Session Summaries

LUHS After School Group Spring '09

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Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Leadership Program #35
6/3/09 4:00pm-6:00pm
LUHS

ILI Students: 10
ILI Staff:  Craig Kerr and Alice McFarlane

Today was our last meeting of the year and so we decided that it would be a celebration session.  We started off by recalling things in our life we are thankful for.  The students always look forward to sharing with one another.

After our time of formal sharing we dug into our celebration goodies!  The students were hungry and jumped right in and the conversations about the day of finals and other stories started.  The students really enjoy each other’s company and feel very secure with one another as the share and talk.  

The students had a lot of energy that they were eager to release so we headed outside for some celebration activities.  The first activity we did was ILI mat ball, rendition of kick ball.  The students enjoyed playing boys against girls.  Both teams did very well and there was a lot of laughing and teasing (positive) as they enjoyed some low level competition.

We also did a number of other celebration activities outside, as this was our last session together for the year.  The students joined in and had a lot of fun!  The relationships these students have built with one another are so important as they are respected, valued, and encouraged by one another.  It is so important that students receive that from their peers in this time of teenage turmoil.

At the end of the session we wrapped up by allowing the students an opportunity to voice whatever they wanted about ASL this year.  One of the students commented that she liked having time to be thankful every week.  She said that it helped her to be grateful for the many things in her life, and that having the opportunity to reflect on what she is thankful for allows her not to take so many things for granted.  She says it has been very helpful in her life.

Another student commented on how ASL is a safe place to come and voice your opinions with out the fear of being attached for what you believe.  It is a place that you can voice your opinion and it can be disagreed with in a respectful way.  She said that students having this kind of respect for one another does not happen very much and she wished other places would cultivate the level of respect that we have at ASL.

These students have grown so much over this year and we are very proud of them!

Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Leadership Program #34
5/27/09 4:00-6:00pm
LUHS

ILI Students: 7
ILI Staff: Matt White, Alice McFarlane, and Craig Kerr

As usual the students were excited to meet with each other!  We began by recalling things in their lives that they are thankful for.  This has become something that they truly look forward to.  They are able to share with others what is going on in their lives that bring them joy and cultivate the idea that being thankful is a very important part of being a healthy person.  As we finished our time of sharing with one another, we had a special treat today because of a birthday.  We dug in and some of the students tried sweet potato fries for the first time.  Some liked them and others decided that it was not for them.  But, just trying something new is a part of what we do in ILI.  Whether that something is a sweet potato fry or partnering with someone from a different school in an activity.  It is important to be open and willing to try new things.

Due to the wonderful rain we had we decided to do an inside activity.  The students had a great time with the activity we chose.  It is important to get some time to disconnect with the school day and involve yourself in an activity that creates its own time and space.  This is what we try and do with the sharing and the activity we do as we begin our time together.  The students get to interact freely and spontaneously allowing them to connect in a different way than what they can during the school day.  It was fun to watch the different interactions between the students during the activity.  There was a lot of playful teasing and laughter.  One of the things that stood out to me was the incredible amount of positive reinforcement that the students were giving one another during the activity.  They were encouraging the positive actions and reassuring when mistakes were made.  This is behavior that is often missing in adolescent relationships due to the prevalence of teasing each other in a negative way that is “in” with students.

When we finished our activity we headed back to the room and a student and staff shared about their experience at a recent training on community action.  The staff started the discussion and the student translated and continued to explain what they had received from the training.  It was a very valuable training for both of them.  The other students asked questions and we got into a conversation about the importance of doing well in their academic work as well as their work they do with ILI.  Some of the students who wanted to go were unable to because of their need to improve academically.  It was a great discussion and the students understood the importance of balance in their lives.

Next meeting June 3.

Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Leadership Program #33
5/20/09 4pm-6pm
LUHS

ILI Students: 7
ILI Staff: Alice McFarlane and Craig Kerr


The students gathered around the table and shared with each other as many positive things that were going on in their lives they cared to share.  It is a wonderful way to focus on the positive and get our minds set for the atmosphere of positive support for one another.  After everyone was finished sharing we had wonderful treats made by Alice for a student’s birthday.  We sang and enjoyed the wonderful baking expertise of Alice.

We headed outside for an activity with the students to allow them to release some energy and detach from the school day.  The students enjoyed the opportunity to be outside and enjoyed the healthy competition in today’s activity.

After we were done with our activity we headed in to talk about a number of different opportunities coming up.  Kathy Schroeder from Big Brothers and Big Sisters gave us some information about volunteer opportunities this summer.  We talked at length with the students about these opportunities.  The students were interested and will be contacting Kathy to get more information.

Then, we talked about a couple of ILI opportunities.  First we talked about the Marshfield Clinic training on community action.  The students had a lot of good questions and we spent a long time talking about the training and how that would help them get ready for the initiative that many of them would like to lead next school year.  Following up on that discussion we discussed with the students an opportunity for a Youth Conference in November.  A few of our students went this past year and really liked it and learned a lot.  This conference would combine well with what they will learn through the Marshfield trainings.

Finally, we talked as a group about the initiative they would like to pursue next school year.  Craig talked to the students about their commitment to taking charge of this issue.  It was a great conversation and the students were very honest telling everyone where they were in regard to their desire to be involved with this initiative.  We will have to continue to develop the student leadership from within the school to lead this initiative because some of our students let us know that it is not something that they are really interested in pursuing.  I am thankful for their honesty and the space they create for each other to say how they truly feel.

Next Meeting May 27

Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Leadership Program #32
5/13/09 4:00-6:00pm
LUHS

ILI Students: 6
ILI Staff: Matt White, Alice McFarlane, and Craig Kerr

The students gathered around the table and shared with one another what was going well in their lives.  After they had an opportunity to share, they headed off to the Lakeland Area Community Meeting.  Please see the notes from 5/13/09.

We returned to the ILI office after the meeting to talk about the meeting.  The students felt valued and liked that their ideas were listened and added to.  One student was feeling invisible and we talked through that as a group and the student ended up understanding how important she is in this life and to those around her.  She left feeling valued and important.  We are so proud of these students and the work they are doing as they grow individually and as leaders.

Next meeting is 5/20/09

Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Leadership Program # 31
5/6/09 4:00pm-6:00pm
LUHS

ILI Students: 6
ILI Staff: Alice McFarlane and Craig Kerr

The energy and atmosphere the students bring and create is very hard to describe in words.  It is something that has to be experienced to understand and appreciate.  We enjoy having these students feel like they have a place to be themselves and able to share freely with each other and the staff.  We began our time together recalling things in our lives that we are thankful for.  In doing so we create an attitude of thankfulness in the students that allows them to keep things in perspective and gives them an attitude of gratefulness.  When everyone had an opportunity to share we celebrated a birthday and enjoyed a snack of pizza. 

After we had finished we headed outside into the beautiful weather for some “batting around”.  It was good to get outside, laugh, play, and get some exercise.  Stuart Brown and the National Institute of Play (www.nifplay.org) is doing some wonderful studies on the importance of play.  They are finding that play is important throughout the lifecycle not just in children and adolescents.  This is something we have always believed and now there is some hard science to back it up.

We headed back into the school to talk about a couple of issues that we needed to resolve.  First, we talked about the community plunge.  As we discussed it the students decided that they would like to do their part of the plunge, but it does not seem like they could get it done in the timeframe we have and get the stakeholders that they want to speak with at the event.  So, they have decided to postpone their part of the plunge as the adults have as well.  The second issue that we talked about was the PSA (Public Service Announcement) for the “Parents Who Host Lose The Most” campaign.  The students did not get the needed information and ideas together to make it happen in the month of April due to the plunge planning and all the time we spent trying to organize that event.  Craig will talk with the people at WJFW and see how they would like to proceed.

Finally we got on the topic of underage drinking due to the event we were planning for the plunge.  We had a wonderful conversation about what the students think about the issue, what they are being taught about it in school and how they are desensitized to the results of drinking and driving.  One student commented that growing up and going to grade school they had learned that someone would probably die when they were in high school due to an alcohol related event.  The staff talked to the students about this being an abnormal thought pattern, but “normal” for our area.  We talked to the students about connecting with other groups in the school to battle the affects and consequences of underage drinking.  Many of the students were very interested in digging into this issue as they start off the next year.  It is hard to believe, but we only have three more meetings with these students this year.  We are proud of what they have accomplished this year and how they have grown as individuals and as a group.

Next meeting May 13 (LACM).

Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Learning Center # 30
4/29/09 4:00pm-6:00pm
LUHS

ILI Students: 8
ILI Staff: Matt White, Alice McFarlane, Bob Kovar and Craig Kerr
UW-Madison: Patty Loew

Today we had a special guest, Patty Loew, from UW-Madison.  She was hear to get interviews and footage for a program she is doing for In-Wisconsin on the anniversary of the Bolt decision and the creation of Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC).  We are thankful for her advocacy and interest in what we are doing.  She and some of her students interviewed two students, Bob, and Craig for the program.  We will let you know when it will be on so you can tune in.

The other students that were not involved with the interviewing process talked with students in Teen Court to see if they were interested in helping with the plunge idea.  The conversation went well as our students explained what we were planning to do for our part of the plunge.  The students in Teen Court had some good ideas and suggestions.  However, the staff found out today that the adults involved in the plunge are having a hard time trying to pull all the people together that they were hoping to have at the plunge.  This is due to the schedules of the people that they want to attend.  So, they are thinking that they will not be able to put the plunge together by the end of May or beginning of June.  Consequently, the students would be doing their part of the plunge on their own.  We also discussed this new development with both groups but did not come to a solid conclusion.  When the students were done discussing, the ILI students headed back to the ILI room.

The students could not make a decision because two of their members were being interviewed.  When they returned from talking with the Teen Court students, the students shared with one another something that brought them joy this week.  After everyone had a chance to share they nibbled on some goodies Alice put together and continued to share with one another.  Finishing their stories and snacks the students had less time than what they are normally use to so they decided that they would go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather for the remainder of the time.  The students enjoyed being outside with one another and interacting in a way that was not as intense and focused as earlier in the meeting.  It is also nice to see them have an opportunity to enjoy being outside as spring begins to show itself.

Next meeting May 6.

Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Leadership Program #29
4/22/09 4pm-6pm
LUHS

ILI Students:
ILI Staff: Matt White, Alice McFarlane, and Craig Kerr
Guest: Nancy Miller  UW-Extension

The students came in and gathered around the table and we began our meeting.  We shared what made up happy this week.  The students really enjoy sharing and have more and more things to share, it seems, each week.  Once we were finished, we students and staff enjoyed some treats and conversation around the table. When we finished eating we began talking about the Lakeland Area Community Meeting Plunge.  The students have a section of the plunge they are planning and getting together.  Nancy has volunteered her time to help the students to do this and we are thankful for her expertise.  She talked to the students and helped them brainstorm about other people the students would like to have involved in their part of the plunge.  She also helped them think through what we need to do in order to get the event organized and ready on time.  The students had wonderful ideas and worked well together to divvy up responsibilities and tasks.

Next, we talked about the public service announcement that a local coalition has asked the students to be a part of.  The PSA is about a national campaign called, “Parents who host, lose the most!”  It is a campaign to stop parents from hosting drinking parties, serving, or providing alcohol to underage students.  One of the local TV channels is willing to make the PSA and the students will be a part of the PSA.  We read through the PSA and talked about what images came to mind as they heard the PSA.  The students came up with great ideas and wanted to work on the script because they thought that it didn’t flow.  They are working on the script and will have it done in the next couple of days.  Craig will follow up and talk with the TV station to see when they are available.

Finally, we have been looking at questions that they LUHS ILI students wanted to ask each other.  This has been a wonderful experience!  The students are able to get their questions out there and everyone is able to discuss their perspectives and opinions.  Today’s question revolved around the idea of why can’t everyone be treated equally.  The discussion that followed the question was amazing.  The interaction of the students was phenomenal.  The honesty with which they expressed their ideas and thoughts was moving, and the way that everyone was respected even if someone disagreed with what another student had to say was refreshing.  Students talked about their personal experiences of being treated differently, affirmative action, religion, cultural beliefs, fear, and where they see differences and similarities.  It was a wonderful conversation and we are proud of these students for getting to a place that we are able to have these kind of conversations in a safe and respectful place.

Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Learning Center # 28
4/18/09 4:00pm-6:00pm
LUHS

ILI Students: 7
ILI Staff: Matt White, Alice McFarlane, and Craig Kerr
ILI Guest: Nancy Miller UW-extension

We had a good group of students today.  Nancy Miller came to spend the day with us to help us plan the youth part of the Lakeland Area Community Meeting (LACM) Plunge.  When everyone arrived we took time to share with each other the positive things in our lives.  After everyone had the opportunity to share, we celebrated a winter break birthday and everyone was happy to eat cake and ice-cream.  We continued to share stories and got to know Nancy a little better.  Once everyone had their fill we asked Nancy to help get us organized for the LACM plunge.  We spent most of the remaining time getting organized and assigning tasks to get done before the next meeting.  The students were excited and will be stretched to accomplish this event.  Finally, we took time near the end to explore another question the students wrote down a few weeks ago.  We had a wonderful discussion on the way people tease and how it can be a way to deal with generational trauma. The discussion also included how other cultures perceive teasing and how we learn about culture’s ideas and belief’s and be open to what they have to teach us.

Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Leadership Program #26
April 1, 2009 4:00pm-6:00pm
LUHS
 
ILI Students: 8
ILI Staff: Alice McFarlane, Matt White, and Craig Kerr
 
We had a good group of students tonight.  We all gathered around the table and shared with each other something that made our hearts happy this week.  It is wonderful to see these students stop, think, and come up with the wonderful things that positively influence them.  Often times the students will want to add more to what they have to say.  We are grateful for the positive things they share.
 
Once everyone was done sharing we were treated to a home baked treat from Alice.  We always tell her that if she opened her own bakery we would be there all the time!  The students and staff caught up with each other and had a good time of sharing stories and the latest clean humor as we happily ate.
 
The students had a lot of energy so we went onto the stage to “perform.”  We did a few activities that allowed the students to channel their energy in a positive way and get it out.  When we were done with our activities, we settled down and continued to work on answering the questions they asked last week.  The students felt the absence of the students who were here last week, but we continued with good discussions on the questions.
 
Next meeting April 8
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Leadership Program #21
2/18/09 4pm-6pm
LUHS
 
ILI Students: 8
ILI Staff: Matt White, Alice McFarlane, and Craig Kerr
 
We had a good group of students tonight.  We started by recalling something that brings happiness to our hearts.  After everyone had a chance to share we ate and caught up with each other.  The students enjoy sharing with one another and there is a strong sense of belonging that they have developed.
 
Once we finished sharing we headed to Student Services, because of the big space they have and did a requested activity called, “Shuffle you Buns.”  This is a wonderful activity that requires attention, good reflexes, and some game-men-ship.  The students really enjoy it and there is a lot of laughing and good natured teasing. 
 
We came back to the room and discussed a number of different issues that we needed to talk about.  After discussing these issues we informed them of a couple of emails we received after the LACM last week.  The students presented their perspective on the needs that they have as teens in the area.  The students received a complimentary email from one of the adults that was in attendance at the meeting and another email wanting to help with the idea of the “Teen Center.”  The students were elated to hear these two emails and are excited to be a part of planning process that will impact their community.
 
Next Meeting is Feb. 25.

Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Leadership Program # 20
2/11/09 4:00-6:00
LUHS
 
ILI Students: 6
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr, Alice McFarlane, Matt White, and Ernie St. Germaine
 
We were asked to be a part of the Lakeland Area Community Meeting (LACM) today.  The students came together and we talked about their willingness and desire to be a part of the LACM and the LACM’s planning of a community plunge.  The conversation was real and many points were made about the pro’s and con’s of joining with the group.  It was great to see them process through these questions.  In the end, the students decided that they would go down to the meeting and let them know where they were in their process of deciding.  They also wanted to give their thoughts on what they would like to promote during their stop on the plunge—a teen center. 
 
The students shared what was on their hearts and in their minds and the adults in the room responded with encouragement, suggestions, and things to consider.  The students and their ideas were valued by the adults and the result was an incredible empowered feeling from the students.  As the meeting was closing, the adults began to give money to the students to begin the process of raising money for the teen center.  The students were blown away by their generosity.  One of the students said that they felt like they had really accomplished something.  The student was very proud, and went away with the knowledge that she/he matters.
 
Next meeting is Feb. 18
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Leadership Program #19
2/4/09 4:00pm-6:00pm
LUHS
 
ILI Students: 6
ILI Staff: Matt White, Alice McFarland, and Craig Kerr
 
We started our meeting in the usual way, recalling thoughts that bring a smile to our hearts and faces.  Following this time of sharing and connecting with one another we enjoyed some tasty banana; and pineapple—cranberry—walnut breads that Alice baked earlier in the day.
 
We are into the third quarter already and it was time to redecorate the ILI bulletin board in the commons.  A student had come up with an idea last Wednesday and she presented her idea and the students collaborated on how they could enhance her idea.  It was great to see this artistic metamorphosis as the group worked through their ideas and validated each other through the process.  Then, they gathered their materials and headed to create the bulletin board.  They began the process of creating and it too was a fluid experience.  They added ideas and altered others they originally had.  What a great experience!  They created a wonderful bulletin board and grew as a group through this process.

ILI Bulletin Board

Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Leadership Program #18
1/28/09 4:00pm-6:00pm
LUHS
 
ILI Students: 8
ILI Staff: Matt White, Alice McFarlane, and Craig Kerr
 
We started with recalling our highlights of the week.  This helps us to transfer from all of what has happened and focus on what is positive in our lives.  We do this in order to enter into our time with a positive heart and mind.  When everyone had a chance to share we ate some wonderful baked goods from Alice.  This allows us to start also with a positive taste in our mouths!  We also celebrated a birthday of one of our students with singing and another special treat.
 
When we had finished, Alice and a student introduced a concentration activity to the students that they learned from the youth leadership conference in Louisiana.  The students had a good time with this activity.  Some of them found it frustrating at first, but then as they caught on enjoyed it.  The students really had to concentrate on staying in sequence as others who had made mistakes earlier were trying to distract them. 
 
Next Craig read part of a summary Sue Allen of Wisconsin Youth Voice sent to him by email.  She had interviewed the students on Tuesday during lunch about their involvement in the Lakeland Area Community Meetings (LACM).  Sue wanted Craig to read this to the students so that they could know what she wrote and add or change anything that they felt needed to be added or changed.  The students liked what they heard and did not suggest any changes.
 
We had been asked by a local coalition to have our students take a survey.  We took the students to Student Services at LUHS and had them take the survey.  The survey is a way for the coalition to understand attitudes and beliefs students have on certain topics.  This way they can gain valuable information about youth from youth instead of making assumptions about them.  We were happy to participate.
 
Finally, with so many things that caused the students to sit and concentrate, we decided to end with a few rounds of “shuffle your buns!”  The activity is a great one that all the students really enjoyed.  There was much laughter and rising of endorphins! It is good to have balance in a program that reflects the need for balance in our lives. 
 
Next meeting Feb. 4th

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Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
After School Leadership #17
1/21/09 4:00pm-6:00pm
LUHS
 
ILI Students: 7
ILI Alumni: Anne Johnson
ILI Staff: Matt White, Alice McFarlane, and Craig Kerr
 
The students came in this afternoon looking and acting like they had just had a day of first semester exams, which they did.  We shared what made us happy this week and enjoyed some yummy treats.  One of the treats we enjoyed was a cake for Alice’s birthday!  We all sang and wished her a happy birthday,
 
One of the students shared that they had been sitting so long today that they needed to get up and do some activity.  We gave them a choice of what they would like to do and we headed over to the band room and enjoyed a game of “elbow tag.”  This is a favorite of the students.
 
After returning all of the chairs and stands to their positions, we headed back to the room where Anne Johnson talked to the students about what ILI has meant to her on her journey through life thus far.  It was a great talk and the students were very interested in what she had to say.  You could see the students taking in all that she had to say about her experiences as an 8th grade student being in the top 10 of a national competition, in ILI at LUHS, as an exchange student, in college.  Anne has taken an incredible journey so far and we are so proud of her. She inspired a number of students as she worked with two groups of 7th grade and the high school students.  We are thankful that she takes time out of her schedule to come and work with our students in ILI as she gives back to what has been so meaningful to her. 
Intercultural LeadershipInitiative
2008-2009
After School LeadershipProgram #15
4:00pm-6:00pm 1/7/09
LUHS
 
ILI Students: 7
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr, Alice McFarlane, and Matt White
 
Today was the first day back together after the winter break and the students were happy to see each other and catch up.  The staff were working on finishing up a mailing we needed to get out when the students started to arrive.  The students asked what we were doing and we explained to them what we were doing and they began to help with the work.  It was great to see them jump in and help.  With all of their help we finished pretty quickly. 
 
We started our session by sharing what made us the happiest today!  After we shared with each other, Alice brought out a pan of birthday brownies for one of the students who recently celebrated their 16th birthday.  We all sang and had some wonderful treats. 
 
When we finished eating our treats and catching up with each other, we cleaned up and headed into the auditorium for an activity.  The activity involves using PVC tubes and a marble.  The students had to work together to get the marble from one location to another using only the tubes as a way to transport the marble.  They were not allowed to touch the marble with their hands in any way.  The students started off very enthusiastically, but soon were frustrated by the dropping marble.  We called a “time out” and talked about what was working and what was not and they reconsidered what they were doing.  Then, they started again.  This time they engaged in the activity in a much more concentrated way.  They were communicating better and more positively and problem solving how to turn and go up and down stairs and slopes.
 
Towards the end of the activity a student who had been getting their picture taken with their sports team came in and joined the activity.  The other students that had already learned a lot about the activity instructed him on how the activity was working and they included him and got right back to the activity.  The newly arrived student was very successful right away and the group encouraged continued success.  When the group finally deposited the marble in the bowl they erupted in celebration!  They felt very proud of themselves for accomplishing their goal.
 
Circling up on the stage we talked about what we had learned from this activity.  One of the students said that they were glad that they didn’t give up because they were able to do it in the end.  Another student commented that it was like life when you want to quit something, but you stick with it and overcome whatever obstacle there is in your way to achieve whatever goal you have set for yourself.  We continued to talk about what we had learned through the activity and there were many insights into themselves that they shared.  We are proud of the students and how they are developing as people and student leaders.