Rally for Youth Reminder: 3-3-2011

Happy New Year, everyone! From all of us at MN YIPA, we hope 2010 ended on a positive note, and that you’re as enthused as we are to begin fresh in 2011! We’re taking part in planning some really exciting events this year, including but not limited to the 2011 Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol! By now, all YIPA members and other youth-serving organizations across the state of Minnesota should have received the application materials needed to participate in this event. If you haven’t, feel free to check out the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota’s website to download the materials. And again, if you have any questions now or at any time before the event on March 3, 2011, do not hesitate to be in touch with a representative at any of the Youth Policy Alliance (YPA) organizations.

If you have taken part in the rally in the past, you will notice a couple changes that have been made for the 2011 rally. The first major change is that participants will not be meeting at the Kelly Inn for pre-rally training; instead, rally preparations will be communicated to adult leaders through live webinar and it is the responsibility of those leaders to disseminate this information to their youth. The second major change is that applicants are given three options for ways to arrange meetings with legislators:
1. Arrange the meeting on your own. This option is for those who have personal relationships established with their legislators and would prefer working directly with them as opposed to using an intermediary.

2. Arranging your own meeting with legislators with assistance from the rally committee. This option is for those who are confident they will be able to organize a meeting with a little guidance from experts.

3. Have the meeting arranged for you. This option is for constituents who may not be familiar with their legislators and would feel more confident and conformable having an intermediary contact their legislator and plan their meeting.

Some important information to remember:

January 21, 2011 – All applications are due

Mailed or emailed applications can be sent to:

Lindsey Carlson * Attn: Rally for Youth

7350 Chesham Lane

Woodbury, MN 55125

Lindsey.carlson08@gmail.com

Faxed applications can be sent to:

Carolyn Herman * HIRED

Attn: Rally for Youth

651-999-5641

January 28, 2011 – Rally applicants will be notified of acceptance

February 9, 2011 – Live webinar to prepare adult leaders will be streamed from 2pm-1pm.

Additionally, there will be an informational video available during the month of February, which will highlight youth who have personal experience utilizing services in the six focus areas of the rally: Homelessness Prevention, Mentoring, Out-of-School Time, Youth Intervention, Workforce Development and Juvenile Justice. We are still looking for youth with experience in these core areas, who are able and willing to share their story both in video form, and at the actual event at the Capitol on March 3, 2011. If you are connected with youth who feel confident sharing their experiences with others, feel free to email me (Rachel) at promisefellow@mnyipa.org or leave a comment on this blog.

What is MLK Day of Service?

January 17 marks the 25th anniversary of a holiday that recognizes a person who helped significantly change our country for the better – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On this day, organizations across the nation will lead or participate in MLK Day of Service projects. This milestone is a perfect opportunity for all Americans to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. Whether you spend the day reading to children at a community library, or helping organize food at a local food shelf, take some time to serve your community. Click here to find a project in your area. Or if you’re interested in planning a project for this exciting day of service, click here. If your agency is hosting a service project and could use some additional help, feel free to comment on this post and tell us more about how you’re spending MLK Service Day!

Here are some organizations in Minnesota who have service projects planned and are seeking volunteers:

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Minneapolis Community and Technical College

University of Minnesota – Morris

The Digital Divide Initiative

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?” We’d love to hear what you’re doing for others.

December Member of the Month: Northwest Youth and Family Services

Northwest Youth and Family Services (NYFS) is happy to announce a new program called The STEP Program. STEP stands for Service + Tutoring Equals Pride, and is a free program designed for youth who are not reaching their full academic potential and/or may be struggling socially. NYFS has partnered with Americorps, Minnesota Alliance with Youth and the Mounds View School District to offer the youth in our community a safe and caring environment, enabling them to spend their time connecting with caring mentors. Through the resources that the program offers, youth are challenged to stretch themselves academically, pursue leadership and service opportunities and to learn more about planning for college and post-secondary educational opportunities.

STEP operates at three different sites: NYFS, Highview Middle School and Edgewood Middle School. All three programs are coordinated by Americorps Promise Fellows. At NYFS, STEP is offered three evenings a week. Two of the three evenings are focused on academic tutoring sessions and educational activities. The goals of this program are that each student improve their grades by one full letter grade, have better study skills, learn time management, gain leadership skills, learn about future career paths/educational opportunities and understand the importance of helping others. Student in this program even have the added bonus of receiving transportation to and from the program should they need it!

The youth in their program have received the opportunity to participate in interest-based field trips such as a visit to the Shoreview Community Center's indoor water park, which was a highlight of the program. They are also planning field trips to go bowling, play at Eagles Nest Indoor Playground, visit Mall of America's Nickelodeon theme park and so much more! Additionally, they are providing their youth the opportunity to serve a Christmas meal to senior citizens and their families at Presbyterian Homes of Arden Hills on December 8th and 9th. Through this event, they anticipate the youth will learn leadership skills and get a glimpse of future career paths they may want to embark on in the future. Within the next month, they will also be providing tours of local colleges (Century College and Bethel University) so their youth can begin to plan for the future.

Of course, they want their youth to be well rounded, and be equipped to better serve their community so they have designed some service-learning opportunities to assist them in this area. They are in the process of having their youth participate in a Hunger, Homelessness and Poverty unit, where students were given the opportunity to tour Simpson Housing Services in Minneapolis. They are planning more shelter tours and eventually would like to have a fundraiser to raise money so they can donate food, as well as serve a meal at a local shelter. While participating in such a unit can be emotional, the AmeriCorps Promise Fellow, Holly “believes it is very important to have [their] youth realize the tragedies that exist in [their] community.” In Minnesota alone, each shelter turns away approximately 1,000 individuals each night. Holly’s hope is for the youth in her program to realize they can make a difference. During her childhood, there were economic struggles that often made it difficult for her mother to put food on the table. Despite this, she persevered, and to this day her mother is her role model. When Holly was 13 years old her mother had her volunteer at their church for the entire month of December, and it was during that time that she begin to realize that she could make a difference. At their church, they offered a shelter in the basement for those in need; she remembers the first night, when she began to understand the power of helping others. It was this experience as a child that has pushed her to want to help others such as the youth in STEP to realize that they, too, can make a difference.

Although Holly has only been in the position of serving as a Promise Fellow since August, she says that “it has been one of the greatest challenges and most rewarding experiences [she has] ever had.” She feels fortunate to have the support of the NYFS family and Promise Fellows on her School-Community Partnership team. Although she was not expecting to see much success very early on in the program, recently one of the STEP youth asked her what she wanted to do when I “grew up.” She told him she wanted to be a counselor and help others. His exact words were “you are already a counselor. You continue to help me, even though I am a challenge. You haven't gave up on me yet.” AmeriCorps Promise Fellows do make a difference in the world.

March 3rd, 2011: Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol

On Wednesday of this week, the Youth Policy Alliance (YPA) began distributing some important materials to help prepare you and your youth for the 4th Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol! Many of you may have already received your application and Frequently Asked Question sheet via email or snail mail, but if you haven’t yet don’t fret! Applications and other information will be sent to you in the days, weeks and months to come. YIPA members can expect to receive their application materials on December 15th, 2010.

The YPA is a coalition of youth serving organizations, associations and alliances with a statewide presence working to ensure sound youth policy in Minnesota. The YPA has come together to create a framework of support that ensures all children and youth move into adulthood ready for life.

On behalf of the YPA, MN Youth Intervention Programs Association (MN YIPA) welcomes you, your staff, and your youth to join us on March 3rd, 2011 as we seek to educate our policy leaders about the need for a comprehensive youth system of services. If your organization houses a program that provides services for youth in any of the following areas, please consider working with the YPA to arrange meetings with your legislators:

Homelessness Prevention

Mentoring

Out-of-School Time

Youth Intervention

Workforce Development

Juvenile Justice

This day-long event will be organized in a way that will help youth familiarize themselves with the Capitol, the legislature, and communicating openly and honestly with legislators about issues involving them. Youth services do not exist or work in an exclusive, solitary environment to meet the needs of young people. We must engage communities and enact policies, which promote a comprehensive approach to youth policy ensuring that all young adults are ready for life.

If your organization wishes to participate in the full day's activities and has not received an application, please comment on this blog or contact me (Rachel) via email at promisefellow@mnyipa.org! We are asking that all applications be returned by January 21st, 2011. If you have any additional questions or need more information about the rally itself, please contact Lindsey Carlson at lindsey.carlson08@gmail.com.

Click here to RSVP to our facebook event!

November Member of the Month: Benefits of Hosting a Promise Fellow

Minnesota is in the middle of a “perfect storm." At the same time baby boomers are leaving the workforce, we also see major changes in youth demographics. Youth of color and low -income youth make up a growing percentage of total school-age children, yet many of these youth are most at-risk of dropping out. If we are to adequately prepare a highly trained workforce and remain economically solvent as a state, we need to turn the tide. Dropping out of school is a process, not a one-day event. Using the research on early warning signs, we can identify the youth most at risk and use evidence-based intervention strategies to prevent youth from dropping out.

We know that when communities come together, they can meet the challenges of the dropout crisis head on – but it often requires the added capacity of staff to support their efforts. And that is precisely why hosting an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow through the Minnesota Alliance with Youth can benefit both your organization and your community.

AmeriCorps Promise Fellows serve for one year with schools and organizations across Minnesota to mobilize volunteers, create new after-school programs, build mentoring and tutoring initiatives, and engage youth in service-learning. AmeriCorps members allow schools and communities to pilot strategies and programs on a small and cost-efficient scale, and then seek long-term local funding. Promise Fellows receive significant training and experience that helps grow and strengthen the youth development field in Minnesota. This year, the Minnesota Alliance with Youth placed 80+ Promise Fellows in schools and organizations across the state of Minnesota, and next year they are looking to increase this number to reach even more youth!

There are currently six Promise Fellows serving at three different MN YIPA member sites, and all six are doing great things for our communities. Shane Thompson from the Seneca and Odawa Nations is the Education Coordinator Promise Fellow with the Ginew/Golden Eagle program based out of the Minneapolis American Indian Center. He works closely with Rachel Greenwalt who is the Volunteer Coordinator Promise Fellow also serving with the Ginew/Golden Eagle program. They serve American Indian youth ages 5-18 and offer groups for various age groups four nights a week, providing a meal and transportation to and from groups. According to Rachel, “it has been such a great opportunity to get to know all the kids in our program. We currently have just over 80 kids enrolled in the program and we are continuing to recruit more families to be involved at Golden Eagles.”

Other YIPA sites that are currently hosting one or more Promise Fellows:

The Link

Northwestern Youth and Family Services

If you know anyone who is interesting in becoming an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow, refer them to the Minnesota Alliance with Youth website.

To achieve goals and support students, the Minnesota Alliance With Youth invites schools, community organizations, government agencies, and other nonprofits to apply to host one or more AmeriCorps Promise Fellows to support their School Community Partnerships.

If you are interested in hosting a Promise Fellow for 2011-2012, please go to the Minnesota Alliance with Youth website for additional information about writing a letter of intent. And keep in mind that the deadline for Letters of Intent is right around the corner: December 15th, 2010.

Survival Skills for the Youth Service Worker, by Steve Zvonar

On December 3rd, 2010 YIPA has the honor of hosting Chiropractor and Wellcoach, Dr. Steve Zvonar, as he discusses early signs of stress within yourself, the staff you work with, the volunteers you coordinate and youth clients you serve. If you're interested in taking part in this seminar, look to our website for additional information. Below you'll find a guest blog by Dr. Zvonar!

After 25 years of practice in a natural health care field that involves lifestyle change, discipline and perseverance, the question that continues to throw itself at me is, “What does it take to get a person to make tough changes in their life?”

After all, we do live in a country of immediate gratifications, short cuts and “if it’s too hard to do, forget it”. I think that is one of the reasons we have a drug crisis in our country. It’s flat out easier to take a drug than to exercise, eat right, or to take time to recover with a walk in the woods.

So, why do some people change and others don’t? What fuels people to rise up and discipline themselves to change their diets, quit drugs or alcohol or proactively deal with the chronic stress in their lives? Ask a person who has done it, they will tell you that they found a reason and purpose beyond themselves that inspired them to persevere. Just think of the woman who can’t seem to quit smoking, then “magically” quits after she becomes pregnant. Yes, she has some purpose or now someone who is bigger than her own self interest that becomes the fuel for positive but difficult change.

During our seminar, Survival Skills for the Youth Service Worker”, we will be talking about the popular topic of recognizing and dealing with stress. What will be unique about this seminar is that we will be teaching how to deal with stress in our own lives as well as others around us from a coaching perspective. We will particularly be focusing on the foundations for healthy change, specifically as it pertains to our stressful lives. C.S. Lewis calls these three foundations “The Laws of Human Nature”. They are: healthy relationships, balancing ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and finding purpose and passion in life. The techniques we will discuss will be wonderful tools in dealing with the stress of coworkers, youth and of course, most importantly, ourselves.

Yes, after over 25 years of practice, hundreds and hundreds of training and seminars, when people come up to me and ask “how” do I get rid of this or that or feel better (or get more sleep, or be less depressed, etc. etc.), my first question to them is “why” do you want to feel better? Contemplating the “why” is the first, deepest and most potent step to healthy and usually difficult behavioral change. However, once the “why” is clarified and solidified, the “how” becomes much, much easier.

The Time is NOW, by Executive Director Scott Beaty

Wow! What two years will do in the ever changing political world! Not only has the Federal political landscape changed but so has Minnesota’s!

We know that the Republicans now have the majority in both the MN House and Senate for the first time in decades and it looks likely that Democrat Mark Dayton will end up as our next Governor. So what does this mean? Some say chaos, some say gridlock, some say smaller government, and some are even predicting good things will happen. Only time will tell!

What is still clear is that there is a huge budget deficit to fix…probably in the $5 to $6 billion range. We also know that after many years of budget deficits there is no low hanging fruit which means cuts to government supported programs will be deep and sharp even if the Governor and Legislature can come to some agreement on raising revenues.

One thing I do know is that in order to keep the Youth Intervention Program and other youth programming from being severely reduced or eliminated we all have our work cut out for us. What do we need to do, you may ask? For starters I say educate, educate, educate! There are a lot of new legislators out there and it needs to be our job and focus to teach them about the important early intervention work that you are doing for youth and their families in your community. Every one of your legislators need to know you personally and what you and/or your organization does to keep our youth from entering or progressing further into the costly juvenile justice system. Make sure you show them the results and outcomes of your early intervention or Youth Intervention program(s) and personally give them a copy of the Youth Intervention Program SROI (available to download free for members in the Members Only section of the YIPA Web site www.mnyipa.org ).

With the new Republican regime I believe that there will be an attempt to reform and shrink government. This is where all of us can and must help them. We have the research and the outcomes on our side. Using the SROI and other recently completed research we can now show that not only can we save the State money immediately but also in the long term. We can also show them (using the outcome data that the Office of Justice Programs has been gathering from the Youth Intervention Program grantees for the past year) that these programs are effective in changing youths lives for the better. These programs work and we need make sure every legislator (new and old) receives and understands this message.

Between now and the end of the year is the perfect time to meet with your legislators. Call them up and ask for a meeting. Invite them to your organization so they can see firsthand what you are doing for our youth. Let them know your funding issues and the importance of having stable State youth intervention funding that also leverages community funding. Let them know that the funding is very well administered by the Office of Justice programs within the MN Dept. of Public Safety. Get to know these people. Believe me when I say they are legislators because they care and want to help. The trick is to educate them so they want to help you and the youth in the district they represent and serve.

There is no time to lose. As I always say…good things happen to those who show up! Let’s all show up in mass and fight for funding for the Youth Intervention Program and other early intervention youth services.