The Club’s senior leadership has been part of an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) working group hosted by the Grunin Foundation since the fall of 2021, an initiative that focused its time and expertise on how to create change that will positively impact Central Jersey Shore communities. The group engaged in deep, ongoing conversations and conducted a needs assessment of our area to explore how a new program centered on teen empowerment and EDIB could be developed. The culmination of this work was the creation of “Teens Take the Lead,” a fully-funded, three-year, collaborative youth empowerment program. The Grunin Foundation has selected the Club as the lead agency for this initiative, where we will work with other agencies to empower future changemakers in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
“Teens Take the Lead” is based on the premise that youth leaders are a driving force in reimagining their communities and can have a significant impact by making them more inclusive and equitable. As such, the program will introduce a high-quality service learning project for Monmouth and Ocean County teens, driven by the ideas and passions of the participants themselves.
The program is intentionally designed with sessions that help youth brainstorm, plan, implement, and reflect upon a project of importance to them. In partnership with Club staff, teen leaders will engage in a three-step process to discover personal and collective passions, identify and address a community problem, and develop a project to activate participation from the community. This approach puts youth at the center of their own learning and supports their ongoing, active engagement.
As teens plan and implement this program, they will develop the key social-emotional skills of self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and responsible decision-making. “Teens Take the Lead” will provide enriching experiences and exposure to opportunities that help youth become strong leaders who create meaningful change in their community.
The Club is thankful for the Grunin Foundation’s support of this initiative, and we are excited to collaborate with like-minded organizations throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties!
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