Issue #30 | August 2020
Hello Changemakers - from all of us here at United Way Youth Venture. Happy August!

We have been strategizing and planning for our new way of offering our Youth Venture programming, Changemaking programming and the Portrait of a Graduate initiative. Like all of you, we are adjusting and adapting to this new way of working. We look forward to when we can share ALL the information about our new offerings and about connecting with all of you in the new school year. Coming soon!

The Portrait of a Graduate grant initiative is ramping back up, AND we have several stipended opportunities open for Working Team members, for Media Coaches, and Alumni Outreach positions. For all new subscribers, you can read more about this grant, below.

By the time this newsletter comes out next month, students, teachers, and administrators likely have started school (in-person or remote) and parents/guardians may have started their new roles as teacher, but certainly of the cheerleaders for their children. We want to extend our sincere encouragement and support to all of you! You are all stronger and more courageous than you know. We are with you all in spirit and 100% believe in you! Here's to a successful new school year - - whatever that looks like for you! If we can help any of you in any way - - we are here for you. Please reach out.

As always, we appreciate you and thank you for your continued support!

~the United Way Youth Venture Team!
Can we get your input?

Given that many of you will be working or learning remotely, we would like to discover how you would appreciate us reaching you to keep you updated on all that is happening with Changemaking, Youth Venture and Portrait of a Graduate.

Would you please take the one-second poll to the right to help us determine where we should put much of our focus?

Thank you! We value your opinion and please reach out to us if there is another technology we should consider.
Which NEW way would you like us to connect with you about Youth Venture and Changemaking?
Digital Podcast
Mobile App
Fun & Interactive Virtual Workshops
New to Portrait of a Graduate?

Earlier this year we were honored to share that we were awarded a Barr Foundation grant to support the Building a Community-Driven Portrait of a High School Graduate project. The 14 Portrait of a Graduate grantees represent 60 high schools across New England.

Many high schools operate under a set of policies and practices that can feel disconnected from a larger vision for students’ success. For schools to successfully educate all students for the realities of our rapidly changing world, communities must construct a new understanding of what school could look like. That’s where a portrait of a graduate can help. 

A portrait of a graduate is a collective vision of what all high school students will know and be able to do by graduation. To create a portrait of a graduate, educators, parents, students, and community members work together to articulate a robust definition of student success in school and beyond. This process offers an opportunity to outline a community’s own values, align work that’s already in place, bridge existing gaps, and guide future decision-making. 

Join in this effort by participating as part of the grant’s Working Group member or a subcommittee member. Respond to this email today with your interest or to learn more. 
Everyone a Changemaker in a COVID world


As this year is unlike any other, we can certainly say, "this is the moment we've been preparing for!"

And we can't wait to be able to share how Changemaking professional development is going to look for 2020-2021.

While we can't share everything, yet, we can share a few new things:

  • New Changemaker cohort co-creation sessions (monthly, 2 hour video sessions with monthly in-person or virtual coaching sessions by school)
  • Online Changemaker Train the Trainer 
  • Collaborative project-based PD for educators - topics to include SEL, teaching equity/tolerance, engaging/connecting with students remotely, health/well-being, and more
  • Book studies - Changemaker only and community-level 4 week courses
  • Case Study Dialogues - collaborative problem-solving, educators and others submit challenge areas and the community comes together to help them brainstorm solutions

More details to come! Stay tuned!
Be sure to check out Jake VanHillo's latest "Changemaker Check In" videos! He shares how he keeps cool and some favorite places he would like to visit and a new "highlight" reel.

Click here for the UWYV YouTube Channel to view his video series!
Have a knack for writing?


We're looking for an intern to take over our blog and support our marketing efforts. This is an unpaid (yet highly rewarding) position.

  • Flexible hours, remote work
  • Commitment: 5-10 hours/week
  • Assist in the monthly publication of the YV Monthly Newsletter
  • Help in collecting relevant and recent content and stories for the YV Monthly newsletter
  • Compile stories into the newsletter subscription service
  • Assist in ensuring continuity of the Venturer Voice Blog 
      
Please send an email to uwyv@mwcc.mass.edu if interested.
Interested in writing for the official UWYV blog? Our audience wants to hear from YOU!

The Venturer Voice blog seeks students, Champions, Allies and community contributors to write pieces for our official blog!