Project Cornerstone

YMCA’s Project Cornerstone is committed to helping all children and teens in Silicon Valley feel valued, respected and known. Their programs and services help individuals and communities build a web of support around young people so that they grow into healthy, caring and responsible adults.

Studies reveal strong and consistent relationships between the number of developmental assets present in young people’s lives and the degree to which they develop in positive and healthful ways. Project Cornerstone uses this research as a guiding framework to build a web of support around every young person in our community.  

The Asset Building Champions (ABC) is a YMCA Project Cornerstone program in which adults learn to create positive connection with their own children and youth in the community. Volunteers in each classroom read specially selected books and lead activities that help teach students valuable lessons.   The program’s goal is to help school communities achieve the following:

• Create a common language and vocabulary about student respect and behavior expectations among all members of the school community — students, parents and caregivers, teachers and staff.
• Help students develop skills to handle physical, verbal, relational and digital bullying and to STAND UP if they see someone else being bullied.
• Increase the number of caring adults on campus so that all students feel that there is at least one adult they can turn to if they have a problem.
• Contribute to a positive school climate where every student feels valued and supported to achieve and thrive. 

Each year there are different books for the Project Cornerstone program - it rotates through three years before the books start to repeat. For the 2024-25 school year, we will be in Year One - Asset Year with the theme of "Growing UPstanders". The following are the books volunteers will be sharing with your children 

1) Bucket Books by Carol McCloud 

 a. Have You Filled a Bucket Today? (Grades K-2) 

b.Buckets, Dippers, and Lids (Upper Grades) 

2) Simon’s Hook by Karen Gedig Burnett 

3) Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill 

4) One by Kathryn Otoshi 

5) More Than Peach by Bellen Woodard 

6) The Empty Pot by Demi 

7) Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds

Sound like a program you’d like to be a part of? Here are a couple more reasons to get involved.

• Spending time in your child's classroom each month can make a world of difference.
• It's a great opportunity for caregivers to support children in a meaningful way.
• Training, books, discussion topics and classroom activities are provided for you.

Volunteer requirements:

• Complete a Project Cornerstone/YMCA volunteer application
• Complete a Volunteer form for Bagby
• Approximately 2 hours of time per month (depending on how many classrooms you read in)
• Attend monthly book training at Bagby - 30 to 45 min 
• Prepare lesson at home (or with a co-presenter) - 30 min
• Read to the class, discuss and do activity - 20 to 45 min (depending on teacher)

To become a volunteer or for more information, please contact bagby.pc.abc@gmail.com   

Join our crew of Caring Adults!