The realization that money may not exist has prompted a new round of grant seeking and grant writing. And along with grant writing comes the task of defining what it is I'm actually doing. Ahh, the elevator speech. Such a simple idea. But it seems every time I meet with my supervisor, new ideas and realities surface, constantly changing the definition of my program. Some are merely additions to provide funders what they need to hear. Some are based on.... well, the reality of coordinating a youth volunteer program in a tiny town. Sometimes I wonder if this discredits me at all- to describe my program to community members only to see them a few weeks later and tell them it might, in fact, be something different. MIGHT. I'm currently struggling with a disconnect between what sounds good on paper and what is pragmatic given the nature and scope of working with a limited number of volunteers, a limited number of community agency needs and a limited amount of interest in participating. They are high schoolers. You dig?
Here's the elevator:
The Youth Corps is a student group aimed at promoting healthy, civically engaged youth. It engages students as peer mediators, provides ongoing leadership training and allows students to design and implement their own service projects. The hours of participants are tracked for two different forms of recognition: a Presidential Service Award and a Varsity Letter in Community Service.
Now it's time to engage students as agents of change in their own community! It's time to utilize their efforts to build the capacities of local agencies! Or maybe it's time to go write grants so that these things can happen at all. Student volunteers need food, transportation and training. All things that cost money. Time to go get that $$$$$.
Peace, love and radness,
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