Every day parents send their children to school in hopes that they will learn and mature. This is not always the case: some students have difficulty learning different lessons or struggle to get the message.of that said assignment This is where a group called Heros and Cool Kids come in. They strive to help mentor and show the younger generations what is right and wrong, and to show them how to make the right decisions in their lives.
What are Heroes and Cool Kids? Heroes and Cool Kids is a program where selective high school students receive training from volunteers to help mentor the younger generations about certain topics. The Heroes are taught different perspectives and ways to connect and show the kids the different lessons. They play games, show slideshows, and tell inspirational stories to the kids. The Hero’s are not meant to be just a different face or another teacher for the kids. They are meant to be mentors and show these kids what’s right and wrong and how to make the right decisions in every situation.
Training: The Hero’s go through various training sessions before they even meet with the kids for the first time. The Hero’s will first attend a seminar at either Ramapo College or Bergen County Community College (depending on location) which is the base of their training. The volunteers will help put the lesson into their heads so they can get the grasp of it. 1 to 2 weeks after the seminar one of the Hero’s and Cool Kids leaders will come to their High School for a couple of hours to get a more in depth view of the lesson and maybe even some 1 on 1 time with a leader of the club.
Where did it begin & Where are they now? In 1998 Bruce Harper and Susan Rudolph set out on a mission to create a program to help teens and this led to the creation of the Heroes and Cool Kids. Harper is a very inspirational man and tries to accomplish anything he sees fit. He is a former NY Jets star (1977-1985), has a BS degree in sociology and is currently a board member of the Lodi Boys and Girls Club, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center foundation board. Susan is more of a behind the scenes person, but definitely a very important part of the program. She handles all of the program’s needs. Scheduling, conference coordination, material preparation, billing, correspondence, and recording keeping efficiently and effectively. Currently in 2024 Heroes and Cool Kids has 53+ schools attending all across NJ and a couple from New York. The program hopes to strive and grow in the future to help as many kids to become mentors and help the youth grow.
What do they offer? Besides just training high school students they have many other programs. They have a sidekick program which trains 8th grade students to go down into the elementary schools and mentor the even younger generation. They have a young men’s and women’s program, school assemblies and coaches’ workshops as well. All programs are striving to make people better to truly learn about yourself while helping others.