In this icebreaker session, participants will engage in a series of activities that demonstrate the physical, psychological, emotional, and social benefits of movement, physical fitness, and teamwork through games and challenges that allow them to tap into effective communication, problem solving, leadership, and achievement.  The 90 minute session will engage participants, challenge them to better understand their physical and psychological needs, and encourage them to incorporate physical fitness routines in their daily lives to promote healthy living and balance fitness with their other priorities.

What if failure isn’t something to fear, but a chance to grow? This interactive workshop will help teens shift their mindset about mistakes and setbacks, showing them how failure can build resilience, teach valuable lessons, and fuel motivation. Participants will explore strategies for learning from challenges, bouncing back, and using setbacks as stepping stones toward future success.

What does it mean to have a heart of service? To make putting others first a way of life and being? Through the heroic story of former Kansas City Chiefs running back Joe Delaney, participants will reflect on what it means to serve others, consider the qualities that inspire people to act with courage and compassion, and explore how a heart of service can shape the choices we make in our own communities.

The Lower 9th Ward was ground zero for the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. When the Industrial Canal levee failed, this historic neighborhood – rich in culture, family roots, and resilience – was one of the hardest hit. The road to recovery here has been longer and more complex than in any other part of the city. To date, Lower Nine has fully rebuilt 98 homes and completed repair work on over 400 more – bringing back more Lower 9th Ward families than any other single organization.

Their mission goes beyond construction. It’s about restoring community, dignity, and the right to return. We work directly with residents, free of charge, providing skilled labor, volunteer coordination, and wraparound support for families who’ve been waiting years (or decades) to come home.

YVC brings so much to the communities we serve, but what is it bringing to you?  Have you thought about that?  Hear from YVC alums and fellow members about what they have gotten from their time in YVC- how it has improved their lives and shaped who they are while reflecting on the benefits YVC is providing for you and your future.

Get ready to level up! Learn problem-solving techniques that you can apply to your own real-world problems. Head out with the ability to navigate new challenges with more confidence!

Communal art has the power to transform a service project into something deeply personal, meaningful, and lasting. In this interactive workshop, YVC of Hampton Roads will explore how public art can engage youth volunteers in beautifying their communities while creating space for reflection, storytelling, youth voice, and connection across diverse populations. Participants will learn about the Mural Mosaic as a creative model for bringing people together around a shared vision, hear from special guest artist Lewis Lavoie, and experience the process firsthand by creating their own tile for Hampton Roads’ Mural Mosaic project. Through guided reflection, participants will consider how art can help youth recognize the impact of their service, share their stories, and see themselves as contributors to something larger than themselves. Come ready to create, reflect, and discover how serving with soul can leave a lasting mark—one tile, one story, and one community at a time.

Join the Youth Mental Health Ambassadors from YVC of Reading for a recorded performance of At Some Point, a youth-driven mental health play created through conversations, surveys, and listening to the voices of young people, families, and community members.  The play explores challenges many young people face today, including mental health stigma, feeling alone, struggling to ask for help, and the importance of open and honest conversations—while sharing the powerful message: You are not alone.  Following the performance, Youth Mental Health Ambassadors will facilitate an interactive talk-back discussion, giving participants the opportunity to reflect, share, and engage in meaningful conversation around the themes presented in the play.

Let’s explore answering the question, “What’s my purpose?” in this collaborative and creative project planning workshop. If you’re looking for inspiration on how you can find purpose through service and come away with new ideas – don’t miss this workshop!

Limited to 25 participants. In this workshop, participants will explore the values, beliefs, and priorities that shape their everyday lives and consider how technology influences the ways they think, communicate, create, and connect with others. Through a combination of guided discussion, reflective writing, movement-based activities, and audio recording, participants will have opportunities to slow down, listen to themselves and one another, and examine their personal relationships with technology.

Discover how the YVC of Reading STAR (Stand Together Against Racism) initiative empowers young people to create more inclusive schools and communities.  Through a short documentary and youth-facilitated talkback session, participants will explore the origins of STAR, its ongoing impact, and why its mission remains as important today as ever.

This workshop focuses on helping you develop healthy behaviors. Learn how to connect your volunteer work and community engagement with your own wellbeing.