Give back to Anytown: Anytown Alumni, we need you!

For more ways to get involved, go to our volunteer opportunities page!

• We are always looking for dynamic and responsible alumni (young or young at heart) to give back to Anytown. In fact, because of our unique methodology of peer education and experiential education, every Anytown session requires the participation of 25 volunteers to pass the curriculum on to a new generation of Anytowners. If you can give up five days or more to volunteer at Anytown during the summer, please click here or email us at volunteer@communitytampabay.org.

• If you would like to become an Anytown Intern at Community Tampa Bay, gain practical experience and be involved with the planning and preparation for Anytown throughout the year please contact Jessica Estévez for more information.

• If you would like to share the Anytown spirit in your schools and community through our Anytown Ambassador program, please contact Jessica Estévez.

• Your resources – In order to maintain and expand our programs, we need to continue developing our social capital by building partnerships, expanding and strengthening our resources. If you know of a neighborhood group, agency, organization, individual or business that is interested in supporting Anytown, please contact Jessica Estévez.

Enough individuals have graduated from Anytown to make up a small town; over 3,500 individuals have participated in Anytown since its inception in Tampa Bay in 1991! Below are some of the recent honors and accomplishments of Anytown Alumni.

If you are an Anytown graduate, stay connected with us so that we are aware of your stories and accomplishments! Stay informed about our programs and activities by subscribing to our e-news list and taking a Community Building Tour.

DECEMBER 2008 SPOTLIGHTS

Manuela Munoz-Alvarez

2008 Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award

Manuela is currently a freshman at Furman University. Manuela and her family moved to the United States from Columbia in 2000. When she arrived, she was not a native English speaker. She worked hard and not only picked up the language, but was active in Advanced Placement English classes in high school.

Manuela applied this same determination and work ethic to her community involvement. She was vice president of H.B. Plant's Student Advisoree Committee. She was a member of the National Honors Society and was selected by her peers as showing the most leadership in her Senior class. Several teachers at H.B. Plant noted that Manuela was admired among her peer group and school leadership.

She was involved in a number of activities in and out of school. Her most significant service was at Community Tampa Bay as a member of the Anytown program, a program designed to raise awareness of diversity and foster tolerance among teens. She planned a youth summit for other teens involved in the program for the purpose of learning and sharing ideas.

Says one of Manuela's former teachers, "Manuela Munoz-Alvarez is a rare find. She is a young woman who has found great success both in and out of school and who is truely a role model for her peers as she exhibits a passion for both scholarly achievement and community service.

Manuela's volunteer leadership experience taught her that it is important to gather ideas and opinions and listen carefully to others.

Manuela completed her internship with the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay where she was responsibkle for summer programming for many children. She led activities and provided a positive role model for the children in her care.

Taurean Wong

2008 Eddie Mitchell Tampa Hillsborough Human Rights Award

Taurean Wong has been chosen as the youngest recipient ever of a Human Rights Award from the Hillsborough Human Right’s Council. Taurean was selected for his ongoing service with Community Tampa Bay—in the past seven years, Taurean has volunteered over 22 weeks at Anytown and conducted numerous youth conferences and unity days in the schools across Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. Taurean credits Anytown with changing his perspective and changing his life.

In addition to his volunteer work with CTB, Taurean is a student at Hillsborough Community College where he exemplifies the Anytown spirit through civic engagement. Taurean was selected to attend the Global Young Leaders Summit (GYLS) in Australia by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC), being a representative for "Creating a Culture of Peace Conference" panel done at Hillsborough Community College’s Dale Mabry campus and leading the Sankofa Trail Student Union (multi-cultural club) at Hillsborough Community College in Brandon.

The impact Taurean has had on the lives of Bay area youth is immeasurable. Community Tampa Bay is proud to have nominated him for this award and greatly values the critical role he plays in our youth programs.

For more alumni profiles, go the the Alumni Archives page!

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Please notify us of any changes to your contact information. We want to stay connected and keep you informed of upcoming events like the annual Anytown Reunion!