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No Barriers Youth

Learning AFAR Southwest Florida

by Kelly G Cooper PHOTO COURTESY OF DARA DAWSON
Life in Naples | January 2016
A ccording to the U.S. department of Education there are approximately 400,000
youth in the foster care system. Each year over a quarter of a million children are
removed from abusive and neglected homes and placed with foster families. As a
result, it should come as no surprise that these children have heightened risk for behavioral
and educational obstacles and difficulties adjusting to new relationships and environments.
It is a traumatic transition that most of us could not begin to imagine experiencing and
often results in grief, aggression, depression and withdrawal. Having adult support and
mentorship is crucial for any of these children to succeed in life.

National research shows that children in foster care are at high-risk of dropping out of
school and are highly unlikely to attend college, let alone graduate. All of this begs the
question - what can we do as individuals to help break the cycle of poverty and empower
those disadvantaged youths? A few years ago, Naples resident and Guardian ad-Litem
Ron McGinty was at a luncheon and asked himself the same question. In turn, he was
inspired to find an option for these marginalized kids. After much thought and research,
Ron spoke with Erik Weihenmayer. In addition to being the first blind man to climb
Mount Everest and reach the seven summits, Erik is also a noted author, motivational
speaker and co-founder of No Barriers USA. Through Erik, Ron was introduced to the
No Barriers Youth program. This program is specifically target students in inner cities and
fosters an environment that encourages the participants to accept challenges and helps
to build self-esteem all while offering them an opportunity to explore the globe. This
program has been tried and proven effective in numerous large urban cities, including
Chicago, NYC, Seattle and Oakland, with 100% of the students post-experience stating

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