Youth Community Development Team Committee Report

With comfortable greetings of familiar respect, the young leaders from three high schools arrived with enthusiasm for their learning experience in team building and philanthropy.  Una Martone, President of Leadership Harrisburg welcomed the group and congratulated the students on the initial funding of more than $3,000.  The students signed thank you notes to the donors. The group quickly launched the day's activities with a mind teasing team game provided by Wendell Murray of Barak Inc.  Designed to get students and adults to think creatively and look at options when looking at word patterns it was a great start for the day of listening, analysis and discussion. 

The students shared thoughts about the book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens," by Sean Covey, on how it provided ideas and solutions for leadership in their daily lives with Rotarian Jeannette Archer-Simons,.  From planning for the most important tasks to listening and feedback, the students identified skills gained from their reading.  The students used the knowledge to interview philanthropists from Rotary and Leadership Harrisburg about what influenced their giving and then groups shared giving perspectives with the class.

The fast pasted first hour of activity prepped the students for their own team discussions about philanthropy. The young leaders reviewed proposals representing organizations who felt they could effectively provide learning opportunities for at risk youth that would help them achieve a higher education.  Each group presented the strengths and weaknesses they found in their review.  "How will our $6,000 make an impact," they asked?  "Will the project outlined serve an appropriate number of students?  How can the YCDT students be involved in the project and help serve as role models and mentors for other students?"  The students showed their passion for having the greatest effect with the dollars raised.  They demonstrated their commitment to involvement - even with the projects which were not selected by asking if they could help.  The young leaders expressed concern that the proposals would not do enough to help - when advanced education in their words, "is critical to changing lives and the community." 

Three organizations were selected to present at the next YCDT session - YMCA Teen Achievers, the Joshua Group and Junior Achievement.  Students will interview each group in March to identify the final project that will help these young leaders achieve their goal of providing more resources for students who may not think college or technical school is possible. With the grant award to a project of $6,000 at hand, the group discussed a presentation to the Harrisburg Rotary on March 9th for the remaining funding.  Karen Snider YCDT Chair announced a special Rotary initiative approved by the board to support the student project.  The students quickly discussed strategy to achieve the funding goal.  Don't miss your opportunity to help these young leaders grow in their effort to change the community!

The next class will be held on March 10, 2009 from 11:00AM to 1:00AM in the conference room at the Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.  For more information about how you can be involved or if you are interested in more information about the funding needs for their project, please contact Karen Snider, Chair at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  

Applications for next year's program are being distributed to schools and a mid-year report is going to each principal.  Please encourage Juniors and Seniors you may know to apply.

Students from mid-year evaluations of this year indicate why this program makes a difference:

• "Experienced interacting and connecting with new people."
• "Gained confidence and knowledge."
• "Able to positively affect the community."
• "Learning to work as a team."
• "Increased public speaking ability."
• "Learned how to be a better leader, how to improve my community and how to influence others."