Youth Organizations Coalition: a Network of Orgs and Services

The MISSION of Youth Organizations Coalition (YOC) is: to network and collaborate with youth organizations to provide integrated services and more effectively assist children on their path to become successful adults.  YOC was launched in the Volusia County area of Florida to work with and coordinate the efforts to support the emotional and educational development of children and young adults. Our priorities are:

1. The first order of business is to identify the organizations in the area that provide youth services. If you are a Non-Profit organization providing such services to youths, please make sure to contact us and join our coalition.
2. Calendar of Events. We are building a calendar of events among member organizations so it is easy for parents, teachers and school administrators to identify upcoming activities and events that are outside of the normal school schedules.
3. In addition to providing a network of organizations and events, the YOC is committed to working diligently to promote the best environment for youth development. 

Please check the list of organizations that provide youth services, and let us know which organizations we are missing. Also, if you represent a youth organization, join our coalition to provide better, more integrated services to our youths. In the wise words  by Michael Masser & Linda Creed: "We believe the Children are our Future, Teach them well and let them Lead the Way." (Made famous by Whitney Houston.)

 

Microsoft Re-Imagining Edu: Virtual Open House Nov 7 at 10am EST

 Microsoft is offering a Virtual Open House on November 7 from 10:00 til 2:00 EST.

This is a free event with separate breakout sessions for Parents, Teachers or Students. That's right, the price is right: Free!

Please use the following link to learn more and complete your registration: aka.ms/ReimagineEDU (Description below.)

Here are the key flyer pages for the event and for each of the breakout sessions.

MORE ABOUT THE EVENT 

All educators, parents, and students welcome on November 7th for a FREE Education Open House Event!

About this Event

The National Edu. Open House will be a live, FREE full-day virtual experience, open to all K-12 educators, parents, and students, taking place on Saturday, November 7th, 2020, EST.

Please use the following link to learn more and complete your registration: aka.ms/ReimagineEDU

Attendees will have the opportunity to take part in a diverse agenda of free and unique experiences including motivational keynote presentations, focused breakout sessions, and interactive workshops. These sessions will address the immediate needs and challenges that educators, students, and families are facing by showcasing topics such as:

• Innovative Educational and accessibility tools to create an inclusive classroom
• Bold new ways to energize remote lessons for students
• Best practices for effective virtual communication
• Realistic tips for maintaining school/work/life balance
• Important guides for improving physical and mental health during remote learning

Be sure to note that we are also offering incredible workshop experiences specifically for students as well, featuring “snackable lessons” on everything from Minecraft coding to editing with 3D Mixed Reality!

We personally invite you to join us for this enriching educational opportunity! Early registration is now open, and we encourage you to please pre-register online now by clicking the following link: aka.ms/ReimagineEDU

Please email edu2020@service.microsoft.com with any questions or concerns. Thank you in advance, and we greatly look forward to having you at Microsoft’s Re-Imagining Education Virtual Open House to help motivate and support you through your entire educational experience!

Online Events Online Classes Online Family & Education Classes #education #teacher #students #mental_health #remote_work #parent_education #remote_learning #teacher_training #stem_education #microsoft_teams_training

 

Planning and Compliance for Non-Profit Youth Organizations

Want to review your planning and compliance as a Non-Profit (NP)? 

Hall and Hinkelman have an article on IntellZine.com about the planning process for small businesses non-profit organizations. Figure 1 (from the Perpetual Innovation™ book series) shows the planning process for any company throughout the year. It concentrates on the best time to plan because that is the one time of the year that organizations must complete their financials and do their tax filings. This would be the end of December for a company that has a fiscal year matching the calendar year. However, many youth organizations match their fiscal year with the school year, often ending the fiscal business year on June 31. This article offers several excellent sources for information on planning for small organizations and checklists for non-profits (to maintain compliance). Here are the top three resources:

• Small Business Administration Resources: www.SBA.gov
• Small Business Administration 10-Steps to Start a Business.
• SCORE’s Checklist for Non-Profit Organization Startup.

Compliance. Tax Filings are critical as well as doing the required board meetings according the state of incorporation. All organizations need to meet these basic requirements to be in compliance with the governing laws. IRS.gov has a searchable database of charities that qualify for charitable tax deductions, so NPs need to maintain that qualified status. A NP needs to maintain tight monetary controls, clear accounting, and separation of programs. Grants require clear and timely reporting to assure that moneys are appropriately spent.

Metrics. This article discusses metrics which are different for Non-Profits (NPs). Although the concepts apply somewhat, there are no profits and losses. Still, if expenses exceed income over time, a NP has to close (or go bankrupt). If revenues exceed expenses, there is an accumulation of assets that will help the organization toward accomplishing its goals of providing charitable services. Donors and grants look at metrics such as administrative expenses. There are three key databases that potential givers use to select (or reject) charities; a NP needs to gather that information and present in grant applications and promotional materials. Even small and extremely local NPs need to follow best practices. If a metric does not look good, it might be the nature of your specific non-profit, and can be explained; or a poor metric may signal the critical need for improvement. Three key databases are:

• CharityNavigator.org ranks charities within particular categories. This is the most important site for someone considering which causes to select for charitable giving.
• GuideStar.org does a deeper dive into the non-profit including reporting, officers and programs.  
• Give.org, by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, provides a Better Business Bureau type of list for complaints about Non-Profit organizations. Use this source carefully. A very large national or international organization might have thousands of complaints but only a tiny fraction of all customers served.

A small organization, and all Non-Profits, need to be very efficient in their allocation of time for planning and utilizing the planning process for better management. Break the planning process into four quarters culminating in a business plan (and budget) for next year that is completed about the end of the fiscal year. The first quarter (1^st Qtr) is when the plan is implemented, so it is a scramble with no time for strategic planning. Organizations involved with youth services would think of this as the hectic beginning of the school year. That leaves the 2^nd Qtr and 3^rd Qtr for longer term planning and the evaluation of new products and services.

Build a calendar of the planning year, and checklists. Life for any small organization, especially non-profits that are often running on a shoestring budget, can be very chaotic. The trick is to be very efficient in your planning and managing so as to make more order to your youth organization and, therefore, to the youths you serve.

What timeline do you use for your NP? What resources? What checklists? 

CATALYST Summer Literacy and Leadership Academy 2020 (Virtual Online)

CATALYST has offered a 6-week academy during the summers for several years. Historically, the programs were at several Volusia schools and they included field trips. Some things have changes in 2020: the sessions are virtual over the Internet, and there are no field trips. But, learning, leadership, literacy and personal growth must go on. It is more important now than ever.

Background. Education research supports that student-centered learning must be engaging, socially-culturally relevant and dynamic for youth to learn and retain information. Developmental research show that extending the learning opportunities into the summer result in far better performance and retention.  Since there is less emphasis on the social and emotional development of children by schools and parents there is a need for youth programs to include self-development, employment readiness and leadership skills.

Solution. The Summer Academy is student-centered summer program designed for 50 children in 5^th through 9^th grades. Schedule is daily for 6-weeks (weekdays from 8a.m. to 2:30 p.m.).  The Academy is designed to improve literacy (the current literacy in Volusia County is 60%), writing, speaking skills and self- development. The program is fast paced, fun and engaging.  It was initially designed for underserved, under-achieving, student populations: African-Americans, Latinos and the poor; however, it benefits all youth.  The program uses culturally, historically and socially relevant books.  The students create illustrations, songs, dances, prose, write speeches and dramatizations based on lessons; and they lead discussions relevant to their readings and experiences.  All the books read are provided to the students to take home, so students will each receive 6 books by the end of the Academy. There is no charge for the academy.

The self- development and leadership component of the academy comprises of daily seminars, demonstrations and activities provided by speakers from various trades and industries (colleges/construction/technology/entrepreneurs/energy/hospitality/manufacturing). Students will hear from community leaders, motivational speakers and professionals. The program is designed to enhance self-esteem, confidence, communication skills, conflict resolution skills, self-control, community engagement, critical thinking and career choice (just to mention a few things).  In addition, there are daily STEM instruction/activities, conversational Spanish, wellness and health and fitness activities. This is fast-paced, dynamic and experiential learning program. This is the only Summer Leadership Academy of this type in Volusia County.

Fortunately, this program is in the fourth year. This year the Academy will be completely virtual.

Target Audience: Age 10-14 (Grades 5 to 9)

Dates:  Monday June 15, 2020 through Friday July 24, 2020 (excluding July 3^rd)

Note: Even if the 6-week program has started, check to see if there is still space available. Each week is a new book and a new program.

Times:  Monday - Friday 9:00am to 2:30pm.

Price: FREE to students. (Thanks for sponsors and many volunteers!)

Geographic Area: Volusia County, Florida (virtual program in Summer 2020.)

Web site: www.MentoringForGreatness.org (Application information)

MISSION:

Literacy & Leadership (L&L) Mission: To enhance literacy skills and experiential learning of youths and to develop leadership skills with an appreciation for community.

TOPICS/ACTIVITIES:

Fitness Challenges, Self-Development, Creative Writing, Creative Projects, Rap/Animation/Videos, Digital Literacy, Self-Directed Math, Coding, STEM, Social Impact, Debates, Conversational Spanish, Virtual Tours

Awesssssome Speakers and Demonstrations.

The EPIC Pod cast of The CATALYST Channel.

Get the edge on others who are not doing anything for the summer.

Leaders are readers, and

Scholars make Dollar$!

Dream BIG! Work Hard! No Excuses!

#CATALYSTMentoring #CATALYSTLeadershipAcademy #Mentoring4Greatness #LeadersAreReaders #DreamBIG #LeadBIG

 

ACTS Mentoring for Young Ladies

ACTS is a group mentoring program for girls 8-18.  The girls work together and have the opportunity to strengthen their social and emotional skills.  The challenges of working with others allows for the development of time management, communication and problem solving skills. 

ACTS stands for “a candle to shine” which is taken from Matthew 5:16.  The mentors are Christian women who have been background checked. Mentees are given opportunities to volunteer in the community and serve others in need.  

ACTS strives to be a proactive program focused on exposing our young ladies to positive experiences in art, culture, education and recreational activities. Through the use of speakers from the community, workshops and field trips our young ladies gain a better perspective of the world and the opportunities available to them when they chose activities in alignment with God’s best for them.

Target Audience: Young Ladies 8-18, female only

Program Size:    minimum 5 to maximum 15

Geographic Area: Volusia County, Florida (Possible exceptions for virtual programs.)

Web site: www.acaringcommunity.com

FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ACTS-Mentoring-Program-119353541487330/

Hashtag: #ACTSmentoring

MISSION:

It is ACTS organizational mission is to provide mentoring support for the young women in our program, so that they will let their light shine and know that they have unique gifts that can be celebrated.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:

Our program runs during the school year (August – May). Check with our website or our Facebook page for updated information.

MEETING TIMES:  

Saturdays, twice a month from 10-12pm.  Parents drop off and pick up.  Mentees are provided lunch.