Inspiring Leadership Through Action Nick Hovermale Stuart Kemmer Katie Diediker HUMANeX Ventures

Purpose Our hope is that they will leave the Academy with a better understanding about how their mentee's involvement and engagement in community activities enhances budding leadership skills and provides real-life leadership opportunities

Today’s Agenda WHY is it important for your mentee’s to be involved in community activities and HOW does this affect their leadership skills? WHAT can you do?

Why is Community Involvement Important? Self-Worth – Confidence and self respect Communication/Relationship Building – Improving interpersonal relations Life Skills – Knowledge and skill development to prepare for now and the future

Self-Worth Sense of purpose/belonging Opportunity to help others Develops a sense of personal responsibility to your community Establishes ownership in your community – Encouraging continuing involvement Opportunity to repeatedly affect positive change in your community Exposes them to future mentor opportunities

Communication/Relationship Building Expand your network – meet more people Learn to interact with a variety of people Practice interpersonal/soft skills Helps promote a positive outlook and a supportive mindset Learn how to communicate with people of different ages Helps develop empathetic skills (care and compassion) Creates understanding and promotes spirit of giving back

Life Skills Develops perspective and perseverance – Learn how to deal with difficult circumstances – Builds confidence Appreciation for diversity Chance to make mistakes Organization/planning skills Accountability for actions Networking opportunities – For high school students: jobs, internships, shadowing opportunities Gives clarity on what they might want to study in college

WHAT can you do? Help mentees assist teachers in the classroom – Putting up seasonal decorations, cleaning desks, volunteering in other classrooms Make holiday cards for service men and women, elderly, children’s hospital – Can create together at school and then mentor can deliver them Encourage child to be involved in school activities Ring bells for Salvation Army Clean up a park together Help a neighbor rake their leaves Collect cans/pop tabs Participate in a Habitat for Humanity build Operation Christmas – let the child pick out gifts for another child! Volunteer to read, sing, visit, at a nursing home (or bring games, artwork, cards, puzzles) – Mentors teach them how to play a game, and then let them go to the home and teach the elderly. Volunteer at the Capital Humane Society Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach Participate in a book drive, or canned food drive Other great resources for ideas: –  Specifically has a “Youth Opportunities” tab –

Questions?