Community Youth Development

InitiativeCYDI

Presented by Rosemary Gass and Vicky Lovell

CYDI MissionCYDI (Community Youth Development Initiative) is an approach by which community members share responsibility for the success of all our young people.

Guiding Principles for our Work

Everyone in our community has strengths and can contribute to making our community a better place.As we build on our community’s strengths, we also recognize that there are needs and problems to be addressed.Youth and adults working together can create the nurturing place and necessary supports that will encourage youth to share responsibility for their community now and in the future.

HistoryChallenges to our community (deaths, poor reputation, lack of activities, need for relationship and awareness) Many groups are working separately to fix the same problem.Researched programs in Farmington, Howell, South Lyon, Jackson, and Ohio.Faith Medical is a successful example of a community working together for a common cause.

Who are the youth?Grades 5 – 8 : Foundation – Research shows initial drug use often takes place prior to age 13. Many of Pinckney’s severely addicted teens were using drugs before high school. This group must be reached to provide healthy alternatives prior to poor choices being made.Grades 9 – 12: Stable – These are the students who are making good choices, showing success in school and in life, and can be used as mentors to other students.Grade 9 – 12: Lost – These are the at-risk students who are showing a decline academically, are chronically absent, and are not connected. They need to be sought out and personally invested in to show they matter in our community.

Research A study done in 2010 by the Washtenaw County Public Health and Washtenaw Community Health Organization focusing on substance abuse indicators in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties found the following:

Livingston and Washtenaw Counties have the highest rate of marijuana initiation compared to other Michigan counties and nearly all of the United States.Livingston County youth initiate alcohol use at age of 13.3 years and marijuana at age 14, on average.The hours of 3pm – 6pm are when drug use amongst adolescents is the highest.

Youth who use marijuana are likely to have lower grades, say their teachers never or seldom notice when they do a good job, and never or seldom enjoy being at school. They feel disconnected.The Researchers clearly identified links between absenteeism and substance abuse. Tracking chronic absenteeism for individual students creates opportunity for identifying youth at risk of substance abuse.Livingston and Washtenaw Region has significant excesses regarding alcohol use and binge drinking compared to Michigan or the United States.

Earlier ages of first use are directly related to the risk of dependence, as well as the severity of dependence. Non-violent crimes performed by youth and young adults rates have quadrupled in the past 4 years.Academic achievement also predicts substance abuse. Students who grades continue to deteriorate are more likely to start using marijuana.Marijuana and alcohol are gateway drugs to more addictive and dangerous drugs such as heroine, cocaine, crack, and many other street drugs.

Intervention designed to delay age of first use must target youth in 4th/5th grade or younger.Increasing perceived risk may decrease substance use. Interventions to increased perceived risks need be implemented.There are many successful programs available to educate our youth and families: Project Northland, All Stars, ‘Parents Who Host, Lose the Most’, and peer mediation to name a few.

What exists for youth in Pinckney?

School and Community Athletic ProgramsSchool Intramurals and ClubsBand, Choir, Orchestra, DramaCommunity Education Classes and TheatreSeasonal Activities: Movies in the Park, Paintball, BMX Bike Trails, Lakeland TrailsChurch Youth GroupsIndividuals projects: D20 Coffee Shop, Art Lessons, Youth Bands, Nature Projects, etc.

What is missing for youth?

A place for youth to be connected for those who are not involved in organized athletics or clubsA location to do homework in the later evening with access to food and other peopleRecreational facilities: bowling alleys, movie theater, skate park, malls, shoppingA venue for concerts, poetry reading, comedians, special guests (Jane Tasch Auditorium exists but is not used as a place for youth to gather regularly)A place for teens to mentor other teens and to take ownershipA Pinckney-wide Community Youth Group with service opportunities for youth to ‘make a difference’

Who can help?Schools are already tapped of resources and are battling redistricting, layoffs, and other concerns. Other community members must step up.Four Main Pillars: Education, Business, Political, and Faith Community. These pillars working together can save lives.YOUTH – The youth can help the youth. There are amazing world changers in our community that are ready to make a difference.This MUST be a community-wide effort!

Goal: To Create a Community Youth CenterThis will be a center that spans the entire community and does not have only one physical location. There will be a main hub that interconnects the many components of this community-wide, “work in progress”, effort.The main hub will serve as a location for students to do homework, develop relationships, learn about events at various venues, and to take ownership of a place that is “theirs”.

Ideal LocationHamburg/Hell/Lakeland/Pinckney spans across approximately 12 miles. This makes it difficult to find one location that is the “perfect” location which is why we need multiple sites.To avoid having one location that creates its own culture and unintentionally excludes any persons, it is necessary to have multiple venues to provide a variety of activities to appeal to the needs of all youth. It makes fiscal sense to have a smaller main site to avoid having the overhead costs of a large facility.

A Community Working Together

The Hub/Main Site

Athletics – Legacy Center,

Community Clubs, HS Athletics

Musical Concerts – Churches,

Barns, Jane Tasch, Etc.

Outdoor – Laughing

Duck, Conservation

Club, Bike Park, Hells Survivors, Skate Park

Arts – Drama, Art, and Music

Lessons at Various

locations

Service – Mission and

Service Trips & Community

Service through local churches and

groups

Construction & Landscaping – Masons and HS classes, Builders and Landscapers

Locations considered for the main building

The LumberyardThe Pinckney Department of Public WorksThe former Pinckney Library (now Senior Center)The former Putnam Township Firehouse (not for sale)The former Stonehouse Café (now the Wild Indoors)The corridor between Navigator and Pathfinder SchoolsThe Old St. MaryKlave’s Marina Annex on Dexter-Pinckney RoadA property on Pettysville RoadA property on M-36 and Farley Roads

How will this center operate?

There will be Director who will oversee the operation of the Community Youth Center. The staff will be a trained volunteer staff comprised of dedicated community members. This is modeled after a program in Ohio that has tremendous success.Youth will take ownership and will be involved in every step of the center from the planning process, to marketing, to fundraising, to operations. The model CYDI program is a 5-10 year model program that clearly identifies how to roll out the center in the most effective manner (See CYDI Strategic Initiative).

Re-Create Pinckney Event

It is important to generate community support for this effort.There will be an event in May held at Pinckney High School to share the vision with the community. Community members will be able to sign up for steering committee positions, will be able to commit to helping with the center, and will be able to make financial contributions.L.E.A.D. Foundation is partnering as the non-profit group who will manage the finances of the center and will be involved in the success of the program.

Funding the Community Youth Center

Pinckney Palooza is an annual event that is hosted by St. Mary on the grounds of the church. It was initially created to provide a fun event for the residents in the area. St. Mary agreed to give all profits of this event to the Community Youth Center. This will require additional community help and support of this event to make it bigger to generate a higher revenue.Grant writing will be essential to secure additional monies.Community support from local businesses and individuals is key.Contact media outlets to show how a community is coming together to garner positive publicity for Pinckney and the Community Youth Center. Possible sponsorships may result.Have students involved in the fundraising process.

Next StepsContinue to meet with local businesses to personally invite them to support CYDI.Meet with leaders from each of the organizations that are willing to be venues for youth activities to set expectations.Launch the Re-Create Pinckney event to inform the community of our efforts and to get support from interested members and donors.Find a location for the main center.Secure funding to move forward.

“…speaking in truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” – Ephesians 4:15-16A building will not save a life, but a relationship within the walls of a building will.It’s time we go back to the basics and show compassion to our youth. After all, it is LOVE that transforms the human heart. Together we can “love” this community back into a place people are proud to call home.

Action Steps

Today we ask you to step up and become a CYDI partner.Advocate the development of CYDI.Support program activities.Refer others to join CYDI.Share your time, talents, and treasures.Consider a board or steering committee position.

Thank You!Questions and Answers

Contact InformationShalom Lutheran Church Attn: CYDI 1740 E. M-36, Pinckney, MI 48169Rosemary Gass - 734-330-3782 Vicky Lovell – 734-276-2682 CYDI e-mail – h2lpcydi@gmail.com