April's Wrap-Up!

This week, our HALO youth are wrapping up April’s life skill – Time-Management!

To practice Time-Management skills, all HALO youth (ages 5-18) tried out a Popsicle stick Mosaic art project. This was a fun and creative way to learn and exhibit this important life skill.

For this project, the youth were given a certain time frame to decorate as many Popsicle sticks as they could. These Popsicle sticks could then be put together to create either a personal or group mosaic. Many of the younger groups chose to create their own personal mosaic, but one teenage group chose to collaborate and create a larger mosaic.

Time-Management is an important skill, and HALO’s youth certainly enjoyed the opportunity to practice it in such creative way.

“Time is the only commodity that is irreplaceable: invest it, share it, spend it...but never waste it.” ― Tracy Sherwood

For more information on how you can help HALO youth, visit our website at haloworldwide.org or like us on Facebook!

                              A teenage group's collaborative mosaic!

 

                    Such creative designs! "Bright and Exuberant" indeed!

 

           A colorful section of a collaborative mosaic, featuring one youth's message: "I love HALO!"

 

                              Amidst all the color, there is a simple yet powerful message: "Hope."

A younger HALO youth's mosaic creation.

This youth certainly must have used Time-Management when creating this mosaic.

                                              How creative and colorful!

 

                               One youth's creative individual mosaic.

HALO Youth Gives Back!

Our HALO youth Tiana is making us proud once again. After getting inducted to the academic honor society Phi Theta Kappy, Tiana turned her academics into a way to directly give back to the community!

 

For a class project, students had to get into groups and vote on a cause to help raise awareness, funds, or supplies for. Each person in the group had to appeal to the other group members as to why they should pick their cause. Tiana chose the HALO Learning Center - KC, and campaigned hard for HALO and helping homeless and at-risk youth to be her group's "cause". The group unanimously supported her, and chose HALO to be the organization they would help! 

 

For the project, Tiana's class had to spend time volunteering with their respective organization, and then set up a booth inside the college to offer information, raise funds or supplies, and get as many people involved as possible! Tiana's group volunteered with a group of youth from a local homeless shelter, helping them construct toothpick and marshmallow bridges! They then decided to hold an art supply drive for the HALO Learning Center, as well as accept cash donations. 

 

The HALO Learning Center is truly humbled by Tiana's choice to give back to our organization, and couldn't be more proud of her efforts! 

 

For more information on how you can help HALO youth, visit our website at haloworldwide.org or like us on Facebook! 

 

An example of some marshamallow art! How delicious and creative!

Youth constructing their yummy marshmallow masterpieces!

Helping out at a local homeless shelter to give back!

Tiana and her classmates working hard to help HALO at their college.

Tiana and her classmates at their booth!

New Things and New Worlds

The HALO Learning Center--KC had an exciting and new adventure to the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Studio for some innovative career exploration.

Lead by STEAM Studio developers, Dr. Mandi Sonnenberg of Rockhurst University and David Reid of Gould Evans, HALO youth were able to learn about coding and video game programming, architecture, and interior design. Some Youth worked on creating a new video game, some worked on designing their "dream space," but all Youth got a fun and neat experience to learn how creativity and art can be found wherever life takes you--even in science and math!

Gould Evans and the HALO Learning Center--KC have done some cool activities in the past, and the projects at the STEAM studio were no different. Not just the youth had a great time, too! Gould Evans architect and longtime HALO volunteer Grace Phillipp loved her time in the STEAM studio: "I always enjoy working with HALO, because the kids have so many experiences that I didn't have at that age and their views and experiences of the world are quite different from my own.  Getting to share how we think about design and architecture felt like opening them up (as brief as it was) to another tool for their toolkit.  It was really a treat to see their imaginations run and discover how 'dope' a space could be."

The HALO Learning Center--KC had a wonderful, eye-opening experience at the STEAM studio. Everyone had a great time to learn from each other and connect through design and coding. The Youth had a great time learning from the STEAM studio and and Gould Evans, just as Gould Evans and the STEAM studio had a great time learning from the Youth.

For more information on how you can help HALO youth, visit our website at haloworldwide.org or like us on Facebook!

Gould Evans employees help HALO youth map out their "Dream Space" like real architects!

Gould Evans employee helping HALO youth design her "Dream Space"

Guidelines for the "Dream Space" project led by Gould Evans. HALO Youth got to design their own special "dream room" that they would make themselves.

Gould Evans Principal David Reid explains the "Dream Space" project to the youth.

STEAM Studio volunteer helps HALO youth code his Frozen video game.

STEAM Studio volunteer helps HALO youth code and program a personalized video game.

An Honored HALO Youth!

Our HALO youth Tiana is one of our KCSA Scholarship winners from last year, and has been excelling in her first year of college at Longview. Because her GPA has been above a 3.5 level, she was invited to join Phi Theta Kappa, an international academic honors society. Phi Theta Kappa offers unique opportunities for scholarships, honors studies, leadership development, and civic engagement. This is a very special achievement, and the HALO Learning Center - KC couldn't be more proud of all of her hard work to achieve this high honor. Tiana invited Learning Center Director, Carly Manijak, and Learning Center Facilitator, Aubony Chalfant, to attend her Induction Ceremony at the college, and they were thrilled to cheer her on.

Everyone at the HALO Learning Center - KC can't wait to see what other amazing things Tiana does next!

For more information on how you can help HALO youth, visit our website at haloworldwide.org or like us on Facebook! 

Tiana, Aubony, and Carly are thrilled to celebrate all of Tiana's amazing achievements.

Tiana reciting the Phi Theta Kappa oath, officially finishing the ceremony and becoming a member!

Tiana signing the Phi Theta Kappa roster, officially recognizing her as an inductee.