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Community Matters e-News
 
Sharing the power of compassion and connection
 
April/May2014 

Youth Network Initiative Accomplishment

 

 Go-To Guide Created!
Over the last 6 weeks the Community Foundation made calls and interviewed hundreds of nonprofit organizations providing services to runaway, unattached, homeless and aging-out-of-foster-care youth in our area.  A You'N-I Resource Guide has been created. This guide is filled with specific information for youth seeking help. The guide currently lists 220 resources and services provided by 180 different nonprofit providers. We expect this guide to evolve as our knowledge of current resources grows.

If you would like a copy, email Lyndsey and she will email it to you. 

This information will be updated quarterly, and we will be adding additional information including bus route numbers, best way to contact, whether pets are allowed, etc.  Please help us by emailing back with any suggestions, changes or additions you have.


Now that the information is collected and the list is edited we are working on getting it to the web and having an app built so youth and service providers can connect easily. 

In addition to the resource guide, plans are underway by some outstanding service providers to develop a downtown drop-in center and to begin a mentoring program.

  

This is just the first of many steps to improve the situation for struggling youth in our community.  We are thrilled with the community participation and support of this initiative so please accept our grateful thanks.

 

It is vital that everyone continues to work together as we move forward with meaningful impact. Now that we have some specific actions we can take there are opportunities for donors who wish to help with the online directory, drop-in center, and other measures to help the youth.  If you'd like to help, please call Chris Askin at 775-333-5499.

 
Adults Walked in Homeless Youth's Shoes at Convening

You'N-I Situation Cards Place the Weight of Challenges Faced by Homeless Youth on Adults' Shoulders.  
What would you do?

Situation #1:

You are 19 years old and a former foster child. You have just left  your abusive boyfriend (and his apartment). You have no family, no job, and nowhere to stay. You are worried about your safety on the streets. What do you do? 

 

As an exercise in expanding perspectives, "Situation Cards" were passed to adults attending the second You'N-I convening on March 12. These cards presented all too familiar problems facing runaway, homeless, unattached and aging-out-of-foster-care youth. Situations varied from the example above to finding jobs, figuring out education options, looking for help kicking alcohol or drug addiction, or coping with pregnancy. The adults holding the situation cards then toured the perimeter of the Boys and Girls Club gym seeking help for their situation from nonprofit service providers. 

 

 Eyes were opened that night.

 

We learned what barriers youth face when trying to seek help, and we learned what was missing from our community's available services.  We also learned to see the world from a lonely youth's perspective. 

 

Get Involved.
for more information about
the Youth Network Initiative.
 
Do you want to participate in the initiative?
  1. Follow along through Facebook.
  2. Call Lyndsey, at 775-333-5499 and put yourself on the Stakeholder's list.
  3. Talk with Chris Askin or Tracy Turner  at 775-333-5499 about how you can contribute personally with your skills, energy and ideas or financially. 
 
Who We Are
Trustees
Linda Smith,
Chair
Thomas J. Hall
Vice Chair
Jim Pfrommer
Treasurer
Butch Anderson
Secretary
Sallie Armstrong
Kathie Bartlett
Rebecca Dickson
Barbara Drake
Matt Gray
Nora James
Brian Kennedy
Diana Kern
Cary Lurie
Jan Rude-Willson
Jennifer Satre
Norma Webster
Advisory Board
Kim Becker
Carina Black
Greg Brower
Steven Brown
Steve Frank
David Geddes
Ray Gonzalez
Gail Humphreys
Craig King
Dong-Joon (DJ) Lee
Lance McKenzie
Teresa Mentzer
Susanne Pennington
Alicia Reban
Beatriz Robinson
Nancy Rodriguez
Beth Schuler
John Solari
Lilli Trinchero
Reggie Valenzuela
Jim Webster
Staff
Chris Askin, CSPG
President and CEO
Lyndsey Crossley
Executive Assistant
Dani Lutzow
Program Officer
Maureen Mensing
Accounting Associate
Margaret Stewart
Communications Director
Melissa Tschanz, CPA
Controller
Tracy Turner, PhD
Chief Philanthropy Officer  
Follow Through
Sex Trafficking in Northern Nevada
"The Life" -RGJ video

Age Compounds the Challenges of Life on the Street - Harvard Crimson article

Children's Cabinet helped 100 children reunite with a family member or find a secure living arrangement in 2013.

NPR Report: Foster Kids Face Tough Times After Age 18.

Photos from 2nd Convening, taken by Debbie McCarthy
 
Community Foundation Events
 
May 1, 2014      2 to 5 PM    $50     2hours CLE, CPE, CFP credit
State Bar of Nevada Classroom, 9456 Double R Blvd. Suite B, Reno, NV 89521 


Carson Valley Friends Party
May 14, 2014     5 to 7 PM
 
 
 
 
Legacy Society Gratitude Party
May 21, 2014     5 to 7 PM
 
 
 
 
 
Save the Date!
Community Foundation of Western Nevada Annual Meeting
September 16, 2014     5 to 7 PM  
 Boys and Girls Club Pennington Facility on Foster Drive.


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Suite 103
Reno, NV 89509

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