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Findings from a joint needs-assessment and youth photovoice project in Windham County, Vermont.
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YOUTH GRANTWRITERS AT THE TABLE
Involving Young People in Grantwriting
Feb. 18, 2010
11am-12:25pm
Involving Young People in Grantwriting
Feb. 18, 2010
11am-12:25pm
From selling Girl Scout cookies to hawking weekend car wash fundraisers, young people are often in the thick of local and national efforts to raise money for a wide variety of causes. And why not? It is commonly accepted wisdom that being young can be a strength when it comes to raising money through sales and events. But what about when it comes to grantwriting? Although grantwriting is often delegated to professionals, the professional grantwriter may not always be the best person for the job. When it comes to grants for youth organizing and leadership, young people may be your most persuasive advocates. This webinar will be co-led by Sharon Vardatira, NEN's Fund Development Specialist, and Joshua Wolfsun, a 16-year-old activist as well as grantwriter and fundraiser with Student News, Riverwolf Productions, and Building Harmonies in western Massachusetts.Details and Registration
Read About the Fund Development Series
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'SEEING OURSELVES SUCCESSFUL':
A NEW PHOTOVOICE REPORT
Youth "photovoice" projects, in which young people learn basic photographic techniques and then go out into their communities to document what they think is interesting and important, have emerged as a powerful tool for personal growth and community change. 'Seeing Ourselves Successful: The Worcester Youth Photovoice Project,' is the second photovoice project NEN has coordinated in the last two years. In it, a group of young people from Worcester, Mass., make observations, ask questions, deliver advice, and ponder the meaning of life, all through photographs of everyday scenes from their community.|
NURTURING 'MINDFULNESS'
IN THE SCHOOLS 
This new NEN evaluation of a contemplative education program in a Vermont public school system finds a statistically significant decrease in stress and an increase in mindfulness and other facets of emotional health in teachers, and support for the program among children. |
DECIDING WHICH RUNAWAYS
TO WORRY ABOUT
From JoinTogether Online, an item that caught our attention:TO WORRY ABOUT
"Most runaway teens return home on their own shortly after leaving, and few fit the stereotype of deeply troubled youth, according to researchers at UCLA.
Science Daily reported Dec. 5 that researcher Norweeta G. Milburn at UCLA said that stereotypes of runaways have been formed because most studies have focused on teens who repeatedly run away.
"Our finding goes against the grain of what most people envision a homeless teenager's life to be — a life filled with maltreatment, substance abuse, disorganization, conflict and violence," said Milburn. "While that is certainly true of chronic runaways, in fact, more than two-thirds of newly homeless youth leave the streets, resolve their family differences and go home."
In light of a recent New York Times series that documents a surge in teen runaways and the dire conditions that many of them encounter, and attempts by Congress and at least 10 states to improve laws regarding the legal treatment of runaways, this piece seemed a bit counterintuitive. But is it really? NEN's Doug Tanner responds on our blog.
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