This is a test to see if you like the idea of me putting out a monthly newsletter for CommonAction Consulting. It's going to be a monthly summary of work that's going on, including stuff for Freechild and SoundOut. If you like it, subscribe at www.commonaction.com!

CommonAction Consulting is based in the combined 15+ years experience of The Freechild Project, connecting young people and social change around the world, and SoundOut, promoting student voice in schools. Today we provide a variety of consulting, training, public speaking, and writing services to support young engagement throughout society. 

Led by Adam Fletcher, CommonAction has a bevy of consultants who support our projects, including Teddy Wright, who specializes in youth violence issues, Brittany Couch, who is focused on systems and cultural change, and Mike Beebe, whose experience is in national service and community organizing. Each of us brings a commitment to youth involvement and changing the roles of young people throughout society, and can provide a great deal of expertise to support your organization or community. 

In the last quarter, CommonAction has provided a variety of support to organizations in the United States and Canada. Following is a summary:

• Alberta Ministry of Education Student Engagement Initiative - We are providing strategic planning services to Ministry staff as they re-consider their Speak Out! Initiative. A training session in late July has lead to an invitation to present to Ministry leadership in October as they consider focusing on student engagement in the province's forthcoming education legislation.


• American Institutes of Research Technical Assistance Partnership - CommonAction staff continue to provide technical support and writing services to the TAP youth involvement initiative. This project will lead to the development of materials to support youth involvement in Systems of Care. 


• National PTA Policy Team - After piloting our curriculum focused on training students as policy advocates in March 2010, we completed a training kit for National PTA in July.


• TeamChild - This Seattle-based community organization brought CommonAction staff in to provide training for their staff focused on operating a youth forum in fall 2010.

For the rest of this summer CommonAction Consulting is continuing to support work by our allies at the Institute for Democratic Education in America, Action For Healthy Kids, and the Santa Barbara Service Learning Initiative. We have other work coming up, as well, and would love to connect with YOU! For more information about what CommonAction can do for you, contact Adam Fletcher today:

Adam Fletcher

(360) 489-9680

Have a great day, and remember: Common challenges and common dreams require COMMONACTION!