From Horror to Hope
By Matilda Raffa Cuomo

In the wake of September 11, the children of New York City need, more than ever, to gain an understanding of other children’s cultures. Structured mentoring programs, like Mentoring USA, provide an ideal opportunity for children to learn about diversity from their mentors. Mentoring USA has made a special offer to counsel all participants in its program on how to best deal with the tragedy, in part by using it as a platform upon which to discuss the importance of tolerance and peaceful resolution.

Mentoring USA’s BRAVE (Bias-Related Anti-Violence Education) program uses biographical and autobiographical material as a reading tool to enhance children’s self-esteem and sense of cultural heritage, to open up discussions about the heroes and experiences of various racial, cultural, and ethnic groups and to facilitate discussions about diversity, overcoming obstacles, and the non-violent resolution of conflict.

On January 10, Bloomingdale’s unveiled its newest window, celebrating the first National Mentoring Month and the store’s long-term partnership with Mentoring USA.

For the past four years, 45 Bloomingdale’s employees have spent an hour every week with at-risk third graders from nearby P.S. 59, offering the guidance and support every child needs. At the celebration, the children joined in painting pictures in the window that depict our society’s rich cultural diversity, and a bright banner reminded onlookers that “Today’s Children Are Tomorrow’s World.”

Mentoring USA’s BRAVE program received a powerful boost on January 10, when David McCourt, a father and husband who tragically lost his daughter and wife on United Flight 175 on September 11, appeared on the Today show with Al Roker, Michael Gould (President of Bloomingdale’s), and with me, in front of the Bloomingdale’s window. Mr. McCourt announced that he created the Juliana McCourt Educational Fund to memorialize his daughter, Juliana, and had donated $90,000 to the BRAVE program, in order to help children learn to respect and value one another as human beings.

When Mr. McCourt describes his interest in the BRAVE program, he talks about his daughter: “Juliana, at four years old, was an extraordinary example of a person who displayed sensitivity to everyone’s feelings. Her gift of love to all children manifested her mother’s love. If we can pass that gift on to create more harmony among children, future generations will be more compassionate. Juliana will have given the greatest spiritual gift. We are awarding monies to the Mentoring USA program because it meets our objectives of striving to educate young people everywhere in the virtues of generosity, kindness and appreciation of differences among cultures, races, and religions.”

On September 11, terrorists, who hated us so much that they would give their own life to take ours, murdered thousands of people and demolished our Twin Towers. But on that same day, while victims fled the building to safety, hundreds of valiant men and women—firefighters, police, and emergency workers—rushed into the smoke and flames because they loved us so much they would risk their own lives to save ours. David McCourt and BRAVE program represent this beautiful antidote to the horror of 9/11.

We must never forget the magnificent demonstration of the American spirit rising above the tragedy, as we embrace each other and look to the future with hope and togetherness.#

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