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Humanity is the top strength of the 2023 Hidden Heroes Champions

Fri, Nov 10th 2023, 03:35 PM
About Bahamians

Advocates, educators, an environmentalist, an entrepreneur, a corporate executive, and a student were the Champions of the Character Day Bahamas Hidden Heroes 2023 campaign. Cindy Godet hails from the island of Grand Bahama; Lyn Major and Lori Higgs-Thompson from Abaco; Shakara Trott from Andros; Nykeidar Durham from Eleuthera with Denise Major, Lissa McCombe-Pinder, Stacey Moultrie, Fanchon Braynen, Erin Brown, Christy Butler, and Daliyah Culmer from New Providence.

Character Day Bahamas Hidden Hero finalists were Janet Bowe, Perry Brice, Keniqua Burrows, Alveta Burton, Lynette Carey, Bruce Darville, Jessica Storr-Myers, Aaliyah Rolle, Tennille Ryan, Lisa Sawyer-McCartney, and Celine Scott.

“This year’s theme, “The Power of Love,” focuses on love, a character strength crucial to our humanity. It is no coincidence that these Hidden Heroes exemplify love, kindness, and social intelligence (social responsibility). These characteristics motivate them to support others and positively impact their community and country,” said program coordinator Charlene Carey.

The VIA Institute on Character states that scientists have identified 24 Character Strengths that all people possess, explaining that humanity describes strengths that manifest in caring relationships with others. These winners share their views on good character.

Community Champions: Educators

Lori Higgs-Thompson's character strengths are love, creativity, and kindness. An educator from Abaco Higgs-Thompson said, "To me, good character means living by example in word and deed. Giving back to the community to enrich those around you."

Lyn Major is a school administrator at Every Child Counts in Abaco. "We tell the students that all may have different abilities and strengths, but we all have the same ability to be the best person we can become and to develop traits like honesty, hard work, and kindness.” Lyn's character strengths are social responsibility, kindness, and love.

Nykeidar Durham is an educator at the Harbour Island All-Age School whose character strengths are social responsibility, enthusiasm, and love. "I am motivated by the work that I do as a teacher. I find great satisfaction in seeing my students succeed and grow over time. Good character to me means an honest person who shows courage and integrity. Doing the right thing when no one is watching."

Community Champion: Student

Ten-year-old Daliyah Culmer's character strengths are social responsibility, kindness, and love. She hopes that one day, everyone will have good character. "My passion for helping others in trying to make the world I live in a better place motivates me to show who I am in my community. Having good character means being kind, fair and doing the right thing when no one is looking.”

Community Champions: Advocates and others

Denise Major is a child protection and women’s rights advocate whose character strengths are social responsibility, kindness, and love. “Good character means to me that you're honest, respectful, and courageous enough to stand firm in your choices and decisions. You are responsible with your words and actions, wanting to do good and not intentionally harm. We are not perfect, but we strive to be the best versions of ourselves every day.”

Cindy Godet is an advocate for the protection women and children. “It’s simply all about the positive impact that I have on the lives of those around me - particularly it's about my embodying love, care, kindness, compassion, and honesty, and exhibiting these characteristics especially when the eyes of the public are not upon me.” Cindy’s character strengths are social responsibility, perseverance, and bravery.

Lissa McCombe-Pinder is an animal welfare advocate with BAARK (Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness) Bahamas. “Good character means having compassion for all of God's creatures. I have dedicated my life to helping the helpless and teaching compassion throughout our communities.” Lissa’s character strengths are perseverance, love, and social responsibility.

Erin Brown, a disabilities advocate, feels that good character involves a combination of things. “The individual must realize their value, voice, presence, and actions. Their character traits can be used to find their goals and purpose, and to advocate for things that matter to them and help them grow and become more valuable.” Erin’s character strengths are perspective, bravery, and optimism.

Stacey Moultrie is an environmental professional whose character strengths are prudence, love, and social responsibility. “For me, character is what you do, when no one is looking. If you do the right thing even if nobody's looking over your shoulder - there are no cameras, there is no church, there is no authority figure, and you still do the right thing, then you're a person of good character, and that's what I aim to be.”

Shakara Trott is a leader in her own right, and her character strengths are social responsibility, social intelligence, and spirituality. “I feel good character is being reliable, honest, and a person of integrity. If you're not pleased with who you are, you always have an opportunity to correct that and to change. Every day is a brand-new day to become someone better.”

Fanchon Braynen is a banking executive whose character strengths are leadership, forgiveness, and spirituality. “Good character means integrity, motivation, morality - and all that leads to success. A good name is to be desired far above any other material things.”

Corporate Champion:

Christy Butler is the Managing Director and the first female National Health Insurance Authority CEO. “My motivation comes from working towards a healthy community. In my role, good character is treating everyone I encounter with the utmost respect. It means operating with kindness, courage, reliability, and willingness to learn from my mistakes. Christy’s character strengths are social responsibility, kindness, and love.

Supported by the Templeton World Charity Foundation Inc., Character Day Bahamas is part of the PACE Foundation’s work. Their president, Sonia Brown, shares, “We focused on love this year to remind persons that they are loved and to remember that if they are facing challenges, they should reach out for help. We encourage people to develop a sense of self-love and remember that the more love they give away, the more they have in return.”

Love is a strength within the virtue category of humanity, one of six virtues that categorize the 24 strengths. Source: www.viacharacter.org. For more information on Character Day Bahamas, please visit www.characterday.org.

Advocates, educators, an environmentalist, an entrepreneur, a corporate executive, and a student were the Champions of the Character Day Bahamas Hidden Heroes 2023 campaign. Cindy Godet hails from the island of Grand Bahama; Lyn Major and Lori Higgs-Thompson from Abaco; Shakara Trott from Andros; Nykeidar Durham from Eleuthera with Denise Major, Lissa McCombe-Pinder, Stacey Moultrie, Fanchon Braynen, Erin Brown, Christy Butler, and Daliyah Culmer from New Providence.
Character Day Bahamas Hidden Hero finalists were Janet Bowe, Perry Brice, Keniqua Burrows, Alveta Burton, Lynette Carey, Bruce Darville, Jessica Storr-Myers, Aaliyah Rolle, Tennille Ryan, Lisa Sawyer-McCartney, and Celine Scott.
“This year’s theme, “The Power of Love,” focuses on love, a character strength crucial to our humanity. It is no coincidence that these Hidden Heroes exemplify love, kindness, and social intelligence (social responsibility). These characteristics motivate them to support others and positively impact their community and country,” said program coordinator Charlene Carey.
The VIA Institute on Character states that scientists have identified 24 Character Strengths that all people possess, explaining that humanity describes strengths that manifest in caring relationships with others. These winners share their views on good character.
Community Champions: Educators
Lori Higgs-Thompson's character strengths are love, creativity, and kindness. An educator from Abaco Higgs-Thompson said, "To me, good character means living by example in word and deed. Giving back to the community to enrich those around you."
Lyn Major is a school administrator at Every Child Counts in Abaco. "We tell the students that all may have different abilities and strengths, but we all have the same ability to be the best person we can become and to develop traits like honesty, hard work, and kindness.” Lyn's character strengths are social responsibility, kindness, and love.
Nykeidar Durham is an educator at the Harbour Island All-Age School whose character strengths are social responsibility, enthusiasm, and love. "I am motivated by the work that I do as a teacher. I find great satisfaction in seeing my students succeed and grow over time. Good character to me means an honest person who shows courage and integrity. Doing the right thing when no one is watching."
Community Champion: Student
Ten-year-old Daliyah Culmer's character strengths are social responsibility, kindness, and love. She hopes that one day, everyone will have good character. "My passion for helping others in trying to make the world I live in a better place motivates me to show who I am in my community. Having good character means being kind, fair and doing the right thing when no one is looking.”
Community Champions: Advocates and others
Denise Major is a child protection and women’s rights advocate whose character strengths are social responsibility, kindness, and love. “Good character means to me that you're honest, respectful, and courageous enough to stand firm in your choices and decisions. You are responsible with your words and actions, wanting to do good and not intentionally harm. We are not perfect, but we strive to be the best versions of ourselves every day.”
Cindy Godet is an advocate for the protection women and children. “It’s simply all about the positive impact that I have on the lives of those around me - particularly it's about my embodying love, care, kindness, compassion, and honesty, and exhibiting these characteristics especially when the eyes of the public are not upon me.” Cindy’s character strengths are social responsibility, perseverance, and bravery.
Lissa McCombe-Pinder is an animal welfare advocate with BAARK (Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness) Bahamas. “Good character means having compassion for all of God's creatures. I have dedicated my life to helping the helpless and teaching compassion throughout our communities.” Lissa’s character strengths are perseverance, love, and social responsibility.
Erin Brown, a disabilities advocate, feels that good character involves a combination of things. “The individual must realize their value, voice, presence, and actions. Their character traits can be used to find their goals and purpose, and to advocate for things that matter to them and help them grow and become more valuable.” Erin’s character strengths are perspective, bravery, and optimism.
Stacey Moultrie is an environmental professional whose character strengths are prudence, love, and social responsibility. “For me, character is what you do, when no one is looking. If you do the right thing even if nobody's looking over your shoulder - there are no cameras, there is no church, there is no authority figure, and you still do the right thing, then you're a person of good character, and that's what I aim to be.”
Shakara Trott is a leader in her own right, and her character strengths are social responsibility, social intelligence, and spirituality. “I feel good character is being reliable, honest, and a person of integrity. If you're not pleased with who you are, you always have an opportunity to correct that and to change. Every day is a brand-new day to become someone better.”
Fanchon Braynen is a banking executive whose character strengths are leadership, forgiveness, and spirituality. “Good character means integrity, motivation, morality - and all that leads to success. A good name is to be desired far above any other material things.”
Corporate Champion:
Christy Butler is the Managing Director and the first female National Health Insurance Authority CEO. “My motivation comes from working towards a healthy community. In my role, good character is treating everyone I encounter with the utmost respect. It means operating with kindness, courage, reliability, and willingness to learn from my mistakes. Christy’s character strengths are social responsibility, kindness, and love.
Supported by the Templeton World Charity Foundation Inc., Character Day Bahamas is part of the PACE Foundation’s work. Their president, Sonia Brown, shares, “We focused on love this year to remind persons that they are loved and to remember that if they are facing challenges, they should reach out for help. We encourage people to develop a sense of self-love and remember that the more love they give away, the more they have in return.”
Love is a strength within the virtue category of humanity, one of six virtues that categorize the 24 strengths. Source: www.viacharacter.org. For more information on Character Day Bahamas, please visit www.characterday.org.
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