WHAT IS OUR CAUSE?
The statistics are sadly familiar:
- 20% of students report being bullied on campus within the last 12 months
- 18% seriously considered committing suicide
- 20% of all teens experience depression before they reach adulthood
- Over 6 million students missed 15 or more days of school. That's approximately 14% of all students
In spite of the hard work and many programs being implemented out there, we believe that at the root of these problems is that students need to know and connect with how much and why they matter… that they are loved, seen, heard, powerful, supported, and have the ability to create whatever future and world they wish to create.
So, in essence, helping students connect to their "matterness" is our cause.
WHAT WE DO.
Every Monday Matters (EMM) is a national, non-profit organization with a vision for creating a healthier world where every person embraces how much and why they matter, thereby living a life committed to self- and social-responsibility.
Our mission is to create and deliver programs that educate, engage, and inspire an ever-growing number of people who want to share in realizing this vision. We call it "changing the world from the inside out."
In Fall 2014, we launched our YOU MATTER™ K-12 Education Curriculum at NO-COST to schools and educators. The weekly curriculum offers high-quality, hands-on activities focused on students discovering for themselves their power to create positive personal and social transformation. In just three years, our program is reaching 925,000 students in 49 states.
Rapid adoption is one thing. But we know it's all about impact. Here are some comments we received on a recent educator survey.
"So often we tell [students] they matter and they can do great things, but those are just words. The You Matter curriculum helps them truly realize their importance.” - Elementary School Educator
"A near drop out student who was abused and homeless responded to our meetings where I incorporated You Matter activities and [this student] recently gave a speech at graduation about not making excuses and being appreciative of what you have." - High School Counselor/Educator
"I remember a student using a quote from an activity to stop another student from getting bullied and it worked! The student had witnessed it going on for days and helped the other student stand up to his bully without yelling or physical contact. The bully eventually stopped and they actually became borderline friends." - Middle School Educator
"Our school became committed to the You Matter Movement and this year had the highest attendance in the district all year long for 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades." - High School Educator
In addition, 94% of our educators also reported that our program impacted their students in the following areas:
- Boosting student confidence and self-esteem
- Creating personal accountability and responsibility
- Improving students' ability to build and maintain constructive relationships
- Helping student recognize and participate in their role as vital members of their local and our global community
WHY SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN?
This campaign is all about reaching that next 75,000 students to get us to the major milestone of 1 million students. Yes, that is 1 million young lives changed. Will you join us?