Community Heroes Curriculum Sample 

(last update December 2017)  VISION: A kinder, more compassionate and giving society   MISSION: To shift culture from “ME” to “WE” by making community service easy and fun for the whole family, creating an ever-growing cadre of compassionate heroes.  TAGLINE: Inspiring ACTION through KINDNESS and COMPASSION  HOW WE ACHIEVE OUR MISSION: We inspire young philanthropists and social activists with 21st century skills and tools to be enthusiastic, effective change-agents. We aim to redefine philanthropy by empowering kids with 21st century skills including empathy, problem-solving and social-emotional development. Our activities include: 

● Facilitated lunch-clubs ● Video and social-media storytelling workshops ● Student-inspired fundraisers, collection drives and community service events ● Partnership development for socially-conscious companies and youth-inspired 

causes ● Annual Day of Giving 

 GUIDING PRINCIPLES: Community Heroes is looking to SHIFT CULTURE. How do we achieve HAPPINESS and what does SUCCESS really look like? Society tends to define images of success and happiness through monetary achievement and material goods. What if we were to consider how much we do for others and the world as the top criteria for “success”? How would that change our conversations, our parental decisions, our career paths? How much could this impact our ability to solve large-scale social problems? What if charities were valued similar to corporations? It’s these types of questions that drive the values that we are promoting.     

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Community Heroes is unique: ● Proven, simple, impactful, lunch club format offers a flexible HERO curriculum, 

facilitated by volunteer parents at elementary school level ● Engages kids through high-quality entertainment (video and activities) and offers 

a space to build social-emotional skills. Our partner Go Inspire Go anchors our HERO curriculum through their inspirational videos and blogs about everyday heroes. 

● Can be adapted to local circumstances, kids’ interests and parent participation, allowing for an array of issues and approaches 

● Makes family community service fun, easy, accessible ● Inspirational annual Day of Giving event the first Sunday in March brings together 

local clubs, non-profits and partners to celebrate the joy of service   VALUES:  Our Secret Sauce: FUN + INSPIRATION = EMPOWERING KIDS TO ACTION 

● Kid-inspired (Kids are the heroes): build off interests and passions of students ● Parent-guided (Parents are the sidekicks): role of facilitator is to ask questions, 

guide conversation, be a welcoming, positive role model) ● Voluntary: free to come as they choose, always welcome, no need to “sign up” ● GRATITUDE ● KINDNESS ● COMPASSION ● EMPATHY ● RESPECT ● GENEROSITY ● RESPONSIBILITY ● BRAVERY ● MINDFULNESS

     

“If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.”  -Maya Angelou 

        

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HERO Curriculum Framework Overview  Course Intro: Congratulations, hero-in-training! We, the community and the world, are so glad to have you join us as we head out on a Hero’s Journey. So buckle your belts and hang onto your capes! The most important life lesson – the thread throughout this curriculum--is that the biggest gift you can give is the gift of YOU. The goal here is to spark your passion and explore within our flexible framework and have fun the many paths through which to activate the hero within you. Yes, YOU! We all are born with superhero powers/talents, whether it be in sports, communicating, reading, writing, or math -- it’s that thing that makes you light up. Through the stories of everyday real-life heroes, you’ll be inspired to dig deep, find your inner hero and use your power to help others.  Note:  *These modules are not in a specific order. It’s a flexible framework and a guide from which you can pick and choose. There are no rules. The goal is to spark fun, inspire empathy, generosity, kindness and action in all heroes-to-be.  *The best class will be organic. Don’t go in as a facilitator with expectations. Let the conversation and inspiration flow. Feel free to go off this framework if you are feeling it.   Life Lessons (Core Values): Compassion, empathy, generosity, kindness, respect, happiness, mindfulness, responsibility, bravery & gratitude.   The HERO program:  H: hero’s story  E: everyone’s story R: rally the heroes O: our actions matter  

1. H: Hero’s story: In each class, you’ll be introduced to a new real-life hero through a video or activity about an everyday hero doing what they can--using their own unique power--to help others. Everyone who has done something great in their lives has had a hero they look up to, or someone they call a role model, mentor, or the person that lights the fire inside them. The people featured in these videos are examples of how a regular person is doing what’s within their power to help their community. Because of the unique way the stories are told, they resonate with everyone. The featured hero’s acts may be small, but can become mighty and ripple out to big changes. It all starts here. This is where the spark – or the hook – happens. 

2. E: Everyone’s story:  After watching the video/sharing a story, you’ll be guided with prompts/questions to discuss the hero’s story. The activity in each class will include a brainstorm session. Talk about how this story resonates with you or someone you know. We believe that an open forum to share thoughts, ideas and personal stories connects the participant/viewer to the cause and activates their inner hero. 

3. R: Rally the heroes: Now that we’ve shared our own personal stories about how the hero’s story has touched us, it’s time to brainstorm! What can we do to help? Get your thinkin’ caps on! 

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4. O: Our actions matter:  Some of the ideas will lead to discussions and greater awareness and understanding  – and others will lead to all that PLUS community action! The Group leader(s)/facilitator(s) will help connect the group to local community causes/organizations and show the power of collective action! We will suggest action items and examples about what individuals, groups, organizations or places you could help and crowd source ideas from participants/viewers. Pow! 

 Student Outcomes: 

● Exposure: Watch video, example – authentic stories that stir your emotions and excite you to help.  (Through storytelling, you’ll explore new heroes/real world examples of heroes.) Range of experiences/emotions/engaging empathy through the heroes and person(s) they help. Videos activate student’s affiliative action. 

● Critical Thinking: Building real world connections and skills by brainstorming around the video, calling upon collective resources and talents (power) and using your power to help and create impact.

● Empathy & Compassion: Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Identifying with someone in the video (hero or the recipient of hero’s action). Even if some participants aren’t ready to take action, this exposure leads to more kindness and compassion toward one another.

● Emotional Contagion: Connecting the story and hero to a situation/something in your life. Getting excited and getting others excited to help. This leads to contagious compassion, a sophisticated level of learning, caring, sharing and action. 

● Action: Engaging in and exploring a range of positive social activities.  (*NOTE: Warning! This is equally, if not more inspiring for the facilitator.)  

Steps: ● Discussion: This is where we prompt participants with eye-opening questions. How did 

that make you feel while watching? What did the hero do? What were the special circumstances around the hero? How were people s/he helped affected? 

● Group shares how this story connects to their own personal stories or references.  ● Brainstorm: Individuals talk about ideas of how they can help. Some could be small 

actions, such as random acts of kindness. Others could be larger projects, such as a collection drive or fundraiser around the issue/topic discussed. 

● Take action: Strategy and practical ways to help. The important role for the facilitator here is to help guide practical actions, and to gauge the level of interest in pursuing a larger action. NOT to control the outcome. Organic, open, authentic guidance is key. The desired outcome: The overall feeling of excitement, accomplishment, purpose, passion, gratitude and JOY. 

 Assessment: 

● Take an informal poll (show of hands) about topic of day (before discussion). E.g., Who has ever done a lemonade stand and donated the proceeds to a cause? 

● After discussion, take another poll about how they feel after now that they have more knowledge. E.g., Who might consider doing a lemonade stand for a cause? Who might think about an alternative to birthday gifts at their next party? The point is to get them thinking about alternatives rather than mandating what’s “right” or “wrong.” We want them to feel it from the heart!  

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HERO CURRICULUM MODULES OVERVIEW   Session Framework  10-15 minutes: Welcome kids at door as they walk in, and while they eat lunch, start with open/facilitated discussion about recent local/world events to warm the kids up for session topic 10 minutes: Today’s topic—intro. Show video, tell story, or outline activity instructions 20 minutes: Activity/Discussion/Homework (see topics)  To Guide Discussions  

● How did the video make you feel while watching? What did the hero do? What were the special circumstances around the hero? How were people s/he helped affected? 

● Group shares how this story connects to their own personal stories or references. Start with a story of your own to help prompt if needed. 

● Brainstorm: Individuals talk about ideas of how they can help. Some could be small actions, such as random acts of kindness, taking personal responsibility for one action, such as giving up straws at restaurants. Others could be larger projects, such as a collection drive or fundraiser around the issue/topic discussed. 

 Modules/Topics (*Recommend starting with Module 1, the rest in no particular order). Several modules have multiple videos and can be expanded into different sessions. *Activities, Video and Blog Links available in Full Curriculum Packet*    

I. Brainstorming issue areas we care about: What’s Your GIG? This is a great module to start with for one of your early sessions, as it gets the kids thinking about issue areas to focus on for the year. 

II. Hunger: Doing our part to feed the hungry in our own communities. III. Environment: Being stewards of the earth IV. Random Acts of Kindness: Backbone of the Community Heroes program: simple, 

everyday acts of kindness. These videos/ideas can be interspersed throughout the year. 

V. Fundraising—An important part of helping others.  VI. Generosity—The ultimate act: giving up your home to strangers for a whole 

year.   VII. Social Isolation/Anti-bullying  VIII.  Animal Rights and Activism IX. Hip-hop as therapy for inner city kids (recommended for middle school and up) X. Being an activist! Kids can take a stand against big business and also create social enterprises of their own. XI.  Halloween Hero: A sick child wanting to help others. See our Curriculum in Action below! XII. Being a Global Citizen   

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Curriculum in Action: Module XI. Halloween Hero An example of how our curriculum inspires and makes impact. Featuring our Halloween Hero, Nico Castro  

  INSPIRATION: Nico Castro, our 6-year old “Halloween hero” Story: The video shares the story about then 6-year old Nico Castro, who despite dealing with his own cancer treatment (and now thankfully, cancer-free), thought of his friends in the hospital who wouldn’t be able to go trick or treating and celebrate his favorite holiday, Halloween. Nico, who was on a break from his treatment, was driven to act and organized a costume drive to bring joy and some Halloween fun to his friends still in the hospital. Sweet Nico wasn’t looking for anything in return. He was simply driven by his generous heart to do something within his power to help his friends. 

 

 Students watching Nico Castro video 

 Part 1: 6-year old with brain cancer brings Halloween to sick kids  Part 2: 6-year old Halloween hero, Part 2  DISCUSSION:  

 

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Before and after watching the video(s), the facilitator first sets the stage and then follows up with questions including: 

● How did that story make you feel while watching?  ● What were the circumstances around Nico that are special?  ● What did Nico do to make him a hero? ● How were people he helped affected?  ● How would it feel to have an illness and not be able to celebrate holidays the way you 

would like? ● Does this story remind you of someone you know that may be either battling an illness 

or who’s done something generous like Nico? ● Nico was sick but still thinking about how he could help others. Does that inspire you 

to do something generous?  

ACTION: After the kids share personal stories about how Nico’s story touched them, we turn to brainstorming how to take action! What can we do to help? The range is huge, from small actions, such as random acts of kindness or being generous to a sibling. When we think big, we can do things like a collection drive (such as gently used-costumes for a family emergency shelter), or do a big superhero cape-making day!  

 Superhero cape party  

 Halloween Collection Drive for residents of shelter 

 IMPACT: 

The Ripples: Nico has kept up the tradition by doing an annual costume drive, now 6 years running. His initial small act of generosity has rippled out many-fold, in his own community and well beyond. Since viewing Nico’s story, Community Heroes have been inspired to conduct costume drives for the homeless. Hundreds have participated in our 

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superhero cape-making parties, making well over 800 capes (and counting) to comfort kids at local hospitals and other non-profit organizations.   Further impact on participating students: Increased empathy, understanding and empowerment!  

   

 Hundreds of capes made with love by Community Hero families have brought smiles to local Bay Area pediatric patients, including UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals at San Francisco and Oakland and Kaiser Oakland.      

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