Youth to Youth
Alumni are uniting to save the valuable teen leadership program
By Brande Urban |
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Two months ago, national teen-based non-profit, Youth to Youth, discovered they would lose 86% of their funding by December 31st due to economic cutbacks from the Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Board. The organization, a Christian-based drug prevention/leadership program for middle and high school students who want to make a positive impact in their communities, has been funded primarily by ADAMH for over 27 years; now the well-known advocacy group's leadership and staff are working hard to ensure that their valuable programs aren't lost forever. Y2Y staffers are diligently working to locate grants and corporate sponsorships. Current teen members are using grassroots efforts to raise money, and have even written Oprah and Ellen Degeneres for assistance. But it was an alumni group of past participants, friends, and family members, the Friends of Youth to Youth, who sprang into action like superheroes.
Local Programs Coordinator Jaime Burke clasps her hands to her heart with pride as she speaks of their efforts.
"ADAMH gave us no time to find sustainable funds and these people are working to get us through to find that sustainable funding. It's a very unselfish act," she said. "They aren't directly benefiting in any way, just the current and future teens."
Vital year-round programming is in danger of being lost to all Franklin County teens. Everything Youth to Youth provides is uniquely teen-centered and teen-guided, including weekly Youth Advisory Board meetings, local safe and drug-free events, school programming as well as training in leadership, public speaking, environmental impact, and violence prevention, including programs that address dating aggression and bullying.
Children from Youth-to-Youth
Burke adds, "Anything that is important to teens we try to offer. We work with every type of teen demographic and sub-culture. This program crosses genders, races, ages, socio-economic status, and schools," she said. "Teens not only work together, but actually befriend one another."
"I would've been another statistic if hadn't been for Youth to Youth," says 1998 Columbus Alternative and Y2Y Alumnus, Jermaine Mitchell. "I was on the wrong path, driving fast with no brakes: carrying guns, selling weed. Y2Y made me feel valued."
"It is my chance to give back to a program that gave me so much . . . confidence, self esteem, self acceptance, not to mention training. Being involved with Youth to Youth is also where I met some of the best friends I've ever had - and still have to this day. Every teen should be so lucky," confirms 1989 Gahanna-Lincoln and Y2Y Alumnus Michelle Schroeder.
Every Monday night, Friends of Y2Y gather to develop and implement strategies for a campaign to fundraise their alumni goal of $100,000. This goal will not save Youth to Youth in its entirety, but will help carry on its programming as it works on acquiring sustainable and renewable funds.
Comfortable conversation floods each meeting as alumni divide themselves up, similar to how they did as high school members, into committees. Words like, "membership drives", "eblasts," and "house parties" float through the air as people breathe them in and out. Chewing on them, they exhale what they feel others outside the meeting will respond to positively. Plans for a December 4th comedy and music fundraiser are coming to fruition. Several alumni, now comedians themselves, will donate their time and find others in the Columbus community to help out.
Burke hopes this adds to a greater awareness of Youth to Youth.
"This is an asset; a jewel for our community. We're a national model started right here in Central Ohio. We've been recognized by four U.S. Presidents! I hope Columbus sees the pride in these alumni, our staff, and our teens and want to help out."
Whether you are an alumnus of the program or someone interested in helping the Friends of Youth to Youth, you can check out www.youthtoyouth.net for more information.
Originally Published: November 1, 2009
