SARPY COUNTY TEEN COURT VOLUNTEERS

Youth volunteers for the Sarpy County Teen Court run a courtroom procedure for other teenagers who have received citations for first misdemeanor offenses such as theft, criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, minors in the possession of alcohol, and some traffic violations. The Teen Court volunteers do not decide the guilt or innocence of the young offenders. It is only available to those youth offenders who take responsibility for their actions and who wish to avoid a conviction on their record. However, Teen Court does determine the consequences for each defendant.

The volunteer teens are trained in the roles of attorneys, both defense and prosecution. They are also trained to be jurors and bailiffs. As attorneys, they make opening statements in the courtroom procedure, call the youth offender to the witness stand, and question the youth offender about the circumstances of the offense. Cross-examination is also allowed and then each attorney makes closing statements.

The impact of these youth helping others in their peer group is significant. Teen Courts throughout the United States report recidivism is greatly reduced when teenagers determine the consequences for other youth who have broken the law. Recidivism rates for the Sarpy county Teen Court are 22% to 28% less than if the same young people were disciplined by an adult in the juvenile system.

The volunteers involved in the Teen Court are : Erin Baker, Betsy Crofoot, Courtney Mallon, John Mayo, Bryan Russell, and Meaghan Weniger. These teens are exceptionally capable in the courtroom and display creativity and professionalism in opening statements, closing statements, and recommendations made to the jury. They have honed their courtroom skills by participation in the Teen Court. The youth are articulate, clear, and perform well in whatever role they are given. Their presentations are concise and appropriate, and the youth handle themselves in a very mature manner. The volunteers are capable of seeing the entire picture and tying information together with the result that they come up with some very appropriate and innovative recommendations to the jury.

The volunteers working in the Teen Court take their job very seriously. They are committed, dedicated, and are prepared to do whatever asked. All of the youths in the program have also been involved in representing the Teen Court in their community. They have been involved in presenting Mock Trials at workshops and talking to City Councils and community groups about the Court. These youth are investing themselves in a real issue within the community for the benefit of everyone.

KRISTIN THOMPSON

Camp Fire Boys and Girls builds caring, confident youth, and future leaders. Since 1911, hundreds of thousands of young people have had fun, made friends, and gained important skills through a variety of small group and camping programs. One essential component of the Camp Fire program is learning to give back to the community through service projects.

Girls and boys can join Camp Fire as early as age five. Under the tutelage of caring adult leaders, youth enjoy activities that build skills in a sequential manner. While the Camp Fire program is non-competitive, young people are able to set goals for themselves and their group from one year to the next. The Wohelo award is Camp Fire’s highest achievement. It is awarded to high school seniors who complete rigorous advocacy action is on three issues of concern.

Kristin Thompson is the embodiment of Camp Fire’s caring spirit. She recently earned the Wohelo award for completing advocacy actions on the following three issues: the importance of after-school programs and activities for at-risk children, the importance of youth involvement in faith groups, and the importance of teaching participants the history of the Camp Fire organization. Kristin completed more than 600 hours of community service in the process of earning the Wohelo Award.

As President of her church youth group, Kristin and her group have worked at the Denny Place Youth Shelter preparing food and serving meals to homeless youth. She taught her church group about poverty and world hunger, organized their fundraising drive for World Vision, and led her group through the 30-Hour Famine, as a way to reflect on the plight of those they were helping.

Though she hardly seems old enough, Kristin has already created a lasting legacy. She saw the need for after-school activities for children at Bailey Gatzert Elementary School in Seattle’s Central District. A large percentage of these kids come from low-income families, and many are homeless. In 1997, she enlisted the help of several adults and founded the first Camp Fire group Gatzert, serving approximately 20 children. For the past three years Kristin and her co-leaders have conducted groups meetings once a week, and planned field trips, special events, and even camping trips for enthusiastic young kids.

The successful program has inspired adults to get involved with the group, raising money from friends, and colleagues, and joining the kids on camping trips and other excursions. But Kristin’s good influence does not stop there. By successfully establishing a group program in a community where Camp Fire had never before operated, Kristin proved that these quality youth development programs could be as viable and relevant in a diverse, and at-risk community as they are in any other urban or suburban setting. With Kristin’s group setting the example, Camp Fire has recently received private foundation funding to establish programs in each grade level at Gatzert Elementary School.

PIEDMONT HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL ART HONOR SOCIETY

The Piedmont High School National Art Honor Society sponsors a program called Very Special Arts. This program educates high school students about people with disabilities and provides them with the opportunity to participate in a countywide festival celebrating the arts.

This National Art Honor Society (NAHS) is a unique organization to Union County Public Schools. It is the only such program in the county. The program consists of high school students in grades 10 through 12. The students must have maintained an average of 90 or above in their art classes. Students involved in the NAHS are looked upon as role models for other students at Piedmont High School (PHS) because they invest many community service hours outside of the school day.

The mission of the PHS NAHS is to educate the school and community about the arts, and to make the work a better place by using their talents and sharing with others. The organization has sponsored various programs. They have created over 500 porcelain Christmas ornaments for the Union County local Hospice House. NAHS has participated in Make-A-Difference Day and sponsored art shows in local hospitals, which resulted in their donating $200 to a student attending their school who was battling cancer. They have also painted murals in a local day care center to beautify the environment and decorated pumpkins and donated them to local nursing homes and businesses.

The NAHS is also involved in a monumental yearlong project called Very Special Arts (VSA). VSA is an event in which students in the NAHS have full responsibility. They plan and organize a festival for 700 people. The volunteers choose a theme, research the artist or author to educate their classmates, and raise money by making presentations and writing grant proposals. The students are also responsible for soliciting and recruiting volunteers, planning booths and activities including disability awareness activities for the entire school, as well as an art show at a local hospital. One of the goals of the VSA is to give students the opportunity to participate in community service from the initial planning stages to the clean up.

For the past 6years, VSA has been running smoothly under the direction of the PHS NAHS. This particular event has made an impact on individuals in the community and raised awareness of individuals with disabilities. Students at PHS have become more caring and respectful to all individuals due to participation in this event. VSA has given high school students a positive experience at an early age and hopes it will influence them to continue to give back to their community as youth as well as adults.

The young men and women of the PHS NAHS have an impact on Union County Public Schools and beyond. They give special needs children a change to express themselves through art and feel a great sense of accomplishment. In turn, they educate their campus and the community about the needs, desires, and talents of those with disabilities. The look in the children’s eyes that participate in the program shows pride, joy, and confidence; however, the look in the eyes of the high school volunteers mirrors the same.

THE FIRST STATE RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, INC.

The First State Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council, Inc. sponsors the Emergency Home Repair Project. The project was founded in 1991 when 10 volunteers repaired 13 homes. They identified housing issues as a concern within their community. To address the issue of substandard owner-occupied housing, the Council initiated the Emergency Home Repair Project. The project addresses only owner-occupied units.

During the RC&D Council’s 1999 fiscal year, 264 volunteers donated 17,670 hours completing repairs on 312 homes in Kent and Sussex Counties in Delaware. Of the homes repaired, 46% were minority-owned and 30% were owned by disabled individuals. Volunteers, both individuals and groups from Delaware and beyond, assisted with the repairs.

The RC&D Council works with other nonprofit organizations, professional organizations, banks, and local businesses. The council has been recognized for their Make-A-Difference Day activities and for its total commitment to the community. The Delaware State Housing Authority, the project’s major funding source, was name the National RC&D Sponsor of the Year for its outstanding long-term support of the project in 1999.

The RC&D Council, along with the Emergency Home Repair Project, has identified needs in the community of Delaware. The City of Wilmington has 2,434 substandard housing units, which represents 8.4% of the cities’ housing units. They have the highest rate in the state. New Castle County has 3,804 substandard units, which is 2.5% of their housing units. Kent County has a substandard housing rate of 5.0%, which is 15% above the state average. In addition to this, Sussex County has 3,504 substandard units at a 6.6% rate. Their rate is 50% higher than the state average.

The council bridges the gap between little or no action and County level efforts under Community Development Block Grant rehabilitation activities. The project allows homeowners to continue to occupy their home while awaiting more extensive repairs or renovation. The only alternatives for these homeowners are to continue to dwell in an unsafe or unhealthy dwelling or become homeless. Through the program, volunteers and community members are mobilized and empowered to invest sweat equity to solve local problems. Clients are encouraged to take part in the repair of their own homes, and many clients volunteer to assist their neighbors or in other project activities.

DIXIE HIGH SCHOOL R.A.S.K. CLUB

Random Acts of Selfless Kindness (RASK) clubs were founded in the spring of 1997 to meet the growing need for student service-learning in an inclusive capacity. RASK is a part of Utah’s Promise, which is a multi-year initiative that mobilizes citizens to make a positive impact in their communities. It also strives to bring five fundamental resources to every child: caring adults, a healthy start, safe places, marketable skills, and opportunities to serve others.

In April 1997, retired U.S. General Colin L. Powell chaired the President’s Summit for America’s Future in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. America’s Promise is the national follow-up to the President’s Summit, and Utah’s Promise is Utah’s response to the national effort. Utah has communities of Promise, and RASK is a part of Dixie’s Promise. RASK is a part of the fifth goal designated by Dixie’s Promise – providing Washington County youth with opportunities to give service.

A motivated student and her teacher worked to develop, organize, and implement the program into their school – Dixie High School. The first project RASK participated in was Make A Difference Day. The school came together to transform the barren backyard of the Children’s Justice Center into a functional playground. The Drafting class had the responsibility of planning what the yard would look like. The Ornamental Horticulture class then secured sod, shrubbery, and trees. Next, student volunteers approached local businesses to donate playground equipment. Many Fridays and Saturdays were then spent painting a fence, pouring cement for a basketball court, gardening, and building a sandbox. This initial RASK project was a success, and RASK was awarded the Make A Difference Day Award. They donated the $2000 to the Center, and students now volunteer regularly there.

The next year RASK worked with Washington County Preschool on Make A Difference Day. They won the Make A Difference Day Award once again and used the funds to meet the needs of the school. Donations from students, faculty, and community secured computer equipment, special-needs interactive equipment, and computer desks. Students came together to paint a mural over an old shed, clean and stripe the parking lot, and install computer equipment. Interaction with preschool students is ongoing as volunteers are at the school regularly, mentoring children and receiving training in the speech-impediment profession.

Each holiday season, the students at Dixie High School participate in the Salvation Army Angel Tree. More than $10,000 has been raised annually from actively involved students. Gifts for needy families are purchased, displayed in the school library, wrapped, and delivered. Aside from these major annual projects, RASK also offers monthly service activities for students. Some of the programs are community food drives, delivering flowers to a local care center, cleaning yards for the elderly, talent shows and Senior Balls at the local rest home, installing speed bumps in school parking lots, and making quilts for needy children.

RASK has expanded to two additional high schools and hopes to be implemented in the other three high schools in the near future. The club lives up to its name and has impacted the community by aiding them in learning the value of kindness, selflessness, and service.

JERRY AND AGNES LEWIS

Imagine receiving a call late at night with a woman in distress as a result of domestic violence. A similar situation is what began Agnes and Jerry Lewis’ volunteer service in the Tinley Park, Illinois area. Agnes and Jerry Lewis have been serving women and children for the past 20 years. They have given of their time, resources, and love to many in need.

The Crisis Center is a domestic violence agency available to serve the public 24 hours a day with a full range of counseling and program services. The Lewis’ answered an overnight domestic violence hotline in their home before the Center was founded in 1980 by the American Association of University Woman. As a couple, they have helped meet community needs, built connections between the community and victims of domestic violence, and positively impacted the community by developing unique approaches to performing their vital service.

The Lewis’ always have a compassionate ear to listen to the problems of the women that are calling for help. They offer them referrals to other agencies and helped in any other way they can. When the Crisis Center was officially founded, it helped meet community needs by offering shelter services to women and their children who would not have any other on-site shelter to contact in the southern suburb of Chicago.

Some of the victims of domestic violence do not have transportation. The Lewis’ spend a great deal of their time and resources transporting clients to the center. This builds a bond between the community and the victims and develops a relationship and trust. The recipients know they can rely on the Lewis’ to get them to the center.

The dedicated work of Jerry and Agnes Lewis helps the Crisis Center to achieve its goals. They always attempt to make services available to women and children who were previously isolated. They have demonstrated a firm commitment and give every client the same level of faithful service. They have also taken many clients to attorney’s offices, domestic violence court, and the Crisis Center’s Neat Repeats Resale Shoppe to obtain clothes. During the past seven years of rendering service, Agnes and Larry Lewis have spent at least 20 hours every week shopping for the clients. In addition to that, they make trips to the drugstore or other stores during the week.

PIONEERS FOR PEACE

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 20,000 people die from homicide every year and more than two million people suffer injuries received in violent conflicts. Hospitalizing someone who has experienced a traumatic injury and providing lifelong care can cost more than a million dollars. At greatest risk are African American males between the ages of 15 and 24. For this population, homicide is the number one cause of death. This may be hard for many young people to comprehend because they believe that they are invincible. Pioneers for Peace reminds them that they are not.

Pioneers for Peace is an innovative violence prevention and awareness program for youth. Developed and sponsored by Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan in 1996, the goal of the program is three-fold: 1) to educate others about the impact of violence, 2) to discuss means for conflict resolution and making wise decisions, and 3) to increase awareness about the abilities of persons with disabilities. The primary target audience is adolescents in middle and high schools.

Pioneer members are all survivors of violence who have sustained a spinal cord injury, brain injury, or orthopedic injury. Each member views his or her disability not as a tragedy, but rather as an opportunity to make a difference by becoming an advocate for violence prevention. All members are volunteers who, despite their challenges, have taken leadership in the development, implementation and growth of the program. Most are young adults, having sustained their injuries as a teen.

The Pioneers for Peace objectives are met through various means. Panel discussions are held at hospitals, schools, churches, and other community settings. Members talk candidly about how violence has permanently altered their lives. They discuss the challenges of living with a disability, answer questions, and encourage students to avoid guns, gangs, and drugs. Through the Pioneers’ personal accounts, the audience witnesses firsthand the potential consequences of guns and violence. This past year, they have expanded their reach through teleconferencing to schools in New York, California, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.

Hands-on workshops are conducted by the Pioneers for Peace in partnership with hospital staff to show students what it is like living with a disability caused by violence. Students actually experience what it is like to be in a wheelchair and how they would have to perform daily tasks such as dressing, climbing a staircase, or going to the bathroom.

The first year, the Pioneers conducted 44 presentations and reached 3,000 community members. In 1999 the Pioneers averaged 25 presentations per month and reached more than 40,000 students. The group has developed relationships with the Detroit Public Schools, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, the 36th District Court and a multitude of other community organizations striving for the goal of peace. Partnerships have been developed to collaborate on broader programs, Peace Rallies, and fundraising.

The impact of Pioneers for Peace is witnessed daily by student evaluations, personal testimonies, letters from teachers, new program development, and the positive behavior of the members in changing their lives. The Pioneers for Peace has a part-time paid coordinator , but the heart of the program remains the volunteers. They continue to share their vision, time, passion, and energies in making the program a success.

CATTARAUGUS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The Cattaraugus Local Development Corporation (CLDC) is a 501©3 nonprofit organization fully recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. The CLDC was formed in 1996 because of the needs of the residents in the Appalachian community. The economic boom of the 1990’s had passed them by, and the community needed to reevaluate its position. The mission of the CLDC is to be a vehicle to initiate, research, develop, incubate, fund, manage, and spin off projects, programs and businesses that allow the community to have empowerment, independence and control over its own destiny. This is implemented through a holistic approach, as members of the CLDC do not believe that there is one silver bullet for making a community viable for renewal/reinvention.

The CLDC identified and addressed five important areas. They looked at community development, economic development, education, preservation and resource conservation and the development and implementation of new technology. Using this approach allows integration and a sense of balance within the cultural, business and social environments that make up the Cattaraugus community.

Not only have the areas been identified, but also the CLDC has realized various opportunities and needs unique to its region. They raised $141,000 from two rural development grants for a revolving loan fund for local businesses and contracted a feasibility study on the need to develop a historical preservation institute. This would teach the forgotten skills of woodworking, restoration, and preservation. Alfred State College partnered with the CLDC in 1999 and developed the institute in the Village of Cattaraugus. Their motto was “preservation is our future.”

They mobilized 40 organizations and municipalities in a community effort to take ownership of and create a 12 mile “Rails-to-Trails”, created and funded and inter-community organization called Southern Tier Association for Rails-to-Trails (START), and developed three county mapping program for tourism promotion. CLDC was also responsible for raising $25,000 in three weeks to put 17 old fashion light poles in the historic business district, and three other communities are using that as a model.

The CLDC has also helped to promote a school annexation to voters, field a patent on community economic development and technology, and designed an e-commerce digital imaging company for economic development and high tech jobs. They took ownership of an 1100-acre subdivision in order to save a community’s tax base and rectified 27 years of homeowner concerns in three months.

Each of the programs and activities have resulted in the communities’ belief in itself and its hope for the future. The programs are staffed with volunteers who freely give of their time and resources. The communities have contributed about 10,000 hours of service and in the process raised over $2,000,000 for this rural region of Appalachia. The CLDC is continually working to get better and better and will always be a means of community service for the Appalachia area.

KIDS CARE CLUB OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY

Young people from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds who are committed to serving their Olean, New York community came together and formed the Kids Care Club of Cattaraugus County. Many of the children endure poverty and emotional difficulties, but they are still willing to give of their time and efforts to others.

The children range from age 6 to 17 years old and have participated in more than a dozen community service projects throughout the last two years. They are active in local projects like Christmas in April. This project facilitates the painting and repairing of homes of those who are disabled or otherwise in need. Kids Care also is active in fundraising for the local domestic violence shelter, preparing baked goods and donating them to the local homeless shelter from their bake sale. They have also collected hats for kids with cancer, planted vegetable gardens for a local retirement community, collected teddy bears for the Olean police and fire departments to give to traumatized children, and worked with the City of Olean Parks Department. The national programs that the children have participated in are Make A Difference Day, Toys for Tots, and Nickelodeon Big Help.

Many of the children in the club are from low-income families. They know what it is like to have a birthday party and receive no presents. Because of this, The Kids Care Club founded a program entitled Birthday Beacon. This program collects birthday gift boxes and distributes them to needy children. This is an ongoing project, which is supported by the fundraising and donations from other local organizations.

The members of the Kids Care Club of Cattaraugus County are also involved in the Character Counts Coalition. They focus on the Six Pillars of Character: respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, citizenship, fairness, and caring. The Club uses the six pillars of character to help them properly respond to the difficult situations that they may encounter. They have learned through experience that by handling problems this way, they maintain a sense of dignity and pride.

The children also feel the need to encourage adults to recognize the value of children in the community. They share the messages that youth are capable of making a positive difference in their community by facilitating Youth Empowerment seminars. During the seminars, the children share the projects that they have completed, good deeds they have done, or obstacles they have overcome. The facilitator of the club also writes a monthly column, which provides advice for empowering children in the local newspaper.

The Kids Care Club of Cattaraugus County has been recognized for its Make A Difference Day contribution and received the Super Heroes Award from the national Kids Care Club. Despite their honors, the volunteers in the club feel nothing compares to the recognition that they receive from the recipients of their service.

SPRUCE CREEK ELEMENTARY MAKING A DIFFERENCE GROUP

Spruce Creek Elementary Making a Difference Group of Port Orange, Florida is dedicated to uplifting those that are down trodden and taking an active part in making their home a better place. Their mission is not limited but encompasses the entire community. The Making a Difference Group is a newly formed organization at Spruce Creek Elementary. The Group is made up of 5th graders, and most of them have had prior volunteer experience from other organizations. The idea to start Making a Difference Group was inspired after participating in Make A Difference Day. The children wanted to continue their efforts as opposed to working one day to impact Port Orange.

This group is creative, uses unique ideas, and perseveres to be “finishers.” They refuse to let obstacles hinder their drive and use stumbling blocks as opportunities to reevaluate planned projects and make them even better. Spruce Creek Elementary students in this program inspire other young people and adults to take an active part in their community. It is estimated that they have impacted over 750 students to date.

The volunteer activities of the group have spanned to distinct areas in their community. The Making a Difference Group has established a place to assist needy families called the Bobcat Boutique. This store is a place of relief and allows those in need to be able to have additional clothing items. They have also collected personal items and were able to create more than 115 care packages for homeless families. In addition to this, the group amassed food items and was able to distribute Thanksgiving food baskets to needy families in the community. The I-Care center has also benefited from the work of this talented group of young people. They were the recipients of new and gently used books gathered by the students.

The volunteer activities of this group have had a positive impact on their community. The families that have been fed and clothed are just some of the evidences of the dedicated youth. People who are able to read at the I- Care Center are also recipients of their hard work. The Palmetto Place Advocates have also recognized the Making a Difference Group for their contribution to society.

The group meets weekly to brainstorm. They come together and share ideas while devising strategies for additional projects. Once they have agreed on a project, they plan, prepare and set goals. After the strategizing is done, there is no stopping these children until the project has been completed.

The Making a Difference Group of Spruce Creek Elementary is a shining example of teamwork. This group of 5th graders work hard to make their community a better place for all. They enjoy baseball, kickball and recess; but they get a greater sense of well being when they know they have been able to help someone. They are self motivated and excited about making Port Orange a community of excellence.