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Issue #29 | July 2020
Hello Changemakers - from all of us here at United Way Youth Venture! Happy July.

We are excited to have begun hosting the Changemaking Online Book Study as part of Professional Development for Fitchburg Public Schools . The book is The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown . This is a four-week, 15-hour book study that will introduce and explore author and research professor Brené Brown’s concept of Wholehearted Living . The book study aligns with concepts introduced during Changemaker professional development. It is facilitated by Lauren Mountain , our United Way Youth Venture Director . The book study was embedded with optional live discussion sessions (to go along with the written portions) which has been an added positive aspect.

Please see below for a special invitation to join us for a Changemaker Trainers Planning Session , next Tuesday at 3pm. This is a one-hour brainstorming session to design Changemaking experiences for colleagues and students in your districts. 
As always, we appreciate you and thank you for your continued support!

~the United Way Youth Venture Team!
Have you checked out Jake VanHillo's latest " Changemaker Check In " videos? He takes us on a fun little nature walk in one of his recent videos!

Click here for the UWYV YouTube Channel to view his video series!
Changemaker Trainers Planning Session

We are actively developing our plan and contingencies for how Changemaking can fit into the 2020-21 school year and support our growing family of Changemakers and students.  

We invite you to join us next Tuesday at 3pm for a one-hour brainstorming session to design Changemaking experiences for colleagues and students in your districts. We have begun some of this work already and have some ideas for remote Professional Development. Discussion topics will include: 

  • Introducing Changemaking to new folks (reaching the tipping point)
  • Designing/delivering PD for timely topics like SEL, equity/tolerance, powerful connections with remote students
  • Book study format – how the pilot with Fitchburg Public Schools is going so far and what we might attempt next
  • Opportunities to develop PD with/for MTA
  • Intersection with Portrait of a Graduate focus group and best practices review
  • Training for FY21 Class of Changemaking Trainers and help needed

Please get in touch if you would be interested in joining this conversation. Reply to this email or send a request to uwyv@mwcc.mass.edu.

If you can’t make the call on Tuesday, but would like to participate as a trainer this upcoming year and/or have ideas to contribute, please let us know and we will connect with you individually or set up another time for us to speak in a small group.
Ashoka International’s Collective Action Dialogue


We are pleased that on July 20th, the Changemaking Initiative in North Central Massachusetts will be the featured guest topic for Ashoka International’s Collective Action Dialogues .

Educators, social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders from around the world will collaborate with the NCM team to provide ideas and insights to Changemaking in this Covid-19 educational environment.
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!