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

The United Way Youth Venture Stakeholders Breakfast was a great success. On February 15, 2023, we brought together elected officials, K-12 Administrators, and community partners invested in improving the mental health of our young people. It was a productive and fruitful morning. Read more, below.

Scholarship applications are now being accepted, through March 24. Please share with high school seniors and college students that exemplify leadership and changemaking, and are (or have been) involved in United Way Youth Venture.

The first panel of FY23 was at Parker Charter School on February 10th. The Parker Improvement Plan team launched successfully and was awarded $150 in seed funding from the panelists.

As always, we are grateful for your continued support.  

~the United Way Youth Venture Team!



Parker Charter School just launched their first team of the year! The Parker Improvement Plan (P.I.P.) Team wants to improve things around their school. They will host a PIE fundraiser to raise money to purchase items they need. And the plan is to coordinate with other student groups at their school to prioritize and provide resources.

Special thank you to the panelists for sharing expertise and supporting these Venturers: Jaclyn Mayo, Director of Resource Development at the United Way of North Central MA, Matt Lindsay, Division 2 AH Teacher at the Parker Charter, Michelle McKenna, Business Manager at Parker Charter, and Laurel Ronan, Assistant to the Business Manager at Parker Charter.

United Way Youth Venture Stakeholders Breakfast

with special emphasis on mental health

On February 15 we brought together school administrators, state legislators, and community leaders for the annual UWYV Stakeholders Breakfast. The event celebrated courageous examples of students creating positive change in North Central MA as well as provided a forum to make connections among many organizations seeking improvement in our education system and the overall wellbeing of members of our learning community.

The event was facilitated by Dr. Shelley Errington Nicholson, who led attendees through table discussions and action commitments. See below for the notes taken as attendees shared out, along with action commitments for the next 30 days.

White Board Notes

Systems-level challenges:

• Inadequate funding for proven programs/resources
• Regularly flowing info/communication with leaders and those affected

Resources we have:

• “Handle with Care” notification program via Heywood Hospital (police alert to schools) ~Terry Young
• Reality Fairs bring awareness of resources to students ~Molly Velasco
• “Fab Four” direct daily support for students exposed to significant trauma (McKay Elementary) ~Jenna Roberts
• Very invested policy-makers; don’t shy away from reaching out
• Give opportunities to students to practice wellness, happiness (like UWYV)
• The “handle with care” project happening in Gardner, Winchendon and other towns in our region. Renee is the person to connect with regarding connection with the larger group that meets quarterly. renee.eldredge@heywood.org
• Another resource that schools might likely already have connections with is GLSEN. Supporting LGBTQ communities in schools.

We need:

• Basic needs, in-school meals, (please continue!)
• Equitable resources for early college students
• More mental health resources in school, shorter wait times
• Incentives and/or reduction of barriers for clinicians to advance, work in schools...also draw people to the profession
• “Stress Armor” build into curriculum
• More recreational activities 

30 Day Commitments

• I am going to make a positive phone call home for every student in my class.
• Linking UWYV Ventures to civic/service earning projects here. Long term projects broken up into smaller achievable projects over time.
• Reaching out to representatives
• Happiness ripple effect
• Increasing awareness and promoting – find those “happy opportunities” to encourage positive focus.
• Championing our youth after their major events
• Scaling up our partnership with Youth Venture next year
• PD Planning for staff around mental health
• Checking in regularly with kids
• 8-10 conversations with reps from youth serving organizations
• Help to find funding for mental health programs for local students
• Recruit more outside agencies to our afterschool program
• Work with partnering mental health orgs to try to bring counselors IN
• What can I bring back to the senate to try to be supportive of educators, students and families?
• What concerns would you like legislators to report back to DESE/Administration?
• Continue to engage in these conversations
• Invite myself to more community meetings moving toward change, individually, as a group and as a system
• Look to encourage a walking group for my staff, faculty, students
• Apply for 21st Century grant for skill building and wellness afterschool program for Winchendon, in partnership with CAC YMCA to operate out of new building, Sunshine café and Teaching Kitchen
• Greater emphasis on first-gen students and connecting them to more resources and support, highlighting their struggles, breaking the barriers of transitioning to the real world
• Make a big thing out of something someone does at least daily with the goal of pumping others up
• Send a handwritten appreciation note to someone I am grateful for and the theme will be what they taught me
• Check in with each of my kiddos to see what supports they need in general life, not just for their current task
• I will thank people for what they do that don’t normally get recognized for it.
• Provide quick feedback for students and staff
• Celebrate little wins and share with those who made the impact 

Each year the UWYV staff are proud to support outstanding Venturers by awarding $1,000 and $2,000 scholarships to graduating seniors and current college students who exemplify leadership and changemaking. Click here to learn about past scholarship recipients and to apply! Applications are due by March 24.