MYO
MYO is @ Me; it's @ You; it's @ all of Us--and it is making growing up more healthy, safe, and fun by being the brand to believe in!
About You
About You
First Name
Paige
Last Name
Nelson
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
About Your Organization
Organization Name
RYASAP
Organization Website
Organization Country
United States, CT, Bridgeport, Fairfield County
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, CT, Bridgeport, Fairfield County
Is your organization a
Non‐profit / NGO / Citizen sector organization
Your role in Education
Other.
The type of school(s) your solution is affiliated with
Public (tuition-free)
How long has your organization been operating?
More than 5 years
The information you provide here will be used to fill in any parts of your profile that have been left blank, such as interests, organization information, and website. No contact information will be made public. Please uncheck here if you do not want this to happen..
Innovation
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Scaling (the next step will be growing impact on a regional or even global scale)
How long has your solution been in operation?
Operating for 1‐5 years
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
The social and emotional health of today's teens is declining, as are core competencies related to personal self-awarenss, like critical thinking, resilience, and empathy. With rates of media consumption on the increase during a time of life when parental engagement declines and peer influence increases, the importance of both healthy relationships and the ability to process information is crucial. This lack of connectedness can also be seen in the rising rates of teen dating violence, teen suicides in response to bullying, depression and anxiety, and general isolation.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
Achieving a thriving adolescence means considering more than the intellectual realm and today's schools have to better reach the needs of today's teens.
This means ensuring that young people are on the right path to transition to adulthood and are ready to handle the responsibilities and freedoms of living independently, forming and sustaining relationships, and being citizens of the world. MYO ("mee-yo"): Mine. Yours. Ours. focuses on achieving a thriving adolescence for area teens and building this generation’s youth leadership model. MYO is about personal development, understanding others, and navigating the shared spaces. MYO believes that growing up should be healthy, safe, and fun—and MYO recognizes the power of youth to make positive change in their lives, the lives of their peers, and in the greater world. MYO is a network of youth programs, a process of leadership, an online community, and a calendar of engaging events and activities.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
MYO is the new, cool teen brand at school: it is college-aged “directors “ dressed in MYO blue creating consistent, creative, and compelling programming during the school day. MYO combines the elements of “mine, yours, and ours” to form a comprehensive youth development program aimedIn Mine, youth develop a sense of self & the ability to reflect & process life through journaling/blogging, one-on-one time with their director, & via exploratory & creative journeys (vision boards, "technology time-outs", personal field trips); in Yours, youth learn about communication, relationships, & teamwork through youth group sessions, trainings (Safe Dates, Social Media 101), & group projects & activities (media literacy sessions, or study circle dialogues); and, in Ours, youth act to make the world a better place, learning practical knowledge about how societies function & how to enact social change (taking part in community service, attending civic events to bring youth voice, or leading a social change project in the school). The progression of knowledge of self to understanding of others to greater social awareness is the MYO model, which builds crucial core competencies like resilience, empathy, and critical thinking that the current classroom struggles to fit into the school day. MYO does this by infusing the school day with MYO Youth directors who work in teams to provide this extra programming and be available for students during the day, working with each specific school to incorporate the instructional elements as well as creative outlets, fun, and relationship accountability.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
MYO's competitors are the "hot" brands of the marketplace--because that is who is really competing for the hearts and minds (and money) of today's teens. MYO competes because the product is cool and students, at this point, feel brand loyalty. The MYO logo has come to represent something that teens know is good for them, good for others, and good for the world. It is something fun, something they want to be a part of, and something they are willing to learn from. This strategy, backed up by high-quality programming and well-trained directors, has the potential to change social norms and build healthier, safer outcomes for today’s youth—by yes, replacing the current marketplace image of the over-sexualized images with healthy teens, having fun, caring about others, & making social change.
Now that you have thought out your entry, help us pitch it.
Define your company, program, service, or product in 1-2 short sentences [136 characters]
MYO is @ Me; it's @ You; it's @ all of Us--and it is making growing up more healthy, safe, and fun by being the brand to believe in!
Identify what is innovative about your solution in 1-2 short sentences [136 characters]
Teens today want what is real, cool, and fun. Programming needs to keep up with what teens want while also providing what they need.
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
MYO added school reform leadership groups in 2011, now expanded to each high school and also launched MYO AmeriCorps to foster the development of high quality youth directors, expand capacity, and elevate teen dating violence as a critical service category. MYO implemented 23 programs and taught 26 classes in 6 schools, reaching 870 youth with 5 program staff, and managed the website myospace.org and published the first “myozine” magazine as well as ran over 25 activities and events. At the close of August, MYO had trained and graduated 42 AmeriCorps Members and enrolled 17 more for the school year.
Initial results from MYO’s healthy relationships work with the Start Strong Initiative show significant positive results. Teachers, students, and parents report that the MYO Initiative is having a positive effect: “Wow, that was fun—and I learned something, too!” A buzz about “those cool people who talk about relationships” has become a general enthusiasm when someone appears in MYO blue.
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
The smiley face sticker IS the MYO logo--
MYO aims to reach each student in the District, providing youth director support and involvement to all students. The projected impact in 3 years is the expansion of MYO to every school in Bridgeport, providing enough MYO staff coverage to offer youth group membership to each student and constant presence in the hallways during schools. MYO projects outcomes of this expansion to include: improvement of school climate (specifically reduction of bullying, dating violence, truancy, and general disrespect of persons), increased school spirit and student achievement, and greater student wellness, in terms of emotional management, self-awareness, critical thinking & problem solving skills, connectedness to community and peers, and resiliency.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
MYO will increase # of schools from 8 to 12 and # number of MYO AmeriCorps Members serving as youth directors from 17 to 30.
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your six-month milestone
Task 1
Begin earlier recruitment campaign for AmeriCorps youth directors to reach wider market.
Task 2
Approach 4 schools who have shown interest to establish in-school programming and relationship
Task 3
Establish metrics for both process and outcome evaluation in order to track and measure success
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
MYO will begin product development phase, compiling a MYO curriculum & related certification for possible course credits.
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your 12-month milestone
Task 1
Publication of Mine. Yours. Ours. curricular components
Task 2
Wave 2 of evaluation protocols to measure effectiveness
Task 3
Marketing and submission of curriculum to solicit course credit for students
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world [125 words]
After a Valentine’s Day school visit that entailed a lunchroom skit with “MYO Man” dressed in a morph suit and several MYO AmeriCorps youth directors during Teen dating Violence Awareness Month, a funder and school administrator remarked how excited the students were but were also learning: “Wow, this kind of creative education is working on an individual level but also on a school wide level—can you train my teachers?” Another school remarked: "I want you here next year and MORE of you." Yet another funder pushed for MYO at all high schools, demanding that "MYO is vital for this city's school reform efforts; this will work." MYO's main AHA moment came when younger students and parents began calling, asking how they can be involved and students in middle and high school began wearing (MYO) aqua blue and parading around the logo'ed stickers and bags. This AHA moment for MYO became known as "it's happening...!" around the office.
Sustainability
Tell us about your partnerships
RYASAP operates from an asset based community development framework that harnesses the positive attributes, skills, talents & contributions of individuals, associations & institutions to address community needs by convening stakeholders around an "open table" to engage all citizens in leadership development & is a leader in tackling tough issues & working both with neighbors at the grassroots level & with government leaders at the local, state & national policy levels. As a convener & partner, RYASAP’s strength is in garnering support, focusing discussion, and implementing objectives.
What type of team (staff, volunteers, etc.) will ensure that you achieve the growth milestones identified in the Social Impact section? [75 words]
MYO is administered by the YouthINC Department of RYASAP, headed by the YouthINC Director who developed, built, & continues to grow the program. Together with a YouthINC Manager & a YouthINC Coordinator, the Director oversees the program itself & the AmeriCorps Program, through which MYO youth directors are recruited. Main staff have strong commitments to & experience with working with youth, social justice, & creative programming & hold high standards of performance for all AmeriCorps youth directors, who receive high quality training& are given hands-on management, support, & oversight.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
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