THE PROGRAM
MYO Encompasses Three Segments:
LEAD-IN
“Pre-Work”
MYO works with educators in order to assess the needs of the student group with regard to experience, academic concentrations, and career aspirations. MYO provides educators with curriculum and resources based upon assessments to be incorporated into appropriate and existing coursework, preparing students for the MYO experience. The goal of the Pre-Work is to create a connection between the students and Presenters before the Live-Session, in order to maximize students’ engagement.
Materials may include:
• Presenter Background / Career-Path / Challenges
• Social / Historical Information
• Context for Topics, Talking Points
• Suggested Readings
• Multimedia Presentations – Film, Reviews, Essays
LIVE-SESSION
“Be Here Now”
Presenters engage students through displays and discussions of their respective disciplines. Presenters integrate action and reflection in order to empower students. Presentations will emphasize interactive elements in which students actively participate with the Presenter. Examples include cooperation in the creation of artwork, a short film, musical and/or dramatic exercises, journalistic forums, roundtable sessions, etc.
Presentations may include:
• Curated film screenings
(documentary and narrative)
• Musical, performance art, comedic, dance, etc.
• Lectures with multimedia presentations
• Live demonstrations
• Readings with visual aids
• Interactive workshops
Q&A’s serves as further connection opportunity through personalized interactions with Presenters. Sessions conclude with receptions including Presenter, school staff and students.
LIVE-SESSION
“The Presenters”
MYO Presenters are leaders from diverse disciplines in the arts, sciences and humanities. Presenters include in the learning process their own personal experiences with life challenges as a means of connecting with historical and global processes. Through sharing these experiences, together presenter and students reflect more profoundly about how they fit into the world. Whether on a personal or political level, presenters encourage and support action towards change. The common denominators amongst Presenters are compelling life stories accompanied by creative output.
FOLLOW-UP
“Continuing Support”
Student and Parental access to all MYO online resources including archives, and the MYO Alumni Presenter Community.
MYO also offers a proprietary APP available on IOS and Android whereby users identify a “feeling” via Keywords (depressed, angry, joy, sadness, bullied, abandoned, conflicted, etc.), and receive EIARC (Education, Inspiration, Action, Resources, and Community) which aims to support the MYO experience and build MYO leaders.
The App also includes curated user uploads addressing relevant themes, including short stories, poems, reflections, videos, podcasts, or anecdotes. A forum, monitored by a mental health professional, connects those experiencing similar feelings who seek interaction with like-minded peers, and assures a safe, respectful environment.
Real-time interactive threads serve as a sounding board, social observatory and peer support.
FOLLOW-UP
“Why the APP?”
The objective and function of MYO’s App is to identify emotions and impart to users a sense of community that translates vision and emotions into results and actions in the real world.
For at-risk youth or teens wrestling with seemingly insurmountable challenges, MYO’s APP is: a resource, a community, a support system and a motivational tool that’s always there.
FILMMAKERS * JOURNALISTS * WAR VETERANS * MUSICIANS * REFUGEES * VIDEO GAMERS * EXONEREES * ADVENTURERS * ACTORS * RELIEF WORKERS * ARCHITECTS * ATHLETES * DISABLED * WRITERS * ARTISTS * PHOTOGRAPHERS
① Lead-In, Beginning with Classroom-based Pre-work
② Live-Session, Speakers Moderate Interactive Presentations
③ Follow-Up, Including Access to Website Archives, a Presenter Alumni Network, and MYO’s Proprietary APP