My Adventure in Non Profit Studies

Happy Monday everyone. I hope you're off to a great start this week! 😊 Today I am here to talk about a position I'd like at PASA (the Providence After School Alliance. When looking on the "Our Team" Page, one job really stuck out to me. I really liked the idea of the After Zone Site Coordinator. Why I like this Positon?  I would love to be an After Zone site coordinator. I think I would enjoy working with the youth in the different middle schools across Providence. I would love to be able to support and provide assistance to front line counselors as well as youth in any way I can. I also would love to help plan site wide special activities, help students be the best person they can be, and help all thrive in a positive and supportive environment. What are the strengths and challenges?  A strength of being a Site Coordinator is being able to put your listening, planning, and guiding skills to the test. Site Coordinators overview what is going on with...

For this blog post, I decided to research the zip code 02904. 02904 is a zip code used for North Providence, RI. Ironically enough, it is the zip code used for the opposite side of the town I live in. (I live in the 02911 area). When looking up information for the 02904 zip code there is approximately 29,359 people living in this area. Of these 29,359 individuals living in this area, 22.2% of them live below the poverty line. Since I am working with children, I looked up demographics about children living in the 02904 area and found school information. I looked up demographics for Marieville school, which is located in the 02904 area. The ethnic makeup for this school is 42% white. The other percentages come from various backgrounds including Hispanic, black, two or more races, Asian, American Indian/ Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander or Hawaiian Native. This ethnic background of students makes up 58% of the school. Of all of the students, 63% come from low income families.

What is the area of change (problem that needs to be solved)? An area that has room for improvement at the Kent County YMCA is by engaging children during art club. Children are disengaged, and often discouraged when the art club facilitator (an art teacher) discourages them or does not pay attention to particular students.  Who is your key audience?  Youth in grades three to five.  What is your entry point to reaching your key audience? Facilitating conversations and de briefing the art club activity the next day. Asking students how they feel during art club, how can I support them during this time, and allowing youth to voice their opinions.  I would also be having conversations with the site coordinator during this time to come up with ideas to suit the youth's needs.  What steps are needed to reach change? Having discussions with youth weekly after art club. Having alternative activities or fidgets.  Providing positive feedback...

Happy Monday all! I hope you all have a great start to the week. 😊 When reading the prompt for our blog this week my mind starting running with a million ideas on how to approach a child asking about Black Lives Matter. Politics and race can be a conversation that takes time and effort. Keeping in mind the young person's background is helpful during conversations similar to these.  I think the best way to start this conversation is I would ask a child if they knew what a club or group is. I would explain to them that YMCA is a club or an organization. The young person may follow up with a question asking what is an organization. I would then explain to them it is a club with a common goal they wish to achieve. Black Lives Matter is also an organization. I would also explain to the young person that their are connections between youth and Black Lives Matter. I would explain that the Black Lives Matter movement wishes for people of their community (a large scale community),...