About YouthCARE

Mission

 

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: 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 involved in the Twin Cities summer youth employment programs. In 1977, the name was changed to Camp Sunrise and we initiated the YouthLEAD program to meet the school-year needs of the youth involved in the summer program. In 1990, the Young Women's Mentoring Program was established to provide opportunities for young women to gain meaningful employment experience and develop their leadership skills as they mentored younger girls. In 1993, the organization's name was changed from Camp Sunrise to YouthCARE in order to more accurately reflect the organization's commitment to cultural appreciation and racial equality. Over the last 34 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.

 

Strategies
YouthCARE programs address the underlying causes of social problems such as the lack of positive out-of-school time activities for youth, the need to bridge racial and cultural gaps, the need to overcome 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 to provide youth with meaningful employment experiences - Junior Counselors and Counselors in Training at Camp Sunrise, Youth Mentors in the Young Women’s Mentoring Program, and Community Service Stars in the YouthLEAD 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, implement and evaluate program activities. In addition, they become certified in First Aid/CPR, develop peaceful conflict resolution skills and much more! YouthCARE programs 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 cross cultural relationships and friendships while developing the skills necessary to live and work in our multicultural 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 to: 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. Provide youth with relationships with caring adults. Develop awareness and appreciation in urban youth for the natural environmental.

 

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%