http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/646955
I attended a speaker event tonight at the community market. The market hosts bicycle repairs and sends them to Africa as part of the Bicycle Exchange Network. This is a great way to recycle cycles while provided support to Namibian cities and communities.

One in five people in Namibia are living with HIV/AIDS. Most people need to walk 20km/day to get to where they are going, whether it be school, grocery shopping, or to the doctor. The bicycles cut their travel time into 1/4 the amount of time that it takes to walk.

There are also perks such as competitive bike teams and HIV/AIDS awareness outreach by local volunteers. They promote healthy lifestyles and carry medical supplies such as soap which may save a life because of reduction of infection for those living with AIDS.

So far, 10 000 bikes have been donated to Namibia through this project-funded organization who are based in Australia and Canada. In a place where employment is 36%, street youth are trained in bike maintenance and gain employment skills. They receive the money to pay for their own bike repairs, as many only make $2 per month volunteering. The bike shop is created in the communities. ]]> Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:34:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/646955 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/632375
Youth discussed some priorities:
Community action
Civic engagment
Positive cultural events/gatherings/activities/ceremonies
Gaining job skills
Completing school
Reclaiming language/culture/identity
More positive Aboriginal media
Resourcing youth

Youth discussed mental health:
Encourage youth to be active in culture
Positive reinforcements
Accessing someone to talk to about problems
Create support groups on anger, depression, family issues, and financial
School counsellors could be elders
Counsellors and teachers collaborating with parents and youth
Issues of stress, lonliness, depression, suicide, ingergenerational effects of family violence
Culture shock
Collaboration with youth workers

Youth discussed some challenges:
Teen pregnancy
Foster care
Substances
Teen pregnancy
Gangs/abuse
Violence

Youth discussed some solutions:
Awareness/Sensitivity
Healing with laughter
Youth groups to attend
Expression through artwork
Speaking up
Learning from elders
Communication and understanding
Keeping a positive lifestyle
Safe sex promotion
Create a club
Cultural sensitivity training in all workplaces
Education/awareness

Who we can get help from in the community are:
neighbours, friends, relatives, teachers, counsellors, police

The pieces that stood out most for achieving healthy communities were mental health, culture/art, safety, diversity, action, and healthy lifestyles.

Over lunch, there was a presentation from Photovoice. Alice Sabourin, who leads the project, recommended youth who were inspired to participate check out Nadya Kwandibens. She has a fabulous video on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MMsdl9-k1s

The motivational speaker was from Turtle Concepts www.turtleconcepts.com. He taught me that I can change the way people see me by changing what I do and how.

Putting the puzzle pieces together:
Get uncomfortable
Change it up
There are 525600 minutes in a year
Do it now
Do what youth steps to change are trying to create ]]> Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:58:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/632375 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/626229
I have some links to places that seem to be incorporating some the values of working as multidisciplinary teams and being welcoming to those who are starting out and becoming involved in their health care or the health of those they support.

The Canadian Mental Health Association http://www.cmha-tb.on.ca/bins/site_page2.asp?cid=284-1627-1632lang=1 has a New Foundations Clubhouse, where there is support for people who are in transition and looking for a scheduled work day. There is lifeskills training, socializing, and resources for consumers in a safe, friendly environment.

Youth Net incorporates youth engagment for consumers/supporters in centres across Canada. The idea is that the young adults can be facilitators for the youth because they are closer in age and the programming will make for a fun interaction through art, discussion, and recreational activities.

CHEO http://www.cheo.on.ca/english/1030.shtml is unique because they incorporate family and community into the care of children. This centre is one that can be an example for smaller communities who are starting to realize the importance of involving everyone in the treatment of individuals with special needs and mental health.

The Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs recently had a conference and web casted their keynote speakers http://www.lcnorth.ca/?display=home This is a great step towards greater attention paid to mental health and children in Northern Ontario. In the future, there will be opportunities like this for young adults and we are getting there.

There is also a good list of Ottawa-based centres that can be found on this link page http://www.youthnet.on.ca/main_english.php?section=viewresourcecategory=3]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:27:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/626229 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/613015
www.MindYourMind.ca is one of these. The interactive nature and the way you can post things for others to see increases communication around mental health.

The group that I am involved with in Thunder Bay, DEAL, is creating www.heresthedeal.ca, where you will be able to post art and writings.

There is also www.toolstolife.com that I stumbled upon, which is primarily a self-help website, but has a social networking community of support.

I am encouraged by www.mobilizingminds.ca, where young adults will be able to find out about methods of getting help and participate in projects around Canada. I am currently on the Young Adult Team for this project.

Children's Mental Health Ontario has come up with many resources including Ready Set Engage, a manual for youth http://www.kidsmentalhealth.ca/documents/Res_Ready_Set_engage.pdf

www.reachout.co.au is from Australia and there is a really neat simulation game where you can actually explore your mental health by using coping strategies. They also have information about many topics and little fax sheets.

www.youthnet.ca is the Canadian version of this and there will be fax sheets up very soon and they are currently being developed.

I'm feeling really hopeful about mental health care over the net. Although websites are not as intrusive, they can accompany anyone struggling with mental health issues.]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:38:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/613015 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/488595
The Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre is going to facilitate and any youth in Thunder Bay are invited to attend and supper will be provided.

In hopes that we can keep doing these workshops, we are going to try to track when the youth centre is most busy and continue having the gatherings on those nights.

Anyone interested can call the Multicultural Youth Centre.]]> Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:58:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/488595 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/482515
I have been in communication with the Independent Living Resource Centre and he likes the idea of TIG training. Youthscape has also expressed interest in TIG training.

The event I will be attending this month is tomorrow at Fort William First Nation. It is put on by Gitchi Gami (a grassroots environmental group). They were involved in the last climate change workshop we had.

I have a bite from a Westgate high school teacher for workshops and his world issues class will invite me in when they are doing the climate change unit. There are two teachers at Churchill High School who have been identified as socially-minded, so I will contact them next week.]]> Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:04:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/482515 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/477689
1. Review Workplan for Young Adult involvement: what needs to be done in next while (resources!)

2. Youth Recruitment Process: materials, activity /task /project team descriptions (realize!)

3. Toronto focus groups/interviews (recruitment!)

4. Logo and website development (reach out!)]]> Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:20:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/477689 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/474617
We are now responsible for compiling the newsletter which goes out to member organizations and youth centres across Canada.

If youth were to have access to documents around policy and procedure, would it turn them off? I am wondering how to involve young people who have and haven't been to the annual conference with the goal of combining youth centre efforts to find common national projects which could mean exhange ideas and information on a wide scale of topics to a large spectrum of youth.

Youth centres are becoming more specialized and sometimes there are 3-4 projects happening at any given time. Youth will step up to the challenge and progress towards compatible resources.]]> Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:11:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/474617 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/472805
I have begun work planning my first climate change workshops. I'm looking at two high schools, the first with a world issues class and the second with an environmental group/outdoors club. At both schools, there are people interested in helping as co-facilitators.

I am also in contact with the Thunder Bay Public library about using the space for social networking workshops in December.

Yesterday I met the Outreach Coordinator from the Indepependent Living Resource Centre and they are interested in TIG training.

I'm really looking forward to this year, year three, and meeting you!]]> Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:31:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/472805 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/463127
Other things we talked about were the Valentine's Day gala fundraiser which will be the biggest one next year. It will be $175 for a couple and they will get a package deal with the party.

Also, the CLE fundraiser was a success. We raised $1900 and they invited us back to do more. We are going to put some books in glass at the St. James school library where the money is going. And put the kids reading books into the newspaper in Thunder Bay.





]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:41:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/463127 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/460177
I will also be working for the Pathways project as youth team leader. This is a project where I will be involved in coordinating a youth team to be engaged in mental health research about depression and anxiety treatment options. This program is out of York University and will be working at Brock, University of Manitoba, Brandon University, McMaster, and York. There will be focus groups with young adults ages 18-25 to determine how they would like to receive treatment, who they would like to receive it from, and where they would like to get it.

It's going to be a busy year but I'm looking forward to it. I am going to set some priorities for my work and make sure I follow through on everything I am planning to do and develop my ideas by working with others and learning about the place of my projects in the world.]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:33:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/460177 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/459105
Down the road, we are also looking at one in Sioux Lookout and Kenora.

We also discussed the way that the Child and Youth Advocate Office will be run. Irwin wanted suggestions about the two options that the organization could have. One is to hire a worker in Thunder Bay and that would be grassroots and community based. The other option is to go to Toronto for guidance and get help running the Thunder Bay office from Toronto.

If we get a Thunder Bay office, I think it would help get Aboriginal youth involved in the process of decision making and Irwin suggested we get our message to the urban centres who will be funding us and making the decisions.]]> Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:26:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/459105 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/456663
The Youthscape LEGO grant selection committee is busy evaluating the allocation of funds for the next year. This new project is going to be a success because all applications were well received and there is a film, environmental project, photovoice, volunteerism project, and more.

The leadership team meeting was great this week and we made some progress in the community partnerships area. This project is going to be successful because there is not a research-driven mental health project like it yet that involves the community in an active way.

I've been busy working on the summer budget for Youthscape and getting the funds allocated to the proper areas for the next 3-4 months. The bookkeeper is looking at the budget for me and the Executive Director will look at it too when he gets back.]]> Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:44:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/456663 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/453849
The Rotaract fundraiser during the day helped us raise almost $2000 for the St. James School library. In the future, the youth centre should do the vehicle parking fundraiser too.]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:07:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/453849 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/450789
* Role of Committee Members
- Skills and abilities will be matched to working role so if someone is good at something, it will be encouraged that they pursue it.
- Under youth mentor/adult ally – we shall showcase people who are successful and encourage people who have great ideas

* Code of Conduct
- Express our opinions and ideas
- Not persuade a young person into doing something you want them to do

What will success look like?
- Youth led, set the bar for youth-led initiatives and be a model for youth engagement
- Empower youth and build capacity
- Target underserviced youth
- Evaluation and tract record of the impact made
- Youth/Adult partnerships
- More young people engaged/Community enhancement
- Successful applicants go on to be mentors for other youth
- Meet goals, learning, participation from youth
- Youth doing what they interests them
- Natural inclusion process of youth from adult allies in organizations, decision making processes, and systems
- Youth gain the skills to voice their opinions about how youth should be included
- Youth more connected to other youth efforts and groups
- Reinforcing youth involved in projects that affect their well-being
- Youth more aware of how to make impact and take action in their community
- Effect the community in a positive way
- Encourage more youth to do what they enjoy doing
- Have a fundraising committee in the City to showcase all of the projects to solicit support from City of Thunder Bay to have young people ask for grant making clubs that have one grant per year

Principle/Priority
- Funder’s forum
- Conference for awareness about the funding
- If we have youth to practice their proposal writing skills to help them learn how to write large-scale funding grant applications
- Quick action grants idea for small things that are low-organizational
- Meet again a few times in the next little while to clarify what amount of funding we will give to whom.

Selection
- We don’t want to pick apart the ideas to the point where youth lose their enthusiasm
- We want the end product to be a true reflection of the funder and the youth who are going through the struggles and challenges that they are speaking out against
- Are we engaging a diverse group?
- How are we going to give feedback to the young people? Send a delegation one on one to work through the issues, meet the person, and get them to expand. This is important for the learning process of the youth too
- Not any of the proposal should be rejected completely and we could help them to get to where they need to be suggested Renee.
- Sandra has hopes for the evaluation to pick the pieces out that were positive and every project has potential in line with Youthscape perceptive]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:54:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/450789 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/449485
We will be meeting over skype every Tuesday night at 7 PM and will be offering our ideas to the general adult board who meets quarterly.

I've attended TYPS for two years in a row and next year it is in Ottawa. Interested youth can find out more at www.typs.com.

For now, we are trying to come up with guest speakers and workshop topics as well as planning the gala luncheon to be held on Tuesday, October 28th. Also, we are looking for ideas on how to engage youth through information communication technologies, especially through TIG.

TIG also is getting Laidlaw grants to do workshops in SouthWestern Ontario and look at ways that youth centres have been involved in promoting recreation and helping some of those centres to communicate through the internet.

]]> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:18:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/449485 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/445039
The youth who participate in the planning put a lot of hard work into making others feel comfortable and enjoy themselves. There are sports, games, art walls, and smiles. I wonder if it would be worth our while to go later into the evening, but at the same time, it would be better if we had the support of the police to make sure that everything went well.

They started the barbecues last year and invited special guests from community agencies to promote their initiatives. Last year, we continued them and had basketball, hockey, pens and paints, and free food. Sometimes it might be better in this area to have more presence from the police because I don't feel very safe because most people are under the influence and may do things they wouldn't be proud of later.]]> Sat, 02 Aug 2008 10:26:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/445039 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/443715
Healthy Eating and Active Living, or HEAL, is a program of Aninshnawbe Mushkiki. The organizers spend every day travelling to sites around the city and promoting health for children in marginalized communities. It is a great idea for Thunder Bay and all the sites are welcoming and great partners.

I am enjoying the idea of continuing to help promote Anishnawbe Mushkiki's Aboriginal Youth Community Kitchen Program. This program is run by a past Multicultural Youth Centre member and is an opportunity for youth to learn and develop culinary skills, learn about nutrition, and make friends in a social setting. ]]> Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/443715 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/440707
Rotaract is also doing a fundraiser for St. James school at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition where we ask for donations from cars parked in the free parking lot. The funds will go towards the library at the school and we are also fundraising for a school playground.

In the future, there will be a Valentine's Day ball fundraiser and a longer week-long Leadership Camp or possibly two, in March and next summer.]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:31:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/440707 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/438551
We were able to provide the kids with some hands-on activities to improve their self-image and positive self-esteem. Body image is so important for youth who feel pressured by the media to look or act a certain way.

There is one more next week at Our Kids Count and I hope to involve them in more participatory activities, like making a "me" box you can decorate and fill with items, pictures, and written pieces that help to improve self-esteem.

]]> Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:19:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/438551 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/434379
The staff had good bonding time (eight of the staff working at the youth centre went down in our old van. I would change the activities for next time to make them more age appropriate. The younger kids in small towns want to go to the beach, so if I could think of some activities that are moveable and be open to new ideas, it would be more interesting for the 7-12 age bracket.

Sometimes it's difficult for me to accept that I'm no longer a kid, so it should be easy to act like one again!

If I can think like one, it would be fun for everyone. The workshop tomorrow at the Neighbourhood Policing station is related. It's on body image. These seem to be hot topics among marginalized youth. The important thing is to become as excited about these populations as other groups. ]]> Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:19:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/434379 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/428761
I think the youth council had such a great time there because they did not want to leave. I'm thrilled that our youth centre is doing so much for kids in the neighbourhood and now we're given the chance to be there for kids in other neighbourhoods too!

Of the 13 youth staff here this summer, there isn't one of them who won't go on to do greater things. If youth can get excited about playing with kids, there is so much potential and future for the world.]]> Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:46:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/428761 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/427001
Guideposts: Build youth communities through youth engagment:
1. Youth leadership
2. Learning community
3. Diversity
4. Accountability
5. Strength-based
6. Systems change
(Be the change you wish to see in the world)

Levels of decision-making: Underengaged to capacity building
1. Inform
2. Consult
3. Involve
4. Collaborate/partnership
5. Empower

Goals (our role will be decided by us)
- create track record
- selection
- accountability (monitoring)
- mentor/allies
- celebrate
- champion - spokespersons
- education
- share learning
- events

Youth stages in the application process:
1. Idea
2. Planning
3. Selection
4. Implementation
5. Evaluation

LEGO connectors will allocate $90 000 to successful applicants. There will be a meeting to support proposal writing and then we will meet again upon receival to review them.

Who: Youth in Simpson/Ogden, South Core, or Thunder Bay community who are 13-18 or 19-29
Underengaged youth target projects have priority
Willingness to share - learn is important
Youth... Voice... Spaces... Partnerships... Safety... Creating Change are the criteria categories.

What is success?
Youth impact peers, less engaged and community, organizations]]> Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:33:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/427001 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/418695
The Regional Multicultural Youth Council is collaborating with schools, community organizations, and youth to deliver an initiative that will empower youth to affect positive community change. We will reach out to young people through our project invented and run by youth. Our project will create a positive youth space in the Fort William area. Our youth centre provides young people with a place we can gather, meet, organize, and develop our own initiative. Young people gain comfort from having a common place where we feel welcome to come and can invite our friends and run inclusive programs. We will also work to improve the position of young people in the downtown Fort William neighbourhood so they will be better able to plan for their future and contribute to neighbourhood growth in Thunder Bay.

We will encourage creative partnerships by engaging young people through volunteer work together with other agencies in town and working together with other youth councils. We realize that there is a need for youth councils in the City to work together, so we will open the lines of communication between youth-friendly spaces and create opportunities for all youth to benefit from active engagement in projects that peak our interest and are matched to our skills and abilities. It is through our involvement with many committees working with youth or affecting youth that we will promote public awareness and community change. We have identified safety as a main concern and realize the importance of addressing safety through a youth perceptive.

Presently, I am developing a facilitator guide for young women at the Youth Centre in hopes that we will get the grant. One catch is that you need to have a charitable number. http://www.youthscape.ca/Communities_Thunder.html]]> Sun, 13 Jul 2008 10:20:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/418695 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333 http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/417743
These women are left with the overwhelming responsibility to care for grandchildren because the adult population is dying of AIDS. Nearly the population of Canada has died of AIDS.

The work that the Stephen Lewis Foundation is doing there is amazing! They travel in vans in Uganda with two nurses, a counsellor, and an someone living with AIDS to reduce the stigma, deliver medications, and talk to people affected by HIV/AIDS.

I'm interested in the fundraising projects that the Stephen Lewis Foundation is doing and I can't wait for the international conference and youth component the project is planning. If we can get young people involved and aware of the impact of HIV/AIDS, we will be respecting the grandmothers who have so much strength.]]> Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:51:00 EDT http://pfogarty.tigblog.org/post/417743 48.4 -89.233333348.4-89.2333333