service), activities, manners, practice.

5.It becomes our lifestyle – we demonstrate them 100 percent of the time, everyday of the week. 

KEY WORDS

Attitudes – outlook, manner, feelings, thoughts, mind-set, way of thinking, opinion or general feeling about something, point of view, way of behaving.

Values – morals, ethics (beliefs, moral code or moral principle), principles (main beliefs), something that you regard very highly as important, the accepted principles (beliefs) or standards of a group.

Standards – values, principles, the level of quality that you accept as the norm.

Norm – a standard pattern of behavior that is considered normal in a group, community or society.

Practices – live out, follow, apply, put in practice, to do something, the process of carrying-out an idea, plan, or theory as an established custom or habit.

Custom – Way of life, habit (the way somebody usually or routinely behaves in a particular situation), tradition (something that people always do or always do in a particular way).