/September/07
Service
learning is a deliberate process through which young
people of can develop skills, knowledge and behaviors,
while making meaningful contributions to their
communities and developing civic awareness. There are
three main components to the process: 1) Establishing
learning objectives, 2) Performing meaningful community
service based on the learning objectives, and 3)
Structured reflection upon the experience. Y-FACE seeks
to match young people to service learning opportunities
in which they will be motivated to learn and build
skills while addressing important community needs.al
growth and mutual benefit--make sure you can offer
something (energy, time, skill, or money) and be sure
to recieve something in return.
Some resources for further exploration include:
Quick Start Service Learning
Resources compiled from YMCA Learn and Serve
materials
/September/07
Developmental
assets provide a framework for understanding what young
people need to be successful in life. Y-FACE can help
build youth assets by empowering young people to make a
difference. Intentionally incorporating the asset
framework into projects strengthens young people’s
service learning experiences.
Some resources for further exploration include:
Quick Start Asset Building Resources
compiled from YMCA Learn and Serve
materials
/September/07
YMCA
Civic Engagement is an ongoing effort to promote the
development of civic engagement attitudes, skills, and
behaviors, especially in young people. It's
designed to reach young people directly and connect
them with specific opportunities to act while
simultaneously motivating and improving the abilities
of YMCAs and the "civic engagement community"
(political parties, nonprofit organizations, the media,
schools, colleges, and universities) to engage young
people in civic life.
Civic Engagement is another way to engage young people
in positive after school experiences. It can promote
leadership and job skills, and involve youth in the
community in new and meaningful ways.al growth and
mutual benefit--make sure you can offer something
(energy, time, skill, or money) and be sure to recieve
something in return.
Some resources for further exploration include:
YMCA Civic Engagement website
YMCA Civic Engagement Guide: 6 steps
to promote CE, rationale for CE, Examples of civic
engagement activities and integration
/September/07
The
YMCA has a vision of youth and adults working together
as catalysts for positive community change, and each
person contributing equally in learning, listening, and
growing. When teens and adults work together, everyone
benefits: it can broaden experience, wisdom, energy,
and enthusiasm. The civic metric can be used as a tool
for opening up conversation between youth and adults
about youth members’ interests, experiences, and ideas.
From that information sharing, youth and adults can
work together to intentionally and thoughtfully build
partnerships and provide youth with meaningful
opportunities and roles.al growth and mutual
benefit--make sure you can offer something (energy,
time, skill, or money) and be sure to recieve something
in return.
Some resources for further exploration include:
YMCA Teen-Adult Partnership Guide on
www.ymcaexchange.org
/August/07
The
purpose of resource mapping is to help young people and
adults work together to assess community resources and
then plan and implement service learning projects that
strengthen those resources and leverage young people's
participation in civic life.
There are many benefits to resource mapping. Of
particular interest to YMCAs are the ways resource
mapping synergizes, strengthens, and builds upon the
work YMCAs are already doing around Developmental
Assets, diversity and inclusion, service-learning, and
civic engagement.
Learn more about resource mapping
from the YMCA Resource Mapping and Community Action
Guide, available for purchase from the YMCA Program
Store.
/August/07
The
YMCA is an international movement with Ys all over the
world. Developing programs with international
involvement might seem overwhelming and expensive, but
you don't have to bring your youth participants to
another country to have them involved internationally.
Especially now, with the power of the web, you can
connect with other YMCAs with no resources other than
your computer. Youth can partner with a youth program
in another country to learn and share about their
schools, to develop a shared understanding of a global
issue, to co-create a digital movie or photo album on a
topic they care about.
Some resources for further exploration
include:
International
YMCA
YMCA Global
Teens
World Alliance
/August/07
Your
community is one the greatest assets available to you
as you develop programing for youth that expands their
world and increases their knowledge about themselves
and others. You can collaborate with an organization
that works with the elderly, that produces community
plays, that protects the watershed, or one that rescues
injured birds. Your opportunities for collaboration
will depend on your specific community. A key part of
community collaborations is mutual growth and mutual
benefit--make sure you can offer something (energy,
time, skill, or money) and be sure to recieve something
in return.
Some resources for further exploration include:
Search YMCAExchange for "community
collaborations" to download resources on
collaborating with local governments, educational
institutions, not-for-profit organizations and local
businesses.
/August/07
YMCA
of the USA champions the Diversity Initiative as a way
to help YMCAs become more culturally competent and
inclusive in service areas. Y-USA's vision for the
diversity initiative is that the YMCA movement will be
known for practicing inclusion by valuing the diversity
of all people within its associations and the
communities it serves.
The Civic Metric helps youth-serving staff discover new
and hidden talents and interests of youth in their
programs. DIversity is an important concept in the
Civic Metric, and is in fact, the values the Civic
Metric is based in.al growth and mutual benefit--make
sure you can offer something (energy, time, skill, or
money) and be sure to recieve something in
return.
Some resources for further exploration include:
Diversity Champion Conference
Diversity Champions YMCAs (see
ymcaexchange.net for more)
/August/07
The
YMCA seeks to increase member involvement by moving
members along a continuum of involvement that moves
their relationship with the YMCA from casual to
connected to committed. When youth members engage in
meaningful service that is tailored to their interests
and needs, they become more actively involved in the
YMCA. As they become more involved, their relationship
with service and with the YMCA deepens..
Some resources for further exploration include:
Quick Start Member Involvement
Resources compiled from YMCA Learn and Serve
materials
For
more info of member involvement resources or training,
contact YMCA of the USA’s Membership Development Group,
800-872-9622.
/August/07
Service
to the community and to others provides youth members a
way to learn more about the YMCA’s core values of
caring, honesty, respect and responsibility and act on
them. Because the Civic Metric directs them toward
service that interests and inspires them, young people
will be more motivated and likely to believe in and to
act on positive values and behave accordingly.
Some resources for further exploration include:
Character Development Activities for
Teens Fact Sheet, online at
www.ymcaexhange.org