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HomeMy WebLinkAboutYouthVoice19991999 State Summit to be held at MINNESOTA STATE FAIR! From August 27-31, the Minnesota State Fair will be a Site of Promise he Minnesota Alliance with Youth is partnering with Center for 4-H Youth Development to host the 1999 Statewide Summit at the Min- nesota State Fair from August 27-31, 1999. The Summit will give the Alliance, Commitment Makers, and Communities of Promise the opportu- nity to promote the Five Promises to Minnesota fairgoers. Each of the five days will focus on a different Promise. Day Theme Friday, August 27 Teach/Learn Saturday, August 28 Mentor Sunday, August 29 Nurture Monday, August 30 Protect Tuesday, August 31 Serve "We want to give youth and adults at the fair a chance to make an authentic connection with what's going on in their communities," says Alliance director Donna Gillen. Speakers, booths, parades, receptions, and a technology center will give visitors from commu- nities around the state plenty of chances to connect with each other. Lots of activities for young people are Photo: Mark Taretsky Each year the Minnesota State Fair draws well over a million visitors. This summer, the Minnesota Alliance hopes to make all of them aware of the importance of the Five Promises. also on the agenda, including a dance in the park, scavenger hunts, and ser- vice projects. The fair will also be an opportunity for communities and orga- nizations to share their efforts; booths near the 4-H building will be available for Communities of Promise and Alliance Partners who want to exhibit and sponsor activities. WEBsite YPDATF. Alliance Website Gets an Overhaul! The Minnesota Alliance with Youth website (www.mnyouth.org) has gotten an update and an overhaul. The revamp, completed by website creator and Alliance partner Mighty Media, has integrated the Promise Press e -zine with the rest of the Alliance website in order to make news and resources easier to access. "Over the last year we've been able to see what people find useful and what they don't, and we've made changes based on that," said Mighty Media's Sara Frueh. "We're trying to make resources and news extremely easy for people to find. We want to make the website a truly useful tool for communities." More interactive resources are slated for inclusion in the website later this year: A searchable database of mentoring programs throughout the state, as well as a searchable database of organizations who can lend technical assistance and support to communities. )k ❑ Netscape: Minnesota Alliance with Youth - -- PI Pa FOR MORE NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE MINNESOTA ALLIANCE WITH YOUTH, VISIT www.mnyouth.org We Want You To Be There! We want communities, families, and young people from all over Minnesota to come to the Summit This is your chance to connect with others and to help us promote the Five Promises. Plus, you get to attend the State Fair—rides, games, cheese curds, and more... Are you a Community of Promise? We need you to exhibit or sponsor an activity! And this is a great chance to learn more about what's going on in other communities. We've got lots of booth space and tons of ideas! Are you a young person? Bring yourself and your family or friends! You'll meet other young people from around the state, learn something, dance, and eat lots of food -on -a -stick... Are you a teacher or other adult leader? Bring a group of students or young people. The Summit will offer opportunities for both learning and fun. Are you a mentor? This is a great chance to have fun and learn some- thing with your mentee. Consider attending Saturday, August 28, when the theme is Mentoring! Call us at (888) 234-51191 We've got information on how you can get involved, as well as information on lodging, fair admission, transporta- tion, and other practical stuff. . SPRING 1999 5 PROMISES FOR FULFILLING AMERICA'S PROMISE Mentor An ongoing relationship with a caring adult Protect Safe places and structured activities for non -school hours Nurture A healthy start and a healthy lifestyle Teach/ Learn Marketable skills through effective education Serve Opportunities to serve Welcome to the AmeriCorps Promise Fellows wo new faces have joined the Alliance! Corrie Schueller (left) and Sarah Gores are AmeriCorps Promise Fellows—Ameri- Corps volunteers working with organiza- tions dedicated to the mission of America's Promise. Sarah is recruiting and support- ing Commitment Makers, and Corrie is recruiting and supporting Communities of Promise. Both are working with Schools and Sites of Promise. Nine other Anted - Corps Promise fellows are working at the League of Minnesota Cities, the Minnesota Office of Citizenship and Volunteer Ser- vices, Twin Cities One to One, Minneapolis Promise for Youth, National Youth Leader- ship Council, Avodah B'Yachad, and the St. Paul Volunteer Center. A It MINNESOTA ALLIANCE WITH YOUTH 117 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, 3RD FLOOR. ST. PAUL, NN 55155 BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT N4 171 ST. PAUL, MN raid, eOluk! a—. 3.a.iii,�. P3 Quick N.reimun w 1 t 1 I Best Buy Grant Helps Build Better Readers at Maplewood Middle School « '� You can'I do mush in this world 11 Wu checkout an't road, so when teacners at our sponsors Maplewood Middle School applied for a Best Buy Community Service Grant to help klus with learning disabilities learn basic real and ire skills, thea dihave trouble proving that Iheir dn't w whileother caaae wasworthwhile Maplosood Middle School is using the $z Soo Brent to purchase mmouter equipment and other teaahng aids to holo the students imorwe [heir readino o: use, new tne...o� --__— __.. _. r_ FOR MORE NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE MINNESOTA ALLIANCE WITH YOUTH, VISIT www.mnyouth.org We Want You To Be There! We want communities, families, and young people from all over Minnesota to come to the Summit This is your chance to connect with others and to help us promote the Five Promises. Plus, you get to attend the State Fair—rides, games, cheese curds, and more... Are you a Community of Promise? We need you to exhibit or sponsor an activity! And this is a great chance to learn more about what's going on in other communities. We've got lots of booth space and tons of ideas! Are you a young person? Bring yourself and your family or friends! You'll meet other young people from around the state, learn something, dance, and eat lots of food -on -a -stick... Are you a teacher or other adult leader? Bring a group of students or young people. The Summit will offer opportunities for both learning and fun. Are you a mentor? This is a great chance to have fun and learn some- thing with your mentee. Consider attending Saturday, August 28, when the theme is Mentoring! Call us at (888) 234-51191 We've got information on how you can get involved, as well as information on lodging, fair admission, transporta- tion, and other practical stuff. . SPRING 1999 5 PROMISES FOR FULFILLING AMERICA'S PROMISE Mentor An ongoing relationship with a caring adult Protect Safe places and structured activities for non -school hours Nurture A healthy start and a healthy lifestyle Teach/ Learn Marketable skills through effective education Serve Opportunities to serve Welcome to the AmeriCorps Promise Fellows wo new faces have joined the Alliance! Corrie Schueller (left) and Sarah Gores are AmeriCorps Promise Fellows—Ameri- Corps volunteers working with organiza- tions dedicated to the mission of America's Promise. Sarah is recruiting and support- ing Commitment Makers, and Corrie is recruiting and supporting Communities of Promise. Both are working with Schools and Sites of Promise. Nine other Anted - Corps Promise fellows are working at the League of Minnesota Cities, the Minnesota Office of Citizenship and Volunteer Ser- vices, Twin Cities One to One, Minneapolis Promise for Youth, National Youth Leader- ship Council, Avodah B'Yachad, and the St. Paul Volunteer Center. A It MINNESOTA ALLIANCE WITH YOUTH 117 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, 3RD FLOOR. ST. PAUL, NN 55155 BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT N4 171 ST. PAUL, MN Upcoming Events MAY 18 Launching Volunteerism into the Future: Trends and Issues Pax Christi Catholic Community, Eden Prairie For more information: Call the Minnesota Office of Citizenship and Volunteer Services at (800) 234-6687 MAY 25 Launching Volunteerism into the Future: Trends and Issues Camp Ripley, Little Falls For more information: Call the Minnesota Office of Citizenship and Volunteer Services at (800) 234-6687 COMING SOON JUNE 16 Sustainability & Communications Training Becker, Minnesota For more information: Call (800) 234-6687 JULY 16-z3 National Youth Leadership Camp Wilder Forest, Marine -on -St. Croix For more information: Call Julie Butler at (651) 631-3672 AUGUST 27 -AUGUST 31 Minnesota Alliance Statewide Summit Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul For more information: Call the Minnesota Alliance with Youth (651) 296-4738 More Resources for Communities vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv Maybe your community is trying to recruit more volunteers for its mentoring programs but isn't sure how. Or maybe you need to find a speaker on drug prevention for your local school and aren't sure where to turn. If your community is facing challenges like these, help is on the way. In November 1999, the Alliance will introduce a resource guide for Minnesota Communities of Promise. The guide will list organizations who can lend technical assistance and support to communities as they work to build youth access to the five Promises. Right now, the Alliance's Support Tools committee is in the process of researching organizations to include in the guide. Do you belong to an organization who should be listed, or do you know of other organi- zations who should? For more information, call Sara Frueh at (612) 399-1969 or send an email to sara@mightymedia.com. his summer, the Minnesota Alliance with Youth will release a new video to help communities learn how to build authentic youth involvement. Called "My Voice," the video is being written and pro- duced with the help of a group of young people. It will include case studies of successful youth involvement and feature music and poetry written by youth. For more information, call the Minnesota Alliance with Youth at (888) 234-5119. * A Minnesota Alliance Community of Promise A community in which community members (individuals, schools, orga- nizations, faith communities, busi- nesses, etc.) are working toward delivering all Five Promises to a spe- cific number of youth in need. Site of Promise A location or organization where community members are mobiliz- ing and collaborating to deliver the Five Promises, directly or indi- rectly, to children and young people known by name. Sites include schools, universities, neighborhood non -profits, and communities of faith. School of Promise A type of a Site of Promise in which community members, school officials, faculty, staff, par- ents, and students come together to deliver all Five Promises to young people. Commitment A promise from an organization to put their unique skills, talents, abili- ties and resources toward improv- ing the lives of America's young people. Any organization, large or small, for-profit or non-profit, pri- vate or public, can be a Commit- ment Maker. Partner An organization who collaborates as part of the Minnesota Alliance to advance youth access to the Five Promises. Me f0M Ot 'j"JU00 11E_Y0 TTH V01a Copyright(D1999, The Minnesota Alliance with Youth 111 University Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55155: 1-888-234-5119 Publisher: The Minnesota Alliance with Youth Editor: Sara Frueh, Mighty Media Youth reporters: Jesse Sawyer. Chirag Shah, Becky Jarvis Creative Director: Nancy Tuminelly, MacLean 8 Tuminelly Design & Layout: Chris Long and Liz Salzmann, MacLean 8 Tuminelly Promise Press and Youth Voice are sponsored by 3M MESS A CIES i;8fl* MO* OUR CHUMS A Letter to the Minnesota Alliance Youth: Get Involved, Stay Involved with Youth Becky Jarvis Lieutenant Governor Mae Schunk want you to know how impressed I am after meeting all the young people who joined us at the State Capi- tol for Job Shadow Day. Your energy and excitement are contagious! I am invigorated by young people, and I enjoy sharing my experience with you. I hope that even more of you get involved and stay involved in your state and local governments. You know what they say about government in a democracy? It belongs to those who show up. I also look forward to your continued involvement in diverse ways in your communities and neighborhoods all around the state. I hope to see more and more people become empowered by the activities promoted by the Minnesota Alliance with Youth. I've traveled around the state visiting schools for the last three months, and I have witnessed the immense creativity of young people expressed in many ways. As more col- laborations are formed with other people in your com- munities, I know that this creativity will find new ways to emerge. Mae Schunk "you know what they say about government in a democracy? It beton s to those who who sow up." The opportunity to be involved with the Minnesota Alliance with Youth is a treasured part of my job as Lieu- tenant Governor of Minnesota. I know that Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura and I share the belief that we must do all we can to encourage open communication and partnerships with young people, because "Our youth are our future." Mae Schunk is Minnesota's Lieutenant Governor and Co - Chair of the Minnesota Alliance with Youth. * As we near another summer, we must challenge our- selves to continue working with adults and building relationships in our communities. We must continue to show adults that we are the solution, rather than a part of the problem, by doing positive things in our communities. The Promise Press only exhibits a small fraction of the many successes and projects that young people have led. In Minnesota, children and youth are expressing, plan- ning, and implementing their ideas. Together, children, youth, and adults are strong. We are and can be the stakeholders in our society; collaborating with our world to create positive changes and maintain what is good. a�r«While we are off to a A start, we still ave a long journey ahead." Becky Jarvis Many, many young people do this regularly at the com- munity, state, and national level. While we are off to a good start, we still have a long journey ahead. We all must be advocates and examples for youth and adults working together. We must make changes within our own lives. Rather than searching very far for the problems that exist, we must search no further than our own neighborhoods, schools, and religious communities. It is by getting involved in these communities closest to our homes and most important to our everyday lives that we make the greatest difference. Each of us has the power to make a difference in our communities, but we must step outside of our comfort zone and take some risks and challenges. Think about what you can add to your community. Take ownership and responsibility over the policies that your community sets. You have the power to shape and effect these policies. Whether a child, a youth, or an adult, we must all lead our communities towards a better tomor- row. We must all consider ourselves a piece of the solu- tion—the solution is every one of us, working together. Becky Jarvis is a Senior at St. Paul Academy and Co - Chair of the Minnesota Alliance with Youth. ROSEMOUNT STITCHES COMMUNITY TOGETHER How do you gather diverse parts of your community into a work- ing whole? The community of Rose - mount's answer to this challenge, in part, has been to literally stitch their community together. The Rose- mount Quilt Project is an ongoing project that symbolizes Rose - mount's community spirit in a series of community quilts. The quilts are made up of squares created and contributed by all sectors of the community—indi- viduals, families, faith communities, schools, businesses, or organiza- tions. Putting the quilts together also brings generations together: Students at Rosemount Middle School and Rosemount High School piece the quilts together. When it's time for the finishing touches, such as putting on the backing and tying the quilt, the experts—senior citizens —come in to help. The quilt project was the brain- child of Sheila Klassen, chairperson of Rosemount Partnership Program. The Partnership Program, which is dedicated to awareness -building and community -building projects, was started in 1992 with a meeting of residents of a low income housing project. "It's grown over the years," Klassen explains, "recognizing that OSS ° Photo: Scott Goihl, courtesy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press Eighth -grader Nikki Harris and volunteer Lillian Rosen work on the Rosemount community quilt. Senior volunteers lend quilting exper. tise for the more difficult parts of the project, such as sewing quilt pieces to backing material. we're all connected regardless of socioeconomic status." Rosemount is a St. Paul suburb of about 14,000 neighbored by Apple Valley and Eagan. Interest in the quilt project has been so wide that the community has decided to create a series of community quilts; one quilt would have grown so large that moving it and displaying it around the com- munity would have been impossible. The first quilt has been completed and measures 64"x 64" and is made up of 256 squares. A second quilt is underway and has nearly reached the size of the first. "It's a symbol of community unity," says Klassen. "One of the fun things that I've noticed with this quilt when I take it to events is that people always stop to look for their square. People can't help smiling when they look at the quilt. The reaction to it has been wonderful." )k The Promise Press Spring 1999 FOR MORE NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE MINNESOTA ALLIANCE WITH YOUTH. VISITwww.mnyouth.org MINNEAPOLIS BEACONS S(HOOLS— ve schools in Minneapolis are working hard at becoming not just schools but "beacons" to their communities. Through the Beacons program, schools part- ner with community organizations to provide educational and recreational activities to stu- dents and community members during non - school hours. These schools provide safe places for young people to hang out, as well as a way to get parents and other community members involved in the lives of students. And Minneapolis is one of only five cities nationwide starting Beacons programs in a select group of its public schools. Beacons schools were piloted in New York in 1991. They were so effective at connect- ing their schools and neighborhoods that their funder, the Dewitt Wallace Foundation, decided to see if the model could be adapted to help other communities. In November 1997, Minneapolis was one of four cities nationwide to receive a three-year grant of up Students take a break from playing basketball at Northeast Middle School's Fun Night, held every Thursday evening. Youth and adult community members can also take part in activities like computer lab, tai chi, and swimming. A Bright Light for the Community to $1 million to create Beacons schools. The Beacons program is slated to be in ten Min- neapolis schools by the year 2002. Beacons are dedicated to helping stu- dents develop academically through after- school programming that is linked to the daily academics of students. "After-school staff talk to the teachers to understand where the students are and what they're working on," explains Minneapolis Beacons Director Doris Baylor. "The programs emphasize practical application and build leadership skills. Their activities are designed to give students a way to use their energy and their brains at the same time. And students are very interested in doing better in school." Parents are often at work when their children get out of school, and Beacons programs make them feel more comfortable that students are in a safe place after school, working on their homework. One of the strengths of the Beacons pro- gram is that it isn't a cookie -cutter approach. It's tailored to each community s needs and goals, explains Baylor. "We look at what a community is doing, ask what they want to do, and look at where the gaps are so we can help them get there." The Beacons sites were chosen from schools with the largest propor- tion of free and reduced -price lunches. "We are faced with the reality of limited dollars," admits Baylor. "We want to go where the needs are the greatest and the resources are the fewest. We offer all programs free of charge to children and adults." Each Beacons site is also planning to host a mini -summit for the Minneapolis Promise For Youth. One Beacons site with programming already underway is Northeast Middle School. The centerpiece of Northeast's current Beacons program is Thursday Fun Night. Are Youth Voices Heard in Your Community? Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton reads to children at Lincoln Community School, an elementary school and Beacons site. Students can stay at the school from 4:10 pm when classes let out until 8 pm, and they can choose from a wide range of activities: movie club, open gym, computer lab, tai chi, swimming, and more. Family and community members can join in the activities from 6:30 pm on. At 8 pm, every student who needs a ride home has one. Thursday Fun Night is also when North- east's community band practices. The band, which numbers almost 70 people, is not only a musical outlet but a way for people through- out the community and across generations to mix—band members range in age from 12 to 77 years old. Between kids, community mem- bers and band members, attendance at Thursday Fun Night has averaged over 200 people. )it TWO MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES FOUND WAYS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN... Listening Lunches After a Search Institute study conducted by the community of Fairmont, Minnesota, revealed that young people thought adults were not listening to them, Fairmont responded by bringing youth and adults to the table—literally—to talk to each other. At monthly "Listening Lunches," adult commu- nity groups visit the public high school to eat lunch with the students and listen to their ideas and opinions. The Fairmont City Council and the Park Board have been the first groups to visit, with visits from the local newspa- per and the police department slated for the next couple of months. "They do nothing more than listen to youth sug- gestions and ideas," explained Michael Burgraff, a member of the Empowerment Committee of Fairmont's Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth initiative. "They've been really surprised at what the youth thought were issues. They were not the things the adults thought they were." During the lunches, each visiting adult sits down at a table full of students and listens to them. The fact that the discussions are informal and happen on students' familiar territory helps, says Burgraff. "When you're sitting at a lunch table on their turf, you're going to hear what they think." Already some of the things students are asking for are being put in place. In response to student requests, the school-based Community Education and Recreation group will be organizing a year-round evening volleyball league for 14-15 year olds starting later this summer. The Listening Lunches seemed like a natural way to bring adults and young people together for an activity both have to do anyway—eat lunch. "It seemed too easy not to do," says Burgraff. The Chat Room Young people in Fosston, Minnesota, are talking with each other and with adults through a program called The Chat Room. Students meet Mondays and Thursdays after school at The People Connection, a community resource center, to talk about whatever's on their minds. Student Kristine Nyland, an assistant at the People Con- nection, approached Executive Director Cyndee Hoialmen with the idea for an after-school discussion group. "We were talking about how we could get kids together and decided they needed a place to talk," says Nyland. Nyland led the recruitment efforts, designing and distributing posters to let other students know about The Chat Room. Although the general rule is that "nothing leaves the room," The Chat Room has also given youth a way to let adults know their concerns. "Many of their conversations start out with questions about how our community relates to kids," says Hoialman, who sometimes leads the group. The Chat Room attendees have been able to point out problems and voice suggestions, such as their desire for a skate park. Hoialman sits on the city governments Strategic Community Planning Group and, with the young people's permission, has been able to pass on some of their suggestions. Another time, a member of the school board attended and was able to pass student suggestions on to the school superintendent. What are Nyland's hopes for the Chat Room she started? "That everything that we say will get heard by our teachers, and that our town would be able to look toward the kids a little more." And she's pleased with the progress they've made toward that goal. "Every town should have a Chat Room like ours." )k Minneapolis Beacons Sites Lincoln Community School For more information. call Louise Mattson at (612) 627-2885. Webster Open School For more information, call Rita Scholl at (612) 627-2312. Franklin Middle School For more information, call Charles Dilliard at ( 612 ) 627-6829. North Star Community School For more information. call Sandi McDonald at ( 612 ) 627-2961. Northeast Middle School For more information, call Hedy Walls at (612) 627-3042. Job Shadow Day Takes Students Behind the Scenes at the State Capitol Twenty-seven high school students got a peek at how things are run in the offices of Governor Jesse Ventura and Lt. Governor Mae Schunk on Job Shadow Day, held on March 12, 1999. Students shadowed capitol employees, talked to them, and in some cases helped out. "They gave us a lot of advice on what to do later in life," said Junior Michael Wilson, Jr. "We actually learned something on this field trip. We went behind the scenes." "It was fun," said Junior Jessica Rosenow, who learned that the business of running state government was more complicated than she'd thought. "I didn't know that there were so many people and committees." Students throughout the state shadow businesspeople and government representatives throughout the year. FOR MORE NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE MINNESOTA ALLIANCE WITH YOUTH. VISIT www.mnyouth.org Spring 1999 The Promise Press Spring 1999 a r 2- KuieLmorg Minnesota Alliance With Youth Fulfilling America's Promise MENTOR ® PROTECT ® NURTURE ® TEACH/LEARN ® SERVE Duluth Task Force Tackles Youth Transportation Issues Jesse Sawyer 't began with a flame of hope. A hope that Minnesota kids could be eased of some of their modern-day problems. The Minnesota Alliance with Youth, formed after the President's Summit, set up a Duluth meeting to determine what needed to be done. The meeting, held in January 1998, brought together many key students and adults from the city to discuss youth di ficulbes. From that meeting, the subject of transportation came up as an important area to deal with. Thus the Transportation Task Force was born. By the Task Force's second meeting, two important things happened. First, we came up with our four biggest transportation issues. First we would focus on kid-friend- liness/awareness. Second, we planned to send out sur- veys to youth, parents, and youth organizations concerning transportation. Surveys were sent out to 1,270 youth, 420 parents, and about 30 organizations. After compiling information from 800 youth surveys, we have learned that 77% of youth are involved in extra -cur- ricular activities and about half have difficulty with trans- portation home. The parent and organization surveys are currently being tabulated. Several of the youth organiza- tions have provided valuable information that will serve as a basis for better transportation coordination. Another recent development by the Transportation Task Force is the design of a more kid -friendly logo, which will go on busses and other places where transportation is a theme. The logo, designed by a Lincoln Park student, is part of the Duluth Transit Authority's Youth Riders pro- gram that kicks off this spring. The program will also include more kid -friendly schedules and passes. The Transportation Task Force has been a great devel- opment in fulfilling Duluth's responsibility to its youth. As a member, l am very proud and excited about what we've done and continue to do. We are keeping the flame of hope burning strong over Minnesota. * Twin Cities to Host National Youth Summit in Summer 2000 Chirag Shah national youth movement has been taking place in order to promote, highlight, and ignite positive youth action in partnership with adults to better our communities. To help sup- port this movement, a group of young people across the nation have decided to host a National Youth Summit in the summer of 2000, in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation, National Youth Leadership Council, America's Promise, 4H, Corporation for National Service and the Kellogg Foundation. The Summit, which will be held in the Twin Cities, is expected to attract 3,000 youth and adults. The Summit goals are to: • Mobilize young people in civic engagement. • Provide young people with positive peer and adult role models. • Tap the energy of young people to empower themselves and other citizens. • Model and foster positive youth -adult partnerships. If you are interested in helping put together the National Youth Summit, please contact Chirag Shah and Ian Kaminski - Coughlin at 651-631-3672 ext. 405, or Joy DesMarais at 651-631-3672 ext. 232. The lead host for the event is the NYLC, and co -hosts include the Center for 4-H Youth Development, the Mall of America Youth Board, the Minnesota Alliance with Youth, the Minneapo- lis Promise for Youth, Search Institute, and Yo 2000. )k Help Wanted: Youth Reporters! Are you a young person who likes writing and sharing your views? Do you want others to know what youth are doing in your community? We need your help! We're looking for more youth to contribute arti- cles to the Promise Press/Youth Voice newspaper and website. We want to know what's going on in your community! If you're interested in writing an article, or if you just have a story idea you'd like us to follow upon, call Sara Frueh at ( 612) 399-1969 or send an email to sara@mightymedia.com. YOUTH RIDER For $30, Duluth young people can purchase a Youth Rider Summer Pass that allows unlimited rides during lune, July, and August. Working with young people, the Duluth Transit Authority is also creating a Youth Rider Guide that will help youth reach popular destinations quickly and easily. Eighth grader Aaron Henderson designed the logo for these initia- tives (shown above). The Duluth Alliance with Youth, the DTA, the Voyager Bus company, and the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission are collaborating on these and other youth transportation efforts. Taking America "6 Promiae Personally Fargo -Moorhead Area Youth and Adults Vow to Take Action At the Fargo -Moorhead Regional Summit in January, young people and adults from around the area didn't just talk about Five Promises. They made promises about what they would do personally to help youth and their commu- nities. Here's just a sample of them... I Promise... "...to stay involved in the community when I go to college. To keep tutor- ing and mentoring younger kids and to visit the elderly..." Andrea Staley "...to help care for my community and the environment by using the leadership skills I already possess and taking advantage of good oppor- tunities that come my way." Maggie McMullen "...to raise AIDS awareness among my peers and awareness of other things I've learned about today." Barbi Strnad "...to make myself a better person by helping out in my community. I promise to be a good role model to all of the people around me..." Nate Roberts "...to talk to kids in my school that may not have a lot of friends and help them to get involved with things..." Jennifer Knutson "I promise to volunteer four hours a week during the summer at local shelters." Danielle Erdmann "...to do everything I can to better myself and my community by volun- teering at my school and church, but most of all I will live my life as a good example to others." Anne Whitman "I want to work to make a fun, new place for kids to go at night. Because in Fargo, there are very few places to go on Friday and Saturday nights..." Moore Damle "...to try to be a good mentor to younger children in my community and to set good examples for them." Emily Tobin "...not to stereotype people from the first time I see them." Joey Amundson "...to mentor students who need help—give them someone to come to with their problems which would allow them to be more self-confident and more in touch with their needs." Beth Wolslegel "...to spend this and next year in Key Club and to achieve over forty hours each year." Matt Ellingson Students worked on service projects at the Fargo -Moorhead regional summit on January 28. Over three hundred youth and adults attended the summit to hear speakers, play games, exchange ideas, and connect with others around the region. FOR MORE NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE MINNESOTA ALLIANCE WITH YOUTH. VISIT www mnyouth.org