Community Service & Leadership Opportunities

Youth 2 Youth- Lifeways

1. Lifeways Youth 2 Youth is a group facilitated by the Lifeways Counselor at each middle and high school to bring awareness of the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. The group is an opportunity for all students to impact their school and community by empowering them to create and participate in pro-social campaigns and activities, influence their peers, and remind them that they are not alone in making healthy choices.
2. Reach out to the Lifeways Counselors at RCAS middle and high schools. If you don’t know your Lifeways Counselor or where they are located in your school, please visit www.lifeways.us for our counselor listing and contact info.
3. Meeting days and times vary depending on the school as each school group is unique, check with your LifeWays Counselors for meeting details.
4. A Y2Y Volunteer form with parental permission must be completed in order to participate

1. Lights . . . Camera . . . Join Take ACTion – a youth led community engagement theatre group that writes and performs skits about difficult topics that are important to talk about. We are looking for writers, actors, and public speakers to be part of our team.
2. YouTube channel
3. Any middle school or high school student is invited to participate.
4. Team meetings and rehearsals TBD
5. For more information, contact Kristin Kiner, RCAS Youth Engagement Coordinator- kristin.kiner@k12.sd.us

1. Be a leader and share your voice on the Rapid City Youth City Council. This council (young people 14-18 yrs old) is a committee of the City of Rapid City and serves as a conduit for communication between the City Council and youth of the community
2. Apply at rcycc.com
3. Check out our Facebook and Instagram
4. Meetings the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers
5. For more information, contact Kristin Kiner, RCAS Youth Engagement Coordinator- kristin.kiner@k12.sd.us

1. Are you interested in raising awareness and taking action for the mental and physical wellbeing of our community? Our committee (students 13-18 yrs old) partners with community organizations in a variety of projects and events to improve the mental wellness of all community members.
2. Check out our Facebook and Instagram
3. Attend the next Committee meeting or Youth City Council meeting
4. Meetings are one time per month, usually the 2nd Monday at 5:00 p.m. Check with Advisor to confirm time and day.
5. For more information, contact Kristin Kiner, RCAS Youth Engagement Coordinator/Teen Up- kristin.kiner@k12.sd.us

1. Do you want to raise environmental awareness and create an eco-friendly community? Do you want to help build a safer and stronger community for all through education, insight, and advocacy? To obtain these goals, our committee (students 13-18 yrs old) partners with the city departments and community organizations in a variety of projects and events.
2. Check out our Facebook and Instagram
3. Attend the next Committee meeting or Youth City Council meeting
4. Meetings are one time per month, usually the 1st Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Check with Advisor to confirm time and day.
5. For more information, contact Kristin Kiner, RCAS Youth Engagement Coordinator/Teen Up- kristin.kiner@k12.sd.us

1. Do you want to learn more about nonprofits in our community? Do you want to connect with like-minded youth? Do you want to discover the power of philanthropy and take the lead on grantmaking? (students 13-18 yrs old)
2. Check out our Facebook and Instagram
3. Attend the Youth Philanthropy meetings (Jan.- May)
4. Check with Advisor for scheduled meeting date and time
5. For more information, contact Carrie Robley, Director of Community Impact at Black Hills Area Community Foundation- carrie@bhacf.org or 605-718-0112 or Kristin Kiner, RCAS Youth Engagement Coordinator- kristin.kiner@k12.sd.us

1. Do you want to do something about homelessness in our community? The Taskforce raises awareness and advocates for solutions in the prevention of youth homelessness.
2. Check out Facebook or the website
3. Meetings are on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. at the WAVI admin building (816 6th St.) Open invitation to monthly meetings
4. Anyone interested in helping with the taskforce efforts may reach out to Kristin Kiner, RCAS Youth Engagement Coordinator- kristin.kiner@k12.sd.us

1. Are you 15 – 24 years of age and have a personal connection to homelessness or a personal experience with housing insecurity? Do you have an interest in preventing youth homelessness in our community? The Youth Action Board would be a good place to start.
2. Meetings are the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tuesdays each month from 4:00-5:30 p.m. at The Circle
3. For more information, contact Sara Hornick, YAB Coordinator- sara.hornick@familyconnectionscenters.com or Kristin Kiner, RCAS Youth Engagement Coordinator- kristin.kiner@k12.sd.us

1. Are you an artist? Do you enjoy celebrating the seasons? Do you enjoy inspiring others? If you answered yest to any of these questions, the Minneluzahan Senior Center Chalk Wall Project may be perfect for you. We are looking for student artists to create chalk murals monthly.
2. Any middle school or high school student is invited to participate.
3. The mural is usually created during the last week of each month.
4. For more information, contact Kristin Kiner, RCAS Youth Engagement Coordinator/Teen Up- kristin.kiner@k12.sd.us

1. Help plan a prom for the Minneluzahan Senior Center- Student volunteers coordinate all efforts including fundraising, food, entertainment, and marketing. The Minneluzahan Senior Citizen Prom is usually held in April or May.
2. Any middle school or high school student is invited to participate.
3. Planning usually begins in November and meeting dates/times/locations are TBD- Check with the advisor
4. For more information, contact Kristin Kiner, RCAS Youth Engagement Coordinator- kristin.kiner@k12.sd.us