Maine Youth Leadership - Social Media Strategies & Challenges
1. Maine Youth Leadership
Social Media Strategies & Challenges
Motivating Maine’s Future Leaders
Leadership. Character. Volunteerism.
2. www.facebook.com/maineyouthleadership
www.maineyouthleadership.org
@MYLSeminar
MYL Overview
• Annual 4 day leadership seminar
• Schools are asked to nominate one sophomore student
• No cost to parents or students
• Funded by donations, grants & sponsorships
• Last Year:
▫ Participation: 108 Students from 97 Schools
▫ 45 Staff Members: 30 were Alumni
• Current Goals:
▫ Participation: 120 Students
▫ Would need 50-60 Staff Members
3. www.facebook.com/maineyouthleadership
www.maineyouthleadership.org
@MYLSeminar
Program & Purpose “…I don't have to be loud or
popular to be lead--if I take what I
learned here back to my school
and lead by example, it will be just
• Focus on: as important to the world.”
▫ Creating a no-judgment zone
▫ Encouraging community engagement
▫ Finding inspiration through local leaders
• Example Sessions & Workshops:
▫ Mock Trials and Town Halls
▫ Brand Camp
▫ Discovering Personal Leadership Styles
▫ “Game of Life” & the Economics of Education
▫ Leadership Panels
4. www.facebook.com/maineyouthleadership
www.maineyouthleadership.org
@MYLSeminar
Social Media Activity
• Currently on:
▫ Facebook:
www.facebook.com/maineyouthleadership
▫ Twitter
www.twitter.com/mylseminar
• Main Focus: Facebook
▫ “Public”Page
▫ Alumni Groups
5. FB Username:
MaineYouthLeadership
Twitter: @MYLSeminar
Main Objectives: Promote & Engage
Promote MYL through Public Page
▫ Events
▫ Volunteer Opportunities
▫ Speakers
▫ Quotes
▫ Photos
“I have made some new friends
and now realize that there are
other people like me in Maine.”
6. www.facebook.com/maineyouthleadership
www.maineyouthleadership.org
@MYLSeminar
Main Objectives: Promote & Engage
• Engage through Group Pages
▫ Create a “Safe Space” to continue & start conversations
▫ Maintain the “No Judgment Zone”
▫ Allow Students to Connect, “I
Organize & Engage realize, embarrassingly, that
Experiences at School complaining about not getting
a nail appointment, having to
Fundraising
shower in flip flops, or
Social Events walking across campus in the
Volunteer Activities rain is so insignificant when
others don't have concrete
floors to walk on or clean
water.”
7. FB Username:
MaineYouthLeadership
Twitter: @MYLSeminar
Challenges with Social Media (& Teens!)
• Monitoring
▫ Pay Attention to What Teens Post
▫ Multiple Groups tend to pop-up
• The “Trusted Adult”
▫ Comfort Level
"For me, MYL was about finding myself more than anything. I'm going
through a lot in my life right now and I've sort of lost who I am. I came
here hoping to drop any fears of social situations I had and that's exactly
what I did throughout the seminar."
Solution: Social Media Agreement
9. www.facebook.com/maineyouthleadership
www.maineyouthleadership.org
@MYLSeminar
New Social Media Goals
• Increase Video
• Event Organization
• Better Fundraising Efforts
• Keeping the Conversation Going After Seminar
“10 years ago I missed my prom to go to Maine Youth Leadership.
Here I again am on my 28th birthday....
Which event do you think had a bigger impact on my life?”
Intro: Board Member, 2000 Alum Qutes you’ll see throughout the PowerPoint: Re
Held annually since 1986, Currently held at USM in Gorham (past 7 years or so?), also have a Bangor Associate Board – Invite all schools, Guidance Counselors are encouraged to nominate, still struggle, cost per student: $250 for the 4 days
Community Engagement: All Students go volunteer for a few hours on Saturday: Everything from helping with Portland Trails to sitting with dementia patients at the Gorham houseVariety of kids – From Fort Kent to Kittery Putting a Kid from Biddeford, Yarmouth, Deer Isle & Millinocket in the same group-realize how diverse Maine is Local Leaders: Everyone from Angus King, Kyle from E-lick-sor Clothing, and then Some of our alum: Young City Councilors (Ben Sprague/former alum from Bangor), Local Author StephDeschenes, when I went – Bill Irwin – Hiked Applichain Trail. Blind.End with the quote
Quote you just read…quotes/posts from Alum both what they posted/we took from end of seminar feed back forms– the kind of posts we want to shout from the roof tops.
Blood drive, Volunteer with the Iris Network to go Christmas Shopping with the visually impaired Our speakers during event: tag, mention, etc.Photos from events: say so much.Inspiring quotes/quotes from teens: most likes
They can converse openly: how differently they feel. The “Life after MYL” you just went through this gut experience and now what!? No one will understand.Fundraising: Meet us here! (margarita’s night – profits go to MYL) or help me with this (fundraising to go to Honduras for college trip to volunteer)Social Events: Who will be at the district track competition? This basketball tournament? Let’s all meet for the Old Port FestVolunteer: Blood drive or their personal activities“From our backs to theirs” Organized a state wide slothing drive
Most difficult instances: never had to ban anyone, just take a post down. MYL 2011, 2010, etc.Come to trust their Senior Facilitators and other Staff Members: we will get emails, phone calls, good – we are starting to bring on a Licensed Counselor to help with “comfort level” – sharing levelsBut great because these are adults & role models that they might not have: As a teen I was able to meet people like Dave Mac & Rory Strunk of RSN – Now I get to spend time with Linda Varrell – all people who showed me you can live your passion
Videos of Alum, of parents, etc. – more confirmation for events – easy to put off commitment – would like to increase use/integration of Kintera – a fundraising system we haveDies off – starts back up around Seminar
Please let me know if I can send you this – Needs: Volunteers, Donations, Sponsors, Contacts with Schools for recruitment – BOARD MEMBERS!