This community outreach initiative was inspired by UVa women’s basketball player Monica Wright and her personal mentor and UVa Women’s Basketball Director of Operations, Erin Batth.
Young Women Leaders Program Food Drive
YWLP 8th Graders Pitch in to Benefit the Community
As part of their leadership development initiative, YWLP's Jouett 8th Grade Club spent a recent group meeting expanding leadership roles to the surrounding community.
The Jouett 8th grade Little Sisters, which is the largest club in the program, joined with their Big Sisters and Group Facilitators in a canned food drive for the Emergency Food Bank. Over two days, these enthusiastic young women collected goods at three of the Kroger grocery stores in Charlottesville. The total? 1,320 lbs. of canned goods that were donated to the the Emergency Food Bank.
The YWLP curriculum the previous week focused on the importance of leadership roles, not just for personal development, but also for the betterment of the local community. This community outreach initiative was inspired by guest speakers at Jouett the previous week, UVa women’s basketball player Monica Wright and her personal mentor and UVa Women’s Basketball Director of Operations, Erin Batth. The two speakers embodied what being a woman leader means for the Jouett 8th Grade Club. They touched on the subjects of school relationships, academic careers, personal attitude, and community involvement—a topic that particularly hit home for the girls.
With the motivation to demonstrate their leadership skills in the community as representatives of Jouett Middle School, the YWLP canned food drive was a success. Not only did the YWLP girls collect goods to help the Emergency Food Bank prepare for Thanksgiving dinner necessities, but they carried out what they learned in the classroom, asserting the position of true leaders—young women who not only apply their talents and skills to personal goals, but also to the larger community.
To support the work that our 8th grade club has started, and to help local families prepare for Thanksgiving, please visit The Emergency Food Bank's website.
~ by Jessica Clarke
UVa 2010
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