By Grenae Dudley, Ph.D. | President & CEO, The Youth Connection, Inc.
The last days of summer are fast approaching and every effort is being made to support and positively impact our youth as we continue to connect them to brighter futures. Sometimes many of you who give may not realize what an impact you truly have. I am always delighted to share with you the stories that may take your breath away. When my staff shared Za’Maria’s story we all had to pause and look away and be ever so thankful that we were able to make a difference. Za’Maria participated in our food and nutrition program, the I2D2 Fit ‘N Fun Family Club. This is a program that we provide in many of our schools. Every time staff would arrive at her school she was there to open the door and display the biggest brightest smile that would melt your heart. She learned all of the nutrition facts and would pop her hand up to answer all of the questions. She participated in all of the physical activities and at the end of the program she had amassed the greatest number of participation points that allowed her to walk away with the top incentive… a two wheel bike! When she came to the office to pick up her bike she was wearing a pair of fur lined boots on a 90 degree day. We were told that was all she had. Staff immediately went into action and pulled new shoes and other resources the family needed from donations and supplies we were able to obtain because of generous supporters like you!
You wouldn’t know that Za’Maria has a nurse that sometimes shadows her during the school day and helps the family. The family enrolled in our strengthening families program and already they appear to be bolstered by the attention and activities.
Youth everywhere look forward to summer and school being out! But the facts regarding summer learning loss are staggering. Two-thirds of the income based achievement gap is attributed to summer learning loss by the start of high school. Most young children experience learning loss when they do not participate in educational activities during the summer! Children lose more than academic knowledge over the summer… some children gain weight faster when they are out of school during summer break! Well, not on our watch. Our programs continue all summer and we make every effort to see to it that our youth experience a summer full of learning opportunities and are able to share stores when they return to school that will amaze their friends. Your support is helping us distribute over 1,000 beautiful hard cover books to youth to read over the summer.
When potential partners view our web site and see we are vetted through global giving more doors and opportunities open up to us. Because of you we will distribute free schools supplies, shoes and socks at our After School Back to School Off to College Fair this summer.
To help address the summer learning loss we sent youth to Spring Arbor University’s CEO Academy to learn how to become entrepreneurs. They participated with youth across southeastern Michigan and had to compete on teams to come up with innovative marketable ideas. Let’s hear it for our girls, Tayler and Tiara, who were on the winning team and shared in a $1,000 award. Because of you we were able to rent a van to get them to the spring arbor campus every day for a week!
This summer we are taking over 1,000 urban youth kayaking on the Huron River. As part of that experience youth will learn about the war of 1812 in a creative and interactive way through our partnership with the River Raisin National Battlefield Park. More than 200 youth enrolled in our summer youth employment program will learn about environmental stewardship, invasive species, trail maintenance, and water quality testing. Many of our youth will have fun this summer kayaking, canoeing, hiking, camping and zip lining.
Your support helps us purchase healthy snacks, water, special equipment and supplies. Because of you we are able to provide interview outfits and shoes so our youth can make that knock out first impression as they apply for their summer jobs.
The summer is only half way over and I have to give high fives to my staff who continue to provide high quality programming and go above and beyond the call of duty. Their tenacity to attempt the impossible and argue persuasively why we should even consider taking over 50 youth clear across the state (over a five hour drive) to camp in one of our state parks and complete a service project. Their argument…… because they will be able to see the Mackinac bridge and ride a ferry to Mackinac island a trip of a lifetime for any Michigander!
Thanks to all of our Global Giving friends and family. To each and every one of our contributors and supporters thank you for helping us make a difference. Please continue to support The Youth Connection through our Global Giving Connecting Youth to Brighter Futures Project. Encourage your friends and families to reach out as well. Just an FYI – Global Giving’s International Youth Week Matching Campaign that celebrate our youth is August 7th -12th please remember us. It is mind boggling what they are offering, 100% matches, bonus prizes and more. Please help make us one of the top projects through your giving.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! To all of our supporters and those who have yet to give please remember The Youth Connection as we continue to connect Detroit youth to brighter futures.
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