REAL TALK from Central Indiana Youth ...And We Listened

“We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled but as candles to be lit." Robert H. Shaffer

This quote by Robert Shaffer could not be more correct, especially in light of this past weekend's wonderful turnout for our Real Talk Youth Roundtable Event. We had over 20 youth come spend their Saturday afternoon with us here at the United Way building; brainstorming the issues, identifying resources, and sharing ideas for solutions. Youth from nearly every district in Indianapolis, as well as many from the surrounding counties, got a chance to voice their opinions about the issues facing their generation...and boy did we listen!

The morning started off with introductions, an icebreaker activity, an overview of MCCOY's role in the community, and our vision for the role young people can play in what we do through involvement in our Youth Advocacy Council- a group that is newly formed and actively recruiting. After brainstorming the issues, significant time was taken to thoughtfully narrow down these issues into categories for breakout discussion. The top three issues youth felt needed attention were: Education, Youth Violence, and the Economy. Youth then broke out into groups of their choosing dependent on the issue they wanted to discuss. A productive discussion in these groups ensued while youth grubbed on burritos so generously donated by Chipotle. When coming back together for debriefing, these young people provided an overview of their small group discussion and worked together with MCCOY staff to devise an action plan. Pictures and a raffle drawing followed to end the day on an exciting note.

When the folks here at MCCOY learned of President Obama's call-out for Youth Roundtables around the country, we jumped at the chance to engage an audience in which we have longed to reach. We were even more excited when we received word that White House Representative and Indiana Director of USDA Rural Development, Philip Lehmkuhler would attend our event.

Long talks of creating a Youth Advocacy Council definitely fueled the fire for MCCOY to host this event to hear what young people have to say about the issues. What a perfect opportunity for us to get in the business of engaging youth as much as we engage the people that work with youth! I am honored to have been a part of the planning of this process, and a special thanks to our White House Rep, Philip Lehmkuhler, our Executive Director, John Brandon, Our Public Policy & Advocacy Director, Mindi Goodpaster, our MCCOY student board member, Vincent Holloway, our MCCOY staff members and other volunteers who came to help, as well as all of the caring adults who came to listen... for all of their contributions to making this event a success. But the biggest shout out of all goes to all of the wonderful young people who participated in this event. You all are amazing, great examples of candles lighting a bright future!

For more info on being a part of MCCOY's Youth Advocacy Council, please contact myself (michelle.clegg@mccoyouth.org) or Mindi Goodpaster (mindi.goodpaster@mccoyouth.org) .

To learn more about the President's plan, please visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/YoungAmericans

Real Talk from Real Students

As my time here with MCCOY dwindles, I find myself thinking about the things that we have done in my Americorps VISTA service year with this amazing organization. We have successfully motivated a group of professional volunteers, held some events, and devised a public awareness campaign around the importance of raising high school graduation rates. BUT, more often than those things, I think about the ways in which this work can continue after my experience with MCCOY has come to an end. Nothing and no one can keep this effort going strong like the very people we strive to impact, the students in Marion County.

With this in mind, we have been in talks in the past couple of months about creating a Youth Advocacy Council to help direct the organization's efforts in the future and advocate for youth by youth. Then, as though timing could not be more perfect, our Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Mindi, stumbled upon the fact that President Obama's Youth Team has asked that 100 Youth Roundtables be held in communities around the nation. What an amazing opportunity! We can host a Presidential roundtable, give our city's youth a voice in Washington, and identify potential candidates for our own Youth Advocacy Council all with the same event. Talk about 2 birds, 1 stone. To read more about the president's plan, please visit www.whitehouse.gov/youngamericans

So, with generous donations and support from The Lumina Foundation for Education and Chipotle Mexican Grill, we are planning on conducting our first youth roundtable, REAL TALK: A Roundtable Discussion with Young Adults in Indianapolis on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at the United Way Building, RCI Room from 11am-1pm. The cost for youth to attend is FREE and they will also recieve FREE LUNCH from Chipotle and the chance to win raffle prizes! Not to mention the empowering experience of voicing their opinion on youth issues, helping to build solutions, and having a group of dedicated professionals listen and take notes!

I am so excited for this event. I am a true believer in youth voice and the potential that this event and the formation of the YAC has within MCCOY. We all want the best for our city's youth, we all want to be involved in positive change in education and other youth issues, and involving young people in these solutions is VITAL to that success. I'm honored to be a part of an organization like MCCOY that realizes that these young people must have a say in how we do our work. Besides, who knows what works for young people better than young people!!

If you are or know of any young adults in Marion County who would like to participate in this roundtable event, PLEASE CONTACT ME at 317-921-1230 or visit http://www.rsvpbook.com/event.php?473135 to register. Please note, all participants under the age of 18 will need to print off the permission slip, have their parent/guardian sign it, and bring it with them the day of the event.

MCCOY Early Intervention & Prevention: WISH TV Channel 8

Scott Sander interview with Shanna Malott, Early Intervention Community Coordinator, about the EIP Community Roundatable, EASY Book, Youth Activity Directory and ROY: Resources Online for Youth. (Broadcast 2-24-2010)

Family Fun in April …Art, Outdoors, Baseball & Rainy Days

Indianapolis is full of great opportunities for families to explore, learn and have fun together. Here are a few of my favorite things to do.

ART
Art may sometimes seem inaccessible to kids, but it doesn’t have to be. The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) is always a good place to start. Most of the exhibits are free, and both the indoor and outdoor spaces offer hours of education and entertainment. Let the kids lead the way and be sure to ask them questions about why they like certain pieces. The Contemporary Art collection, with its interactive exhibits, is usually a big hit with kids.

I’ve also found that many of the local art events have kid-friendly opportunities. The First Friday Art Tour, April 2nd, offers a wide variety of artistic experiences and is an excellent way for kids to see local, professional artists. Plus it's FREE! Galleries, open studios and alternative spaces are open for your family to explore. While most of the artwork is acceptable for all-ages, provocative pieces or art using nude figures can be good starting points for discussion on such topics as body-image and sexuality. My favorite regular First Friday stop is the Murphy Arts Center in Fountain Square (1043 Virginia Ave.). This month, drop in at Big Car Gallery for Ploplop – a selection of paintings, drawings, ephemera, objects found and transformed, flyers, posters, and documentary video clips. Other highlights this month include nature-inspired artwork created by VSAI artists at the enRoute Gallery in the Harrison Center (1505 N. Delaware) and the INFiber exhibit at the LCi Gallery (158 East 14th Street). Also, the Indiana Humanities Council (1500 N. Delaware) is hosting a pre-party featuring art on loan from the National Art Museum of Sport.

The Stutz Artists Association Open House (1060 N. Capitol Avenue) on April 23 & 24th is a great way to see where artists work and how art is created. Artwork ranges from paintings, drawings and photography, to sculpture, jewelry and furniture. Advanced sale tickets are $10, $12 at the gate, with a special $8 Saturday re-entry (with Friday's ticket stub). On Saturday only, kids 16 and under are free.

Stuck at home, but want to explore art in Indy? The Indianapolis Museum of Contemporay Art (iMOCA) has a series of videos from local artists explaining their art and inspiration. Watch the clips with your family and use them as a spring-board for discussion about inspiration, art and career.

The Earth House and IndyFringe are partnering for Spark a Revolution on April 9 (237 N. East St.) for a interactive experience of theatre, music and visual arts. It begins with Fringe Storytelling -- local actors will recreate your favorite childhood stories as you never imagined them before. "There's a lot of activity in the performance art that would be fascinating to all development stages," says Jordan Updike, Executive Director at The Earth House Collective. "The event is going to be fantastic and I recommend it for all ages."

The Intermedia Festival, April 23 - 25, at the Central Library explores the qualities of art related to technology. The festival will feature artists, musicians, videographers, dancers, actors and writers from around the world. While some will travel to Indianapolis, others will participate by performing online interactively with festival collaborators. Live drama, dance, music, visual arts, videography, scientific presentation, commentary and multi-tiered discussion platforms will come together to create a provocative and compelling set of experiences. Performers who will appear locally include Pamela Z, R. Luke Burtner, Bora Yoon, Big Robot, and Dance Kaleidoscope. Plus, it's FREE!

Now that the weather is warmer, combine a walk (or bike ride) around town with some art spotting. Here’s an online guide to Indy’s public art.

OUTDOORS
Speaking of bike-riding, Bicycle Indiana is offering Bicycle Traffic Skills 101 on April 10th. The course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques and includes a student manual. The fee for the class is $25 per participant and all registered participants who complete the course will receive a $25 gift card from Matthews Bicycles. For ages 14 and up.

Celebrate nature at the White River State Park on Earth Day. The Earth Day Indiana Festival, April 24th, combines 130 environmental and conservation exhibits with live music from some of Indiana's best new bands, special activities for kids and good food. (They’re also looking for volunteers age 15 and up.)

Get your hands dirty at the Indiana State Museum Arbor Day Celebration on April 30th. You’ll help plant a redbud, learn about volunteer opportunities to beautify neighborhoods, and get a free tree.

BASEBALL
April marks the beginning of the season for the Indianapolis Indians. For $15, children 14 and under can join the Knot Hole Club, which provides them with a season pass to all 72 home games. Individual ticket prices for parents range from $9 – 15. Here's April's schedule.

RAINY DAYS
April can be rainy. Very rainy. Luckily, there are many indoor activities that can be fun for the whole family. Let’s start at the library. Visit the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library website for a whole host of events for all ages. One event of interest this month is the Indiana Partnership for Young Writers Student Reading on April 21st at the Central Library downtown. Twenty area students in grades K - 8 will read poems, memoirs, fiction and other original writings. What a great way for kids to listen what other people their age are writing!

On April 25th, celebrate El Día de los Niños day with free admission to The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. While you’re there, stop in at the library’s InfoZone to create a fun maraca craft to advocate literacy among children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

The Indianapolis Children’s Theatre will present School House Rocks from April 12 – 17th. The award-winning Saturday morning cartoon series “Schoolhouse Rock” taught history, grammar, math, science and politics through clever, tuneful songs. Now, the popular 1970s TV show comes to life on stage instructing a whole new generation to “Unpack Your Adjectives” and “Do The Circulations.” Tickets are $10 for youth (18 and under) and $15 for adults.

Think that the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is for adults only? Think again. The St. Vincent Family Series concerts are designed just for kids and this month’s feature is Peter and the Wolf on April 18th, which combines the classical musical with a brand new stop-motion model animation film. Tickets range from $8 – 19 for kids and $16 - $36 for adults.

2009 Youth Activity Directory Now Available

Just in Time for Summer...
This year's Youth Activity Directory (YAD) contains over 20 pages of summer camps and programs that offer a wide variety of fun and enriching activities. Plus, you'll find a full year's worth of activities that support academic achievement, healthy development and positive outcomes for youth, including:

• Programs that engage and empower youth
• Educational enrichment programs
• Career exploration and work readiness programs
• Volunteer opportunities
• Fun family activities
• And much more

The YAD will be available at several community events and for pick-up at MCCOY office. Email Juli or call: 921-1266. Please complete and submit a YAD request form: Complete form online. Download the form.

Don't Let Rainy Weather Stop You from Turning Off the TV

It's international Turnoff Week. So turn off your TV, iPhone and Xbox, and say goodbye to Twitter and Facebook. Are you up for the challenge?

I don't even have cable, so TV definitely doesn't rule my life. I should be able to turn it off for a week no problem, but a rainy start to the week makes me think that it may not happen. If I can't work in the yard or go for a bike ride, why shouldn't I just watch a few programs or spend a few hours on Facebook? I do have a few pounds to lose, some spring cleaning to do, and a few books that have been sitting on the nightstand unopened. Come to think of it, I have more than a week's worth of non-TV and non-computer things I've been wanting to do for ages. I guess I'm willing to give a try...are you?

There are tons of stats out there about how TV is bad for you (and for kids). Parents miss out on meaningful conversations with kids. People who watch alot of TV are more likely to get fat. Computer, TVs and video systems waste energy and $$$. Children who watch TV may be more likely to have ADHD symptoms. If you need more reasons or stats to get you moving, here are a few sites that might persuade you: Ten Financial Reasons To Turn Off Your Television - And Ten Things To Replace It With. Trash Your TV contains tons of stats - some seem plausible, others are questionable, but they might just get you moving. Some recent articles question Is google making us stupid, or is it the computer screen that's doing us in?

For me, all the statistics in the world don't make a difference. What is most important to me is that watching TV (with the exception of a few really good, thought-provoking shows) makes me feel like I am wasting my life. I live in a great neighborhood and city. I have an awesome (and awesomely large) family. I can make a difference in the lives of the people around me, but not if I'm watching TV or sitting in front of a screen. At the end of my life, I definitely will not be saying, "I wish I had seen more episodes of Family Guy" or, "If only I'd spent a few more hours searching the web, who knows what I could have done with my life." Seriously, I know that there are better things to do with my time.

Getting Started. Take baby steps...cut out 1 program a day (or a week). Then go from there. If you need something a little more concrete, here are 7 Ways to Cut TV Time. And here are some ways to help your kids reduce their TV time.

You've turned off the TV, now what? Get outside, read a book, play a game with the family, create a scrapbook from all those digital pictures that are just sitting on the computer...the possibilities are endless. Here are some sites that the whole family can use to fill those 4.5 hours a day that are now available: Check out the library. Here's what's going on at the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library this week. Get healthy. Take advantage of the We Can online resources or the Subway Kids Healthy at Home tools. Get creative inside and outside. Make a difference. Check out how to volunteer as a family and go to Volunteer Match to find volunteer opportunities in your area -- just key in your ZIP code and click on “advanced search.” You can specify the kind of opportunities you want to pursue and find organizations that are kid-friendly.

Lastly, be committed to living the best life possible - with or without TV.

Meet ROY: Resources Online for Youth!

It's finally here - central Indiana's new, searchable database of youth activities and opportunities! ROY is now gathering information from youth-serving organizations about their programs and activities. Creating a profile is FAST, EASY and absolutely FREE (music to a non-profit's ears).

Just visit www.roymccoy.org, scroll down to the bottom right and click on "Create a new account". If you can't finish filling out your profile in one setting, it's not a problem. Just log out, then log back in later to fill in the blanks

Need some help getting to know ROY? We have dedicated a page on our website to this very purpose. Click here to learn more about the project and its purposes or download cheat sheets of required information.