My Name My Story announces Joshua Breard as 2016 National Youth Spokesperson
Los Angeles, California, September 12, 2016
Joshua Breard - 18 year old senior at Chaminade College Preparatory and President of the MNMS @ Chaminade club has been named the 2016-2017 My Name My Story National Youth Spokesperson. Josh has been involved with My Name My Story as club president for two years and was an attendee of the 2016 Social Entrepreneurship Camp @ UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
“Our youth-led roots are the most valuable part of our organization. We pride ourselves on the idea that when youth talk to youth, they listen. Josh Breard represents all the fundamental values of our work – an empathetic companion, a tenacious changemaker, and an innovative entrepreneur. His voice at the table will be instrumental in shaping the future of our school-based programming” says My Name My Story CEO, Amit Dodani.
Growing up, Josh’s appearance and personality always made him feel different from his community. His middle school years were flooded with insecurities, and a burning desire for acceptance and inclusion. Josh says that “being myself led to isolation and exclusion” that stemmed from what he later found out to be severe ADHD. However, it was at this transformative point in his life that he found the importance in the power of storytelling. “When I joined MNMS, I learned the importance of story telling and the amount of power that story telling really has. That same year, I decided to share my story at a prayer service in front of the entire student body; this was the first time that I had shared my story to other people publically” he writes.
Since then, Josh has spent his time in high school fighting for the voices of the unheard. “My goal in telling my story is to reach out to those who feel like they are alone in bullying to remind them that they never walk the road alone because I will walk with them. For those that have not had the experience that I have had, my goal is to open the eyes of people that bullying is a reality and it can affect anyone in any community” writes the 18-year old. Josh has served as the President of the My Name My Story club at his high school for the last two years, and has been a huge influence since his freshman year. He has led countless drives, organized speaking events, and led campaigns on the West Hills campus.
With the launch of My Name My Story’s Changemaker Day program this fall, Josh’s passion for leading change on his school campus is incredibly valuable for the organization. The theme of the program is “Stories Inspire Empathy & Empathy Drives Change.” Josh’s journey represents the power that one can possess through understanding their narrative, and being comfortable sharing it with their community.
“Today’s young people are waiting on a call. They are passionate, disruptive, and empathetic. Our schools need to foster a culture that empowers these students to spark change on their campus. We must move from a culture of co-existing to one of co-creating across lines of difference” says Amit. “The Changemaker Day program is designed to teach 21st century skills like empathy, teamwork, and design-thinking, to start this culture shift today.”
Josh has already begun his work as spokesperson. He traveled to Apire Ollin High School over the summer to speak at a Changemaker Day Event and has participated in numerous board meetings. MNMS Lead Curriculum Advisor, Julie Labelle, says “Josh is mature beyond his years. He has an amazing spirit of giving and thinking of others before himself. He is truly an empathetic leader!” As he balances college applications, academics, and extra-curriculars, Josh will continue to play an integral role in the growth of My Name My Story this year.
About My Name My Story
MNMS is nationally recognized social enterprise that empowers youth with the skills needed to contribute to their communities as Changemakers- including empathy, problem solving, leadership, and teamwork.
After years of collaborating with students, teachers, administrators, social entrepreneurs, and organizations like Ashoka, Peace First, and Teach for America, MNMS has put together a unique program. The Inspire Empathy program allows students to practice Changemaking on their school campuses, building a more empathetic school culture.
In addition to the Inspire Empathy program, MNMS hosts, and offers curriculum for a week-long “Leadership & Social Entrepreneurship Summer Camp” introducing students to key concepts of social entrepreneurship and the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. The organization has impacted over fifty high school campuses spanning four states, reaching thousands of students.
Julie LaBelle, Amit Dodani and Ra’idah Noohu: “We are excited to welcome Josh to the MNMS family!”
Joshua Breard - 18 year old senior at Chaminade College Preparatory and President of the MNMS @ Chaminade club has been named the 2016-2017 My Name My Story National Youth Spokesperson. Josh has been involved with My Name My Story as club president for two years and was an attendee of the 2016 Social Entrepreneurship Camp @ UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
“Our youth-led roots are the most valuable part of our organization. We pride ourselves on the idea that when youth talk to youth, they listen. Josh Breard represents all the fundamental values of our work – an empathetic companion, a tenacious changemaker, and an innovative entrepreneur. His voice at the table will be instrumental in shaping the future of our school-based programming” says My Name My Story CEO, Amit Dodani.
Growing up, Josh’s appearance and personality always made him feel different from his community. His middle school years were flooded with insecurities, and a burning desire for acceptance and inclusion. Josh says that “being myself led to isolation and exclusion” that stemmed from what he later found out to be severe ADHD. However, it was at this transformative point in his life that he found the importance in the power of storytelling. “When I joined MNMS, I learned the importance of story telling and the amount of power that story telling really has. That same year, I decided to share my story at a prayer service in front of the entire student body; this was the first time that I had shared my story to other people publically” he writes.
Since then, Josh has spent his time in high school fighting for the voices of the unheard. “My goal in telling my story is to reach out to those who feel like they are alone in bullying to remind them that they never walk the road alone because I will walk with them. For those that have not had the experience that I have had, my goal is to open the eyes of people that bullying is a reality and it can affect anyone in any community” writes the 18-year old. Josh has served as the President of the My Name My Story club at his high school for the last two years, and has been a huge influence since his freshman year. He has led countless drives, organized speaking events, and led campaigns on the West Hills campus.
With the launch of My Name My Story’s Changemaker Day program this fall, Josh’s passion for leading change on his school campus is incredibly valuable for the organization. The theme of the program is “Stories Inspire Empathy & Empathy Drives Change.” Josh’s journey represents the power that one can possess through understanding their narrative, and being comfortable sharing it with their community.
“Today’s young people are waiting on a call. They are passionate, disruptive, and empathetic. Our schools need to foster a culture that empowers these students to spark change on their campus. We must move from a culture of co-existing to one of co-creating across lines of difference” says Amit. “The Changemaker Day program is designed to teach 21st century skills like empathy, teamwork, and design-thinking, to start this culture shift today.”
Josh has already begun his work as spokesperson. He traveled to Apire Ollin High School over the summer to speak at a Changemaker Day Event and has participated in numerous board meetings. MNMS Lead Curriculum Advisor, Julie Labelle, says “Josh is mature beyond his years. He has an amazing spirit of giving and thinking of others before himself. He is truly an empathetic leader!” As he balances college applications, academics, and extra-curriculars, Josh will continue to play an integral role in the growth of My Name My Story this year.
About My Name My Story
MNMS is nationally recognized social enterprise that empowers youth with the skills needed to contribute to their communities as Changemakers- including empathy, problem solving, leadership, and teamwork.
After years of collaborating with students, teachers, administrators, social entrepreneurs, and organizations like Ashoka, Peace First, and Teach for America, MNMS has put together a unique program. The Inspire Empathy program allows students to practice Changemaking on their school campuses, building a more empathetic school culture.
In addition to the Inspire Empathy program, MNMS hosts, and offers curriculum for a week-long “Leadership & Social Entrepreneurship Summer Camp” introducing students to key concepts of social entrepreneurship and the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. The organization has impacted over fifty high school campuses spanning four states, reaching thousands of students.
Julie LaBelle, Amit Dodani and Ra’idah Noohu: “We are excited to welcome Josh to the MNMS family!”