Thinking About Service Projects

Our Youth Leadership Seminar (YLS) is just around the corner and it is not too late to start thinking about service project ideas for your school!  If you recall in our blog two weeks ago, we discussed all the features of YLS, one being the Break-Out Sessions.  As a refresher, during the break-out sessions, schools will be paired together to brainstorm ways to make a difference in their community.  This brainstorming session will be utilized towards establishing an idea for the #AMFCHALLENGE.  We want to give you a couple advice tips for brainstorming, but first, let’s see a few examples of service projects schools took part in the past few years to give a little perspective.

1). Kettering Fairmont High School

Name of Project: Sparky’s Spark for Childhood Cancer (December 2014, February 2015)

Description & Impact: Students took an interest in helping children with cancer and worked with Dayton Children’s Hospital.  In December, students performed a whole school initiative of coloring pictures and writing inspirational notes to children at Dayton Children’s.  They collected over 500 pictures and notes.  In February, students organized a drive for Emily’s Beads of Courage, a non-profit organization through Dayton Children’s that awards each child battling cancer with a necklace and beads for every procedure they have gone through.   Raising profit towards Emily’s Beads of Courage, students designed and sold t-shirts.  They also hosted a “Purple-Out” themed basketball game to support cancer awareness.

2). Mount Notre Dame High School

Name of Project: Spark your Inner Beauty (March 2015)

Description & Impact: Students  strongly believed in the effort to pass along a message to young girls that they are “enough.” They developed lesson plans implemented with 5^th grade girls at Reading Central Elementary School to concentrate on the importance of appreciating inner beauty in themselves and others.  Each student was encouraged to present ideas and develop activities to communicate the message that inner beauty is what takes precedence.

3).   Amelia High School

Name of Project: Amelia Ambassadors (January-March 2014)

Description & Impact:  The 10^th and 11^th graders designed a program for the 8^th graders coming to the high school.  These high school students acted as peer counselors to these 8^th grade students, teaching lessons and facilitating activities to encourage positivity, school spirit, and self-esteem.  During last year’s Youth Leadership Seminar, freshman Amelia students identified bullying and fighting as a prominent issue at Amelia, therefore, this project was centered on alleviating that problem.

We are so proud of all the dedication that these high schools put in to making an impact in their community.  Here are just a couple of tips to keep in mind when brainstorming service project ideas:

We cannot wait to see all the wonderful ideas each one of your schools bring forth to YLS this year!  We believe that each school has the power to make a difference and be Now Trending leaders.

Ilana Siegel

Events Intern

#NTCincy15

The Youth Leadership Seminar Continues to Impact

The Youth Leadership Seminar (YLS) is quickly approaching.  The schools are the most important part of our event each year. Without them the seminar would not be possible.  We here at the Anthony Muñoz Foundation believe in partnership and we cannot thank the schools enough that make every year great and continue to come back and experience the event.  We would like to give a special shout out to a few schools who are making this year special.

We have 12 schools that will be attending their 11^th YLS this year!  They have seen the impact from the seminar and we cannot thank them enough for entrusting us to help empower their students.  Thank you for your continued involvement:

A statistic that we are especially proud of is that 65 of the 74 schools currently registered are attending for a consecutive year!  All of these schools saw the positive effect that the Youth Leadership Seminar had on their students and community and want to further the impact this year.

We have 9 newbie schools that are attending just their second ever YLS this year and we are excited to continue working with them and see their students impact their communities.  We cannot wait to have them pack their bus and come to the next 5, 10 , and even 15 Youth Leadership Seminars!

There are still schools that have yet to register for the 2015 YLS! Check to see if your school is one of the 74 currently registered!

Kristin Shaffer
Experience Intern
#NTCincy15

Now Trending: Happy One Month!

Fall is quickly approaching which means pretty leaves, sweaters and pumpkin everything.  There is one other major thing fall brings,  our Youth Leadership Seminar (YLS)!  As you may have read in last week’s blog, our theme is “Now Trending.” We are just one month away and we want to share with you our top five favorite features of this Now Trending event.

1). Speakers:  Each year our speakers make a huge impact on YLS; they engage, motivate and inspire students to find their inner leader and make a difference.  So without further ado, we would like to introduce to you our speakers joining us this year:

Santa Ono- University of Cincinnati President

Ever since beginning his term in 2012, President Ono has truly proved himself as a unique, “trending” leader.  His involvement and passion for UC, has led him to break barriers and reach out to students, faculty in organizations in ways that is not typical for a university president.

Nick Jackson- Chief Inspiration Officer at Change Productions

Along with being the Founder and Chief Inspiration at Change Productions, a social entrepreneurship centered on creating opportunities through entrepreneurship, especially for those often over-looked, Nick is recognized for many accomplishments.  Above all, he is known for his inspirational speeches, engaging the lives of over 250,000 high school and college students.  Nick is a “trending” leader committed to assisting people of all ages reach their full potential.

Lacy “Asylum” Robinson III- Louder than a Bomb poetry contest winner

Asylum is an alumni of Aiken High School and current University of Cincinnati student. He has been writing poetry since he was a kid and notes that his poetry reflects his lifestyle and what he has been through.  Asylum is a “trending” individual who did not step out of his comfort zone until he started sharing his work; serving as an inspiration to many.

Anthony Muñoz

Where do we start with his accomplishments and accolades? Our foundation is here today with much thanks to Anthony and through his many accomplishments and determination to give back.  Anthony’s drive and commitment to better our community is what makes him a “trending” leader.

2). Break-Out Sessions:  With regards to Now Trending, we encourage students to keep in mind these three ideas: break a trend, start a trend, and be a leader.  During our break-out session, schools will be paired together to brainstorm ways to go above and beyond in their community.  This brainstorming session will be geared towards developing an idea for the Service Challenge Project.

3). Lunch: Attendants will “Eat mor chikin” as we munch on a lunch catered by Chick-Fil-A!

4). Entertainment: Our favorite rapper, KJ-52 will be joining us once again this year and will put on a private show for teachers and students.

5). YOU: Lastly, we want to make this year’s YLS the best of them all and YOU can help us accomplish this! Check and see here if your school is registered:

If your school is not listed here and wishes to re-define Now Trending,  it is still not late to visit our website and register!

Ilana Siegel

Events Intern

#NTCincy15