Spring Break doesn’t mean a break from learning

Youth Life Learning Centers has had a busy Spring Break in Nashville, home to five of our centers.  Although many of their peers will be at home watching television or playing in the backyard with friends, we gave our students a chance to continue learning on their break.  Learning opportunities were provided to students in a variety of ways through field trips and service projects.

Youth Life’s students, who are in grades third or higher, were given the opportunity to attend a retreat at Bethel World Outreach in Brentwood.  On this Spring Break retreat, students participated in sessions focused on identify, purpose, abstinence & purity (with older group only), service, and intimacy with Christ.

YLLC-West took their Spring Break adventures to new learning levels at The Adventure Science Center when the museum donated tickets for the kids to attend.  Students made their way through the Cyberchase exhibit, which is based on the math mystery cartoon, Cyberchase from the Emmy award-winning PBS KIDS GO!  Students exclaimed, “This is fun!” while learning from “the control central,” “the grim wreaked,” “poddleville,” and many other activities.

YLLC-Easley students went to Grocer’s Edgehill to encourage 2012 voters with flyer registrations.  This allowed students to serve their community in a unique way by encouraging their community’s voice, no matter their views, to be heard.

Several YLLC-Riverchase students are apart of the Backyard Leadership team and were able to visit The Frist Center for Visual Arts on a Backyard field trip.  These students also did several projects at their site, including bead art.

Visit our  Facebook page to see more pictures from our 2012 Spring Break!

After donating a major gift, Mr. Grubb now donates his time

If you’ve been keeping up with the news at Youth Life Learning Centers, you most likely read about our recent donation of now ten iPads and three laptops from Metro Nashville Public School teacher at Julia Green Elementary School, Mr. Gerald Grubb.  What you may not know is that after his donation, he took his belief in our programming even further when he became a regular volunteer for both YLLC-Hillside’s classes, kindergarten through first grade and second through fourth grade classes, for four days each week to assist the students in any way he can.

He just can’t stop teaching!  While some teachers might be exhausted after a full day of instructing third-graders, Mr. Grubb is ready for more.  

“His enthusiasm for children and their education is quite inspirational, and we hope that it will encourage other teachers to volunteer with Youth Life.  His impact is very obvious in the students’ excitement for coming to the center and learning,” says Jasmine Riley, YLLC-Hillside’s K-4th grade teacher.

While Mr. Grubb says, “Youth Life houses some very brilliant minds,” the Youth Life Learning Centers (YLLC) students he serves think he is “so cool.”

Although some are brilliant and very eager to learn, underprivileged students are often coming into our centers behind their public school peers.  Mr. Grubb hopes that volunteering with Youth Life Learning Centers will encourage other teachers—kindergarten, elementary, middle school, high school, and even college— to donate additional time and passion for teaching to these inner-city students.  

Photograph taken by Claire Wise with Claire Wise Photography.

Rosa Parks play by Youth Life Learning Centers at Riverchase

For Black History Month 2012, YLLC-Rivechase students create a short play based on Rosa Parks.

Students start off with a brief overview on Rosa Park’s story during The Civil Rights Movement.  At 0:52, their Rosa Parks play begins.  Listen carefully as students use yellow shirts to indicate those who can sit in the front of the bus versus those who cannot.  In their play, “Rosa Parks,” refuses to sit in the back of the bus even though she is not wearing a yellow shirt.  She is immediately arrested.  Shortly after her release from jail, she begins a boycott.  See clip below to watch the play.

“I learned that Rosa Parks started the bus boycott.  And I learned that we need to treat people fair.”  -Dyamond Armstrong, fifth-grade YLLC-Riverchase student.

What else went on at YLLC-Riverchase for Black History Month?  The students at YLLC-Riverchase were given a choice of writing a song, making a poster, or doing this play.  When the boys decided to write and perform a song about Louis Armstrong, the girls decided to break off and put together this play.

The students were very excited to practice their performances.  No one wanted to go to activity time all week!  They begged to work on their performances longer.

Baking up the holidays with YLLC-Riverchase

What might be delicious, creative and full of holiday cheer?  Why the Christmas cookie decorating at YLLC-Riverchase, of course!   The center’s volunteers brought many sugar cookies to share with students, but were instructed to get crafty.  Kids were given white icing in six different bowls, which the teachers filled with food coloring for various colors.  This exercise gave students a chance to learn about primary colors –red, yellow, and blue– and shout out the guesses as to what secondary colors –orange, green and purple— would come of mixing them together.  Then, the kids had a blast being creative and applying all the colored icing and sprinkles they could gather to decorate their own, unique holiday cookie!  

“Can we eat it now?” asked Kelando Eubanks, seven-year-old YLLC student, shortly after decorating his cookie.  Like the students at YLLC with excess icing on their chins, we wish all of our supporters alike a very merry Christmas.  Watch more from our cookie decorating session here.

We hope you can join us for Thursday’s Christmas party at Bethel World Outreach Church at 6 p.m. to volunteer.  Click here to read more.

Terriana Waters shows leadership for the next generation

D0 you remember that student in your classroom who seemed like a natural born leader?  Well for YLLC-Easley, that student is Terriana Waters.  It is no surprise to other students when she wins an award at the center, such as the “Most Respected Student Award,” voted on by her peers and Youth Life volunteers.  She has also been leading in the amount of YLLC bucks, which are used as incentives for hard work, since the beginning of the school year.  Terriana’s hard work is proven when she makes the honor roll in school for getting all As and Bs.

“..She seemed a little leery and reluctant with us at first, but she is very much a positive attribute to our group now,” says her teacher at YLLC-Easley.  “She is a great leader, because she takes all aspects of our program seriously and fulfills her responsibilities.  Not only does she work hard on her school and program work, but Terriana even volunteers to do extra work or chores around the center.  The students know she makes the right choices, which is why they voted her as the student who displays the most respect.”

Leadership doesn’t come natural to some.  For some, it takes time and practice.  Whether born or made, we must start taking a closer look at the next generation of leaders.  After all, they are our tomorrow, too.  Don’t you want to make tomorrow better?  

To volunteer with students like Terriana, register today.

Tashi McClain encourages students with some tough love.

Each Thursday and Friday, Tashi McClain gets to interact with kids on a one-on-one basis, while going on fun field trips, such as a trip to a Halloween corn maze.  After hearing about Youth Life on a freshman year field trip with one of her classes, Tashi, a Lipscomb University senior, studying law, justice and society, and a member of her school’s Phi Alpha Delta, later came across Youth Life again and decided to take action.  She has been volunteering in YLLC West’s middle school classroom for the past year and a half.  Although the days of the week have varied due to the class schedule that semester, Tashi’s mission is the same– to encourage the students that they can succeed.  She says that when the students complain about work being too difficult or too long, rather than sugar-coating it, she tells students that homework only gets more difficult when you get to college and that understanding the foundation for education will help them later.  Encouragement from students not to give up is sometimes all they need, no matter their circumstances.

“I want to be an example for them [communicating to them] that no matter what background you are from, you can do whatever you want to do.  I came from a single-parent home like many of the YLLC students… even though I fell under that statistic, I didn’t let that stop me from reaching my goals.”

Tashi is truly one who sets an example for those at Youth Life.  When students see that she is still able to volunteer at the centers twice per week to help students with their homework, they too feel they can step it up.  Tashi would like to invite others to volunteer with her at Youth Life Learning Centers.

“Give it a chance,” she says.  “You can’t change the world, but you can make a difference with one student at a time.  You don’t need to come every day, but if you change one life, they can change other lives.  You can start the chain and think about the greater good.  And it honestly doesn’t take a lot, even if it’s only one or two hours per week.”

Local college students “Make a Major Difference” at YLLC

Hillside and Easley students came together to listen to local college students talk about their major and career path as well as do a short, related activity.  Before we began, we asked students what they wanted to be when they grew up.  Answers ranged from “teacher” to “policeman.”

Presentations started with Hailey Wickles, Belmont University junior and nursing major who dreams of becoming a traveling nurse or doing nursing in missions work.  Hailey taught YLLC students not only about what she studies in and outside of the classroom, but she also showed the students the importance of washing their hands using glitter!  She also shared a trick with students.  If you sing, “Happy Birthday” twice while scrubbing, you have washed your hands for a proper length of time.

William Switzer, studying music business and pre-law at Belmont University, wants to pursue a career as a musician or entertainment lawyer.  A bass player for his band, William shared with students that he has written over fifty songs!  He also taught students a little about entertainment law, such as what copyright means in a way students could understand.

Jonathan Butler, Belmont University junior and music business major, immediately put smiles on students’ faces when he brought out a bag of candy!  Jonathan, who one day wishes to own a multi-media company, asked students to act like they were filming a movie, reading a book, and recording music to demonstrate what the company would entail.  He then asked students to answer some trivia questions regarding movies, books, and music for some candy!

Lastly, we welcomed Katherine Richardson, Belmont senior and international business and social entrepreneurship major.  She wishes to someday work with entrepreneurs on creating businesses that employ people who may not otherwise be able to find jobs.  Once we taught students what entrepreneurship meant, Katherine was ready to create her own business with students.  Students gave her the idea to create a movie-watching hair and nail salon!  She separated students into two groups to represent the items that they would need, the first group being the items that would cost money for their business while the second group represented the items that would create a profit.

We’d like to welcome all of our students for making a major difference among Youth Life students.  Our hope is that you will continue to inspire kids in this community to work hard and pursue dreams.

For more pictures from “Make a Major Difference” day, visit our Facebook page.

Susan French presents on self-worth and relationships to YLLC Kirkpatrick middle school girls

Susan French, Director of Outreach Services at YWCA of Nashville

Susan French, Director of Outreach Services for the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, took an interesting approach to talk with a small group of YLLC Kirkpatrick middle school girls about relationship-related issues.  She believes that it is with this smaller, girls only group, it allowed the YLLC participants to open up without feeling uncomfortable doing so.

“They are at the age now where they’re young enough that they’re not quite dating yet, but it is right around the corner.  They’re looking around the corner and seeing other people’s relationships as what is and is not acceptable.  I think it was a critical time to come in and talk…”

She started her presentation with an exercise.  First, she told the girls to create three columns on a sheet of paper, labeling the first column “friend of same sex,” the second as “friend of different sex,” and the third as “romantic partner.”  Secondly, she encouraged the girls to list ten things in each column that would be positive for that relationship.  Answers were then discussed and compared three lists.  This exercise spawned many discussion questions including: Are there any similarities or differences in your columns?  What does “relationship” mean?  How difficult is it to have a male who is just a friend?  What is the difference between having a male friend and having a boyfriend?  If your got mad at your friend but not your boyfriend, what’s the difference in that?  Is jealousy ever okay?

These discussions lead to an even more in-depth look at relationships, as Susan spoke to the girls about bullying.  Emotional abuse, isolation, such as telling people who you can and cannot be friends with, denying and blaming, are all ways in which one can be bullied.  Susan stressed that any form of bullying is not okay for any relationship, and to tell a counselor, guardian or someone you trust if it is happening to someone you know.

Susan wanted to stress the importance of self worth to the Youth Life Learning Center girls.  “[I wanted them to know that] they have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter what type of relationships they’re in –male to female friendship, female to female friendship or a romantic relationship.  …Do not settle or tolerate people who treat them unkindly.”

We are thankful for Susan’s visit to YLLC, and appreciate her ability to educate our youth on real issues like bullying and abuse at an early age.

Anthony Wright is a “delight to have in the classroom.”

Anthony Wright, November's YLLC student highlight

Anthony Wright, this month’s student highlight, moved from Memphis to Nashville this year.  Although moving cities can be difficult for anyone, he has easily adapted and made a great deal of friends in a short time.

“[Since attending YLLC Kirkpatrick,] he’s starting to open up from being shy,” says Keatrice Wright, mother of this sixth-grader at Bailey Middle School.

Not only is he coming out of his shell, Anthony demonstrates a maturity like few other kids his age.  The eldest of three children, he takes great pride in ensuring his sister and brother are home safely before he arrives at the center each day.  Anthony is also extremely helpful and respectful to all adult figures who walk into the Kirkpatrick center.

Acting responsible hasn’t stopped this YLLC student from just being a fun guy to be around, though. You can always find him dancing and telling jokes to his peers. Anthony Wright is this month’s YLLC student highlight, because, according to his YLLC teacher, “he is simply a true delight to have in the classroom.”

Why Tennessee Needs You to Care

The state we know and love recently learned some news in education that may have been difficult to hear.  However, it is important that we understand why services like Youth Life are needed in this community.  If you aren’t sure what I might be talking about, please read the article below.

According to 2011 National Assessment of Education Progress, Tennessee dropped one to seven places in the national ranking, putting the state in the bottom ten for reading and math among fourth and eighth grade levels.  Read more.

Although this is our present state, it does not have to be our future.  Articles like this make you realize why Tennessee needs you to care and make a stand for a change in academics.  Services like ours provides students with the right tools to complete their homework, learn what they may not have understood in the classroom, and receive one-on-one time strengthening their academic weaknesses.  This is why it is critical to support services like Youth Life for not only the future of these students’ lives, but also for the sake of our state.

If you haven’t made the decision to change the future of Tennessee, start today.

1. Give $10 to Youth Life through our $Ten for Tenn. Campaign!
2. Help students with their homework
3. Become a mentor to a student living in the inner-city