Monroe County Students Meet Nobel Laureate at PeaceJam Southeast Conference in Tallahassee

For the fourth consecutive year BTC youth and adult mentors traveled to the annual PeaceJam Southeast Conference where they spent the weekend in leadership training and learning about a number of relevant social issues in workshops, doing service, spending time with a Nobel Laureate and sharing their own projects with PeaceJammers from the five state Southeast region. The conference is hosted by the Center for Leadership and Civic Education at Florida State University in Tallahassee. This year’s laureate, Jody Williams, who won the prize in 1997 for her work with landmines, spent time motivating the students with her personal stories, Q&A session and listening to the students’ stories of service and inspiration. PeaceJam is an international youth movement that connects Nobel Laureates with youth to inspire them to build the life skills needed to create positive change in the world. Be the Change has partnered with PeaceJam for four years.

BTC Youth Promotes Water Conservation!

As part of the focus to promote water conservation and raise awareness about the global water crisis, Marathon High School BTC Club members and PeaceJam Youth Board members from the Middle Keys assembled, painted and displayed 50 beautiful self-irrigating container gardens at the recent Marathon Seafood Festival. In addition to displaying their gardens, students made presentations about how to conserve water, handed out water saving tip sheets, and asked event goers to sign a pledge to conserve water.

Guernica Mural Travels to Florida State Capital!

BTC PeaceJam Youth Board Art Project, the Guernica Mural, travelled to the state capital and was displayed in the rotunda on March 1 which was Florida Keys Day. The 26 X 12 mural was hung from the third floor for the day. BTC Youth Advisor Leah Sutter was on hand to answer questions about the mural and the work of BTC n to visitors at the capital, many of whom were community leaders fromMonroeCountywho were able to view the mural for the first time.

Soup-A-Bowl!

Be the Change of the Florida Keys, Inc. (BTC) would like to thank the community, donors and artists for their support of the three “Soup-A-Bowl” events during the month of March. Events were held in March at St. Columba Episcopal Church inMarathon, at Glad Tidings Church in Key West and at the Island Christian School gymnasium on in the Upper Keys. This was the first year the event was held in all three areas of the Keys.

This project gives youth the opportunity to create and display their artwork and demonstrate that meaningful service can be achieved through the arts. The event is modeled after “Empty Bowls” project, a national service learning movement. Part of the service aspect of this project is to raise awareness about hunger and poverty in our community and the emerging water crisis. Programs included a presentation about both issues and a call to action by the youth to event goers to conserve water.

Florida Keys Council of the Arts is supported the Marathon event through their ArtReach Grant. This project is sponsored in part by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, the State of Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and private donations.

Soup-A-Bowl Planned Keys-Wide

Be the Change of the Florida Keys, Inc. (BTC) would like to invite the community to a “Soup-A-Bowl” Dinner Fest in each area of the Keys during the month of March. On Saturday, March 3, St. Columba Episcopal Church in Marathon (MM 49 B/S) will host the first of three Keys-wide events from 6 to 8 PM.  On Saturday, March 10, Soup-A-Bowl dinners will be served in Key West at Glad Tidings Community Center (1209 United Street) from 5 to 7 PM and in the Upper Keys at Island Christian School Family Life Center/gymnasium (MM 83.5 B/S) from 6 to 8 PM.

This is the first year that the event will be held inMarathon, the third year of the event in the Upper Keys and the second year of the event in the Lower Keys. Youth and adult volunteers of BTC, Island Christian School Inspiring New Change and Art Clubs along with the area host organizations plan a dinner much like a “soup kitchen” that serves soup, salad, bread and beverage. The suggested donation for the meal is $5. The Soup-A-Bowl event gives youth the opportunity to display their artwork and demonstrate that meaningful service can be achieved through the arts. Local artists will also submit bowls for the event. Part of the service aspect of this project is to raise awareness of the 10 Global Call to Action issues through the creation and use of these artistic ceramic soup bowls in a soup kitchen style dinner.

The event is modeled after “Empty Bowls” project, a national service learning movement and is planned as a part of the Be the Change PeaceJam Youth Board’s Global Call to Action project for this year. The youth board began the event three years ago as it developed service and service learning projects that align with the “10 Global Call to Action Issues” identified by ten Nobel Peace Laureates in the PeaceJam Curriculum.

Proceeds from the event will be designated to benefit local charities that serve families and children.

Florida Keys Council of the Arts is supporting the Marathon event through their ArtReach Grant. This project is sponsored in part by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, the State of Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and private donations.  http://www.keysarts.com/

Challenge Day Returns!

Challenge Day, an award winning, one day motivational workshop was held in each area of the Keys. Developed to bring youth and community together, where teens and adult volunteers take on and discuss issues like social isolation; bullying, substance abuse and violence is part of the serious discussion for the day. Participants are guided to “Notice, Choose and Act,” as a way to begin to create positive change in their lives, on the campus and in community. While serious issues are discussed and challenged, most of the day’s activities whether in pairs, small groups or the entire group, are designed to be uplifting and energetic to create social bonds between youth and community members. Xavier McKnight, sophomore at Marathon High School and first time participant of the program described the day as “Best event EVER! It taught me that no matter what I am going through, I am never alone and I loved all the games and dancing, it was so much fun!”

Challenge Day is one of the many programs of BTC which provides students a wide array of after school programs, leadership trainings and service projects year round.  The first event began on Martin Luther King Day in Marathon then moved to CSHS and then toKey WestHigh Schoolto give youth and community three continuous days of this powerful workshop. There were 236 students and 76 adults that attended the three days of workshops in January.

BTC worked with a number of community organizations and schools to promote, fund and support the events Keys-wide. This year it was funded by the generous support of the Human Service Advisory Board, Monroe County’s Sheriff Department, Keys to Peace, Keys Fisheries, Centennial Bank, Upper Keys Rotary, Zonta Club of Marathon and Cruz Morato and Associates. Volunteer adults and trained counselors from the Guidance Clinic of the Florida Keys and various government agencies help keep the day safe and fun.

Coral Shores High School Graduate Talks About BTC and Challenge Day!

Anamaria Talks about Challenge Day!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Be the Change needs caring responsible adults to support each Challenge Day event in the Keys!

Click Here for locations and times!

http://bethechangeflkeys.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/CD-Volunteer-information.pdf

NEW VOLUNTEERS:

Register to be cleared through the Monroe County School  District VISA system: https://visa.keysschools.com

Then send an email to the  Director of Safe and Healthy Schools to confirm your VISA registration is complete.  Add “Challenge Day” as the subject:  Sunny.Booker@keysschools.com

 RETURNING VOLUNTEERS:

Send an email to the  Director of Safe and Healthy Schools to confirm your VISA registration is complete.  Add “Challenge Day” as the subject:

Sunny.Booker@keysschools.com

Return of Challenge Day to Begin on MLK Day!

Be the Change Youth Plan Challenge Day!

Be the Change youth plan return of signature program on MLK Day

High school youth who have been a part of Be the Change of the Florida Keys (BTC) have been asking for the return of  Challenge Day, our signature program for more than two years. In January of 2012 they will get their wish. The first Challenge Day is scheduled to take place on the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. in honor and celebration of a man who advocated for unity, equality and social justice – all components of the Challenge Day experience. Members of the BTC PeaceJam Youth Board are instrumental in the planning and implementing the one day workshop as well as all the follow up activities, projects, and events planned in the coming months. Each member of the youth board will attend an event at their school and most will serve as peer facilitators or “Red Shirts” because of the red shirts they wear during the event.

The first Challenge Day event will take place on January 16^th on MLK Day at the Marathon Garden Club. Challenge Days are also being planned at Coral Shores High School on the 17^th and at Key West High School on the 18^th of January. BTC is looking for caring, responsible adults to volunteer to support the days. Contact Michele Sutter 305-852-1664 for more information or to volunteer.