YouthCARE 1974-2008
Celebrating 34 Years of Service to Youth in the Twin Cities

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2701 University Ave. SE
Suite 205
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Tel: 612/338-1233
Fax: 612/338-6904

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Camp Sunrise

YouthLEAD

Young Women's Mentoring Program

YouthCARE Staff

YouthCARE Board Members

2004 Annual Report

Awards & Recognition

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About YouthCARE

Mission

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%
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