Tour Of Various St. Croix Facilities Leaves Lasting Impact On Children

ST. CROIX — On Thursday, a nonprofit called Dare to Dream Youth Foundation took about 15 children ages 10-15 on a tour of various facilities here, which, by all accounts, left a life-altering impact on them, as well as the adults leading the effort.

The tour, called Life Cycle Choices, began at 8:30 a.m. and ran until 6:30 p.m. It included visits to the Juan F. Luis Hospital, Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged, Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility, the University of the Virgin Islands, a VI Fire Service station, the VI Legislative Building in Frederiksted, and the Kingshill Cemetery.

Cruselda Roberts, founder of Dare to Dream and visionary behind the endeavor, said Life Cycle Choices was a program she’d always wanted to put on, after a counseling session with a young man some years ago.

“A few years ago, I was having a counseling session with a young man who was 14 at the time, and as I spoke to him about the various opportunities that life had to offer and I emphasized that he could become anything he wanted, he became teary-eyed and emotional, and said he never envisioned life in that manner,” Ms. Roberts said. “That moment stayed with me, and the idea of Life Cycle Choices was birthed. I brought the idea to our board members, they agreed on it, and we started mapping it out and planning its execution. I wanted to create an experience that allowed our young people to see the various choices that life had to offer, including the good and the bad.”

And what a tour it was. For the children, the experiences went from exciting to somber, depending on where they visited. But one of the most memorable encounters, Ms. Roberts said, was when they arrived at the Golden Grove Correctional Facility.

“The moments that gripped my heart emotionally were witnessing each of our youth being searched, emptying their pockets, pulling up their pant legs before entering the prison. Also, watching each of them fearfully walking in and out of a prison cell. The look on their faces and in their eyes was heart-wrenching. Even though my heart was breaking, at these moments, I knew the experience was for their good, and I’m sure it created a lasting impression for a lifetime,” Ms. Roberts said. She was careful to mention that all the visits impacted the children in one way or another, and highlighted the hospital tour as having a major effect relative to making health choices.

“Learning that young people are just as susceptible to kidney failure as older people was eye-opening for our youth; we became more aware of how vulnerable we all are, regardless of our age, and the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. The cemetery experience was also very touching,” Ms. Roberts said.

The trip was backed by a few sponsors, including The Consortium. However, it was Albert Bryan, former Department of Labor commissioner and current executive director of Junior Achievement VI, who came in as the chief sponsor, providing the bus that transported the children; made available Junior Achievement t-shirts and bags, and paid in part for the meals. Mr. Bryan was also present for the entire trip, and served as a tour guide during the visit to the Kingshill Cemetery.

“Mr. Bryan immediately agreed as the executive director of Junior Achievement VI, to partner with Dare to Dream Youth Foundation and help make this a reality for our youth. I am grateful and thankful for his efforts and I’m looking forward to us working together in creating more Life Cycle Choices opportunities for our youth. I see this as a necessary intervention, especially because of the current climate among some in our community,” Ms. Roberts said.

Asked if she’d embark on a similar trip in the future, Ms. Roberts, without hesitation, said, “In a heartbeat, because I know from this experience that something about this trip will create a lasting impression in their minds.”

Dare to Dream was founded in 2009. Its purpose, according to an excerpt provided by Ms. Roberts, is to “encourage, motivate and empower our young people; enabling them to unlock their full potential and to prepare them for success.”

Feature Image: Children and tour guides pose for a pic at the University of the Virgin Islands. (Credit: Cruselda Roberts)