by Alicia Vermeer | Jan 22, 2015 | Awards, News, Opportunities
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....
by Alicia Vermeer | Jan 22, 2015 | News
 “Life’s most persistent and nagging question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr On MLK Day, over 60 youth and adults gathered at the CYC offices to answer this exact question. Some assembled and painted birdhouses or made garden stepping stones, while others distributed coats, hats, and gloves to neighborhood youth as part of our partnership with King Elementary. As we gear up for 2015, we invite you to consider how you might answer Dr. King’s question. Please consider joining our work. For more information on how to get involved, please check out our website, contact us, and keep reading. All our best, CYC staff Click on the link below to continue to read our December newsletter:...
by Alicia Vermeer | Jan 20, 2015 | Uncategorized
In celebration of the 2015 Mentoring Day at the Capital, all seven of Des Moines’ certified mentoring programs are joining forces to launch a new initiative aimed at increasing quality mentors for area youth. The “Be a Mentor†initiative is aimed at reaching adults interested in making a positive difference in young lives by volunteering to work with Des Moines youth on basic life skills like decision making, healthy choices, increasing academic success and exploring post-high school opportunities. On Thursday, January 22, a new website, BeaMentorDSM.org, will be launched to help potential mentors navigate their options. CYC is happy to be a part of such a powerful movement! Our Mentor Advantage Program will also be present on Thursday for Mentoring Day at the Capitol to speak on the many benefits of youth mentoring. If you have any questions please contact Anna Wernimont at 515-243-4292 or info@beamentordsm.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! Be a Mentor Des Moines and @Mentor_DSM. ...
by Alicia Vermeer | Jan 13, 2015 | Uncategorized
Community Youth Concepts is proud to celebrate National Mentoring Month this January and we would like to recognize our life- changing mentors who give their time through our Mentor Advantage Program, or better known as MAP. Mentoring, when done right, has been shown to give young people the tools necessary to make responsible decisions and avoid risky behavior. The mentoring effect can be a powerful factor in reducing the number of youth disconnected from school and work, in increasing social and economic mobility, and in creating more productive and prosperous communities. MAP is designed to connect students ages 12-17 with mentors in their career field of interest, to build 21st century career-readiness skills, improve academics, and provide support to guide them towards their future success. Students are matched with one adult who shares their passions and can expose them to new and exciting career opportunities. CYC would not be where it is today without the immense help of our volunteers who share their talents with our students. One of our mentees shared that “without (my) mentor, I never would have thought about going to college. She showed me how I can schedule my classes around my work schedule and still graduate on time. “ People who volunteer as a mentor will often tell you they feel rewarded by being someone who matters. They say they have learned a lot about themselves, and feel an improvement in their self-esteem, confidence and communication skills. If you are excited about changing the life of a young person in your community, please contact Kelsey Tyrrell at kelsey@cyconcepts.org and join the...
by Alicia Vermeer | Dec 23, 2014 | Check this out!, News
Below are the initial plans for our downstairs renovation at our CYC offices! CYC has been chosen for the 2014-2015 Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute project. The space will be converted into a “youth enrichment center” with computers, reading nooks, artwork displays, and fun! We are very excited about this opportunity! If you would like more information, a tour, or would like to get involved please contact our director Amy Croll at amy@cyconcepts.org. Stay tuned for further...
by Alicia Vermeer | Dec 3, 2014 | News
Did you know CYC is currently partnering to evaluate the impact of youth engagement in service learning on academic outcomes? Preliminary results from CYC’s pilot group for this research shows that 73% of youth who participated in service learning had an improved GPA. Additional data expanding on these findings will be available at the end of this academic year. During this month of “thanks” we are reminded of the village of supporters who have been a part of CYC’s journey to empower, equip, and engage youth across Iowa. To the more than 200 donors and allies of our work, we resoundingly say “Thank you!” Because of your support we are able to connect with more than 4,000 youth annually and help prepare them for ongoing success in school, work, and life. If you would like to learn more about CYC and how you can get involved, please contact us! Best regards and Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Below is a link to rest of our November Newsletter.  See what’s happening at CYC!...
