Table of Contents

Section 1: Contact Info & Meet the Team

Section 2: Service Warrior Rules and Standardso Graduation Requirementso Make Up Service Hours Timesheets

Section 3: Culture

Section 4: Service Warrior Schedule

Section 5: Resources

Section 6: LDD Evaluations

Section 7: Service Day Evaluations

Section 8: EPIC Opportunities o Youth Support Group Flyerso Life After Service Warriors

Section 9: Service Leader Guideso Service Leader Responsibilitieso Check Ins Guideo EPIC Convo

Section 1: Contact Info & Meet the Team

General Contact

www.epicleaders.org Email: info@epicleaders.org

Primary Contact

Full Name

Email – (First Initial Last Name) jdoe@epicleaders.org

Office # - (XXX) XXX-XXX

EPIC Social Media (insert your specific pages)

Facebook.com/epicleaders Instagram.com/epicleaders

Twitter.com/epic_leaders Youtube.com/epicleaders

Meet the Team

Service Warrior Team Name:

Service Leaders:

*Insert Interview Picture* *Insert Interview Picture* First & Last Name First & Last Name

Service Warriors:

*Insert Interview Picture* *Insert Interview Picture* *Insert Interview Picture* First & Last Name First & Last Name First & Last Name

Section 2: Service Warrior Rules and Standardso Graduation Requirementso Make Up Service Hours

Timesheets

EPIC Service Warrior Rules and Standards

As an EPIC Service Warrior, you are now a recognizable leader in the Boston community and should be held to high level standards. When wearing the EPIC uniform at any time, you must carry yourself as the role model you are.

EPIC staff and EPIC Service Warrior must adhere to the following rules and standards when participating in EPIC events, service days, leadership development days, or while wearing the EPIC uniform.

Attire Wear the EPIC Service Warrior uniform at each program day and bring along the

Warrior binder. Wear comfortable footwear at each service day. Due to safety in our various

projects everyone must have their feet covered at all times; this means no flip-flops or sandals are allowed.

Attitude & Appearance Be ready to work at each program day by arriving with a “can do” attitude. Show the utmost respect for the communities and organizations that we are serving. Using cell phones and/or wearing headphones during Service Warrior activities are

prohibited. You may use your cell phone during lunch and designated break times or when staff has personally allowed you to excuse yourself from the group and make a call. Professional Conduct

We encourage Service Warriors to not date each other while in the program as it can cause distraction from program activities.

Never be in possession of drugs or weapons at any EPIC event. This is non-negotiable and is grounds for being removed from the program.

Acts of or threats of violence to any individual are grounds for being removed from the program.

While in uniform, individuals must not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol. EPIC fosters a safe environment for all of our youth, staff, volunteers and service

partners. Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. It is vital that as leaders we learn together and support one another. We want to build a culture of learning and acceptance. Harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, religion, disability status, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or any other piece of someone’s identity will not be tolerated and is grounds for being removed from the program.

Attendance PolicyIt is vital to the program, your team and our service partners that everyone makes every possible effort to be present at each Service Warrior Program day. However, we also understand that sometimes absences can’t be avoided.

Excused AbsencesYou are allowed 3 absences for the following reasons:

Sickness Work School Medical Appointments Family vacation that was planned in advance of receiving the

program schedule. Religious Observances Attending the funeral of a family member/personal friend

*Missing a Warrior day for reasons other than these listed will be considered an unexcused absence.

You must notify EPIC staff via phone, email or in person as soon as you know you must use an Excused Absence.

Communicating Emergencies & Late ArrivalsIf an emergency arises the morning of a Warrior day or if you are running late to the

designated meeting time: you must notify EPIC staff via email or phone as soon as possible. Not nofitying EPIC staff of your possible absence will - result in you being left behind if you are late or, will impart confusion and worry about your whereabouts if you don’t express

you are experiencing an emergency. An emergency call in will count towards your 3 excused absences.

Tracking & Making up Warrior HoursEPIC will send you quarterly notifications about the number of excused absences you have used, the amount of Service Warrior hours you have completed and an estimated amount of hours you should have completed at that time to be on track to graduate. If the number

of your completed hours is below our estimated amount, you may be at risk of not meeting the minimum amount of Warrior hours needed to graduate. You may make up your missed

hours by volunteering to complete community service outside of Warrior days. You are responsible for finding these make-up community service opportunities as well

documenting the amount of hours you serve. EPIC provides timesheets in the Warrior handbook; you must bring one with you to your make-up community service project.

Failure to Follow Attendance Policy If you reach the maximum of 3 excused absences you will be required to have a meeting via phone or in person with EPIC Staff. 3 excused absences may put you at risk of not meeting the minimum amount of hours needed to meet Service Warrior graduation requirements. At this meeting with EPIC staff, you will determine if you are able to manage the Warrior commitment or not. If you determine you are, you will create an action plan with staff to schedule how you will be making up Warrior hours. If you determine you are not able to

keep the Service Warrior commitment, you will be released from the Service Warrior team and therefore are not eligible to graduate from the program.

Service Warrior Graduation Requirements

In order to successfully complete and graduate the Service Warrior Program you must fulfill the following requirements by April of your graduation year. EPIC staff will work with you to

complete these requirements throughout your Service Warrior year.

1. Must complete a minimum of 110 Service Warrior hoursThe Service Warrior year has more than 110 hours scheduled. Warriors with

exemplary attendance will exceed this requirement. Those who miss more than the excused number of absences will need to work with EPIC Staff to meet their minimum required hours. (See Attendance Policy)

2. Service Warriors over the age of 18 must be registered to vote

3. Must have a professional email address

4. Have a complete and updated resume

5. Fill your jacketService Warriors are expected to help in the recruitment of Service Warriors in

order to “fill their jacket”. In order to do this Warriors must refer at least one person to the program during the application period and that person must put that Warriors name on their application. The requirement is that you refer an applicant, not that the applicant is accepted into the program.

Community Service Time SheetAs stated in the EPIC Rules & Standards, if you are behind in Warrior hours you must make

up your missed hours by volunteering to do community service on your own. This timesheet should be used to record those service hours and should be given to an EPIC

Staff when completed.

However, if you are not behind in Warrior hours and feel motivated to complete community service projects on your own during the year, we want to hear about it! Fill out

this sheet for any service projects outside of EPIC that you complete so that we may give you credit for it!

Service Warriors Name: ______________________________________________________

Date of service: _______________________ Hours of service completed: _____________________

Where did you do service? _________________________________________________________________

Contact Person at the service project: ____________________________________________________

Contact’s phone and/or email: ____________________________________________________________

What were the tasks/projects you completed during the service:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature of contact person at project: ___________________________________________________

Signature of EPIC Service Warrior: ________________________________________________________

Section 3: Culture

EPIC CultureOur roles as EPIC Service Warriors are fun, challenging, tiring, inspiring and powerful. It is

important that we have an EPIC Culture to unify us and keep us grounded as a team.

EPIC Beliefs

We believe that everyone has the power to be EPIC. We recognize and celebrate the inherent strengths that each individual and new experience possesses. We believe in the

power of service - in helping others, we take on a role and responsibility to engage in community in a meaningful way. Additionally, through service we gain knowledge and

skills to equip us in accomplishing our individual goals. We believe we are self-advocates and it is with our own ability that we express ourselves and fight for what we believe in

as Warriors.

EPIC:

(adj) Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size. Heroic and impressive in quality.

EPIC PracticesEPIC Check InsBefore and after each Service Day and Leadership Development Day, we gather round as team and discuss the different aspects of the day. With each EPIC Check In, we further celebrate EPIC Culture, while preparing for or reflecting on a Warrior day. Below are the different cultural practices that are always a part of our EPIC Check Ins, we also perform these cultural practices at EPIC Signature Events and meetings (not in the same format as the EPIC Check Ins ).

The EPIC ChoiceEach Service Warrior exemplifies the EPIC Choice, the set of principles we actively choose to make to be EPIC. Together as a team, we support and hold each other accountable in making the EPIC Choice. Our Service Leaders lead our team in this call and response chant.

The EPIC ChoiceSLs Call SWs Respond

SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT We are present, on time with our truest self.

SUITED AND BOOTED We are prepared for an EPIC day wearing EPIC gear, with our Warrior handbooks. RESPECT THE JACKET RESPECT THE COMMUNITY

We respect the Warrior commitment, the spaces we enter and all we meet. PHONES OFF WE ON

We engage with our team, not our phones. WE ARE SELF-ADVOCATES MY NEEDS, I EXPRESS

EPIC Moments We all accomplish EPIC things in our lives everyday - getting an A on your math test, winning your soccer game, learning a new skill, making a new friend, or conquering a fear. EPIC finds value in sharing our positive EPIC Moments with each other and recognizing each other’s successes.

As a part of our morning EPIC Check In, we each share an EPIC Moment that has happened in our own lives recently. Remember an EPIC Moment can be big or small and can be different for everyone but every EPIC Moment deserves to be recognized.

EPIC ConvoAs Service Warriors, we serve and engage with various communities, some being similar or very different to our own. As a part of our EPIC Check Ins, we have EPIC Convos to reflect with one another about the communities we engage and how we may apply the skills we gain from our Warrior experiences to achieve our own individual goals.

The EPIC Break As the last part of our morning and end of the day EPIC Check In, we chose a word or phrase that encompasses our service/goal for the day. Then, we join as close as we can, connecting our hands together by any means! This may mean putting your hand on the shoulder of a person next to you who has their own hand reaching another’s elbow and that person has an extended hand in the middle of the pit. The web of our bodies connecting together shows our unity, strength and commitment to our team. Without our team we would not be as strong, for this reason that we always end with an EPIC Break, shouting out our chosen word of the day with the release of our hands/bodies.

Positives & DeltasIt is important that after each day we talk as a team to discuss what we liked most about the day and what could have been better. As a part of our end of the day EPIC Check In, we will meet as a team and share our Positives & Deltas of the Warrior day we experienced.

Positives are things that we enjoyed about the day. Deltas are not negative things but instead things that could have been better.

The first person to share their Positives/Deltas must “pass” or “send” the prompt either to the person to their left or right. This signifies the direction in which everyone will have a turn. The only rules to Positives & Deltas are that everyone must share something positive. You don’t need to have a Delta but for every delta you must have a positive.

The Power SongThe Power Song is fun, interactive song we sing as a team to rev up energy and positivity. Sometimes we sing this song as a part of our EPIC Check Ins.

The Power SongP-O-W-E-R

We got the powerCause we are the EPIC CrewHis/Her Name is _________

Ya!And he/she is next on the list

He/She’s got a reputation cause he/she does it like this (person does a dance move)

Does it like this (everyone copies dance move)Does it like this (everyone copies dance move)

He/She’s got a reputation cause he/she does it like this (everyone copies dance move)(repeat this for each person in the group OR for 4-5 people)

HEY-OOOH!!!When you hear an EPIC staff or fellow Service Warrior yell “HEY-OOH!!!” everyone on the teams should yell the same phrase in response. This is a way to build enthusiasm and get the team pumped throughout our Service Warrior day. Additionally, this how we get the team’s attention to focus on an announcement that needs to be made. “HEY-OOH!!!’s are clear and LOUD!

Section 4: Service Warrior Schedule

2016 EPIC Service Warrior Program DaysPlease note that some of these dates are subject to change. We are still planning the dates some of

the program days. You will be notified of these dates as soon as we have them.

April 2015Service Day:

Saturday, April 25th – Orientation and Honoring Young Leaders with Ability Event at City Year

May 2015Service Day:

Saturday, May 9th – Park clean up with Boston Parks Dept

Leadership Development Day: Saturday, May 30th –Team Building/Adaptive Rope Course

June 2015Service Day:

Saturday, June 20th– Disability Pride Murals

July 2015Service Day:

Saturday, July 25th – Common Ground Farm

Leadership Development Day:Wednesday, July 29th – Employment Readiness/Mock Interviews

August 2015Service Day:

Saturday, August 1st – On the Rise Women’s Shelter

Leadership Development DayFriday, August 28th- Political Literacy

September 2015Service Day:

Saturday, September 19th – City Year

October 2015Leadership Development Day:

Saturday, October 17th – Disability History and midyear reflection

November 2015Service Day:

Saturday, November 7th – Boston Serve

December 2015Service Day:

Saturday, December 19th – Holiday Toy Drive at MILCB

January 2016Service Day:

Monday, January 18th – MLK Service Day/Event

February 2016Service Day:

Saturday, February 13th – Community Servings

March 2016Service Day:

Saturday, March 12th – Housing Families in Malden

Leadership Development Day:Saturday, March 26th - Media Literacy & Leadership through the Arts

April 2016Leadership Development Day:

Saturday, April 9th - Closure, Goal Setting, and Transition Workshops

May 2016Saturday, May 7th - Honoring Young Leaders with Ability Event

(AKA Your Graduation!!)

Section 5: Resources

Section 6: LDD Evaluations

Name:_________________________________________ Date:_______________________

LDD Topic: ____________________________________________________________

My favorite part of today was:

What could have made today better was: (Finish the sentence(s))

EPIC Staff could have ____________________________________________________________

I could have _______________________________________________________________________

I feel like I can use the information today in my future leadership: (circle one)

Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Two things I learned today:

One way I will use what I learned today to help me reach a goal:

Other Comments:

Section 7: Service Day Evaluations

Name:_________________________________________ Date:_______________________

Service Project: ____________________________________________________________

My favorite part of today was:

What could have made today better was: (Finish the sentence(s))

EPIC Staff could have ____________________________________________________________

I could have _______________________________________________________________________

I feel like I made a difference today: (circle one)

Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Two things I learned today:

One way I will use what I learned today to help me reach a goal:

Other Comments:

Section 8: EPIC Opportunitieso Youth Support Group Flyerso Life After Service Warriors

Life after Service WarriorsThe opportunities on this page are for Alumni Service Warriors who still want to engage in

EPIC activities. SWs that have fulfilled their graduation requirements and have graduated at the Honoring Young Leaders event are considered Alumni Service Warriors.

SW Alumni GroupAlumni of the EPIC Service Warrior Program come together every other month to continue their leadership development and commitment to service. EPIC Alumni take on leadership roles in EPIC's programming and events, complete community service projects, and participate in ongoing leadership development. Dates: Every other Month

You will be notified of specific dates, times and locations of the SW Alumni group after you have graduated as a Service Warrior.

Signature EventsBoston ServeSW Alums are welcoming to volunteer at each annual Boston Serve. Historically, SW Alums have signed up for Boston Serve as a part of the “Service Warrior Alumni” Volunteer Team. You may encourage family/friends to register to volunteer; your friends/family will not be included in the “Service Warrior Alumni” Volunteer Team. At Boston Serve, you may work on your team project or you may be asked to help out with the parts of the day (sell raffle tickets, help set up lunch/dessert, etc.). You might also support any current Service Warriors in leading their volunteer teams.

Honoring Young LeadersSW Alums are welcome to attend each annual Honoring Young Leaders. When details are announced, please RSVP to this event. At Honoring Young Leaders, you may be asked to help with parts of the event (help welcome guests, set up food station, help with clean up, etc).

Become an EPIC Youth Trainer

SW Alums may become EPIC Youth Trainers. Youth Trainers work with EPIC staff to co-facilitate EPIC’s trainings on an as needed basis. EPIC trainings explore topics such as disabilities, ableism, and inclusion and are taught to schools, nonprofits, youth groups, and community programs throughout the Greater Boston Area. If interested, please communicate this with EPIC staff to receive more details.

Section 9: Service Leader Guideso Service Leader

Responsibilitieso Check Ins Guideo EPIC Convo

EPIC Service Leader Roles and Responsibilities

All Service Leaders must participate in all of the Service Leader trainings.

Maintain confidentiality is critical to the success of the EPIC Service Warrior program. As a Service leader, it is your responsibility to protect sensitive information regarding Service Warriors and/or staff members.

Service Leaders are required to be present for Service Warrior program days. Service leaders must remain with your group at all times. Be punctual to all designated places and meetings.

If a Service Warrior is not acting appropriately or engaged in activities, it is the Service Leader’s responsibility to work with the Warrior and resolve the issue or seek assistance from staff.

If issues arise with colleagues, Service Warriors, or anyone at EPIC that you are unable to resolve, please discuss the issues immediately with EPIC Staff.

All Service leaders must wear the standard issued EPIC uniform at all times

Remember that all Service leaders serve as role models for the Service Warriors. "Lead by Example" behavior is required. Maintain a respectful attitude toward all Service Warriors, Service Leaders, facilitators, staff, partners, and volunteers. Professional relationships are expected at all times.

Cell phones and text messaging are not permitted by the Service Leaders during all SW activities.

Service Leaders are responsible for facilitating the morning check-ins (EPIC Choice, EPIC Moments, EPIC Convos and Ice Breakers) and the afternoon check-ins (EPIC Convos, Positive & Deltas, and Daily Evaluations).

If a Service Warrior shares information with you that makes you think that their health and safety AND/OR the health and safety of someone else is in jeopardy - you must report it to an EPIC staff immediately.

Service Leaders will be responsible for working together to design and facilitate a workshop for the Service Warriors on the last program day of the year.

Service Leaders must meet the same graduation requirements as the Service Warriors in order to graduate from the program at the end of the year. Additionally, the Service

Leaders are expected to help Service Warriors in meeting their graduation requirements if they need assistance.

As Service Leaders you will have the opportunity to participate in opportunities that will help you understand more of the work of EPIC behind the scenes. Service Leaders will be assigned one of the following tasks that they must do in addition to their roles during Service Warrior program days:

o EPIC Advisory Board Youth Member: Two of the Service Leaders will be assigned to participate in the EPIC Advisory Board to represent the voices of EPIC Youth. EPIC Advisory Board Meetings are held in the evening every other month at Triangle. You will receive more info if this is your assigned role.

o EPIC Program Day Preparations and Follow Up: Two of the Service Leaders will be assigned with assisting Staff prior to the program day to ensure that all materials, food, and logistics are taken care of. Also, after each program day participants will assist in taking care of any necessary follow up work.

I understand and accept the Service Leader Roles and Responsibilities. I understand that my position as a Service Leader may be in jeopardy for failure to comply with these ground rules and guidelines.

____________________________________ __________________________ Service Leader’s Signature Date

Morning EPIC Check In ( 6 ) - With everyone present, gather round everyone for the morning EPIC Check In

1. With your partner Service Leader, lead the group in The EPIC Choice – “It’s a chant we do together to remind ourselves of the values and rules we choose to follow as Service Warriors”.

The EPIC ChoiceService Leaders Call: Service Warriors Respond:

SHOW UP… AND SHOW OUT

SUITED… AND BOOTED

RESPECT THE JACKET… RESPECT THE COMMUNITY

PHONES OFF… WE ON

WE ARE SELF-ADVOCATES… MY NEEDS, I EXPRESS

2. Lead EPIC Moments – “An EPIC Moment is something positive that has just happened to you or something great that you are looking forward to. Who wants to start?” After the first Service Warrior has shared their EPIC Moment, ask “Which way in the circle are you going to send it? To your left or right?”

3. Group Icebreaker (Optional) – An EPIC staff will check in with you and your partner Service Leader about if the there is enough time to do an icebreaker. If there is, the EPIC staff will show you and your partner Service Leader how to run the icebreaker for your team.

4. Lead the EPIC Convo – Have your EPIC Convo sheet out to facilitate the morning discussion.

5. Explain the plan for the day and instructions – An EPIC staff will check in with you and your partner Service Leader about what you need to share with your team. An EPIC staff may help you share and speak more in detail about the plan and instructions for the day.

6. The EPIC Break – Bring your team in for an EPIC Break. “Alright everyone, let’s bring it in. What word are we going to say on the count of three?” Select one word said by your Service Warrior teammates. “Our word is [say word]. Ok, 1…2…3… [SAY WORD]!

End of the Day EPIC Check In ( 6 ) - With everyone present, gather round everyone for the End of the Day EPIC Check In

1. Start with an EPIC Convo – Again, refer to your EPIC Convo sheet to lead this discussion

2. Pass out One-Pager Resource sheets – An EPIC staff will have a One-Pager Resource sheet that has more information about the Service Warrior. Pass these sheets to your teammates. “Everyone hold on to this Resource sheet, put them in Section 5 of your Service Warrior Handbook”.

3. Lead Positives/Deltas – “Now everyone is going to share their Positives/Deltas for the day. A Positive is something you enjoyed about today. A Delta is something that could have been better. You can share as many Positives as you want, but for every Delta that you have you must share a Positive. Who wants to share first?” After the first Service Warrior has shared, ask “Which way do you want to send it? To your left or right?”

4. Pass out Evaluation sheets – Your entire team including yourself, should complete an Evaluation sheet. Have everyone take out their Handbooks, Section 6 has Leadership Development Day Evals and Section 7 has Service Day Evaluation sheet. Pass out pens to your team. Allow everyone enough time to finish their sheets, have everyone pass in their Evaluations after they are done.

5. Share Announcements – An EPIC staff will have a sheet of paper ready with important Announcements about upcoming events and updates that your team should know. With your partner Service Leader, share these Announcements.

6. The EPIC Break – Bring your team in for a final EPIC Break. “Alright everyone, let’s bring it in. What word are we going to say on the count of three?” Select one word said by your Service Warrior teammates. “Our word is [say word]. Ok, 1…2…3... [SAY WORD]!

EPIC Convo PromptsConvo Tips

Make sure that you are speaking at a volume that everyone can hear and understand you, repeat question if necessary

Give the group time to think about each question Ask everyone to raise their hand if they have an answer

Pick one person at a time to speak When someone is speaking, listen to their response with patience

Be ready to repeat or summarize someone’s comments to make sure the entire team has heard and understands everyone's thoughts.

Respect a person’s answer, even if you don’t agree Respect silence, not everyone has to answer questions

Let anyone share follow up comments/questions

Morning Check In

Service Day

Where are we today?

Why are we here today?

Who is the community we are serving?

What have we heard about this community?

Why do we think it’s important we do this service?

Leadership Development Day

What topic are we learning about today?

What do you think the topic means?

Why do you think this topic is important for your leadership?

End of the Day Check In

Service Day

Does this issue relate to people with disabilities?

Has your idea of this community changed?

What positive things do you notice are a part of this community?

What skills have you gained today that can help you reach your goals?

Does anyone have any questions or comments about today?

Leadership Development Day

Has your idea of today’s topic changed?

What have you’ve learned today that can help you reach your goals?

Is there anything about today’s topic that you want to learn more about?

Does anyone have any questions or comments about today?