UNITED STATES:
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Summer Youth Program - Green Advocates
Beginning July 19, 2010 the Institute of Cultural Affairs-USA started an intensive summer facilitative training and job experience program for seven community youth ages 18 – 22. The overall goal of the program is to empower the young leaders of tomorrow to have a voice in society today, especially with a focus on environmental sustainability.
The youth participants were recruited by ICA-USA from the Put Illinois Back to Work Program in Chicago and the Jewish Vocational Services of Evanston, IL. The participants are involved 40 hours a week in projects such as: site visits to green environments, green and eco-friendly projects, and performing green assessments. The youth will be trained in the ICA globally-recognized Technology of Participation (ToP®) facilitative training method that helps youth: 1) to develop as strong community leaders and advocates, 2) build self-confidence and self-esteem and 3) to develop entrepreneurial and facilitative skills that will carry on throughout their lives.
The initial program concept for this program was developed in 2008 when ICA-USA received its first foundation grant from the CNA Foundation. In 2009, ICA-USA received support from the City of Chicago - Department of Support and Family Services, Central State Services, 46th Ward Alderman Shiller, 48th Ward Alderman Smith, 9th District Representative Jan Schakowsky, and the Uptown Chamber of Commerce to implement this youth program.
Mission Trip from First Baptist Church of Inola, OK.
Last week the ICA Conference Center welcomed youth from Inola, OK. There were 25 students from 7th grade through 12th grade. While they were staying at the ICA building they:
- volunteered at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Cook County Juvenile Detention Center and Uptown Ministries,
- performed concerts at the beach for the Juvenile Detention Center and the Keystone Urban Ecological Community,
- participated in a focus group with our ICA Green Advocates summer youth.
Karen ksims@ica-usa.org
