DUANE ELLIOTT Boyz 2 Men Mentoring Program

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Jason Schwartz with DUANE ELLIOTT– Duane heads a program called Boys2Men, a mentoring program in schools and in prison as well. Great program- Great opportunity for emotional growth in our world. 4-22-2019

Summary & Transcript Below…

Video Transcript: Boys to Men Mentoring

 Program and Related Topics

• [00:01 → 01:31] Introduction and Earth Day Reflection
  Jason Schwartz opens the show, marking the occasion of Earth Day, emphasizing its importance beyond a single day. He introduces his guest, Duane Elliott, founder of Boys to Men, a mentoring organization with deep roots in Maui and beyond.
• [01:31 → 02:45] Origin and Purpose of Boys to Men
  Duane Elliott describes Boys to Men, highlighting its mentoring focus. Started 24 years ago in San Diego by two men who attended a transformational men’s weekend focused on accountability, responsibility, and emotional communication, the program aims to teach young boys critical life skills early on. The founders wished they had learned these lessons earlier in life instead of waiting until middle age. Boys to Men is designed to fill a mentoring gap for boys who may lack positive adult male role models.
• [02:45 → 05:10] Mentoring Model and School Involvement
  Jason and Duane discuss similar groups like the Mankind Project and Women Within, and Duane emphasizes Boys to Men’s unique role as mentors rather than administrators or parents. The mentors act as “uncle” figures, providing positive male role models for boys typically fatherless or at-risk. The program works inside schools during school hours, engaging boys who might otherwise face suspension or expulsion. The mentors connect with the boys through shared experiences of boyhood and by building trust through consistent, respectful behavior. Activities like sports and circle discussions help bond mentors and mentees.
• [05:10 → 07:38] Background Checks and Jail Program
  Mentors undergo rigorous background checks (FBI-level) to ensure child safety. The organization welcomes mentors with diverse pasts, including those who have made mistakes but turned their lives around. Duane shares his experience running a men’s group in jail, noting the power of sitting in circles to foster accountability and emotional expression among incarcerated men. The jail program, now in its third or fourth year, has been supported by the warden and focuses on responsibility and healing.
• [07:38 → 09:48] The Power of Circles and Emotional Safety
  Duane explains why circles create emotional safety, referencing a zoologist friend who noted that humans historically felt safe sitting in circles with fire or food in the middle. This safety encourages men to open up emotionally, which is rare but healing. In jail and in Boys to Men groups, this circle dynamic helps men and boys express feelings and take responsibility for their actions, which can be transformative. Duane also discusses the sadness he witnessed among incarcerated fathers, many of whom lacked positive male role models growing up.
• [09:48 → 11:50] Program Expansion and School Collaboration
  Boys to Men started on the Big Island about six years ago and expanded to Hawaii Island and Maui. The program is free to schools and families, funded entirely by grants and donations. It offers mentoring during school hours, as well as weekend adventure programs involving camping and surfing. Schools appreciate the positive impact, reporting reduced disciplinary problems and improved social behavior among participating boys. Principals and vice principals actively support and refer boys to the program.
• [11:50 → 14:06] Addressing Girls and Women Within Program
  Duane addresses the common question about girls and whether a similar program exists for them. Boys to Men focuses on boys, based on the founders’ expertise and the belief that men’s challenges are at the root of many societal problems. However, Women Within is a complementary program for women and girls, started in Oakland, now active in Maui for several years. It focuses on empowerment and support for women and girls, and Duane offers all Boys to Men materials to groups wanting to create girls’ mentoring programs. There is a growing movement to establish more programs for young women.
• [14:06 → 17:14] Mentoring Culture and Outcomes
  The program encourages boys not only to be mentored but to become mentors themselves as they grow older, developing leadership and empathy. Older boys mentor younger boys, creating a positive peer culture. Boys discuss serious issues like suicide, violence, and self-esteem openly. The program’s success is measured by improved school attendance, reduced disciplinary issues, and retention in school. They are expanding to more schools and recently started programs on Oahu, responding to demand from schools with large student populations.
• [17:14 → 21:53] Mentor-to-Student Ratios and Diversity
  Mentor-to-student ratios range from three to five mentors per group. The program enjoys high mentor interest and participation. Mentors use engaging activities and quick check-ins to maintain connection and trust. Diversity is embraced; while early programs were predominantly white males, there is increasing ethnic diversity among mentors and mentees. A powerful testimonial from a young Hispanic-African American man illustrates how consistent mentor presence transcends racial differences and profoundly changes lives. The emphasis is on showing up and being present.
• [21:53 → 24:50] Personal Background and Balance
  Duane shares about his personal life, including his work in aquaculture as a prototype for sustainable food production, reflecting his vision for future environmental challenges. He also discusses his role as a caregiver for his wife Indigo, who suffered a stroke and is recovering. Their shared commitment to health and resilience is inspired by lessons learned from Boys to Men and the broader Mankind Project community. Indigo encourages awareness about diabetes prevention through early blood tests.
• [24:50 → 27:43] Show Sponsorship and Community Support
  Jason mentions the radio station’s need for sponsors and promotes upcoming shows and community events. The neutral zone show archives are available online, and listeners are encouraged to support local programming.
• [27:43 → 30:19] Women Within Program and Upcoming Events
  Duane returns to discussing Women Within, noting its growth in Maui and the upcoming “homecoming” event scheduled for late April at the Pi‘iholo Community Center. Women Within focuses on empowerment and operates similarly to the Mankind Project. Duane highlights the importance of complementary programs for both genders.
• [30:19 → 34:15] School Principal Endorsement and Mentor Training
  Duane reads a glowing testimonial from Alan Brown, principal of Kohala Middle School, praising Boys to Men for supporting needy students and improving school climate. The program continues to seek mentors through various trainings, both online and in-person. The training includes a “Reclaim Your Teenage Fire” workshop to help mentors reconnect with youthful energy and empathy. Mentoring is interactive and rewarding, offering personal growth for adults as well.
• [34:15 → 38:48] Challenges and Success Stories
  Duane shares a story about a boy who initially resisted the program but later returned as a strong supporter, illustrating the voluntary and respectful nature of participation. The program supports boys through serious issues including mental health and suicide prevention, maintaining confidentiality but complying with mandatory reporting when safety is at risk. Agreements within groups promote respect and accountability, with creative consequences like push-ups to reinforce positive behavior without shame.
• [38:48 → 41:55] Closing Remarks and Foiling Fundraiser
  Jason and Duane discuss a unique fundraising event involving “foiling,” a high-speed water sport using hydrofoil surfboards. Boys to Men has secured a permit for a foiling event in Waikiki, aiming to raise funds and visibility for the program. The event includes drone filming and media exposure, with hopes to expand to Maui.
• [41:55 → 43:34] Community Integration and Final Thoughts
  Duane reflects on the importance of community collaboration—men and women, young and old, diverse backgrounds—working together to support youth and build a better society. He credits his connection to the Mankind Project and similar groups for his journey and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share his work.
• [43:34 → 43:58] Closing and Thanks
  Jason thanks Duane for his passion and commitment to mentoring boys and supporting women’s programs. Duane expresses appreciation for the chance to share and looks forward to future conversations.

1. 1. 1. Key Insights

• Boys to Men is a 24-year-old mentoring program designed to help at-risk, fatherless, or struggling boys learn accountability, emotional expression, and life skills through male mentorship.
• The program operates in schools and communities, offering free services funded by grants and donations.
• Mentors act as positive adult male role models, distinct from parents or administrators, providing consistent presence and support.
• The use of circle discussions creates emotional safety, encouraging vulnerability and accountability.
• Programs exist for women and girls (Women Within), and there is openness to sharing materials for developing similar girls’ mentoring programs.
• Older boys are empowered to mentor younger boys, fostering leadership and peer support.
• The program addresses serious issues including mental health, suicide prevention, and bullying.
• Diversity among mentors and mentees is valued, and personal stories highlight the transformative power of consistent mentorship.
• Boys to Men is actively expanding within Hawaii and mainland USA, adapting to new challenges and incorporating innovative fundraisers like the foiling event.
• The program benefits not only boys but mentors themselves, providing personal growth and healing.
• Community collaboration and support, including from schools and government, are crucial for ongoing success.

1. 1. 1. Keywords

Boys to Men, mentoring, at-risk youth, fatherless boys, emotional safety, circle discussions, accountability, responsibility, Mankind Project, Women Within, youth empowerment, suicide prevention, school program, mentor training, diversity, peer mentoring, Hawaii, non-profit, fundraising, foiling event, community support, mental health.

00:01

it’s 11 o’clock on Monday this is the neutral zone I’m here host Jason Schwartz get ready for a great show [Music] watch this hand [Music] well good morning I have a terrific guest today and by the way thank you for joining us today is Earth Day April 22nd to me is Earth Day and even though it was celebrated yesterday I think it should be celebrated every day but when I see these events and I remember we were the sponsor two decades ago here on Maui and here it is now you know along

01:31

forgotten or things anyway I’m here with a terrific guest when I had an opening coming my schedule for Earth Day I only really only thought of one guy and that was you Duane Elliott Wow this is Duane Elliott now those of you that are young men who are in the schools may have seen his face of this shirt around boys to men boys to men please give our audience a clear picture of what boys to men is and what you do thanks Jason I always add the mentoring piece to it because of the band right the carnal wall boys Tim

02:14

and mentoring as an organization was started twenty four years ago and it was started by two men that went through a immense weekend and this men’s weekend was about learning about accountability responsibility keeping your word mission what really motivates you in life it’s not our job there’s something that will bring a man to to service and these two men went to that weekend and they got out they said wow wouldn’t it be great inclusive if we could have learned this and a lot younger time rather than when

02:45

we’re in our 50s and the impacts of relationships and jobs and not being happy and depression if I could learn how to communicate my feelings and that’s how boys two men started 24 years ago in San Diego so it’s 24 years ago it’s let’s count back what year was that 95 96 yeah in 1991 I think it was there was a group I met someone six seven years ago Harry Newman from Philadelphia and he came here with his lady friend Phyllis Redmond and they were talking about women within and an East Coast thing and

03:23

Harry was talking about this thing called mankind project you also had exposure I’m sure your father also something that was you know I guess you’d say rooted in values and echoes were right when you hear I hear the word mentoring that’s all through when our Charter is about it’s like how do you pass along and I was saying outside you know I can’t even get a guess into the studio these days like Duane cuz everyone is interested in hearing what he has to say because he’s dealing with the sprout someone who is

04:01

young and growing and use a little mentoring could use a little compass and you know yeah how do you know what up is if no one ever gave you a feeling and had to get that nurturing feeling you guys go out there and basically our fathers or I want to see my father’s necessarily but an adult example I like the word pretty plain oye like the Ohana like we’re uncles nice because we’re not administrators and we’re not parents right we have a very different role that ours is different than like the Big

04:35

Brothers and Big Sisters or other organizations which are all needed ours we take three to five men that go inside a school during school hours and we’re gonna mentor or be available to talk story to to sit in a circle we always sit in circles is we work with boys who don’t have fathers for various reasons or other at-risk boys and these are using the boys that act out and oftentimes the schools get down to they don’t know what to do and punishment and expulsion doesn’t really it’s really not

05:10

the answer and it has to be at some level for the schools so when we come in we were all boy we were all boys so something different for men versus a lot of the teachers that are women is we grew up with that so we kind of remember it takes us back to actually being youthful all of our mentors love doing what we do because we have to go back in time to feel that boyish energy and also what I’ve learned really is that boys don’t listen to what you say let me watch what you do so you got to walk your talk got

05:41

to be on time the group if you say you’re gonna do something you can do it cuz the boys are like sponges they remember exactly what you say so it’s good for us men to to keep her word ongoing with the boys and we also get to play sports we take them out and do things just in a 20 or 30 minute exercise I haven’t got seventy two-year-old men are out playing flag football that are diving through the air saying I haven’t played that in 5060 years to feel alive again so you’ve been doing this year in Hawaii

06:11

you’re in the minute you go to the schools and say hi I’m Duane Elliot and it’s a little bit of work the do II as is one of their they’re charged with also protecting the youth sure so we run we call it FBI background but it’s a full spectrum background on all of our mentors before they get to go into the schools it’s mostly looking for anything that would be like a sexual pedophile something that’s crosses a barrier that we don’t want to expose the boys to that doesn’t mean people that

06:44

haven’t been in jail we some of those are our best mentors over the men that have actually gone and made poor choices in life because it seems like a romantic thing at first and then you have a man that actually went through that and said no no it’s not fun sitting in an orange jumpsuit here on Maui so in at the jail because I also did a men’s group in the jail for a year so I got to see what happens when men make different choices I hope that program is either continuing now or we’ll know it’s

07:11

deuce it’s still ongoing I think they’re in their third or fourth year now okay it’s amazing to see and feel again we always sit in circle that’s one of the things in jail that I was fasting about when we first started it four years ago with four of us we sat in a circle and the warden was very supportive of us because they’re always want people from the outside coming in and we told them what we do getting them into feel becoming accountable responsible not blaming somebody else cuz put you in

07:38

here and it was a fascinating program to see men sit in circle who sometimes haven’t emoted for years there’s something in our DNA when we sit in a circle I discovered this many years ago sitting in men’s groups didn’t know what it was but when we sit in a circle I’ve been told when my friends was a zoologist with a degree in animal behavior and he said one day said men do you know why we feel safe in a circle and I thought it was a trick question you know I didn’t know and I don’t know and he says

08:08

because back in the day food was in the center of the circle fire was in the center we always we didn’t sit in squares we didn’t sit in ovals you sat in a circle I can see behind you Jason you can see behind me I feel safe when I feel safe I’m gonna go to deeper parts of my soul my psyche and get it out of my body well I didn’t know that I was just trying to visualize being in a circle and I was thinking I’m safe because I can see behind everyone’s back yeah a safe zone sort of like this with

08:42

a neutral zone same concept we have a subtitle it’s anything but neutrals there’s lots of opinions sitting around the circle and involved but we all I think hopefully and all see and when we’re safe want the same thing yeah you find that yeah what I found in jail was that men would start to find out they a lot of emotion about owning what they did and the impact that’s what I discovered all of us know people in jail in Maui we’re all connected and I feel that more and more and when you sit in a

09:13

jail program and you hear the sadness of the men that our fathers and even grandfathers and all the tentacles that go through our community impacted them sitting here a lot of it’s drug-related and when I told him I was at boys to men they were all like wow I wish I wish I would have had somebody in my life did somebody been there for me because I was always told I wasn’t good enough and I believed it I’m here with Dwayne Elliot on Kak you Dwayne is boys too man a program I guess you’d say it’s I can’t

09:48

identify it with any schools it’s an independent organization right yeah where Hawaii 501c3 so I can’t help but think that you’re in schools so did you go to the D OE how do you get this yeah we start on the Big Island Jason about six years ago we started and we reached out to school excuse me I switch subjects I don’t notice that people want to talk abour about the the in in jail program but I’m just jumping around a little bit hope you don’t mind absolutely hope you guys don’t mind you

10:19

know but I’m back to the kids how do you get this so that that can be shared with you yeah so we started with school and then using the schools on the Big Island we’re pretty easy to work with and they just said yes you got a free program doesn’t cost us any money because of all of all of our the programs that we do in school are free to the schools ends of the boys we do after school not after school we do weekend programs adventure weekend surf weekends camp weekends all free the boys we feed them take care of

10:48

and pick them up totally on us the parents don’t pay and the schools don’t pay we do it all from fundraising grants donors that’s a great and it’s great so we take the money equation out for the for the schools and the boys and then we just it kind of went on the big animal I think we’re in eight schools now we have 11 schools waiting list what that usually consist of is we need mentors right a silent ear mentors come in during school hours the show here we’re in the prime of it is so it’s

11:21

challenging but people who do it love it and and then we went to I started a school in Hawaii this shoot what’s six seven months ago I guess and or October I lose track of time I color and I go over there once we start it we’ve got a great I think we got ten trained mentors we’re waiting to start the next school and the school superintendent I mean the school principal and the Vice Principal what’s really fascinating for me when I go there now they come up to me as soon as I get on campus and they said you

11:50

know what we’re seeing the boys change or a the boys that isolate it are not isolating anymore because they’re different cliques these boys come from to our group 14:15 boys and they literally want to come up and say it we already see in the program or seeing the discipline the problems and boys coming in my office is going down and it’s very inspiring and they want to introduce me the superintendent and that’s how it goes here’s a twist around women I’m sure that every woman thinks well is anything

12:23

there for young women it’s the first question when I tell a woman anybody about our program and the woman will say what about the girls and I got a couple answers and the first as I said well my belief is boys and men make most the problems in the world so we’re going for us and we were all boys and I said like coolly honor my mission has not been for girls yet because none of our mentors were all men what we do believe and this is what Joe secrets and one of the cofounders of boys him in I was at a cup

13:02

a board meeting two years ago three years ago in Oakland and I was so impressed by this he said I will give all of my written material our protocols our procedures our adventure weekends manuals I will give it all to any women’s group that wants to start curls to women and he said I have over the last 24 years he said because it’s really theirs I don’t know how to mentor girls he said it’s needed but he said we’re going after something we know about I know how to do boys I have seen groups

13:33

on Maui and I must say it’s from its so women that share the lineage from adult ladies to older ladies now I haven’t seen the young women to younger women I think it’s gonna happen because they did start girls to women last year is incorporated why is a non-profit they have a their first group over and I think it’s Pahoa no no it’s Hass it’s a school over in Puna I believe they go yeah and we’re in one we’re in their high school and middle schools boys to men so they like

14:06

the program and every school once they find out that you know it’s so funny Jason what’s needed is volunteers we need women that want to step up and go viral just like moistening yeah so our audiences out there you know we know that we’re gonna be part of a library of good shows of good people and so all of you out there with women and men both if you are drawn to be a mentor to be able to share I want to the legacy you know we’re all thinking wherever we go we sit in a circle and we

14:39

are one we’re all kind of grown up to the fact that cooperation trumps I hate to say that word Trump’s the competition and that at some level the solutions are all here if we just see who each are and love each other and share these young gut by guys excuse me I was gonna say on women but with you’re working when you see changes now it’s been some years do you see some of these younger young man growing up into mentors for others have you seen that yeah in our program we saw one of things

15:17

but the schools are really fascinating about our program is about mentoring and also teaching the boys to mentor because when I was in school I was an athlete I got picked on by the upperclassmen I didn’t get mentored I kind of got pushed around or no kept down our program as the boys go up through the ranks into age like we just had an adventure weekend which is like a rites of passage on the Big Island four months ago is we had five boys that were mentoring the new boys coming through they were 10th

15:47

and 11th graders and of course in your seventh and eighth grade you’re looking at even ninth grade you’re looking up to the classmen and when they’re not picking on you but they’re mentoring you and they’re there for you to talk about your feelings and your challenges because I mean we’ve got boys at 13 and 12 talking about suicide talking about being the challenges they have at home and the violence and not feeling good enough and not wanting to be good in school and and we get to talk story

16:12

about that because the last thing we ever really work on is grades what we work on is showing up to school if you’re in our boys to men program you’re stayin in school that’s a huge piece your discipline goes down your violence goes down being picked on or being the bully because a lot of our we teach the boys how not to be bullied and the boys that are bullies we teach them what’s that what’s driving you to do that it’s a great conversation that a boy can switch off as soon as the AHA

16:40

comes on and you’re talking start now easy start 12 and 13 we start in the seventh grade and then we go up from there and we’re doing a couple on a Wahoo because once we start a Wahoo and the superintendent saw and the principal’s all talk now we’re getting schools calling us and we had two high schools call us in the last sixty days to start and we just started one last week and because they had a lot of problems as a huge schooling 1,400 students and they want to send our program because again it’s free and it’s

17:14

one more thing that a tool the schools have in their tool belt that we come on so it’s fascinating program and in San Diego where it started they now are in 57 schools and have well over two thousand boys in their program well now what’s the ratio of mentors to students we try to do it between three and five I see sometimes on a kawaii we had so many men wanted to be that we’ve had six or seven race you had a lot of mentors in the room the boys actually liked it I mean it’s fun because you there’s

17:44

something they get after a period of time when they get were not administrators we’re not punishing we’re not trying to get him to do grades we’re not manipulating them were there to hear and talk and we keep it moving fast we call whip check-ins how do you feel what’s your superpower if you had a superpower what would it be we do fun things like that even our mentors ago this is a lot of fun we go outside and play something quick for 20 minutes but the question is even if it’s

18:09

a game what you learn Jason and everybody has to say real fast what you learn because it’s more that we can get the kids to know that every moments a learning moment and it doesn’t have to be in a book that’s great yeah that’s like you said some of the people that are in incarcerated yeah realizing they need programs that are you know that is the same kind of a program for the incarcerated guys different it’s a little different we get more you know when I was doing it and I know it’s a

18:41

lot of my friends are still doing it ISM it’s more about going into feelings what’s there taking a little bit accountability responsibility and what did you learn so you don’t go back out and do it again well you know I don’t know how tracking these things over time is I imagine I’d say Home Office has some vision of how they’re tracking the progress and success some of the people in the program they do have I know in our in the jail program I don’t know because well ours is more like the boys

19:09

to men we definitely track we do grades we do you know discipline we we had our first boy who knows he either be dead or he would be a dropout he just graduated high school this last year and is in the Marine Corps now that’s great and so in San Diego they have I believe a million dollar operating budget now they have 19 men on staff and I believe two or three of them started in the seventh grade as mentees at-risk boys that’s exciting to hear I came all the way through school and when to come back and give well you

19:46

know our community is a wide and we have all kinds of ethnicities do you find that you know I don’t know how to say this when you are reaching out for mentors I imagine how do you find mentors of such a variety of soup-to-nuts I do you find that prejudice I can imagine only that prejudice Goes Down when you’re sitting in a group with man of all kinds and races and all that stuff falls away it’s my experience I was in San Diego at the board meeting and they invited men and women from the outside to come in on the

20:28

last day and there was all the board was there and on our board and voice mints and egos board and and the National boys to men USA board there are women on the board it’s great to get a different perspective in it they don’t mentor but they can sure be on the boards and their thoughts and our processes and and there’s a couple women from the outside that asked Jill secrets and said well I just mostly in San Diego a lot of white men doing this and he said yeah he said cuz he’s a lot

20:58

of times it’s during school hours and it’s challenging he said but we have people from all different ethnicities but he said predominately in the early days particularly and it was really interesting because she had it responds well I think that’s not very good well I think this and that and was really fascinating for me is one of the boys who is a Hispanic and african-american and he stood up he said can I take this question Jill he’s 25 years old graduate of the University of Santa Cruz graphic

21:25

arts degree right and he said and he stood up and said I wanted to dress your question ma’am he says my dad was shot in the head as a drug dealer when I was 4 years old I lived in a bad neighborhood Joe secrets and another men came to my school every week for years and I would sometimes I’d be in the program sometimes I wouldn’t but he said what I know is he was always there so I can tell you from my point of view it didn’t matter the color the skin it mattered that they showed up because I

21:53

didn’t all I had was bad mentors in my life you either got good or bad he said and bad if it wasn’t for this man and the grace of God he says I would have been killed by now he said but look at I had doing great in life and he said all my friends would say the same thing so he says your question is no he said it all goes away when you’re sitting in a circle so I’m hoping that our audience is listening and hearing this and it’s mad the way it’s intended we need mentors of all races and we help

22:28

kids and boys at this moment that’s wonderful you know I’m I don’t know how to say it you know I got involved and met you formally I met your wife indigo here’s a beautiful wife I met her she’s an art business and I remembered her and then when I heard she was marrying some guy named Wayne I didn’t know if I knew three yeah but I know you must be something special because she was really a special is special lady and what do you do when you’re not doing this seems like this

23:04

sounds like a full-time today he is just enough hours in the day and I so speak but we always have to do others because we are a non-profit you know his I started a small fish farm as a prototype this last year because one of my beliefs is the more that we can grow our own food produce your own fish and unfortunately oceans I think in the next decade with the micro plastics and the pollutions that we’re not controlling yes I think it’s gonna be a sad and I don’t think we’ll be eating out of the

23:29

oceans like we do today and so I think farm fish farm vegetables aquaculture hydroponics aquaponics is gonna be something the future so I’m able to do that at the same time is doing this and then my wife had a stroke a little over a year ago and so she’s recovering so I’m also a caregiver you’re full-time full-time yeah and we have help and my father moved here from Houston to helped me and I have a caregiver that comes in and it’s one of the things with the stroke sometimes people say well how can

23:58

you deal with that you know here’s a beautiful woman that was doing all this and now she’s learning how to walk and doing all these things her mind as sharp as ever and I said we learned that mankind we learned in the boys too you know it’s such a massive challenge like the elephant right and how do you eat an elephant it’s one bite at a time so every day we wake up and we attack the problem we work we work we work we exercise we eat really healthy because hers was from undiagnosed diabetes and

24:25

what’s really great about indigo his residence and she does suffer with the pants amazing amount of pain if she wants to write a book about it and she said to say she said this Maurice is to tell Jason hello and I want to be on his program was talking about my book well she said nobody should have to go through what I’m going through a simple blood test when you’re 50s can tell you if you’re high blood sugar or not if you’re having diabetes wow that’s a really that’s probably the most

24:50

important message here for people to realize what kind of blood test you know what they see anyone see she didn’t have it for less warriors well we’re gonna we’re on whenever you’ll tell me when it’s comfortable yeah blessings to you in the go to your speedy and full recovery blessings thank you from all of us ya know truly I don’t know which way to go I know that we’re gonna take a break here in a minute or so for our sponsors we need sponsors you out there who want to support us by the

25:21

way you can hear these shows at Maui neutral zone calm that I have all 39 this is gonna be the 40th show we are on every week what and I think of it as a library we’re taking these shows are now beginning to put them on aa kakou television so that people know about the radio station because we’re not funded by ikkaku you see so we need support interesting part of life you know so that’s where we’re gonna break and then we’re back with Dwayne Elliot head of Boise man and just a wonderful guy let

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me hit the right button put my glasses on here of you we’ll be back in just a minute do you have something to say but can’t find an outlet did you know that ikkaku offers a service called up mic here you can come in and make a statement on any topic you want and it’s fresh clear song you wrote recite a monologue do a funny dance comment on a recent event the floor is yours come speak mine for free appointments are available Wednesdays between one and three call eight seven one five five five four

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today to reserve the spot the neutral zone with me Jason Schwartz would like to thank Maui Arts and Music Association tree makers Foundation of Maui for their support since 1991 hundreds of television shows and their maui arts and music comm website they have champion self sustainability on Maui the neutral zone is earned live Mondays at 11 a.m. and replayed Saturday at 7 a.m. on kak u 88.5 FM the voice of now the Maui zan show is sponsored by Queen of Hearts tattoo shop bina parts as a studio for

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the living canvas located at 20:10 Main Street in Wailuku open from noon until 6:00 p.m. daily for more information contact Queen of Hearts tattoo at two four two zero zero one one and tune in to the Maui’s and show live every Wednesday at 2 p.m. the replay on Saturday at noon on kak u 88.5 FM the voice of Maui Saturday night at 8:00 and Sunday night at 9:00 on kak u 88.5 FM we experience dead air not that kind of dead air we’re talking Grateful Dead Grateful Dead music for an entire hour

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Saturday night at 8:00 and Sunday night at 9:00 with me Cory Daniels on kak u 88.5 FM hi I’m Chuck sauce host of biscuits in gravy kku is a listener-supported station this means that all the great programs you hear like mine are supported by you as well as our underwriters if you would like to help keep the voice of Maui talking loud and clear go to ok it’s a gravy show Wednesdays at 11 a.m. in 5kk you could we be back so soon this is Jason Schwartz I’m here with Dwayne Elliot we’re the neutral zone Maui

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neutral zone calm it’s easy to remember and you’ll see all kinds of amazing things there including this show probably within a day Gary Levitt of the Maui choral Arts was here last week April 28th of this month is a show oh boy they are so I’m having so much fun being in that choral arts program I wanted to be sure to mention a Duane you know what I’m here with you I just remembered that when I first met indigo and I knew she was gonna be with some guy named Wayne and then someone

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mentioned about this voice man and Duane and I knew that she was interested she started the women’s program then I’m sure that it kind of got sidetracked as her she got the stroke yeah girls do oh well she got involved she wanted to bring something to Maui that um like I had similar like them she saw my men’s group she saw I go off on these men’s weekends she saw the camaraderie I had and she wanted that there was this gal like I said Phyllis Redmond came from Philadelphia and that’s when I first

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heard of the word mankind project and Phyllis was here and she mentioned into go so I knew that yeah so I felt comfortable yes so the woman within actually I think this is their third or fourth year now and they have a weekend scheduled this weekend it’s already full 32 ladies going through okay and I very different than a min this weekend there’s more about empowerment and support and and it’s been around for I want to say 20 years and then you know in Maui now for four or five and yeah women within and it’s

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it’s kind of like this it’s it runs congruent to the mankind project that’s one so they’re having their homecoming which is like people get to ask questions and you get to see the women celebrated this Monday evening I think it’s at 6:00 5:30 I think 5:30 p.m. I will check the calendar it’s pi year community center so what day are we looking at next Monday is a 29th probably probably I’m just thinking only because Sunday is this choral Arts and that’s a 28th well there’s Monday yeah

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so people want to check that out be sure to jump right on that yeah got it but during the break we’re talking about things but I want to get back why don’t we start you mentioned that Joe one of your guys there wrote something that you thought was really this is thing yeah I actually read this at some legislators I was pitching the grant last month in Oahu and it was I thought everybody’s attention for a moment because they had a hundred people pitching them for grants and twelve state legislature this is from Allen

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Browns the principal over at Kahala middle school we’ve been in the Kohala middle school I think for five years now his last paragraph is what I read and I just find it so it’s really great to come from an administrator of a principal who is in a this is an old plantation town over on the Big Island North Kohala beautifier I lived there for 11 years small community in the under there’s always problems in these small old communities and so we have a lot of at-risk boys a lot of fatherless

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boys and his last paragraph has said it has been said that societies are judged by how they support their most needy members boys to men has provided column middle school well they sorely need a component of support for some very needy students it has improved our school and I fully expect that the changes we are seeing here at school will benefit the community at large as these young men move forward with their lives sincerely Alan Brown that’s a great testimonial and we have those firm I try

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to give them from every school every year ask for another letter because I Ferrari and that I we help write is they’d like to see that things are happening I just want to see money going down a rabbit hole and are you expanding are you bringing families and communities together you know how are you helping that’s always the thing when we do our grants so what I’m thinking about this what what keeps coming to my mind is what you said earlier about mentors for example let’s say people on

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Maui said well that sounds great first things first can’t have a program without mentors right so was it a long ramp up that kind of a thing no no it’s a great question we do three different types of mentor trainings we have zoom calls or conference calls online one of our program director is even with a do e and a Wahoo be going for 18 years and he’s been running groups of boys and girls for 18 years so he said he still works for them but he’s our program director kind of quote on the side

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fascinate he knows you ever have a question you just call Kevin I got this kid I got this kid I got this group and he just always has a he’s just fascinating an amazing man we do what we call reclaimed reclaim your teenage fire it’s a one day workshop to remember what it feels like to be a teenager and we do it for free Wow and then the next day we talk more about mentoring and we do some other mentoring classes and a lot of times it’s by osmosis you come into a group Jase you’ll see when we start Maui Becky

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and you sit in a group and sometimes you don’t say much you just check in with how you’re feeling the boy could we move so fast and we play games and we do camping trips and you spend more time with them and something you’ll find in one of the weekends that you’re a man that the boys look up to we could do a couple processes who’s a man you like to be and they might point you out and they’ll point out that the attributes they see in you that you might have even forgotten about that’s exciting so

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there’s a very interactive program that’s a great thing for adults to realize that the benefit to them of being involved in this gonna touch places in you that you may or may not have ever had in your in your world you know it’s fascinating because we sit in a circle if I was on Oahu we started Kailua intermediate last year we had a big group the school is very sad they put 20 boys and which is a lot of boys and we had seven mentors and I was running the groups at first and I had one boy who’s acting out a lot and

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we did a check-in how you feeling he’s I don’t like it and then I went ahead and probed a little bit like I saw his personality after you sit along I said something like is it that you don’t like it or is it you don’t like that you can’t sit in the back of row and as a circle you’re being seen at all times and he said that’s the truth he said I can’t hide in a circle and he actually stepped out of the program for three months and we let him go this is all voluntary we do not let

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the schools make the boys sit in our groups great four months later he comes knocking on the door and says I want to join again and now he’s been one of our biggest supporters acted out at first but once he saw that I’m equal I don’t have to act out I don’t have to be on the back row it’s like wow I can be part of something yes so excited I’m I’m excited to hear that this program exists I’m wondering if our community outside of the schools and it sounds like a program young adults that are out of

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school at least I see them in our community all over that are still in that same for older frame of mind what a great program this is well we’ve had and we had ages I think the youngest mentor I’ve had is 21 which they probably look up to him when they do me because your 50s your old right thirties you’re old for these boys but they they they also start to see the men going through our life because we also check in with our challenges and sometimes they can get a it’s just like in our jail program or

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like our men’s group mankind we always every week raise our thumb this is a confidential circle everybody agrees with that now for us mentors were mandatory reporters so if we hear a boy going to do violence on himself or others we will sit down at the school and we had that we’ve and fortunately we this is real life we had one of our boys commit suicide five months ago and he beautiful beautiful young man and he’d been with us and was a leader actually helped lead weekends with us and he just went through some

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depression and at that age sometimes the choices they may they don’t get the in that it’s it’s forever and as I was talking to the kawaii’ vice principal he said yeah suicide is even higher and Chloe and we had a over in Oahu last month we had a boy went up to her mentor and said I’m thinking about doing this this is me if he goes so far we sat down at the school and we agree we we did we don’t mean to break his confidentiality so we always tell the boys this I’m breaking the confidentiality because I’m

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concerned about your safety I want to make sure you’re seeing the right professional and the boys honored because we’re not quote ratting them out and it’s done in a really good way and you tell them up front so then we tell them in in the group either gonna hurt yourself or others we have to we we legally have to well so that’s great damn you know disclosure is everything well you know it’s funny is we make grievance a week the tagline we do in our groups schools make rules boys and

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men make agreements we have five or six agreements we make with each other in some groups we actually have them sign it like a John Hancock I agree to be on time I agree not to punch the guy next to me I agree not to do violence to myself or others and we have five agreements and then we talk about it Trevor the one the men young men run in a Wahoo I went to his group recently in Washington middle or one of the new schools and these are eighth graders I mean big kids right and what he has him do when they break their agreements and

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and again they all bought into it ten push-ups now Trevor’s in really good shape so he doesn’t with them so it’s not about shame cuz we all have enough shame in our life boys and men never about shame it’s about keeping your agreements so these boys are in good big because they were in their agreements right and left but they actually started having fun with it and Trevor just citizen it’s a piece that he was able to bring into it as though outside and the boys liked it we have five minutes will

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you guys mind in just a minute I don’t in any way stop us from realizing the importance of what we’ve been speaking here you have been just a great example thank you for all that you’re doing and I can see the passion that you bring to every day and your commitment to young men and women and all that you’ve done with mankind project I want people to hear these wonderful programs that exist that can help all of us to live in a more peaceful better world together you know you really thank you for that so I

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want to take that one and say thank you for that for a moment but when you were talking about Foyle yeah I Foyle I think of basil rathbone stand on there against arrow for what’s a Foyle well I’m not a surfer so I’ve got a lot of friends are a surfer so foiling is something’s come out came out a long time ago but it’s a really hitting mainstream now we put a hydrofoil on the bottom of a surfboard hydrofoil is like those boats that yeah we get a little bit of power in the water you’re gonna

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lift up up to 24 inches out of the water and was fascinated but us you don’t have to have a lot of wave to do it you can go really fast and if you’re young you can actually pump the board and go back out without having to get prone and paddle out so it’s really exciting for us is we’re always doing fundraisers so just look up foiling on YouTube and you’re gonna see people slicing through the water up to 30 miles an hour it’s very connected anyone no no they can’t roll with their feet oh yeah yeah Wow so

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it’s fast so the wind surfers are now going to foiling because just the sheer speed so we and boys tune them has has obtained the first permit ever in Waikiki at Queen’s be – it was at Duke statue to do a foiling event 48 source for lers get to participate we’re doing a fundraising for it on a Friday it’s a May 17th we’re having sponsorships and tees being raised but it’s really cool because it’s never been done before we act that actually have to have people out in the water to keep the surfers

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away this is like a knife going through the water right boilers and surfers we’re teaching my friends that are helping to put this on it’s very exciting because one of the men alex owns a company I think it’s three zone.com he does all the big wave surfing all of the worlds even he shot film in 50 countries when they used to use helicopters now he’s using drones so we’re gonna have drones in out in the water and then he’s gonna put this on spectrum so we’re gonna have it on our

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show on cable and maybe even international so bringing awareness to boys to men bring your wares and so Foilers and for us it’s a fundraising event well fun know that it’s not worth hearing about and we have a kawaii team and a Maui team and I’m hoping we can bring this very same event to Maui okay I hope the mayor’s office and all the people are listening because some of these things deserve your attention and help yeah you know it’s been a pleasure having you here I am look at the clock

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yeah I’m right no matter what I seem to do no we can fill this hour I used to have this vision that said we’re gonna play music and I’m gonna think music breaks but you start talking to great people who like you are great people you just find that that’s so we’re gonna have more shows up about music and we’re dedicating into music so don’t worry because we’re the Maui Arts and Music Association as I mean we started as Maui Arts and Music Association mama and participatory action patrons of the Arts

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Papa but they come together and make the foundation for dreams to come true so we became the dream makers Foundation and we sometimes we confuse people but we’re only separated to share concepts but they all come together and they all go like this men and women together old young races nothing all the pieces of our community together when we make decisions then we as the government we don’t have to ask the government they say you’re doing something great we want to help I’m hoping that our government

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is responsive to we the people that take action together from a conscious loving integrated way so that’s how I ended up talking to Arlene and ended up in mankind project and found us here today you’ve been a wonderful guest during we have a few minutes anyone that anything you want to say we only have a few seconds twenty seconds let’s do it now Jason thank you for how opportunity to share this I do have a lot of passion about both subjects in Cape mankind project women within girls to women and boys to men

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serves a lot of people and I appreciate the opportunity well it has been a pleasure we’ll have you back again I hope you’ll come I will thank you Aloha everyone take care we’ll see you next week here at the neutral zone now into zone [Music]