April 2, 2009 - 4:10pm — kfurio
Check Out These Updates from Venture Teams
Midwest Venture Teams-
Box City Vigil
Box City Vigil was recognized by the Bloomington, MN school board for their accomplishments, including being named a winner in the @15 Challenge. Here is a link to their website: http://bcv09.blogspot.com/
NY Venture Teams-
First Aid Comedy Brigade
For three years, Youth Venture has partnered with NYU's Catherine B. Reynolds Program for Social Entrepreneurship to bring the "Be A Changemaker" Challenge to undergraduate students. This year, the First Aid Comedy Brigade received the top prize- a $10,000 award.
The First Aid Comedy Brigade, led by Zach, a sophomore at the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, is an organization of comedy improvisation troupes that provides free and interactive shows for patients of children's hospitals. The First Aid Comedy Brigade seeks to expand to other comedy groups at universities across the United States. Each new Brigade chapter will receive the same materials (t-shirts, basic set design, etc.), bringing the trusted formula and name to each college and partner hospital, and laughter into children's lives across the country.
Seattle Venture Teams-
Hand & Heart
Nandie, lead Venturer of Hand & Heart, recently received the Youth Immigration Achievement Award from the American Immigration Law Foundation. I've attached a press release that Hand & Heart will be sending out.
Mid Atlantic Venture Teams-
Through Our Eyes Program
TOEP is putting on a fun and educational theater program for a youth audience in DC. Buy your tickets for the May 1st performance.
New England Venture Teams-
Wakati Ujao
Wakati Ujao launched this month. The Team will raise money for schools in Karatu, Tanzania. Lead Venturer, Katie, took a trip to Karatu with her family in 2007 and was shocked by the lack of school supplies, desks and technology; she returned home determined to help. The Team will sell T-shirts, host yard sales and develop a letter writing campaign to fundraise. Wakati Ujao is Swahili for "future."
The Big Picture Beverage Co.
The Big Picture Beverage Co. is a student run, owned and operated soda company, just launch out of the Big Picture partnership. They produce their own unique soda flavors which are sold through local retailers. A potion of the proceeds will go back into The Big Picture Beverage Co., the rest will go towards creating a scholarship for college bound low-income students.
The East Bay School Store
The Team will provide students with alternative lunch options and snacks; they will also sell school supplies such as pens, folders, notebooks, etc.
Ninja Cyclerz
A group of friends launched Ninja Cyclerz with the goal of expanding their school's recycling program to include plastic, aluminum, cardboard, and other non-paper goods. They will also build a community garden and sell their produce to Framingham residents at a low price.
Luncheon Munchin
Due to the economic downturn the Framingham Senior Citizens Center has lost much of their funding. To help the center a group of teens launched Luncheon Munchin and will organize an annual free luncheon to honor the senior citizens.
Devil Pups
Devil Pups launched out of the United Way of North Central Massachusetts. The Team will teach youth robotics in the hopes of building self-confidence and inspiring them to graduate high school and pursue a higher education. Devil Pups also hope to introduce a possible career choice they never considered before.
Teen Generational Service Venture
T.G.S.V. launched to help local citizens of all ages. The Team will organize activities for both per-schools and senior citizens; ranging from craft projects to hosting pizza parties.
The Samoset Gazette
A group of 6th grade students at Samoset Middle School launched The Samoset Gazette, a student run newspaper. The paper will help parents, teachers and students stay in the loop on what's going on at school. They will release a new edition each month.
More Recently-Launched New England Teams-
Recess for All http://www.genv.net/en-us/user/recess_for_all - They are the first team out of our partnership with United Way of Tri-County in Framingham, MA. They will provide new, and much need, recess equipment for their school.
Minga Childhood– Raise awareness about child sex trade around the world.
Buffalo Basics- purchased a foreclosed house and uses the location to educated residents in Buffalo, NY about home upkeep and renovations.
Generation Citizenship- Empower youth to become active, educated, and engaged citizens in the American democratic system. They will train college students to facilitate semester-long, after school sessions, where high school students will learn about the political process, analyze their local governments and communities, and take action on the issues.
Green Energy- Equipping young people in southern Maine with the knowledge and skills necessary to install solar panels in businesses and schools.
Middlebury Treehouse- Building an environmentally sustainable treehouse on the Middlebury College campus to further educated college students and provide local elementary students with a fun location to learn about the environment.
Capital Good Fund- is a green micro-finance organization that supports entrepreneurs who may not have access to any available resources in the business world.
Greely Global Awareness– educate people in their southern Maine community about climate change and other environmental issues. They show that with simple lifestyle changes big things can happen ex.carpooling, composting, alternative energy, and tree planting.
One for All– Develop a curriculum for teaches and students in the US to train other teachers and students in third world countries about how to use laptops. They will help incorporate laptops into their curriculum, hold teacher training workshops, classroom activities, and after-school projects to use laptops.