BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE
Yvonne and Rich Dutra- St.John, Challenge the Day and Be the Change Movement Founders

Imagine a school day where enemies find their common ground and make peace: where friends heal past hurts and make amends; where young people ignite their passion for service and leadership; where every student feels safe, loved and celebrated. This is the work of the heart. This is the work of Challenge Day. Challenge D Day is a non-profit organization that provides powerful, often life-changing experiential programs to youth and their communities. All Challenge Day programs are rooted in the understanding that drugs, alcohol, eating disorders, depression, smoking, teasing, bullying and violence are actually symptoms of a greater problem. It provides young people with the opportunity to be totally real and honest, to experience what’s possible, and then to rise up as leaders-all in an atmosphere of fun, love, compassion, acceptance and respect. Challenge Day inspires youth to be the change they want to see-in their lives, in their school, in their community, and in the world.

As founders of the Challenge Day Program and Be the Change Movement, Yvonne and Rich Dutra-St John MA MFT, have a vision to create a world where every child feels safe, loved and celebrated. The Challenge Day program has been widely honored and recognized for its contributions, including awards from Juvenile Justice System, D.A.R.E. Officers Association and many school districts and cities nationwide. In April of 1999, after the tragic incident at Columbine High School, Rich and Yvonne were asked to bring the Challenge Day program to Colorado as part of the healing for the greater Denver community. In November 2006, Challenge Day was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and in reference to their work Oprah proclaimed… “This is how we change the world.”

EACH YEAR WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME SO MANY TALENTED AUTHORS TO THE BOOST CONFERENCE. PLEASE VISIT THEM AT THE MEET & GREET AND BOOK SIGNING EVENTS SCHEDULED THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE.