So, hanging out and training some American Youth Works kids today down in the Montopolis community! Ten kids from the community, who are already working hands on leading their community forward, sitting in on some real useful trainings from the SSC being run by our lovely Anna Pierce, Jeni Wilde and Rachel Aitkens. We’re out here hanging out with the kids on their turf, in their house, telling them what they want to know, on their terms. Even in getting the trainings set up the guys are trouble shooting with us! Even projector and technology mutinies are opportunities to build cooperation in the group. Brainstorming is successful and interactive. The team is open to participating with kids on their level and open to being goofy! Eco-stretches, Go!

Framing training is first up in the agenda. Everyone is open to the ideas and chilling out and laughing with ( or maybe at) us. The brainstorming exercise was a great ice breaker and they all participated, no one got left out! I’m thinking these kids are pretty awesome and so far they seem really open to us. The hand outs are a bit confusing at first but once everyone finds their page its chill. The following moment of voluntary silence as all of them willingly delve into the handout material. Even I hesitate to read handouts people give me.

Its really exciting at the end of a training session to hear the kids asking questions and without even being prompted, getting excited and talking amongst themselves about how framing and messaging integrates with what they’re already doing and how they do it. Even better yet, they’re asking what more they can do. Such a rewarding and revitalizing experience. Even during break time between the sessions they’re interested in what we’re doing and asking questions about our events

At the end of the day, here’s what one really spunky American Youth Works participant had to say:

Angie:

So some of the Re-Energize Texas/Summer of Solutions crew came over to talk to our group, which was awesome because it gave us all a slightly larger break from our construction site work on this particularly hot day. It was also pretty helpful because we were presented with tips and constructive activities for understanding canvassing and presenting new ides for positive change within a community.

Our crew in particular, GEC-Green Energy Corps, will be working on hands on weatherization construction and promoting a transition toward furthering its incorporation to Austin area housing & then hopefully further. I really like the Re-Energize Texas shirts and I hope to get one. Being able to show progressive thought in such a tangible way to others about Texas feels super encouraging and can hopefully inspire or reinforce hope to better our country as a whole. Everyone from RE-Energize was really friendly and spoke clearly. One of the girls had a lot of piercings and that made me miss my eyebrow piercing! .

Hello everyone, here’s a quick update! Re-Energize Texas is hosting a summer campaign called Summer of Solutions. Summer of Solutions comes from a national program of the same name currently housed under the Grand Aspirations umbrella. So here is the major scoop: The RTX blog, for the rest of the summer, is also the Summer of Solutions Austin blog!!! Following promptly will be an on-site written blog post, complete with commentary from an event participant! Just because its summer doesn’t mean our fight is over. Lets keep it rolling with the Summer of Solutions!

A kickoff potluck/party will be held at the RTX/Public Citizen office on Thursday July 2nd from 6-9 in Austin. If you’re in the neighborhood, drop in!

For more information contact PR representative Megan at her email Megan.Brown@ctx.edu.

Also, check out the Summer of Solutions national blog at  http://solutionaries.net/