Continuing Creative Endeavors through Service Learning
“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” – Bill Gates
A often overlooked intrinsic value is the power of ideas that come from social experiences which are carried out with a purpose. Collaboration is vital to achieve excellence as it uses multiple human resources but the creative self discovery that comes from interaction is not always obvious.
Last month a group of adult volunteers from Salem United Methodist Church traveled to Chicago to host a Christmas lunch for ex prisoners and their families. Barrington volunteers have been involved with helping to fund, provide gifts and gently used winter clothes for the last 15 years for ex prisoners and their families. Krish Nara and Jack Weed from Barrington Middle School volunteered as well along with their mentor Chris Majkowski. While the adult volunteers cleaned, cooked and served the food for over 100 guests, the students were busy interacting and playing chess with members of the St Leonards chess club. Joining the efforts was Victor Griffith another young adult who worked hard to help with serving the food. By coming together a simple act of service has blossomed into creating a chess club for ex prisoners at St Leonards House in Chicago. These young adults gradually understood the power they have to do good and the value of reaching out. They experienced the joy of being appreciated first hand and at the end of the day Krish Nara asked, "What do we do next, I was so happy to bring joy into their lives." Joining the efforts to advance the chess program through technology, fund raising, marketing are 20 year old John Dawson, teenagers Prabhtej Singh and Prabhgun Kaur from Palatine.
Rev Tommy Johnson has been an inspirational figure for ex prisoners and his interaction with the youth volunteers was almost magical because of the ideas that emerged from this association. He is the Executive Director of Outside the Walls, a nonprofit that provides Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC). He works in unison with the Illinois Department of Corrections. This is a ministry that directs its efforts toward individuals, adult and juvenile, coming out of incarceration, as well as using drugs or in recovery from drug use. He was recently nominated for a prestigious national award for reducing recidivism among this population that he serves. Rev Johnson is always alert to methods that will socially, intellectually, emotionally engage them and he relied on these chess students to take on leadership challenges to organize a chess club at St Leonards House. The initial funding was provided by the Armstrong Family with the Peter Wulff Center and Chess Without Borders matching the funds to start the chess club for 50 students. The youth volunteers were busy selling Humanitarian Hummus to help fund the club as well. GM Shulman from Chess Without Borderswill provide assistance for the club to thrive. Another idea that emerged was to conduct a pilot study to observe if the members who engaged regularly in studying chess were able to reduce recidivism as well. A questionnaire will be given to the club members before starting the club and then 6 months later. This scientific approach for the young volunteers will open a new dimension to their serve learning thanks to the extensive collaboration with many disciplines. Peter Wulff, a gifted teacher for Behaviorally disturbed adolescents was using chess as a therapeutic agent at Riverside Hospital before he died suddenly. However his work will be continued at St Leonards Chess Club hoping to gain knowledge and benefit members who attend to develop life skills. https://patch.com/illinois/barrington-il/chess-therapeutic-agent
The Peter Wulff Center is always looking for ideas, collaboration and help with improving its mission to engage and prepare leaders for tomorrow. Youth learn to address challenges of social entrepreneurship that prepares them for their journey in life as real entrepreneurs changing the world with the skills they learn.
Please email at peterwulffcenter@gmail.com