Community Youth Concepts

Community Youth Concepts (CYC) is a community-driven organization dedicated to offering volunteer service opportunities and career-based mentoring to youth and adults in Iowa. CYC aims to enhance participants' future success as students, professionals, and engaged community members.

Mission

Vision

Community Youth Concepts’ mission is to engage and connect Iowa students through youth development programming and to provide coaching, training, and technical assistance in best practices to youth-serving non-profits.

Community Youth Concepts’ vision is an Iowa where all youth have access to high-quality opportunities that prepare them for success in school, work, and life.

Our Guiding Principles

We respond to and address the needs of youth and the community.
We operate according to best practices and share them with others through effective training and technical assistance models.
We include youth whenever possible in the decision-making process.
We assess all programs we provide on a regular and ongoing basis, incorporating a continuous improvement process based on sound data.
We are cognizant of our fiscal responsibilities and are good stewards of our funds.

Youth sitting in a circle for a group game.

Youth working together using PVC pipes for a group activity.

Youth together at Neal Smith for a field trip.

Meet the CYC Team

Our dedicated team collaborates closely with schools across the metro area, empowering students with essential life skills for success in school and beyond. From fostering leadership and critical thinking to promoting creativity and resilience, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of confident, capable leaders. Meet the faces behind our mission, each driven by a shared commitment to youth development and community enrichment.

Executive Director

Alicia Vermeer

My favorite part of being part of CYC is getting the opportunity to provide spaces for youth to practice skills that they need to succeed in school, work, and life. CYC also believes in the power of community and that no matter what age you are - you have the ability to make a positive impact in your community. You are needed, you are loved, you belong.

Click here to email Alicia.

Lead Facilitator

Jane Jeffries

I love the diversity of groups we work with at the Stowe Heights Challenge Course. One of my favorite aspects of our programming is the emphasis on building connections with others and ourselves. We also help participants achieve personal, educational, or professional goals through intentional play.

Click here to email Jane.

Operations Manager

Julie Cackler

One of my favorite things about my role at CYC is seeing how staff, students, and the youth development community as a whole grow and adapt to the needs around them. Whether it is a year long student group, or a group we only see at Stowe Heights for a few hours, staff, participants, and volunteers have the opportunity to learn more about themselves and support those around them.

Click here to email Julie.

Program Coordinator

Stella Seney

The two things I love most about working at CYC are getting to help kids through fun, engaging activities and getting to work with the wonderful staff. I am constantly impressed by the new and interesting ideas, activities, and programs that CYC comes up with to help kids overcome obstacles and prepare for their futures. And my coworkers are all extremely passionate, kind, and easy to talk to!

Click here to email Stella.

Program Facilitator

Brianne Messer

One thing I love about working at CYC is the connections I'm able to make with students. Knowing that there are students who see me as someone they can trust and that will support them means a lot and makes me feel like I'm making a difference in a young person's life. It's also amazing seeing how students grow throughout the years that they are involved in CYC programs.

Click here to email Brianne.

Senior Program Facilitator

Cierra Krauss

Working at CYC, my greatest joy is witnessing young people collaborate to achieve goals and develop skills. It's incredibly fulfilling to watch the youth we support thrive and grow through our programs each year.

Click here to email Cierra.

Development Manager

Joie Otting

One thing I love about working at CYC is hearing youth in our programs walk away with really valuable and meaningful insights about what they've experienced and learned. Our facilitators do a great job creating a space where youth feel comfortable reflecting on their experiences on a really deep level. It shows that each lesson and experience is directly connected to their real, day to day lives.

Click here to email Joie.

Director of Programs

John Soener

It always brings me joy to see the growth in our students. Whether it's our students in year-long, school-based programs learning about and finding ways to support their communities or seeing a student at Stowe Heights overcome their fear on the ropes course, that type of positive development is what we're all about at CYC. I feel lucky to be a part of our students' journeys.

Click here to email John.

Program Facilitator

Micah Spurlock

I love working at CYC because regardless of whether we're at the ropes course, a classroom, or running portables, I get to see the students in an environment that they aren't typically in, stepping outside of their comfort zones to complete challenges, and learning how to serve their community and themselves.

Click here to email Micah.