Stand Up CLTC!

The Aim of this program is to:

·  Introduce the Stand Up! Campaign to all CLTC participants

·  Have participants articulate what they will Stand Up! for starting at CLTC and post on the Stand Up! FB page

·  Have teens create short PSA videos to be posted on the Stand Up! FB page

·  Have teens create an action plan to take home with them for use on the chapter level

Supplies:

2 -Flip charts/posters, ”I Pledge” video, “I pledge” forms, Jewish Values to either be projected on screen or written , enough pens/pencils for everyone to have one; a few teens(identified in advance) should bring their digital camera (needs to have a video function).

The chart paper will be used for brainstorming and lists – label one column Interests, label the other column Causes.

You will also need to divide the group into small groups of 4 during the PSA activity.

1.  ASK: What are some activities you really enjoy that are NOT BBYO related? (Answers might be along the lines of reading, writing, dancing, art, sports, cooking, etc). List these answers on the flip chart at the front of the room.
(5 minutes)

2.  ASK: What is something in the world that deeply concerns you or keeps you up at night? Find a partner and take two minutes to share with this person what your concerns are. (7 minutes)

(These might be things like education, poverty, the economy; the environment, etc).

(Once the 2 minutes is up) SAY: OK, now that you have had a chance to share with your partner something that is a concern to you, we’d like to hear what you had to say. (List their answers on the flip chart)

3.  Present PANIM Jewish Values matrix (abbreviated) on the screen/poster board at front of the room – coordinators will read the list.

o  See the attached page for PANIM values Matrix

4.  Hand out “Pledge” forms.

5.  SAY: Now that we have a list of the things that you like to do, a list of the things that are a concern to you, and the Jewish Values we have just shared with you, take a minute and match an interest with a cause (they do not have to be your own). Using the forms we just handed you, take these two things and turn them into a project that reflects at least one of the Jewish values we have just shared with you. Keep in mind that your project should also include the following things (briefly go over the definitions or ask participants to offer or read the definitions – 5 minutes):

Direct SERVICE is hands-on. It’s what we usually think of first when we talk about volunteering. Visiting someone who is sick or elderly, tutoring a student, cleaning up a beach, and stocking cans at the food pantry are all examples of meeting a need immediately through direct service.

PHILANTHROPY means giving money to support projects or organizations that address a need or a problem. Philanthropy recognizes that most serious social problems in our world cannot be solved by individual direct service alone and that, in many cases, there may already be organizations that are addressing the problem we have identified, but simply need additional resources to get the job done. Often, raising money for larger scale projects is necessary.

ADVOCACY uses argument and persuasion to achieve a particular action or change. Often advocacy is directed specifically toward public officials to persuade them to pass a piece of legislation that can directly impact on the social problem you have identified. Advocacy can also educate the general public to effect a change in behavior – to stop smoking or to buy fair-trade coffee, for example. Advocacy efforts can also be directed at businesses and corporations.

(Only read the following two definitions if time permits)

Community organizing is a strategy to pursue justice for the less-powerful by developing a strong, democratic organization whose power comes from the numbers and mutual commitment of its members. Community organizers build consensus among those facing a social problem and then helps those citizens leverage their numbers to pressure public officials to take action to resolve the issue at hand.

Social entrepreneurs have many of the same skills as business entrepreneurs, but instead of affecting the financial or technological world, they are focused on addressing social problems. Social ventures are begun by one person or a small group with an idea of how to address a specific need. Some social enterprises are not-for-profit organizations. Others are businesses that incorporate a social mission such as training and employing people who are poor and unskilled or creating and selling a product that preserves the environment.

SAY: In February 2009, BBYO launched the Stand Up! Campaign at International Convention. Stand Up is a new, comprehensive approach to what the BBYO teen movement has already been doing since its inception- making a difference in the world. Stand Up is BBYO’s service, social justice, advocacy, and philanthropic campaign that promotes you getting involved in their local communities, and with partner organizations that support causes important to them as individuals, chapters, regions, and councils as a Jewish community. The theme of the Stand Up! Campaign this year is Stand Up! With Those in Need.

“On April 21, 2009, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, a bold expansion of opportunities for all Americans to serve their communities and our country. During a time of almost unprecedented challenges it is critical that we all work together, the government alone cannot fix everything. Working together in a sustained, collaborative effort, we can harness our greatest resource, our people, and change the course of history.” (From the serve.gov website homepage)

What does Judaism have to say about service, advocacy, and philanthropy? In Judaism we have a set of laws and values that range from things like keeping Kosher to honoring your mother and father. Many of these values are focused on the very things that the Stand Up campaign is all about – Judaism is built on the ideals of service, philanthropy and advocacy. As members of the largest Jewish Youth Movement in North America, we have the opportunity, through the Stand Up! Campaign, to be the most influential youth movement in North America, by doing good in the world and making a difference in our lives and the lives of others.

6.  Show: “I Pledge” Video (5 minutes)

7.  SAY: Now what we are going to do is create our own short, Stand Up! pledge videos. These videos are your chance to tell the world how you are going to Stand Up! Using the “pledge” form from before, create a video that tells other people why you think your project is important and why other people should Stand Up! for it. All videos need to be less than one minute – and we are timing you! (split into groups of four, making sure each group has a digital camera with video function and give each group 10 minutes to complete the task).

8.  When all groups are finished, ASK everyone to stand in a circle with their pledge sheets. Each participant should go around and say what they Stand Up! for and how they will take action.

9.  Coordinators will show the teens the Stand Up FB page and encourage all teens to post their pledge on the Stand Up FB Wall.

Examples of SPACE Programs