But let’s rewind a bit, back to when students were in school attending UWYV meetings once a week, and Brian was informed that the students wanted their cause to be child abuse.

He talked to the students about CASA and his involvement in the organization. The team voted in favor of partnering with CASA. of Worcester County is a not-for-profit organization committed to speaking for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the Worcester County Courts. Brian also arranged for Robb and Julie from CASA to visit students, so that they could learn more about the organization. Read more about that in this post I wrote about CASA’s visit to Northwest’s UWYV Team.

NW CAB Launch Was Just Weeks Away

After weeks of hard work, the students at Northwest were just finishing up their slides for their final UWYV Team presentation.�� The Northwest CAB (Child Advocate Buddies – We take you to a better place.) Team was just a couple of weeks away from launching.

Not to spoil the ending for you, but…………

With Brian’s guidance, this group of dedicated fourth and fifth graders will be the next UWYV team to launch, whether virtually or back in their Northwest classroom! Mark my words!

Spotlight on Northwest Elementary School’s UWYV Champion Brian Prehna��

Now, on with this��Spotlight on��a Champion.�����������all��our��Champions, Brian is busy��at home, connecting with friends and family, and in the spirit of a true Changemaker, is spending time reading stories of inspriation an leadership.������

How long have you been a Champion for UWYV? And what do you like best about having this role?��

I’ve been a Champion for UWYV at Northwest for two years. The best part about having this role is being part of a student group that takes on real world problems and develops ways to help our community. Students are so invested in the program, because what they do positively affects their community. Students use their academic and social emotional skills learned in the classroom to build their Venture. The culmination of their hard work in the classroom pays off by lifting up the people around them.��

How are you doing? What does a typical day-at-home look like for you?��

Thanks for asking! I am doing well. A typical day for me has been waking up and making a healthy breakfast then starting my morning routines. After my routine to get ready for the day, I jump on my computer to check emails or join video calls. Often, I have been going into the building to support our principal with Chromebook distribution, so students have resources they need to engage in online learning. I am often reaching out to families to see how they are doing and working with our guidance team as well as teachers. I take time now for a meaningful lunch break to slow myself down and unwind from the morning. In the afternoon, I check in with the principal to see how else I can help and follow up on emails. Often, I sit outside to get some sunshine.��

How has the stay-at-home/social distancing of COVID-19 affected you positively?��

The stay at home/social distancing has given me a lot of time to reflect and improve myself. I’ve taken advantage of the isolation to read books about leadership coupled with stories of inspiration. I’ve been able to organize, clean and declutter my apartment, so I can focus on the here/now and future. I have been able to focus on my own mental and physical health. Reconnected with old friends, while strengthening connections with my family and friends has been very important to me. I’ve taken this time to look at myself and to improve, so I come out of this stronger than ever.��

Do you have a positive Changemaking story that has resulted from this?��

I have been connecting with family and friends all the time.�� I’ve had time to read 4 books and just started my 5th. Since the weather has turned for the better, I’ve been taking social distancing hikes and walks with friends too. I’ve slowed down and have been taking my time rather than rushing in all aspects of my life.��

Are you able to connect with your students remotely? (Zoom? Google Classroom, or email?) How are they?��

Yes, over the course of the “great slowdown,” I’ve been on Google Hangouts with classrooms. It is great to see students!��

Are you in touch with your UWYV team? �� If so, what are they up to?��

Over the course of the pause, we decided to have our students focus on their academics, so additional responsibilities were put to the side. I am proud of the work students accomplished this year.��

If UWYV was offered to you as a young student, what would your cause be and why?��

When I was younger, I was an active member of the Boy Scouts, and I wish this program was also offered in school. My cause would be to improve the life of people who have lost their homes and who fell on tough times. This would include providing assistance and educating the public about homelessness and food insecurities in America. My “why” is to open the eyes of the “haves,” so they can be educated and have empathy and compassion for the “have nots”. My cause would provide resources and dignity to those who feel like they have lost everything, so they can get back on their feet.��

What was one of your most memorable experiences (so far!) being Champion?��

The most memorable moment so far was last year during our fundraising event for the Gardner Animal Shelter. Our UWYV Team, the Northwest Animal Activists, decided to duct tape myself and Colleen (principal) to a wall during the school day. The positive buzz and fun had by all that day flowed through the building. We used Facebook Live, so parents could also see the event. The team raised a tremendous amount of funds while putting on a school wide event!��

What message would you like to send all of your students?

Take this time to improve yourself. Stay active, fuel your body with healthy food and READ! Learn a new skill and be kind to people including yourself. Take time to sit in silence and listen to the quiet. Allow yourself to be bored and disconnect from your technology; you’ll reconnect with nature. Focus your energy on what you can do, not on what you can’t.��

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I miss all of you!��

Thank you for taking the time to fill us in Brian! Enjoy your summer!

Other Champion Spotlights��

Thuy Bui – Gardner High School
Sharyn Tomasso – Sky View Middle School
Sara Carnabucci – McKay Arts Academy
Francine Meigs – Samoset Middle School

Stay Connected����

All of us at UWYV want to stay in touch with our students and champions. For the latest news from Youth Venture, please follow us and feel free to reach out via email, text or social media.

The post Spotlight On Northwest Elementary’s UWYV Champion Brian Prehna appeared first on Mount Wachusett Community College.

Before the school shutdown,��Thuy��was��involved in the cultivation of UWYV Team��Gardner Grow’s��community garden.��This team had��a successful��garden last summer. You can read more about��it in��this��blog post��that I had written last fall.����

In last week’s blog post, I talked about how Samoset Middle School UWYV students on Team Save Earth Today would like to implement composting at Samoset.������

Well……��

As it turns out, the��UWYV��Gardner Grows��Team has��two small compost piles that they��started before the shutdown of schools.��The students filled these��piles��with food scraps that they brought in from home,��or with scraps from items grown in the��community��garden.��According to Thuy, the students want to create a compost bin where they can take��food scraps��from the school cafeteria and use it for their��garden. They would��also��like to��donate excess scraps��to a��local��farm.������

Connecting GHS and Samoset UWYV Teams

Do you see where I am going with this?��It would be��cool��to connect these teams! Even if the��high school��students��on the Gardner team��simply��made a short video on composting,��and then shared it with the Samoset team,��they would��hopefully��be inspired��to implement composting at Samoset.�� ��

Unfortunately, the plans for the garden and composting are on hold��now,��but hopefully not for long!��

Spotlight on Gardner High School’s UWYV Champion Thuy��Bui��

Now, on with��my latest Spotlight on��a Champion.�����������all��our��Champions, Thuy is��busy��at home, and in the spirit of a true Changemaker,��makes��the time to volunteer as��well.������

How long have you been a Champion for UWYV? And what do you like best about having this role?��

I have been a Champion for UWYV since I started at GHS which was in 2015. I love my interactions with students and encouraging them to explore what they��can achieve when they put their minds to it.

How are you doing? What does a typical day-at-home look like for you?��

��I am��doing okay.��It’s a bit of a struggle sometimes, but then I hear from my students and it becomes a bit easier to deal with. A typical day-at-home is trying to plan lessons for my students, that would get them as engaged as possible. I am also��helping my��Mom care for my nieces and nephews, or I am��cooking with her. It is a weird balancing act right now.��

How has the stay-at-home/social��distancing��of COVID-19 affected you positively?��

��I feel like I can spend a bit more time with families, now that I am home most of the time. ��

Do you have a positive Changemaking story that has resulted from this?����

I have been handing out food to the Gardner food program and it��definitely makes me feel more connected with my students. I deliver food once a week on Mondays, and��it is��always nice to see the students and their families.��

����Are you able to connect with your students remotely? (Zoom? Google Classroom, or email?) How are they?��

��I use��Zoom and��Google��Classroom to connect with my students. Unfortunately, a good percentage of my��students��don’t��always make the��Zoom meetings. The ones that I do see seem to be doing well, and it’s��always nice to chat��and��catch up with them.��It’s a bonus, when they say they miss school!��

Are you in touch with any��UWYV��teams?����If so, what are they up to?��

��I’ve��been in touch with a few of the teams. They seem to be doing well and are trying to keep up with��schoolwork.��

If UWYV (Youth Venture) was��offered��to you as a young student, what would your cause be and why?��

��I think my cause would be to try and improve the literacy rates and love of reading for students and families. I know growing up, I��didn’t always love reading or have family members read to me (language barrier and all). Therefore, I would have loved to find a way to bring reading to families that might have been in the same situation as I was.����

What was one��of your most memorable experiences (so far!) being Champion?��

��Going to the Spring Showcase – definitely!��It amazes me, the��amount of passions and��hard work��these students are showing! It has inspired me to be better.��

What message would you like to send��all��your students?��

��I’ve always loved the saying, “Impossible has the word possible in it.” I can’t��remember where I heard it��from,��but I want them to know that if they want something, then with a little bit of��hard work, it is possible!��

Is there anything else you would like to share?��

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share��our��youth’s passions and��to try��and��better our surroundings one��venture project at a time!��

Thank you for taking the time to fill us in Thuy! We will see you back in the classroom and the garden soon!

Other Champion Spotlights��

Sharyn Tomasso – Sky View Middle School

Sara Carnabucci – McKay Arts Academy

Francine Meigs – Samoset Middle School

Stay Connected����

All of us at UWYV want to stay in touch with our students and champions. For the latest news from Youth Venture, please follow us and feel free to reach out via email, text or social media.

The post Spotlight on Gardner High School’s UWYV Champion Thuy Bui appeared first on Mount Wachusett Community College.

Who is the Changemaker that I am I talking about?

It’s our Sky View Middle School Champion Sharyn Tomasso. Read on to find out what she has been doing and how she is focused on the positive aspects emanating from this time of social distancing due to COVID-19.

Spotlight on Sky View’s UWYV Champion Sharyn Tomasso

How long have you been a Champion for UWYV? And what do you like best about being a Champion?

I’ve been a Champion for 8 years now. There are so many things that I love about being a Champion! One of the most fulfilling aspects of this role is that I get the honor of providing the opportunity for young people to truly make a difference in the world.

The UWYV program offers students a vehicle through which they can pursue their desire to serve their communities by furthering a cause that they are passionate about. The program gives young people a “voice” and a chance to “stand up” for their ideals and beliefs.�� This is huge, especially for middle school aged kids who typically feel “unheard”. These students are at a point in their lives when they are trying to figure out who they are and discern what their key values are. In addition, the process of writing an Action Plan and presenting their ideas to a panel of judges, teaches students invaluable real-life business and communication skills. They wouldn’t otherwise learn these all-important skills.

As a Champion, I also get the chance to work with students in an entirely different way, as they are in charge, not me. I am there just to advise and support them. It is an incredible privilege to see the students blossom, show their passion, achieve success, and to experience a sense of self-actualization. It is particularly gratifying to witness the “victories” of the students who have not typically had success in the classroom academically. So often, I’ve watched struggling learners “find themselves” through UWYV and go on to display much greater confidence socially, emotionally, and academically.

How are you doing? What does a typical day-at-home look like for you?

The “teach from home” situation that we are in right now certainly has been a HUGE learning experience for me. Although I have been using technology, like Google Classroom to complement classroom instruction, I am a neophyte when it comes to all of the online learning apps/programs.

Initially, I felt completely overwhelmed and incapable of providing any kind of meaningful remote instruction to my students. I normally plan lessons, but very loosely. Essentially, I tend to focus on the “end game” goals, as in what exactly I want the students to learn. I make sure I have the best materials and that I outline the “flow” of the class. However, when I teach each class, it’s somewhat “organic” based on the particular group of students in front of me. I can see what is not resonating with them and teach according to what does resonate and clicks for them. Teaching remotely doesn’t afford you the luxury of “working the room” and “playing off of the audience.”

Luckily, I honestly work with the most supportive, and collaborative, colleagues on the planet! We’ve had a billion (or so it seems like) virtual meetings and email conversations. Thanks to that, and a whole lot of tech learning, I’m finally in a place where I feel I’m doing an okay job of providing the kids with meaningful work and structure.

What does a typical day look like for me? Well, there are no typical days so far! Some days, I have a lot of virtual meetings with colleagues and/or students. That consumes most of the day. Other days are spent researching and developing content, managing my online portals and grading assignments. I’m still trying to create more structure and consistency to my days!

How has the stay-at-home/social distancing of Covid-19 affected you positively?

The stay-at-home/social distancing is incredibly difficult as I’m a true extrovert who thrives off of the energy of others. However, there have definitely been some positives both in my professional life and personally.

First, I’ve learned a ton about online apps and remote teaching. This has been exciting and has enriched my capabilities as a teacher. I’ve actually had fun learning how to use some of the apps. I am finding amazing, engaging ways to deliver content to kids.�� I’ve been using these apps (Meme-maker especially!) for personal projects too!!

The “staying at home” thing, if I’m being perfectly honest, initially threw me into a panic. I love being “on the go,” socializing and attending events. The thought of being “grounded” stressed me out. Honestly, I felt both angry and sad.

However, I’ve actually found that having to stay home has been a blessing of sorts. It has forced me to slow down and to take more time to be “quiet” and in the present moment. I’ve had a lot of time to reflect, prioritize, and learn what is really important to me. I’ve tackled so many projects that I had started but never finished. At the same time, I am able to balance the “busy work” with quiet, meditative time.

Overall, I’ve noticed that in general people are turning back to the simple pleasures in life. For example,�� enjoying family meals, reading, getting out in nature, and spending quality time with their families and with themselves.�� All of that is definitely positive!

Do you have a positive Changemaking story that has resulted from this?

Oh my goodness, yes! I’ve found, in general, that I’ve been “socializing” more during this time than I ever did. This seems like an oxymoron! While I tend to be an “on the go” person who goes out a lot, I’ve come to realize that I engage in a lot of activities. I haven’t always had the time to consistently keep up communication with people who are really important to me. This stay-at-home time has been a chance for me to consciously connect with family and friends and to engage in really meaningful conversations/interactions with them.

Interestingly, I’ve even made some new friends through this experience.�� For example, a woman who I know tangentially through work started making jewelry as a way to keep herself occupied while staying at home.�� She shared pictures of these beautiful butterfly earrings she had made. I mentioned that I would love to buy a pair from her.�� She hadn’t thought about selling her jewelry, but it sparked some interest in her. Long story short, we came up with the idea of offering the earrings in exchange for any donation amount. The donations would go towards buying gift cards (to support local restaurants in desperate need of income) and for healthcare workers at the local hospital. So far, my friend has sold dozens of earrings and has given numerous gift cards to doctors, nurses, CNA’s, etc.

To make a donation to support local restaurants an healthcare workers, and to get a pair of these beautiful earrings, reach out to Andrea Arsenault via email – andreadiprimaarsenault@gmail.com.

Are you able to connect with your students remotely? (Zoom? Google Classroom, or email?) How are they?

I’ve always used Google Classroom to supplement in-school instruction. However, I’ve had to find additional ways to actually “connect” with my students and maintain a “personal presence” with them.�� I’m now holding regular Google Meet sessions with each of my classes. I’ve just started recording video lessons to fill in between our “live” get togethers. Interestingly, I’ve found that most of the kids are really missing, and wanting, to see their teachers and hear their voices.�� I’m working hard to try to make that happen. (I’ve realized just how much I miss the personal interaction with them as well!)

Are you in touch with any UWYV teams? ����If so, what are they up to?

I really haven’t had much interaction with the UWYV teams. Finding some of them has been difficult and I have been trying to figure out how to do that.�� I was thinking that I’d love to try to hold Youth Venture meetings remotely.

If UWYV was offered to you as a young student, what would your cause be and why?

If UWYV had been offered to me as a young student, my cause would probably have been something related to promoting tolerance and acceptance of others. I would raise awareness about embracing diversity (all types of differences -racial, cultural, gender, ability, etc.) and self-acceptance.

I say this for a few reasons. First, I grew up in a town that appeared to be homogenous. However, it was surely more diverse than was “acceptable” at the time. People were generally expected to have the same lifestyle and values and to fit into a certain mold. Diversity was not talked about. I think this led to many young people feeling “disenfranchised”. They didn’t embrace the status quo ideology or aspire for the same goals that society seemed to promote.

What was one of your most memorable experiences (so far!) being Champion?

Wow, this is a hard one!�� I’ve had so many, many memorable experiences as an UWYV Champion.�� If I had to choose one, however, I’d have to say it was when one of my students, who was selectively mute decided to start a Venture to provide video gaming equipment for autistic children like him. Watching him interact with his Venture team members, and getting up and making his presentation, was life-changing for me. His mom came to his panel and was blown away at what he was able to do. Youth Venture, in this case, literally gave this young man a “voice.”

What message would you like to send all of your students?

What I want students to know is that they are safe, loved, and truly cared about. I want them to know that there are many adults, including their teachers, who are here for them to navigate this confusing, somewhat scary time. Finally, I want to help them to understand that “this too shall pass”. There are so many lessons to be learned and positive aspects emanating from this time of uncertainty. Hold onto HOPE and be a part of the community of Changemakers who are lifting up others at this time.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I truly believe that the mindset and values that Youth Venture espouses and promotes are directly applicable in this difficult, frightening time. For young people (and us oldies) to know that they can chose to respond to challenges by trying to effect positive change is incredibly empowering. I am sincerely proud, and blessed, to have the great fortune to be a part of bringing Youth Venture into the lives of our future generations.

Thank you for taking the time to update us Sharyn. Stay healthy!

Also, thank you for mentioning Andrea Arsenault and her beautiful earrings.�� She dropped mine off yesterday after she helped to prepare dinner for 70 homeless people at the YMCA in Fitchburg. Like you, she is another amazing Changemaker in our midst!

Again, to make a donation to support local restaurants and healthcare workers, and to get a pair of these beautiful earrings, reach out to Andrea via email – andreadiprimaarsenault@gmail.com.

Check out this��post for my interview with Samoset Middle School’s UWYV Champion Francine Meigs and this post for my interview with McKay Arts Academy Champion Sara Carnabucci.

The post Spotlight on Sky View’s UWYV Champion Sharyn Tomasso appeared first on Mount Wachusett Community College.

Learn more about her in this interview with McKay Arts Academy Middle School’s UWYV Champion, Sarah Carnabucci. She shares those shark pics, talks about her journey as a Champion, and let’s us in on what she has been up to during this time of COVID-19 social distancing.

Spotlight on McKay’s UWYV Champion Sarah Carnabucci

How long have you been a Champion for UWYV? And what do you like best about having this role?

��This is my 3rd year being a UWYV Champion.��

The best part of my role is giving the students the opportunity to take control of their own learning, giving them a voice and a place where they are heard. The students really have the control. It is amazing to see the outcomes by allowing the students to have that control and to use their passions to make an impact. I see students who are viewed as the “bad students” or students who don’t do well or struggle in school really find their “niche” or “spot” in this program. That is one of my favorite things. It’s knowing that they have the chance to make a difference and feel successful. They may not otherwise feel that way in other subjects in school.��

How are you doing? What does a typical day-at-home look like for you?��

��I am still working at home, it just looks a little different than it does in the classroom. We have weekly meetings with the principal and with my grade 6 team to keep information updated, plan weekly assignments, and talk about students that we have or haven’t heard from. We make a list of who we need to reach out to and check in on.��

I have also now opened the Carnabucci Homeschool for my 8 year old daughter, although she has told me I am not qualified to prepare her for 3rd grade. My 1.5 year old is all over the place, so she isn’t a good student. She loves getting into anything she shouldn’t be and keeping us on our toes.��

We go for walks around the neighborhood, do arts and crafts projects, have dance parties, and do lots and lots of baking, especially on rainy days.��

How has the stay-at-home/social distancing of COVID-19 affected you positively?��

��I love getting to spend time with my family. Normally, we never eat any meals together as a family, unless it is on the weekends. Now we have 3 meals a day together because we are all home. I get to see my daughters every day and not just for a couple hours after I pick them up from school. I get to see them all day. We get to talk about special things that we want to do when all of this is over.��

My family has a routine at night that we do. We talk about our low of the day, high of the day, and one nice thing we did for someone else. This is something we did before all of this happened. Now, we are all sitting together doing it and this has made our answers much more meaningful than before.��

My daughter has also started writing letters to people. I think that writing letters is an old school thing to do but she has really enjoyed getting mail and writing to other people throughout this.��

Do you have a positive Changemaking story that has resulted from this?��

��I have always said that I want to get better with technology, like Google Classroom and other online resources. Now that we are forced to do online learning, it has also forced me to work on that goal I have had for years now. I am learning more about the different ways technology can be used to connect with my students and allow my students, and my own daughter, to express their knowledge. Seeing the sheer power of technology during this time has been amazing. Everyone is connecting with family, including us.��

In my town, there is a Facebook page where everyone has come together to use 3D printers to make and donate masks, make and deliver meals, start emergency relief funds for those who have lost jobs, and various other acts of kindness. The kindness in others is something that I think has really blown me away during this time. People are really coming together and I am glad to be a part of it.��

Are you able to connect with your students remotely? (Zoom? Google Classroom, or email?) How are they?

��I email my students at least once a week, though usually it is more. I have Google Classroom set-up for my students to assist in their learning and to stay connected. We have done Google forms for check-ins with students and their families. We are going to be doing Google hangouts with our students weekly now that Chromebooks have been passed out in the district.��

Are you in touch with any UWYV teams?�� If so, what are they up to?��

��I have been in touch with students overall and some have reached out about Youth Venture overall. My 6th graders are in the process of preparing for panel, so a lot of them have been asking for their Action Plans, so they can continue to make their PowerPoint presentations. Some of my 7th and 8th graders have shared documents that they were working on to create their trifolds for Spring Showcase. I am hoping that I can connect with them more now that Chromebooks have been distributed to students who need them.��

If UWYV was offered to you as a young student, what would your cause be and why?

��I am not sure what I would have chosen back then. If I were to start a venture right now, I would do something with sharks. I love sharks and have been diving with them twice now. I had the experience both in a cage and no cage – just swimming around the sharks wearing scuba gear.

Sharks are a major part of our ecosystem and need to be protected. Many people only know what is on the news, which in this area is all about shark attacks. Education and finding ways to coexist in the ocean are needed in order to protect humans and sharks. I also think it is absolutely amazing that sharks cannot get cancer. There are some scientists who are doing research to see about an anti-cancer gene. They hope to use that data to help find a cure for cancer in humans.��

What was one of your most memorable experiences being Champion?��

��My most memorable experience was being awarded Champion of the Year in 2018 at Fall Kickoff in front of my students. I had only been a Champion for a year.

Jake was giving the speech about this teacher that had incorporated the program into their curriculum for the first time ever. I remember thinking, “Oh my God, I need to talk to this person when this is over! They could help me get it back into my curriculum.” Then, Jake announced that it was me. It is so memorable, because my students were there cheering for me.�� They told me that they knew it was going to be me after all of the hard work I did to make sure they had the program. It was their comments and support that make it memorable.

I took on this role to give my students the best opportunities I can give them. They were proud and grateful. This made me realize that taking this role and making the program work in my school was the best decision I made.��

What message would you like to send all of your students?��

��I would like to let all of my students know that I miss them very much and cannot wait to see them soon! My hope is that they are all healthy, happy, and safe. Make sure to get outside and exercise, keep learning, and keep making positive impacts wherever and whenever you can.��

Is there anything else you would like to share?��

If your school is on the fence about getting United Way Youth Venture in your school, advocate for it. The changes it has made for my students has been nothing short of amazing. Being involved in this program is one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself and my students.��

Thank you for taking the time to update us Sarah, and stay healthy!

Check out this post for my interview with Samoset Middle School’s UWYV Champion Francine Meigs.

The post Spotlight on McKay’s UWYV Champion Sarah Carnabucci appeared first on Mount Wachusett Community College.

As we continue to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic, I am reaching out to a few of our Youth Venture Champions to see how and what they are doing. The following is my interview with Samoset Middle School’s Youth Venture Champion, Francine Meigs.

Spotlight On Samoset’s Youth Venture Champion Francine Meigs

How long have you been a Champion for UWYV? What do you like best about having this role?

I believe I have been a Champion for the last 6 years; however, I have been an Ally since the program began in 2002. I truly enjoy supporting, advocating, and empowering Venturers. They can make a difference – they are changemakers.

How are you doing? What does a typical day-at-home look like for you?

My family and I are doing well. A typical day-at-home starts with feeding Dusty and Misty, our 2 kitties, and checking all my e-mail messages. I spend time responding to parent, student, and staff emails, attending scheduled Google Chat and Zoom virtual meetings, doing required paperwork and overseeing remote learning. In between, I call or text to check on family. When the weather is nice, I go for a walk or out to the yard to rake. At the end of the day, I might watch a movie and read before heading to bed.

How has the stay-at-home/social distancing of COVID-19 affected you positively?

I have had healthier habits since staying at home. I have been spending more time with the family and my kitties, going to bed earlier, reading more at night, contacting family and friends more often, and I have started to declutter closets.�� I am not tech savvy, but over the past few weeks, I have learned how to set up and participate in Zoom and Google Chat/Hangouts meetings.�� I have even improved my ability to use Google Drive.

Do you have a positive Changemaking story that has resulted from this?��

I have been sharing community resources with parents and advocating for the elderly (my parents and their neighbors in their public housing development). I have contacted health and social service agencies in the Boston area to ensure that the elderly have access to food and someone to check their overall well-being.

Are you able to connect with your students remotely? (Zoom? Google Classroom, or email?) How are they?

Yes, I have been able to connect with my students via Google Classroom, Google Chat/Hangouts, e-mail, and phone. I even delivered e-learning packets to the homes of students who were not in school to get them. I am so grateful, that my students and their families are doing well and finding ways to mix remote learning along with family time and down time.

Are you in touch with any Youth Venture teams? ����If so, what are they up to?

I have spoken with several Venturers.�� I hope to be in touch with Venture Teams soon.

On a positive note, I want to share that Carlos Rolon, the young boy who was in Children’s Hospital, received a heart over the weekend. (For more details on Carlos and how Samoset students reached out to him, check out this post.)

If Youth Venture was offered to you as a young student, what would your cause be and why?

If I could have been a part of Youth Venture when I was a young, I would have worked with other people to create a venture to help students and adults (the elderly) in need. I believe I would have been part of a CARE Team that set up free tutoring sessions for struggling learners or an outreach team that would visit senior centers, assisted living centers or nursing homes to read, play games, do crafts, or walk with senior citizens.

In reflection, my first venture into community service came when I was 14 years old. The religious group I belonged to encouraged everyone to do something kind for others. I chose to do something for the children at Shriner’s Hospital in Springfield, MA.�� I crocheted 100 bunny rabbit pins for the children who were there as a way to bring Easter or Spring to them. These children were recovering or awaiting surgery and would not be going home for the Easter holiday. They did not have holiday decorations in their rooms. It was a lot of work, but I remember how good it felt mailing that package to the hospital.�� I received a thank you from the social worker and a few letters from the children. I truly believe this one event sparked my love for community service and community service learning.

What message would you like to send all of your students?

I would like all of my students to know that not only do I miss them, but I care about the health and well-being of each of them and their families.�� Even though we aren’t seeing each other daily, I think about them often.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

This is an unusual time. Staying at home all the time is difficult, but it’s important that we remember to do something kind each day.�� “Everyone can make a difference!”

Thank you for taking the time update us Francine, and stay healthy!

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