STEP UP to Leadership

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. . . young leaders of tomorrow with and without disabilities The STEP UP (Starting Today Empowering Peers through Uniting and Participating) Council is composed of youth and young adults with and without disabilities. Council members serve as leaders within their schools, colleges/universities and communities. The Council focuses on issues facing all young people including leadership, self-advocacy, transition, health care, education, employment, bullying and recreation.

We're Starting Today Empowering Peers through Uniting and Participating (STEP UP). STEP UP to Leadership Advisory Council is an inclusive student and community organization through The University of Southern Mississippi's Institute for Disability Studies (IDS). Ranging in age and ability, our members largely represent youth and young adults with and without disabilities in the Pine-belt community. STEP UP Council members serve as leaders and advocates in their schools, colleges, universities and communities though regularly planned inclusive opportunities for community-based service, outreach and advocacy, recreation, leisure and connection to address issues that all young people face—bullying, becoming independent self-advocates, learning about healthcare, building positive relationships, employment, recreation and leadership during the transition to adulthood. Together, we accomplish this through inclusive and fun networking and supportive educational opportunities, service events and social activities, we build life skills together through connections with friends, families, other programs through USM's IDS, the Southern Miss community, with the Pine-belt community, with various organizations and groups statewide, and recently, with our STEP UP affiliates on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in Mombasa, Kenya.

Each month, STEP UP Council plans a helpful inclusive community service event, a fun social networking opportunity for everyone, outreach, a separate Guys or Ladies Hang-out, and an advocacy activity. Our Guys’ and Ladies’ Hang-outs alternate every other month. We'll also have some recurring inclusive community-based recreation, volunteer and learning opportunities, like:

"Tuesdays Together" is weekly community service at the USM Medicine Wheel garden in partnership with USM's Center for American Indian Research and Golden Eagle Inter-tribal Society each Tuesday (weather permitting). During this experience, we'll learn about our connections to our health and wellness through nature and companion planting relationships with native species. Volunteers welcome!

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