http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/488595
The Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre is going to facilitate and any youth in Thunder Bay are invited to attend and supper will be provided.

In hopes that we can keep doing these workshops, we are going to try to track when the youth centre is most busy and continue having the gatherings on those nights.

Anyone interested can call the Multicultural Youth Centre.]]> Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:58:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/488595 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/482515
I have been in communication with the Independent Living Resource Centre and he likes the idea of TIG training. Youthscape has also expressed interest in TIG training.

The event I will be attending this month is tomorrow at Fort William First Nation. It is put on by Gitchi Gami (a grassroots environmental group). They were involved in the last climate change workshop we had.

I have a bite from a Westgate high school teacher for workshops and his world issues class will invite me in when they are doing the climate change unit. There are two teachers at Churchill High School who have been identified as socially-minded, so I will contact them next week.]]> Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:04:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/482515 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/477689
1. Review Workplan for Young Adult involvement: what needs to be done in next while (resources!)

2. Youth Recruitment Process: materials, activity /task /project team descriptions (realize!)

3. Toronto focus groups/interviews (recruitment!)

4. Logo and website development (reach out!)]]> Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:20:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/477689 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/474617
We are now responsible for compiling the newsletter which goes out to member organizations and youth centres across Canada.

If youth were to have access to documents around policy and procedure, would it turn them off? I am wondering how to involve young people who have and haven't been to the annual conference with the goal of combining youth centre efforts to find common national projects which could mean exhange ideas and information on a wide scale of topics to a large spectrum of youth.

Youth centres are becoming more specialized and sometimes there are 3-4 projects happening at any given time. Youth will step up to the challenge and progress towards compatible resources.]]> Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:11:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/474617 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/472805
I have begun work planning my first climate change workshops. I'm looking at two high schools, the first with a world issues class and the second with an environmental group/outdoors club. At both schools, there are people interested in helping as co-facilitators.

I am also in contact with the Thunder Bay Public library about using the space for social networking workshops in December.

Yesterday I met the Outreach Coordinator from the Indepependent Living Resource Centre and they are interested in TIG training.

I'm really looking forward to this year, year three, and meeting you!]]> Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:31:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/472805 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/471369
It is exciting that the funding has been approved by the committee and the moneys may go through a personal bank account for the project which gives the youth more control over the money. More young women shall impact how the project will look, who will be involved, and what topics to be covered. I look forward to this partnership between the Multicultural Youth Centre and Youthscape, and it should create focus on action to Thunder Bay in areas that we have already been working.]]> Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:52:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/471369 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/467109
The youth volunteer crew is going to reevaluate what to achieve in their workshops and come back to us with some more great ideas.

My project, the Feminexus for female high school students to become more involved in addressing situations that face them when making the transition to high school, is undergoing a few proposal changes for funding to be confirmed too. I don't want to put too much time into this project, but feel that other youth council members can begin to take it on as a project of their own.

I have also spoken this week with Pathways project that is going to need a workplan. I have a discussion with the Centre of Excellence next week hopefully to confirm things and make sure that I am ready to start working on this.

I have already began scheduling tasks for my second year of Youth Engagement Coordinator in Thunder Bay. I am going to begin with three climate change workshops in the schools over the next three months. There is a lot to achieve this year and I feel prepared to get started. We have our training in late September and until then will be working to get contacts with schools and community to be ready to start engaging youth. I have so many goals this year, I better write them down!]]> Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:44:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/467109 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/463127
Other things we talked about were the Valentine's Day gala fundraiser which will be the biggest one next year. It will be $175 for a couple and they will get a package deal with the party.

Also, the CLE fundraiser was a success. We raised $1900 and they invited us back to do more. We are going to put some books in glass at the St. James school library where the money is going. And put the kids reading books into the newspaper in Thunder Bay.





]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:41:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/463127 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/460177
I will also be working for the Pathways project as youth team leader. This is a project where I will be involved in coordinating a youth team to be engaged in mental health research about depression and anxiety treatment options. This program is out of York University and will be working at Brock, University of Manitoba, Brandon University, McMaster, and York. There will be focus groups with young adults ages 18-25 to determine how they would like to receive treatment, who they would like to receive it from, and where they would like to get it.

It's going to be a busy year but I'm looking forward to it. I am going to set some priorities for my work and make sure I follow through on everything I am planning to do and develop my ideas by working with others and learning about the place of my projects in the world.]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:33:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/460177 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/459105
Down the road, we are also looking at one in Sioux Lookout and Kenora.

We also discussed the way that the Child and Youth Advocate Office will be run. Irwin wanted suggestions about the two options that the organization could have. One is to hire a worker in Thunder Bay and that would be grassroots and community based. The other option is to go to Toronto for guidance and get help running the Thunder Bay office from Toronto.

If we get a Thunder Bay office, I think it would help get Aboriginal youth involved in the process of decision making and Irwin suggested we get our message to the urban centres who will be funding us and making the decisions.]]> Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:26:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/459105 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/456663
The Youthscape LEGO grant selection committee is busy evaluating the allocation of funds for the next year. This new project is going to be a success because all applications were well received and there is a film, environmental project, photovoice, volunteerism project, and more.

The leadership team meeting was great this week and we made some progress in the community partnerships area. This project is going to be successful because there is not a research-driven mental health project like it yet that involves the community in an active way.

I've been busy working on the summer budget for Youthscape and getting the funds allocated to the proper areas for the next 3-4 months. The bookkeeper is looking at the budget for me and the Executive Director will look at it too when he gets back.]]> Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:44:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/456663 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/453849
The Rotaract fundraiser during the day helped us raise almost $2000 for the St. James School library. In the future, the youth centre should do the vehicle parking fundraiser too.]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:07:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/453849 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/450789
* Role of Committee Members
- Skills and abilities will be matched to working role so if someone is good at something, it will be encouraged that they pursue it.
- Under youth mentor/adult ally – we shall showcase people who are successful and encourage people who have great ideas

* Code of Conduct
- Express our opinions and ideas
- Not persuade a young person into doing something you want them to do

What will success look like?
- Youth led, set the bar for youth-led initiatives and be a model for youth engagement
- Empower youth and build capacity
- Target underserviced youth
- Evaluation and tract record of the impact made
- Youth/Adult partnerships
- More young people engaged/Community enhancement
- Successful applicants go on to be mentors for other youth
- Meet goals, learning, participation from youth
- Youth doing what they interests them
- Natural inclusion process of youth from adult allies in organizations, decision making processes, and systems
- Youth gain the skills to voice their opinions about how youth should be included
- Youth more connected to other youth efforts and groups
- Reinforcing youth involved in projects that affect their well-being
- Youth more aware of how to make impact and take action in their community
- Effect the community in a positive way
- Encourage more youth to do what they enjoy doing
- Have a fundraising committee in the City to showcase all of the projects to solicit support from City of Thunder Bay to have young people ask for grant making clubs that have one grant per year

Principle/Priority
- Funder’s forum
- Conference for awareness about the funding
- If we have youth to practice their proposal writing skills to help them learn how to write large-scale funding grant applications
- Quick action grants idea for small things that are low-organizational
- Meet again a few times in the next little while to clarify what amount of funding we will give to whom.

Selection
- We don’t want to pick apart the ideas to the point where youth lose their enthusiasm
- We want the end product to be a true reflection of the funder and the youth who are going through the struggles and challenges that they are speaking out against
- Are we engaging a diverse group?
- How are we going to give feedback to the young people? Send a delegation one on one to work through the issues, meet the person, and get them to expand. This is important for the learning process of the youth too
- Not any of the proposal should be rejected completely and we could help them to get to where they need to be suggested Renee.
- Sandra has hopes for the evaluation to pick the pieces out that were positive and every project has potential in line with Youthscape perceptive]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:54:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/450789 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/449485
We will be meeting over skype every Tuesday night at 7 PM and will be offering our ideas to the general adult board who meets quarterly.

I've attended TYPS for two years in a row and next year it is in Ottawa. Interested youth can find out more at www.typs.com.

For now, we are trying to come up with guest speakers and workshop topics as well as planning the gala luncheon to be held on Tuesday, October 28th. Also, we are looking for ideas on how to engage youth through information communication technologies, especially through TIG.

TIG also is getting Laidlaw grants to do workshops in SouthWestern Ontario and look at ways that youth centres have been involved in promoting recreation and helping some of those centres to communicate through the internet.

]]> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:18:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/449485 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/445039
The youth who participate in the planning put a lot of hard work into making others feel comfortable and enjoy themselves. There are sports, games, art walls, and smiles. I wonder if it would be worth our while to go later into the evening, but at the same time, it would be better if we had the support of the police to make sure that everything went well.

They started the barbecues last year and invited special guests from community agencies to promote their initiatives. Last year, we continued them and had basketball, hockey, pens and paints, and free food. Sometimes it might be better in this area to have more presence from the police because I don't feel very safe because most people are under the influence and may do things they wouldn't be proud of later.]]> Sat, 02 Aug 2008 10:26:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/445039 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/443715
Healthy Eating and Active Living, or HEAL, is a program of Aninshnawbe Mushkiki. The organizers spend every day travelling to sites around the city and promoting health for children in marginalized communities. It is a great idea for Thunder Bay and all the sites are welcoming and great partners.

I am enjoying the idea of continuing to help promote Anishnawbe Mushkiki's Aboriginal Youth Community Kitchen Program. This program is run by a past Multicultural Youth Centre member and is an opportunity for youth to learn and develop culinary skills, learn about nutrition, and make friends in a social setting. ]]> Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/443715 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/440707
Rotaract is also doing a fundraiser for St. James school at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition where we ask for donations from cars parked in the free parking lot. The funds will go towards the library at the school and we are also fundraising for a school playground.

In the future, there will be a Valentine's Day ball fundraiser and a longer week-long Leadership Camp or possibly two, in March and next summer.]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:31:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/440707 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/438551
We were able to provide the kids with some hands-on activities to improve their self-image and positive self-esteem. Body image is so important for youth who feel pressured by the media to look or act a certain way.

There is one more next week at Our Kids Count and I hope to involve them in more participatory activities, like making a "me" box you can decorate and fill with items, pictures, and written pieces that help to improve self-esteem.

]]> Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:19:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/438551 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/434379
The staff had good bonding time (eight of the staff working at the youth centre went down in our old van. I would change the activities for next time to make them more age appropriate. The younger kids in small towns want to go to the beach, so if I could think of some activities that are moveable and be open to new ideas, it would be more interesting for the 7-12 age bracket.

Sometimes it's difficult for me to accept that I'm no longer a kid, so it should be easy to act like one again!

If I can think like one, it would be fun for everyone. The workshop tomorrow at the Neighbourhood Policing station is related. It's on body image. These seem to be hot topics among marginalized youth. The important thing is to become as excited about these populations as other groups. ]]> Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:19:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/434379 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/428761
I think the youth council had such a great time there because they did not want to leave. I'm thrilled that our youth centre is doing so much for kids in the neighbourhood and now we're given the chance to be there for kids in other neighbourhoods too!

Of the 13 youth staff here this summer, there isn't one of them who won't go on to do greater things. If youth can get excited about playing with kids, there is so much potential and future for the world.]]> Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:46:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/428761 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/427001
Guideposts: Build youth communities through youth engagment:
1. Youth leadership
2. Learning community
3. Diversity
4. Accountability
5. Strength-based
6. Systems change
(Be the change you wish to see in the world)

Levels of decision-making: Underengaged to capacity building
1. Inform
2. Consult
3. Involve
4. Collaborate/partnership
5. Empower

Goals (our role will be decided by us)
- create track record
- selection
- accountability (monitoring)
- mentor/allies
- celebrate
- champion - spokespersons
- education
- share learning
- events

Youth stages in the application process:
1. Idea
2. Planning
3. Selection
4. Implementation
5. Evaluation

LEGO connectors will allocate $90 000 to successful applicants. There will be a meeting to support proposal writing and then we will meet again upon receival to review them.

Who: Youth in Simpson/Ogden, South Core, or Thunder Bay community who are 13-18 or 19-29
Underengaged youth target projects have priority
Willingness to share - learn is important
Youth... Voice... Spaces... Partnerships... Safety... Creating Change are the criteria categories.

What is success?
Youth impact peers, less engaged and community, organizations]]> Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:33:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/427001 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/418695
The Regional Multicultural Youth Council is collaborating with schools, community organizations, and youth to deliver an initiative that will empower youth to affect positive community change. We will reach out to young people through our project invented and run by youth. Our project will create a positive youth space in the Fort William area. Our youth centre provides young people with a place we can gather, meet, organize, and develop our own initiative. Young people gain comfort from having a common place where we feel welcome to come and can invite our friends and run inclusive programs. We will also work to improve the position of young people in the downtown Fort William neighbourhood so they will be better able to plan for their future and contribute to neighbourhood growth in Thunder Bay.

We will encourage creative partnerships by engaging young people through volunteer work together with other agencies in town and working together with other youth councils. We realize that there is a need for youth councils in the City to work together, so we will open the lines of communication between youth-friendly spaces and create opportunities for all youth to benefit from active engagement in projects that peak our interest and are matched to our skills and abilities. It is through our involvement with many committees working with youth or affecting youth that we will promote public awareness and community change. We have identified safety as a main concern and realize the importance of addressing safety through a youth perceptive.

Presently, I am developing a facilitator guide for young women at the Youth Centre in hopes that we will get the grant. One catch is that you need to have a charitable number. http://www.youthscape.ca/Communities_Thunder.html]]> Sun, 13 Jul 2008 10:20:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/418695 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/417743
These women are left with the overwhelming responsibility to care for grandchildren because the adult population is dying of AIDS. Nearly the population of Canada has died of AIDS.

The work that the Stephen Lewis Foundation is doing there is amazing! They travel in vans in Uganda with two nurses, a counsellor, and an someone living with AIDS to reduce the stigma, deliver medications, and talk to people affected by HIV/AIDS.

I'm interested in the fundraising projects that the Stephen Lewis Foundation is doing and I can't wait for the international conference and youth component the project is planning. If we can get young people involved and aware of the impact of HIV/AIDS, we will be respecting the grandmothers who have so much strength.]]> Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:51:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/417743 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/398617
This year I've been working for a month and have mostly been busy with tying up loose ends from projects that were ending and looking toward the future. There are many young women who could benefit from the project we're applying to do and the interest was huge when we first started Revolution Girl Style in 1998. I think we should find a way to make it happen with other sources of funding because it is so important for young women to have spaces to gather and grow.

I think now it's time to put my energy into the Youthscape funding that is beginning with the new staff hire that is happening right now. They are going to accept applications for youth projects and our youth council will apply since we already do great work and would love to continue it. I've been working on a short proposal so now I will gather input for additional items.]]> Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:23:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/398617 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/371951
It was a busy month in April. There was no down time to think about my plans for the next months, so it's good to have some now. The Youth Centre was really busy, and if there was something I've learned over the past few months, it is to get a daybook and carry it everywhere with me. Some things have overlapped and there is really time to organize in a week that needs to be set by priorities. I've found a system that works for me and it consists of making monthly priorities and to-do lists for each day at work.

In relations to my work as a youth community development worker, I learned how to create a balance between pushing your own organization and partnering with others. There is room for both, and everyone will try to tell you to root for their organization but the message gets jumbled if the work being done is very limited to only self-supporting and pushing out only your own. The best leaders and facilitators of youth engagement see it as a broad picture and each component of youth connection feeds into that.

Expanding the amount of organizations you do work for can increare your networking and personal goals/achievements. And creating partnerships among the youth involved is more important. In year 3, I will try to expand the most important partnerships first and get excited about them so that they may continue when I'm gone.

One area I've been quick to regulate my work is when I'm planning out my week. It has worked to juggle the different tasks so that I am more balanced and my work reflects that. I really like how the hours are laid out for us for where to spend our time in the month and that has helped me gain confidence that I am putting in my time. It is also good to communicate with people often to find out if you are bridging the valley between diverse groups and individuals you are working with, such as different organizations and projects.

Something that keeps coming up for me in my work is mental health. I would like to become more of a resource person for particular topics such as this, so as to not be stretched too far. At the same time, it's important to expand your skills.

I'm excited for the last couple of months and look forward to continuing on and working with y'all in the future ;)
]]> Thu, 15 May 2008 18:56:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/371951 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333