Youth Ottawa and the DILA Youth Program would like to recognize

Joseph Scot Brush

for his generous volunteerism and outstanding commitment to building a stronger community by
inspiring youth civic engagement.
Youth Ottawas DILA Youth Program enables teacher candidates and exceptional undergraduates in
Ottawa the opportunity to work with Grade 10 Civics classes in both the Ottawa Carleton District
School Board or the Ottawa Catholic District School Board. This program involves eight classroom
visits where the Facilitator works in collaboration with the classroom teacher to support instruction,
prepare for school visits and coordinate with DILA and community partners.
As one of our Youth Action Plan Facilitators, Joseph committed 20 volunteer hours presenting to
Grade 10 Civics students at St. Matthew High School in Ottawa. By partnering with the classroom
teacher, Joseph facilitated interactive presentations and activities that helped meet the Civics
curriculum expectations - Engaged Citizenship and Action strand.
Joseph first used inquiry-based learning, helping youth to build consensus around a civic issue of
importance, discover root causes, set goals, and brainstorm an Action Plan. He then used cognitive
apprenticeship, taking student brainstorming and matching it with the necessary civics tools and
skills (creating petitions, contacting partners, setting meetings, hosting Town Halls, etc). Making
use of multiple technologies as part of 21st century learning, Joseph was able to help youth put
their Action Plan into effect and measure the results. In the case of the class at St. Matthew, they
were able to propose a Dodge-ball buy-out day to their Principal, which pitted students against
teachers, raised funds for the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa, and gave the Executive
Director of the Alliance to End Homelessness an opportunity to speak to the greater school
population about the efforts being taken in Ottawa to end homelessness. Over $600 was also
raised.
Without the extraordinary contributions of people like Joseph, Youth Ottawas DILA Youth Program
would not be able to inspire so many youth to become engaged in their communities. It is with
great gratitude that we wish Joseph the best in his future endeavours, and I would be happy to
answer any questions which might help in these future endeavours.
Sincerely,
Ian Bingeman

Program Coordinator
DILA Youth Program
Youth Ottawa
613-898-7887
www.betterworldtoday.org