By: Crystal Mayo
BABES Special Projects and Media Specialist
Dr. Carol Carter
One of the first things that I asked Dr. Carol Carter was “where did the name Sunshine come from – and why SUNSHINE BABES?” In an ecstatic voice full of pride, she answered, “The sun represents the heightened aspirations of man … sunshine symbolizes light, warmth and direction.”
Understandably, the sunshine can bring happiness and joy and even warm feelings of hope, but as we all know, just as the sunshine brings brightness, dreary days and dark nights can block the strongest rays of sunshine in one’s life.
In 1989, in Long Island, New York, unacquainted single moms Carter and Tamara Pelosi’s lives weren’t so sunny and bright rather, as they both recall, too often “dark and dreary.”
… And this is their story …
Through fate their paths would cross and they would soon discover that they had many things in common, particularly living in households that were plagued with drugs and alcohol.
“After a few conversations, we both began to really see and understand that we had special gifts for working with children and that it was our responsibility to teach our children how not to repeat any cycles that had plagued our lives,” Carter shared. “It is also important that children have all the options and resources to follow their dreams,” Pelosi added.
They began on a mission standing on the strength that one day their lives would be full of sunshine and from their friendship and belief in God, “Our lives would come out of the dark, rainy clouds of hopelessness and we would be able to share that hope with others, particularly children,” stated Carter.
Then there was that dream that Pelosi had. She dreamed that she saw a bright, beautiful sun coming out from behind a big dark cloud. That sun became a symbol of hope for both ladies.
In the spring of 1992, they heard of a prevention program for children called BABES. The timing was perfect since BABES was coming to Long Island, New York for a training that was being hosted by the Long Island Council for Alcohol and Addiction Dependency.
They attended the three-day training and admit that, at the time, they both felt a little intimidated.
“Sitting amongst teachers, social workers, principals and school administrators, I recall wondering if this was really what we were supposed to be doing. Was this the program and training for us,” recalls Carter, who was a stay at home mom volunteering at her church’s Vacation Bible School (she would receive her Doctorate in education in 2008). Pelosi was a pre-school teacher.
As they both recall, when the creator of BABES told her story about how she wished that there was a program like BABES when she was dealing with her alcoholism, they knew without a doubt that BABES was the real thing and they were at the “right training” — that BABES could lead them on their mission to make a difference in the lives of children. “We had a definite connection with Lottie Jones and we were both confident that her BABES was exactly what our community needed,” said Carter.
By the end of the BABES training, they remember feeling inspired and energized. At that training, they met Patti Kelly/Barker who became their mentor and eventually, Sunshine BABES’ co-founder.
They were soon signing up parents and before long the demand for the program created waiting lists, but they had zero capital to start the program and cover the initial costs to start presenting BABES to children.
Encouraged by family and friends, they decided to hold a yard sale to raise money. Unfortunately, the morning of the sale they awakened to the wrath of Hurricane Danielle.
Determined to let nothing stop them from raising funds needed to introduce Sunshine BABES to their community, they continued on a fundraising mission that resulted in them raising enough money to purchase their first BABES kits which included the BABES puppets and curriculum.
In October, 1992, they held their first BABES workshop with ten children most of whom were from homes dealing with alcohol and other drugs. The workshop was held in the basement of the St. James Episcopal Church in Brookhaven Hamlet, New York.
In 1993, Sunshine BABES was incorporated. The organization now sits on 16 acres of land, donated by the town of Brookhaven. In return for their payment of one dollar per year to operate on the land, staff is required to do specific work including bringing the building up to code, with a commitment of providing prevention-focused services for children and families within the Brookhaven community.
Twenty-five years later, any day that the weatherman forecasts clouds and rain, the SUN SHINES on this wonderful organization that has stayed on their mission of providing children with love, acceptance and encouragement — Beaming rays of hope that they (children and their families) will live in a safe, drug-free and violence-free environment. “We know we can’t save the world, but if we can keep that bright light of hope shining in the lives of the children and families that we touch, we have made a difference,” says Carter.
Sunshine BABES offers a summer program, workshops and continues to recruit volunteers but, just as important, are the success stories. This one in particular, shared by Carter…
…“A local high school teacher called us concerned about a young girl whose mother had just died of AIDS.* Her dad was an alcoholic and drug addict. We felt this young girl needed a place to go for the summer – some Sunshine in her life. While she thought she was at camp to help, she was really the one who was being helped. You could see her change throughout the summer. This quiet, shy girl began to smile, talk and trust us. She looked forward to coming to camp each day to help with the daily activities and to forget about her problems for a while. This girl was our first teen volunteer…”
Sunshine BABES would become Sunshine Alternative Education Center. Today, it is highly respected as a leader in the field of substance abuse and violence prevention. The organization is still offering the BABES program, as well as a host of other programs throughout the year to serve their community.
Dr. Carter gives credit to BABES and (now) Reverend Dr. Lottie Jones Hood for sharing BABES and its philosophy. “Our success story will always include that first BABES training… that BABES connection.”
“Though life may seem dark and cloudy, remember that one day the sun WILL shine again,” SUNSHINE BABES
BABES also offers an AIDS storybook
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