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Issue #13 | October 2018

Happy October! Autumn is here! Time to take out those sweaters and keep up with raking leaves. This month, the United Way Youth Venture team has been busy preparing for Fall Kickoff! The Fall Kickoff is an annual event for United Way Youth Venture that brings together all of the Venturers from each of our partner sites. What's better than starting the year than on an inspirational and exciting note? This event gives Venturers the chance to network with others working on similar projects, to hear from speakers who are experts in service in the community, and to be recognized for all of the hard work they have done over the past year. We look forward to hearing a dynamic keynote speaker - Maria Milagros Vazquez of MariaMilagros.net , and author of the book, Super Sparkly Everything . We are thrilled to have the support of 12 Fall Kickoff sponsors and numerous community volunteers--check out the list below to see the organizations that made this important event possible! We will have lots of pictures to share next month about this exciting event. As always, we appreciate all of our readers and we are very grateful for your continued support of our program. Thank you! ~the United Way Youth Venture Team!

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United Way Youth Venture Would Like to thank our Fall Kickoff 2018 Sponsors: Large School Sponsors Heywood Hospital Workers Credit Union Small School Sponsors Aubuchon Hardware Avidia Bank PJ Keating Company Unitil MA Electric & Gas Operations Workshop Sponsor UMass Memorial HealthAlliance Hospital Venture Team Sponsors Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce (two Teams!) Emergency Signal Systems, Inc. Enterprise Bank James Mountain Antiques THANK YOU!

United Way Youth Venture recently launched a second year of the Changemaker Education Framework for North Central Massachusetts! Last Thursday and Friday, MWCC hosted more than 40 educators and staff representative of MWCC, Fitchburg Public Schools, and Leominster Public Schools for two full days of inspirational and invigorating professional development. See photo below. Collaborating with longtime UWYV partner, Ashoka, we are building a community network of influential organizations in the region to integrate the “everyone a changemaker” framework into the mindset, systems and culture of their organizations. We do this through a Changemaker Journey, where co-leaders in the region meet 5 times over a 9 month period, to co-create innovative ideas that: Transform mindset Evolve institutions Grow ecosystems

To learn more about Changemaking, check out Ashoka's Changemaker Communities website and look for more updates from us via newsletter and social media for some of the positive outcomes occurring within our Changemaker partner organizations.

Thank you to the many administrators, teachers, and staff of our Changemaking pioneers at: Crocker Elementary School Fitchburg High School Fitchburg Public School Administration Fitchburg State University Education Department Goodrich Academy Leominster High School & CTEi Leominster Public School Administration Longsjo Middle School McKay Arts Academy Memorial Middle School MWCC Reingold Elementary School Samoset Middle School Sky View Middle School South Street Elementary School

Another great milestone in building our capacity for United Way Youth Venture and changemaking was the Changemaker Train-the-Trainer two-day retreat held on October 4 and 5 at Coggshall Park. This group of passionate volunteers participated in an intensive experience to prepare them for coaching and facilitating changemaking experiences and skills like leadership, teamwork, empathy, and problem-solving. Special thanks to Fitchburg's Parks & Recreation Department for use of their beautiful and tranquil Stonehouse for our retreat. And extra special thanks to our newly trained Changemaking leaders...these are the folks to reach out to with questions about integrating Changemaking into you daily work: Michelle Brennan, Mount Wachusett Community College Craig Chalifaux, Longsjo Middle School Paula Giaquinto, Fitchburg Public Schools George Grossman, Sky View Middle School Eva Kelly, Fitchburg Public Schools Chris Landry, Memorial Middle School Carey Mount, Longsjo Middle School Lauren Mountain, Mount Wachusett Community College Stacy O'Day, Sky View Middle School Sharyn Tomasso, Sky View Middle School Sue Tourigney, Memorial Middle School Rachel Vargeletis, Mount Wachusett Community College

United Way Youth Venture is expanding it's staff and we are looking for some great people who are excited about helping youth become leaders in the community and become social entrepreneurs! We are hiring now! Apply today! Outreach Specialist (part-time) An Outreach Specialist is responsible for connecting and engaging with the youth at partnering schools and organizations through the United Way Youth Venture Program. We are looking for someone with great initiative and who believes in the power of youth to create positive change! This is the person who gives youth the tools and support to build their Venture Teams! Apply today! Learn more about this position on our website!

Interested in writing for the official UWYV blog? Our audience wants to hear from YOU! The Venturer Voice blog seeks students, Champions, Allies and community contributors to write pieces for our new official blog! Learn about how to get involved here.

Do you have a UWYV story (or idea, event, news item) that you would like to see featured in YV Monthly? Submit your story here via our Noteworthy Story Form

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