Seeking Teachers to Mentor Des Moines Youth

Our Mentor Advantage Program matches local youth who have a particular career interest with adults who have skills and experience in that field. Mentors spend at least four hours a month with mentees, helping them explore their career options and working on volunteer service projects that develop leadership and social skills.   Two of the newest youths on our waiting list for mentor opportunities are female students who are very interested in teaching as a profession. If you have experience as a teacher, and you’d like to make a difference in the life of a student, please consider joining MAP as a mentor. For more information, contact Kelsey at kelsey@cyconcepts.org or...

uVoice Awards Two Grants

uVoice is a high school youth philanthropy board created in partnership between Community Youth Concepts and the Mid Iowa Health Foundation. Its mission is to be a board aimed at positively impacting the well-being of youth in central Iowa. This year’s board is comprised of 8 members from various high schools in Polk County. They learned how to assess needs in the community, design and award grants to address those needs, and participated in volunteer service projects throughout the community. This year’s uVoice’s grant application focused on reducing stress for youth in Polk County through the use of organic cbd edibles. Applicants had to demonstrate their efforts through activities that improve school climate, activities that ease the transitions between middle and high school and/or high school to college, promote a safe after school environment, or establish peer-to-peer mentoring. After receiving many grant applications, the students decided to grant their funds to Children’s Cancer Connection and Amanda the Panda. The uVoice students recognized that these organizations are making great strides in Des Moines and wanted to support their missions. The grant awarded to Children’s Cancer Connection will go toward a summer leadership camp, which the uVoice students will also support as volunteers. The Amanda the Panda grant will help create Cheer Boxes to brighten the holidays of families who have lost a loved one, and support suicide response teams which are sent to schools and various communities when they experience a suicide. uVoice empowers youth voices to directly combat the issues facing youth in our community. If you know a high school student in Polk County that would be interested in being apart of this unique opportunity, contact Tess Hunting for more information...

Sign up for Career Connect Fall 2015!

Career Connect registration is now open for Fall 2015. Students entering grades 6 through 12 are invited to register for an exciting three month series of college visits, local business tours, and service projects. Participants will network with local employers, get résumé help, and learn how to get the skills that will help them become job ready. Career Connect kicks off at CYC on July 30th, and events are held weekly through the end of September. Transportation to events is available, and students who attend eight events will receive a special gift! Sign-up for Career Connect is open through July 27. Reserve your spot today!...

Global Youth Service Day 2015

Planning for Global Youth Service Day 2015 is underway!  This year, GYSD is taking place April 17-19th.   GYSD is the largest service event in the world dedicated to children and youth.  It is celebrated in over 100 countries and we want to be sure Iowa is being loud and proud in doing their part by educating, encouraging, and providing service and service-learning opportunities to our youth.  Whether you are a teacher working with students in a classroom, an after-school program facilitator building external relationships and extended curriculum, or a community organization eager to engage with youth, GYSD is a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of service and to be a part of a state-wide movement impacting our communities immediately and enriching our youth forever. If you want to get involved planning a service project please contact anna@cyconcepts.org at Community Youth Concepts. Our friends at Youth Service America are offering Disney Friends for Change Grants of $500 to young change-makers.  This grant encourages them to gather their friends and turn their creative ideas to help their communities into projects taking place on or around Global Youth Service Day.  Whether protecting the planet, providing food to hungry people, helping other kids learn, or promoting healthy behaviors, Friends for Change help make their communities greener, safer, smarter, healthier, cleaner, and fairer. Youth ages 5-18 located in all 50 states and DC are eligible. Apply by February 18, 2015 to turn your idea from a dream into reality!  www.YSA.org/disney_friends_for_change_us_grants For more information visit Global Youth Service Day and Youth Service...

“What’s Your 50?” Volunteer Recognition Awards

Community Youth Concepts is excited to announce the launch of the “What’s Your 50?” youth volunteer recognition awards and the Youth of the Year Scholarship! Please pass along to qualified students and help us highlight the great volunteer efforts of youth in our state! Click here to access the requirements and application....