Photo Credit: The Declaration Staff

Colonia High School’s Hero and Cool Kid members before mentoring the Colonia Middle School 6th grade students.

There are many programs that offer help to those who feel either threatened by a person or issue, or already feel defeated by a person or issue. There are lots of programs that are out in the world but are not utilized by anyone. Programs that can help to relieve stress, give advice, and help the youth get back on track. The Second Floor (888-222-2228), therapy, youth groups, even school guidance counseling are all routes that young adults/teens can travel down in order to find some guidance. For students that are too embarrassed, or simply do not have enough time to seek help, high schools throughout nine counties in New Jersey are apart of a program called Heroes and Cool Kids.

Heroes and Cool Kids is a non-profit organization that was developed in the school year of 1998-99. Former and current professional athletes are called on to mentor high school leaders and athletes so that high school students can use their new knowledge to mentor middle school students. A Heroes and Cool Kids advisor, Mr. Jeffrey Holmes who teaches at Colonia High School in Middlesex County stated, “I think there is no better program that the school should have.The most important part in my opinion is the connection our students make with the kids at the middle school. I think all the topics we discuss are important whether it is about good sportsmanship, bullying and or drugs and alcohol.”

To be apart of the program, a student must be recommended by a coach or teacher. Then the student must attend a meeting at their school to collect paperwork that needs to be filled out and information about trips to the Vonage Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. At the Vonage center is where the high school students are bussed and mentored by retired athlete professionals such as Bruce Harper, Keith Elias, Harry Flaherty, Lindsay Berra, John Celestand, and more. An entire school day is spent there three different times a year. Vonage donates lunches and large halls to everyone who attends.

When Mr. Holmes was asked if he thought the Heroes and Cool Kids message was getting through to anyone, he said, “While the immediate results is hard to see after our visits, it is more easily seen when we have students who have been in the middle school when we visit that are now high school students wishing to be apart of the program.  I think this is a directly related to the positive message that we give while there.”

After sending an email to the Heroes and Cool Kids staff, a phone call was received from the President of the Program and former New York Jets running back, Bruce Harper. Harper is so proud to play the role that he does in the program. Being a retired professional sports hero he is always asked to be apart of charities and influential organizations to promote positivity. Harper said, “As you can imagine, we have touched many lives since starting in 1998.  Now, 18 yrs later I constantly encounter people in public that were involved in the program years ago.  My biggest thrills have been when I’ve met people who were in 5th grade as Cool Kids, then became Heroes in High School, graduate college to become teachers or sponsors and bring the program into new school districts.”

Certainly seeing his program grow and touch more and more lives gives him great joy, as it would anybody. As a middle schooler that Hero and Cool Kids members visit, those middle school students have no choice but to sit through our visit and participate. Kids who are either too scared to get help, or are simply embarrassed get a chance to seek help in teenage mentors whose goals are to make lives of the youth easier. When really, those middle schoolers help to keep the high schoolers out of trouble as well. After visiting the schools, and realizing that the high schoolers are role models to the middle school kids, it makes the high school students think twice before doing something that would degrade their title as “role model.”

Every visit is perfect because it is a fun visit. Through-out, games are played, questions are asked, but at the same time, maybe without some students even realizing it, the teenage high school mentors are making an impact. They show that situations can get better, no one should be ashamed of who they are, never be a bistander and if they need someone to talk to, there are people all around that want to listen even if they don’t think there are.

Harper shamefully admits that he is unhappy that this program has not gone national. There are many students out there in need of help, and guidance that could really utilize the Heroes and Cool Kids curriculum. Only thirteen school district are involved in New Jersey. The schools and counties that are actively involved in Heroes and Cool Kids include the following:

BERGEN COUNTY

Bergen Tech High School – Teterboro

Cliffside Park High School

Dwight Morrow High School – Englewood

Emerson Jr. Sr. High School

Hackensack High School

Hasbrouck Heights High School

Indian Hills High School – Oakland

Lodi High School

Northern Valley Demarest High School

Northern Valley Old Tappan High School

Palisades Park High School

Ramapo High School – Franklin Lakes

Ridgefield Memorial High School

Ridgewood High School

Rutherford High School

Teaneck High School

Waldwick High School

Wallington High School

ESSEX COUNTY

Cedar Grove High School

Glen Ridge High School

Verona High School

HUDSON COUNTY

Hoboken High School

Snyder High School – Jersey City

Lincoln High School – Jersey City

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

Colonia High School

Edison High School

JFK Memorial High School

Monroe Township High School

North Brunswick Township High School

Perth Amboy High School

Perth Amboy Middle School

South Plainfield High

Woodbridge High School

MORRIS COUNTY

Chatham High School

Morristown High School

The program has the potential to be huge. It is already well known, but it has the potential to be a household named program. Harper also stated, “In the beginning I was hoping we would get through the first year, then, I was hoping we’d get through the second year. I had no idea we would be as successful as we have been and here we are 18 years later and still going strong.” If you or your school would like more information on the Heroes and Cool Kids program, please contact the organization by email at [email protected], by phone at 201-641-0699 or by fax at 201-641-1508.