When exploring possible options for a project in community development I began reflecting on experiences that affected my life. There were individuals I knew, and some I did not, who were involved in facilitating the experiences that shaped my life and character. Some of these experiences included more moments sticking with me, some even influencing career choices, college decisions, and large lifestyle choices. One experience, the American Youth Foundation’s (AYF) Leadership Conference held power to change my life.
I don’t feel like I am alone in this. A common reaction to this experience includes sentiments concurring with my own. My local high school sent eight students to this conference in 1997. After several years, the relationship between the AYF and Belton High School expired. I wanted to find a way to rekindle this connection to an educational experience that created a ripple of change through the community.
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| Participants at Evening Reflection |
My goal, when starting this project, was to find several youth, and pair them with a National Leadership Award. In order to give this award, I had to find a civic group, or non-profit to sponsor it. The National Leadership Award provide recipients an opportunity to apply for the I Dare You award. This award pays for the tuition to attend the National Leadership Conference. I wanted to take the idea a step further, and create a fund raising network to facilitate raising the money and opportunity for transportation. After returning from the leadership conference, this group would become the core, inviting and fund raising for peers. As these young people network, further projects come into the community by their hands. Blood Drives, Awareness Projects, Community Meetings and Event can all be facilitated by this group. But first, I had to find a sponsor.
I started by researching the different civic group within Belton, Missouri. I found a long list; Optimist Clubs, Social Clubs, Lion's Clubs, VFW Posts, Knights of Columbus, a group called Belton Cares which happened to be ran by the Superintendent in Belton. With a large pool of organizations to pull from, I need a strategy. I called Colleen Cronin at the AYF to gain some insight into the process of giving a National Leadership Award. She sent me a stack of forms to use and some brochures. These were very helpful in presenting my plan to groups.
The first group I contacted was the Girl Scouts of America local council. Robyn Ratcliffe, the Executive Director of the council explained that because of budget issues, they would not be able to sponsor an award, I asked if a troop in Belton could use an award for an emerging leader in their troop. She put me in contact with that troop. I attended a meeting, presented this opportunity, answered questions and left certain I would not be hearing from them. The group of girls were uninterested in leaving their home for the week, with an already packed summer.
I called several Optimist Club Presidents, two had the wrong contact information listed on their web page, the other was uninterested in sponsoring a National Leadership Award, felt their resources were better used toward state and local events. I ran into this issue with several clubs and groups. I needed to change my strategy, my network was shrinking.
I took a step back and changed my model. Frustrated that I could not find a group to listen to effect a small amount of resources, less than $25 a participant, could have on their community. I called the Belton Lion's Club, and explained I would like to attend a meeting to present a National Leadership Award I would like to give to local high school students. The invitation was expressed and accepted, I was to present at the next meeting. The meeting went well, I left feeling like this could become a possible sponsor. The next day I received an email saying they would love to sponsor some awards, first I needed to find some recipients. The hard part was over.
I contacted, emailed, and left messages to several administrators, counselors and teachers at the high school. At this point, being several weeks behind, I was determined to find candidates. I went to the school, after a week of attempting to contact. I waited to speak to the guidance counselor. I explained who I was, what I was doing, and asked if their were any candidates he thought would be appropriate for this award. He explained there were, but he could not give me their names. I explained I would not need any further information, just a name for the certificate, all the other information is to be processed by their parents at a later time. He seemed uninterested and again explained he could not give me a name. I asked if there were any way I could, any protocol that needed to be extended in order for students at his school to receive this award. He asked for me to leave the information, and he would get back to me.
The next morning, convinced the guidance counselor will not follow up with me, I call an old teacher at the high school again. He answers, and after some talking about my project he gives me two names! I have found at least two.
I contact Colleen Cronin again, to find out what is next. She explains that most of the I Dare You awards have been given, and advises me to wait until the fall to submit for these two candidates. She knows my intention is beyond the Leadership Award, and really the scholarship is my goal. So, I contact the two youth, and explain as much as I can about the award.
I attended this summer's Leadership Conference, and facilitate forty hours of leadership development. I connected at this conference with several youth within my metropolitan community. I asked if they would help to fund-raise to help bring more young people from the area to the conference. I am excited to create lasting partnerships with these amazing youth, dedicated to changing their community.
Within this project I learned so much. I better understand the methods needed to navigate the philanthropic community and organizations. I have made connections with several leaders of organizations, and wish to expand this project beyond Belton, Missouri. The tactics and strategies needed to continue and expand this project. Currently the focus is on fund raising for this project. I have an individual donor who contacted me to start a fund for travel to this conference. With this start I am sure there will be a presence of my home community again at the National Leadership Conference. I gained understanding in ways to use my talents to present and facilitate larger projects.
With the help of young leaders already involved in the programs my goal is to have enough students to allow for a chartered transport, saving cost and carbon footprint. My next action step is to bring together the two individuals receiving the award with the youth in the area who have been to the conference. I will plan an event, and during this time we will plan a fund raising opportunity. My network to Lion's Clubs in towns surrounding has expanded. I will find ways to include those areas.
