This conversation is the perfect way to honor Older Americans Awareness month, which is celebrated in May. Intergenerational volunteering is so incredibly powerful. My guests today, high school students Areen, Emily and Rachel, started Generation Union with the mission of bridging the gap between generations. They empower youth to engage with institutionalized seniors and other patients living with Alzheimers disease. With a robust chapter program, Generation Union provides meaningful volunteer opportunities for teens and connection and joy to isolated elders. Learn more at https://www.generation-union.org/ and follow @generationunion
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16:45
Tanuj, Arjun and Shreyas: Mind4Matter
As we kick off Mental Health Awareness month, I'm delighted to share this conversation with three big-hearted young men who care deeply about the mental health of their class mates and other youth around the world. Arjun, Tanuj and Shreyas started their nonprfoit Mind4Matter last Fall after observing a need for a safe space for teens to talk about stress and mental health struggles. Mind4Matter is a youth-led nonprofit with a strong chapter model that works to provide the tools people need to find strength and resilience in challenging times. Learn more and follow @mind4matter.global
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16:33
Madhvi4EcoEthics
We wrap up Earth Month with this conversation with Madhvi C., and incredibly impressive young changemaker from Colorado. Since she was a very young child, Madhvi has been passionate about sustainability and advocacy around climate justice. She worked to remove styrofoam from her school, and has been instrumental in the passing of legislation around environmental issues in Colorado. She has addressed the UN, and was named a TIME kids of the year.
Learn more about her advocacy work and her nonprofit, Madhvi4EcoEthics at https://www.madhvi4ee.com/ and follow at @madhvi4ee
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13:59
Ivy L.: Teen Coalition 4 Climate
As we continue to celebrate Earth Month, I'm delighted to share this conversation with Ivy, a highschool student who started the Teen Coalition 4 Climate, an international youth-led organization with the goal of uplifting youth climate voices. Now in over 30 countries around the world, Teen Coalition 4 Climate publishes a YouZine - one of the first ever entirely youth-led climate justice magazines.
Learn more at www.teencoalition4climate.com or follow at @teencoalition4climate
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16:34
Makayla: Clean Up The Beach
We continue our celebration of Earth Month with this delightful conversation with Makayla C. whose love of the beaches near her home in Southern California, especially Venice beach, inspired her to create Clean Up the Beach, a youth-led beach clean-up organization. Learn more at www.cleanupthebeachca.org or follow at @celan_up_the_beach_ca
Natalie Silverstein, MPH, is an author, consultant, nonprofit founder, and passionate advocate for family and youth service. Her latest book, Simple Acts: The Busy Teens Guide to Making a Difference, was created to help adolescents and teens discover their passion and purpose through acts of kindness and service to others. She believes that you don't need to change the whole world to make a big impact. Even the smallest stone thrown into the water creates a ripple. Teens CAN make a meaningful difference - one simple act at a time. Simple Acts, Big Impact is a short podcast that highlights and celebrates 'tween and teen volunteers, nonprofit founders, activists, and fundraisers, amplifying these stories and inspiring all of us to take the first step toward making service an important part of their lives.
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