According to Dosomething.org, you have the power to make a difference. It is Do Something’s goal to “inspire, support, and celebrate a generation of doers.” These are teens and young “people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action.” Do Something provides the tools and resources for young people to convert their ideas and energy into positive action.
Dosomething.org recently hosted a Social Action Boot Camp at the Boston Children’s Museum for over 100 teens and young adults under age twenty-five; the event attracted youth from across the nation who gathered together to network and share their projects with professionals and each other through a series of workshops and activities. Workshops included Branding and Marketing, Building a Website, Public Relations, Activism, Expanding Your Project, Succession Planning, and Managing Your Money.
Boot Camp participant Ali Umland of Nebraska said, “It was lots of fun getting to know people from all over the place. I got lots of good ideas to make my organization better. My organization is about keeping kids safe in rural areas. Every year we have a safety day.”
Students practiced their pitches with professionals from many different industries through a “speed-pitching” activity. Much like speed-dating, students sat around a room and switched seats to speak with different professionals every couple of minutes. Participants were judged by the clarity of their program, clearly stated objectives, knowledge of intended audience, and the ability to convey the idea that their organization is not all about making money. The Boot Camp was also streamed live online at Dosomething.org, where people watching from home asked students real-time questions about their projects.
Social Action Boot Camp participant Oren Ofer, a student from the University of California, Santa Barbara is currently working on a project that aims to bridge communication between Palestinians and Israelis. While a soldier with the Israeli Army, Ofer recalled meeting a Palestinian soldier. He explained how he turned a tense situation into one where both men found “common ground” and led to “conversation and a hug.”
Ofer said, “I am a Strauss scholar based in California. They choose fourteen people per year to do community service projects and they gave me $10,000. I am also a disaster grant relief writer.”
If you missed Do Something’s Boston Boot Camp event, you don’t need to worry as Do Something offers a variety of events and opportunities throughout the year that encourage teens to get involved. “We have a Do Something Boot Camp six times per year in different cities,” said Melanie Stevenson who is involved with Do Something’s Business Development.
She added, “These teens are amazing and we love providing an opportunity for them to network with each other. I always see people [at this conference] exchanging phone numbers and emails. I love seeing young people sharing advice. They can also post their projects and find resources on our website. Do Something is about enabling any group or person to get involved anywhere.”
After an hour of pitching her project to a wide array of professionals, Angi Kang, a recent Tufts University graduate said, “The conference was so great. It provided us with a lot of good resources. I got a lot of good feedback from people. It allowed us to communicate our projects in an effective manner and I learned how to organize my pitch more.”
Want to learn more about upcoming Social Action Boot Camps? Visit www.dosomething.org/training/bootcamp. Registered TeenLife Boston members can also learn more about Do Something by visiting their online profile. If you are not a member, JOIN NOW. Natalie Ornell is a former TeenLife Boston intern. She is currently a sophomore at Wellesley College and is interested in east asian studies, journalism, and english.
Pictured Above: High school and college students who have won Do Something grants to support their projects served as key-note panelists at Do Something's 2009 Boston Boot Camp. Their projects (from left): Cell Phones for Soldiers, Bicycles Against Poverty, & Always Ready Kids. --Photo Courtesy ofDoSomething.Org
Print Page
Email to a Friend
RSS
According to Dosomething.org, you have the power to make a difference. It is Do Something’s goal to “inspire, support, and celebrate a generation of doers.” These are teens and young “people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action.” Do Something provides the tools and resources for young people to convert their ideas and energy into positive action.