Be a part of the change in our community! Make a difference! Be a part of the change in our community! Let your voice be heard! Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Sponsored by: Presented by: In partnership with: Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

What is Step Up? The first Step Up was held in 2005 as a way to bring students and adults together in a dialogue that was believed to help identify the needs of the youth. We wanted to LISTEN to the youth and give them a VOICE. In 2010, Step Up was transformed into a program that empowers the youth themselves to take positive and impactful actions to make their communities a better place to live, to get an education and to play. Youth identify the issues that matter to them and they TAKE ACTION to create solutions! Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

How do you Step Up? Identify a topic important to you Research the topic to become educated about it Develop and implement an action plan or solution Register by December 15, 2017 for SULYC Attend an Orientation Session in January Prepare and practice a 5 minute presentation Present your project at the Main Competition on April 5, 2018 at LCPS Admin Building The top 10 teams move into the Finals to determine their cash prizes on April 12, 2018 at K2M in Leesburg Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Personalize Your Project Identify an Issue: Health & Wellness Academic & Social Stress Care for Others Substance Abuse Hunger & Homelessness Environmental Issues Education Develop an Action Plan How will YOU Make a Difference? Plan a Rally Start a Website Raise Awareness of your Topic Hold a Fundraiser Start a Club Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

What’s a Team? You can work: Alone With a friend With a group of friends With a whole class! Be on a team with people who are passionate about the topic! They can be from other schools, sports teams, clubs or religious groups. Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Put it Down! Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Iyush, Freya, Paras and Sauyma Words of advice from Iyush, Freya, Paras and Sauyma Put It Down!

Call of Security Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Kriti’s Perspective on SULYC Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

What does the competition look like What does the competition look like? It’s sort of like a science fair, but with community issues! Four Components for Judging Issue Analysis Solution Quality Community Impact Presentation Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Issue Analysis Investigate why the problem happens – the root cause Analyze how it impacts your school or community Find out if people have tried to solve this problem before – what roadblocks did they run into? Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Solution Quality Create a detailed solution (who? what? when? where? how?) Connect the solution to the problem – does it really address the issue? Collect data to show how your solution is making/will make an impact on your community Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Community Impact P.A.S.T.A. We’re All Human Over 92 community service projects Youth create their service projects! 12+ chapters Long lasting program! Woodgrove students organized walk to raise awareness of teen suicide. Spread to at least seven high schools and two middle schools. Joined forces with Ryan Bartel Foundation. Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Presentation Remember who your audience is and what they might already know (or don’t know!) Be specific – go through the important details that shaped your project Share your passion! Get the audience excited about your project. Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Let’s talk prizes! 1st place $1,000* 2nd place $500* 3rd place $250* 4th-10th places $100* * Prize amounts may change due to fundraising. Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

2016-2017 Top Teams First Place: Call of Security, $1,000 Developed a machine to combat cyber threats with hopes to bring it to every LCPS school and home! Second Place: Put It Down!, $750 Spread awareness of distracted driving through events, social media campaigns, and pledges on their website. Third Place: Clean Kits, $500 Created and distributed hygiene kits to homeless women throughout the County. Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

When do you Step Up? April 5, 2018 6-9pm LCPS Administration Building 21000 Education Court, Ashburn The public is invited. Registration begins at 5 pm. Dinner will be provided for participants. Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Finals and Awards Ceremony April 12, 2018 6-9pm K2M 600 Hope Pkwy, Leesburg 20175 The public is invited. Registration begins at 5 pm. Dinner will be provided for participants. Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Believing that within you is an ability to change the world is the first step in making a difference. -Dan Waldschmidt Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Loudoun Youth, Inc. mjones@loudounyouth.org 703-626-4888 Questions? Michelle Jones Program Director Loudoun Youth, Inc. mjones@loudounyouth.org 703-626-4888 Send photos of your meetings, projects and I’ll put them on social media. Share information about your events, links to your website, etc. and I’ll help you promote them! Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

Additional Programs Battle of the Bands DCubed/The Point! February 9, March 9 at Atlantis; Finals April 13 at The Tally Ho; 6-10 pm DCubed/The Point! Discuss, debate and discover new perspectives from high school peers from across the county. Second Thursdays of the month, 7-9 pm at Bean Bar Leesburg Loudoun Youth Leadership Program Summer leadership program for rising 10– 12 graders. Application process opens in February Step Up Your Health Challenge – 5K and Fun Run Earn 70% of registration costs for your school with 10+ registrants, May 6 at Oath (formerly Aol) at 8 am Learn more about our programs at www.loudounyouth.org Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018