Thanks to our Sponsors!
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United Way of Central Iowa
Chrysalis Foundation
Principal Financial Group
AmeriCorps Learn and Serve Reach Out Iowa
Metro Waste Authority
Staples Foundation
Iowa Dept. of Public Health
Iowa Dept. of Education
Iowa Commision on Volunteer Service |
Coming up....
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Trainings...check out our calendar to register. |
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Greetings!
This month's greeting is written by Tyler Leech, who is a member of the ID Action Youth Advisory Board.
I've been involved in CYC's ID Action Youth Advisory Board, which does activities to let the public know about people with disabilities. I think it's been really beneficial because we've talked how we can help our community. I feel good being a part of this group and knowing it's made up of people who have disabilities and that we come up with the ideas. I want folks to know that even though I have autism, I have accomplished a lot of things. I will be a Program Assistant for Youth Leadership Forum this year, have staffed a club at my high school, and am currently a DMACC student. I've gained self-confidence and know that there are a lot of things I can do to make the world a better place for people with disabilities.
In closing, my advice to people with or without disabilities is that if you put your mind to something, you can accomplish anything!
If you stop by the CYC office this summer, you can see Tyler's artwork on the meeting room mural or video editing skills on our YouTube channel.
Sincerely,
Amy, Julie, Danny, Amelia, and Michelle
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CYC News and Highlights
CYC's own Executive Director, Amy Croll, was recently designated as one of eight statewide capacity coaches by the Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention. She will provide training and technical assistance with three county-wide efforts as they implement a strategic prevention process known as the Strategic Prevention Framework. The goal of this work is to reduce binge and underage drinking through environmental strategies.
Amy recently co-presented on high quality youth development programming in juvenile justice settings at the Minnesota Coalition for Juvenile Justice one-day training entitled "Positive Youth Development in Juvenile Justice Settings". Other speakers included Gordan Bazemore and Jeffrey Butts, leading experts in restorative justice, and Alicia Wilson-Ahlstrom from the Forum for Youth Investment. Croll was able to provide several examples of what positive youth development in juvenile justice settings can look like based on the high quality opportunities CYC provides for at-risk youth. |
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Make a Difference... Be a Mentor!
What inspired you to find a career you love? Be that inspiration for youth! CYC's Youth Mentoring Program builds relationships between
youth ages 12-17 (with an emphasis on high school) and professionals to improve life skills, provide career awareness, and improve academics by connecting the classroom to real life. Mentors and mentees are matched based on personality and career interest. The intent is to introduce mentees to the mentor's career, exposing the mentee to a behind-the-scenes look at how educational concepts are applied in a real-world setting. Mentors must be 18, 5 years older than their mentee, and make a commitment of 4 hours a month for 9 months. For more information, or to be a mentor (or mentee!) contact Michelle at 243-4292 or by email at [email protected].
Help us name the program! If you have a name suggestion for CYC's Youth Mentoring Program, email it to Michelle! |
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What's the Big Idea?
If you've been to Grounds for Celebration, Village Bean, or Smokey Row coffee shops recently, you may have seen CYC's What's the Big Idea? boxes. These are meant to collect ideas and some spare change from the community. One idea shared recently was to have more alcohol free and drug free events for both kids and adults, as well as year round city wide block parties. Thanks for the ideas shared so far, and stop by a coffee shop near you to share yours! |
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Carver SUCCESS Groups Give Back to their Community
For four weeks this summer, CYC worked with DMPS SUCCESS Case Workers Alyson Cardwell, Carlos Alonzo, and Marcy Dailey to brainstorm, plan, and implement service learning projects with each of their summer week-long camps for youth entering sixth grade. Each week, the students wowed us with their creativity. Projects included selling popsicles at Union Park to raise money for Blank Children's Hospital, teaching kindergartners to play soccer, designing posters to raise awareness for the Animal Rescue League, and mentoring younger youth. |
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Arts Live Camp August 1-5
The ArtsLIVE Youth Festival and the Des Moines Social Club bring you the 2011 ArtsLIVE Camp August 1-5. Looking for something fun and creative to do this summer? Come participate in this one of a kind hands on and enriching weeklong day camp for the visual and performing arts. Each day students will participate in four classes of their choosing as well as a group activity aimed at broadening your child's experience with the visual and performing arts. Classes will be held at 400 Walnut Street and run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Students entering grades 5-8 are welcome to register. Space is limited so register early. Contact Sami Bedell-Mulhern at [email protected] or 970-218-8906 for more information.
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Give 5 This Summer
Join other young people and Community! Youth Concepts for Community in Action and the Give 5 initiative. Work with other youth to create and take part in an extraordinary service project for our community. Each Monday and Wednesday (June 20 - August 22) from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the CYC office, youth ages 10-17 will come together to brainstorm, plan, and carry out service projects to give 5 hours of service for the week. For more information, call 243-4292 or email [email protected].
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Artistic Volunteers Needed
Up to five visual artists are needed to chalk the sidewalks of the Pappajohn Education Center alongside families and children on Saturday, August 20 from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. for the annual Sidewalk Chalk Flood. Artists will be provided a table where they can leave promotional materials. Sidewalk chalk will be available on-site. If interested, contact Michelle Raymer at [email protected] or 243-4292. |
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Adult Volunteers Needed
Adults are needed as volunteers for the Dallas Center-Grimes PALS program, which meets once a month and provides a positive place for youth to go on Friday nights. For more information, contact Julie Morgan Kopecky at 515-992-4343 or by email at [email protected].
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Career Exploration Opportunities
The Career Expo initiative includes trips for middle school students to DMACC campuses. Career Expos are designed to increase awareness among students regarding high demand/high wage careers. DMACC faculty offer demonstrations, presentations, and often times, hands-on activities that help students learn about career fields offered at DMACC. For more information, visit: http://www.dmacc.edu/outreach/careerexpo.asp. |
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Welcome to Eddye and Chelsey!
This summer, CYC welcomed two Americorps VISTA members, Eddye Vanderkwaak and Chelsey Thomsen. They have been hard at work in community gardens, service learning programs, planning the Sidewalk Chalk Flood, and assisting staff in creating program infrastructure. Eddye is an EMT who will be attending paramedic school at Mercy College this fall, and Chelsey is a recent graduate of Iowa State's dietetics program. Stop by and meet Eddye and Chelsey if you're in the neighborhood! |
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CYC can help your groups of youth ages 12-24 create their idea and implement it, either through service-learning opportunities or through a Youth Venture. Contact us for more information.
Like what CYC is doing?
Also, if you haven't seen our new website yet, take a look around.
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