January 2019 Newsletter
Welcome to your first Alumni Newsletter of 2019!
Can you believe it’s already 2019?? In 2018, we made blankets to donate to Project Linus, cleaned up Main Beach, hosted another OUTSTANDING seminar, raised over $6,000 for EDGE 2019, and much, much more. Thank you so much for your constant support for EDGE– your enthusiasm for service is what keeps us going.
Are you excited to see what’s in store for 2019? The first quarterly event on our calendar is coming up very soon! Help us make friendship bracelets for a local children’s after school program while watching Toy Story in Berkeley on January 12th! RSVP to the Facebook group to let us know you’re coming!
Please note that we will be changing the date, and possibly the location of our Spring Event. Stay tuned for an announcement with new event details!
Legacy Spotlight – Joaquin Lewis
Joaquin Lewis attended EDGE back in 2008 when it was still called NCYLS. Since then, he studied Theatre and Mathematics at University of the Pacific and Media and Relations at California State University, Stanislaus with a BA in Communications. Now, he is working as a Creative in an Apple store in Modesto, sharing his love for video through teaching customers and peers about technology. Joaquin is currently saving up for his wedding while flexing his creative muscle by making videos with creative people in the Central Valley! He derives his inspiration from his family, as they constantly give him love and courage.
Joaquin has been involved with the technical side of EDGE for many years, as he has served as the Senior Director for the Media Subcommittee in past years. This year, we are proud to have him as an Associate Executive Director for Community Outreach, allowing him to oversee the Media, Recruitment, and Fundraising Subcommittees! EDGE has helped him reaffirm his desire to make real connections and help anyone and everyone: “For me, EDGE is where EVERYTHING changed for the better. I believe in the mission and do everything I can to keep this train rolling.”
In 2019, Joaquin not only has goals to improve our annual seminar, but he also has a couple personal goals: to sleep before 10pm, ride his bike more often, and get married in February! Join Joaquin in making 2019 OUTSTANDING by reaching your own goals! Worried that your New Year’s resolutions might fall off the grid after week 3? Goals are much more fun and easier to accomplish when you share them with someone else. Sign up for an accountability buddy here by January 31st to help you stay on track. By signing up for an accountability buddy, someone from EDGE will reach out to you throughout the year to check in on how your goal is going! Let’s thrive in 2019!
Social Media Contest
Congrats to Isabella for winning last month’s social media contest with her OUTSTANDING #EDGEReflections! You certainly had a very busy 2018!
This January, we want you to share some goals with us! Show or tell us with #EDGEFreshStart for your chance to win a prize pack of EDGE gear! Make sure you tag us @EDGEleaders, and keep in mind that if your account is private, we won’t be able to see your entry – send a screenshot to EDGEAlumni@edgeyl.org if you’d still like to be eligible to win! This contest closes at midnight on January 31st.
Service Opportunities
Looking for service ideas? We’ve got you covered! Here are a few service events we found around California. Click on the name of each organization to be taken to their website.
Northern California:
Location: Sacramento
Name of Organization: Women’s Wisdom ART
Event: Assisting art classes
When: Fill out volunteer application to get started!
Link for more info: https://womenswisdomart.org/
Bay Area:
Location: Bay Area (multiple locations)
Name of Organization: Life Moves
What is the event: Meal Prep
When: Sign-up to get started!
Link for more info: https://lifemoves.org/
Southern California:
Location: San Bernardino
Name of Organization: Helping Hands Pantry
Event: Food pantry
When: Check website for openings to get started!
Link for more info: https://helpinghandspantry.org/volunteers/
Have a great service event you’d like people to know about? Let us know! Don’t see anything near you? Email us at EDGEAlumni@edgeyl.org and we’ll make sure you’re included in the next newsletter. In the meantime, https://www.serve.gov/search-volunteer-opportunities is a great resource for finding service events near you!