Telling a New Story about Calgary s Children, Youth, and Community

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1 UWC Toolkit - Sample Introductory Speech 1 Telling a New Story about Calgary s Children, Youth, and Community V. SAMPLE INTRODUCTORY SPEECH This short introductory speech provides an illustration of how United Way might draw from the research on the metaphor and values to discuss the issues that impact children and youth s overall well- being, what is needed to improve youth outcomes, and how United Way of Calgary sees its role in supporting all youth and their communities in campaigns such as All In for Youth. Since 1939, United Way has been a part of the effort to make Calgary a great city for everyone. We re excited to apply collaborative approaches to the challenge of ensuring that all Calgary youth develop the skills they need to take up their roles in our community. We know that in order to prepare Calgary s youth for the jobs of tomorrow, we need to be All In if we are to keep our city moving forward. United Way of Calgary s All In for Youth campaign is calling on community groups, government, private employers and citizens to support our youth. If we started to think about our education system like an orchestra, it might be easier to imagine what it would look like for Calgary to be All In for Youth. Education has many sections of players, each with specialized jobs, such as school boards, assessment specialists, career counselors, instructional staff and administrators. The orchestra of education also has families, community members and the business sector as important groups of players. Any orchestra sounds best when each musician is skilled, the instruments are well tuned, and the sections work together in harmony toward the common goal of playing the best music they can. This takes work! Over the past two decades, our city has

2 UWC Toolkit - Sample Introductory Speech 2 witnessed a lot of positive changes; together, we ve progressed to become a more prosperous, diverse and culturally rich city than before. And while our city strives toward continued progress, the changing world has handed our orchestra new music to play. The players haven t rehearsed the new repertoire enough to be ready to perform it. It s particularly important that we improve our performance when it comes to high school completion. Although Alberta has a reputation for being an educated city, much of our top talent is imported. We actually have one of the lowest school completion rates in the country. This is simply unsustainable in these times. As the knowledge economy of the 21st century continues to grow, two out of every three jobs of the future will require some form of post- secondary training. In an interdependent community, where each of us has a role, we can t afford to waste the potential of so many of our future workers and leaders. If we want Calgary to continue to be a city of prosperity and opportunity, then we need to address the needs of struggling youth. No orchestra becomes great overnight, and the beauty of music depends on a lot of small steps. It depends on dedicated practice by musicians who have all the resources they need. And it depends on a conductor who can create harmony among all the parts. At United Way of Calgary, we are working to bring together and support different sections of the educational orchestra, to help the system become more coordinated and more effective. The partnerships we ve established are key to this endeavor. We re bringing together groups of players that don t usually rehearse together, such as the Calgary Board of Education and the Calgary Catholic School District. We ve brought many key companies and organizations into this initiative, as well. All In for Youth involves three key strategies for tuning up our orchestra. The Uirst is to keep kids in school. To do this, we re Uilling out the mentoring section, making sure that the youth who most need additional support have access to an important adult role model and tutoring. We are working with businesses and education systems to provide low- cost tutoring for those not able to afford standard rates. We will also develop additional sources of tutors, such as university students, high school students, and employees in Calgary companies looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities. We re having great success training adults to be positive connectors for youth, linking them to what they need to stay in school and be successful. The second strategy is reaching out to youth who have gotten away from the orchestra. We are piloting an innovative outreach program in which youth are contacted and offered the support they need to return to school including opening their minds to a variety of possible career futures and helping remove the barriers that may hold them back.

3 UWC Toolkit - Sample Introductory Speech 3 Finally, we are expanding and enhancing the career guidance section. Many youth and their advisors need an updated and clear understanding of the pathway to a career in the trades. United Way will produce a Navigation Guide to assist them by showing they can access an exciting career path that does not require a university education. We are also piloting an awareness program in two schools, working with students, parents and partner corporations to link an initial group of youth to the trades. Being All In for Youth is about Calgary s future progress. Our vibrant regional economy and excellent quality of life depend on us working together harmoniously, composing new music when we need it, and playing the songs we already know the best that we can. Education is by no means a solo act. Our orchestra needs you. Are you All In?

4 UWC Toolkit - Sample Introductory Speech 4 Copyright Notice And Limited License All of the materials in this report is copyrighted under United States law and applicable international copyright laws and treaty provisions. The copyrights in the Content are owned by FrameWorks Institute, or by third parties who have licensed their materials to FrameWorks. You may download, store, print, and copy selected portions of the Content, provided you: (1) only use the Content for your personal, organization and noncommercial use or to further your business dealings with FrameWorks; (2) you do not modify or alter the Content in any way or delete or modify any copyright or trademark notices or notices of conuidentiality. Recipients of these materials are encouraged to use and distribute these materials, but not to re- publish, edit, or resell the Content here within. FrameWorks Institute 2013

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