Strong Communities Agenda » Outcomes

 

The Racine Family YMCA staff, members, volunteers, and residents of the neighborhoods in and surrounding downtown Racine will be actively working together to:

  • Promote and ensure educational opportunities for all children.
  • Build positive developmental assets in all young people, support all families, and mobilize resources to nurture and sustain the building of strong communities.
  • Acknowledge with pride their own diversity; involve residents in the process of decision-making; and put the community’s resources, talents and treasures to work so that all may thrive.

 

How Will the YMCA Achieve Its Outcomes?

Community development is a range of practices dedicated to increasing the strength and effectiveness of community life and improving local conditions, especially for youth in disadvantaged situations. The YMCA will enable youth to actively participate in asset-based programs including the following:

Minority Achievers- The Minority Achievers Program (MAP) reaches into the heart of the Racine community for both its adult achievers and youth participants (Teen Achievers). By recognizing and utilizing the talents of Minorities who are successful in their careers, the program brings a much needed positive influence into the community. Each student involved, each with a different level of scholastic achievement and standard of living stands to gain something from the program.

 

Teen Achievers Initiative

Teens that want to be involved in any YMCA teen program must be accepted into the Teen Achievers Initiative. This initiative will give teens an opportunity to network with positive adult role-models (Minority Achievers) whom corporations and organizations have recognized as Adult Achievers.

Teens enrolled come from all economical, geographical and educational backgrounds. Minority Achievers and volunteers will offer different workshops throughout the school year. In addition, the Teen Achievers Initiative consist of the following programs:

  • Youth Against Violence: Created by high school youth interested in ending violence and bullying. Youth create skits, perform them for elementary students, and hold discussions with youth about these issues.
  • Teen Action Council: Youth attend City Council meetings, discuss local events and politics, and learn about how they can become active and effective citizens.
  • Father To Father: Teen fathers receive support through both discussion groups led by fathers, and mentoring provided by former teen dads.
  • Pre-Military Training: Youth participate in physical training, drills and education about the military lifestyle and structure.

 Ophelia Project

The Ophelia Project

creates long-term systemic change, by addressing aggression among girls in grades 7 – 12. OP provides girls with positive adult women role models who teach them leadership, self-discipline, positive body image and positive self-image. OP relies on small groups led by positive women role models; these groups meet at least one time per week, providing a minimum of 120 contact hours per year for each participant. At least 60% of participants come from families with economic need and live within census tracts 1 – 5. 

 

Young Leaders Academy

The YLA is a program dedicated to the improvement of the low-income, minority communities in Racine, Wisconsin.  It’s mission is to strengthen the City of Racine by nurturing its most at risk population, inner-city minority youth between ages 8 and 14. In an attempt to reverse the negative trend of low academic achievement and stereotypical behavior of youth from low-income communities, the YLA is located at three locations: Dr. John Bryant Community Center (boys), YMCA (boys & girls), and Dr. ML King Community Center (boys) to work collectively with the City of Racine’s Park and Recreation Department to increase the strength and effectiveness of community life and improving local conditions, especially for youth in disadvantaged situations.

 R.E.S.C.Y.U. Logo

R.E.S.C.Y.U.

(Racine Earth Service Corps Youth United)
is a service-learning program for youth based at the Racine Family YMCA.  Members are given the opportunity to make a difference in their community through environmental projects that improve the community.  Youth initiate their own projects or work with other local groups on their projects. 

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