HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH WANTED….ANYTOWN™ recruitment starts NOW!    

We envision a community free from all forms of discrimination.

 

“It wasn’t until I went through Anytown that I actually began to feel like I was somebody and that I could make a difference in my community”.

-Stephanie, ANYTOWN™ Graduate

 

ANYTOWN™ is a youth leadership and diversity education program, geared towards creating more inclusive and just schools and communities through experiential education and youth-adult partnerships.  This unique program begins with a 5 day, 4 night residential component in the summer, and continues with 5 skill building trainings throughout the following year, and at least 1 culminating inclusive community project.  The residential portion will be held at Eckerd College for high school students from Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties.   Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a “best practice” and deemed ‘highly effective’ in a recent USF study, the delegates call the program “life changing!”  Students pay $125 toward the fees associated with the program. All other program fees, accommodations, meals, transportation and materials, (over $1500 for the year) are provided by Community Tampa Bay with generous support from local foundations, businesses, schools and individuals. Students who cannot afford the $125 fee can request a waiver. This is the only local program that addresses both youth leadership development and diversity awareness.

 

ANYTOWN™ graduates chose to lead in many forms including: addressing the FL Children and Youth Cabinet seeking more youth inclusion in decision making;  planning and implementing community youth summits and conferences, serving on the Community Tampa Bay Board, and leading university clubs that promote respect and diversity at: USF, FSU, and UF and countless other acts, large and small.

 

Building a community takes partnerships and there are two ways you can help make our community more inclusive:

 

·         Identifying and recruiting emerging student leaders ages 14-18 to participate in our ANYTOWN™ program beginning this summer.  Please find the delegate application attached.  Each class is composed of 60 delegates and 20 volunteers selected to create a diverse community committed to inclusion. Click HERE for the application! DEADLINE for applications is April 30, 2012!   We have a waitlist each year so apply early!

 

·         The program’s average cost is $1500, yet through donations and grants, we can reserve spots for youth you select through a special partnership agreement with your agency.   We would welcome an invitation to visit your organization to make a presentation for audiences of 15 or more (either for youth from 9^th to 12^th grade, parents, or potential volunteers).  

 

ANYTOWN™ will launch 3 delegate classes this summer (program runs Sun-Thurs):

June 23-28 *** July 7-12 *** July 21-26

 

 

Please forward, copy and distribute this information to interested persons and contact us with questions.

Sarah Ogdie sogdie@communitytampabay.org  or Jessica Estévez jestevez@communitytampabay.org  phone: 727-568-9333

 

 

Community Tampa Bay promotes dialogue and respect among all cultures, religions and races

by cultivating leaders to change communities.