YouthLEAD (Youth Leadership &
Diversity) is a school year program focused on developing youth
leaders and building multicultural friendships among youth, 13-18
years old, through positive after school and weekend activities.
Annually, 175-200 youth participate in YouthLEAD programs and activities.
YouthLEAD has a strong emphasis on bringing together youth from
diverse backgrounds to learn about others, better understand and
appreciate cultural differences and build multicultural friendships.
A primary focus of the program is to provide opportunities for the
youth that participated in the Camp Sunrise Summer Program to stay
involved and connected with YouthCARE during the school year.
Program services include youth leadership development, outreach
and counselling, guidance and support, and positive social, recreational
and educational activities. Regular activities include the Youth
Advisory Council, Youth Speakouts and Monthly Social and Recreational
Activities such as gym nights, dances, roller skating and bowling.
In addition, the program provides opportunities for youth to develop
consistent and long-term relationshipswith caring adults
-Back to Top-
Youth Involved:
YouthLEAD serves urban youth, 13-18 years old, from diverse ethnic
and cultural backgrounds that face social or economic barriers.
A special effort is made by program staff to recruit and involve
alumni of the Camp Sunrise Summer Program in YouthLEAD school year
activities.
Geographic Area Served:
YouthLEAD serves youth who live in Minneapolis or St. Paul.
Ethnic & Cultural Diversity:
84% of the 186 youth that participated in the 2003-04 YouthLEAD
program were youth of color:
- Southeast Asian 41%
- African American 30%
- European American 16%
- Chicano/Latino 8%
- Native American 4%
- African 1%
-Back to Top-
Youth Advisory Council: The Youth Advisory Council involves 14-18
youth in the YouthCARE decision making process. Program components
include YAC Retreats in the fall and spring, Monthly YAC meetings,
Community Service Projects, Youth Fundraising Project and participation
in YouthCARE Board of Directors meetings. A recent addition to the
program is "The TTT - Totally Tremendous Tuesdays", a
bi-weekly event at the YouthCARE office where YAC members and other
participants can work along side staff and volunteers planning and
preparing for YouthCARE activities.
Youth Speakouts: Youth Speakouts are conducted once a month, from
October - March, to bring together youth from diverse backgrounds
and cultures, to discuss topics selected by the youth. Youth facilitators
volunteer to work with program staff to plan and lead Youth Speakouts.
Youth Speakouts have been conducted on topics such as dating, racism,
violence, gangs and diversity.
Monthly Social & Recreational Activities: YouthCARE conducts
social and recreational activities once a month from October - March,
to bring together 50-125 youth from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Activities include roller skating, gym & swim nights, dances,
snow tubing, bowling and an Annual Lock-In Event. Adult program
staff and volunteers supervise activities and provide youth with
transportation to and from activities.
Diversity Celebration: This annual event is conducted in cooperation
with the Minneapolis Community & Technical College (MCTC) to
celebrate YouthCARE's commitment to cultural diversity. Each year
on the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., MCTC hosts their
"Celebrate the Dream" event. YouthCARE participants provide
assistance by greeting the guests as they arrive, distributing programs
and helping with the clean up at the end of the event.
-Back to Top-
- Provide regular, consistent and fun, social, recreational and
educational activities that provide opportunities for youth to stay
connected with YouthCARE during the school year.
- Focus recruitment efforts on reaching already active youth, particularly
those youth that participated in the previous Camp Sunrise Summer
Program.
- Remove the barriers (lack of money and the lack of transportation)
that keep youth from low-moderate income families from participating
in after school and weekend activities. In other words, provide
events that are free or charge a nominal fee and provide youth with
transportation to and from YouthCARE events.
- Maintaining a strong emphasis on involving significant numbers
of adult volunteers in monthly social and recreational events to
facilitate positive relationships between youth and caring adults,
help meet the program's transportation needs, and provide opportunities
for alumni staff to stay connected with YouthCARE and the youth.
- Retain the involvement of individuals as they transition from
youth participant (13-18 years of age) to adult volunteer (19 years
of age).
- Minneapolis Employment & Training Program
- HIRED
- Minneapolis Community & Technical College
-Back to Top-
