AROUND THE CENTER
YPS Hosts 10th Annual Workshop
The Mandel Center's Youth Philanthropy and Service (YPS) program held its 10th Annual Workshop on February 8, 2006 at the Holiday Inn South in Independence, Ohio.
The YPS Annual Workshop provides K-12 teachers and administrators, youth development professionals, and K-12 youth with an opportunity to learn best practices and hear about local projects.
Over 350 people attended this year's Workshop, which is a 30 percent increase from previous high attendance, and more than half of the attendees were K-12 youth. The Workshop included 24 breakout sessions (including 13 with youth presenters) and 27 exhibitors.
Another highlight of this year's Workshop featured Steven Culbertson, President and CEO of Youth Service America (YSA), as the keynote speaker. For two years, The Nonprofit Times named Mr. Culbertson to "The NPT Power & Influence Top 50." In this connection, Mr. Culbertson was noted for his role in positioning volunteering and young people as an issue and a national priority. Mr. Culbertson was also recognized for his working to ensure that young people are not only heard by the organizations serving them, but also that they are provided with leadership positions. For more information about Mr. Culbertson and YSA, please visit www.ysa.org.
According to attendees, the most valuable part of the day was:
- Networking and collaborating with other people, meeting new people, and learning new ideas. [student]
- Learning from and getting inspired by Culbertson - great to hear from a national expert in youth service. [adult]
- Seeing how other groups help out in NE Ohio. [student]
- Meeting new people, young and old; learning how they operate their programs. [adult]
- The lesson: I learned more that I didn't know. [student]
- I always seem to get something from the keynote; networking with the teens. [adult]
- All of the workshops I attended were great. [student]
- Opportunity for youth to showcase their skills and experiences and to be encouraged to become giving adults. [adult]
For more information about the 2006 Annual Workshop, previous Workshops, or other YPS events, please visit the YPS website.
