Hello Changemakers - from all of us here at United Way Youth Venture (UWYV), and Changemaking.

We hope this newsletter finds you well and recharged after April Vacation! We are excited to bring you the latest updates on the incredible work being done by our area youth.

• We are thrilled to welcome one new Venture team to the UWYV family, and we're proud to see the progress being made by new and existing teams. You can read more about their inspiring achievements below, and don't forget to check out our social media pages for photos, videos, and updates on Venture team progress here.

• New! UWYV's first ever youth reporter, Reagan Brideau, age 11, submitted her first report, Play Conquers Stress, from the field after visiting Crocker Elementary after school during the Kids Leading Kids Activity Takeover event on March 20th. Learn more about Reagan below.

• Please join us in welcoming another new teammate! Rohanji Novas recently joined our UWYV staff team! An experienced mentor, Rohanji will continue working with GEAR UP in Fitchburg Public Schools to help students succeed academically and prepare for post-secondary success, while also supporting UWYV. We are delighted to have her on board and look forward to making an impact together with our North Central Mass Changemaker and UWYV community!

As always, we are grateful for your continued support.  



~Lauren, Rachel, Rohanji - the United Way Youth Venture Team!



Launch Alert! Students at Parker Charter School (Devens) are rallying to save their school's theater program. A group of students thespians recently presented their plan, Thousands for Thespians, to a panel on Friday, April 7th.

The Venture involves using their culinary skills to host "Waffle Wednesdays" at Parker Charter, where they'll sell homemade waffles to fellow students and staff to raise funds for new theater equipment.

The Thousands for Thespians crew also highlighted the unfortunate fact that Parker Charter hasn't put on any plays or musicals in 20 years, due to a lack of funding for scripts, costumes, and equipment. These dedicated students have taken it upon themselves to revive the theater program, and this year marks the first time in two decades that Parker Charter's stage will see a show.

Their "Waffle Wednesdays" launch couldn't have come at a better time, as the first production in two decades, Working, opened at Parker Charter over the weekend of April 7th. We're thrilled to see the passion and initiative that these students are demonstrating in their efforts to keeping the arts alive in their school!

Last month, the Devoted Daring Dragons of McKay Elementary School (Fitchburg) launched their Venture, and they've wasted no time in putting their plans into action.

Recently, the students were officially "sworn in" as Junior Park Rangers by James Bunnell, director of Fitchburg Parks & Rec, and spent a morning picking up trash and scrubbing graffiti at the Green Street "Mama Fitz" Memorial Park.

This park cleanup was just the first of two planned by the Devoted Daring Dragons, who will return on Thursday, April 27th, to paint benches and spread new mulch. We are excited to announce that both cleanup days will be filmed by Creative Eye Productions, so stay tuned for more updates on the incredible work being done by these inspiring young Changemakers!

How have you incorporated mindfulness practices into your teaching or learning experience, and what benefits have you noticed as a result?