YouthCARE's mission is to promote respect
for self and others, develop future leaders,
and provide youth with positive multicultural
activities and relationships with caring adults.
History
YouthCARE (Youth for Cultural Appreciation
& Racial Equality) is a Twin Cities based nonprofit
organization with a successful thirty year history of directing leadership
development, multi-cultural, and educational programs and services
for urban youth, 7-18 years old. All YouthCARE programs have a strong
emphasis in:
- Helping youth develop the skills necessary to live and work in
a multicultural community.
- Encouraging understanding, respect, and appreciation for self
and others.
- Helping youth make a successful transition from adolescence to
adulthood.
- Providing opportunities for disadvantaged youth and youth of color
to gain leadership skills.
YouthCARE was started in 1974 as the Wilderness Work
Camp, a summer work and camp program for youth working in one of the
Twin Cities summer youth employment programs. In 1977, the name was
changed to Camp Sunrise and we initiated the YouthLEAD program, (formerly
called the Urban Program) to meet the school year needs of the 250-300
youth involved in the summer program.
In 1990 the Young Women’s Mentoring Program
was established in the Little Earth and McDonough communities to provide
opportunities for young women to gain meaningful employment and develop
their leadership skills as they "mentored" younger girls.
In 1996 the program was expended to include the Glendale Apartments
community.
In 1993 the organization’s name was changed
from Camp Sunrise to YouthCARE in order more accurately reflect the
growth of our three programs.
Over the last 30 years, YouthCARE has developed and
maintained a strong emphasis on bringing together youth from diverse
ethnic, cultural and racial backgrounds. YouthCARE believes very strongly
in the importance of helping youth learn how to live and work together
cooperatively, the need to appreciate cultural differences, and the
richness gained in making multicultural friendships. On January 15,
2003, at the "Celebrate the Dream" Tribute in Minneapolis,
YouthCARE received the 2003 Dr. Martin Luther King Humanitarian
Award!
Strategies
YouthCARE programs address the underlying causes
of pressing social problems such as the lack of positive activities
for youth, the need to bridge racial and cultural gaps, overcoming
gender barriers and the need youth have for consistent relationships
with caring adults.
In addition to providing the guidance and support
that many youth need and want, YouthCARE programs offer much more.
YouthCARE programs are structured, for example, to provide youth with
meaningful employment experiences - Junior Counselors at Camp Sunrise
and Youth mentors in the Young Women’s Mentoring Program. Youth
are provided opportunities to develop their leadership potential and
encouraged to serve as role models in their communities. In addition,
youth participants are given the opportunity to cultivate these leadership
skills with experiential skill enrichment opportunities-- YouthCARE
believes that we learn by doing. Youth learn how to
manage program and personal finances, develop public speaking skills,
and how to plan, execute and evaluate program events. In addition,
they become certified in First Aid/CPR, develop peaceful conflict
resolution skills and much more!
YouthCARE programs such as Camp Sunrise and YouthLEAD
bring together youth from diverse backgrounds
in an environment that supports and encourages positive multicultural
interaction. The forms that these positive interactions may take are
leadership retreats, community service projects, teambuilding activities,
and Youth Advisory Council meetings. Adult staff and volunteers, also
from diverse backgrounds, serve as role models to exemplify cooperative
multicultural relationships for youth. As a result of participation
in YouthCARE programs, teens form significant cross cultural relationships
and friendships while developing the skills necessary to live and
work in our culturally plural society.
Through participation in employment, training, educational,
and recreational activities, youth experience positive alternatives
to negative or unhealthy lifestyles. The Young Women’s Mentoring
Program provides opportunities for pre-adolescent girls to see young
women of color, who live in their community,
in leadership positions. Through weekly Girls Group activities, girls
are able to participate in non-competitive physical activities and
creative art projects that help them gain confidence in their bodies
and abilities. The Young Women’s Mentoring Program empowers
young women and girls.
Primary Goals
The primary goals of YouthCARE’s programs are
as follows:
- Bring together youth from diverse backgrounds and cultures to
foster greater cultural awareness, understanding and appreciation.
- Provide opportunities for youth to participate in after school,
weekend and summer activities that are positive, affordable and
promote multicultural interaction in a safe, supportive, and fun
environment.
- Employ youth in meaningful positions and provide educational and
career exploration.
- Provide opportunities for youth to develop leadership skills and
experience.
- Provide youth with relationships with a caring adult
- Develop awareness and appreciation in urban youth of issues facing
the natural environment.
Target Population
YouthCARE programs and services target Minneapolis
and St. Paul youth, 13-18 years old, who face social and economic
barriers. In addition, the Young Women's Mentoring Program reaches
girls 7-13 years old. Approximately 65% of the youth involved are
13-18 years old and 35% are 7-12 years old. YouthCARE programs serve
a diverse youth population:
- African American 34%
- Asian American 21%
- Native American 15%
- European American 12%
- Chicano/Latino 4%
- African 3%
- Other 1%
