Changing the Learning Experience for Youth

What sort of experience do we want youth to have in our afterschool and other out-or-school time programs?  The Learning in Afterschool and Summer Principles capture this clearly—learning that is active, collaborative, meaningful, develops skills and broadens horizons.  Experiences for youth that embody these principles are key to closing the opportunity gap and creating citizens of the world.

The challenge is this—to be able to ensure that those experiences are provided, out-of-school time staff must be well prepared to be positive role models and mentors and understand the dynamics of working with youth.  Staff must be professional, focused on safety, understand how to manage the many different environments of out-of-school time while supporting positive behavior choices and implementing a fair and consistent discipline system.  These leaders must also understand holistic instruction how to manage transitions and debriefing the learning, and internalize the difference between direct and tell and questioning to connection. 

Entrusted Legacy is partnering with Consult 4 Kids to provide access to web-based training that is written, audio, video, and complete with a tracking system.  Help us to reach all of the out-of-school time professionals by investing in the future.  Go to our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org and join with others to make a difference and leave a legacy.

Changing Lives

Do you remember the story of Amelia Bedelia?  This beloved character is nothing if she isn’t literal.  When she hears words she understands the literal meaning and then acts on it.  Amelia Bedilia goes to work for the Rogers family and when she arrives Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are out, but they leave he a long list of things to do.  This is a recap of the story from                    "Amelia Bedelia"

Before setting to work, Amelia bakes her employers a lemon meringue pie--she makes good pies. Then she sets to work.

"Change the towels in the bathroom," Mrs. Rogers has written in script. "Those towels are very nice. Why change them?" Amelia asks, but takes a pair of scissors to alter the towels' appearance as she is (kind of) told. Then she sets the towels back on their dowel and moves on down the list. She takes each task literally, from drawing the drapes on a sketchpad, to putting the lights out… out in the yard. When Mrs. Rogers comes home, she is very angry indeed. But naïve, endearing Amelia is proud of her work, holding up her picture of the curtains for Mrs. Rogers to see.” 

While this story is humorous, change seldom is.  Change, whether transitional (step by step) or transformational (creating something new and improved) causes stress. We are creatures of habit.  We tend to do the same things, in the same way, over and over.  You have an opportunity to help Entrusted Legacy an opportunity to make changes in the lives of youth and the role models and mentors that will support them.  It will require that you make some changes, but together, we can make a difference—one life at a time.  Join us in living Gandhi’s admonition to “Be the change you wish to see.” 

Check us out at www.entrustedlegacy.org or by emailing us at support@entrustedlegacy.org

Impact

Entrusted Legacy (ETL) is a non-profit that is working to be sure that every youth has a positive role model and mentor.  We believe that most adults who work with youth, would like to fill this role, but are often unclear about how to do this.  ETL believes that one of the best ways to ensure the number of role models and mentors needed by our youth, is to prepare afterschool professionals to accept this role.

Being a role model begins through building relationships with youth that demonstrate the adult is interested in spending time with the youth, will be there for them to support them and help them make good choices, and ultimately believe in the unique possibilities the young person has.  Role models and mentors must have high standards for themselves and high expectations of those they mentor.  ETL works with partners like Southern California Edison, Consult 4 Kids and private donors to make this happen.  Recently, one person who benefited from this support commented, “I don't know if you know just how much of an impact you have had on my life (career.)  You have redirected my path, confirming to me that YOUTH DEVELOPMENT really can make an impact on our youth if we are dedicated to the systems and processes it takes to follow through with all the training you provided to me.” 

Join with us so we can continue supporting the growth and development of those who work with youth.  When we invest in one adult, the number of youth they will touch in a lifetime is exponential.

You can learn more about us by viewing our website at www.entrustedlegacy.org or contacting us at support@entrustedlegacy.org