Youth Venture Spotlight: Oakland Teens Planting Seeds of Change
Have you ever thought about what you could do to change the neighborhood or city you live in?
This past March, seven teams consisting of teens from Oakland, California, got seed funding of $1000 per team to start projects that would help address problems they found in their communities. The grants are from Youth Venture, an organization that supports young changemakers and leaders as they create and grow their own social ventures.
Each of the groups ideas are really impressive and unique, like one of the groups that creates positive hip hop music, two that are supporting the poor in other countries and another which will provide healthy food to the Oakland community. Congrats to all of the winning teams! Read about the groups and watch the videos below where each of the teen describe their projects.
The Winning Youth Venture Teams and Members
- Healthy Neighborhood Store Alliance, a service to make fresh produce more accessible in West Oakland: James, Ennis, Jamelah and Alshea.
- Grown Your Own Green, community gardening in West Oakland: Rachelle.
- Oakland Youth for Peace with Police, improving the relationship between Oakland youth and police: Tamara.
- O Zone Music Group Hip-hop with a purpose, youth empowering youth through music: Olondis.
- Youth Roots, Creating a positive-message t-shirt line, sold online and now also distributed through local school uniform programs: Diego, Mario, Hazel, Juan, and Isabel.
- Project Jatropha, supporting rural schools in Haiti and India: Adarsha, Apoorva, and Callie.
- Creating Hope for Future Leaders, sponsoring a school in Nicaragua: Miguel.
Videos from Oaklandlocal.com and Youth Venture
Youth Venture is a great organization that also gave Dreamer ENT’s founder her first community service grant as a teen. Want to get your own grant to spark change in your community? Read more about the organization below and watch another video of the teams from Oakland presenting for their opportunity to win the grants below:
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United for Haiti – “We Are the World” Remake
Twenty-five years after Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote and recorded the song “We Are the World”, celebrities gathered again recently to remake the song as a tribute for Haiti. Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, Celine Dione, Wyclef Jean, Usher, the Jonas Brothers, Jordin Sparks, Jennifer Hudson, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, and many others lent their voices to recreate the song, which is now available at Itunes.com/WeAretheWorld. Visit the official website at http://wearetheworldfoundation.org to learn more.
The proceeds of the song will benefit the victims of the devastating earthquake. It’s great that they came together for this cause, to help the people in Haiti, and the stars talked about the feeling of unity and compassion they felt throughout the event. Below is the official recording of the song that premiered on Friday, February 12, before the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. You can also view behind the scenes clips of the recording below:
“We Are the World” Official Video
Click below for behind the scenes videos:
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Save Our Music with Nick Jonas and Do Something
Nick Jonas is teaming up with Do Something, the volunteer empowerment organization aimed at teens, to help save school music programs across the country. We think this is a great cause because music, and all of the arts, are so important in schools to keep inspiring young people like you to express yourselves and spread creativity.
Join in the action by entering The Battle of the Bands competition, and find out how you can support the campaign at your own school with this list of ideas. Also check out the teens who won the “Save Our Music” grant from Do Something and VH1 to support music education programs at their own schools.
Speaking of Nick Jonas and bands, be sure to check out the great new debut album, Who I Am, from his group Nick Jonas & The Administration.
From DoSomething.org
School music programs are being cut across the country and Nick Jonas is joining teens nationwide to do something about it! Nick, along with DoSomething.org and The VH1 Save the Music Foundation, is kicking off the Battle of the Bands campaign to save music education. Tune into VH1 on Thursday February 4th at 9pm ET to see the winners from this fall’s Save Our Music campaign and the debut of Nick’s PSA for Battle of the Bands. The spots are part of the Pepsi Fan Jam concert in Miami, Florida featuring Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Timbaland, and more!The Battle of the Bands campaign will run from March 1st through April 16th. You’ll be able to submit your videos of your own musical performances with a testimonial telling us why music ed matters to you! Then, a panel of judges will evaluate the entries and the Grand Prize winner will be flown to NYC to perform at the Apollo Theater in front of major music execs! Other winners will be chosen to receive up to $5,000 for your school music program, and other prizes like concert tickets and Rock Band video games!
So what are you waiting for; join Nick and sign up for the mailing list on Save Our Music to stay informed on the upcoming campaign.
Got questions about the upcoming campaign? Email battleofthebands@dosomething.org
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Remember the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lived and dedicated his life to a dream – a vision of unity, seeing people of every color and every creed living, walking and serving together. Let’s remember his legacy today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. You can carry on his dream today by spreading kindness, compassion and striving to live a life of helping others. Listen to Dr. King in the videos below, talking about his dream and passion for service:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – On Service
“If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s a new definition of greatness…
Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – “I Have a Dream”
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Help for Haiti: How Can You Make a Difference?
Photo Credit: REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
The world witnessed as on Tuesday evening a 7.0 earthquake devastated the capital city of the Caribbean country Haiti. The aftermath and aftershocks of the earthquake left children without food and comfort, many in need of aid, and families without homes in a country that was already crippled by poverty. In such a huge situation, there are ways you can help and make a difference.
How You Can Help?
If you’re able to donate financially or can ask your parents to do so, you can text “HAITI” to the number 90999 on a cell phone. A $10 donation will be charged to the cell phone bill that will go to the Red Cross. It’s quick and easy, and every bit helps. You can also visit www.redcross.org or http://www.unicefusa.org/ to find out how to donate online. If you’re not old enough to donate, pass on the information to friends and family who might be able to.
In the coming days and weeks Haiti will be needing much help, and you could start a fundraiser or collection drive to collect things like clothes and other items that may be needed. DoSomething.org suggests that “the most important step when donating materials is to contact an established, professional relief organization BEFORE you collect anything.” Be sure to listen to the news and visit the websites above to see what the people may need the most. Over all, keep the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers, and remember that helping others, even if they are miles away, is important, and something you can do even when you’re young.
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Hi, I'm Julene, editor and director of Dreamer ENT. The goal of this site is to inspire young people, and the young at heart, to pursue their passions boldly and brilliantly... 
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