Sesame Street USO Event Helps Kids with Moves

By Robyn Mincher, DCoE Strategic Communications

At the Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families event May 16 at Fort Belvoir, Va., Sesame’s favorite furry friends introduced a new character — Katie, a military child.

“You will love Katie!” Grover said. “She’s always so happy and peppy!”

Yet when the new Sesame Street character came onstage, she seemed sad.

“I just found out some really big news,” Katie said. “My family will be moving to a new base. I won’t be around here anymore.”

The character’s stress resonated with the audience of service members and their families. Moving is a part of life for many military families, especially in the summer, as thousands uproot and relocate to a new place each year. It can be tough to leave friends behind and become the new kid at school again. Some kids, like Katie, feel that every time they finally feel at home somewhere, it’s time to move again. Most aren’t happy about moving, but as the TV characters explained, there are ways to take on the challenge with a smile.

“It can be hard to be the new kid on the block. This shows how to build confidence, learn to say hello, find new friends and learn new surroundings,” said Ariel Dominick, a military spouse who brought her 3-year-old son to the show along with her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Adam Dominick.

Elmo, Cookie Monster and Rosita, another military child character, danced and sang as they taught Katie important lessons on how to stay resilient. Tips were shared such as swapping letters and emails with old friends left behind, maintaining a positive attitude and not underestimating the power of a simple “hello” to spark conversations with new people. Sesame characters encouraged kids to keep their head up, because all children of those who serve have unique, inherent resilience when facing challenges. At the end of the performance, Katie, with her head high, sang of her excitement for a new adventure.

“I can't wait to meet everyone and make lots of new friends. It's always great to have friendly faces in different places!” she said.

The tour, which first launched in 2008, is scheduled to roll onto more than 65 military installations across the country by the end of this year.

“With the help of friends like Elmo, Cookie Monster and Katie as well as happy songs, we are able to lift the spirits of our nation’s military children like never before,” said Sloan Gibson, USO president and CEO.

After the performances, information and resources to help military families cope with transitions are available for families to take home. Sesame Workshop, along with others, offers resources for kids and parents including:

■Moving tips for preschoolers, school-age children and families offered through familiesnearandfar.org — with resources for grown-ups, too

■Talk, Listen, Connect offers tool kits and videos that help families manage deployments, grief and changes

■Military Youth on the Move is the Defense Department’s one-stop shop where kids and teens can get advice and access resources on moving

■Visit Family Matters for tips to ease summertime moves

■MilitaryKidsConnect.org offers online journals and videos to connect with other military kids

Check uso.org/sesame to learn more and find out when the tour is coming to your town.

Sesame Street, USO Launch Tour for Military Families

By Elaine Sanchez

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2012 – Military families across the nation soon will be invited to take a stroll down Sesame Street.

The Sesame Street and USO Experience for Military Families, a free traveling tour exclusively for military families, will kick off April 7 at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and will visit more than 70 installations over the next eight months.

The show features Sesame Street favorites Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster and Rosita, as well as a new addition, Elmo’s friend, Katie, a character from a military family dealing with a military move.

During the musical show, Katie opens up to her Muppet friends about her fears and excitement about the move. With the help of a few songs, Elmo and other pals reassure her that she’ll make new friends while still remaining close with old ones.

“Our goal is to reach as many military children and their families as we can with Elmo and Katie’s messages of hope and resilience,” H. Melvin Ming, Sesame Workshop president and CEO, said in a news release. “And as we begin our sixth phase of this tour, we are proud to see the growing number of troops and their families reached by this effort.”

Created exclusively for this tour, Katie first was introduced to military families in April by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, at a Joining Forces rally in Columbus, Ohio. Joining Forces is the White House’s initiative to rally the nation’s support for troops, veterans and their families.

“The USO is very excited to partner again with Sesame Workshop as we return the tour to the U.S. with a fresh new look, theme and character,” Sloan Gibson, USO president and CEO, said in the release. “Our nation’s military community is our top priority, especially our youngest heroes.”

Before the show rolls onto installations across the country, officials are inviting people to help in naming the new tour bus. People can submit their ideas on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SesameStreetForMilitaryFamilies. Later in the month, families can visit Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/theUSO to vote on the finalists. In early April, officials will announce the winning name and unveil the new tour bus.

The Sesame Street and USO Experience for Military Families debuted in July 2008 to help families deal with the challenges of deployment and homecomings, according to the news release. Since its inception, the tour has taken its message to more than 248,000 troops and military families, and performed 433 shows on 131 military bases in 33 states and 11 countries, the release said.

Sesame Launches New Resources for Military Families

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va., Nov. 5, 2011 – With hundreds of military families gathered here, Sesame Workshop today unveiled a new collection of resources designed to help children stay connected with military loved ones.

The “Military Families Near and Far” products, which include a bilingual website and mobile application, encourage elementary school-aged children to express their emotions and to communicate as they undergo challenging military transitions. The resources are a team effort by the iconic kids’ TV programs, Sesame Street and The Electric Company, and are provided in cooperation with the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.

“Our families serve and make tremendous sacrifices every day,” said Charles Milam, the Defense Department’s principal director of military community and family policy. Just as President Barack Obama has made the support and care of military families a top priority, “we at the department are committed to increasing opportunities for military children and their families,” he said.

The new products include Military Families Near and Far, a bilingual website where kids can create networks, draw pictures, create songs and write letters to a deployed parent; Free Electric!, a mobile application that encourages children to explore and express their emotions; an Electric Company magazine for military families; and the Electric Company Extended Learning Program, which is packed with literacy and math-based lesson plans, games, activities and tips.

Sesame’s previous efforts to help military children have been aimed at preschoolers. These new products will enable them to reach older children in an age-appropriate and entertaining way, H. Melvin Ming, Sesame Workshop president and CEO, said at the event. “One size does not fit all,” he noted. “Children learn best when the message is age-appropriate.”

The resources will be distributed mid-November through multiple channels including the Department of Defense Education Activity Educational Partnership Program, Boys and Girls Clubs of America-affiliated youth centers and other military-support programs.

Navy Capt. Paul S. Hammer, director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, cited the importance of joint efforts aimed at helping military families such as this one.

“This is a partnership,” he said. “We bring our understanding about emotion, stress, psychological health, and Sesame Workshop brings the expertise of really understanding how to reach kids and get kids to talk about [their emotions]. I think that’s a good partnership to really help military families.

“There are a lot of programs out there, but this is a significant one in terms of really reaching kids and reaching families in a way that’s really constructive,” he added.

Along with the launch, the children who attended the event learned the importance of expressing their emotions, whether happy or sad, with a song and a dance and the help of some familiar friends from Sesame Street and The Electric Company.

Sesame’s Gordon and Abby Cadabby entertained the kids with a song, Near and Far, and then kids of all ages enjoyed dancing and “beat-boxing” with Electric Company’s Jessica and Shock. They also unveiled the Let it Out music video, which encouraged emotional expression and featured military members and children from across the nation.

After the event, the children dispersed to various play stations to play, snack or try out Sesame’s new Near and Far site and app on computers and iPads set up throughout the hall.

Air Force spouse Vicki Diesing’s two tech-savvy children, ages 4 and 9, were drawn to the computer station. Her younger daughter drew pictures for her deployed dad online as her mom gave her a hand.

“I like the idea they can communicate with their deployed family member through this site,” Diesing said. “I think it’s a good resource. Sometimes it’s hard for kids to express their feelings, and to have characters they can relate to helps them.

“My older daughter is just getting out of Sesame Street phase,” she added, “so the Electric Company really appealed to her.”

Josselyn Velasquez, whose husband is in the Air Force, also was busy navigating Sesame’s new website with her 4-year-old daughter, Tatiana. “I think it’s awesome,” she said of the site. “It’s letting military kids know they’re not alone, feeling the way they do with their families being gone.”

Barbara Thompson, director of the Pentagon’s office of family policy, children and youth, praised Sesame’s efforts for military children. “Sesame is just the best when it comes to creating innovative products,” she said.

The event was well-timed for November, she noted, which the president designated as Military Family Month. “We know that children also serve; they’re a part of our military family,” she said.

Sesame Street Live Visits NSA Naples

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Felicito Rustique, Navy Public Affairs Support Element–East Detachment Europe

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- The Sesame Street Live children's show performed two free shows at the community center gym aboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples, July 22.

The Uniformed Services Organization (USO) and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) aboard the facility organized the shows to entertain children and their parents while addressing military family concerns such as separation during deployments and being a new student at school.

"The USO's core mission has always been to support the troops until everyone comes home, and this Sesame Street show give us the ability to reach beyond that and serve the families of our troops as well," said Lonne Cooper, USO tour manager with Sesame Street Live.

The performances featured a pre-recorded video message by first lady Michelle Obama and second lady Dr. Jill Biden

"When one family member goes to serve, the entire family is serving, and we feel it's really important to be able to give support to that entire family," said Cooper.

Following the video message, music began and one by one, starting with Elmo, six Sesame Street characters came out on a set stage to dance, sing, and spread their messages aimed at bringing cheer to the target audience of military children and their parents.

Cooper said tying Sesame Street together with the military in Italy has been a three-year project.

"Nobody does education and entertainment together better than Sesame Street," said Cooper. "It's just worked out so well, and it's a natural fit."

In addition to stage performances by the life-sized Sesame Street characters, audience members were also treated to free handouts, toys, and photo opportunities afterward.

Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Aaron Isaac brought his wife and children to the show.

"My daughter loves Elmo, so I figured we'd come and bring her out to see if she'd have fun and she actually did," said Isaac. "I used to watch Sesame Street when I was a kid, and it's a good feeling to see my daughter dancing with all the other kids, having fun to the same thing I used to watch also."

This year's Sesame Street Live was the second time the show has come to NSA Naples.

For more information about Sesame Street Live and its upcoming schedule, contact your local USO.

Guam Military Children Entertained, Informed by Sesame Street Characters

By Airman 1st Class Whitney Tucker, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas Public Affairs

GUAM (NNS) -- Sesame Street television show characters visited Andersen Air Force Base and U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) June 9-10, to perform for military members and their families.

The USO teamed with Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization that produces Sesame Street, to bring the Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families to the Asia-Pacific region.

"It's a fantastic partnership," said Lonnie Cooper, USO tour manager. "It's a natural thing. Sesame Street has an instant credibility with children and their families and the USO has credibility with the military. When you put those two things together for this kind of program for military families, it is just unprecedented and it's been a real success for us."

Audiences at the shows were introduced to a new character, Katie, a military child relocating to a new home. With the support of Elmo and other Sesame Street "celebrity" friends, Katie is able to open up about her apprehension and excitement as she deals with the challenges of adjusting to a new environment and making new friends.

The new show also features a 25-minute, high-energy character performance with special giveaways and vital outreach materials for those who attend.

"It's a way for military children to learn how to cope with issues that affect them," Cooper said. "Who better to discuss it with, than characters they have come to trust like Elmo, Cookie Monster or Rosita?"

Staff Sgt. Whitney Rogers, 36th Force Support Squadron, said Sesame Street characters help children feel empowered and they encourage children to be themselves.

"This show is good for military kids because it lets them know they're not alone," she said. "In this lifestyle, kids move around a lot. They're going to make friends and lose friends, but this show teaches them that you never have to forget the people you meet and to remember that new friends are just around the corner."

Navy spouse Dot Ramirez said the show hit close to home for her family.

"We loved the show," she said. "In 11 weeks we're leaving, so [my daughter] can totally relate. We're starting to pack up and head to a new duty station."

For Master-at-Arms 1st Class (SW) Jermaine Glover, of NBG Security, the thrill of the show was being able to share a piece of his childhood with his sons.

"Last year it was a ball, so I made sure I had to come out a second time," Glover said. "[For our kids] to see what we saw back in the day, which was Sesame Street, and for them to see it and experience it was amazing."

Since its inception four years ago, The Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families has logged more than 61,200 miles to 90 bases in 33 different states and nine countries. This summer alone the tour will perform more than 120 shows, touching the lives of countless children and military members alike.

"We know family is the core of getting not only our service members through their hardship, but keeping every family unit together," said Leigh Leilani Graham, USO Guam director. "I think it helps the parents just as much as it does the children."

'Sesame Street' Deployment Show Nominated for Emmy

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

July 26, 2007 - A television special that looks closely at challenges military families face when a parent is deployed has been nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program. Defense Department officials were thrilled to hear the program, called "When Parents Are Deployed" and produced by Sesame Workshop, received such recognition.

"We were delighted to hear of the Emmy nomination of Sesame Workshop's 'When Parents Are Deployed,'" said Leslye A. Arsht, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy. "For those who are not part of the military family, the impact of deployments and how families cope may be difficult to understand.

"The program ... helps bridge that gap in powerful ways and -- to borrow a phrase from 'Sesame Street' -- it shows that a servicemember and his or her family are 'people in your neighborhood,'" she added.

Of course, the program's creators were ecstatic about the recognition, as well. "It was really very exciting just to hear about it and the fact that it was nominated," said Jeanette Betancourt, the vice president for outreach and educational practices at Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind "Sesame Street."

The primetime special, hosted by actor Cuba Gooding Jr., evolved from the Sesame Workshop's initial outreach initiative, "Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment." The DVD was created and distributed to military families with the help of Wal-Mart and Military OneSource.

Military OneSource is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, toll-free information and referral telephone service, as well as a supporter of the America Supports You network. America Support You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

"What started to happen is that a lot of families started to really open up to us," Betancourt said. "We had that sudden awareness that there was so much more that we can do. As a result, we created a separate primetime special through PBS."

"When Parents Are Deployed," geared toward parents, depicts the challenges of military families enduring deployments through the stories of those who have been there, some more than once. The program originally aired Dec. 29, 2006, on PBS and will continue to air periodically for two years from that date. PBS has scheduled the next airings for July 29 and Aug. 2.

"Its intent was for both military families, as well as the general public, to understand ... the challenges as well as the dedication military families have during this time of deployment," Betancourt said.

The program offers strategies for coping with the different stages of deployment. For example, some of the military parents who shared their stories also shared how they prepare their children for deployment.

A clip from the "Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment," DVD also appears in the primetime special. It shows how Elmo, a popular fuzzy, red Sesame Street character, and his dad, who is preparing to deploy, will keep up special routines while they're apart.

"This topic of military families and how they are impacted is so relevant right now. We're glad that we're able to at least fulfill a niche that I think was missing for quite a long time," Betancourt said.

She added that the military community responded very positively to the program.

"When Parents Are Deployed" is keeping good company as a primetime Emmy nominee. The Hallmark Channel's original movie "The Christmas Card" also received a nomination. The movie tells of a soldier who is home on leave visiting a small town where he falls for the woman who wrote an anonymous Christmas card that buoyed his morale while he was deployed overseas.

The Hallmark Channel is a corporate supporter of the America Supports You program