Regardless of the circumstances you face, don’t make the mistake of giving up.
Read Cedric porties’ Story
The Burden of Youth
Our youth are dealing with bullies at school and home, suffering from chronic stress, and trying to cope with the pressures of living in a digital world where they’re hit with a deluge of confusing messages – what’s in or out, who’s good or bad, what’s right or wrong – from strangers and equally confused peers.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “160,000 kids per day do not attend school for fear of being bullied.” Bullying is the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively dominate others, and is most often a habitual behavior. A bully may use verbal harassment or threat, physical assault or coercion as they hide behind the cloak of fear of differences in social class, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, appearance, behavior, body language, personality, reputation, lineage, strength, size or ability.
There are programs focused on putting an end to bullying by teaching kids to respect others and to report bullying when they see it. In the meantime, we know that the “bully” has always been around – on nearly every playground and in the hallways of every school in America. It Figures wants to help kids find positive ways to cope with bullying and other pressures in life.
Bullying and other pressures can result in chronic stress: a prolonged and constant feeling of stress that can negatively affect one’s health and well-being. Just like work and home imbalance can cause chronic stress for an adult, certain emotional imbalances, everyday pressures at school, a toxic home environment or various traumatic situations, such as gun violence, racism, and abuse, can adversely affect our kids mentally – stunting their ability to thrive and prosper.
Persevering Through Adversity – Finding Inner-Strength
IT Figures empowers youth to find their passion and use their “superpowers” for good – to better themselves, their families and communities.
Established in 2017, and formed within the scope of 43 years, IT Figures’ founder, Cedric Porties, is a byproduct of his adolescent experiences – persevering through life’s pressures and finding his passion for collecting action figures.
Using an exhibit of action figures and hands-on activities, Porties, and his wife Tiffany, have created a program that empowers minority youth to find their inner-strength and become heroes of their own story. The programs are tailored for elementary, middle and high school students. Each program utilizes a display of action figures to share the stories of influential minorities who leveraged their strengths and passions to persevere through pressure and achieve success. IT Figures incorporates age-appropriate activities, motivational speaking and instruction to improve life outcomes.
Cedric’s Story
“Collecting has been my passion for 30 years. First, I started collecting music tapes and CDs, and then, I bought my first set of collectible action figures – a rap group named Run DMC. It blew my mind to see a set of African American rappers in the form of a toy. This sparked me to collect more figures of color. As I collected these figures, I became even more interested in their stories – especially the stories of people who overcame hurdles to become successful in their respective fields.
Growing up, there were many challenges and pressures in life I had to face, and those experiences have shaped me into the person I am today — a great deal of who I am has a lot to do with the struggles I overcame. As a kid in elementary school, life was rough: I wore thick glasses and I didn’t own any name-brand clothes or sneakers. I was teased a lot. Although I wasn’t teased in high school, my experience being teased in elementary school still haunted me. I lived in a shell; afraid that if I drew attention to myself, I would be teased again.
Eventually my circumstances improved. After graduating from high school, I joined the Air Force, and decided to start from scratch. I told myself that when I meet people, I’m going to reveal the real me and not allow the past to hinder me from living life to its fullest potential. Hip Hop music played a big role in boosting my confidence. It served as a connection point between me and my new friends. We prided ourselves in the underground East coast music we were drawn to, which set itself apart from the mainstream when it came to lyrical content, and gritty beats. Hip hop perpetuated the desire in me to embrace myself even if most people I knew didn’t “get it.” This new-found confidence led me to try out for sports teams, perform raps on stage at the Air Force base nightclub, and even speak up for what was right in circles of people who were doing things I didn’t agree with.
Reflecting on past experiences made me realize the impact bullying had on my life. I missed out on a lot of experiences during my teenage years because of fear. But, I didn’t give up and my circumstances ultimately improved. The bullying I experienced inspired me to want to help others cope with bullying and other pressures in life.
We know that deep within the earth, extreme heat and pressure modifies graphite, a crystalline carbon, which changes graphite’s molecular structure from a hexagonal sheet pattern, into a triangular shape, which ultimately produces a diamond. To that point, the pressure you experience during your lifetime may come in the form of broken families, poverty, bullying, abuse, or a lack of confidence. But, regardless of the circumstances you face, don’t make the mistake of giving up. Adversity doesn’t have to stop you. Quite the opposite. Pressure can serve as the fuel to inspire you to move forward. It can ultimately help you stand apart and shine brightly – like a diamond.”
Cedric R. Porties, Founder