Booker T. Washington, founder of Tuskegee Institute, said, “Excellence is doing a common thing in an uncommon manner”.

Albert Einstein said, “Try not to become a man of success but rather a man of value”.

Martin Luther King in his famous speech looked for a day when his dream of his sons and daughters would be judged not by the  color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Abraham Lincoln said, “No man resolved to make the most of himself can spend time for personal contention”.

     The Character Achievement Program (C.A.P) focuses on the heroes of our past whose spirits challenge us with a legacy that goes further than talent, personality, or beauty.  They challenge us with a legacy of character.  Our children must be reminded that it was these heroes characters that made them what they were.  This C.A.P program is made up of volunteers whose leadership and living examples are coupled with a colorful curriculum. Since character is more caught than taught, these committed young people, with a heart to develop friendships, add a personal touch that makes for a much more effective program.

     The program consists of a series of courses, where each week/month a character quality is presented.

 Step One:  A definition that portraits the character.

 Step Two:  Gives a tangible understanding of the quality by an illustration from the  world of nature and the lives of historical figures such as Abraham   Lincoln.  Series one deals with 9 different stories of his life, while series two uses other people from diverse ethical backgrounds; rich and poor, young and old.

 Step Three:  Applies character to the family, classroom, and community.  It helps students set and reach personal goals for their own character development.  Five behavioral commitments in the form of “I will”, will be established in their lives.  For example, “I will look at people when they speak to me”.

 Step Four:  Helps the teacher transfer Character material to their classrooms with suggestions such as; games, activities, and projects.

 Step Five:  Praise!  We all have a basic need for acceptance and approval, especially our children.  This step helps teachers and others distinguish between praising achievement which can lead to jealousy, pride and frustration, rather than praising character which benefits everyone.

 Step Six:  This final step reminds students to keep practicing character when no one is looking.  Character cards and posters pieced together form a big and complete picture as does the development of character.

 Character is an issue that does not divide but brings unity and transcends race, religion, age, business, and so on.