5th Annual Character Carnival 

See our home page for a slideshow of this year’s carnival done by Creative Photography 

The Character Carnival is a family-friendly, character-centered event! Participating in the Character Carnival are schools who are members of the Council’s Education Committee. Each school is charged with running a “carnival” booth featuring a game, craft project or activity designed to teach about a specific character virtue that has been randomly assigned to them. Character-specific instruction and challenges designed within the context of a fun carnival-style event helps children to learn about and celebrate good character, make wise decisions, and discern healthy choices.

The Character Carnival also features character-focused entertainment that complements the carnival booth atmosphere and reinforces the strong message for choosing character excellence as a lifelong pursuit.

5th Annual “Creating a Culture of Character” Conference

The “Creating a Culture of Character” Conference is held annually in March. The conference is designed to support character excellence development throughout all community sectors encouraging the character-community concept. Character experts renowned in the fields of education, business, law enforcement, athletics and youth have presented to Western New York audiences encouraging dedication to nurturing character initiatives within their spheres of influence. Programs and speakers to inspire adults, as well as, middle and high school youth, are the focus of the annual conference.

Previous presenters include: Nick Vujicic, Life Without Limbs; Michele Borba (education); Ray Nash, Police Dynamics (law enforcement); Tom Hill, Kimray, Inc. (business); Steve Menzel, Character First!, (character communities); Mike Masters, Cross Training Football, (athletics and youth);Nathan Mellor, Character First (Business);Hal Urban (Education); Amanda Nickerson, Ph.D., Jean Alberti center for the Prevention of Bullying, Abuse, and School Violence at SUNY Buffalo (Education); Andrew J. Freedman, Esq., Hodgson Russ, LLP Attorneys (Education);Lisa M. Kreuger, Ed.D., Terrence Tryon, MS and Kim Cirillo, MS, Orchard Park Central School District and Certified Olweus trainers.

Champions for CHANGE Youth Leadership Seminar

A Habitudes Experience: The Art of Self Leadership‐Feature Presentation by Dr. Tim Elmore: Sociologists tell us the most introverted of people will influence 10,000 others in an average lifetime. So how do you influence others? Do you even think about it? Do you make a positive difference in your world? How do you intentionally add value to the people in your life?

In this session we will discuss a collection of leadership principles and images called Habitudes. Habitudes teach timeless, universal leadership principles through the power of images, conversations and experiences. We will look at a handful of these Habitude images and discuss how we can apply these principles to leading change, the power of focus and discipline, connecting with peoples strengths, and more. Join us as we learn to lead and powerfully influence those around us.

Educators Seminar

Morning Session: Character Initiatives in Schools: A Quick-Start Workshop
Presented by members of the Character Council of Western New York

This program will assist schools with the implementation of character initiatives designed to foster an ethos centered on “Creating a Culture of Character” for their school communities. Educators will learn the value of practical ways to employ a four-pronged approach to encourage character excellence development including: how to organize and implement a Character Council within a school; how to start a Character Club to actively prosper student-led character initiatives; how to easily embed a character education focus into curriculum; and how to use character recognition programs to boost morale and nurture a school-driven spirit for good character.

Late Morning and Afternoon Sessions: In Other Words: The Development of Student Leaders; Habitudes: Images that Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes; and Guiding Principles for Leader Development.
Presented by Tim Elmore

This program will feature the following three workshops: In Other Words: The Development of Student Leaders; Habitudes: Images that Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes; and Guiding Principles for Leader Development. Through these workshops, Dr. Elmore will provide attendees with practical tools that can be used to help develop young leaders who can impact and transform society.

Target audience: Including but not limited to: Pre-K to 16 Educators, administrators, and students of education.