Americorps member Whaley joins YAH

• Elise Whaley at Youth Action Hudson

Elise Whaley has recently joined the staff of Youth Action Hudson. She is an Americorps member and will be working with YAH students on programs such as the bullying and teasing workshops, community service projects, Saturday Y Live! (formerly Coffee House Live) and ReWear. Photo by Meg Heaton

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Elise Whaley has hit the ground running with Youth Action Hudson as the new Americorps member working with Hudson area teens.

Whaley, who grew up in Knife River just north of Duluth, has a degree from the University of Minnesota in Youth Studies and a background of working with young people in summer camps throughout high school. Before pursuing a career in high school and/or career counseling, Whaley believes her time at YAH will be well spent.

She likes the YAH mission of “empowering and engaging youth to make a difference through service learning, leadership and education.” One of her first experiences on the staff was to organize and facilitate a parent orientation. “We want the parents of the kids we work with to know what it is we do and what their kids are involved in. It was the first one we’ve done and I think it was a real success. It is important to make that connection with parents. It helps the kids and it helps us.”

Whaley is now working with YAH volunteers to prepare for the first of the annual Peer to Peer workshops the organization conduct. This fall, the volunteers will prepare presentations for elementary-age students on the topic of bullying, utilizing skits, role playing and games to stimulate discussion and provide students with some practical tools to use when they experience or observe bullying. A similar workshop is held every spring with Hudson Middle School students.

Whaley said she will also be working with a newer YAH program, Big Buddies, that began last spring and involves YAH volunteers periodically having lunch or spending recess with elementary students. “It is a way for kids who don’t like to make presentations or do public speaking to volunteer. The younger kids see positive role models and develop relationships with older kids, maybe someone they can confide in.”

Whaley is excited about the changes being made in the former Coffee House Live events. The new name is Saturday Y Live and is still a partnership with the YMCA. “But it has been totally revamped. Kids who come can use the gym, listen to live music or a DJ and just hang out. Our first one was a success and our volunteers are really committed to having it be a fun, healthy event for everyone.” Whaley said her experience working in marketing for the Northrup Auditorium at the U of M is helping her develop plans for this and other YAH events and opportunities like ReWear, the Green Closet for Teens.

Whaley is also hoping to start a blog where YAH volunteers can write about their experiences and things that interest them. “It is a really popular way to communicate and exchange ideas and it is good writing experience.”

Whaley said she has always liked being around teenagers and says that is what drew her to the YAH job. She hopes students will drop by the office to talk, hang out or do their homework. “It is something I am passionate about and I am excited about what’s ahead.”

For more information about Youth Action Hudson go online at www.youthactionhudson.org or call (715) 386-9803.

Tags: communities, hudson, family