COMO LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Building Leaders Through Volunteerism and Community Service

COMO Leadership Program (CLP) is a youth advocacy and leadership program for students entering fifth grade to senior year of high school. As a year-round initiative, members of this group will have access to a diverse selection of volunteering and leadership opportunities. Leaders will also be matched with a COMO department of interest. The time spent mentoring within the department will count toward volunteer hours.

Training Day: June 21, 10-4 p.m.

New Leaders: 10-12:30 p.m. | Returning Leaders: 1-4 p.m.

Location: Leaders will meet at the COMO Main Building, 28 Cutler Street, Stonington, CT

All leaders are required to attend Training Day where they will learn the ins and outs of the program while fostering strong bonds and building meaningful relationships with one another and staff. Leaders will participate in group discussions, team-building challenges, and hands-on learning activities to build useful skills for volunteering within the COMO department of their choosing.

If a leader is unable to attend training week, please reach out to our Youth Programs Administrator at p.rouquayrol@thecomo.org.

What Happens after Training Day?

COMO Leadership Program is broken down into two sessions: summer session and school-year session. Exceptions can be made for those Leaders who are only in the Stonington area for the summer months.

• Summer Session runs from June through the end of August. Leaders are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours during the summer session.

• School-Year Session runs from September through May. Leaders are required to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours during the school year session.

Apply to Be a Leader Today!

New Leaders: $290
Returning Leaders: $194
*Fees for COMO Leadership Programs include a COMO Youth Membership!

COMO Leaders: Entering Grades 8-12
Junior Leaders: Entering Grades 5-7

Note: Registration for the program is online for both new & returning Leaders. New Leaders should register online and then download the application. Applications should be returned to the COMO by mail or emailed to Youth Program Administrator Crystal-Ann Zeck at c.zeck@thecomo.org by June 2024.

How Will Leaders Spend Their Time?

Leaders have the opportunity to complete volunteer hours through two community service initiatives, and through volunteering in a COMO department of interest. Check out some activities in which leaders can participate:

Athletics: Being part of youth sports can be an advantageous experience for youth interested in sports management, physical education, and coaching. Volunteering may include assisting coaches in all aspects of the sports session including leading small groups in drills, researching equipment, or facilitating team-building activities.

Education: Volunteering in our education department allows for engaging with children ages 3-12 via fun and enriching programming like preschool, COMO Kids, Middle School Dodgeball, Schools Out, and COMO Camp. Junior Leaders will participate in teacher-led activities and be able to facilitate activities while learning best practice procedures for working with youth in programming.

Makerspace: The COMO Makerspace has three main workbenches: 3D Creation (3D printing and laser cutting); Digital Production (graphic design, coding, circuits, digital design, e-textiles); and Craft Fabrication (sewing, hand tools, building, paper craft, embroidery). Junior leaders with skills in technology, art, craft, engineering, science, and other maker themes OR curiosity and commitment to developing such skills would be a match for the makerspace.

Thrift: The Stonington COMO operates one of the oldest thrift shops in the area- offering a wide array of selections at great discounts. The shop’s inventory of quality clothing for the entire family, gently used furniture, jewelry, kitchenware, books, bric-a-brac, and many one-of-a-kind items come from donations of generous patrons who help to support the COMO and its programs. Leaders will get a thrift shop's hands-on retail experience, from organizing store inventory to tagging clothing and learning about retail marketing.

Service Highlight: Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center

Leaders helped out three years in a row at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, food bank and senior center, by packing Thanksgiving meal boxes for neighbors who are facing food insecurity during the holiday season.

Service Highlight: Virtual Read-Alouds

Leaders visited the COMO Kids and Preschool classrooms for storytime, virtually! Take a look at their awesome read-aloud videos below. Despite the struggles 2020 and the COVID pandemic brought, COMO Leaders continued to stay actively engaged and dedicated to making an impact in the community. They found creative ways to remain connected as a means to collaborate and brainstorm COVID-friendly community service initiatives. COMO Preschoolers and COMO Kids LOVED listening to and watching the Leaders read-aloud videos!