After six years and hundreds of performances before thousands of children, Ron Coristine sum’s up his involvement in the Respect Revolution in a few short words.
“It’s fun,” he said. “It’s just a fun thing to do.”
Coristine was one of the founders of the musical production when he was on the board of Chatham-Kent Community Living.
When his term there expired, he kept the production going and it’s currently part of the Making Children Better Now effort organized by Mike Neuts.
“Ron has an amazing program,” Neuts said during a production before more than 250 students at Harwich Raleigh Public School. “I get a warm, good feeling every time I see it.”
Chatham Mazda from Chatham Voice on Vimeo.
The production features volunteer students from local public and separate schools, as well as technical help from students from the St. Clair College Options program.
Through song and script, performers reinforce the message that all people deserve respect.
“This program goes hand in glove with the anti-bullying work I’ve been doing,” Neuts said. “If you respect someone, you’re not going to harass or bully them.”
Most of the performers hear of the program through word of mouth.
“The kids are great; they really believe in the message they’re delivering, and on a peer-to-peer basis, it really gets through,” Neuts said.
The message lasts with cast members and volunteers as well.
“One of our former co-op students, Bailey Baggio, is now in college, and when she returned on reading week, she came out to help,” he said. “It’s amazing how dedicated these young people can be to something they believe in.”
