Project FLIP: Kylie's Reflection

The following is from a speech given by One Stone member Kylie Casper during the One Event in 2019 about her experience helping a family that had recently experienced homelessness.

Finding Myself Through Service

By Kylie Casper

Imagine this. Two boys, ages 12 and 10, and a six-year-old girl. They are your typical kids: high energy, fun loving, and always ready for the next adventure. However, unlike typical kids, these three have felt the hardships that come with experiencing homelessness.

I came to know this family through a Project Good project: Families Living in Inspired Places (FLIP). I was on a team that partnered with CATCH, a local organization that helps families experiencing homelessness find housing and financial stability, and this family had just moved into their new apartment. Our team focused on helping make their new place feel more like a home for these three kids.

We kicked off the project by meeting the family, and invited them to One Stone. As the kids walked through the doors of One Stone, you could immediately see their eyes widen with excitement, not knowing where to look first. It was a kid’s dream building: colorful furniture, and chairs with wheels! The kids were eager to start playing, so we scrapped our meticulously planned schedule, and we followed their lead. It didn’t take long until we were racing around the building on rolling chairs, much to the dismay of the One Stone staff.

What we learned that night was this: Eric is an animal fanatic. His sister, Sophie, loves pink, purple, and all things sparkly. Nathan is passionate about reading and dragons.

The following week, we took what we learned and got to work on creating the kids’ dream rooms – rooms just for them. For Eric and Nathan we painted their dresser blue and red, their favorite colors. We gave Nathan a book light so he could read in bed and not disturb his brother. We decorated Sophie’s room with pink and purple bedding and a canopy over her bed so she could feel like a princess.

On reveal day I was nervous, but excited to surprise Eric, Nathan, and Sophie with their new rooms. I got to spend the whole day with them, while the rest of my FLIP team went to work transforming the rooms. We took the kids to Ann Morrison Park where we ran around and played their favorite game, cops and robbers, for HOURS.

As we left the park, Eric gave me a new name, Coyote. I love that name and it warms my heart that he felt so comfortable with me.

When we arrived for the reveal, the kids sprinted up the stairs to see their new rooms. The kids were more excited about their rooms than I could ever have imagined. When Sophie saw her room, she jumped and screamed with joy. I’ve never seen anyone so happy. Then it hit me. I realized just how much this new room meant to her. And just how much this project meant to me. This small act of kindness changed their lives, and mine.

The experience with Eric, Sophie, and Nathan opened my eyes to my true self and fostered a passion within me – helping people.

I know this might sound totally cliche, but it’s true. By spending time with these kids I learned how to be empathetic, to take others’ needs into consideration, and to separate all of my outside stressors to focus on the things that REALLY mattered.

Before this experience I thought I knew what mattered: Looking great on paper for colleges. Achieving perfection. Being number one. I believed that accomplishing these things would set me up for the ideal life, but I was beginning to become a person I didn’t want to be.

Now I strive to help people, not just those who seem to need it, but everyone. I want to encourage and support anybody and everybody to be the best version of themselves.

When I joined Project Good’s FLIP team, I thought I would be helping others. Little did I know how much others would be helping ME.

Thank you Sophie, Eric, and Nathan for changing my life, for good.

Families Living in Inspired Places (FLIP): A Room Fit for a Princess

How might we help children of CATCH families in making their house THEIR home?

The FLIP (Families Living in Inspired Places) team began their journey by working with CATCH, a local rapid rehousing non-profit for families experiencing homelessness. Through interviews with counselors and CATCH alumni, as well as a tour of the CATCH office and warehouse, the team began looking into the time right after families are housed. On their tour through the CATCH warehouse, one of the student team members noticed the lack of decor available to new families and specifically the lack of children’s room decor and materials. The team wondered: what makes a house a home? What is it that makes a kids room a kids room? How can we help kids feel safe, welcome, and able to express themselves in their own space?

CATCH connected the team to a recently-housed family with a young girl named Mya. After learning more about Mya’s personality and experiences before CATCH, the team began brainstorming ways to bring inspiration into her new bedroom. A princess at heart, Mya dreamed of a room filled with color, art, and “stuffies” to snuggle at night. The team also learned that Mya was scared of shadows and needed to be able to put her toys, clothes, and decor in her closet before bed. The team set to work scouring local thrift shops for gently-used furniture that they could revamp in One Stone’s Foundry. Students sanded down items including a dresser and shelf, gave them fresh coats of paint, and decorated the pieces with stencils and original art. The students adapted a rolling cart for Mya to store her toys and shoes that she could easily roll into the closet at night and created a personalized sign for Mya’s door with the letters of her name. After Mya saw the final result, she could not contain her excitement to have her own special space. Her big smile brought some of the planning team members to tears. At the end of the afternoon, the planning team shared a spaghetti meal (her favorite food!) that they cooked with Mya and her family.

Outcomes:

• 25+ hours spent renovating furniture in the Foundry

• Three new pieces of furniture, new bedding, and original art

Responses:

“[It’s] wonderful to see high school aged individuals with such drive and sense of community.” –Jeremy Blades, Director of Housing Services for CATCH

“This has been my most meaningful One Stone project, ever.” –One Stone team member

“I can’t say thank you enough.” –FLIP parent recipient

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Molar Bearz

How might we excite second graders about building healthy oral hygiene habits?

A team of students spent nine months diving into the topic of dental hygiene. They began by researching the many effects of oral hygiene and found some shocking statistics that made them eager to help young children improve their dental habits, including:

• “Heart disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes are all linked to oral health.” (Mayo Clinic)

• “20% of kids ages 5-11 have a decayed tooth that is untreated.” (Centers for Disease Control)

• “Children from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities compared with children of higher-income households.” (Centers for Disease Control)

After looking at dental hygiene practices and traditions from around the world, the team interviewed retired dentist John Kriz, DDS, about his experience working with patients and discussed topics ranging from the challenges of receiving dental care for those in poverty to how scary a dental appointment can be for a child.

The team then partnered with Miles of Smiles, a free mobile dental clinic for children that travels to local elementary schools, and its executive director Donna Johnson, to explore ways they could build excitement around healthy dental habits in 1st-3rd graders. Knowing that children already receive a lot of information about brushing and flossing but may lack lasting enthusiasm, the student team began brainstorming fun and engaging ways to help kids find excitement in building these healthy habits at a young age.

Thus, Molar Bearz was born! Students put their creativity to the test by creating a short play featuring Chip and Pasty, royal molar bears who fight the “Evil Tartar Troll” from taking over their kingdom. Along the way, Chip and Pasty encounter the temptations of the sugary Queen Frosting and Lady Licorice, but eventually heed the healthy advice of Denise the Dentist and Sir Carrot to reclaim Chip’s crown from the Tartar Troll. Along the journey, kids could interact with the story by participating in the popular “flossing” dance and chanting, “Brush, brush twice a day to keep the Tartar Troll away!”

The team traveled to White Pine Elementary School to perform their play in front of 65 second grade students. After the play, students participated in activity stations including visiting the Miles of Smiles bus, identifying which beverages contained the most sugar, decorating a “lost tooth” bag, and creating a smile-themed healthy snack.

Outcomes:

• 65 second graders participated in the project implementation at White Pine Elementary school, gaining knowledge and enthusiasm to build healthy dental habits.

• Miles of Smiles gave out 65 dental hygiene kits, including toothbrushes, floss, and toothpaste as well as information for families to access more of Miles of Smiles’ free resources.

Reflections from the planning team:

“Making 60+ second graders laugh and applaud for an original play about teeth is something I never imagined I’d be a part of, but the smiles it created made this project one I will never forget.” -Maeve Pierson, One Stone member

“I’ve never had an experience quite like this one. I learned so much and felt as if I were a part of the embodiment of good.” -Seamus McArthur, One Stone member

A One Stone Project Good alum shares her coincidental run-in with Molar Bearz:

“While getting my teeth cleaned, I overheard a little kid enthralled in detailing their newfound knowledge of dental hygiene. My hygienist mentioned that earlier in the week, another 2nd grader had been equally excited to share recently acquired know-how about healthy dental habits from an activity that had come to their school, commenting that some teacher missed their calling as a dentist. Coincidentally, I later learned the teacher was my mother (Mrs. Simonds, notorious tooth-puller) and that the lesson was actually a One Stone project! It was great to hear that kids were still so excited about it after the fact!” - Kendall Simonds, One Stone Alum

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Open Book Adventures Spring 2018: Olympics

How might we encourage a love of reading and writing in first and second grade learners?

The Spring 2018 session of Open Book Adventures (OBA) lit the torch for a beloved theme – the Olympics! Inspired by the accomplishments and community of the 2018 Winter Olympics, the OBA planning team iterated on the feedback from high school student Adventure Guides, OBA participants, and parents to build a highly functioning and truly student-led Open Book Adventures session. For six weeks, first and second grade little buddies engaged with their high school Adventure Guide mentors and spent time reading, writing in their activity books, eating healthy snacks, and playing fun Olympic-themed games. 

During the session, Adventure Guides and buddies were split into three teams, each group representing a different color. For each book a buddy read during OBA or at home during the week, they could put a pebble into their team’s jar to compete for the most books read during the six weeks. By the end of OBA, the three jars were filled to the brim! Buddies were clearly eager to represent their team well.

The OBA planning team also responded to parent feedback asking for more communication about each day’s activities by implementing a take-home sheet outlining the favorite activities of the day and offering parents questions to guide conversations with their learner. Parents could now ask, “What book character did you dress up as today?” rather than the general “How was Open Book Adventures?” 

Outcomes:

There was an average of 16.8% improvement in minute reading scores of participants from week 1 to week 6.

From Parents:

“My kiddo is a great reader but didn't just want to sit and read to himself. Right after OBA started he began wanting to read at night to himself after we read stories to him. It was also amazing to see him doing workbook work because he normally hates that!”

“My daughter and I both love this program and how beautifully the older students interact with the younger ones.”

From OBA Guides:

In a comparison of pre and post surveys of guides, students self-reported growth in the following areas: acting with empathy, problem solving, and working with young children.

“Participating in OBA was a great opportunity to enhance my ability to work with kids and make them feel special and important. It was a test of patience, but it was well worth it to build a connection and impact a life.”

“I just further cemented my belief that all children deserve to have fun and learn at the same time.”

“I think the most challenging thing was getting my buddy to have the confidence to say what he really wanted to do or say but by the end we got there.”

Empow[HER]

How might we help eighth grade girls grow in their self confidence, positive friendships, and self love?

Empow[HER] began from two separate needs. Parents in the Boise community were asking One Stone to help their junior high aged daughters make healthy, loving choices. At the same time, high school aged girls at One Stone’s Project Good programs were reflecting on the challenges they faced during junior high: “If only I had someone telling me I was okay, and helping me navigate the hard stuff – it would have been so much better.” With the need identified and the passion to solve the issue of low self-confidence in eighth grade girls found in abundance, Empow[HER] was off and running! 

During the summer, an all-female group of dedicated high school students met and investigated the phenomenon of low self confidence, self esteem, and negative body image among young women. The team met with counselors, teachers, parents and junior high aged girls to better understand the scope and nuances of the issue, while also engaging in online research. Ultimately, the team decided to hold a fall workshop series leading into a spring overnight event. The three fall workshops would each include a craft (making something), movement (yoga, dance or field games), and a connectivity game that would bond the girls together. One of the most important aspects to help improve self image and self esteem is having positive friendships, and a caring support system, so as the girls created tie dyed t-shirts, they talked about expressing themselves. They also made chapstick and discussed the ways they talk about other women and themselves, and made friendship bracelets for each other during the last workshop. 

In the spring, the Empow[HER] team came together to continue to build on the work from the fall. The student team planned an overnighter for eighth grade girls from around the Boise area filled with self expression, friendship, and empowerment. Participants shared “Life Stories in a Minute” and made road maps of their lives. After a homemade pizza dinner girls broke into small group discussions and talked about everything from how to deal with changes in friend groups to what is the best food to pack for lunch at high school. The evening continued with DIY face masks, discussions of inner and outer beauty, and a craft that each girl could take home: a hand mirror decorated with loving self affirmations. Toss into the mix an emergency dance party and movie night and you have an awesome evening of fun! The next morning participants and the team reflected on the friendships formed, how to keep the girl power alive into the summer and how to continue to grow into the empowered women they want to be.

Outcomes:

• 12 eighth grade girls attended the fall workshop series

• 35 eighth grade girls attended the spring overnight event (including all 12 from the fall workshop series)

• 40 pizzas eaten

From the planning team:

“I loved getting to know the girls that participated!”

From the summit participants:

• “The activities made me think about how I talk to myself. I wouldn’t talk to a friend like that so why am I talking to myself like that? I want to talk to myself the way I talk to my friends.”

• “I liked getting to know all the girls here. They’re so nice!”

• “I thought it was cool the way the high schoolers answered all our questions. They had good advice, and I hope I get to see them again next year at high school.”

• “This whole experience is good to remind me that girls should take care of each other and have each others’ backs.”

STEMming Daisies

How might we provide Daisies Girl Scouts with an opportunity to interactively explore STEM?

STEMming Daisies began as a group that wanted to solve the problem of Girl Scouts having a lack of access/interest in STEM. The team wanted to give troop leaders and girls the ability to interactively explore STEM in a fun and inviting way. To empathize, they met with three troop leaders and 15 Girl Scouts to understand the lack of STEM accessibility for young girls in the Girl Scout program and beyond. Research included attending a service unit meeting, a city-wide gathering of Girl Scout leaders and administrators, and talking to the troop leaders about the Girl Scout program (how it works and who's involved). STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math, was one of the topics that frequently arose as an issue for troop leaders. Many of the leaders were highly interested in exposing their troops to STEM, and said that some girls had already shown interest in the subject. However, some expressed concerns that they felt reluctant or unqualified to teach it. After doing some research about new Girl Scout STEM badges, the team was inspired to break down barriers and empower Girl Scouts, especially young ones, to see how fun and exciting STEM could be. 

The team created a three pronged solution: create a booklet, run a booth at STEM day, and create a one-time event for a group of Girl Scouts. In the booklet, a story of a Girl Scout named Kalea led the troops through interactive STEM situations and activities. 

At the booth at STEM day, the team led more than 40 girls through origami activities and explained the science, technology, engineering, and specifically mathematics, behind the project. 

The final activity, after a successful prototype, brought 28 girls and some troop leaders together for a fun, free, walk-through of the booklet and STEM-related activities.

After completion of the activity, girls were awarded a STEMming Daisies patch and were given a copy of the booklet to use at home. They were also given an opportunity for reflection by letting them draw and write what they had enjoyed. 

The team was surprised to find out that the girls knew more about STEM than previously thought, were more engaged than expected, and were very creative in using logic to solve problems. Lastly, the STEMming Daisies project was sustainable because we passed on our booklets and logo to the troop leaders in an effort to continue providing interactive experiences in STEM for future Daisies troops.

Outcomes:

Between the prototype event, STEM Day, and final project, 81 Daisies were directly impacted by the project.

"Thank you for inviting my troop to your event. It was amazing. The girls had so much fun and my daughter has been talking about it since Thursday. Thank you so much, it was a wonderful experience." –Girl Scout Troop Leader

“I hope this gives Daisy troop leaders the tools and excitement to provide more STEM activities.” –Viveca, One Stone member

“I LOVED EVERYTHING.” –Daisy participant after implementation

“I’ve been involved with two STEM-related Project Good projects now, and each one is so different. It’s cool to see how much creativity can surround one topic.” - Jackson McEwan, One Stone member