The Power of the Dragon: Bridging a Gap

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1 In my community of Parramore, people say cops are bad. Getting to personally have a one-on-one relationship showed me that is not true. It turned out to be an amazing experience. The Dueling Dragons cops were role models, always encouraging and pushing us forward with anything we decided to do. Turquoisia McNabb, Dueling Dragons Alumni, University of Florida Student, Aspiring Physician Founded in 2011, The Dueling Dragons of Orlando Dragon Boat Team (aka Cops and Kids ) is an unlikely partnership between at-risk teens and officers from the Orlando Police Department who have joined together to become a one-of-a-kind, competitive, year-round racing team. The Kids come from the City of Orlando s Operation Positive Direction, Parramore Kidz Zone, and the Orlando Parks and Recreation Department. The Cops and Kids both participate as volunteers, learning teamwork and trust through the ancient sport of Dragon Boating. In the process, stereotypes come down, profiles melt away and lives change for the better. The Power of the Dragon: Bridging a Gap These kids want to be like any other teen ager or middle schooler. They love attention and recognition. That happens between the cops and kids when we are together at practice or Festivals. OPD Police Officer Marlon McClain and Dueling Dragons Captain Inner city youth often have a hard time trusting anyone, especially the police. They have grown up in low-income households, often with broken families and dependent on public assistance just to survive. They are surrounded by violence and crime on a daily basis, and as a result, they also often see the police as the enemy and lack hope for the future. By its very nature, the sport of dragon boating requires teamwork, trust, leadership, perseverance and dedication in order to succeed. Dragon boats have raced in China for over 2,700 years. Now one of the fastest-growing water sports in the world, it is estimated that there are over 50 million people in over 60 countries who participate. Success in dragon boating 1

2 comes only when a group of 20 paddlers, one steersman and one drummer work together in complete harmony. Each person physically contributes to the success of the team. In the dragon boat, the Cops and Kids interact as equals and learn to rely on each other in ways that only teammates can understand. Over time, relationships are built that transcend the dragon boating experience and filter into daily life. Dueling Dragons Background/History We have been supportive of Dueling Dragons since 2011, and are so excited that the program has doubled in size this year. When we see our cops and kids coming together to practice and compete, there are no failures because everyone involved learns and wins. Our officers become not only teammates, but role models and mentors for these youth. This program sends the right message at the right time in these kids lives. Mayor Buddy Dyer, City of Orlando Formed in 2011 with the support of former Orlando Police Chief Val Demings and Orlando Health, the first Dueling Dragons team was comprised of 10 local at-risk youth and 10 Orlando Police Department SWAT officers. It was the first team of its type in the history of the sport. After practicing together for just four months, the team paddled to a first place finish in the Community Cup and a second place finish in the Open Division of the Walgreens Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival. The program further evolved under Police Chief Rooney, 2

3 and now in its fourth season, the Dueling Dragons have doubled thanks to the support of current Police Chief John Mina. Orlando Police Department paddlers include both male and female officers, and a number of the teens from year one are still participating -- all as volunteers. To date, Dueling Dragons has impacted the lives of 49 cops and 46 teen paddlers. In 2012, Andrea Eliscu, the brainchild of this unusual team, received the Orlando Police Department s Good Citizen Award for her efforts in establishing and nurturing the program. Perhaps most notable, to remain in the Dueling Dragons program, the teens must stay in school, avoid truancy and behaviors in school that could result in suspension, and avoid any activity that could cause them to be arrested. In the four years of the program, none of the paddlers have violated any of these requirements. Specific measures of success for program participants include: Mastery of the technical skills required in dragon boating (measured weekly) Maintaining a healthy state of physical fitness (measured at beginning and end of each season) Attending practice regularly (measured weekly) Attending school (measured each season) Avoiding arrest (measured at the end of each season) Developing and maintaining respectful and positive relationships with all team members, coaches and mentors The ultimate goal is to form long-term relationships at a critical time in the kids lives, helping to break the cycle of poverty and crime, and impact generational change Impact When we are all in the boat, we are all equals and family. Sometimes in life when you are going through trials and tribulations, there are people set into your life to walk with you. I felt my teammates were there for me. I realized in the boat when one of us fails, we all fail. When we stay together, we rocked. Sasha Mills, Dueling Dragons Teen Paddler 3

4 Because the Dueling Dragons team of Cops and Kids is so unique and has achieved great success in just a short time, Great White North, a well-respected international Dragon Boat Festival event planner, invited the team to compete in the Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival on September 6-8, 2013, which drew 200 teams from around the world to Canada. At the event, the Dueling Dragons raced to a personal best and earned a gold medal in the Premier mixed round. The youth who traveled to Toronto as part of the team came from the year-round program and earned their spots by staying active in school, attending practice regularly, maintaining good behavior/no arrests, mastering the technical skills required for the sport, maintaining a healthy state of physical fitness, and developing respectful, positive relationships with all team members, coaches and mentors. For many, this was their first trip ever on a plane or even away from Orlando. Dueling Dragons raised $33,000 in financial and in-kind support to cover all travel expenses. Trip sponsors included Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, the NeuroSpine Institute, Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, Harriett Lake, Air Canada, BB&T, the Orlando Magic, Mears Transportation Group and Orlando Health. Through the hard work and generosity of the Orlando community, these teens and officers experienced a life-changing weekend, that not only impacted them, but hopefully, will have a generational impact as these teens enter into adulthood. The team returned home from Toronto and immediately began training for the Walgreens Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival, which they competed in on October 19, 2013, at Downtown Disney. At the end of that festival, the team was honored by Walgreens as a recipient of the Inspiration Award. Looking Ahead Goals for 2014 It has taught me strength not just physical but also mental toughness. It has also taught me the most powerful are not marines, firemen or police officers they are not even the strongest as we ve raced them all. The most powerful paddlers are those who grow as a team, race as a team, and treat each other like family. Brandon Cunningham, Dueling Dragons Teen Paddler 4

5 Key goals for Dueling Dragons in 2014 include: 1. Double the size of the program. In 2013, there were 19 cops and 11 teens paddling as part of Dueling Dragons. In 2014, the program has added a second boat/team, recruiting 23 cops and 19 kid paddlers 12 of whom are in middle school. The program is intentionally reaching out to these younger paddlers in an effort to build relationships at an earlier age and hopefully, have an even greater impact on their lives. In addition, the program is expanding its reach to additional neighborhoods with high populations of at-risk teens, including Rosemont, Richmond Heights, Carver Shores and Stonewall Jackson. Both Dueling Dragons teams are practicing 10 months out of the year. On April 12, they participated in the Cocoa Beach Dragon Boat Festival. The more experienced team that had traveled to Toronto earned a first place award in its consolation division, and the newly formed team with the middle-school teens earned second in its consolation division. More importantly, the festival brought some of the teens families closer. For the first time ever, three families actually came to watch the races and cheer on the team. In addition, based on the success and impact Dueling Dragons made at the Toronto festival last year, both teams have been invited to participate in the Chicago International Dragon Boat Festival on July 26, Create a documentary to share the Dueling Dragons story. The intent is to submit this piece to various Florida film festivals to help attract additional investment in growing the program. 3. Inspire replication locally, in other cities throughout Florida, and ultimately, across North America. In October, the program will be featured at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Police Chief John Mina and the Orlando Police Department in Orlando. IACP is the world's oldest and largest non-profit membership organization of police executives, with over 16,000 members in 94 countries. At the convention, the dragon boat will be placed on the second floor between registration counters and staffed by cop and teen paddlers to share their story. In addition, when the teams travel to Chicago this summer, they will share their story with the Chicago Mayor and Chief of Police in hopes of starting a similar program on Chicago s South Side, a neighborhood plagued by high crime and poverty. The ultimate goal is to spark development of enough similar teams to host a separate Cops and Kids Dragon Boat Festival in Orlando in late 2014 for teams throughout Florida and then in 2015, grow the event to attract teams from throughout the country. 5

6 How to Help Our officers participation in Dueling Dragons has been life-changing for themselves as well as the kids. Each has given something to the other that can only happen through their shared experiences in this program, and our department stands behind it 100%. We believe it is helping our community by not only addressing gang prevention and awareness, stereotyping and bias free policing but also building trust, respect and hope. Chief John Mina, Orlando Police Department Dueling Dragons is a volunteer-based, privately funded initiative and relies on the generosity of businesses, organizations and individuals throughout the community. Donations can be made through the following 501 (c)(3) non-profit: AND YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. The Orlando Community & Youth Trust, Inc. (Dueling Dragons) a 501C3 Attention: Lisa Early 595 N. Primrose Street Orlando, FL For more information, please contact Andrea Eliscu via mmiandrea@me.com 6