Why I Marched on Washington

By: Luc
Luc lives in Elmhurst, IL and has participated in our custom programs since 2014.

It has been one month and 2 days since I, a teenage boy from the suburbs of Chicago, marched on Washington with my mother and 1.2 million other men and women. Looking back, it was rough, it really was, I won’t lie to you. The bus ride was 12 hours, the seats were cramped, I knew nobody but my mom (and had to trust them with my safety when we got there), I was the only boy on the bus, and we were packed like sardines for an hour and a half before the March even started.

Looking back, however, I would no doubt do it again, and again, and again. I would do this because I got to stand up for what I believe in with other people who were doing the same. So, the March was rough, but it was the most unique and awe inspiring thing I have ever seen in my entire life.

There was so much passion in every inch of Washington, there was nobody walking beside me who looked like they didn’t want to be there, and everyone was united under one mind set, that of caring and kindness. I mean that’s why I went. My mom’s sign said “It’s about kindness & compassion”, and on the other side, “It’s about human dignity”.

I went to make Mr. Trump aware that I care, and that I am caring, and that we need more kindness, and that there are problems that we believe in that he needs to address. I wasn’t there to say he was illegitimate, I wasn’t there in hatred, I was there in kindness and compassion. The roar of people screaming out about their rights, the rights of others, and the rights of our Earth was a sound like no other, and a sound I will never forget. If you have ever been to a concert for Kanye West, Future, Chance the Rapper, Coldplay, or even TØP, you haven’t seen anything like a million women who are fired up and want what they believe in.

After such a chaotic month and a half after the election, being there in D.C. restored my pride in America and the world. To me it was one elaborate announcement to ourselves and the world saying “Hey, we’re not all how you perceive us, and most of us are with you!” If ever given a chance to stand up for what you think is right, Democrat or Republican, I would 100% recommend doing so. Take action, put in the work, be a part of the movement. I’m sure glad I did.

Community Development and Social Entrepreneurship in Our Interconnected World

By: Karin Scott, AfG Program Director

During one of my presentations at a secondary school in Lviv I was asked the question, “What differences do you see between Ukrainians and Americans?” This question took me by surprise, but I realized I had been thinking about this unconsciously throughout my trip.

What are Ukrainian social values? How do citizens connect with their communities? What does the civic sector look like in Lviv? What causes are youth passionate about? Are the answers different in the United States? In the Chicago area? Do I even know those answers to begin with?

Karin presenting at a secondary school in Lviv.

As I digested this question, I thought back to my first five days in Lviv. To the conversations I’ve had with youth, teachers, NGO employees, volunteers, and university students.

“I think we actually have more similarities than differences,” I stated. I spoke about how both Americans and Ukrainians are interested in the same goals - creating inclusive, positive, and innovative societies that best benefit their citizens. Perhaps this was an idealistic understanding of my time here and of my thoughts about America, but that is how I feel in the moment.

After this presentation I ate lunch with Olga, one of the program managers at my host organization, Society Initiatives Institute (ICI). She had heard my presentation and had her own thoughts about that question.

“We operate in these social activist circles, you and I. When we travel to other countries we meet with like-minded people, because we want to discuss social issues we are passionate about. But in every country there are people who do not share our values. People who are close-minded and don’t believe what we believe in.”

Her comments shifted my rosy-colored perception of Americans and Ukrainians more towards reality. It is true that each nation has a diverse population, of people who are liberal and conservative, young and old, tolerant and intolerant. However, I think that further supports my statement that we are more similar than different. We are countries full of individuals, who are just that, individuals. I think we forget that sometimes. That the world is full of individual people - not numbers, statistics, facts, or victims. People - with bodies, hearts, minds, and hope.

The ICI team and volunteers share their personal asset maps.

I had the opportunity to join the ICI team and volunteers for a team building retreat. About 20Ukrainians, ages 16 to 30 gathered for this event. After doing some entertaining icebreaker games (which I will be taking back to the States), I had the chance to lead the group in a workshop about Asset Based Community Development. This included personal asset mapping and discussing the social challenges of Sykhiv, the neighborhood of Lviv where ICI runs many programs. The conversation brought up hard realities, like city councils unwilling to recognize societal faults, school principals unwilling to bring in innovative programs, and businesses unwilling to accommodate individuals who are differently abled.

On my last day in Lviv, I spoke with attendees of the Lviv Model United Nations conference. Nearly 100 university students gathered from Israel, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Slovakia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. Our conversation around global social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility brought up challenging and important questions.

How are corporations held accountable for the negative impact they might have on the environment? In what ways can private-public partnerships improve transportation options in urban centers? What are some best practices in the corporate social responsibility space?

I cannot claim to be an expert in this field, which I also explained to my audience. However, I can encourage this dialogue amongst passionate, young people and offer my ideas while encouraging them to share theirs.

Lviv Model United Nations conference

The persistence, passion, and energy of ICI members and their community is palpable. I have no doubts that they have and will continue to improve Sykhiv, and moreover, Lviv. But there is no doubt that this will come with frustration, disappointment, and obstacles. Such is the life of social activists trying to make positive changes in their community, whether it be in Evanston or Sykhiv, Chicago or Lviv, the United States or Ukraine.

I am so thankful to Allowance for Good, American Councils, Society Initiatives Institute, and WorldChicago for their support of this program and enhancing both my professional and personal growth. I look forward to continuing this bicontinental partnership in the months to come.

Life, Lessons, and Learning in Lviv, Ukraine

By: Karin Scott, AfG Program Director

Hi there! I’m so honored to be representing Allowance for Good (AfG) in Lviv, Ukraine over the next two weeks. This partnership between the Society Initiatives Institute (SII) and AfG came about through the Professional Fellows Program at the American Council for International Education. Taras, Founder of SII, came to Chicago in May to work with AfG through this program. You can read more about his experience at AfG here. 

As part of this program, AfG had the opportunity to participate in a mutual exchange trip to Lviv. Our program includes presenting to youth, leading conversation with members of the civic space, and working alongside the SII team. I’m excited to share my experience with you all!

Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet

Upon arrival in Lviv, I was greeted by members of the SII team, Taras and Viktor. As well as a Peace Corps volunteer working at SII, Kendra. They as well as another SII member, Vitaliy, gave me a walking tour of the Lviv city centre. The area includes monuments representing the rich history of Lviv, many grand cathedrals dating back to the 14th century, cafes touting the local coffee-centered culture, ornate government offices, and cobblestone streets that are a trap for uncoordinated tourists (like myself).

Part of the group at Oriyana

My first full day in Lviv began in the Sykhiv district, the home district of Taras and where SII runs many of it’s projects. We began at Oriyana, the school where Taras attended elementary and secondary school. Thehalls were filled with children between the ages of 7 and 17 years old. Secondary school students filled the auditorium totaling around eighty. Taras kicked off our presentation by having the students introduce themselves in English. Then I gave a presentation about American culture and Chicago, which included pictures of everything from July 4th fireworks to Chicago hot dogs to American football. I was able to give my presentation in English without translation because Ukrainian students learn English starting when they are seven years old. 

After the presentation at the school, Taras led me in a tour of Sykhiv. Surrounded by Soviet-style apartment buildings, Taras explained that Sykhiv was built as a place for working people to live, similar to suburbs in the United States, where people commute into the city. Today, Sykhiv is often referred to as a “sleeping district” where people just sleep because they work in other districts. Thus, there are not many things to do or places to see in the district. SII wants to create a positive civic identity for Sykhiv, rather than the passive “sleeping district” identity that it is known for currently.

Sykhiv recently revitalized their large public park as way to create a space for Sykhiv residents to enjoy and to bring other residents of Lviv to Sykhiv. The park includes a main path as well as open spaces to host community events. SII recently held a festival, Sykhiv Fest To Go, in this area that was very well attended by Sykhiv residents. More activities and festivals have been planned for this space in the spring when outdoor activities can resume. On the edge of this park is a large cathedral deemed Pope John Paul II because of his visit to the cathedral in 2003, a very important moment for the Sykhiv community.

Top: Art piece at the Crimean bakery

Bottom: Mural  by SII to represent the community and police working together

After touring the park, we visited the popular Crimean bakery in the area, which was started and operated by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Crimea. Many of the baked goods are traditional Crimean dishes, which of course we had to taste. One was a pastry filled with sheep meat and onions, which was savory and delicious. Another was a traditional cheesecakes made with marshmallow cream and caramel. The smell of freshly baked bread made me want to stay there all day. On the wall there was an artistic figure of the Crimea region that reads “Crimea is Ukraine.” According to the International Displaced Monitor Centre there are approximately 1.4 million IDPs in Ukraine.

Our final stop was Dzerelo, a rehabilitation center for youth with mental and physical disabilities. The facility was opened in 1993 and is committed to consultation, rehabilitation treatment, education, and counseling of both children with disabilities and their families. SII has partnered with Dzerelo to launch an Inclusive Friendly project. This campaign is to spread awareness about the need for inclusive spaces in Ukraine. Most businesses, restaurants, schools, residences, and other buildings are not accessible for individuals who are differently abled.

At Dzerelo, Taras hosted a conversation about his time as a Professional Fellow in Chicago and the project he launched as a result of this program. The program will occur in three stages, with the goal of creating a strong civic society and positive identity in Sykhiv. Other members of civic society were present, including individuals from Better Sykhiv and Group 100. Taras used the examples of Chicago neighborhoods he visited to explain this concept of civic identity. He explained how Andersonville, Edgewater, Chinatown, and Ukrainian Village utilize their unique identities to make their citizens proud and attract visitors. Taras led the group in a brainstorm about possibilities and weaknesses in Sykhiv. In small groups we brainstormed ways to overcome some of these weaknesses and as a result create a positive Sykhiv identity. I will be continuing this conversation with the SII team by leading a workshop about Asset Based Community Development.

Wall at youth center - "Love what you do, do what you love!"

On the second day I worked in the SII office with the team and met two more members, Anna and Olya.We prepped for the team retreat, which will occur on Thursday. In the afternoon we visited the Lviv Regional Youth Center where I presented about philanthropy and social responsibility. The audience discussed the challenges of achieving social responsibility in Lviv, as this is a new concept for the community. Other topics of discussion included corporate giving, how to educate others about philanthropy, and where to find resources about philanthropy best practices.

As you can see, my days in Lviv will be full of tours, learning, discussion, and connection. I’m looking forward to sharing more in the days to come!

Changing Misconceptions -- Lessons from GPS 2016

By: Rhea

Rhea participated in

Allowance for Good'

s 2016

Global Philanthropy Summit

in June. 

The Global Philanthropy Summit Program gave me an entirely new perspective on philanthropy and contribution. When I went into this program, like most teens my age, I didn’t have a clear understanding of philanthropy. I learned that philanthropy is so much more than adults donating money; philanthropy is the contribution of time, ties, talent, and treasure by anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or background.

At GPS, we were able to meet with many different philanthropic organizations and foundations, and my eyes were opened on so many new levels on philanthropy. For example, we met with

V!ng

, who empowers teens with giving them the opportunity to help out those in need. By sending videos to V!ng on who you think deserves $1,000 in your life, you have the chance of being selected and actually being able to give $1,000 to someone in need in your life. I worked with V!ng to create a video, and this gave me the chance to realize that regardless of my age, I can make a difference in someone’s life. This was a major lesson I learned from GPS, because like most, I used to think that someone had to be of a certain status to be able to philanthropize and make a difference. GPS, V!ng, and so many other speakers changed this common misconception.

Another big take away that I learned from GPS was that I can make a change in the world now, simply by volunteering my time and talent, using my ties, and giving my treasure to help a cause that I believe in. GPS was really able to expand my horizons and open my eyes to all the different kinds of philanthropic work that I can do. For example, we met with

World Bicycle Relief

who donate high quality bicycles to those in need in Africa. People like students, merchants, or doctors in Africa all benefit very highly from a single bicycle that helps them increase productivity, and give them a better life overall. After talking to them, I realized that a simple everyday object can make such a huge difference to someone in need. This got me thinking about how I can make simple, yet huge, changes in my community, or maybe even globally.

One piece of advice I would tell to future GPS participants is that they should maintain an open mind in order to better prepare them for the week. GPS took us to many different speakers, who worked in vast ranges of philanthropy. Maintaining an open mind allowed me to consider all options. I believe that future participants should enter GPS with a rough idea about what they want to take away or get from the whole experience, and maintaining an open mind about learning really offers a whole new perspective on philanthropy.

Overall, the Global Philanthropy Summit was able to alter my view on life completely, and I recommend it to any teen who wants to make a change in this world.

Achieving and Creating New Goals -- Lessons from GPS 2016

By: Grace
Grace participated in Allowance for Good's 2016 Global Philanthropy Summit in June. 

My overall experience with the Global Philanthropy Summit (GPS) was amazing! It was the first time that I had done anything with Allowance for Good. It was truly an eye opening experience that I will never forget. The amount of knowledge that I was able to obtain while attending GPS was unimaginable. The main focus was philanthropy. Before this Summit, I had never really thought about the meaning of philanthropy. To put it into my own words, I would define it as having a passion for mankind and giving back to the community. Philanthropy in no way means that you or someone else has to donate money. To be a philanthropist, I believe that you must feel some kind of internal reward and know that you have had a positive impact on a community.

One goal I had going into the Global Philanthropy Summit was to gain more knowledge on nonprofits and how they run/work. I currently volunteer at a museum in my hometown of Alpena, Michigan and even though I spend numerous hours there, I never thought about how they get the money to run multiple events throughout the year. To get an inside look at how they achieve this goal was my first priority when entering this program. I ended up achieving that goal when we met with Spark Ventures on the first day of GPS. Our presenter explained to us how they raised the money for the programs they run in other countries outside of the United States. I was inspired by Spark Ventures because it was a combination of my two passions: giving back and traveling.

One goal I had leaving the Global Philanthropy Summit was to think of new and innovative ways that I could give back to my community. That may be through school or just on my own time. Another goal I had was to keep in touch with presenters or representatives of the organizations or companies that we visited. At Groupon, one of the presenters, Parth, made it very clear that it was essential to stay in touch and make connections with people that you meet so that you can create future opportunities for yourself and your career. To achieve this goal, I made a LinkedIn and e-mailed multiple people that we met with during GPS. Since reaching out, I have gotten responses and feedback from all of them. You really have nothing to lose.

Overall, I couldn’t be more supportive of future students who decide to or have thought about being a part of Allowance for Good and the Global Philanthropy Summit. The vast amount of knowledge and connections you can make while attending GPS are never ending. It opens you up to a whole new world, and possible career field.