What does success mean to these youth? Youth Define Excellence Service Learning Leaders Martial Arts and Chess? Portfolio Management? Who said 'Community"?

Youth gain a broad base of experience through local service-learning projects. The question is, "What happens between the projects?"

Our Community Partnership with the ALC got stronger as it bridged the transition of summer and back to school. A pilot group of middle-school and high-school youth participated with extended hours through the summer. Now they are focused in getting started with the new school year.

Youth Define Excellence

When AYW, a local charter high school decided to start a charter middle school, they decided to find out from youth about their ideas. Six middle-school youth who had worked on various service-learning projects at ALC, accepted the invitation to be interviewed.

It didn't take long for the youth to warm up to Sam Greer, coordinator of the proposed Buen Camino project. He asked simple, straight questions, and he got precise answers.

A 7th grader said he wanted to be able to ask a lot questions without being told to just listen. "Sometimes kids know things that our teachers don't think are important. I get mad and hold in my questions." Other students want to be respected and not presumed to be a problem.

Even though the youth understand the need for discipline, they have their own ideas about what it could look like. "What if the youth were part of setting the consequences for misbehavior?" There were plenty of ideas around that topic! Karen Hunt, transition specialist, listens in (photo). The only downside of the interview was that the school won't open in time for the panel participants to attend as students.

	Service Learning Leaders
Two ALC youth attended a higher ed conference at the Radisso Hotel in June to give their points of view about the value of service learning towards their future. Patrick Diaz and Aubrey Pena talked about how their self-esteem was raised by working on the greenhouse project. Even though their family wants more education for them, both boys are facing choice points NOW. They are realizing the importance that how they show up matters. They are gaining an appetite for MORE opportunities in learning. Many at-risk youth are misunderstood by their own culture. In order for them to break the mold of 'if it was good enough for us, it is good enough for you' NOT to have more education, they somehow have to break through that myth to see that it's a different world these days. That is one place that mentors and transition specialists can have influence. Youth like to be seen and heard-- even if it's acting out behavior. Having an adult advocate is often a fast track for a youth to find the keys to their own strengths. Dana Ellinger, Transition Specialist with LifeWorks Institute, has a way of listening that opens the way for youth to express themselves openly and easily. She has been a bridge person within the at-risk community for many years. "I sometimes wish I could clone myself and watch what happens," she laughed as she loaded her truck on a summer project. Parents also need someone to understand their point of view. It can be overwhelming to keep up with the ever- changing role of parenting. Dana has a unique quality to be in the middle and not get squished. And, by the way, Dana, WE are the ones who want to clone you!

	Martial Arts and Chess?
No doubt service-learning raises awareness for youth to experience civic and community responsibility. And it helps them to be more accountable, and it fosters a sense of caring in others. And then what? Youth were given an opportunity to take that learning even further when they were invited by black belt, Stanley Smith, LifeWorks Institute, to be participants in his martial arts classes. "Many of today's youth have a chip on their shoulder about authority figures," Stanley told several parents. Martial Arts is a doorway for them to face up to their own authority. Youth discovered that it takes patience to apply their learning in class. They learn to face their own determination in a slightly different way. And then there is chess. How does chess help youth apply learning? Decisions! Decisions! Decisions! Decision-making in chess can teach strategic thinking. Action and consequences are literally played out on the board. Stanley hand-crafted a chess set to use with the youth for some recreational activities that took some youth over the top. They found some answers about themselves they might not have been looking for. Learn more about LifeWorks Institute »

	Portfolio Management?
If you're an adult, you might misinterpret what youth understand about managing their portfolio. In the world of service-learning, youth are finding out that keeping records of their strengths and accomplishments is about more than managing financial investments. A portfolio is a compilation of a student's participation in activities that meet certain learning objectives. Visual documentation (certificates, writing, journals, announcements, photos, etc.) of tasks and activities. Specific criteria, demonstrate the development of a student's strengths, knowledge, attitude, and skills in 5 competent areas: 1. Self-Awareness/personal growth 2. Ability to complete service-learning project tasks 3. Knowledge about particular topics 4. Increased sense of civic and community responsibility 5. Increased sense of personal accountability Make no mistake. Youth are changing the way we think about portfolio management!

	Who said 'Community"?
Kids first experience community as their immediate family. Then they branch out to their neighbors. Some families extend their outreach to church and special interest groups. The first communities were more like tribes who took care of survival needs. And now, communities are evolving to something bigger. They are reaching around the world and accepting people with diverse points of view, culture and values. Central Texas is reaching a tipping point where we are becoming 'multi-cultural'. The increased complexity requires new kinds of thinking and working together. We believe that service-learning methodology is the way of the future for people with unique differences to experience a happier, healthier life. LifeWorks Institute is an organization that values being a community partner. Our relationship with the ALC has grown leaps and bounds in one year. But we know we've only started. Look us up if you need a Community Partner that is forward thinking and creative. Sign up on the web so we can send you updates electronically. And many thanks to all who contribute to community in our neck of the woods. Take Our Introduction to Service Learning Assessment »

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