Project H.E.L.M. (an MSECP Foundation)

The Museum Shores Educational Community Project Foundation, NFP Mission Statement

The Museum Shores Educational Community Project Foundation, NFP is committed to teaching the youth community (ages 10-16) on the south side of Chicago through a program to build self-esteem and confidence. Exposing them to the boating lifestyle will acquaint them with future possibilities and a working knowledge of boating. We combine boating operation and boating safety with exposing our youth to how to use every day, common sense life management skills. Thus, these young people arrive at a sense of pride that can be felt in the community,

Project H.E.L.M (Harbor Education Life-Safety Mindset) Program

The young people learn the parts of a boat and boat/watercraft types. Some of the skills we teach are:

*  Become effective people through efficacy and understanding the process of effective effort. 

*  Preparing them not to respond to the wrong kind of stimulus. Also, teaching them the power of believing in themselves. 

*  Learning the importance of and how to foster productive relationships. 

*  Taking personal responsibility for a successful life outcome. 

*  How to influence situations, outcomes, and their peers. 

The Chicago Police department has helped us with providing information on the purpose of policing and instruction on how to respond to police thereby establishing community relationships with police.  The Chicago Fire Department has visited us and provided valuable information on water safety and filling questions from the young people thereby helping them understand the importance of following instructions regarding the water. The program includes experienced powerboat captains that provide insights regarding safe boating. Since we view these young people as a pipeline for future boaters from the underprivileged population, we included Bankers to provide a peek into beginning financial planning discussions. This 5-week program has grown to also include an ala carte, 1-day program designed to integrate with existing summer programs offered by the Chicago Urban League and Governor State University.

We were honored this year by the Chicago Tribune with a special article written by Darcel Rockett (Click here to view the article) highlighting the experiences of Project H.E.L.M. participants and their parents. Here is an excerpt below from the article. It can be found in its entirety in the August 6th electronic version of the Tribune.

“We discuss things like: ‘It’s not the stimulus, it’s the response to a situation,” Gilbert Carson said. “Sometimes a bully in school will say something, and you need to know ahead of time how you’re going to respond, so you don’t get caught off guard and respond the wrong way. Just like in the water, you need to know how to respond in case something happens.”

Kayin Bradford, 12, of Woodlawn was already involved in a sailing program at Jackson Harbor through the Park District, but he wanted to learn more about power boats, so his mother signed him up for Project H.E.L.M. “I’m always looking for things in the neighborhood that are going to be things that are constructive for my son,” Rose Bradford said. “It’s an opportunity for him to meet other kids his age and meet some people from our community that are master boaters and just get out and do something besides playing video games all day.  And when they make it free for you, it’s just a resource that I think is incredible, so I just try to take advantage.  These are Black men that have boats, and they’re role models for our little kids.