Volume 49 | November 2022 | |
The African American Youth Leadership Conference (AAYLC) wants to stay connected with you! Enjoy interesting facts, educational information, highlights and upcoming events. Have a question or comment? Please contact us at info@aaylc-co.org. | | |
|
In positive psychology research, gratitude and kindness are strongly, and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, deal with adversity, build strong relationships, and cultivate good experiences. Source | |
|
Executive Director's Corner
With Thanksgiving upon us, I’d like to take a moment to formally express my gratitude, and that of the AAYLC Board and Planning Committee, to every one of you.
Thank you for believing in our purpose enough to continue supporting us with your time and investment. You’ve taken our purpose to heart and entrusted us to provide valuable opportunities for our community. Your support enables innovative progress and prepares for the great future.
Thank you for sticking with us during the uncertainty of the past two years. We all took on challenges that were never anticipated, and we rolled with the punches. We’ve demonstrated that we’re all in this together: students, parents, educators, and community members.
As we celebrate with family and friends this month, I encourage you to take the time to reminisce and enjoy time with those closest to you. Take breaks, connect with friends, breathe, reach out to someone, share a cup of coffee or even a simple smile, and express your gratitude to those around you. It’s the small things that sometimes have the greatest impact. And may we not forget the value of gratefulness and the gift of taking time to give thanks for what we have, the community we share and support, and the relationships we enjoy every day.
Sincerely,
Shantelle Bridges
Executive Director
| |  |
100 Ways to Express Gratitude and Boost Happiness - Virtues For Life | Expressing your gratitude towards others is one of the biggest gifts you can give to them. As we show our thankfulness to family, friends, acquaintances and strangers, our hearts expand, and we lift each other up. | | | | |
Student of the Month - Tahirah Williams | | |
|
|
“Being recognized as a young black woman means that black women are not as they stereotype us.” This is a powerful message voiced by our Fountain-Fort Carson High School student of the month - Tahirah Williams! She aspires to go to Howard University and study to become an orthodontist. Being an amazing student, Tahirah has more than shown her drive by earning a 3.9 GPA to receive her induction into the National Honor Society (NHS), and her participation on the JROTC rifle team. This senior is also passionate about giving back to her community by volunteering her time with organizations such as the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Parade of Lights, and a toy donation drive for the basketball team.
Learn more about this exceptional student
| | |
| |
|
Across the Board
As an adolescent growing up in the south, I often understood the importance of gratitude and kindness. In our home there was my mother and four siblings living in a small apartment where being kind to each other was expected and highly appreciated. Our community was full of people who relied on each other for daily needs. This included babysitting, food, and friendship.
As a senior in high school, I recall participating in study groups, sharing ideas, and volunteering in my community to assist those in need. Simple acts of kindness can change the trajectory of someone’s life and bring forth a sense of accomplishment. The idea of leading with gratitude and kindness helps create a space where all people feel accepted and nurtured. According to Harvard Health research, gratitude and kindness helps you “feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve your health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” In my experiences, leading with kindness usually provides a positive outcome to most situations. As the saying goes, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” This saying may be easy to say, but even better when practiced. Moving forward in life by showing gratitude and kindness has helped me build lasting relationships. I hope that it has done the same for you.
Sincerely,
Samantha Corinaldi
Board Director - Nominations & Development Chair
| | |
|
Matters of the Mind - Gratitude
by Alice Miles, Counselor at Mt. Carmel Veteran Service Center and AAYLC Board Director
At first glance, it may not seem like it, but gratitude and kindness both play a large role in overall health and wellness. When we learn how to integrate it into our daily lives, it can host several benefits. This includes, but is not limited to: improving mood, becoming more optimistic, improving physical health, and enhancing social ties. Regularly expressing gratitude has shown to increase overall happiness and reduce stress and depression. By introducing regular actions based on kindness, we increase our awareness of the good in our lives and can influence our perspective towards a more optimistic approach. Read More
| | |
|
Conference Presenters: Request for Proposals | Attention Everyone! Do you enjoy speaking to students? Are you looking for ways to donate your time in a meaningful way? We have a great opportunity for you! The AAYLC Program Planning Committee invites you to submit a proposal for one of our conference sessions. Deadline: Monday, November 21st. If you are interested, please click here. | | |
|
|
Attention Students! Are you a graphic artist or love to draw? Here is a fantastic challenge for you! In honor of the AAYLC's 30th anniversary, we invite 6th-12th graders to submit an original logo design to represent our organization as we move into the future.
Top two things to include on your logo:
-
Who we are: Please include AAYLC and/or African American Youth Leadership Conference in your design
-
What we do: Connect your design to our new vision, mission, and/or core values
Create your design in color or black and white to win $500. Runner-ups will receive $100. The winner will be announced in January. Deadline: Friday, December 2nd. Submit your design here.
| | |
|
25th Annual Colorado Springs Pre-Kwanzaa African Marketplace | Come and celebrate at the Pre-Kwanzaa African Marketplace. There will be unique vendors, west African drummers, dancers, story tellers, spoken word artists, and more. Stop by and visit the AAYLC table. We would love to see YOU! For more information about this event, please click here. | | |
|
Colorado Gives Day - Fundraiser | The AAYLC is excited to announce that Colorado Gives Day is set for Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. For 24 hours, Colorado comes together to raise funds for local nonprofits, and we’re ecstatic to be a part of the day! On Colorado Gives Day, we’ll be celebrating our accomplishments and the great work that we do for youth, community, and families. Our work to deliver innovative programs and experiences for youth is more vital now than ever before. This day of giving is one of the many ways you can make a real difference. Together, we can make the world a better place for our youth and, therefore, our collective future. Early donations can be made NOW by clicking here. | | |
|
30th Anniversary Gala (Save the Date) | We are thrilled to announce that we will be celebrating our big 3-0 this winter at The Pinery at the Hill! While we cannot reveal much yet (We know, the suspense is unbearable!), we can tell you to get ready for a night of fun, laughter, joy, and a little bit of glitz and glam. Details coming soon—keep an eye on your inbox over the next few months! | | |
|
30th African American Youth Leadership Conference (AAYLC) (Save the Date) | We are excited to have our in-person 30th Annual African American Youth Leadership Conference (AAYLC) at Colorado College on March 4th. A special thank you to our Student Advisory Committee (SAC) for determining our conference theme: "Generation Now - Emerging Leaders." We look forward to offering a memorable, fun, and informative day for students in grades 6 - 12. More to come... | |
|
Doherty High School's BSU Leadership Retreat
The AAYLC is expanding our outreach into schools. On Wednesday, October 19th, Shantelle Bridges, Executive Director, had the opportunity to coach 5 Key Leadership Values and How to Apply Them to Your Life to students during Doherty High School’s Black Student Union (BSU) Leadership retreat. During their time together, students completed a strengths assessment and discussed how to best utilize their leadership skills.
| | |
|
Welcome Reception for
L. Song Richardson
The AAYLC, in collaboration with the ECOC, hosted new Colorado College President, L. Song Richardson, with a welcome reception at the Ent Center of the Arts on Tuesday, October 25th. Approximately 80 community members attended the event and were introduced from both organizations. We look forward to our continued partnership with Colorado College.
| | |
|
|
2022 Scholarship, Financial Aid and College Application Sessions
The AAYLC, in collaboration with Education Children of Color (ECOC), Peak Education, and the Sachs Foundation's Elevated Program, was pleased to present our 2022 Scholarship, Financial Aid, and Application Sessions on Saturday, October 15th at the Tesla Professional Development Center. High School students heard from the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), participated in a Financial Aid and Scholarship Essay Writing Presentation, and attended an optional College Application Workshop. Representatives from the Boettcher Foundation, Daniels Fund, Sachs Foundation, Greenhouse Scholars, and other local colleges, universities and organizations were present for a special Q & A panel. Thank you to all of the participants and organizations that attended this very informative event!
| | | |
|
|
AAYLC's Student Advisory Committee (SAC)
The SAC has met four times! Students from eight local high schools and four different school districts, have discussed how the upcoming AAYLC can impact their generation. The team has been instrumental in reviewing and providing feedback on past conference materials and sessions. They have also worked to finalize the theme, "Generation Now – Emerging Leaders," for our 2023 conference. A special thanks to Shantelle Bridges, Donald Deas, Nicholas Crutcher, Brittany Nash, and Lisa Koroma for their time with the students. SAC will meet again on November 20th at Hillside Community Center from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm. If students are interested in participating in these meetings, please click here.
| | | |
|
|
Featured AAYLC Partner: Jack & Jill of America, Inc.
Interview by Brittany Nash, AAYLC Marketing Chair, with Joanna Bowie-Pruitt, Greater Pikes Peak Chapter President
"In building leaders that will continue to impact this world, I think it’s simple; teach them it’s better to give than to receive. We are committed to instilling in our children and all children that what you put into this world, is what you will get back in return. They are learning to see the world through a lens of kindness and grace. Our children experience first-hand the rewards that come from focusing on something bigger than themselves." Read more
| | | |
|
|
Theatreworks Colorado Springs & AAYLC Partnership
Attention Students! Are you interested in the performing arts? Excited by seeing stories told on stage, or curious about the life and work of a theater artist? Theatreworks Colorado Springs is proud to partner with the AAYLC to offer FREE attendance at dress rehearsals for all productions in the 2022/2023 season. Don't miss an opportunity to attend upcoming shows! For more information about our partnership click here.
| | | | | | | |
