More About Soke Balas
In my half century in the martial arts, I have spent more than thirty years as a professional educator and family and children's casework professional. My professional counseling career included assignments in the public sector of human services with families and children. For nearly a decade, I was Director of Planning and Development for Human Services (which included educational and career counseling and recreational services) for the Police Athletic League in Cleveland, Ohio.
I also served as an adjunct lecturer on child development, and "youth at risk" in the departments of psychology and sociology at several colleges and universities in northern Ohio. I served on the first drug and chemical dependency initiative program for youth in the greater Cleveland area, and for two years I was host of a "crisis intervention" talk radio program that served youth in northern Ohio. I am a recipient of the National Commander's Award of Disabled American Veterans (of America) for my work with area Vietnam veterans and on the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome on families and children.
I have spent the majority of my professional years associated with youth-serving institutions, planning and implementing educational programming and innovative leisure time recreational activities for youth. Finally, I worked for ten years in private practice, and I currently serve on several boards of major public sector institutions serving adults and children with special needs.
In addition to public sector service and my professional academic life, I am Karate and Martial Arts Director for the recreation and continuing education departments of three major Cleveland suburbs' school systems.