The Ministry of Role Modeling the Spirit of Excellence (SOE) is the product of John and Colleen Kosti twenty-year passion to relieve poverty of all kinds: Economic, Social, Spiritual

SOE works with artists and professionals of all ages worldwide to develop potential through the creative arts, beauty arts, vocational / entrepreneurial skills, personal image, healthy living, and spiritual guidance. Founded in June 2003, SOE purchased the Spirit of Excellence Creativity Training Centre in 2005. Then in 2015, SOE moved to a new location at the Water’s Edge, the former Our Lady of the Rosary Church which was re-purposed into the Water’s Edge Centre. We are in the adjoining former Rectory and share the beautiful Ivy Courtyard and ground on Riverside Drive East.

Our Mission

Spirit of Excellence aims (SOE) at creating lives of excellence, through working with artists and professionals, locally and globally, to help people discover their unique, God-given creativity and develop mastery and leadership skills in a creative, safe, confidence-building environment. These opportunities will help to make history for SOE participants by enhancing their vision for dreaming their dreams and then providing them the resources and mentorship.

Our Vision

Spirit of Excellence moved in 2015 to a re-purposed building and has since then expanded its vision to include more international and diverse participants of all ages. We work with artists and professionals worldwide to develop potential through the creative arts, vocational skills, health, leadership and life skills training. With hands-on experiences and events, participants both young and old participants and experts can collaborate, activate, cultivate and release their gifts.

History

John and Colleen Kosti are educators, musicians, artists and ordained ministers. Their desire to work as urban missionaries and creative artists brought them to realize the need for a place where their own daughters, and other creative people could be accepted and encouraged to discover, develop and express their creativity and talents, and thus the Spirit of Excellence Creativity Training Centre was birthed!

John and Colleen began their life together in full time business in beauty and education, owning a salon and school opening these since her days as an instructor at the college. Through their life journey they graduated from Bible School, took family counseling courses, which led to full time mission work, pastored a children department at a church in Michigan. After returning to Windsor they founded SOE and then shortly after miraculously obtained buildings in the historical Ford City Windsor.

A Registered Charity committed to Discovering, Developing & Activating Potential-Releasing Creativity-Relieving Poverty! Training for youth developing leadership & life skills of Excellence through the Arts, Music and a Lifestyle of Excellence!

Spirit of Excellence™ programs bring in people of all ages from all ethnic, economic, and educational backgrounds. Sponsorship and scholarship programs enable students from underprivileged areas to participate fully. At SOE, we are all on the same team!

Within Windsor urban community, we have provided mentoring in the creative arts (including writing, dance, acting, music, drumming, flags, and more) and in personal and professional skills (including image & poise, communication & public speaking, hygiene, cosmetology, computer skills, and working with media).

The Spirit of Excellence Creativity Training Centre moved in 2015. The new location is at the Water’s Edge, the former Our Lady of the Rosary Church which was re-purposed into the Water’s Edge Centre. We are in the adjoining former Rectory and share the beautiful Ivy Courtyard and ground on Riverside Drive East.

Today, founders Colleen & John Kosti are going beyond the urban community to take the vision and expertise of SOE around the globe.

“At Spirit of Excellence, we believe that every young person is a diamond possessing tremendous inherent worth. Our goal is to bring out their dazzling potential as we inspire a lifestyle of excellence!”

Awards

Ontario Trillium Foundation

$75,000 grant awarded from Ontario Trillium Foundation to increase the number of children at risk participating in free after-school and weekend life-skills and leadership programs in a low-income neighbourhood of Windsor.


Government of Canada Youth Employment Strategy

In May of 2007, SOE obtained a grant from the Government of Canada to employ youth and provides opportunities for underserved youth to work at Spirit of Excellence Centre as well as volunteer opportunities for individuals from the community. Colleen Kosti obtained one year a grant for $67,000 in employment funds for the summer to hire 12 students from University and High school students from disadvantaged areas.


University Of Windsor

Through partnership with University of Windsor, SOE hired staff for this 16-week employment / job experience creation grant and pulled of this amazing successful Curriculum project. This is a successful kids summer camp and after school programs and has served the community of the inner city of Windsor for over 7 years through providing hundreds of free healthy meals, hundreds of children interactive, fun lessons and games developing life skills of excellence, creative arts instruction and leadership courses for children and teens.


Celebrity Hollywood Tea Party / Art of Shoe Event

On May 31, 2008, we were honored to attend this amazing, and prestigious event. We received a grant for $4,780 through the Celebrity Hollywood Tea Party / Art of Shoe Event. Local business own Stephanie Cence  in collaboration with Celebrities Chris Noth of Sex in the City, Eric Bogosean Actor Law and Order, movie actor and other actors from the Television Show Sopranos.


Rose City Ford

Local business owner Ford City Rose Auto Dealership chose Spirit of Excellence for their 30-year anniversary grant donation $3,000.


Fulger Transportation, Ltd

In September 2016, the Spirit of Excellence was granted $3,000 for the Charity choice of the month Facebook competition.