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2010 Youth Practitioner Summit to Focus on Actualizing Positive Youth Development

Please join us for the 8th Annual Youth Practitioner Summit, December 2-3 at the Marriott Uptown Hotel in Albuquerque.  This year's theme is, "Rethinking Positive Youth Development:  Exploring the Possibilities and Actualizing Positive Youth Development". 

The theme for this year's conference was established primarily because of the feedback the Forum has received from our community constituents.  Many youth practitioners, as well as those in public systems understand the underlying frameworks and principles of positive youth development but even more are asking, "How do we do this in our organization? In our community?"  Consequently, the 2010 Youth Practitioner Summit will represent a stronger emphasis on being a dedicated training space that provides practitioners with in-depth opportunities to learn how to move to asset-based approaches in youth and community development.

For this Summit, we are in the process of identifying a few number of individuals to provide the trainings, and to repeat these trainings over the duration of the conference so that conference participants have greater opportunities to engage in all the trainings.  As such, we are responding to what our constituents have asked from us, and the community members continue to inform our process (and lead us to trainers) throughout. 

The focus areas for the 2010 Youth Practitioner Summit will include:

•  Implementing Positive Youth Development throughout statewide systems and government agencies.

•  Adopting Positive Youth Development at local/regional levels in response to community and public health needs.

•  Reports from the field:  Integrating asset-based approaches in individuals, organizations, and communities.

•  Positive Youth Development in the public education sector - what are the possibilities and what does it look like when it's done well?

•  Changing the paradigm in the juvenile justice system; how Positive Youth Development can create a different environment for all New Mexicans.

•  Looking at asset-based approaches through the lens of tribal, faith-based and community entities. 

We will be announcing our full agenda and guest speakers soon.  Please keep an eye out for future communications about the 2010 Youth Practitioner Summit.  Registration details are forthcoming as well. 

For those who might be interested in displaying your work or products at our Resource Pavilion tables, please download and submit the application form below.

            2010 Youth Practitioner Summit Resource Pavilion Information Packet and
                 Response Form 

For more information on the 2010 Youth Practitioner Summit, please send an email to:  youthsummit@mgr-events.com.

New Mexico Youth...Expect the Best!

Native Health Initiative Announces Youth Leadership Opportunities

The Native Health Initiative, a partnership to address inequities in health through loving service, is looking for youth leaders to take advantage of a few upcoming opportunities. While much of our work is in American Indian/Indigenous communities, the following opportunities (and all of our programs) are open to all!  

• "Following the Healing Ways" 2-day workshop, July 22 and 23 at UNM/CNM on leadership, higher education, and careers in health for youth 12-18 years old. Events will include meeting with health professionals, traditional healers, and doing hands-on activities to see what it is like to be a healer! This workshop is free to attend, and we have a few slots open.

•  Call for youth to present at two upcoming conferences as part of NHI sessions on "Native Youth Leading the Way to Healthier Communities". We are looking for 2-3 groups to speak at the annual Association of American Indian Physicians conference (Sunday, Aug 8th in Albuquerque) and at the American Public Health Association conference (Sunday, Nov 3rd in Denver). If you and your youth group are doing incredible work to improve your communities, we would love to profile you in front of these national audiences.

• "Youth Leading the Way" project grants - do you have a great idea for a project that would better the health and well-being of your community?

Apply to NHI for one of their grants to help make it happen! For more information please contact:   Anthony Fleg UNM Family and Community Medicine afleg@salud.unm.edu

Youth in Accion – Martineztown youth used their Native Health Initiative,  “Youth Leading the Way” project grant to create a community wellness event called “Celebrate Wellness/Celebra la Salud”, complete with nutrition jeopardy

 

Public Allies New Mexico Recruiting for 2011-2012 Partners
 

At Public Allies New Mexico, we believe changing times call for a new kind of leadership. We are excited to be in our fourth year of developing young leaders. Allies are young, diverse, and passionate social change makers who support  community projects in partnership with hundreds of local nonprofit organizations.   Our Allies change their lives and our community through a rigorous AmeriCorps program that combines full-time, paid apprenticeships in nonprofits with intensive skills training, active community-building projects, personalized coaching, and critical reflection. We provide all of this through a nationally recognized approach that's rooted in a practice of values.   Everyone leads... and we walk the talk. We are in the process of recruiting a class which reflects the diversity of New Mexico.  Allies are of and for our local community, and they share a deep commitment to strengthening New Mexico.   We're creating pathways for a stronger community and a lifetime of impact. Nationally, more than 80% of Alumni continue a career in the nonprofit and public sectors, and about 95% of Alumni say they would participate again if they could. Partner organizations report that their work with an Ally increases their capacity by up to 30%!  Results like these have led the Public Allies program to be recognized as a model for national service.

Become a Partner Organization  Host a young leader at your organization: Increase your organizational capacity, recruit and manage more volunteers, all the while supporting diverse young leaders!  Partnering with Public Allies will increase your organization's ability to:      Create, improve and expand your services  Cultivate diverse young talent  Build community across social boundaries  Generate new volunteers  Collaborate with other organizations  Evaluate performance and impact Strengthen your organization through our nationally recognized and supported leadership program.  Public Allies provides our nonprofit partners with:    Recruitment and selection of talented and diverse candidates and coordination of the apprenticeship matching process Ally coaching and support through a robust leadership development curriculum, personalized coaching, structured evaluation and reporting, and other supports Contribution of 20% to 35% of the Ally stipend (depending on site), plus health care, child care and a $4,7235 education award - all provided through our affiliation with AmeriCorps  In return, Partner Organizations provide:  A positive and supportive work environment  A well-defined position with significant responsibilities and measurable service objectives that can be achieved working 32-40 hours per week for ten months  65% to 80% of Ally stipend and FICA taxes (depending on site)  Direct Ally supervision, support, and reporting on service objectives How to apply If your organization would like to help us change the face and practice of leadership while expanding and enhancing your services, please click here to download the application. Nonprofit applicants will be interviewed or visited by Public Allies staff to assess the position, work environment and objectives. If selected, partner organization finalists will interview several Ally finalists and rank them. Ally finalists also rank the organizations they interview with. Public Allies selects the best matches.

 

Become an Ally (Public Allies New Mexico) 

Are you ready to make a significant impact on your community? Public Allies New Mexico is an intense 10-month Apprenticeship Program designed to develop the next generation of civic leaders. We are seeking dedicated, service minded Allies to begin their ten-month apprenticeship in nonprofit organizations in the New Mexico area.

Public Allies promotes the leadership of the many. Leaders must come from all backgrounds and all parts of a community if we are going to solve our most urgent problems. We identify and develop diverse, young leaders (Allies) in 15 communities across the country. These leaders are committed to working for community and social change in their home communities. 

Allies serve four days a week for 10 months at local nonprofits or charter schools, where they create, improve and expand services that address issues including youth development, education, public health, economic development, and the environment.

Once a week, Allies participate in a rigorous leadership development program in which local community leaders and expert practitioners lead workshops. In addition, Allies participate in community building activities, contribute to team service projects, and receive individual coaching to support their professional development during their apprenticeship.

Our leadership development program challenges and supports Allies to become leaders who connect across social boundaries, facilitate collaborative action, recognize and mobilize community assets, commit to continuous learning and self-development, and be accountable for creating impact. Allies gain a deep knowledge of their community and important skills from local community leaders, practitioners, and educators. They also learn much from the diverse backgrounds, perspectives, issue focuses and neighborhoods of their fellow Allies.

Allies are AmeriCorps members and receive a stipend and benefits for their service. Allies are paid a stipend between $1,250 and $1,800 a month (depending on the community), and they receive health care, child care, interest-free student loan deferments, and a $4,725 education award to pay back student loans or pay for future education.

To participate in the program, individuals must be between ages 18 and 30, have at least a high school diploma or GED, and be committed to making a difference. We value commitment and leadership potential more than educational background or relevant work history-it's the diversity of our Ally network that is our greatest strength, so all are welcome.

If you're interested in becoming a member of Public Allies New Mexico, please click here to download the application.

For more information about Public Allies New Mexico, please contact Carla Francis, Public Allies Site Director at: carla@nmforumforyouth.org.

We're changing the face and practice of leadership in New Mexico!

 

 

New Mexico Youth Alliance Partners with State Agencies to Convene Quarterly Gathering of Youth from Throughout the State

The New Mexico Youth Alliance is convening their quarterly youth leadership gathering, June 3-5, 2010.  The summer gathering is a collaboration with a number of partners, including New Mexico Civic Engagement (UNM), the Albuquerque Partnership, Enlace NM, and Pojoaque Valley Natural Helpers.  More than 100 youth are participating in this summer's workshops and leadership training activities.  Events are being convened at the UNM main campus and also at the Embassy Suites hotel in Albuquerque. 

Nearly 25 workshop and activities will be provided to youth participating in the event; a similar number of volunteer presenters are contributing their time and another 30 volunteers are supporting the activities throughout the weekend.  Topics will include leadership, advocacy efforts, health, risk and resiliency, media, and afterschool activities.  The download or view see the full agenda, please click here (PDF reader required).

A sincere thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors who are creating an incredible youth leadership opportunity for young New Mexicans.  For more information about the New Mexico Youth Alliance, please contact Moneka Stevens-Cordova (moneka@nmforumforyouth.org) or visit our NMYA website (www.nmforum.org/nmya.html).

New Mexico Service Learning Network Event Calendar

The following listing provides a calendar of events for 2010 service learning-related activities.  Information about national days of service are taken from the Learn and Serve America website, www.servicelearning.org.   To learn more about how you can get involved, please click on each of the links provided.

January

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January 18), http:///www.mlkday.gov/

 

March

• Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning (March 31), http://www.chavezfoundation.org/

 

April

• National Child Abuse Prevention Month, http://www.preventchildabuse.org

• National Poetry Month, http://www.poets.org/npm

• International Children’s Book Day (April 2), http://www:ibby.org/index.php?id=269

• Earth Day (April 22), http://www.earthday.gov

• World Book Day (April 23), http://unesco.org/culture/bookday

• National and Global Youth Service Day (April 23-25), http://www.ysa.org/nysd

• N.M. Forum for Youth in Community, Service-Learning Network Meeting (April 29)

 

May

• Older Americans Month, http://www.aoa.gov/

• Join Hands Day (May 1), http://www.joinhandsday.org

• N.M. Forum for Youth in Community, Service-Learning Network Meeting (May 27)

 

June

• National Conference on Volunteering and Service, New York City, (June 28-30) http://www.volunteeringandservice.org/plan/sessions.cfm

 

September

• Patriot Day (September 11)

• National Neighborhood Day (September 20), http://www.neighborhoodday.org

• National Public Lands Day (September 25),http://www.npld.com

 

October

• Habitat for Humanity – World Habitat Day (October 4), http://www.habitat.org/cd/local/affiliate.aspx?place=60

• Intergeneration Day/Week (first Sunday/week in October), http://www.intergenerationday.org

• Make A Difference Day (October 23), http://www.handsonnetwork.org/

 

November

• World Kindness Day (November 14) and World Kindness Week (November 8-14), http://www.actsofkindness.org

• National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (November 15-20), http://www.nationalhomeless.org/projects/awareness/index.htmll

• National Family Volunteer Day (November 20), http://disney.go.com/disneyhand/familyvolunteers/

• National Family Volunteer Week (November 21-27), http://www.nationalfamilyweek.org

 

December

• New Mexico Forum for Youth in Community, Annual Youth Practitioner Summit, (December 3-4)

• International Volunteer Day (December 5), http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/index.php?id=3060

Forum Staff Facilitate Strategic Planning Efforts with Youth-Serving Organizations Throughout New Mexico

Staff from the New Mexico Forum for Youth in Community are proud to partner with a number of organizations throughout New Mexico as they engage strategic planning efforts.  Recent changes in economic conditions, coupled with new knowledge and approaches to asset-based youth and community development efforts has evoked a renewed desire in connecting to he Forum's Organizational Development supports this year.

The Forum is currently engaging the following organizations as they engage in strategic planning:

• ACE Leadership Charter School, Albuquerque
• Afterschool Alliance of New Mexico (statewide)
• Catholic Charities, Diocese of Las Cruces
• Envision Your Future, Santa Fe
• Girls Scouts of New Mexico Trails, VIVA Advisory Council (statewide)
• Mountainair Independent School (Mountainair)
• New Mexico Jazz Workshop, Albuquerque
• New Mexico Voices for Children, Albuquerque
• One Million Bones
• Taskforce for Immigrant Advocacy and Services (TIAS-NM), Southern New Mexico (Dona Ana County)
• Warehouse 508 (Albuquerque

 

Ongoing strategic planning activities with individual organizations are in various stages of completion, and a few more efforts are set to commence.  The Forum supports approximately 40 organizations annually with strategic planning and organizational development activities. 

For more information on the Forum's Organizational Development supports visit our "domains of work" webpage or contact Eduardo X. Martinez, Director of Infrastructure and Organizational Development, emartinez@nmforumforyouth.org. 

VISTA Volunteers Support Beautification Project on Service Day in Albuquerque

Volunteers from the VISTA Cadre project engaged in a community beautification projection on May 17, 2010.  The project was a curbside landscaping project at the Amigos y Amigas site in the historic South Broadway community in Albuquerque.  More than 30 volunteers helped weed and till the area, plant bushes and trees, and install landscaping pavers.  The project was conducted in partnership with the New Mexico Commission for Community Volunteerism.  Representative Martin Heinrich also joined the volunteers for a portion of the day.

Amigos y Amigas is community-based non-profit organization that provides education, prevention and health services to youth and families in the South Broadway community.  For more information on the VISTA Cadre project, click here.  You can also contact Michael Garcia (michael@nmforumforyouth.org) or David Chene (david@nmforumforyouth.org).

Public Allies New Mexico Announces 2010 Graduating Class

Public Allies new Mexico is set to graduate it's 3rd cohort this summer.  Public Allies New Mexico is an AmeriCorps-funded initiative that provides leadership development, training and mentoring opportunities for young adults in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe area.  The program places participants in community-based organizations as part of their year-long engagement with the Forum.  The program averages 15 participants each year.

This year, the graduation event will be convened at Amerind Risk Management training center in Bernalillo, June 30th (Wednesday), 10 am - 2 pm. Everette Hill, Executive Director of the Forum will be a guest speaker.  This event will honor the contribution of the 2009-2010 class which contributed more than 25,000 hours of community service and supported nearly 10,000 people in their communities.

Public Allies is currently recruiting potential participants for the 2010-2011 class.  Applications are due in If you would like to know more about the Public Allies New Mexico initiative, please contact Jasmine Cuffeee, PANM Program Manager, at :  jasmine@nmforumforyouth.org.