Project Grant 16VSSGA001

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT THROUGH LEARNING, LEADING, AND SERVING, INC.'S (YELLS) MISSION IS TO EMPOWER YOUTH TO RISE AS ACTIVE, HEALTHY, AND PRODUCTIVE SERVANT-LEADERS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, TUTORING, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TO YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE EDUCATION FOCUS AREA. THE ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH SERVED THROUGH THE PROJECT WILL COME FROM THE FRANKLIN GATEWAY COMMUNITY, A LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A DIVERSE POPULATION THAT FACES CHALLENGES OF INCREASED CRIME, LANGUAGE BARRIERS, AND MANY SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS. THE GOAL OF THIS VISTA PROJECT IS TO INCREASE OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO STRENGTHEN OUR SERVICES TO OUR OVER 100 YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE AREAS OF YOUTH EDUCATION, COMMUNITY MEMBER SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, UNITY AND VOICE. THREE VISTA MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT BY PERFORMING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS 1) VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND MANAGEMENT TO INCREASE TUTORING AND MENTORING SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES, 2) RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING TO DIVERSIFY YELLS'S FUNDING BASE FOR PROGRAM SERVICES THROUGH IDENTIFYING AND GENERATING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH NEW GRANT, FOUNDATION, AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS, AS WELL AS GENERATING MORE IN-KIND SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AND 3) MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS TO ENHANCE YELLS'S MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS INITIATIVES BY DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY DATABASE, ESTABLISHING MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION TOOLS, AND INCREASING SOCIAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES TO BETTER INFORM THE COMMUNITY SERVED ABOUT YELLS PROGRAM SERVICES. OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE VISTA PROGRAM THE CAPACITY OF YELLS WILL BE ENHANCED BY HAVING A MORE STRUCTURED VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, A LARGER VOLUNTEER POOL, A DIVERSE FUNDING STREAM (INCLUDING FINANCIAL AND IN-KIND ASSISTANCE), AND A MORE VISIBLE MARKETING PRESENCE. THROUGH THESE RESOURCES, YELLS WILL BE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN OUR SERVICES TO "AT RISK" YOUTH AND FAMILIES.