Need in Deed celebrates 20 years of changing lives

Need in Deed celebrates 20 years of changing lives

Kids engage in the life of their communities

The year was 1987. Integrating “service” into academics was gaining currency in many independent and public schools. Three mothers decided this way of engaging kids in the life of their community could be much more powerful if adults asked young people what they cared about, how they wanted to apply their gifts and talents, how they saw themselves as agents for change. On this simple premise Need in Deed was founded.

In the past twenty years our universe has expanded. NID is now nationally recognized for our service-learning work in Philadelphia public schools. But our central premise remains the same: young people want to believe they can effect positive change in their communities and schools. With the support of caring adults, they can.

On Saturday, February 10th, 2007, we will host “RED” -- a gala celebration for friends and supporters to acknowledge this important anniversary. Citizens Bank is the presenting sponsor for an evening that promises to reflect the energy and excitement of our work: empowering youth, changing lives.

“Citizens Bank was eager to support Need in Deed’s twentieth anniversary because our two organizations understand the value of helping young people discover the importance of engaging in the life of their communities,” said Stephen D. Steinour, Chairman and CEO of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. “If you can help children participate at the grassroots level where they can see and feel the impact of their contribution, many times you have also inspired them to remain engaged throughout their lives.”

NID founder Whim Lynch and longtime Board member David Montgomery will be honored at the celebration, which will take place at Urban Outfitters’ dramatic new corporate headquarters at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Governor Ed Rendell is honorary chair of the event.

Money raised at the event will support the organization’s programmatic initiatives, including the further development of the My Voice Teacher Network – a professional learning community of Philadelphia public school teachers committed to leading their students in meaningful, high quality service-learning projects based on NID’s My Voice framework; a new, interactive web site for teachers; research and evaluation; and the enhancement of our position in the national service-learning/education community.

Things have a way of coming full circle. Of the more than 100 people on the planning committee for the 20th Anniversary Celebration, almost half are young people who were involved in Need in Deed as students during the early years. A few are captured in the photographs in this issue.

From rehabbing houses to promoting legislation

NID kids engage in the life of their communities

Here are a few photos that capture the range of activities that motivated young people to positively affect change in their communities.

My Voice projects receive accolades at Shout Out

While the Phillie Phanatic whipped up a frenzy of excitement and laughter among the 500 students, teachers and NID friends at Need in Deed’s May 31st Shout Out, students and teachers took center stage, recognized for the roles they played effecting positive change in their schools and communities. Shout Out is NID’s annual celebration for students participating in My Voice service-learning projects.

Three projects in particular received recognition for excellence: Tippi Aronson and Jen Winter’s 3rd grade classes at Lowell Elementary School, in Olney (“How can we make our neighborhood feel safer?”); Katie McGarry’s 2nd grade class at Gideon Elementary School, in Strawberry Mansion (“What are causes of fighting that leads to violence and what can we do about it?”); and Sheila General’s 8th grade class at Grover Washington Jr. Middle School, in Olney (“What can we do to improve literacy in our community?”).

Harvey Chism joins Need in Deed Board

A former social studies teacher at Delaware Valley Friends School, Harvey Chism first became acquainted with Need in Deed when the organization led an all-day workshop on service-learning for the school’s faculty. “What I liked was that it involved bringing young people to the table as resources and as authors of their own learning. I wanted to be involved in the work of an organization that had these goals as their mission.”

In 2003, he received a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in education policy. He appreciates NID’s use of “real life stories” as a springboard for learning since, he says, education reform is all about contextual learning. “It gives kids a practical application for academics, rather than education being a series of theoretical exercises.”

Harvey is Director of Education for the Philadelphia Youth Network, a nonprofit intermediary organization with a focus on workforce development for youth ages 14 to 21. Much of his work involves facilitating collaboration among city agencies and nonprofits for the benefit of kids. As a NID Board member, he looks forward to the opportunity of providing NID with connections to agencies that address problems students are interested in exploring.

Ben Burenstein is NID's new Information Manager

After years as a front-line educator working with people between the ages of 3 and 73, then taking time out of the workforce to spend time at home rearing his child, Ben is now working full-time behind-the-scenes at Need in Deed, carrying out both technical support and office management roles.

Originally from Philadelphia, Ben attended the University of Wisconsin, earning his Bachelor’s degree (and Certification) in Elementary Education and his Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction with dual emphases on educational reform and on using computers in education. He lives behind Fairmount Park with his wife and 11-year old son in a 200-year-old former inn. He keeps his hand in direct education by teaching Sunday School. For fun he plays in the band StoneAge and wanders around in his garden redefining all his “weeds” as “wildflowers,” just as computer programmers redefine “bugs” as “undocumented features.”

“I love looking at the world through an educator’s lens,” says Ben. “It makes me happy to reframe ‘mistakes’ as 'learning opportunities.'”

Need in Deed in print, in the field

Associate Director Ena Rosen was the author of a feature article in the summer ‘06 issue of The Generator, a publication of the National Youth Leadership Council. “Literacy as Violence Prevention” describes the service-learning project of Sheila General’s 8th grade class at Grover Washington Jr. Middle School last year.

Ena, Kim Kirn, Director of Professional Development, and Elizabaeth Soslau, a member of Need in Deed’s My Voice Teacher Network, participated in the Urban Service-Learning Institute in Nashville this August.

Need in Deed in print, in the field

Associate Director Ena Rosen was the author of a feature article in the summer ‘06 issue of The Generator, a publication of the National Youth Leadership Council. “Literacy as Violence Prevention” describes the service-learning project of Sheila General’s 8th grade class at Grover Washington Jr. Middle School last year.

Ena, Kim Kirn, Director of Professional Development, and Elizabaeth Soslau, a member of Need in Deed’s My Voice Teacher Network, participated in the Urban Service-Learning Institute in Nashville this August.