Taking Back 9-11

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The sponge relay is one of many exciting events planned for this year's 9-11 Olympix in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

At age 16, as Mandi Geske watched the events of 9-11 unfold on her television screen she knew that she wanted to become more engaged with her community—even though she lived in Gwinnett County, Georgia, hundreds of miles away from the actual attacks.

"It was important for me to connect with family and friends, and reach out to the men and women who serve us," she observes four years later, now a freshman at Georgia Perimeter College in the metro-Atlanta area. "Not everyone took it so seriously, but I just felt I had to do something."

For Geske, that something involved becoming a volunteer and mentor with her mother's non-profit organization, the Foster Children's Foundation, which provides emotional, educational and financial resources to several foster children in Georgia. As a student, she joined the organization's Junior Executive Committee, a group of high schoolers who have established successful programs that aid foster children, including a fund to support kids with special physical and emotional needs. In addition to taking a full class load this year, she's one of several young adult mentors for foster children who come in contact with the organization.

Hurricane Katrina Generates
New Youth Volunteer Web site
Youth Service America has established a new place on the Internet for youth looking for ways to volunteer and help out with the crises caused in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
"Literally one-third of all kids in America made a gift to the tsunami relief efforts," says Culbertson. "I think we're going to see a huge outpouring in this Katrina disaster of young people playing a significant role."

According to Steve Culbertson, president and CEO of Youth Service America, thousands of college, high school and middle school students have taken similar paths since 9-11. In fact, he indicates that young people today are volunteering in their communities at record rates—more than any generation in history. Over 3 million young people are expected to volunteer this year, according to the organization.

"Kids coming of age in this millennium were already pretty special in terms of their capacity for technology learning and levels of tolerance," says Culbertson. "I think that they were given an added burden with 9-11, but have run with it for the greater good."

One Day's Pay

The One Day's Pay non-profit is one place on the Internet where many children and youth have pledged to volunteer their time and efforts on a variety of 9-11-focused activities. The organization took the lead in establishing September 11 as a "National Day of Voluntary Service, Charity and Compassion." Organizers encourage individuals, employers and groups to set aside time during the week of September 11 each year to help others in need through service or other giving activities.

Since 2002, hundreds of youth have visited the group's Web site to make their pledges known. For instance, several students in the Anchorage, Alaska school system have promised to serve 2 hours on September 11 this year to help needy citizens in the community. Many also will participate in the Friends of Alaska Day of Service Project to support senior citizens at the Anchorage Senior Center.

Meanwhile, several organizations that operate on behalf of youth are getting into the 9-11 volunteer spirit by supporting children and family activities. Shirley Sessions of the United Way Volunteer Center reports that volunteers in Kansas will create "pillow pal" packages for children going into foster care. "Packages will be made for two age groups: one- to 10-year-olds and 11- to 15-year-olds," she says. "The packages will include items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair brushes, hair clips, small stuffed animals, and pillow cases."

Casa Grande Youth

The middle and high school student volunteers that compose the Casa Grande Youth Commission in Arizona decided earlier this year that they will hold a community "Night of Remembrance" tribute on 9-11. The commission was formed last year to provide counsel to city officials on issues concerning youth and programs that they'd like to see implemented.

Lita Lujan, a senior at Casa Grande Union High School and secretary of the commission, explains that in leading up to 9-11 this year, many members wanted to host a recognition ceremony for the police and firefighters who help keep their community safe. "It's not only the older people in our community who care,' she says. "We are working to show that youth have a voice, too."

Lujan has taken the lead in preparation efforts, purchasing candles for the night of the event, and creating fliers that she and other teens have distributed throughout schools and businesses in the area.

"Everybody in the community is invited," says Donna McBride an adult adviser to the commission. "But our youth commission has really focused on getting as many young people there as they can—many of the high school schools and clubs and organizations will be active in the ceremony."

With support from City Councilman Karl Peterson, the group has secured Peart Park as the location for the event. Lujan is hopeful that several hundred citizens will attend and that it will become an ongoing event in Casa Grande.

9-11 Olympix

Last year, along with her mom, Suzanne, and her brother, Chris, now 17, Mindi Geske helped turn 9-11 into not just a time for remembrance, but also a time to celebrate community spirit. They established an event called the 9-11 Olympix where teams of Gwinnett County police, firefighters and emergency medical service workers participate in a series of fun activities, like sack races with area youth and doughnut relay races.

"We think it's important to help kids move on from the trauma of the attacks, and learn more about the men and women who protect and serve us in our own communities," explains Suzanne Geske. "For many kids, firefighters and policemen are their heroes, so we feel good about encouraging them to interact with each other."

Last year, as a result of the event, community sponsors provided $12,000 to support clothing drives and other outreach efforts on behalf of foster kids. This year, more than $30,000 has already been raised.

Suzanne Geske estimates that over 500 teens have applied to become volunteers to help run this year's festivities, which will be held on Saturday, September 10. "We only need about 280 volunteers total, so we've had to turn a lot of them away," she says. "But we still tell them to come on out and just enjoy themselves."

Rob Capriccioso is a former staff writer with Connect for Kids.