Highlights and Next Steps
The Second Annual “Growing Together” Critical Issues Summit held at Mid-Ohio Foodbank on March 21, 2013 was a huge success. More than 110 participants (—teachers from our Network schools, AmeriCorps service-learning fellows, and community agency representatives) —came together to share their progress, discuss community needs and issues, and brainstorm next steps for further collaboration.
The morning began with a follow-up to last year’s Summit. Participants at the 2012 Summit had experienced an in-depth poverty simulation. Moved by the simulation’s power to help build empathy for families living in poverty, many of the teachers who were present expressed interest in using a similar activity in their classrooms.
At this year’s Summit, teacher Katie Benton led participants through a classroom version of the Poverty Simulation that she and her colleagues at Barrington Elementary adapted. Now, teachers, AmeriCorps fellows, and community agency representatives have another resource from which to draw as they work together to plan high-quality service-learning projects for students.
Other highlights of the program included: a panel discussion about current trends in hunger and homelessness, with remarks given by E.J. Thomas of Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio, Michelle Heritage of Community Shelter Board, and Colin Baumgartner of Mid-Ohio Foodbank; astudent-led panel featuring service-learning leaders from Jones Middle School; children’s literature read-alouds given by middle school-age service-learning leaders from Jones and St. James the Less; inspiring videos; sharing of progress and ideas since last year’s Summit; and rich “World Cafeé” style discussions.
A number of network priorities emerged from the input participants gave during the “World Cafeé” discussions. It is apparent that our network teachers continue to care about professional development opportunities and ways to inspire more of their colleagues to become service-learning practitioners. There is a desire for staff development on the individual school level, including having a whole staff watch videos about service-learning and see demonstrations of effective service-learning in action; establishing vertical articulation of service-learning goals within a school; developing curriculum connections; and building in time for teachers to reflect.
In terms of developing new service-learning projects and enhancing existing ones, the following priorities emerged:
• develop student voice (perhaps through having “student ambassadors”);
• school unity (where the entire school participates in one project or theme); • advocacy, where students work to solve problems, rather than provide “band-aid help;”
• cross-age experiences for students;
• stronger focus on “legacy;”
• building empathy and sensitivity when studying about issues of poverty;
• network-wide projects.
Our community agency partners provided valuable information about their agency’s needs.
• Children’s Hunger Alliance needs help raising awareness about their summer feeding programs, improving nutrition knowledge in the community, and preventing childhood obesity.
• Community Shelter Board needs marketing materials for the Day to End Homelessness Campaign, as well as toiletry kits and clothing donations for the “Point in Time” Count.
• HandsOn Central Ohio needs help raising awareness about their 2-1-1 database, where volunteers can get connected with volunteer opportunities.
• Heart to Heart Food Pantry (in collaboration with Barrington Elementary School, Jones Middle School, and Upper Arlington High School) needs more help with “Packing for the Streets.”
• YMCA of Central Ohio needs volunteers to work in their learning garden (at the Hoover Branch), which provides education about obesity prevention, healthy eating and living, and food source awareness. They also need help building awareness about the early childhood programs they have, and assistance in collecting blankets and towels needed for men’s housing and the over-flow shelter.
• Mid-Ohio Foodbank continues to need help raising awareness about food insecurity and hunger.
There is still much work to do, and thanks to the input of everyone who attended the 2013 “Growing Together” Critical Issues Summit, the Network is moving forward with renewed purpose and enthusiasm.
The Second Annual “Growing Together” Critical Issues Summit held at Mid-Ohio Foodbank on March 21, 2013 was a huge success. More than 110 participants (—teachers from our Network schools, AmeriCorps service-learning fellows, and community agency representatives) —came together to share their progress, discuss community needs and issues, and brainstorm next steps for further collaboration.
The morning began with a follow-up to last year’s Summit. Participants at the 2012 Summit had experienced an in-depth poverty simulation. Moved by the simulation’s power to help build empathy for families living in poverty, many of the teachers who were present expressed interest in using a similar activity in their classrooms.
At this year’s Summit, teacher Katie Benton led participants through a classroom version of the Poverty Simulation that she and her colleagues at Barrington Elementary adapted. Now, teachers, AmeriCorps fellows, and community agency representatives have another resource from which to draw as they work together to plan high-quality service-learning projects for students.
Other highlights of the program included: a panel discussion about current trends in hunger and homelessness, with remarks given by E.J. Thomas of Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio, Michelle Heritage of Community Shelter Board, and Colin Baumgartner of Mid-Ohio Foodbank; astudent-led panel featuring service-learning leaders from Jones Middle School; children’s literature read-alouds given by middle school-age service-learning leaders from Jones and St. James the Less; inspiring videos; sharing of progress and ideas since last year’s Summit; and rich “World Cafeé” style discussions.
A number of network priorities emerged from the input participants gave during the “World Cafeé” discussions. It is apparent that our network teachers continue to care about professional development opportunities and ways to inspire more of their colleagues to become service-learning practitioners. There is a desire for staff development on the individual school level, including having a whole staff watch videos about service-learning and see demonstrations of effective service-learning in action; establishing vertical articulation of service-learning goals within a school; developing curriculum connections; and building in time for teachers to reflect.
In terms of developing new service-learning projects and enhancing existing ones, the following priorities emerged:
• develop student voice (perhaps through having “student ambassadors”);
• school unity (where the entire school participates in one project or theme); • advocacy, where students work to solve problems, rather than provide “band-aid help;”
• cross-age experiences for students;
• stronger focus on “legacy;”
• building empathy and sensitivity when studying about issues of poverty;
• network-wide projects.
Our community agency partners provided valuable information about their agency’s needs.
• Children’s Hunger Alliance needs help raising awareness about their summer feeding programs, improving nutrition knowledge in the community, and preventing childhood obesity.
• Community Shelter Board needs marketing materials for the Day to End Homelessness Campaign, as well as toiletry kits and clothing donations for the “Point in Time” Count.
• HandsOn Central Ohio needs help raising awareness about their 2-1-1 database, where volunteers can get connected with volunteer opportunities.
• Heart to Heart Food Pantry (in collaboration with Barrington Elementary School, Jones Middle School, and Upper Arlington High School) needs more help with “Packing for the Streets.”
• YMCA of Central Ohio needs volunteers to work in their learning garden (at the Hoover Branch), which provides education about obesity prevention, healthy eating and living, and food source awareness. They also need help building awareness about the early childhood programs they have, and assistance in collecting blankets and towels needed for men’s housing and the over-flow shelter.
• Mid-Ohio Foodbank continues to need help raising awareness about food insecurity and hunger.
There is still much work to do, and thanks to the input of everyone who attended the 2013 “Growing Together” Critical Issues Summit, the Network is moving forward with renewed purpose and enthusiasm.
| "Together We Can Change the World," sung by Rilee O'Neill and the SifraAfrica Choir, opened the 2013 Critical Issues Summit. | "Point of Light," sung by Wickliffe Progressive School students, closed the 2013 Critical Issues Summit. |
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