Teenagers in the Diamond Valley area are being challenged to step out of their comfort zones and step up as leaders in their community through a new online program.
A group of 26 Oilfields High School students are learning to make a difference in their community by looking beyond themselves, thanks to a decision by the Town of Black Diamond to join the Becoming a Community Builder webinar initiative last fall.
“I really was impressed by that perspective,” said Oilfields High School teacher Karen Larter. “Teenagers’ worldview is often very local, very personal. It’s not their typically everyday way of thinking, that’s what I like about this program. At least it’s getting them thinking beyond themselves and considering what else is out there beyond their close-knit circle of influence.”
Larter said a number of staff and students were sold on the program following founder Ian Hill’s visit to Oilfields High School in September 2014.
“He was quite a captivating speaker and was really encouraging the students to think about their dreams for the future and know that they’re possible,” she said. “Although they’re teenagers, they can make a difference in the world.”
Larter said the initiative is a good fit for the school’s leadership program, giving the program a boost to teaching teens to be successful leaders.
“We think it’s a really important program, important enough we want to give time in school for students to participate in it,” she said. “I hope they get a sense of feeling like they can make a difference in their communities.”
Fitting Becoming a Community Builder into the regular schoolwork load was a challenge.
Larter said they took a break after November, with the Christmas break in December and exams in January, but are back at it this month.
“We are going to try to get at least halfway through the modules before the end of the year,” she said. “Eventually we’ll get into a more action planning module.”
Larter said she signed up for the program for her own personal growth.
“For me, ongoing self reflection and personal development is something I try and seek as a part of my life on an ongoing basis,” she said.
Larter added she had friends and colleagues complete the program in the previous community she lived in who spoke highly of it. She was ecstatic when she learned the Town of Black Diamond took on the program last fall. The $8,500 cost of the program is being covered thanks to financial assistance from five community organizations and businesses.
Suzan Nagel, a member of the Becoming a Community Builder Committee, said participants work at their own pace through the 90-day web-based program. She added that of the 61 adult participants, 83 per cent are from Black Diamond, 10 per cent from Turner Valley and the remaining from Millarville. So far, she said there are many who still haven’t completed it yet.
“The people who registered can continue on as long as they want or access any program,” she said. “It’s like walking into a virtual library, seeing what’s on the shelves and taking down what interests you and getting involved in that.”
While the program is geared toward individuals, the committee offered live stream videos weekly, allowing participants to get together to watch the video and discuss the material. She said about six to eight adults attended each session.
“The nice thing about that is it gives you the opportunity to meet people, but also to grow relationships and have the opportunity to discuss things afterwards,” she said. “A lot of times what came out of the conversation after the viewing sessions seemed almost more valuable than just watching it. Making connections with like-minded individuals in the community and setting goals and giving them the tools to reach those goals.”
What the participants work on outside of the videos is up to them, said Nagel.
Participants identify their goals and what they study depending on their individual objectives, she said.
“It’s not a program where you go through and everything is the same,” she said. “You start by identifying your own objectives and goals and that guides you to where you go in the program. It’s very individual.”
Subject areas include, but are not limited to, recruiting and maintaining volunteers, public speaking, personal growth and business writing, and range from personal goals to management tools, said Nagel.
She said celebration will be held later this month for all participants.
