Participants Share Their Graduation Stories
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It is graduation season for our high school seniors so we sat down with a few participants to talk about their high school experiences. Of course, each path to graduation is different. Each of our girls has a different story; each had her own struggles and her own accomplishments. These are some of their stories.
Brittany
"English is my favorite subject because I get to learn about all of the different stuff that has happened by reading the plays, like Hamlet", Brittany shares. Brittany is a Peer Educator (PE) in AFG's Outreach and Education Services Department. An honor roll student, Brittany says she will miss her peers now that high school is over but is looking forward to finding a job and getting her own car.
Although Brittany worked hard to get good grades throughout high school, she admits that there were times she struggled in doing just that. "The work is (typically) easy, but at times it can be challenging. Some of the classes I got, like accounting, were hard", Brittany recalls. Through these difficult times, Brittany says that her coordinators and fellow PE's played a role in keeping her moving forward, "They motivate you to stay in school and make sure you're on the right track". Click here to read more.
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AFG Heads to Lansing to Advocate
for Homeless and Runaway Youth
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For the third year in a row, Alternatives For Girls staff and participants traveled to the state capital to speak with State Representatives and build awareness of runaway and homeless youth. Every year the Michigan
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Raven, left, and Lynzi, right, visit the Capitol in Lansing to meet with State Legislators and talk with them about homeless and runaway youth.
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Network for Youth and Families (MNYF) organizes Dome Day, a day for
organizations to set up shop in the Capitol, have meetings with State Legislators, bring awareness to the needs of runaway and homeless youth in Michigan, and convince them the importance of thinking of these youth when voting on the next budget. Although AFG staff planned on attending Dome Day on March 12th, along with other youth-focused agencies, the Outreach and Education Services (OES) and Shelter/Transition to Independent Living (TIL) staff were unable to attend due to inclement weather.
Undeterred from their original goal, OES and Shelter/TIL staff made arrangements with MNYF to schedule 7 to 8 meetings with State Legislators on April 30th. "Our main goal was to convey to the Legislators that although funding for runaway and homeless youth is currently tied in with the Foster Care system, because they have some similarities, there really needs to be separate funding because both groups are so unique", explains Deena Policicchio, AFG's Outreach and Education Services Director. Click here to read more.
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Eastern Market Farm Stand Program
Selects AFG as Host Site
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Eastern Market Farm Stand
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Alternatives For Girls is teaming up with Eastern Market's Farm Stand Program this summer to become one of the 19 different locations throughout Detroit where community members can purchase fresh produce. Starting June 24th and running through September 30th, Eastern Market will bring their Farm Stand Market to AFG every Tuesday from 2:30-5:00pm in front of the AFG building (903 West Grand Boulevard). Equipped with a 10x10 pop up tent and a table, two Eastern Market Farm Stand employees, known as "Fresh Food Fellows", will sell seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as some specialty products such as honey, jams, organic grains, and healthy snacks.
One of the main goals of the Eastern Market Farm Stand Program is to encourage the community to think about incorporating more fruits and vegetables into their diet and showing them how to use seasonal produce to achieve that goal. The Fresh Food Fellows who staff each Farm Stand embody this mission by offering a wide range of information on the nutritional value of the foods at the stand and culinary uses of local produce. Click here to read more.
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