Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/

Piya's project focused on increasing education and awareness around neurodiversity advocacy, a topic that is close to her heart. She began by founding her school's first neurodiversity affinity group, creating a safe space for neurodivergent youth.
Piya shared her journey of developing workshops and assemblies for both her peers and teachers, emphasizing the importance of updated training on neurodiversity. With the support of her school's learning support team and feedback from neurodivergent students, she was able to create impactful presentations and a toolkit to help others start similar initiatives across the country.
We discussed the challenges she faced, particularly in implementing neurodiversity training at her school, and how she overcame them through persistence and collaboration with school administration. Piya also reflected on the rewarding moments of her project, especially the positive feedback from students who felt represented and heard.
In addition to her work with Girl Scouts, Piya is involved in the Miss America organization, where she continues her advocacy for neurodiversity. She highlighted how her experiences in both organizations have empowered her and provided her with unique opportunities to make a difference in her community.
Piya encouraged other Girl Scouts to pursue their Gold Award, sharing how her passion for neurodiversity advocacy developed through her previous awards and experiences. She emphasized the importance of exploring interests and taking advantage of opportunities, as they can lead to impactful projects and personal growth.

More About Piya:
Piya Scielzo is an incoming freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Piya has been an active Girl Scout since 1st grade, and is now a lifetime member. She has earned her bronze, silver, and gold awards. To earn her Gold Award, Piya led a small team in several neurodiversity initiatives to raise awareness, promote acceptance, and reduce stigma. She also created and distributed a comprehensive toolkit with resources for students to replicate creating a safe space and hosting educational workshops in their communities across the country. Piya has served on the Girl Advisory Board for the Nation’s Capital for the past three years. Outside of Girl Scouts, Piya is the current Miss Montgomery County’s Teen, under the Miss America Organization. Piya uses her pageant platform, ‘Think Differently’, to share her neurodiversity advocacy with a wider audience.

https://www.instagram.com/missmocosteenmd/

Key Takeaways from this episode:

Neurodiversity Advocacy: Piya's Girl Scout Gold Award project focused on increasing education and awareness about neurodiversity, highlighting the importance of understanding and supporting neurodivergent individuals in educational settings.
Community Engagement: Piya successfully engaged with her school's learning support team and neurodivergent students to create effective training workshops for teachers, demonstrating the value of collaboration and feedback in community projects.
Empowerment through Leadership: Piya's involvement in both Girl Scouts and the Miss America Organization has allowed her to expand her advocacy work, showing how leadership opportunities can enhance personal growth and community impact.

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Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter’s YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/

Mikenna shares how she created a platform to record and share the authentic stories of seniors in her community, which she then uploaded to YouTube and a dedicated website. She also made personalized booklets for each senior interviewed, ensuring they had a tangible copy of their story.

Mikenna's journey began with her long-standing visits to a local nursing home, where she built meaningful relationships with the residents. Her project expanded beyond her initial nursing home to include another facility, capturing a diverse range of stories from a Holocaust survivor to a World War II veteran.

Choosing podcasting as her medium, Mikenna found it to be a more comfortable and accessible format for the seniors, many of whom were hesitant about being on video. She emphasized the power of hearing someone's real voice and the deep connection it fosters.

Throughout the project, Mikenna faced challenges such as understanding the technical aspects of podcasting and navigating legalities like consent forms. She also had to refine her Gold Award proposal multiple times to meet the requirements, learning valuable lessons about planning and execution.

One of the most impactful stories she shared was about a Holocaust survivor, whose son helped recount her incredible acts of bravery and kindness. This experience, along with connecting with a young author who also worked with Holocaust survivors, highlighted the intergenerational impact of her project.

Mikenna's dedication to her project didn't end with earning her Gold Award. She continues to interview seniors and has even developed an app concept to further her mission. Her story is a testament to the profound difference one can make through passion and perseverance.

More About Mikenna:
Mikenna has been involved in Girl Scouts for 13 years, where she has enjoyed working with her troop and mentoring younger troops by sharing the knowledge she has gained as a Girl Scout. For her Gold Award, she created a podcast series to interview seniors, giving them a platform to share their stories and ensuring they are remembered. Beyond visiting the nursing home that inspired her project, Mikenna enjoys singing, learning sign language, reading, writing stories, and volunteering. Looking ahead, she plans to continue supporting Girl Scouts, likely as a troop leader, while helping others in college and beyond. Even though her Gold Award project has been completed, Mikenna hopes to continue interviewing seniors as part of her ongoing efforts.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIO25jjEvAoq3m26XWHF7JQ

https://sites.google.com/view/silver-stories-40202?usp=sharing

Key Takeaways from this episode:

1. The Importance of Storytelling: Mikenna emphasizes the value of sharing authentic stories from seniors in her community through her Silver Stories podcast. This project not only preserves their voices but also connects different generations, highlighting the significance of understanding and valuing the experiences of older individuals.

2. Challenges and Growth in the Gold Award Process: Mikenna discusses the challenges she faced while navigating the Gold Award process, including the need for clear proposals and understanding the logistics of her project. She learned that thorough planning and adaptability are crucial for success, which ultimately helped her grow and refine her project.

3. Impact Beyond the Award: Mikenna’s experience with the Gold Award has inspired her to continue her project beyond its completion. She has taken her initiative further by designing an app to facilitate the recording of seniors' stories, demonstrating that the Gold Award is not just about earning a badge but about making a lasting impact in the community.

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Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter’s YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/

Sammie, a remarkable Girl Scout who shares her journey of earning the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award. Sammie's project, Sammy's Toy Drive, was inspired by the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Initially starting as a simple toy drive, it evolved into a full-fledged nonprofit organization aimed at supporting survivors of gun violence through healing events and community building.
Sammie detailed the emotional and logistical challenges she faced, including the initial rejection of her first project proposal and the intense grief associated with her work. Despite these hurdles, her dedication to honoring the 21 victims of the Uvalde shooting kept her motivated. She shared touching stories about the victims and their families, emphasizing the importance of remembering and supporting those affected by gun violence.
We also discussed the operational aspects of Sammie's Toy Drive, including how donations are collected and the types of events organized. Sammie highlighted the importance of empathy, patience, and taking breaks to avoid burnout during such emotionally taxing work.
In addition to her Gold Award project, Sammie talked about her future plans, including attending trade school to become an esthetician, and her ongoing advocacy work. She also shared her experiences with other Girl Scout awards and her love for Twilight Camp.
This episode is a powerful reminder of the impact one individual can have on a community and the importance of supporting survivors of gun violence. Sammie's story is both inspiring and heart-wrenching, showcasing her resilience and dedication to making a difference.

More About Sammie:
Sammie has been a member of Girl Scouts since the age of six and is now entering her final year this fall. During her time with Girl Scouts, she served as an OWL at Twilight Camp and earned her Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Sammie graduated from high school a year early and will be attending trade school to become an Esthetician this fall. In addition to her studies, she is co-authoring a book with another activist, focusing on the victims of gun violence in schools.

https://www.sammiestoydrive.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sammiestoydrive?igsh=bXVxcDhuaXp6bmF2&utm_source=qr

Key Takeaways from this episode:

1. Community Healing Through Connection: Sammy's project, Sammy's Toy Drive, focuses on providing healing events for communities affected by gun violence, particularly in Uvalde. These events foster connections among families and children, helping them cope with their grief and build friendships.

2. Empathy and Advocacy: Throughout her journey, Sammy emphasizes the importance of empathy when working with families affected by gun violence. She aims to honor the victims by sharing their stories and advocating for awareness around the long-lasting impact of such tragedies on communities.

3. Resilience in Project Development: Sammy faced challenges, including the denial of her initial Gold Award project proposal. However, she demonstrated resilience by pivoting to the toy drive and emphasizing the importance of taking breaks and being patient with oneself during the project development process.

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Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter’s YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ