LUHS ILI Students:  2   ILI Staff: Matt White, Alice McFarlane, Craig Kerr

Again we had a smaller group today so it was good one-on-one time. We started in our usual way, each saying what we are thankful for and then eating some snacks prepared by Alice. Alice always brings snacks that she often takes the time to prepare on her own time-something we think is really special and we know the kids do too. It makes them feel special that someone takes the time to make them feel valued, which is what ILI is all about! The students chatted about what was going on in their lives and we told stories to make each other laugh. 
 
   Then Craig suggested we play some brain stimulating card games.  His didn’t work because no one, including himself, knew the rules (which the students really found amusing).  Alice then told us of a game that was similar but with rules we knew.  It worked much better.  We then played for quite some time.  We chatted, visited and had a very good time.  It is really neat to be with students when they can just be themselves without anything to worry about or any pressure to be anyone else but just the wonderful young adults they are. We really like to have these opportunities and there is a connection that happens here that gives us the ability to be not only role models for these students, but sounding boards. There is a real gift in that alone.

 
Students: 3   ILI Staff:  Matt White, Alice McFarlane, Craig Kerr
 
As the girls came in today, they started making birthday cards for one of their sisters.  This is a creative group of girls.  It was fun to watch them create their cards and to see the evident care for this sister.  Today we were thankful for friends, family, each other, getting to talk with old friends and completing tasks. 
 
We have been focusing on asking and answering questions.  The students have great questions, and we feel it is valid and important to listen to their questions and to take the time to talk about them and give answers if we have them.  Crystal gathered all the questions and hid them behind her back, asking someone to pick left or right to determine which question would be asked first.  The first question was, “What is the biggest problem in the world?”  Lots of answers were talked about, and towards the end we narrowed it down to power and people being selfish.  That question led into a question about what power do the students feel they have, and how can that power be shared?  One student said that it is important to listen to students and the ideas they have, and then to act on the ideas, or at least to try and make changes.  We asked them if they feel that ILI staff listens to them.  One student replied that she would not be here if she didn’t feel that we listened.  Another said, ‘you’re listening right now.’ 
 
We had some less serious questions, ‘What is your favorite color?’  and ‘Who taught Alice how to bake?’   But all of the questions are a part of getting to know one another, learning to listen and to value each other even when we have different opinions.
 

Bob Kovar, Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative

 
LUHS ILI Students:  5   ILI Staff: Matt White, Alice McFarlane, Craig Kerr
   
As we started in our usual way, saying what we are thankful for and then eating some snacks. We asked the students write out one thoughtful question that they had on their minds today.  We chatted and laughed. We told stories.  We played a round of “Jenga”.  Saw who could build the biggest tower.
   Then we got down to more serious talking.  The staff asked the students to remember some of the significant thoughts and feeling they had about Transition Day before their Freshmen year.  We then asked them to write about it so we could have their thoughts down on paper. We’ll be sharing these with the NiiJii Development group who are highlighting our Transition program in a new brochure they are putting out.
    We then continued with the conversation that was started this morning in our Homeroom Activity Period.   The idea of a culture/ folk / multi-ethnic fair-festival was proposed.  The students from the morning were left to think about whether or not they really wanted to put on such an event.  So we talked a little more about what some of the realities would be.  It is still in the “we’re thinking about it” stage but the idea sounds very positive.  We will keep talking.
    Then we asked and tried to offer possible answers to the questions they wrote out at the beginning of this session.  This is always a fun and yet serious time of helping one another and thinking through things together. 
 

Bob Kovar, Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative

Top of Page

 
LUHS ILI Students:  1  ILI Staff: Matt White, Alice McFarlane, Craig Kerr
  
We had only one student yesterday and it allowed us to really focus on some leadership questions.  We started like normal, with Attitude Of Gratitude, snacks and visiting. It was Halloween last night so that is probably where most of the students were but ILI has always been about each individual student and being there for them. Here’s Ernie’s view on having one student to teach, it sums up very well how ILI staff feels:
“Am I concerned if I have just one student before me? Perhaps that one student will be there at the magic moment that the "difference" may happen for me or for the student, or for Matt, for Alice, for Craig, for any of us. One person may ask a question of me when they are only 4 years old. The next may not ask the same question until they are 44. The most important thing that can happen in each of their lives is that I am there to give an answer, a story, a solution, or to lend an ear with which to reach inside their heart. If I have but one student left before me, I will continue to strive to reach my goal.”

So we really had a good chance to catch up with just what was going on in the student's life.  We asked some hard questions about some things we could do with the After School program as a focus this year and she gave some good insight and opinions that we will follow up on with everyone next week. All in all it was a good time of connecting on a one-on-one level.
 

Bob Kovar, Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative

 
ILI Students: 13  ILI Staff: Alice McFarlane, Craig Kerr, and Matt White
 
This was our first fall overnight and service project.  The students arrived with excitement for the overnight.  Once everyone arrived Craig talked about the expectations for the service project and the overnight.  Then we loaded up the vans and headed to the Lac du Flambeau Resort and Casino.
 
We were asked to help with the Halloween Party that Lake of the Torches had organized.  The turn out for the party was amazing.  There were moms, dads and little ones all dressed up.  We were asked to help run the games, give out tattoos, and help decorate bags for the children.  The students had a great time helping and playing with the children.  They did a great job and the other adults helping mentioned what a great job they thought the students were doing!  When all of the costume contests were done we wrapped up our time at the Lake of the Torches.  Not all of the students were able to stay for the overnight.  Jazmyn, Crystal, Leeah, and Britney left and the rest of us loaded up the vans and headed to Camp Nawakwa.
 
Camp Nawakwa was kind enough to allow us to stay in two wonderful cabins at no cost.  Thank you!  We arrived and everyone had to check out both cabins to see where the boys were going to sleep and were the girls were going to sleep.  This was a bit of a decision, but it was finally decided and everyone brought in their stuff and settled in.
 
The food was brought out and we began to have an evening filled with games (chess, the card games speed and spoons, and dominoes), laughter, and getting to know one another.  The students really enjoyed each other’s company and easily began to form friendships and deepen friendships that had already existed.
 
Later into the evening Craig had everyone get into a circle.  Then he emptied a bag of foam shapes onto the table and had everyone pick an animal or shape that described them.  He also told them if they wanted a certain color they should explain that as well.  The students and staff alike picked their colored shapes.  Some of the students and staff picked more than one shape and different colors.  When everyone had time to pick their colored shapes we went around the circle and explained why we had picked the colored shape we did.  This was a wonderful time of sharing and insight into each student and staff.  The answers ranged from the hilarious to the profound.  Everyone learned from each other.  When we were finished it was back to the games! After a “scarey” game of hide and seek it was time for bed.
The next morning we awake late in the morning ate breakfast and resumed more activities.  It was so fun to see how the students were interacting and getting to know and feel comfortable with each other.  Before we knew it, it was time to start the clean-up process and everyone joined in and help clean and they packed up their stuff.
 
Craig had everyone circle up and processed our 24hours together.  We took pictures and loaded up the vans to take everyone home.

Bob Kovar, Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative

 
ILI Students: 5  ILI Staff: Matt White and Craig Kerr
 
We began our meeting, as always, with our “attitude of gratitude.”  This is where we finish the sentence, “Today I am thankful for…” This gives us a good frame of mind to start.  We had a good time of sharing and laughing.
 
After we were done sharing and enjoying a yummy treat prepared by Alice, Craig talked to the students about an idea he had.  He came upon a TV channel on DirecTV called Current.  This is a station that plays viewer created content.  As he was watching there was a pod that showed some Israelis and Palestinians coming together to ride for peace.  Craig began to think about what the students could produce to put on the website current.com.  As he explained this, the students were excited to take on a project like that.
 
Everyone wrote a question about something that was on his or her mind.  We then dove in and discussed them.  The questions ranged from, “What is the wish you have wished most?” to “Is it okay to not know what I want to do?”  We had a great conversation based on the questions that were asked and everyone had input into the answers.  This experience helps the students to have questions answered, feel valued in their opinions, and know that they have a safe place to go talk about things that matter.
 
We ended by watch the videos a former student put together, Sam Kovar.  They were really excited to tackle the project!
 
Next meeting is Oct. 31

Bob Kovar, Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative

Bob Kovar, Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative

 
LUHS ILI Students: 6  ILI Staff: Matt White, Craig Kerr, Alice McFarlane
 
This was the first time that the group from last year could really all get together.  It was Regina’s birthday so we started with a special time of thankfulness and cookies (with milk)!
 
 After spending some time getting reacquainted, Craig asked everyone to write or draw out their highlight from the summer.  We then went around and shared what the pictures meant and told stories of things we enjoyed during our time apart.  When we were all finished sharing, Craig talked about how it is easy to just remember the un-fun moments and overlook the good and we want to start out with the good in mind this year.
 
  Then we talked about some new ideas that the staff had thought of for the year and what the students thought of those ideas including their suggestions changes to our ideas, etc. The students said they would like to find ways to bring up questions and get answers in a timely fashion.  It was good to hear their opinions and honesty.

Bob Kovar, Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative

 
LUHS ILI Students: 6
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr, Alice McFarlane, Matt White
 
  Greetings!  The kids are back on the job at the High School so that means that we are too.  Many kids we talked to during the day were a little surprised to hear we were already doing after school so they couldn’t make it but they said they were excited to see us soon.
 
    Today was an important day not only for it being the first day back but also because we were saying (a temporary) goodbye to one of our valued students that we are very proud of.  Kayla Norris is going to be spending the year in Venezuela as an exchange student.  We spent some time, after our customary opening and snacking, to tell Kayla some things that we appreciated about her and the time she has invested in the group.  She has been an invaluable part of the spirit and process of what we have been trying to do over the last couple of years.  Thanks Kayla!  Good luck and learn all you can be.
 
  After Kayla departed (she had some other engagements) the rest of the group shared with each other what they liked about their summer.  Some high and lows and funny stories.  A lot of laughing and joking.  After awhile Craig suggested we, as a group test our new liquid filled Hula-hoops.  We are definitely not ready for any hula competitions but we sure did laugh a lot.
 
    We then cooled down and visited some more and then it was time to go.  It was a good time of reconnecting and coming back into the community that we all created last year.

Bob Kovar, Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative