Week 9: Choosing a GYSD Project

Yes, we are still working on choosing a GYSD project! This is a tough process because the students have many great ideas and equally strong personalities! :) It's a good thing, because we a learning the art of listening and formulating ideas. Yesterday, the students thought critically about the project ideas, trying to figure out what the project would mean to them, their peers, and the community, how many volunteers they would like to involve, and how they would like to involve the community. Noah McGee led the students in a debate over the issues and then I assisted them in re-organizing their ideas. They have narrowed the project down to two choices and unfortunately, we did not have a clear winner. First thing when we come back from break, the students will make their final decision, create a checklist and timeline and we still start to move forward! Whew! A lot of tough work!

Students did come to a clear consensus that they would like Hunter Peatman to design our t-shirt. Congratulations, Hunter! As soon as he submits the final design, I will start checking prices and collecting money/sizes. Unfortunately, the guy who did the t-shirts for us last year and for the school is serving overseas--anyone know of a custom t-shirt maker in the area who will give us a good deal?

Have a wonderful break!

Peace,

Laura

Week 8: Choosing a GYSD Project

We had a lot of fun on Monday with different mind games to illustrate how easy it is to get into a rut with our thinking. We also had fun with some teambuilding games. The students were champs with the hula hoop game, and did a great job connecting with their parents (while blindfolded!) during the barnyard game. It was also really funny to watch the students walking around with their eyes closed making pig and bird noises!

The main focus of the day was brainstorming in groups different project ideas for Global Youth Service Day that directly address a root cause to homeless animals. It was difficult because it is much easier to thinking of "band-aid" projects like fundraising and drives and harder to address why we homeless animals is a problem in our society and how to eradicate it. Students have narrowed down their choices and through a series of questions and discussions, they will decide on their project next week--just in time for winter break!

This week, we also have Robby from Trees Atlanta coming to introduce the Enviro Club that will be led by Everyday Leaders. Certain Mondays (1-2 / month) will be dedicated to working on environmental issues affecting ACMS directly. We will invite other students to the Enviro Club. On the Mondays that there is no Enviro Club, Everyday Leaders will focus on their Global Youth Service Day Projects.

Have a great day!

Peace,

Laura

Week 7: Examining the Issue - Becoming the Experts

Whew! We worked hard last night! The students spent the two hours really starting to dive into their issue: homeless animals. The more they learn about the issue, the more creative they will be able to be with their projects, and the more impact they will have on the issue. Student watched videos and read articles to learn more about the causes, effects, and resources available. Student dove into topics on spraying and neutering programs, feral cats, dog fighting, lost pets, cockfighting, causes of homelessness for pets, and puppy mills. We learned a ton, and next week students will start to brainstorm ideas for projects to address one or more of these issues.

Also, I wanted to note that this week was the first week that all 11 students in the club were present. I really hope that we have many more weeks of everyone in attendance. Each week the students make big decisions for Global Youth Service Day and it is important to have everyone's input so that all students are on board with group decisions. Plus, it adds more ideas and makes team building easier.

Have a great week--I'll see you next Monday!

Peace,

Laura

Week 6: Community Mapping - Examining the Issue

This week, the students worked together to finalize the Mission Statement that they created:

We, Everyday Leaders, are uniting together to be a positive influence to the world. We take action while setting education in motion. We influence each other to make good choices in our communities.

I am very excited about this mission statement and how much of a collaborative effort it was. Students also completed a very difficult team building challenge called The Maze Game. Students had to work together (without talking!) to find the safe path along a grid on the floor. Everyone on the team had to get across safely and on the same path. It was definitely a challenge, but the students worked together to make sure no one was left behind.

The students continued with their Community Assets & Needs assessment by debating and deciding which issue they wanted to address for Global Youth Service Day. The students collectively decided that they would like to work to allieviate the problem animal homelessness. Over the next couple of weeks, the students will become experts in this arena, not only by looking at the issue itself, but the causes of animal homelessness, the effects or problems that this issue grows into for our community, different community resources that are already working to address this issue, and finally, we will discuss solutions which will help drive our projects.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Peace,

Laura

Week 5: Community Mapping

This week, students worked hard on creating a mission statement for our group to help give us direction. Students also had the chance to revisit a team building challenge that they did not conquer in the first week of club: the Human Knot. The students this time used a lot of patience, turn taking and listening skills to complete the task in about 7 minutes. I was very proud to see what even in such a short time, the students are learning how to work better as a team.

Students also started a process called Community Mapping. Students started to look at the assets in their own community (like the firedepartment, the PTCA, etc) and also started to look at the Deficits, or Needs. From this list, the students will choose one to focus on for their Global Youth Service Day Project. Here is the list:

1. Lack of community service involvement in their community

2. Vandalism

3. Lack of outlets for artistic expression for youth

4. Car pollution

5. Litter

6. Homeless animals

7. Negative school climate

8. Crime

9. Drug use

Students will be voting and debating about which one they thing they can chance in a positive way over the course of the year.

Also -- very exciting news! Trees Atlanta will be teaming up with Everyday Leaders to help lead environmental service-learning labs, sessions, and projects two times per month. The other times we will be working on our youth-led project (something that addresses one of the issues above) for Global Youth Service Day. Students will be expects in this areas so that they can create a more lasting and effective project.

Have a great week!

Peace,

Laura

Week 4: Diversity

Today was definitely a heavy day. We tackled the theme of Diversity so that we can continue to recognize what makes different and unique and how that helps us all to work together is a space of compassion and trust.

To start it off, we did an activity called Diversity Island where students had to think about Diversity, what is obvious when we meet someone and what is not so obvious. Students we able to see that it is harder to "sum up" someone at first glance than we think.

We watched the school version of The Teen Files: The Truth About Hate*, which challenged groups of teens around the US--even one from Georgia--to confront their prejudices around race, religion,ethnicity, and sexuality. Following the movie, we held an opendiscussion where students were able to talk about and define diversity, tolerance, and compassion. All students were very respectful of one another and many profound observations where made. Thank you for the great discussion!!

Peace,

Laura


*AIMS Multimedia: An Arnold Shapiro Production, 1999

Week 3: Team Building

We took some time out this week to work on some team building skills. We also discussed leadership and talked about some leadership myths (like, Leaders are born, not made).

We played the game Land Mine, to see if we could navigate through a field of land mines (pieces of paper of things that stand in the way of us being a cohesive and productive team) while blindfolded! It was a fun activity, and we were able to discuss and figure out was to get past our own roadblocks.

We also took a closer look at the other youth-led service projects to see what other young minds are accomplishing all over the world for Global Youth Service Day. They were able to put the day into a context. We started to work on developing our own mission statement drawing from ideas from our own personal goals.

Finally, in groups, students worked to define TEAM. Here were their responses:

T - Teaching

E - Each Other

A - About

M - Membership

T - Together

E - Earning

A

M - Meaning

T - Teaching

E - Equally

A - Acceptance

M - Motivating

Great job!! Have a wonderful week!

Peace,

Laura