News from Nevada Youth Empowerment Project

NEVADA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I know, we don't say it enough. But, we are so grateful for your support, whether it be a donation, volunteer hours or in kind items - we appreciate you taking the action to help! Without the help of this community, NYEP would not be possible. NYEP is a "village" effort. We count on so many to "pull it all together" for each of the girls we serve. Thank you, for finding it in your heart to share passion for our cause.

I hope you know that we work hard at NYEP to help the girls build a character they can be proud of. We find opportunities to connect them with that will help them grow. After talking with the girls about the upcoming homeless youth count and the purpose of it, many showed interest in volunteering and others were shocked and troubled to know that there were kids, like them, that were sleeping outdoors at night. Its very new and exciting for them to be involved in this early stage of our community's planning process to address the needs of their homeless peers. If you would like to participate by donating or volunteering, please let me know.

And, with Thanksgiving Day fast approaching, we hold many activities during the month that allow residents to learn and practice hosting a holiday party. My first concern each year, like many families out there, is if I have enough money to fund the activities. This year, that wasn't the case. We were blessed to have Western Nevada Supply sponsor our Thanksgiving Holiday. Residents will be able to invite family and friends to join them because of WNS's support. Stay tuned for pictures!

Lastly, I end my letter with a bit of heavy news. I learned earlier last month we lost our dear friend and board member, Jane Douglas. Jane had been with us since 2008. She just loved being part of NYEP, and we loved Jane. It still seems unreal, but we do find comfort in the fact that she has the everlasting peace now that she so deserves.

Be grateful for all that you have my friends!

Monica DuPea

Announcements

During the month of October, NYEP staff, consultants and mentors provided specialized skills training on Mixed Martial Arts, Meal Planning, Shopping, Time Management, Problem Solving, Interpersonal Growth, Resident Meetings, Game Night, Anti Poverty, Cleaning, Volunteering and Job Searching.
Our new, awesome volunteer, Kacey, continues to provide onsite tutoring on Sundays to residents.

Accomplishments

10/3 - NYEP's Executive Director continues to chair the Reno Area Alliance for the Homeless (RAAH) Youth Subcommittee. We anticipate big things to come from this group! Please contact Monica if you would like more information about how to get involved.
10/7 - Residents and staff spent the day at Sum Ranch planting a garden.
10/9 - NYEP's Executive Director continues to participate in the Financial Social Work Certification Program.
10/11 - NYEP continues to participate in the Financial Stability Partnership of Northern Nevada, as well as in the Asset Learning Cluster.
10/12 - Legacy Supply Chain Services spent the afternoon cleaning up NYEP's yard, and then they made spaghetti and lasagna with the residents.
10/12 - Our nutrition volunteer, Rochelle, came over to assess the residents knowledge of nutrition.
10/13 - PHASA came to NYEP to do a presentation on needle exchange.
10/17 - NYEP residents attend the final Getting Ahead anti-poverty class, a 16 session training.
10/20 - NYEP's Clinical Director, Bob Quilitch, and VISTA, Sara Wainwright, deliver a presentation about volunteering to the residents.
10/22 - NYEP coordinated the second Point in Time Count planning meeting. The count is scheduled to take place on January 24th, 2013. We will attempt to count and survey homeless youth, as well as provide incentives and supplies.
10/24 - NYEP residents had a baking day where they learned to make caramel apples, popcorn balls, sugar cookies, cupcakes, cake pops and pumpkin crunch.
10/25 - NYEP residents learned to make Tutus.
10/26 - NYEP residents put on a "we miss you" party for Cindy Ringer, our former VISTA, who was with us for 3 years. Her term ended September 24th.

Upcoming Events

11/03 - Rochelle, our volunteer Nutritionist, will be over to teach about healthy eating.
11/07 - RAAH Youth Subcommittee Meeting
11/08 - General RAAH Meeting
11/11 - Getting Ahead Celebration Dinner
11/20 - Baking Day
11/22 - Thanksgiving
11/26 - Welcome our new VISTA, Alfreda

NYEP has a BLOG!

Recently we started a new blog to share with all of you the experiences, struggles, events, and everyday activities that go on with the staff, residents and volunteers of NYEP.

If you are a volunteer, donor, or involved with NYEP in anyway, and you would like to share your experience, class, event that you were a part of at NYEP, please contact us.

This Month's Posts

By Kacey Maher

It's a simple ritual.

A well-balanced meal, familiar faces around the dining room table, wrapping up the day with conversations ranging from the ridiculous to the profound...read more here

By Sara Wainwright

Volunteering:

A Path to Success and a Happy Life

Gather around... gather around. Welcoming you for the first time, a play presenting the residents of NYEP!... read more here

Halloween Celebration

The week before Halloween, NYEP residents baked goodies, made tutus and put the final touches on their costumes. We also managed to squeeze in a goodbye party for Cindy!!

Goodies

Angeleena making her Tutu

Canadian Bacon and Cleopatra at Cindy's Goodbye Party

A Few Words from the Residents

Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner the girls want to share a few things they are thankful for.

"I am thankful for NYEP, my family, and those around me who love me"

-Miesha

"Having a support system like NYEP, my family, and roommates are what I am thankful for"

-Angeleena

"Having the opportunity to have an education and receive support for it, means a lot to me. NYEP has supported me in so many ways, and my family has made me the women I am today. I also am thankful for my mentors for their guidance and advice."

-Liliana

"I am thankful for being in foster care, it led me to my foster parents. I love my grandmother and am very thankful for her."

-Tricia

"I am thankful for having a place to sleep at NYEP, working at my job, and that I am in school"

-Michelle

November Newsletter

Don't Forget

the Homeless Youth Point In Time (PIT) Count January 24th

Please help us spread the word! For more information click here.

PROJECT SANTA

is back!

NYEP residents and graduates have added items to their online Christmas wish lists.

If you are interested in playing "Santa" to a young lady being served by our program, please follow the links below to review their wish lists.

Miesha

We would like to give a special thanks to the following individuals, foundations, businesses and donors who generously give to NYEP.

A Salon 7

Legacy Supply Chain

Services

Soroptomists International of the Truckee Meadows

Charla Honey

Kacey Maher

Meredith Tanzer

JK Belz and Associates

Platos Closet

Belcorp

Americorps VISTA

AWCMS

NV Energy

Zonta Club

Demody Properties

Charles Schwab

Nell J. Redifield Foundation

United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierras

HALF THE SKY

Half The Sky Movement is a documentary on the oppression of women worldwide and the opportunities that non-profit organizations are giving women in these times of hardship. Women worldwide face issues such as sexual assault, rape, abuse, lack of education, and little to no rights.

For more information, go their website

Our very own....

Jeanine Moreland!!

Jeanine wrote a letter to the editor at the Reno News and Review, opinion section. It was an interesting read about how homeless young women cannot receive FASFA funding without parent income information.

Read her letter here

Sum Ranch Day