The day began in the cafeteria with delicious food prepared by the college and sponsored by Monroe ISD.
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The students ran the program, speaking about the topics to be discussed and introducing speakers.
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Key note speaker Bobb Vergeils, announcer for the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
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Bobb spoke to the students about how important hard work and perseverance are to achieving your goals.
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The students welcomed Monroe native and former Miss America, ...
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Kaye Lani Rafko-Wilson, spoke to the students about the importance of giving their time and talents to their community through volunteer work.
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The students were shown a brief film about responsible driving.
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Active Balanced Community Coordinator, April Corey (left) and ABC Community Outreach Committee Chair, Kate Ebli (right).
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After the main activities, the ABC group lead a break-out session to brainstorm with the students about volunteerism in Monroe.
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First, Cheryl Beck explained a little about Active Balanced Community and BARJ to the kids.
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Our break-out seesion panel, (left to right) from the Humane Society of Monroe County , Marlene Rex and her dog Gavin, Miss Monroe Amanda Krueger, and from Gabby’s Ladder, Jenny Monday.
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Pennie Iott told the kids about how volunteer teens have helped her to care for her farm after the sudden death of her husband and how she now considers these kids friends.
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Marlene Rex explained how important volunteer work is to Humane Society of Monroe County. Without volunteers, Gavin would not be alive today.
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Donna Bruck, from the Cancer Connection, spoke about her experiences dealing with cancer herself, and helping others who have cancer by driving them to treatments and being there for people who need to just talk.
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Amanda Krueger, spoke about her volunteer work as Miss Monroe and Jenny Monday told about the work that they do for grieving families at Gabby’s Ladder.
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Now that the students had heard about all of the benefits of finding a cause that you feel passionately about and volunteering your time, ABC Community Outreach Committee Chair Kate Ebli asked the kids to talk about their own experiences...
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Some of the kids were already involved in local volunteer initiatives.
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Some kids had ideas for volunteer projects that could help make Monroe an even better place to live.
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They talked about some of the existing barriers to becoming a volunteer, lack of free time, scholl obligations, transportation...
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Ideas were collected and a date was set to meet and work on a plan to organize a youth volunteer network. Look for updates on this initiative right here on the Active Balanced Community web site!
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