MUSCATINE, Iowa – Twenty-five students from Louisa-Muscatine Junior High School, Wilton Junior/Senior High School, West Liberty Middle School, and Saints Mary and Mathias Catholic School recently attended the Amplify Youth program, an all-day workshop hosted by the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine to foster philanthropy and civic engagement among area youth.
Amplify Youth, a youth philanthropy initiative, is dedicated to empowering young leaders with skills in community analysis, needs identification, and sustainable change-making.
During the workshop, students were immersed in activities that taught them to recognize and address root causes of community issues. By identifying needs in their own communities, these young leaders explored upstream solutions to make a lasting impact, the foundation said in a news release.
“The Amplify Youth program gives students a unique opportunity to experience the power of philanthropy and to see firsthand how they can positively shape their communities,” said Rebecca Harden-Jones, programs manager at the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine. “Seeing these students connect and thoughtfully consider how to make a meaningful impact was inspiring. They’re gaining skills that will make them lifelong contributors in our communities.”
The students also engaged with nonprofit organizations making a difference in Muscatine and Louisa counties. Presentations were given by Aligned Impact Muscatine County, It Takes a Village Animal Rescue and Resources, and Micaela’s Hope. Each organization showcased its mission, impact, and ongoing projects to provide students with real-life examples of community needs within the focus areas of education, mental health and animal welfare.
One of the day’s highlights was the students’ participation in grantmaking. After careful consideration, the students voted to award a $2,500 grant to Micaela’s Hope, a local organization that supports mental health initiatives, the release said. This grant will support Micaela’s Hope’s efforts in creating a more compassionate and supportive environment for youth mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
By equipping these students with hands-on experience in philanthropy and community-building, Amplify Youth helps pave the way for a new generation of empathetic, empowered, and effective changemakers, the foundation said.
For more information, call the Community Foundation at (563) 264-3863 or visit the website at www.givinggreater.org.
