Issue #47 | January 2022
Hello Changemakers - from all of us here at United Way Youth Venture (UWYV), Changemaking and Portrait of a Graduate (POG).

We were excited to watch three new United Way Youth Venture Teams present their project ideas at community panels this month. Two Fitchburg elementary school student Teams participated in a panel, as did a joint Team from Murdock High School and The Winchendon School through Heal Winchendon. Read about the mission of these Teams below. And be sure to visit the Venture Teams page on UWYV website.

Through the Portrait of a Graduate grant, participating districts are able to take part in the creation of high-quality professionally filmed videos at each high school. Gardner High School took advantage of this opportunity and had a half-day filming session with our contracted video production company.

United Way Youth Venture has participation from the first ever homeschool group, NoSo Homeschool Group, that meets weekly at the Townsend Library and other outdoor venues. Read what they're up to, below.

The Toy Town ElementarySchool Venture Team had an exciting and fun recent weekly meeting on Zoom. Staff from Growing Places were special guests to provide instruction for students to create a delicious and healthy snack together.

If you're looking for an exciting and fulfilling position - - UWYV is hiring! Part-time Outreach Specialist positions are open and applications are being accepted now. See below! And please share with anyone you think would be interested and a great asset to our team.

As always, we are grateful for your continued support.

~the United Way Youth Venture Team!


Youth Changemakers Mobile Café

Students at Murdock High School and The Winchendon School came together under the guidance of HEAL Winchendon and Heal Winchendon's Program Manager, Miranda Jennings, to create a youth space for teens to hang out in Winchendon. With great understanding that this is going to take time to get a brick and mortar location, they have begun by spreading the word about the future teen center and by fundraising. They created a Youth Changemaker Mobile Café, a coffee cart that they take to events where they sell coffee and treats while introducing their idea to the community. Their funding will help them to purchase tables and chairs so people have a place to gather while enjoying their coffee.

This Team recently presented their project idea at a community panel at the Clark Memorial YMCA. Thank you to the panelists who listened to the students' project idea, gave them valuable feedback and guidance, and awarded them $500 to support their efforts. We appreciate your time and guidance Justin Sultzbach, Liz Latoria, Deb Kane, and Manuel King - thank you! And thank you Miranda Jennings for your unwavering belief in and the generous support of the youth of your community.
Reingold Changemakers

The Reingold Changemakers have a heart for animals! They learned that there are so many homeless animals that need medical attention and supplies. But not just dogs and cats; they learned that the Fitchburg/Leominster Animal Control also provides medical care to porcupines, owls, hawks, skunks, ferrets, bearded dragons, bobcats and ducks! They are raising money to donate to the Fitchburg/Leominster Animal Control by hosting a school-wide penny war. The winning grade will get to throw a pie into the faces of teacher (and Champion) Mr. Wironen and Principal Sparks!

The Reingold Changemakers presented their plan to a community panel this month and was given approval to officially launch as a United Way Youth Venture Team. We are very proud of them and also very appreciative to the panelists who gave their time and support to this Team. Thank you to Julie Keefe, Principal Justin Sparks, Chad Garner, and Jennifer Brideau. And a special thank you goes to Youth Venture Champion Greg Wironen.
South Street Changemakers

The South Street Changemakers are promoting the power of friendship. They are hosting a fundraiser at school to be able to purchase board games for classes to enjoy during indoor recesses. They are hosting a Penny War at the school with the winning class being able to toss whipped cream "snowballs" at the school principal. With the earnings from the fundraising they will purchase age-appropriate board games for each grade, and then host a school-wide game day. 

Earlier this month the South Street Changemakers presented their idea to a community panel. They received great feedback and encouragement from the panelists and they were awarded $100 to be able to purchase supplies for their Penny War fundraiser. Thank you to Jon Thompson, Katrina Murray, Jennifer Brideau and Chad Garner, for sharing your time and support for these amazing Youth Venture students. And thank you Jenna Roberts for supporting this Team as their Youth Venture Champion.
Filming at Gardner High School

Through the Portrait of a Graduate grant, participating districts are able to take part in the creation of high-quality professionally filmed videos at each high school.

Gardner High School took advantage of this opportunity recently and had a half-day filming session with our videography partner, Creative Eye Productions.

For the full half-day, the camera crew was able to capture students, teachers and administrators as they shared all the steps and changes Gardner High School was able to take to incorporate the vision of the Portrait of a Graduate.
NoSo Homeschool Group

Homeschooling students from the NoSo Homeschool Group are participating in Youth Venture under the guidance of Champion, Jennifer Brideau. Students meet weekly (both in person and through Zoom) to work through the UWYV Action Plan. Most recently they learned about budgeting by working through the budgeting section of the Action Plan. They conducted research to determine the cost of items they'll require to host their bake sale. Proceeds from the bake sale will go toward the office of the Animal Control Officer - - as helping animals is a cause that these students are passionate about.
Toy Town Elementary School Youth Venture created Healthy Snacks

Toy Town Elementary Youth Venture students were given a special holiday bag/activity kit from Heal Winchendon to use on a special weekly meeting on Zoom. The bag included some holiday treats and ingredients that they could use to make a yummy and healthy snack together. Thank you to the staff from Growing Places who provided the guidance and instruction for the students. It was great fun for all.
Click on the image above to view the entire portrait!


Click here to visit our website for more information about POG.
Join a fun and dynamic team in a rewarding and inspiring position as a part-time Outreach Specialist supporting and guiding K-12 youth in North Central Mass!

United Way Youth Venture (UWYV) is a program that engages K-12 youth in the creation and development of their own socially benefiting, entrepreneurial clubs, organizations and projects. Young people involved in UWYV combine their passions and skills to address a problem they see in their community through an entirely youth-led and youth-created process. The Outreach Specialist will implement in-person and virtual delivery of UWYV at partner sites and promote programing to key stakeholders.

Responsibilities: 
  • Provide outreach for the UWYV program in North Central Massachusetts, ensuring delivery of high quality programming;
  • Support the growth and expansion of UWYV at partnering organizations, including K-12 schools, and engage meaningfully with youth, families, and educators across the region;
  • Support new and existing groups of participating youth;
  • Support and maintain established relationships with partnering organizations, including K-12 schools, through communications and outreach;
  • Implement UWYV programming with on-site and virtual partners as well as independently lead and facilitate direct support to youth and adults;
  • If allowed, travel to several partner sites to conduct site visits and outreach;
  • Help the Assistant Director in determining and scheduling program training sessions and dates, as well as generating content for activities and facilitating workshops;
  • Proficiently use virtual collaboration tools (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams) to deliver the program remotely in a meaningful and engaging way;
  • Utilize database to record and track outreach to youth, program partners and adult volunteers;
  • Support evaluation of students and adults engaged in UWYV through targeted outreach and follow-up;
  • Participate in the planning and implementation of in-person/virtual events for UWYV, and other related initiatives including Changemaking and Portrait of a Graduate;
  • Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  • High School graduate or equivalent (GED);
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills;
  • Proficient in the use of technology;
  • Ability to set and achieve goals and take initiative within the workplace;
  • Spanish-English bi-lingual preferred;
  • Experience working with students, faculty members, businesses, and/or nonprofit agencies desirable;
  • Belief in the power of youth to create positive change;
  • Must have access to reliable transportation and high quality internet connection.