CenteringYoungAudiences inVolunteerOpportunities
NOVAAWorkshopFacilitatedbyMiguelRodriguez
1. Introductions + Name Card Activity (15 mins)
2. Facilitator Background (10 mins)
3. What is a Volunteer? (10 mins)
4. What’s your Volunteerism Context? (25 mins)
5. Break #1 (10 mins)
6. Drawing Game (10 mins)
7. Youth Culture(10 mins)
8. Communication and Authenticity (10 mins)
9. Outreach and Accessibility (10 mins)
10. Retention and Mentorship (10 mins)
11. Break #2 (10 mins)
12. Q&A with Miguel (20 mins)
13. Action Plans! (40 mins)
Introductions + Name Cards
● Create a name card by folding it hot dog style, and include the following:
a. Your name
b. The organization you represent
● Be prepared to quickly share what brought you to this workshop!
Facilitator Background
MiguelRodriguez(akaMikeFirm)isaPortland-basedcreativewitha focusonmultimedia,storytelling,andcommunitybuilding.Duringthe past10+yearshehasworkedinsecondaryandhighereducation,aswell asthemuseumandnonprofitsectors.
Heleadshisworkwithsystems-level,community-led,and relationship-basedpracticesandvalues.Miguel’sroleasadesigneristo notonlyhighlightthepervasivesystemsthatadverselyimpactour conditions,buttoalsotakeactionablestepstowardscreatingnewand justfutureswithhiscommunities.Thisrequiresaninterdisciplinary, collaborative,andpeople-centeredapproachthatcentersdesign justiceandparticipatoryframeworks.
MiguelcurrentlyworksattheOregonMuseumofScienceandIndustry (OMSI)asaTalentDevelopment&InclusionStrategist,andhehasanMFA inCollaborativeDesignfromthePacificNorthwestCollegeofArt(PNCA) andBSinMathematicsfromPortlandStateUniversity.
Facilitator Background
Since2016,I’ve“formally” workedwithyouthina varietyofcapacities.
However,thisisbarely scratchingthesurfaceof theexperiencesthathave influencedmyapproachand praxisforworkingwithyouth.
Keyexperienceshave involvedworkingwithhigh schoolstudents,college students,tutorvolunteers, interns,andmore!
What is a Volunteer?
● How would you define a volunteer?
○ What are the requirements?
○ Why is it important?
○ What are the benefits?
○ What types are there?
What is a Volunteer?
● How would you define a volunteer?
○ What are the requirements?
○ Why is it important?
○ What are the benefits?
○ What types are there?
● Common Types of Volunteerism:
○ Corporate
○ Student
○ School
○ Community
○ Virtual
○ Emergency Relief
○ Event
Sources: Meriam-Webster (link) + bloomerang (link)
What’s Your Volunteerism Context?
● Think: Spend 5 minutes answering the questions in the handout on your own.
What’s Your Volunteerism Context?
● Think: Spend 5 minutes answering the questions in the handout on your own.
● Pair: Spend 10 minutes sharing your thoughts with at least two peers!
What’s
Your Volunteerism Context?
● Think: Spend 5 minutes answering the questions in the handout on your own.
● Pair: Spend 10 minutes sharing your thoughts with at least two peers!
● Group: Let’s spend 15 minutes discussing what we learned about each others’ organizations, our volunteer base / aspirations, etc.
BREAK #1
Be back in 10 mins
Drawing Game
Get a blank piece of paper and a writing tool:
● You cannot lift it.
● You cannot look down
● It has to be continuous. A single line.
● Keep adding detail until the very end.
Youth Culture
● When you were in high school, what was considered cool to you? What are some examples?
● How did things differ between you and your parents, family, or caretakers?
● When did things start to change, and why?
Youth Culture
● When you were in high school, what was considered cool to you? What are some examples?
● How did things differ between you and your parents, family, or caretakers?
● When did things start to change, and why?
Youth Culture refers to the ways that teenagers and young adults live their lives - things like their interest, behaviors, music, beliefs, the way they talk, clothes, etc. It can be influenced by many societal factors.
However, one of the biggest factors is that youth are trying to figure out who they are!
Sources: Medium (link), Dazed (link), British Vogue (link), Highsnobiety (link), and Encyclopedia.com (link)
Communication and Authenticity
● When you were younger, when where the times you felt the most seen? Heard? Validated?
● What did others do OR not do? How did this make you feel or impact your sense of self?
● What kind of people demanded your attention or respect when you were younger? What about them stood out?
Communication and Authenticity
● When you were younger, when where the times you felt the most seen? Heard? Validated?
● What did others do OR not do? How did this make you feel or impact your sense of self?
● What kind of people demanded your attention or respect when you were younger? What about them stood out?
In the context of Hip-Hop, authenticity is a currency. If you don’t have it, it can make or break you, especially in relating to your audiences. Authenticity is important for an individual’s psychological development, and inauthenticity can hinder or affect this development.
Sources: Springer Link (link), ScienceDirect (link), Medium (link), and Los Angeles Review of Books (link)
Outreach and Accessibility
● Youth and younger audiences learn about news, opportunities, stay connected, and more through the use of social media + digital channels + cell phones. There is an element of convenience here.
Outreach and Accessibility
● Youth and younger audiences learn about news, opportunities, stay connected, and more through the use of social media + digital channels + cell phones. There is an element of convenience here.
Whether it’s reaching younger audiences through the use of QR codes in your flyers, social media campaigns, swag, or by connecting with trusted adults in their circles, adapting to this changing landscape is necessary for outreach.
Outreach and Accessibility
● Youth and younger audiences learn about news, opportunities, stay connected, and more through the use of social media + digital channels + cell phones. There is an element of convenience here.
Whether it’s reaching younger audiences through the use of QR codes in your flyers, social media campaigns, swag, or by connecting with trusted adults in their circles, adapting to this changing landscape is necessary for outreach.
Additionally, it’s important to recognize that even within younger volunteers, needs and desires can vary because of their identities e.g. age, race, ethnicity, gender, culture, abilities, etc.
Being accommodating throughout the process can help demystify your organization to them. Take a look at the language of your opportunities, how long it takes to become a volunteer, and meet them in their spaces when possible.
Sources: Pew Research Center (link), University of Oxford and Reuters Institute (link), Coyote Communications - Jayne Cravens (link)
Retention and Mentorship
● Retention of younger volunteers is pretty similar to other volunteers; however, as we have discussed, there’s an added layer of them trying to figure out who they are becoming.
If I could sum it up, I would say it requires:
1. Being adaptable to their needs.
2. Understanding where they’re coming from—everything that makes up who they are—followed by recognition and validation.
3. Being authentic: they know when you’re bullshitting them or not being real with them.
4. Incorporating your own style and approach to build trust and rapport.
Retention and Mentorship (cont.)
● Mentorship—in my opinion—is the most effective way of retaining younger volunteers because it provides both sides the opportunity to grow.
If I could sum it up, I would say it requires:
1. Taking the time to work with young volunteers to understand their goals and ambitions. Some want to be competitive for college, scholarships, or want to network.
2. Patience. Some volunteers might be more hesitant to ask for help, and this can be exacerbated by lack of experience.
3. Humility. Especially when it comes to mistakes, we’ve all been there; sharing your own story or path helps break down barriers.
4. Flexibility. Both in schedule and projects. Volunteering is a commitment, and things can come up that impact this directly.
BREAK #2
Be back in 10 mins
Q&A Time
What questions do you have about centering young audiences in volunteer opportunities?
Action Plans!
● We are going to spend the next 40 mins to work on our individual next steps. You can work by yourself, but I would encourage you to lean in on making new friends or collaborating with each other on ideas.
● I will be walking around to answer additional questions or provide y’all with tips or ideas based on your organizations’ contexts.
IwillbesharingtheslidedeckwithKristen,whowillsenditouttotoday’s workshopattendees.
IfyouwanttostayintouchorlearnmoreabouttheworkthatIdo,check outthefollowing:
● Website:mikefirm.com
● LinkedIn:@miguel-rodriguez-pdx
● Email:mrodriguez@omsi.edu