Walkers raising money for youth program - October 18, 1996
Joe Johnson, front, of Mount Pleasant, Mich., John St. Augustine of Rapid River, Mich., and Duane Kinnart of Gladstone, Mich., walk along Marinette Avenue In Marinette Wednesday, In the midst of an 800-mile walk from Rapid River to Chicago. The three are making the walk to raise money for St. Augustine's nonprofit organization Inward Bound.
By CHRIS PEPIN
For the Daily Press

RAPID RIVER — Two Delta County men are about to embark on a journey. Their trip will take them through three states as they walk an 800-mile trek for the sake of young people.
Duane Kinnart, 39, of Gladstone, and John .St. Augustine, 37, of Rapid River, will be joined by 22-year-old Joe Johnson of Mount Pleasant
On Sunday, they will rise before dawn to prepare for their trek that begins at daybreak and is expected to last around six weeks. They will be joined by local supporters who will walk with them die first day, and others along the way who support the men's effort to rase money for a program called Inward Bound.
Inward Bound began about three years ago as the brainstorm of a Twin Lakes, Wis., woman. A group of Delta County people shared her belief that youth today could benefit from a rural setting to build life skills and the multi-cultural center was launched.
A back-to-basics kind of approach to serenity and self-esteem, this group hopes to offer a live-in, learning experience to both rural and urban youth from a five-state area in the Midwest.
St. Augustine, executive director of Inward Bound, is a Chicago native. A nationally known speaker and author of the soon to be released book

"All Are Chosen", he was commencement speaker at Rapid River High School a year ago.
It was the people and the natural beauty of the Upper Peninsula that prompted him to pack up his family and move to Rapid River.
"One of the things that really attracted me to Rapid River is the people really cared about kids. I liked that," lie said. "After doing so much work with corporations to initiate change...better communication...it was important to me...my choice was to take that same experience I got there and take it to younger people in Inward Bound," he said. "The only way I can do that is to be here."
St. Augustine said the Michigan-based, nonprofit organization will focus on team-building, self esteem, and communication skills for young people through land-based awareness activities and environmental awareness. One way they hope to accomplish that is with their newly-developed Life Works! program.
"Challenges for today's young people are far reaching," says St. Augustine. "We have to have places where they can find themselves, develop who they are, and then apply their greatness to society."
With their "Walk for Change", the men hope to raise one million dollars to be used for program development, purchase of property, equipment, and operating expenses.
They're already receiving financial support from institutions like Mead Corporation "in Escanaba, Northeastern Illinois University, and Teachers of Experimental and Adventure Methodology (T.E.A.M.) from Northeastern.
They're also counting on another big supporter of children, Oprah Winfrey.
"We will be asking for 15 minutes, of Oprah's time in Chicago," said St. Augustine. "I grew up there and two years ago, Oprah and I had dinner together at an Athletes Against Drugs dinner. I want to talk with her about some of her views as to what is needed for kids and if we can incorporate those things into the Life Works! program."
Kinnart, St. Augustine, Johnson, and those who join them along the way, will also be helped by people and businesses throughout the three states. Volunteers will be doing everything from donating walking shoes to tending

 spiritual fires that will be burning in Illinois and Rapid River.
Native American ways will be part of the teachings at the multi­cultural center. One belief is that fire is sacred as its smoke carries their prayers to the Creators.
In Rapid River, volunteers will be tending the fire at a lodge, while volunteers at Northeastern Illinois University will light their fire prior to the men's arrival. The two fires are connected by more than the men who will walk from one to the other. The fire in Illinois will begin with a coal brought there from the fire in Rapid River.
Accompanying the men to Chicago will be St. Augustine's father-in-law, Mickey Skaja, of Chicago. The men will be relying on the kindness of strangers to help them along the way. They are currently negotiating the use of a mobile home. If that fails, they will look to people along the route for their personal needs, shelter at night, etc. "We're really looking for people to come out and support this thing," said St. Augustine. "We will accept not only financial contributions, but any kind of gear that's needed...food, lodging, or materials."
No matter what, the men have no doubt they will complete their walk. St. Augustine has a speaking engagement in Chicago on Nov. 10.
"I'll be on time," said St. Augustine.
A reception has been planned for Nov. 8, their expected arrival at Northeastern Illinois University. The men will rest for several days before resuming the long walk home.
Kinnart, a millwright at Mead, is chairman of Inward Bound. Though he will only be able to walk to Illinois (St. Augustine and Johnson will also make the return trip on foot), it is a challenge from which he hopes to learn.
"There is a Chinese proverb that states 'When I hear, I forget, When I see, I remember, When I do, I understand.' We are 'Walking for Change' so that we understand the long road many of today's young people face. This retreat and the Inward Bound programs are a path to positive change for young people. The time has come to really walk our talk."