Nathan+Aronson+Proposal+Page

Your proposal should contain the following elements:
> > >
 * 1) Your Name and place of work (diocese, school, parish...)
 * 1) Title of Project
 * 1) Project description
 * 1) Project goals
 * 2) Technology to be used
 * 3) Audience description
 * 4) Projected timeline (break-down of the two month implementation
 * 5) Administrative Approval

== Please post your proposal below. Your Proposal Due Date is September 29, 2016. == **Project Contact:** Nathan Aronson, Diocese of San Bernardino, Holy Innocents Parish


 * Project Title: __Homework__ **__** Hangouts at Holy Innocents **__

After being involved in youth ministry for over ten years (with two of those being a volunteer and four of them as youth minister), I've seen the need to always come up with new ways to reach the youth in our community. The ongoing problem of attracting youth to the faith and getting them to form an interest to learn more about it is a constant struggle for those of us in youth ministry. Each year, we introduce a new program or recurring event at different times to attempt to provide a platform to share the faith with the youth. Over the summer, we hosted "Waffle Wednesdays" every Wednesday morning. This would start with Mass at 8:00, followed by a breakfast consisting of varied flavors of waffles, and ending with a short Bible Study, preparing the youth for the readings on the weekend. This worked extremely well, as we typically served between 20 and 30 youth and they were always well-prepared for Mass the following weekend, which helped them benefit from the Liturgy of the Word more fully since they were already familiar with the themes of the readings, what connected them, and some implications for their own lives. My next project is to provide a space for the teens to come together and work on their homework once a week at the parish, followed by a short Bible Study. This project will be augmented with technology through the use of Wi-Fi during the homework section, and to use Kahoot throughout the Bible Study section to make sure everyone's keeping up. Additionally, we will periodically post challenges/reminders on our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+) and reward those that participate fully. Also, as part of this weekly event, we will serve [|waffle-cooked foods] to maintain continuity from the summer. This project is intended to help us reach out to the youth unable to join us on weekends for our various groups as well as to continue building community between those who come weekly to the groups.
 * Project Description:**


 * Project Goals**
 * 1) Increase participation of youth at the parish
 * 2) Form a larger community at the parish, starting with the youth and gradually involving their families as well
 * 3) Help the youth at the parish learn more about our faith
 * 4) Supplement the apologetical abilities of the youth by teaching them how to explain our beliefs once they understand them
 * 5) Keep the youth connected more tightly between group meetings via social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


 * Technology to be used:**


 * Kahoot
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Instagram
 * Google+
 * QR codes in the parish bulletin
 * The parish website
 * Email
 * Remind

The Jr. High and High School students at the parish are the primary targets for this endeavor, but it has the potential to impact their families as well as we slowly expand and invite them to join us for the Bible study and food segments of the event.
 * Audience Description:**

9/18/16 Run QR code and link to survey in parish bulletin 9/25/16 Make announcement at Masses and again have the code and link in the bulletin 10/1/16 Meet with team to review results of survey and choose best day for event (preliminary findings show Thursday evenings as most likely candidate). 10/9/16 Announce day of first Homework Hangout at all Youth Ministry meetings, Confirmation classes, and weekend Masses. (Tell them to bring laptops, cell phones, etc. as needed for their homework and to download Kahoot [will put QR code link to download for iOS and android in bulletin]). 10/10-10/14 (Probably 10/13) Host first Homework hangout (Make Wi-Fi network from iMac in Youth Office public 15 minutes ahead of time). After 45 minutes of homework, start making waffle-themed food, serve when ready (~15 minutes) Once everyone has food, begin Bible study on the Gospel according to John. Throughout Bible Study, utilize Kahoot to keep everyone engaged and on the same page. After the event, post photos to social media accounts (different pictures to each), and invite everyone to come again and bring their friends. 10/15/16-12/15/16 Continue the event weekly (break for Christmas) and adapt as needed. Post bi-weekly trivia questions from the past week's Bible study segment and award the winners certificate for free pizza from Papa John's (already donated). Continue bulletin articles and pulpit announcements, as well as social media awareness campaign (all youth ministry volunteers posting to their own accounts about the events as well as on the event pages themselves). During breaks from school (i.e. summer, etc.) replace homework section with video game tournaments, sports, trivia games, etc. During Christmas break from school, host a Christmas party with families with themed activities, then continue bi-monthly family events to build community (increasing the frequency as needed).
 * Timeline:**

Food and advertisement paid for by youth ministry fundraisers.
 * Budget:**

Pastor's approval obtained
 * Administrative Permission Needed**

@Nathan Aronson Essay Page

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