Livin’ Outloud
Submitted by Tracey Treadway
I am a colorguard instructor at a Charter school in south Dallas, Texas. I began teaching colorguard as a class 3 years ago. Everyone was allowed to participate in my class. Our school even has a no tryout policy. Little did I know that my life would change because of the time I took to teach a young girl with cerebral palsy. Her condition affects the left side of her body. At first she would cry almost everyday because she could not keep up with the rest of the class. She would throw down her flag, start pulling at her hair, call herself names, and she wished that she could just cut off that side of her body. All she ever wanted was to be looked upon as normal person and not a freak. Well, by the end of the first year she learned to spin, toss, and catch the flag with one hand.
The second year she came to my class ready to work. This year she wanted to learn rifle. She would run away every time she threw up a rifle. She was afraid it would hit her left foot. This was the first year I really pushed her to use her left hand. By second semester I felt that she had worked so hard that I asked her to go to a local solo and ensemble competition. She practiced and performed for the first time in front of her peers and got a standing ovation. It was amazing. After seeing her face I knew why God sent this angel to my class. She is the inspiration for a Christian youth outreach minisrty called LIVIN’ OUTLOUD.
Livin’ Outloud helps physically disabled and ” At Risk” youth grow spiritually and artistically through the performing arts.
We offer free colorguard camps for disabled youth, arts sponsorships, college scholarships, and more. We have a drama and dance minisrty that meets every Monday night and Alice really needs others like her to get involved.
This past year she joined our school’s colorguard competition squad and I gave her the solo part. She has learned to control her anger and express herself and feelings through colorguard. We are trying to teach her ballet and hip hop dancing this year. Keep that in your prayers and we continue to push her limits to see just how far she can go.
If you are interested in a colorguard camp for cerebral palsy youth in the DALLAS - FT. WORTH, TEXAS area please call me.
Livin’ Outloud wants to start colorguard programs in schools for the abled and disabled together in Jr high and Elementary schools and we are looking for support.
ARE YOU LIVIN’ OUTLOUD?
