Like most Neighbourhood Heroes, Teresa Pring gives much more than is expected at work and at home. Theresa works at the Nanaimo Boys and Girls Club, an organization that does the same for the children and families it serves.

In fact this organization has become so strong and successful that clubs in Forest Park, Ladysmith, Chamainus and Duncan have recently asked to be taken under the Nanaimo club's umbrella. This is an organization we can all be proud of.

No wonder organizations like Sears, M & M Meats, Swiss Chalet, Subway Sandwiches, White Spot Restaurants, Nanaimo Community Foundation and local Rotary Clubs are choosing to partner with this club.

Teresa was first hired as an administrative assistant and receptionist but over the years, as well as connecting with virtually every child that comes through the door, she has taken responsibility for the donor recognition program and data base, the quarterly newsletter and media relations. She also coordinates the volunteer application process and the bingo volunteers, assists with payroll, and designs posters and pamphlets for the club.

A few years ago, the club sponsored an Asset Building workshop and Teresa accepted a challenge to connect even more closely with two or three children of her choice. This is the story of what happened with one of those children.

I've written about the Asset Building program before. In short it is about the small, everyday things we can all do to help young people succeed in life; it's about finding the positive strengths in people, acknowledging them and encouraging their growth. You can learn more about this exceptional program by going to www.search-institute.org/assets/.

One of the boys Teresa chose to focus on was a twelve-year-old bully. We'll call him "Joe" -- not his real name. He was confrontational, pushy, aggressive and loud but mainly with children younger and smaller than himself.

As a result of this consistent behaviour, Joe was frequently sent for "time outs" which were usually spent sitting near Teresa's work area.

"I decided to try to get to know Joe better," Teresa says, "to get him to open up a bit and pull out the positive things he was capable of. But by this time he was experimenting with some dangerous activities and was in trouble with the local fire department.

"After a few months, Joe did open up a bit more and that's when I realized he was also being bullied and that his mother was quite ill. Being smaller than average, he felt powerless among youth his own age and he was also powerless to help his mother. I encouraged him to talk about it and also to tell the truth about his 'not so appropriate' activities to the proper authorities. I pointed out that in doing so he would help both himself and his mother."

After following that advice and getting into soccer, softball and basketball with a little help from Teresa, Joe's life began to turn around over the next few years.

A year or more ago, Joe and his family moved east and Teresa didn't hear from him until recently when he returned for a visit.

"Imagine my pride," she told me, "when he came in to see me, gave me a big hug, showed me an excellent report card and told me that his mother had recovered. He also told me he was staying in school because he wants to become a police officer and work with kids to help prevent bullying."

Neighbourhood Heroes take time to listen to others and they always seek out and nurture the best in themselves and each other.

Have any of our Neighbourhood Heroes stories touched you in a special way? If they have, we'd like to hear about it. Call me at 741-7499 or email bill@nhero.org.

To nominate a Neighbourhood Hero, read any of our past columns or learn about our Hidden Heroes WebQuest go to www.nhero.org.