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| Quote of the Month | "Shared laughter creates a bond of friendships. When people laugh together, they cease to be young and old, teacher and pupils, worker and boss. They become a single group of human beings." ~W. Lee Grant |
| | Topic of the Month: Coming Together for Change | New this year, MYAN's News to Use will be moving to a quarterly format. As Margaret Mead famously said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." MYAN believes in this power of people coming together for a shared purpose. More specifically, MYAN believes that it is essential for youth to have an active role and a respected voice in the process of community change. We are all in this together. This quarter's News to Use issue is all about bringing people together. For many of us September is a month of beginnings--school is getting started, we're recruiting for our groups and activities, and we are re-committing to being active agents of change in our communities. Beginnings are a time to for visioning, and also a time for putting systems in place that will support you to live your missions. In this issue we highlight techniques for building and organizing your groups and the theory & practice of youth & adult partnership. We hope you will find tips, tools, stories and inspiring examples to help your groups of thoughtful, committed citizens on your way towards changing the world. |
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| In Your Words | Together We Can Change Anything
by Jabon Chubbuck, Lincoln Academy
People working together, no matter what age, is something the whole world can benefit from. Both youths' and adults' voices need to be heard so more opinions can be heard. Also, youth are the future--they are the ones who need to help in the decision-making process now so they can learn about it.
In the early winter every year, I have the privilege to both witness and be a part of youth and adults working together to create positive change in the world today. Every year, MYAN and a Youth Planning Team (a team of youth who volunteer their time to help plan every aspect of the event) put together a Peer Leadership Conference where hundreds of youth and their advisors come to gain skills to create change. The workshops range from anti-tobacco to educating people on eating disorders, and everything in-between. The variety shows that together we, (youth and adults) can do many great things-anything ranging from a neighbor hood clean up, to a conference for more than 400 youth and their advisors.
I am constantly watching youth and adults work together and it is always positive because with youths' insights and adults' wisdom, many great ideas are always shared. Youth can gain so many great things, such as ideas or experience that someone that is older may have. Youth who are in a setting with adults also have the chance to show that they can be mature. And adults gain experience, too. They gain a fun work area, and creative ideas they would have never thought of. Also, adults gain a better understanding of what's important to young people and what they care about.
Both youth and adults gain relationships, and that's always a good thing to gain. New relationships help people because that's more people they know, more people they can connect with if the need ever arises. Also, relationships with people of different ages or different perspectives will help you because when you think of an idea you can get more people's honest opinion. Together youth and adults can change everything. Together WE can change everything. |
| Build Your Skills | Getting a group together to get things done--easier said than done, right? Here are a few tips & tools to help you along the way. Youth and Adult Partnership Group Formation For MANY more resources on youth and adult partnership, building a group and numerous other topics, please visit MYAN's online resource pages. |
| Check This Out! | State Board of Education: Youth Vision for Maine
Time and space to vision a Maine in which youth voice is present and heard at all levels of education policy and decision-making: that's what brought 26 youth from all over Maine together at Bates College this past August 14th. The Youth Forum, coordinated by the State Board of Education and facilitated by MYAN, was a productive and meaningful day designed to include youth voice and vision in the planning stage of the State Board of Education's project to add 2 youth members this year.
During the day the group both created a list of possible nomination criteria for the youth spots on the State Board as well as did visioning work on how Maine's youth could be involved in policy level decisions in the future.
The application form created based on the brainstormed criteria will be available soon on MYAN's website, and will also be sent to each school's principal. Students who will be Juniors or Seniors in the fall of 2008 will be eligible to apply. The screening process will take place during the fall, and the two selected young people--one incoming Junior and one incoming Senior, each representing one of the two Congressional districts in Maine--will be appointed to the Board in January. If you are interested in this opportunity, call the Maine State Board of Education or ask your school principal. |
| And the Award Goes To... | You can reward a fabulous western Maine group you know by nominating them for the Jane deFrees Rural Youth Leaders Award! Biennially Western Mountains Alliance (WMA) recognizes the work of an exemplary organization from western Maine that is making positive strides towards economic sustainability while preserving rural heritage and natural resources by awarding the King Cummings Leadership Award. This year, on the occasion of its twentieth anniversary, WMA will also award the NEW Jane deFrees Youth Rural Leaders Award to a youth-led social action group that has made a significant contribution to western Maine's future. Nominations will be accepted until October 1st, and more information and the form can be found by following the link above. The award will be presented at the Western Mountains Alliance's 20th anniversary celebration on November 1st. |
| Messages From MYAN | ~MYAN Introduces New Staff!
Meet MYAN's staff, including two new Americorps*VISTA volunteers and new youth staff. Visit our staff page to meet the team. ~Maine Youth Leading the Way!
MYAN's Peer Leadership Conference will be on November 16th & 17th at Atlantic Oakes By the Sea in Bar Harbor, ME. Want to know more? Check out the Conference page for info on registration, workshops, schedule and more! The registration deadline is October 12th. ~Youth & Adult Partnership Trainings Around the State
MYAN will be offering 7 day-long Youth & Adult Partnership training,"Partnering for Change," across Maine this year from January through May. Stay tuned to http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=kxsx6ccab.0.0.fbktlybab.0&ts=S0280&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myan.org%2F&id=preview for dates & locations coming soon! ~Save the Date for the Summit!
The 4th Annual Maine Youth Anti-Tobacco Summit, sponsored by the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine, will be on April 7th & 8th at the Augusta Civic Center. Keep up to date on Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN) events & projects by visiting www.myan.org! |
| Show Me the Money | Pay It Forward Mini-Grants
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=kxsx6ccab.0.0.fbktlybab.0&ts=S0280&p=http%3A%2F%2Fpayitforwardfoundation.org%2Feducators%2Fgrant.html&id=preview For one-time youth-identified service projects that benefit their schools, neighborhoods or greater communities. Projects must based on the concept of one person doing a favor for others, who in turn do favors for others, with ever-expanding results. - Eligibility: Schools, churches and community youth groups (with an adult sponsor). Youths or adults may write the application.
- Amount: $500.
- Next Deadline: October 15th
For many more fundraising ideas & resources visit our Grants & Fundraising page! |
| Events Calendar | Want to get the word out about events in your community? Please email Molly O'Connell at mlo@propeople.orgto let us know about what's going on near you! Events will be published on the MYAN website & in the MYAN News to Use when timing allows. Maine Coalition on Smoking or Health Press Conference, September 25 at 11am in the Topsham/Augusta area (specific location TBD).
To celebrate & raise awareness for Maine's new legislation banning flavored tobacco--the first state in the nation to do so! MCSOH is looking for youth to get involved! Click here for more information.
If you would like to participate in advocacy activities or receive legislative updates, please contact Amy at (207) 874-8774. Maine Harvest Lunch Day, September 26, 2007
The Maine Department of Education is encouraging food service directors to serve locally produced foods in schools on this day. Many support materials are available on the Maine School Food Service Association website (www.mainesfsa.org). 4th Annual GrowSmart Summit, October 19, 2007 at the Augusta Civic Center
GrowSmart Maine is a statewide non-profit citizens' organization working to promote sustainable prosperity and to protect the state's distinctive character and quality places. Beyond Bullying Prevention: Strategies that Work, November 5, 2007 Eastland Park Hotel, Portland
Keynote by Lyn Mikel Brown
Put on by Hardy Girls, Healthy Women
Workshop topics will include girlfighting/ building girl allies, relationships between stereotypical masculinity, violence and boys' academic success, bias-based harassment of GLBTQ youth, the effects of sexist and racist media messages, the impact of poverty and social class on students' school experiences, and the misuse of technology and cyber-bullying.
Registrations available in September.
FMI please send an email to info@hghw.org. Mix It Up Day, November 13th, 2007
Mix It Up Day is a simple call to action: take a new seat in the cafeteria. By making the move, students can cross the lines of division, meet new people and make new friends.
Find Many More Events & Trainings Happening Around the Network. |
| Call for YOUR Stories | Inspire others throughout the state by sharing your story of how you are making positive change in Maine. We're interested in what you are doing in your community. Tell us your success stories and accomplishments and we will highlight them in our newsletter!
MYAN's next issue will focus on Action Planning & Community Organizing and will be published in December. The deadline for story submissions for the next issue is November 30th. Youth whose stories are published in News to Use will receive a $10 stipend! |
| Join the Network: Register Your Group with MYAN! | The Maine Youth Action Network is expanding its Network of individuals and groups around Maine who are making a difference! Formalizing our Network will result in MYAN having an improved capacity to support you and to connect you to the ideas and experiences of other groups doing similar work and to new resources & tools.
Since "Joining the Network" is a relatively new MYAN initiative, we are hoping that ALL groups who want to get or stay connected, even those who have participated at MYAN events in the past, will fill out our Join the Network survey (if they haven't already) so we can update contact information and learn more about what you care about and what you need.
Fill out the survey TODAYand pass it on to others who will benefit! |
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