EVERYDAY LEADERSHIP EXPLAINED

Posted by JEFF LARSEN on Feb 02, 2020
Everyday Leadership is an afterschool program for select at-risk 5th and 6th graders in Title One Schools in the Boise School District. It focuses on teaching life skills and building self-esteem.
 
This is a collaboration with the Boise School District, YMCA, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and Boise Sunrise Rotary Club. In December, we heard from Bob Rainville of Sunrise Rotary and Sonia Galaviz, our outstanding 5th Grade Teacher who leads the Garfield program. They shared with us the great results of the Everyday Leadership Program our Boise Metro Rotary Club supports at Garfield Elementary School. Outcomes being achieved include: positive behavioral changes, improved grades, reduced disciplinary incidences, high selection for other leadership programs. I have attached Bob’s presentation.
 
In all, 6 Title One Schools in Boise are involved. Long term goals are to expand to all Boise Title One Schools by 2021/22. We also seek to inspire adoption by other Treasure Valley School Districts.

 
The Everyday Leadership Program meets about every two weeks from 3:30pm to 5pm on Tuesdays during the school year. Their teacher presents the highly interactive lessons. The students frequently break into smaller workgroups to discuss concepts and brainstorm responses. The Rotary Members and YMCA representatives mingle and interact with the students. We use impromptu opportunities to reinforce the leadership concepts or ideas they are discussing by sharing from our own work and life experience.
 
The Everyday Leadership students also create and engage in Service Projects such as Food Drives, Rake Up Boise, and teaching younger students. They have a major Service Project coming up on Saturday March 7th to produce a STEM camp for the younger grades. On March 14th, they will be staffing a rest stop during the St Patrick’s Day YMCA Fun Run. On April 18th, they will be helping us with the Fish Derby. Finally, the Everyday Leadership Program finishes with a 3-day leadership camp from April 30 to May 2nd at YMCA's Horsethief Camp in Cascade. For many, this will be the first camp experience of their lives.
 
We have supported Everyday Leadership since 2018 via Boise Metro fundraising (e.g. Fish Derby) and annual District Matching Grants. What is equally important is the role our personal involvement and mentorship plays in showing these young students that they matter!
 
We currently have a base group of volunteers, but more are needed! We would like to engage as many of you who would like to come see what this program is all about. We want to plant seeds with our club members about the next school year. We want ensure we sustain our support and mentorship of Garfield students into the future. And there is even an opportunity to expand the program to other elementary schools in partnership with Sunrise Rotary if we get more Boise Metro Rotarians interested to participate. There are 4 more regular sessions this school year:  2/11; 2/25; 3/10; and 3/31. So come check it out! 
 
Okay...So how can I get involved?
1.     Be a Guest Rotary Attendee at one of the 4 remaining Tuesday after school sessions this school year (2/11; 2/25; 3/10; and 3/31).
2.     Become a Regular Rotary Attendee for this school year or the next school year.
3.     Come observe their Service Project...the STEM Camp to be held Saturday March 7th from 10am to 12 Noon at Garfield Elementary.
4.     Come be a chaperone at their next Service Project…the students are staffing a rest stop on the YMCA Fun Run course to be held Saturday March 14th at Julia Davis Bandshell at 9am.
5.     We look forward to engaging the EL students in the April 18th Fish Derby this year as both participants and helpers. Help us by being an “Adult Fishing Buddy” who helps the EL students get the most out of the Fish Derby.
6.     Sign up to be a Leadership Camp Volunteer - some portion of April 30 to May 2nd in Cascade. This requires background checks so let us know as soon as you can if this interests you.
7.     Consider being a financial supporter of this important youth program by making a monetary contribution through Boise Metro so we can earn matching Grant District dollars.
Who do I contact?
Contact any of the following so that we can coordinate your participation and give you logistics: