What Would You Do If You Won The Lottery?

Today the estimated jackpot for Mega Millions is $92,000,000.  The estimated jackpot for Powerball is $112,000,000. 

I don’t play the lottery so there is no way that can win the lottery but let’s play “what if” anyway.

What if YOU won the lottery?  How would you give and serve your community if you won the lottery?  YES, I’m assuming that you will give and serve your community.

• Would you pay for low income students to attend college?
• Would you build a homeless shelter or domestic violence shelter?
• Would you sponsor a struggling school?
• Would you adopt multiple children and youth from foster care?
• Would you launch a job readiness program for teens aging out of foster care?
• Would you fund child abuse prevention programs?

I Am Unable to Adopt or Foster, Now What?

#Fact: The more birthdays a child celebrates in the foster care system, the less likely they are of being adopted. Older children need families too.

Foster care statistics according to the AFCARS Report for FY2011 (July 2012):

• 400,540 in foster care on 9/30/11
• 252,320 entered foster care during FY2011
• 104,236 children and youth waiting to be adopted
• 31,101 seventeen year olds in foster care
• 29,264 sixteen year olds in foster care
• 24,220 fifteen year olds in foster care

Raising awareness about the need to help teenagers in foster care ‘secure’ a forever family through adoption or to help them develop a support system of caring adults who will assist them after their foster care services end is essential to improving their quality of life.

I’m unable to adopt or become a parent what else can I do?

So glad you asked that question.  There are so many ways to get involved to support teenagers and young adults in foster care.

A Positive Alternative to Hollywood Celebrity Worship

Are you following the lives of Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Pipa Middleton, Drake (congrats to him for earning his GED this month), Usher, or Justin Timerlake?  New pregnancies, hot couples, divorces, altercations, arrests, CD releases — sometimes the title of pop culture critic fits me very well.  Other times I wish I could make the celebrity drama disappear from the headlines or at least completely erase it from my consciousness.  I would never want to earn my paycheck as a pop culture analyst but I try to abreast of the big things happening in Hollywood.  Why?  Because I am a firm believer in meeting youth where they are I can’t turn away completely.

I always infuse real life examples in my discussions and workshops with young people.  More often than not the youth are engulfed in the lives of celebrities so I engage them in conversations and activities about strengths and weaknesses, challenges and triumphs, loyalty and disappointments, and reality versus fantasy.  For better or worse many young people regard actors and musicians as role models.  I instituted our SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month feature to provide a positive alternative to Hollywood celebrity worship.

Is SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month Safe?

The Teen Toolbox is on a mission to raise awareness about the needs and potential of youth in transition from foster care and work to counteract negative statistics and stories by showcasing the talent and determination in young people.  We invite you to nominate a teen for our “SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month” feature which recognizes a youth in the foster care system (14-21) that is leading a life of promise and making a positive impact in his or her community.
 
Have you nominated a teen for “SPOTLIGHT Teen of the Month” yet?  Are you wondering if submitting the nomination is a safe or smart thing to do?  I understand completely.   In fact, I have had similar concerns when I’ve seen profiles of youth awaiting adoption on my local news or adoption website, or in the email newsletters from organizations that serve youth in foster care. 

Become a Mandela Day Changemaker

What is Mandela Day? – Following the success of Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations in London’s Hyde Park in June 2008, a decision was made to celebrate Mr. Mandela’s birthday each year with a day dedicated to his life’s work and that of his charitable organizations, and to ensure his legacy continues forever. 

The Mandela Day campaign message is simple: Mr. Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. Mandela Day is a call to action for people everywhere to take responsibility for making the world a better place.  By becoming a Mandela Day Changemaker you can show that actions speak louder than words.

Get Involved: Nelson Mandela gave 67 years of his life to the struggle for social justice. Individuals, organizations and communities are urged to give 67 minutes of your day on July 18, 2012 in service. You can add to the initiative’s momentum by telling as many people as possible about it.   67 Ways To Change The World

Global Youth Service Day Project Idea: Pack A Backpack™

Student Service Learning versus Community Service

Student Service Learning (SSL) is a teaching method that combines meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning.  SSL includes phases of preparation, action, and reflection.  Two of the best practices in service learning recognized in the state of Maryland are that the student achieves curricular objectives and the student reflects throughout the experience.   With volunteerism or community service there are no established academic guidelines, the planning and preparation phase may not be as complex, and school documentation is not required.

Research suggests that youth who engage in volunteering and other positive activities are more likely to be successful at school and to avoid risky behaviors, such as drug and alcohol use, crime, and promiscuity.  Youth are most likely to volunteer because they are asked–and when they are asked.  Meaningful civic engagement helps students develop workforce ethics and leadership skills.  The Teen Toolbox recognizes the potential of all youth to make meaningful contributions in their communities. 

Global Youth Service Day

Are Your Youth Still Volunteering?

If you’ve ever met me in person, read my blog, or follow me on social media you know that I am a HUGE proponent of volunteerism.  I believe whole heartedly that civic engagement builds character, leadership, and confidence in youth. The right service opportunity can help youth develop compassion, responsibility, and critical thinking skills.  I know firsthand that meaningful community service can also assist in career exploration as youth develop marketable skills.

Although we’re only in the second month of the New Year, there have been three opportunities to engage youth in volunteering and community service that I find significant.  The first was the Youth Service America Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 16, 2012.  We were encouraged serve our community and use the national holiday as a “day on not a day off”.  I wrote a blog about it at http://theteentoolbox.com/how-will-your-youth-serve/)  Second is the GOOD 30-Day Challenge: Become A GOOD Citizen which began on February 1, 2012.  GOOD celebrates the diverse ways, both large and small, that we can give back to our community.  Each day we are invited to perform a different task that will help us along the road of becoming a good citizen all year long.  (You can read more at http://www.good.is/post/the-good-30-day-challenge-become-a-good-citizen/ )  February 13-19, 2012 was celebrated as Random Acts of Kindness Week.   There is no mistaking the purpose of this week – show unexpected kindness to others.  (You can read more at http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/RAK-Week/ )  I love and see the value in each of them!