Teens In Action™ is a 10-month civic engagement and leadership program grounded in social and emotional learning (SEL).
Teens In Action’s 9th-12th grade participants from schools across Hillsborough County engage in SEL workshops with insightful guest speakers to equip them with the emotional intelligence skills necessary for personal, academic, and professional success. The teens then apply these skills through weekly volunteerism, enriching both the community and themselves.
Participating teens earn 80+ community service hours that can be used toward a Bright Futures Scholarship. Teens select a partnering service site in their field of interest to volunteer at on a weekly basis, applying the emotional intelligence skills learned at monthly workshops. Ultimately, participants develop a deeper level of empathy for others and leadership skills to carry forward to college and beyond.
In addition to weekly community service at their site (Tier 1), teens have optional but encouraged opportunities to provide additional, ongoing service to the community (Tier 2), and to support one-time events needing volunteers (Tier 3). These events provide ample opportunities for teens to earn community service hours while applying the skills of emotional intelligence for the benefit of our community.
Teens In Action™ is supported by data. At the beginning of each program year, Teens In Action™ participants evaluate themselves in a survey about key social and emotional competencies. The teens then complete the same survey as a post-assessment after they graduate.
The Capstone Service Project is an all-team initiative that gives Teens In Action™ participants the opportunity to work toward a common goal as a group. This culminating service project gives teens experience in both planning and execution, allowing them to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout the year to give back to the community.
Through our Teens In Action™ Scholarship Partner Program you are given the opportunity to become a sponsor and/or nominate a student to receive a scholarship.
For more information on how to nominate a student for the next program year, please email Community Programs Specialist, Siomara at sbridges@myframeworks.org. To learn more on how you can become a sponsor and directly support a high school student to participate in the Teens In Action™ program click on the sponsorship guide below.
