1. one step ahead
A quarterly update of the Minnesota Youth Community Learning Initiative Summer 2007
Cass Lake I Faribault I F e rg us F a l ls I Maple River I M c G re g o r I N o r t h M i n n e a p o l is I Wo r t h i n g t o n
School Connectedness
Schools are, in many ways, a home-away-from home. Students have the opportunity to
Contents fulfill academic, personal, athletic and community interests within the brick and mortar of
School Connectedness . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 schools. Research has shown that it is critically important that students feel a genuine
sense of connection to schools.
MYCL Communities at Work:
Progress Underway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Data from the “on the bubble”
National Longitudinal academically. “Our
MYCL Collaboration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Study of Adolescent program reaches those
Minnesota is Changing! . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Health (Add Health) in ninth and tenth graders
the 1990s analyzed who may be stumbling
University Resources many aspects of the and need more
for Youth and Families . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 school environment, academic support. This
Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 including attendance, sets the stage for a
student prejudice, more meaningful high
Newsline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
parent-teacher school experience,“ says
interaction, dropout Stepping Stones
rate, teacher coordinator Beau
education, and school Krueger. Adolescents
The Minnesota Youth type among others. The research found one receive significant advantages in the
Community Learning factor—a feeling of connectedness to transition to adulthood from a genuine
(MYCL) Initiative, school—to be “…consistently associated sense of school connectedness. Research
funded by the with better health and healthier behaviors has shown that proven strategies that
W.K. Kellogg Foundation, partners Konopka among (adolescent) students.” foster connectedness include:
I
Institute staff at the University of Minnesota
Connectedness = Support Setting high standards and challenge
and seven Minnesota community coalitions. students to meet them,
Heather Libby, an adolescent health
Their collaboration re-engages students who
researcher in the University of Minnesota’s I Creating school policies that are based
are disconnected from learning and school
Department of Pediatrics, notes that school on student, family, and neighborhood
through:
connectedness is a continuum of feelings strengths and assets,
I Skill-based mentoring,
and impressions by students: I Encouraging highly interactive teaching
I Parental support and assistance,
I Fostering school connectedness, and Connectedness is when students feel strategies,
I Community capacity building. genuinely part of the school, that I Creating a welcoming environment for
This edition focuses on school connectedness, school staff listen to and respect them, all who come to school,
creating places of learning that reach out and cares about how they feel and their I Inviting family and community members
speak to the needs of young adults. The MYCL learning, and are available for extra to take active and ongoing roles in the
community partners work in concert with academic or personal support if they important functions of the school.
school district staff to create programs that require it. When students feel
Dr. Pedro Noguera, professor in the
foster a lifelong yearning to learn and discover. connected to school, they are more
Steinhardt School of Education at New
engaged in classroom activities, come
York University, discussed just how critical
to school prepared to learn, actively
it is for schools to connect with students,
complete coursework assignments, and
families and communities during his 2007
skip school less often. Connectedness is
Konopka Lecture:
built when schools have high academic
Miles Driven expectations in combination with …These are schools that have strategies
January through April 2007 support for learning, supportive to ensure that the needs of kids are
teachers, and a sense of safety. being met, the needs of teachers are
4,925 being supported, that there is a
University staff Fostering school connectedness
deliberate approach to what they do
MYCL community coalition programs work because they have created a culture that
3,218 to ensure that students have the tools
Community coordinators affirms the importance and the value of
needed to be successful as students in the learning. So these are schools where it is
Konopka Institute staff and community classroom and citizens of the community. cool to be smart.
coordinators collaborate across the Several MYCL Initiative programs speak
great state of Minnesota. This includes directly to the need for young adults to
participating in youth development and
community activities as well as
find connection and meaning in school. In
Fergus Falls, the Stepping Stones program You can listen to audio of Dr. Pedro
quarterly MYCL retreats. Konopka staff
travel through Minnesota using the has created a credit recovery program Noguera’s 2007 Konopka Lecture and see
University’s fleet of fuel efficient hybrid designed to help those students who are his presentation materials by visiting
Prius vehicles! www.konopka.umn.edu
2. MYCL Communities at Work:
Progress Underway
Seven diverse community coalitions located across Minnesota are partners in the design
and implementation of the Minnesota Youth Community Learning Initiative. These multi-
sector coalitions have an impressive history of successful youth programming and
advocacy, as well as fostering close relationships with their respective school districts. Hear
from the MYCL program coordinators themselves:
Cass Lake Faribault Worthington
TOP BUILDING ON PROMISE L EARNING L INKS
Our youth are the future of Cass Lake. Building on Promise (BOP) has made great Learning Links youth programming success
Teen Outreach Program (TOP) works with strides in connecting students with lies in the high level of cooperation we
Cass Lake-Bena schools and the Boys & learning. Michael Haas, BOP’s AmeriCorps have with Worthington schools. Our
Girls Club to support every student who Promise Fellow, has implemented a new students benefit from the connection
needs help. Eight girls after-school program this year. BOP After between skill-building activities and
have completed the School kicked off in January at the academic support. The
year-long Smart Girls Faribault High School. The program is young women in our
program. It is so focused on helping English Language Enrichment Program
amazing to see Community Allies Learners (ELL) – specifically 9th, 10th and learned knitting skills that
how they have 11th grade African immigrants – with their culminated in a knit-a-
Cass Lake-Bena
grown and Public Schools school work. Haas meets with students thon. Several
Community Allies
matured during Leech Lake Public
several times each week blankets were
the past year. helping them with their made which were Worthington Public
Health Services Schools
They have built Indian Health Services homework, as well as then donated to
Kiwanis Club
skills ranging Cass County Sheriff social and language the Southwest
Minnesota Extension
from meal Weed & Seed Program skills. Crisis Center and Service
preparation to Helping Hands
The after school YMCA
computer Pregnancy Center.
program began Community Allies American Legion
software use. Their renewed interest in The girls enjoyed
as an effort to Big Brothers & Big Nobles County Public
learning energizes me. learning a new skill Health
relieve some of Sisters of Rice County and applying math Nobles County Library
We have met with the middle school the burden on
City of Faribault to real life while Local church
principal who is very excited about our the ELL teachers
Faribault Area Chamber supporting young youth program
TOP after school homework program and and to provide
of Commerce mothers in the
how, together, we can better partner with homework help
Faribault Area area.
the school’s homework assistance program and English
to promote the genuine fun of learning. language practice United Way The Learning
with adults other Faribault Public Schools Links’ parent
In February, the Hollywood Party
than their class- Rice County: Family, liaison works
celebrated our young adults and allowed
room teachers. Social Services, Public hard bridging
them to share unique individual talents Health the connection
with each other. TOP students relished in In addition to
between new
the planning for the event, including providing academic assistance, BOP After
immigrant parents In Worthington’s Enrichment
themes and decorations for the Boys & School hosts guest speakers discussing Program students develop
and the school life skills while helping
Girls Club. topics of interest. One guest was Joseph L.
system on issues community service agencies.
Mbele, a Tanzanian native who teaches
The party consisted of a dance, café, open like attendance
literature at St. Olaf. Students were
gym and VIP lounge for students who had policies, standardized tests and community
enamored by Mbele, who insisted upon
exceptional attendance records. education opportunities. Parents tell me
being called “Mwalimu.” Mwalimu means
that our work has made them feel an
I can see progress in our youth in many teacher in Swahili. The students were eager
important part of the whole community.
ways. One young man in our TOP program to learn more about the Swahili culture.
had lost a family member to violence and Mbele offered advice and insight to We are now partnering with Worthington
was in jeopardy of falling behind in school students and teachers alike during our schools on a new committee which meets
and becoming disillusioned with life. February meeting. The students enjoyed to address the results of “Creating a Great
Through mentorship, personal support, hearing from an adult who understands Place to Learn,” a school climate survey
and academic help, this young man is now what it is like to be immersed in a new taken by students and staff in the middle
looking forward to learning and new culture. school. REACH, our after school homework
relationships. assistance program, continues to serve
By creating partnerships with school
about 30 students a week. The high level of
Keenan Goodfellow, programs, our work becomes even more
collaboration between our volunteers,
Community Coordinator relevant and important to students.
teachers and Learning Links is a statement
kgoodfellow@bgcleechlake.com Andrea Howells, of our commitment to youth.
Community Coordinator
Robin Berger,
andreahowells@gmail.com Community Coordinator
robin.berger@isd518.net
page
2
3. North Minneapolis
CRUNC
CRUNC has MYCL Communities at the U Day
achieved a high 145 students, parents and community members
level of success from the seven MYCL communities spent February
securing 19 experiencing the U of M. The event was an
collaborative opportunity for initiative partners to experience
Community Allies the vast education, research, and community
partnerships
with each Hennepin County outreach resources of the
neighborhood Village Social University of Minnesota.
school. Along with Services The event began with a "Price is
our collaborative Nia Imani Youth Right" quiz show based on U of M
Development trivia. The event also included
partners, we are
Center admissions information and lunch
planning in-school
Minneapolis at Centennial and
programming for Public Schools Pioneer residence halls.
Nellie Stone Johnson
sixth graders for the A panel discussion featured four
07-08 school year. This will leverage strong University of Minnesota students
and effective outreach to students at the sharing their personal and
beginning of their studies. We also look at academic experiences. The day
concluded with a scavenger
this as an opportunity to help support the
hunt for youth and a guided
school’s parent engagement efforts.
tour of the campus for adults.
Because of the success of Girls with
Emotional Maturity (GEM) at Minnesota
Internship school, CRUNC has been invited
into a possible partnership that will arrange
a permanent group mentoring program to
help support teachers. Maple River Area
CRUNC is now working with North High C ONNECT 4
staff who provide us with effective Amboy, Good Thunder, Mapleton
methods to help the students served by the and Minnesota Lake
Academic Support Team, our tutoring Connect 4 fosters
program. The staff support our efforts by connections in
providing homework packets, methods of our local
assisting the student, and access to the schools and Community Allies
online progress system. We currently serve community
five students at North High and all are through a Maple River Public Schools
succeeding including one graduating senior. variety of City of Mapleton: Mayor
& Police Department
North High has also collaborated with innovative
CRUNC and the Nia-Imani Center to Blue Earth and
programming. Faribault Counties
provide new ways to promote our Freedom Our Study Youth and parents meet at The Well in Mapleton to
Civic and business knit fleece bears for local police and fire
School and gain the support of teachers Hour and Skills community members of departments to use to help comfort the young in
and staff. Freedom School is a six week programs are Mapleton, Amboy, Good their time of need.
reading enrichment program which focuses two examples Thunder & Minnesota Lake
on African American history and literature by which we
while engaging the larger community in are increasing youth connectedness to offers creative learning opportunities
supporting proud young adults. school and the joy of learning. during out-of-school time; mentors create
bonds with youth while teaching a new
Adrian Mack, The Study Hour program was created to
skill. A recent project included stuffing
Community Coordinator compliment our mentoring program. Study
fleece bears for local police departments to
Hour offers increased school support for
getcrunc@hotmail.com take to children in a time of need. The
those youth involved in Connect 4 who
project was named the “KC (Kids Care) Bear
currently have or are waiting for a mentor.
Project.”
Meeting twice a week, approximately 20
youth at school work on skills such as With the active participation of Maple
organization, study habits, and homework River school district administrators,
assistance. With the added benefit of Connect 4 skill-based programming
academic assistance, we are helping to provides quality learning opportunities
ensure that our youth are connected to both during and after school.
school and learning.
Bridget Whitney,
The Skills Program is an exciting new Community Coordinator
CRUNC supports young people on the addition to Connect 4 programming that
northside and celebrates their personal bridgetmw@hotmail.com
and academic achievements.
page
3
4. Progress Underway (continued)
Fergus Falls McGregor
S TEPPING S TONES TEAM-UP
Stepping Stones works closely with Fergus TEAM-UP partners with KIDS PLUS
Falls schools to help create bonds of McGregor to create learning opportunities
support for for McGregor students in many ways.
students in the Based on parental input we received during
middle and our 2006 Speak Outs, we have worked hard
high school. to develop vocational mentoring
Our young Community Allies opportunities for district middle and high
female student City of Fergus Falls school students to prepare them to become
mentoring Lake Region Hospital tomorrow’s community leaders. TEAM-UP
program, G- Fergus Falls Senior Center recently participated in the Health and
Squared, Minnesota Extension Community Fair. The fair provided an
provides Service opportunity for area students to learn
personal and Fergus Falls YMCA more about health and nutrition topics, as
academic The United Way well as meet with local business leaders.
support. West Central Initiative
Fergus Falls Public Schools Along with KIDS PLUS, we have created a
Participating
& Community Education Prevention Team where school district
students have
leaders, including principals, counselors,
just completed Otter Tail County
In Fergus Falls, youth and parents gather at the Human Services and the superintendent meet regularly to
making their
assess any student needs that arise and
middle school pool to spend quality time
together...and catch a wave on the simulator!
first quilt. They Kiwanis Club
how collaboration between agencies can
plan on
provide the support necessary for our
donating it to a young mother in the area;
young adults.
the girls enjoy discovering practical uses
for academic subjects like math and Kinship Mentoring and
geometry. TEAM-UP recently
presented their
We have doubled the number of students
program to a local
that have successfully passed their courses
church. Church
as a result of our Credit Recovery Program.
members then decided
The students who complete the program
to sponsor a
are realizing the importance of completing
cooking class to Community Allies
assignments and successfully passing tests.
give TEAM-UP Aitkin County: Family
One student needed to complete just one
members the Services, Sheriff’s Dept.
project and one test with three study
opportunity to Aitkin Workforce Center
sessions. It is great to see the level of
learn the skills of Community Action
interest and motivation in these students
cooking a healthy Council
who are now making a renewed
meal. Kinship Mentoring
commitment to learning.
McGregor Public
TEAM-UP members
In cooperation with the district’s ALC and Schools
have also recently
Community Ed, our family pool Northland Foundation
signed up to serve
party attracted more than 60
on the student
youth and families who shared
advisory group for Aitkin and Crow Wing
time together in an informal
County’s Crisis Line. They'll be learning the
setting at the middle school.
importance of suicide prevention and
We are appreciative of the ever selling yellow ribbons for $1 each. By
growing level of support that we partnering with schools and community
have received from district organizations, we strive to reach all our
administrators and teachers as our youth.
work represents one more
Aileen DeMenge,
opportunity for schools to connect
Community Coordinator
with youth.
In McGregor, TEAM-UP young adults gather to knit blankets ardemenge@yahoo.com
for community agencies serving families in need.
Beau Krueger,
Community Coordinator
bkrueger@fergusfalls.k12.mn.us
page
4
5. MYCL Collaboration
Konopka Institute staff, along with the
seven MYCL community coordinators and
their respective coalition supervisors met in
February to discuss program sustainability
and community support plans. The work-
shop discussed future local MYCL Initiative
program plans and current community
support resources for programming.
All seven MYCL communities have found
impressive support for their work to
support engaged students and meaningful McGregor Speak Outs in 2006 brought community members together to create new
learning opportunities for area youth.
youth programming. “We have received
support, financial and material, from local
institutions like Otter Tail Power and the
District 544 Foundation. It really makes a
difference in the quality and sustainability
of our work,” says Stepping Stones
Coordinator Beau Krueger.
A core tenet of the MYCL Initiative is that
healthy youth development involves the
participation of the entire community. “We
use the term community teachers for a
good reason,” says CRUNC coordinator
Adrian Mack. “It connects our youth to the
larger community and the community
An MYCL sustainability retreat created an Leech Lake Reservation police officers help prepare
resources of north Minneapolis.” opportunity for education leaders from Fergus Falls decorations and party favors for Hollywood Night,
and Worthington to share strategies. a chance for students to celebrate individual artistic
talents and academic achievement.
Minnesota is changing...
And Minnesota schools are changing. As Minnesota demographic shifts continue, School diversity in Minnesota
communities and schools will face new challenges. Declining enrollment, increasing
MN State Demographic Center
enrollment of immigrant and non-English speaking student populations, as well as the Education Trends in Minnesota
need for expanded youth development programs in many communities have transformed www.demography.state.mn.us/
school environments across the state. a2z.html#Education
According to the MN Demographic I African-American enrollment grew 26.3 The Minneapolis Foundation Reports
Center’s Report, “Minnesota Education percent during the same time period. “Immigration in Minnesota: Discovering
Trends, 2000 to 2005:” I
Common Ground” and “All Kids Learn;
The increase in the number of Asian Education in Minnesota”
I White (Caucasian) enrollments fell 7.6 students was more modest at 10.3 www.minneapolisfoundation.org/
percent from 2000-2001 to 2005-2006, percent, and American Indian click on “publications.”
while nonwhite and Latino enrollments enrollments showed little change.
grew by 24.4 percent. The seven MYCL communities are part of 43% of students in Worthington schools
I Latinos were the fastest-growing K-12 the changing nature of Minnesota’s are students of color; in Faribault, that
enrollment group, gaining 56.2 percent education landscape. Four of the seven number is nearly 23%. In the Cass Lake-
in five years. MYCL communities (Faribault, Cass Lake, Bena district, where a vast majority of
Worthington, and Minneapolis) are among students are Native-American, the Teen
the most diverse school districts in Outreach Program works to bring tribal,
Minnesota in terms of enrollment for business, and school leaders together to
students of color. develop relevant youth development
“Our programs speak to the diversity of our programming.
schools and our community,” says Robin “By partnering with the Weed & Seed
Berger, coordinator for Worthington’s program and others we reach students by
Learning Links program. “We work with giving them the tools and inspiration to
immigrant parents, who may be from Latin become students who want to learn and
America, East Africa, or Southeast Asia, to grow. The good news: our district
increase their participation in youth graduation rates are now rising!” says
In Worthington, student enrichment involves both
academic support and skill building activities to learning. Our skill-building programs reach Keenan Goodfellow, coordinator for the
create a more inclusive and vibrant community. out to immigrant students to ensure that Teen Outreach Program.
they find meaning and opportunities in our
schools.”
page
5
6. University of Minnesota
Resources for Youth and Families
National Resilience Resource Center The School of Social Work
(College of Continuing Education) Since its founding in 1917, the University
The National Resilience Resource Center of Minnesota School of Social Work (SSW)
(NRRC) assists school, community, and has contributed to the development of the
organizational leaders in enhancing field. It is ranked as one of the nation's
capacity to tap natural, innate health or best schools of social work—a leader in
resilience of youth, families, communities, creative learning ventures through Under the leadership of Ayolanda Mack, Kwanzaa
and systems. The goal is to assist leaders to distance education, interactive television, Freedom School, sponsored in part by MYCL’s north
satellite, and independent study. Minneapolis partner, CRUNC, will provide a literacy
view all students, residents, clients, or rich academic experience for Jordan and Hawthorne
organizations as "at promise" rather than neighborhood youth this summer. The University of
The student internship program, research Minnesota will host several activities.
"at risk." centers and outreach efforts combine
Products include: scholarly research with hands-on
I Bringing Out the Best in Our Kids
collaborations to promote sound social
work practice and policy.
Events
A 40 page parental guide by Kathy 9th Annual MCH Summer Institute
Marshall presents Resilience/Health The Center for Advanced Studies in Child on Addressing Health Disparities,
Realization as a means of preventing Welfare (CASCW) Minn-LInK project uses “Culture, Communications & Health”
youth substance abuse. This 2001 state administrative data from multiple
publication, developed for the School agencies to answer questions about the Sponsored by the U of M School of Public
District of the Menomonie Area, is impacts of policies, programs, and practice Health (Maternal and Child Health)
available to school systems and other on the well being of children in Minnesota. July 24-25
entities engaged in implementing Minn-LInK is intended to produce reports Hubert H. Humphrey Center
Resilience/Health Realization. that have implications for practice, policy,
University of Minnesota-West Bank
I Resilience/Health Realization or both, and build upon the work of other
This Summer Institute will focus on the
Counseling Applications in Schools state agencies and university researchers.
role of health communications in reducing
This 2005 video features NRRC Director Resources include: health disparities affecting women,
Kathy Marshall exploring the promise of
I
children, families and communities.
Health Realization for counselors Child Welfare News provides the
Keynote speakers and in-depth breakout
working with students. Focus is on broader child welfare community with
sessions will focus on issues of culture and
seeing student well-being and tapping information on CASCW events,
health literacy; the implications of
natural resilience with the principles of evaluation projects, and state and
communications inequality; the health
Health Realization. national child welfare trends.
communication needs of specific
For these and other products, visit I Practice Notes is a training publication communities of color; and new strategies
http://www.cce.umn.edu/nrrc focused on best-practices specific to a to increase communication effectiveness. A
child welfare topic and targeted to in- special feature of the Institute is a preview
CONTACT : service professionals. of the upcoming PBS documentary:
Kathy Marshall, NRRC director, I Papers and Reports contains summary “Unnatural Causes: Is Health Inequality
marsh008@umn.edu
information on CASCW sponsored Making Us Sick?”
seminars, forums, and special reports,
Brochure and registration information:
including “High School Graduation and
www.epi.umn.edu/mch/events/index.shtm
Child Welfare.”
I Workshop/Meeting Proceedings
provide summaries of CASCW's 11th annual Summer Institute in
conferences. Adolescent Health: Engaging Youth-
Working Together with Parents &
To learn more, visit
Families.
http://ssw.che.umn.edu
July 30- Aug 1
CONTACT :
MN Dept of Education Conference Center
Jill Beaudette, Roseville, Minnesota
jbeaudet@umn.edu
Co-sponsored by the University’s Center
for Adolescent Nursing, Konopka Institute,
In Worthington, parents seek to create stronger Healthy Youth Development • Prevention
bonds between themselves and the school system.
Parents Advocating for Student Success (PASS) Research Center, Minnesota Department of
graduation ceremonies are a tribute to Education and MOAPPP. MYCL coordinators
collaboration. attending the conference will learn first-
hand from schools, clinics and youth
programs that have successfully linked
young people with their families. Discover
what secrets for success they share and
what qualities and skills did these
programs nurture in their staff.
page
6
7. Newsline
Mentoring…the $$$ benefits to MN The research done during 2003 found the
According to new study commissioned by teens worked an average of 16.2 hours per
the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota week during the school year, including
and conducted by Wilder Research and the nearly three times a week after 7 p.m. on
University of Minnesota, state taxpayers school nights. Thirty-seven percent of those
can expect a $2.72 return on every dollar under 16 reported working after 7 p.m. on
spent on effective mentoring programs and a school night, a probable violation of
$4.89 for every dollar invested in federal law, it said.
community-based youth intervention Reuters: “Teens work late, long and in During a We Got Skills outing to the River
programs. The benefits accrue to danger, study finds.” 3/05/07 Bend Nature Center in Faribault, BOP
Minnesota through achieved annual students were able to apply mathematics
reductions in the costs of youth treatment and physics to solve puzzles through
programs and the projected increases in Paying for college! discovery and teamwork.
lifetime earnings by youth who are better The Star Tribune reported that the cost of
supported on the path to productive higher education for Minnesota families is
adulthood. three times higher than it was in 1971,
even adjusting for inflation. The story
Star Tribune: Mentoring programs for
kids pay off, study says.” 4/18/07. Neal St. reported that the cost of undergraduate
Anthony tuition and fees at the University of
Minnesota climbed from $522 a year in
1971 to the current $9,432. Four year
Food is top product advertised to MnSCU university tuition went from $379
youth, study says to $5,656 in the same time period.
A new study released in March by the
Family income also rose during the same
Kaiser Family Foundation found that food
time frame, but not as fast as tuition costs.
is the top product marketed on television
The story mentioned that part of the
to kids and teens. The study, conducted at
answer of higher tuition lies in the fact
Indiana University, is the largest study to
that the state contribution to higher
date that has quantified television food
education has fallen both as a percentage
marketing to youth. More than one-third
of state college and university budgets and
of commercials targeting children or
as a percentage of state spending.
adolescents are for candy and snacks—
foods that are often high in both calories News Feature: Star Tribune, “Back in the
and fat. Half of all ads shown during day, it was easier to pay.” By Norman
children’s shows are for foods, the study Draper. 3/16/07
revealed.
To learn more about the study, “Food for Teens less active as they grow older
Thought: Television Food Advertising to As they grow older, teenagers are spending
Children in the United States,” visit the more time in front of the computer and
Kaiser Family Foundation website at
www.kff.org. television and less time participating in
physical activities, according to researchers
at the University of Minnesota School of
Teens who work long, late hours Public Health (SPH).
face hazards
Research published in the journal Pediatrics
U.S. youngsters aged 14 to 18 who work at found that moderate to vigorous physical
retail and service jobs during the school activity among teenage girls and boys
year put in an average of 16 hours a week, dramatically decreased from early to late
often at jobs that are dangerous and adolescence. In addition, the findings
unsupervised, a recent study said. showed that sedentary behaviors increased
The report from the University of North nearly 25-50 percent from 1999 to 2004.
Carolina even said that some of the Increases in sedentary activities along with
working conditions found in interviews the decrease in physical activity is thought
with a representative sample of 928 to be associated with an increased risk for
teenage workers violated federal law. obesity. SPH researchers conducted a study
"Teens are exposed to multiple hazards, use of more than 2,000 adolescents to examine
dangerous equipment despite federal changes in eating patterns, weight, and
prohibitions and work long hours during physical activity over five years. Subjects
the school week," said the report published completed two surveys for Project EAT:
in the March issue of Pediatrics, the journal Eating Among Teens - one in 1999 and one
of the American Academy of Pediatrics. in 2004 - to determine if there were
"They also lack consistent training and changes in physical activity patterns.
adult supervision on the job," the study Reported by University of Minnesota
added. News Service, 2/19/07
page
7
8. Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health
With an unshakable belief in the potential of all young people, the Konopka Institute for Best
Practices in Adolescent Health sustains the legacy of Gisela Konopka in striving to improve the
health and well-being of adolescents by providing technical assistance and training for those
working in partnership with and on behalf of youth.
MYCL Staff
Linda Boche, Executive Assistant Michael Resnick, Gisela & E. Paul Konopka Chair
boche001@umn.edu resni001@umn.edu
Mary Doyle, Special Projects Coordinator Glynis Shea, Communications Coordinator
doyle197@umn.edu sheax011@umn.edu
Mark Mahon, Community Relations Coordinator Tim Sheldon, Project Evaluator
mmahon@umn.edu sheld005@umn.edu
Pam Moore, Community Capacity Builder Paul Snyder, MYCL Director
moore068@umn.edu psnyder@umn.edu
Department of Pediatrics
Konopka Institute
McNamara Alumni Center
200 Oak Street SE, Suite 260
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-626-1980
800-644-6466
www.konopka.umn.edu
MYCL is made possible in part
through a generous grant from
the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. This publication/material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to sheax011@umn.edu
one step ahead
A quarterly update of the Minnesota Youth Community Learning Initiative Summer 2007
Cass Lake I Faribault I Fergus Falls I Maple River I McGregor I North Minneapolis I Worthington
Promise Fellows: Making A Difference
AmeriCorps Promise Fellows provide critical support and outreach
skills to the MYCL Initiative. Each MYCL community is staffed with a The Five Promises
Promise Fellow. America’s Promise, which established the AmeriCorps 1. Caring Adults
Promise Fellows program, is a public-private collaborative movement 2. Safe Places
which seeks to build the character and competence of youth 3. Healthy Start
through the Five Promises. 4. Marketable Skills
5. Opportunities to Serve
Each edition of this newsletter features another MYCL Promise
Fellow and their great work. In this edition, Angie Gukeisen, Promise
Fellow for the Stepping Stones program in Fergus Falls tells what
drives her passion for helping youth:
The Minnesota Youth Community When I was attending MSCTC in Fergus I really like it that
Learning (MYCL) Initiative partners Falls I worked with 3rd graders as part they CHOOSE to
Konopka Institute staff at the of the America Reads program. I really stay after school
liked working on homework with kids. I and come in
University of Minnesota and seven
loved the “A-ha” moments, when you during their
Minnesota community coalitions. The could see the proverbial light bulb turn summer vacation
goal of this collaboration is to ensure on. I also took some education classes to be part of our
that all students are engaged with and decided that I might want to work Stepping Stones’ Angie Gukeisen, Stepping
learning and school. with youth in an education setting. programs. I also Stones Promise Fellow
really like being in
The thing that drew me to the Promise a school setting. I
Fellow position was that I wasn't sure think it has been a very valuable
whether I wanted to be a social worker experience for me to connect with
or a teacher. I really enjoy being young people.
involved in the lives of young people.
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