YVC of the Capital Area painted murals at local schools.

Every single day Youth Volunteers across the country are serving with YVC, but last Monday, they were serving for one purpose: to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Hundreds of youth served with YVC to honor Dr. King, who was one of the greatest volunteers of the last century. Whether they were scrubbing a homeless shelter or playing bingo with residents of a retirement home, they were living out Dr. King’s vision of a community.

Below are just some of the great things that Youth Volunteers accomplished on MLK Day:

• YVC of the Capital Area turned their day off into a day on to help beautify several local schools. They painted inspirational murals, painted the school colors and motto in common areas, and more.

• YVC of Western Connecticut launched a three-month long service program that began on MLK Day. Thanks to a grant from the UnitedHealth HEROES program – a service-learning, health literacy initiative developed by United Healthcare and Youth Service America – YVCWC kicked off a program focusing on nutrition awareness. The program will culminate with the building of (literally) a Healthy Wall of Food at a local mall on Global Youth Service Day on April 21.

YVC of the EUP packed 100 disaster-preparedness kits to share with elderly members of their community.

• YVC of Racine began their day with a rally to honor Dr. King at the local Martin Luther King monument (see photo at the top of the page), then they dispersed to a variety of service projects throughout the city. About 250 Youth Volunteers served on projects, including one group who volunteered at a local retirement home making crafts with the residents and talking with them about their dreams, in honor of Dr. King’s dream.
• YVC of the Eastern Upper Peninsula organized 100 disaster-preparedness kits for senior citizens in the community.
• YVC of Grant County, New Mexico made signs and held a rally to promote Dr. King’s teachings of social justice, diversity and civil disobedience.

Thanks to everyone who gave up their day off to make a difference in their communities!

Youth Volunteers in Grant County each made posters for their rally.

YVC of Grant County held a rally to spread awareness of Dr. King's teachings.

YVC of Hampton Roads has hosted a variety of projects during the month of December to help their community. They bundled up to help lay more than 6,000 wreaths at Hampton’s National Cemetery as a part of the national program “Wreaths Across America.” They also hosted a holiday party at a local retirement home, including caroling (see photo above), games and crafts. Finally, they helped bag groceries for people who may otherwise go without food this season.

YVC of Western Connecticut helped the needy in their community in a HUGE way by donating 3,700 items to a food bank that collects food for families affected by HIV/AIDS. They didn’t stop there, though. They also helped wrap dozens of gifts for local families in need.

YVC of the Eastern Upper Peninsula made a huge difference for some families in their community when they organized Thanksgiving dinner baskets for 50 families to celebrate the holiday.

YVC of Yellowstone County  helped at a holiday carnival for community members. Not only did they lead craft projects for kids, but one lucky Youth Volunteer got to play the role of Santa! The local newspaper even honored them for their great work!

Thanks to everyone helping their community this holiday season!

We were very excited to learn that Dr. Price-Mitchell’s work confirms what experience has shown us over the years, that youth-led group based programming can have the most meaningful impact on youth.  Following is Dr. Price-Mitchell’s original post followed by resources to learn more from her studies:

3 Ways to Evaluate Summer Programs for Teenagers

Summer programs can be transformative for youth, helping them to develop leadership skills, acquire greater knowledge of themselves, and foster friendships with peers.

Finding meaningful summer programs for teenagers can be challenging.  There are many choices, including sports, camps, arts programs, and volunteering. Helping find the perfect fit is an important role for parents, grandparents, teachers, and others.  Offering advice can make a difference – pointing teens to activities that are fun, and also offer opportunities to develop character strengths, skills, and abilities that will last a lifetime.

As children grow to middle and high school age, they seek more autonomy and independence.  They naturally react against authority and the kinds of structure found in programs for younger children. Research studies that have evaluated summer programs for teenagers consistently highlight three things that attract teens and keep them engaged over time, each outlined below. Not surprisingly, these program qualities also benefit teens developmentally.

When young people have opportunities for leadership, understanding, and friendship, it can help them navigate adolescence in ways that advance their skills and feel good about themselves.  Summer programs for teenagers help prepare older adolescents for a variety of roles they assume as they reach college-age and the workforce.  When helping middle and high school students evaluate summer programs, ask the three following questions:

Are there Opportunities for Leadership?

One of the most important aspects of summer programs for older youth is whether they offer young people the opportunity to learn leadership skills.  In particular, research suggests that adolescents should be provided with meaningful ways to assist in leading activities, contribute to program decision-making, and play an active role in making the program a success.  When this occurs, young people learn to overcome challenges in the real world, like how to communicate and collaborate with others outside of their families and close circle of friends.

Victor, age 19, participated in numerous summer programs for youth and volunteer activities during high school, including working in a hospital emergency room, at a petting zoo, and tutoring children. He also took advantage of Kiwanis programs and became a Key Club leader.  Reflecting on these experiences, he said: “I believe that having the opportunities to both serve and lead at many levels had a strong shaping effect on who I am as a leader and a person today.”

Are there Opportunities for Understanding?

Teenagers need to be understood and appreciated for who they are, not just for their grades or how well they do in sports and other activities.  Research shows that older youth respond best to programs that are guided by an intentional process of mutual learning and respect. That is, they like structure that encourages interaction between them and program staff where staff take the time to get to know them in depth, learn about their interests, and appreciate them as individuals. These nurturing relationships help young people believe in themselves and foster the development of identity.

Scott, age 20 reinforces the importance of having adults who understand youth. Speaking of a program he started in middle school, he said, “They met me at my level.” Although he was shy, program staff helped him “stretch my rubber band a little bit,” encouraging him to stretch his boundaries and learn about himself.  He remains forever grateful for people who took the time to get to know him.

Are there Opportunities for Friendships?

Older youth are motivated to participate in programs that provide opportunities to develop peer relationships and friendships. And developing these relationships is important to their self-esteem and self-worth. Finding programs that have been referred by friends or where friends are already involved can be a good way to evaluate the quality of the program.  It can also help your teen stretch his or her comfort zone to try something new.

Young people often talk about the importance of working side by side with friends.  Bryon, age 18, who participated in JROTC during high school, talked about a friend who influenced him to try new activities.  “And when he became the Key Club president, I worked a lot with him and we did a lot of joint projects together. We did more projects because of how much we liked working together.”

This blog post was originally published here on May 30, 2011.

Find more information about Dr. Price-Mitchell and her work at www.mpricemitchell.com.  Her recent study “Civic Learning at the Edge: Transformative Stories of Highly Engaged Youth” offers insight into how youth become engaged in community service or other meaningful activities. Check out her blog Roots of Action or follow her on Twitter at @DrPriceMitchell for more information on her work.

References

Arbreton, A., Bradshaw, M., Sheldon, J., & Pepper, S. (2009). Making every day count: Boys & Girls Clubs’ role in promoting positive outcomes for teens. Philadel­phia: Public/Private Ventures.

Deschenes, S. N., Arbreton, A., Little, P. M., Herrera, C., Grossman, J. B., & Weiss, H. B., with Lee, D. (2010). Engaging older youth: Program and city-level strategies to support sustained participation in out-of-school time. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Family Research Project.

Price-Mitchell, M. (2010). Civic learning at the edge: Transformative stories of highly engaged youth. Doctoral Dissertation, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA.

Russell, C. A., Mielke, M. B., & Reisner, E. R. (2009). Evidence of program quality and youth outcomes in the DYCD Out-of-School Time Initiative: Report on the initiative’s first three years. Washington, DC: Policy Studies Associates.

We are very excited to welcome our newest addition to the YVC team: Tracy Hale, Chief Operating Officer. Tracy has been with us for nearly a month now, and we’re so glad she’s part of our team. Meet Tracy!

What is your role at YVC? 

As the COO, I’ll be working closely with David, the Board of Directors and staff to support the mission and vision of YVC.  I’ll have oversight for affiliate relations, support, and growth; financial activities; grants; marketing and public relations.  I’ll also supervise the YVC staff and have oversight for the YVC of Greater Kansas City program.

One of my favorite quotes is “Your greatest fear should not be of failing, but of succeeding at something that is not important.”  I’m very purposeful about the way I live my life, and if I’m going to put 40+ hours a week of my life into something, it has to be a place where I believe wholeheartedly in the mission of the organization and can go home each day feeling that I was a part of making a difference in the world.  YVC really does that.  I’m very excited to be a part of the YVC family!

I’m going to get a little philosophical on you here.  I’m concerned about where our culture is headed, particularly in America where we seem to have such a “Me! Me! Me!” culture.  One of my favorite quotes from a Youth Volunteer on the YVC website is “When I help others not only is it fun but I feel good about me.”  I believe that the best way to change some of the negative aspects of our culture is to get people to look outside of themselves, to be less self-focused, and to serve others.  YVC is teaching kids this concept whether they realize it or not.  I really believe YVC’s mission can have a significant and positive impact on the world!

I do a lot with financial issues – teach Financial Peace University classes, do family financial counseling, have provided pro bono accounting/payroll/tax assistance for nonprofits, and serve as Treasurer and Finance Chair at my church.  I’ve also done numerous ad hoc volunteer things, including construction work, painting, yard mowing, flower planting, cleaning, organizing, serving meals to the homeless, helping with clothing banks, childcare, and sponsoring/leading/transporting for youth events.  While I do participate in organized volunteering efforts, my favorite thing to do is give back “at random.”  Little things where you see an individual need and meet it, like taking a meal to a new mom or mowing a yard for someone who is ill, even picking up trash that everyone else is walking by.  I think Random Acts of Kindness should be the next required course for all high school students!

Free time?  What is that?  Just kidding.  I’m constantly on the go, and that’s the way I like it.  I love to travel, seeing different places of the world and learning about their communities.  I love to snow ski, and I’m a “fair weather” runner, only if it’s 60 degrees or warmer.  I like doing most any sport, but will definitely stay off a hockey rink!  My kids certainly keep me busy.  Austin (16) plays bass guitar in a band and they have pretty frequent gigs.  Both kids play sports so we’re constantly running them around.  Madison (13) has a horse that she won named Tucker, so we spend a lot of time at the stables too.  Occasionally I’ll catch a movie with a fuzzy blanket and lots of popcorn!

New Zealand!  And I’m very excited that my husband and I are making that dream come true in a few weeks to celebrate our 20 year anniversary!

Has your organization been hesitant to offer youth volunteer opportunities? It will be a win-win situation for both you and the volunteers if you keep these eight tips in mind:

• It’s very likely that this experience may be the first time that a young person volunteers. Keep that in mind when selecting a project and relating to the volunteer. Nothing is worse than a poor initial exposure to volunteerism for a Youth Volunteer.
• A meaningful task is the most important aspect of a youth volunteer project. Limit clerical or fundraising projects to a minimum, and try to focus on projects where volunteers can truly see the impact of their work. The most popular projects usually include client-based work since youth appreciate being able to get to know the people or animals they’re helping.
• Make sure youth understand the purpose of the activity. Sometimes the most urgent volunteer need can be a mundane task (i.e. preparing litter boxes at an animal shelter). This can be a meaningful activity if you explain well the importance of the task. For example, explain how many litter boxes the shelter uses in a day and how many cats that helps. This helps the youth see that it’s an important task, even if it isn’t the most exciting.
• With youth unemployment at an all-time high in recent years, volunteering is a great way for youth to gain job skills. Talk with individual Youth Volunteers to see what skills they would like to gain from their volunteer experience, and provide opportunities for them to learn.
• On the flipside, take advantage of skills that youth already have. Youth are the most tapped into social networking, so they can be a great resource if you’re looking to expand your social media presence. Agencies can also benefit from taking time to understand the youth perspective and connecting that into their programming.
• Make sure to organize youth projects with a lot of structure. Bored Youth Volunteers can lead to problems for everyone. Very often at YVC we find that our agency partners underestimate the amount of work a group of dedicated Youth Volunteers can accomplish. Setting high expectations and making a detailed schedule with plenty of extra tasks can solve this problem.
• Be prepared with materials and space. Unlike adult volunteers who may be happy to go home early from a project if the job is done or weather interrupts an outdoor project, youth often need to tell their parents or guardians exactly when they will be done so they can be picked up. Try to have a back-up idea in case anything in your plan changes or goes wrong so that these youth have something to do until the official project end.
• Remember what a win-win situation it is to have Youth Volunteers at your agency! Not only do they bring energy and enthusiasm, but you could be creating a lifetime ally for your organization. We’ve had many Youth Volunteers choose to enter the nonprofit field or focus on an area like education or social work because of their initial volunteer experience.

Ready to jump into youth volunteerism? Go to www.yvc.org to find a YVC near you and schedule a project!

This post was featured as part of the October Nonprofit Blog Carnival focusing on Improving the Volunteer Experience. Head on over to Wild Apricot Blog to read the other posts!

Peter Benson, president and CEO of Minneapolis-based Search Institute and one of the world’s leading authorities on positive human development, delivered thispresentation on youth development. Here’s an excerpt from his speech, followed by the full presentation:

Most choose to work with our youth from the outside in, filling them with our values, with factoids and expectations. Instead, what if we worked from the inside out? What if we let this person emerge for who he or she is, encouraged their spark, nurtured that?

How do these ideas affect how you interact with youth? And how can we better implement the idea of sparks to engage youth in service?

On 9/11 the YVC of Western Connecticut, which is hosted by United Way of Western Connecticut, participated in the Taste of Danbury, a two day event where different restaurants sell samples of their food, agencies come out to advocate for their causes and great music is played. In order to combine our participation in the Taste of Danbury with the 9/11 Day of Service, the YVC of Western CT decided to sign pledges to commit to community service hours and write cards to veterans, military families, Military spouses, and soldiers through a program called Operation Honor Cards. Seven Youth Volunteers completed a total of 14 community service hours! For more information on Operation Honor Card please go to: www.honorcards.org.

Our YVC also participated in the Back to School Program hosted by the Volunteer Center of the United Way of Western Connecticut. The Back to School Program provided brand new backpacks with school supplies and gift cards to about 300 children in Danbury. The YVC participants truly enjoyed the opportunity to  hand out the new backpacks filled with supplies. The YVC volunteers said seeing the smiles on the kids faces when they got their backpacks was so amazing!

Thanks to Samantha for submitting a guest post! Do you have a story to tell about youth volunteerism? Email Lacey at lbitter@yvca.org.

I’ve always thought every child has wonderful qualities, each child is different and each child needs to have a way to express their strengths.  This summer my son discovered this for himself while serving with YVC.

The road hasn’t always been easy for him. Our son has anxiety and ADHD, has had trouble socializing with kids his age and tends to get really upset over small things.

We have always found many great things about our son, but he has not seen them in himself.  He is not as athletic as the other kids in the neighborhood, so he will often lose to younger kids in athletic games.  Since this type of play is almost daily, he tends to get down on himself.  This leads to arguing on his part, which makes him feel even worse about himself.  He didn’t have something he felt he was good at doing.

When he started volunteering this summer, he was able to do something that the younger kids were too young to do.  He started acting more mature.  He also showed a work ethic that I have never seen.  I was shocked that he never asked to stay home, even when it was 105 degrees and he was working outside.  In the past, he would have tried every excuse in the book to get out of working, like a migraine, which amazingly he did not have the entire time!

He had a very hard time showing empathy for others in the past.  His therapist said it was common with ADHD and his maturity was slow, so we would just have to teach him empathy over time. That all changed after he served with YVC this summer. He started showing empathy for others and rarely asks for material things now.

Before, he would ask and expect to get things immediately. He would ask for something and say, “It’s only $75!” and not understand why I wouldn’t drop what I was doing and take him to buy it. Now, he may point out something he thinks is nice, but then comment on how expensive it is and how long it would take to earn that much money or alternatives for what that money could buy.

For instance, he was walking through a store the other day with his sister and me. She saw something and said, “It’s only $50,” and my son explained how $50 was a lot of money. He went on to explain what many people could do with that $50, like the little boy we are sponsoring through our church.

His general attitude has changed. He is more responsible, mature and helpful. I don’t have to ask him to do chores—he will ask me if he can help me. If I say, “It would really help me if you would clean for me,” he says, “No problem,” and just does it and does a great job. Before, I would have to ask a million times, and then he would do a halfway job. I’d have to check it and have him redo it two or three times. Now, he takes pride in his work and does an amazing job the first time and is proud to show me.

I would love to have the program year-round. Some kids aren’t athletes—they don’t have practice after school. Many people ask, “So what do you do outside of school? Do you play sports?” They would have a great topic to discuss and be proud of: “No, I VOLUNTEER!”

This program really made him feel helpful, needed and good at something. He felt like he belonged to something, and he was proud of himself.  He was motivated enough to show up every day because he felt that his contributions were that important to the projects.

If kids are able to give back to their community, work in their community, see so many different areas, and help people in their community, it makes them respect all of those people and areas of their community.  Hopefully, they will continue to respect their community and feel connected as they grow.

Do you have a story on how service has transformed your life? Please email Lacey at lbitter@yvca.org.

This story was reposted by Points of Light on their blog shortly after original posting. Thanks to Points of Light for posting! Head to their blog to see this post along with their other inspiring stories of volunteerism!

While you’re there, explore the archives of Points of Light‘s blog to hear about all the amazing things volunteers are doing to form “a thousand points of light” throughout our country.

Head on over to this post at Youth Are Awesome to hear about an amazing summer of volunteering through the eyes of Kevin, YVC of Calgary’s volunteer who served the most hours this summer. While you’re there, explore the rest of this blog that’s maintained entirely by Calgary youth through Youth Central’s Youth Are Awesome program.

Thanks, Kevin, for all of your hard work this summer! Keep up the good work!

Do you have any great stories from a summer of volunteering? Please email Lacey at lbitter@yvca.org.