An amazing duo of superheroes without capes was in Gloversville recently to show students and
educators how they can spread HOPE (Hold On, Possibilities Exist) in their classrooms — and
beyond. Tom Murphy and Rick Yarosh, of Sweethearts & Heroes, were at Boulevard Elementary School, in the Gloversville Enlarged School District, on Friday, Sept. 29.
Sweethearts & Heroes is a student empowerment and empathy activation team that aims to
prevent bullying and suicide with a focus on the basic components of social-emotional learning
(SEL). Sweethearts & Heroes offers a profound, engaging signature presentation that calls for HOPE, Empathy and Action; Circle, which is built on the ancient ritual of communicating in a
circle to build empathy; and BRAVES Buddies, which trains older students in bully drills that
they, in turn, teach to students in lower grades.
Murphy said, “We’re cultivating compassion and empathy in schools again this year, and we’re
happy that our friends in Gloversville invited us to their district. We must stop students from
making destructive decisions and help them treat each other with kindness. We make our
messages sustainable in schools so that they also have an eventual and sustainable effect on the
local community. The spider web effect is powerful, and there’s HOPE for everyone.”
The Boulevard building principal, Mr. Brian DiPasquale, stated “We could not be happier
with our partnership with Sweethearts and Heroes. Instilling HOPE, teaching empathy
and encouraging action is the work of all the adults here at Boulevard and throughout
our district. Our district superintendent, Mr. Halloran has put an emphasis on educating
the whole child. In today’s day and age, supporting social-emotional learning goes
hand-in-hand with academic achievement.”