Magnified Giving Boosts Community Engagement by Training Teachers in Service-Learning

July 31, 2023 | Written by Lindsey Barta

A group photo of the participants of the 2023 Service-Learning Teacher Workshop. Workshop facilitator Julie Rogers Bascom stands to the far right.

Teachers are at the heart of every community, and powerful changes can be achieved by equipping educators in specific ways, inspiring them to pass on knowledge to the next generation. One local nonprofit set out to improve civic engagement among youth and develop engaged global citizens amongst the next generation by starting at the heart - with our teachers.

On July 26, 2023, Magnified Giving, a youth philanthropy organization based in Evendale, hosted a Service-Learning Teacher Workshop designed to empower educators and promote community engagement among youth across the region. Teachers play a vital role in shaping the next generation, and this workshop provided them with time-tested strategies to foster youth development and community engagement through service-learning.

What is service-learning? According to the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC), it’s a proven instructional strategy that involves youth in hands-on learning activities and engages their hearts and minds in real community needs. Teachers of any subject can utilize service-learning and connect academic skills and knowledge with addressing real community needs. NYLC shares this example: picking up trash on a river bank (service) + studying water samples under a microscope (learning) = science students collect and analyze water samples, document their results, and present findings to a local pollution control agency (service-learning!)

Workshop attendees smile as they are welcomed by Mr. Roger Grein, founder of Magnified Giving.

“Service-learning isn’t another thing for teachers to do, it’s just another way,” says Alison Kaufamn, Director of Programs at Magnified Giving. “And it’s a way that has proven benefits for youth, educators, schools, and communities. Service-learning improves academic outcomes while introducing youth to meaningful, hands-on opportunities to develop 21st century skills and address real needs in their schools and communities. It’s a win-win-win.” 

Mo Kelly (left, St. Vincent de Paul - Ozanam Center for Service-Learning) and Shakeysa Ogletree (right, Cincinnati Public School District) laugh during an ice breaker to kick off the workshop.

60 educators from various community organizations and educational institutions ranging from elementary to higher education attended this special training, which was facilitated by Julie Rogers Bascom, Director of Learning and Leadership at NYLC. Some attendees have been utilizing service-learning for years and came to reignite their practice with new ideas, while others learned the foundations for the very first time. All participants inspired and learned from each other, with Rogers Bascom facilitating robust discussion and reflection. 

Some of the post-it notes sharing educators’ “why” for practicing service-learning.

Participants work together to develop a meaningful definition of service-learning. L-R: Gina Keith (Mercy McAuley High School), Kelly Langenbrunner (John Paul II Catholic School), and Kade Abney (Girl Scouts of Western Ohio).

Throughout the 6-hour workshop, Rogers Bascom shared practical tools to integrate service-learning into their programs and curricula, and she brought in two young people over Zoom to share about their powerful service-learning experiences, deepening participants’ understanding of what service-learning can look like. Participants were given time to collaborate, plan and reflect, and they took time to remember their “why” for practicing service-learning. By the end of the workshop, colorful post-its covered the walls, tiny reminders of why the intentional practice of service-learning is worth it. One said, “My ‘why’ is to help young people recognize their ability to be actively involved in the betterment of their community.” Another said, “Service-learning makes the entire learning process more engaging and meaningful.”

Thanks to the generosity of the Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation, who spearheaded efforts to expand service-learning in the tri-state region for years, Magnified Giving was able to offer the workshop at no cost to the participating educators. DelightMore Catering graciously sponsored and provided lunch to attendees, and the workshop was held at the Evendale Recreation Center, which was a perfect space for this intimate group of service-learning practitioners to collaborate.

"This workshop was full of discussion and sharing," said Lindsey Barta, Director of Communications at Magnified Giving. "It was a joy to witness these educators inspire each other with their stories, ideas, and questions. By the end of the day, it felt like everyone was buzzing with energy to get out there and implement what they learned."

Magnified Giving is proud to be at the forefront of the catalyzation of service-learning in the tri-state region, setting a precedent for other regions and highlighting the importance of service-learning in education. Learn more about Magnified Giving’s other service-learning resources at here.

The tri-state region should be proud of the 60 hard-working and passionate educators who dedicated time this summer to strengthening their practice of service-learning for their students and their communities. As they scatter to dozens of different schools and agencies to educate the next generation during a new school year, we can trust that they’ll be sowing meaningful seeds of change in our youth and in our community through service-learning. 

To conclude the workshop, educators practiced reflection, an important component of the service-learning process, by sharing their takeaways from the day.

About Magnified Giving

Founded by Mr. Roger Grein in 2008, Magnified Giving is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, inspiring, and engaging youth in philanthropy. With a mission to empower young individuals to become active agents of change in their communities, Magnified Giving provides opportunities for youth to explore social issues, advocate for causes, and distribute funds to local nonprofits. Learn more about Magnified Giving’s three programs here.