Kudos to Judge Lohn: Build-a-bear project is a creative idea

Juveniles get chance to show they care
Youths in court program stuff, dress up teddy bears for kids who need a hug
Cardwell, Jewell. Akron Beacon Journal, Dec. 3, 2007.

Dozens of nonviolent juvenile offenders were marshaled together recently for a nontraditional, court-ordered community service project.

It's one that Medina County Juvenile Judge John Lohn hopes will reframe their thinking and leave a lasting and meaningful mark on their hearts.

Lohn — who held court during the nearly four-hour process — ''beared up'' as well as the juveniles who bunched together around tables at the Medina County Health Department. The department donated its facilities and personnel.

The event — which ultimately will benefit the littlest clients of Medina County Job and Family Services — had not only the blessings but also the muscle of Build-A-Bear Workshops, a company that specializes in do-it-yourself teddy bears.

The juveniles — who were glad to be doing inside work, given the cold temperatures, and not cleaning toilets or working in the parks and cemeteries — seemed genuinely eager to be making teddy bears they will later present to children in foster care.

''This project accomplishes two things,'' said Lohn, who, with his own family, also made teddy bears. ''It teaches juvenile delinquents that there are kids in our county who have it a lot worse off than they do.

And it also brings joy to young children removed from their homes for their own protection and through no fault of their own. They need a special someone to hug and love.

''These kids need to learn empathy for others.''

''This is way cool,'' exclaimed a 14-year-old boy who was inserting a sound box in a black bear. ''I think this is an amazing opportunity for me to learn to change.''

Clearly not all of the male and female juveniles had warmed up to the project, but most seemed to embrace the idea.

For those who didn't, Lohn reminded them, ''You're here because you're in trouble with me.''

Melissa Riley, the community services supervisor, said the juveniles — considered by the court to be low-to-moderate-risk offenders — are charged with such offenses as theft, unruly behavior such as fighting or underage drinking, truancy from school, traffic violations and criminal damaging.

Assisting them on this night were a number of court staff, adult instructors, community volunteers, and four folks from Build-A-Bear Workshop.

The youths were able to select from a variety of teddy bear styles and colors and from a heap of different clothes to outfit them.

Not surprisingly, several of the males chose Browns, Cavaliers or camouflage outfits for their bears.

It was their way to ''man up'' in what their peers would consider girls' play.

To get the juveniles off on the right foot, they were instructed to place small, red satin hearts — warmed by their own hands — inside their bears.

''Close your eyes and make two wishes,'' they were told. ''One for the child who will get it and one for yourself.''

Each bear also got equipped with individual sound boxes, including monkey, dog and kitty sounds.

Sharon Danko — the court administrator, who also made a bear — hopes the juveniles will see the wisdom in the exercise.

''Judge Lohn is a very generous individual who's always trying to educate youth,'' she said.

Each juvenile was responsible for making or stuffing two teddy bears which they will present to children in foster care at a holiday party complete with Santa Claus.

Mead Wilkins, director of Medina County Job & Family Services, said the county now has about 70 children in foster care who range in age from newborns to 19.

The teddy bears will be accompanied by birth certificates that include a message from the bear makers and a list with the bear's date of birth, name, height, weight, fur and eye color, and a space for the owner's name.

The cost of the materials for the project were discounted by Build-A-Bear, with the rest covered by community donations.

Here's hoping for a brighter future for those building these special bears and those who will receive them. And that both will appreciate the simple pleasure of hugging something soft and cuddly.