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SoS Fayetteville has a paid position available!
We are currently accepting applications for an additional Program Leader to work part-time in the spring and summer.
Jump to the full article!
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Organizational Structure
All of these names and abbreviations can get confusing. Here's our structure in brief:
Grand Aspirations (GA) is the national non-profit organization that coordinates and supports programs like Summer of Solutions.
Summer of Solutions (SoS) is a local program supported by GA.
The OMNI Center is a local non-profit that supports and currently houses the Fayetteville SoS program.
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Update from your local Solutionaries!
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Greetings!
This past summer, youth in Fayetteville and all across the country came together in a program called Summer of Solutions (SoS) to learn, connect, and create change in their communities. We could not have accomplished any of this without support from community members like you. The Program Leaders for Summer of Solutions 2011 are so excited about what's been happening since the summer, and we want to let you know what we're cooking up for the coming months.
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A Big Thanks
We believe that everyone and everything is infinitely interconnected. We owe so much to all of you who have participated, collaborated, donated, volunteered, listened, laughed, sponsored, and supported us. We want you to know how much your continued support means to us and to this movement.
 | | July 2010 - Dripping Springs Garden |
Thank you all so much!
The OMNI Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology, Ryan and Amanda Bancroft, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the Fayetteville Public Library, Greenhouse Grille, Brannon Mountain Farms, Sycamore Valley Farm, Dripping Springs Garden, Janna Boyd, the Fayetteville Farmer's Market, Peggy Maringer, Gladys Tiffany, Karen Takemoto, Steven Skattebo, Teresa Campbell, Katy Deaton, Sara Pollard, Shay Brooks, Sage Billing, Melissa Terry, NCAT, Ozark Natural Foods, AppleSeeds Inc., Joy Fox, Martin Jardon, the Whole Earth Organic Lounge, Jerry Hall, World Treasures, Alex Longino, Kaitlyn Hurlbut, Kayla Kimball, Sarah Plavcan, Jeric Bautista, Saba Kouchehbagh, the University of Arkansas ROCK Camp, Geshe La, Bihn Tran, Jonas Regan, Gipsye Rothwell, Ashley Kupillas, Huntley Hudgins, Patrick Hogue, Rachel Spencer, Austin Hayes, Pieces of Lloyd, Joanna Pollock, Greg Gibson and the Central United Methodist Church youth, United Church of Rogers Park, SAF Community Garden, Chelsea Mouber, Maggie Strain, Jon Bame, Annemarie Beck, Kate Sutterfield, Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Shelly Buonaiuto, everyone who voted for us in the Pepsi Refresh Everything contest, all of our parents, friends and family, and countless others who have contributed in other ways to our program and to the greater well being of this community.
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Summer 2010
Fayetteville's first ever SoS program began last summer, with 12 full-time youth participants and many more volunteers learning about issues in the modern food system and creating strategic solutions to address them. Our team visited and worked at local farms, explored urban agriculture and garden models, campaigned for local agriculture, created our own businesses, and learned empowering skills in non-profit management and organization.
Shout out to our wonderful 2010 team! Stephan Harteneck, Shiew-wen Tyler Tan, Serena Caffrey, Michelle Leatherby, Kelsy Hoffman, Karina Hunt, Joel Freeman, Jeanie Lopez-Hall, Havilah Godfrey, Banah Ghadbian, Andrea Love, Adam Oliver, and our diligent program coordinators, Amanda and Ryan Bancroft.
 | | June 2010 - Session 1 participants with Teresa Campbell |
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August Gathering
 | | August 2010 - Youth leaders from across the country collaborating in Fayetteville |
Fayetteville had the honor of hosting leaders from SoS programs all over the country during the first ever August Gathering. Youth leaders from nine cities engaged in topics ranging from social entrepreneurship to anti-oppression for collective liberation in workshops, discussions, and listening circles. During the Gathering, participants held a public presentation at the Fayetteville Public Library about the green economy and the work each Summer of Solutions program accomplished in 2010. This Gathering provided an essential opportunity for national collaboration about decisions that significantly improved development and communication between Summer of Solutions programs. The participants had overwhelmingly positive feedback for Fayetteville's location and citizens. A special thanks to all who donated their time and resources to host our national friends! |
January Gathering
 | | January 2011 - Midwest Gathering attendees in Chicago |
As Grand Aspirations expands, so do our national conferences! This year, there were two January Gatherings in Chicago and Portland. Fayetteville was lucky enough to send representatives to both. Participants spent 12 hours or more for five days learning and training others for program planning in the spring and coordination in the summer. Many attendees had never been involved with Summer of Solutions before, so it was especially rewarding to learn along with them, and to be able to give some advice. We also expanded our national relationships and communication, as well as an energetic passion to jump into our work. As Martha Pskowski, program leader for the Pioneer Valley program, put it, "I took away from the Gathering a renewed commitment to the work Grand Aspirations is doing, its necessity, and the power of solidarity across the country."
(Read Martha's complete thoughts on the Midwest Gathering here)
 | January 2011 - Solutionaries at the Gathering in Portland (Photo courtesy of Anastasia Dubrovina)
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What Happens Now
 Since returning from the January Gatherings, the Program Leaders and support team at the OMNI Center have been working hard to gear up for an incredible program this summer. Because of voters like you, Grand Aspirations won a $50,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Everything Fund. That means SoS programs across the nation have funding for Program Leaders during spring and summer 2011!
What we're doing:
- Listening to area residents like you. What do you want to see in your community?
- Brainstorming and developing project ideas that meet the community's needs.
- Creating plans to address oppression.
- Recruiting applicants. The application to participate in SoS 2011 is posted! Apply here!
What you can do (right now!):
- Talk about SoS to youth who might be interested in being a Program Leader or a participant this summer, and encourage them to apply as soon as possible!
- Provide feedback on your experience with Summer of Solutions and/or what you want to see in the future.
- Suggest community groups or organizations that might be interested in learning more about or partnering with Summer of Solutions Fayetteville.
- Visit our blogs to stay up to date on this exciting process!
Please email Andrea at
AndreaLove@gmail.com
with any feedback, comments, suggestions or questions.
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Currently Hiring
 Summer of Solutions Fayetteville currently has two Program Leaders. We are seeking to hire an additional program leader to work part-time during the spring and summer. We are excited to collaborate with another individual who will bring fresh ideas, new energy and unique skills to our team.
For more information regarding this employment opportunity, please click here. Priority application deadline is Monday, February 7th.
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We are very excited about what's to come this summer. Please stay tuned for our updates. Your support keeps us going.
Sincerely,
Andrea Love and Serena Caffrey
2011 Program Leaders
Summer of Solutions Fayetteville
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