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Issue #33 | November 2020
Hello Changemakers - from all of us here at United Way Youth Venture/Changemaking and the Portrait of a Graduate team. Happy November.

Please see the important special invitation below for community and business leaders to join the upcoming Portrait of a Graduate focus group.

The next Changemaking Professional Development session is in the works for a January start! It will look different this year for Cohort 4, as it will be fully virtual. Yet, the quality of the connection and experience will be the same. We look forward to connecting with new Changemakers!

We have a great new Portrait of a Graduate logo, along with a new POG video. Check out both, below.

Wishing everyone a happy, safe, and healthy Thanksgiving.

As always, we appreciate you and thank you for your continued support! And please click the icons just below to follow us on social media! Thank you!

~the United Way Youth Venture Team!
Without rain, nothing grows, learn to embrace the storms of your life.
What is Portrait of a Graduate North Central MA?

Watch this new video to find out! And please share it!


We want to thank all of the students who shared their thoughts on what high school graduates should know and be able to do when they graduate to thrive in college, career or community. Your insight was valuable and we appreciate your time and willingness to help us create a fantastic video!
Our brand new Portrait of a Graduate logo.

With terrific insight and input from the Portrait of a Graduate Working Team subgroup, the Website and Communication team, the logo was created. The five circles represent each school district that is part of the POG grant - Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, Winchendon and MWCC. The colors represent United Way Youth Venture. And, of course, the graduation cap is representative of high school graduates.

The logo is an important tool for the branding of POG activities and for easy and effective brand recognition in social media and other mediums.
Business and Community Leaders - - we need your help!

We are seeking your input and hope that you can schedule time to participate in a focus group so that we may gain your input on the future of education for our young adults as they look to develop the skills necessary for lifelong learning and successful community membership.

School districts in Leominster, Fitchburg, Gardner and Winchendon have been identified to participate in the Barr Foundation grant—Portrait of a Graduate. As an essential part of the Portrait of a Graduate process—where we will redefine the high school experience in North Central Mass based on our strengths as well as gaps in graduate readiness for college, career, and community—we must also deeply engage with stakeholders for their feedback about what has happened to date, where change is needed, and what we anticipate our future to look like.

Every school system is unique, but they are connected by a shared aspiration: that all students have an educational experience preparing them to be effective lifelong learners and contributors.

Now more than ever, that experience must not only provide for the acquisition of rigorous academic content, but it must also be more intentional about fostering critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and other 21st century skills our young people need to thrive in this complex, rapidly changing world.

We hope that you can join us on Thursday, December 3rd, 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m:

- - - - - - - - >>>>> REGISTER HERE <<<<< - - - - - - - - - - -

Please register above and a calendar invite with the ZOOM information will be sent. If you are unable to participate in the call but are willing to contribute, we can forward our questionnaire for your responses.

Thank you for your consideration in supporting our regions Portrait of a Graduate efforts.
Which of the following family workshops would you be most interested in attending?
Unpacking Baggage: Understanding Family Trauma & Coping Habits
Unpacking Change: Prepping for College/School Transitions
Mindful Meals: Food Prep, Cooking, and Eating for Stress-Reduction
Mindful Art: Drawing & Crafting for Stress-Reduction
Self-Medication: Alcohol, Drugs & Vaping During COVID-19
Changemaking professional development Cohort 4 is starting in January!

Again this year, faculty, staff, and students, in partnership with Ashoka’s Youth Venture, will have an opportunity to virtually join together as a community with local school districts, local business people, and youth to identify the barriers to change, to bring our skills, our knowledge, our backgrounds and being to the table to come up with ways we can work together to prepare students for the world they will be living in. Stay tuned for more information.
Wishing Jake the best of luck in his new endeavors!

Jake has decided on a career change, and his last day with United Way Youth Venture was on Friday.

We know what an impact he made on so many students throughout North Central MA. And he has shared how much he will miss the students, teachers, administrators and UWYV staff.

We will sure miss Jake and we wish him the very best!
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 official blog!