Extending learning by teaching others

Pulling together partnerships is a win-win-win!

Michigan State University Extension educators completed a six session partnership with Otsego County Department of Health and Human Services through the Michigan Youth Opportunities Innovative for young people transitioning from foster care organized by Olen Henke. Bullying prevention and healthy relationships was the focus of time spent together. The capstone of the series was a chance for the youth to teach other youth through collages that will be on display in the Otsego County Community Center. The community center host open gyms daily afterschool and reaches hundreds of kids each month.

Pulling together these partnerships is a win-win-win! The students in Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative had purpose and voice in creating the materials, the community center benefits with positive messages from youth to youth and MSU Extension reaches into the community with education, resources and programming.

Posters created focused on quotes of respect, diversity and fairness as part of the BeSAFE: Safe, Affirming, Fair Environments curriculum developed by Janet Olsen and Karen Pace at Michigan State University Extension. The curriculum features 10 focus areas including creating safe spaces, exploring bullying, addressing cyberbullying, understanding differences, nurturing emotional intelligence, developing our social intelligence, moving from bystanders to allies, keeping ourselves safe, becoming critical consumers of media, and reflecting on our experiences. Each focus area has three components: essential activities, going deeper activities and extending our learning activities.

Our series in Otsego County began in October and concluded Thursday Nov. 17. Teens and young adults enjoyed team building games of building spaghetti bridges, passing a can around a circle using only their feet and a hula hoop challenge along with their learning activities. All three partners look forward to collaborating in the future, as well!

To contact an expert in your area, visit people.msue.msu.edu.

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