The Exodus Project

This page is about dreams, possibilities, and goals for the future, and a promise, made many years ago. It offers an almost effortless means of helping others to help themselves, by doing things you are already doing, but doing them slightly differently.

The promise that underlies it all came as a natural outgrowth of a childhood filled with vastly more obstacles and setbacks than most "normal" kids seemed to face. In the Spring of 1971, ten-year-old future Lapidary Artist Douglas Turet had an epiphany and swore a solemn oath to himself and his maker: "Someday, I'll find out what it is about me that has always made me different from most of the other kids around me. When I do, I'm going to find a way to help future generations of kids who are just like I am, so they won't have to wade through all of the stuff that I've had to." After more than thirty years of hard work and determination, The Exodus Project is the fulfillment of that promise.

What is The Exodus Project? It is a means of ensuring that some of the most creative and adaptive, yet misunderstood young minds in our society can find positive pathways into their futures, despite the challenges of daily false starts, frustrations and setbacks rarely understood by their peers. Behind The Exodus Project lies the belief that children -- especially those whose best efforts are hampered by the most frustrating of unseen disabilities -- can achieve triumphs far greater than might otherwise be expected of them if they can only gain access to constructive leadership and positive reinforcement, and find the means to internalize them. To that end, The Exodus Project will match under-privileged children and adolescents who are challenged by Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.H.D.) with carefully-selected mentors for periods of six to twelve months each, at no cost to the children or their families.

What's perhaps most important to understand about the various forms of Attention Deficit Disorder -- as confusing and utterly exasperating as its symptoms can sometimes be for those who live and suffer with them (not to mention those who live or work with the sufferers) -- is that they frequently affect the nature, quantity and/or quality of the information received by the ADD 'er and, thus, often lead to unorthodox ways of perceiving the world. Interpreted and encouraged one way, this could lead to years of repressed rage and frustration, culminating in the classic act of "going postal". But, if offered another course and the right opportunities, it could just as easily lead to major advances in the fine and performing arts, the sciences or the business world... and frequently has! Like fire, water or Diamond grit, ADD/ADHD can be either a blessing or a curse, depending on its perception and application.

With this in mind, The Exodus Project's mission will be to save as many "at risk" kids from brief, unfulfilling, frustrating and violent lives in the streets as is possible, by fanning the flames of these kids' imaginations and creative passions, and introducing them to new realms of possibility. In order to help enhance the long-term significance of these mentorships to their beneficiaries, special consideration will be given to prospective mentors who have had to overcome major challenges of their own, en route to successes in precisely the same fields as their mentees' area of greatest artistic strength. In other words, each child chosen to participate will not only receive an instructor to look over to but an inspiring role model to look up to, as well!

Eligibility for The Exodus Project's mentorships will be based upon five criteria:

1. an attained age of between 8-14,
2. a previous diagnosis of either Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,
3. an ADD- or ADHD-attributable history of academic underachievement,
4. a demonstrated interest and some degree of talent in at least one area of creative expression, and
5. an annual combined family income of $50,000 or less.

As currently envisioned, the selection process will consist of interviews with the prospective mentees, their parents and teachers, and discussions with the child, or teenager, about his or her interests, values, hopes and attitudes. If chosen to participate, arrangements will be made to furnish each child with weekly lessons in their area of greatest creative strength, along with the primers and basic tools needed for their specific educational needs (such as pencils and paper and paints; drumsticks, practice-pads and sheet music, or dance shoes and sweat pants, for example) and non-convertible public transportation vouchers or passes, to ensure that the fullest possible range of benefits is enjoyed by the mentee. In time, and if consistent interest and effort are demonstrated by the student, the quality level of the supplies, tools and/or instruments may be upgraded, as well.

Each of the mentors will combine traditional technical and theoretical instruction with age appropriate insights and observations, gleaned from their years of professional experience, which may inspire new-found optimism in their students and direct them toward different avenues of personal and professional success than those previously considered. In turn, the children will agree to put forth their dedication, determination and patience, and will agree to do whatever it takes to practice the exercises they are assigned for a minimum of three hours per week, regardless of how exciting or boring these assignments may seem, at the time.

Slowly, in fits and starts, participants will come to recognize the creative potentials they possesses and develop of senses of self esteem and ability which no amount of exclusion, derision or disappointment can ever strip away. Even more importantly, the experiences of being valued for who they already are, and realizing how much they are capable of achieving -- as opposed to being judged against the almost unreachable standards of others' performances -- will help replace each young participant's overwhelming senses of fear and doubt with a new-found capacity for optimism. In time, and with repetition, this may help to transform their frustrated outbursts of rage and protests of isolation with more constructive means of self-expression and a sense of inclusion in a greater whole. Upon completion of the mentorship period, each mentee will receive a framed Certificate of Participation, an honest evaluation of their progress and areas of particular strength, an encouraging list of suggestions and insights, and an invitation to stay in touch with us and their instructors, through the ensuing years. Finally, all successful "graduates" of The Exodus Project's mentorships will be invited and encouraged to become mentors, themselves, once they've attained adulthood and professional success, which will further cement their senses of community and responsibility.

Initial funding for The Exodus Project's endeavors will be underwritten with 10% of the net profits of sales of all of the rough and finished gems and jewelry designs on this site. Once The Exodus Project has achieved its first five years of life-changing successes, greater and more sustainable sources for funding may be pursued. In time, and with the development of more resources, we hope to enable even more children to envision themselves as they can truly become, and lift themselves up, in even more cities around the globe.

Thank you, in advance, for helping us to help them by doing some of the shopping you already do, but doing it here.