Todays Youth Matter

TODAY'S YOUTH MATTER IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SEEKS TO ACTIVELY TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF URBAN YOUTH THROUGH YEAR ROUND PROGRAMMING, MENTORSHIP AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS.

2024 HAS BEEN A TRANSFORMATIVE YEAR FOR TYM -- GUIDING ELEMENTARY-AGE CHILDREN, THEIR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS, AND OUR EXPANDING STAFF AND TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS (MENTORS & CAMP COUNSELORS) THROUGH A MEANINGFUL JOURNEY. WE WERE DEEPLY GRATEFUL THAT COVID INCIDENCES AND RESTRICTIONS REMAINED LOW, ALLOWING US TO MAINTAIN OUR ANNUAL SUMMER CAMP FACE-TO-FACE FOR ANOTHER AMAZING YEAR. THIS SUMMER'S CAMP HOSTED 62 BOYS AND 53 GIRLS FROM AGES 7-12 YEARS OLD. FOR MANY OF OUR CHILDREN -- EVEN THE ELEMENTARY-AGE ONES -- CAMP IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO "JUST BE A KID" WITHOUT THE WEIGHT OF TRAUMA, CRISES, AND SOCIAL ILLS FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES. MANY OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES AT HOME TO HELP CARE FOR YOUNGER SIBLINGS OR WITH HOUSEHOLD CHORES. WHILE AT CAMP, DAILY LIFE IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CAREFREE, FULL OF ADVENTURES, SKILL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND PURE PLAY. IN OUR SURVEY OF CAMPERS AT THE END OF CAMP, THE TOP THREE FAVORITE EXPERIENCES WERE: CABIN TIME, SWIMMING AT THE POOL, AND HIGH ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES. CABIN TIME TAKES PLACE EACH EVENING WHEN EACH CABIN TEAM GATHERS TOGETHER TO REFLECT ON ALL THAT THEY LEARNED AND EXPERIENCED THAT DAY. THE CONVERSATION CAN BECOME VERY INTIMATE AS THE CHILDREN AND LEADERS GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER AND BUILD DEEPER LEVELS OF TRUST. ZIPLINING ON THE HIGH ADVENTURE COURSE PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN TO EXPAND POSSIBILITIES BY STRETCHING THEIR COMFORT LEVELS AND EXPERIENCING HEALTHY RISK-TAKING. FOR CHILDREN WHO FACE DAILY CHALLENGES DUE TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND OVERSTRETCHED AND UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOLS, TYM HAS A THERAPEUTIC EFFECT WITH A FOCUS ON HIGH-QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS AND ADULT LEADERS.

"THRIVE!-4-KIDS" IS A SMALL GROUP MENTORING PROGRAM WHERE TWO ADULT MENTOR COACHES ARE MATCHED WITH 6-8 CHILDREN IN GRADES 2ND-6TH. EACH OF THESE "POD" TEAMS MEETS WEEKLY TO EXPLORE REAL-LIFE TOPICS THAT BUILD SKILLS AND MINDSETS THAT INCREASE EACH CHILD'S RESILIENCE. WE KNOW OUR UNDERSERVED CHILDREN HAVE FACED AND WILL CONTINUE TO FACE MANY CHALLENGES. WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN INCREASE THEIR RESILIENCE AND ABILITY TO FACE AND BOUNCE BACK FROM THESE DAILY CHALLENGES BY INVESTING IN THEM IN FIVE KEY FACETS: SPIRITUAL, CHARACTER, FAMILY, ACADEMIC, AND LEADERSHIP.

GENERAL PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF THE ONES MENTIONED ABOVE INCLUDE MONTHLY COMMUNITY CULTIVATION FAMILY EVENTS, ANNUAL EVENTS SUCH AS PLAY DAYS IN THE PARK, FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY, AND OUR SPRING MOVE-IT-4-YOUTH PROGRAM & FUNDRAISING EVENT. IN 2023 AND 2024, THESE PROGRAMS WERE EXECUTED SAFELY AND SUCCESSFULLY, ADAPTING AS NECESSARY DUE TO ONGOING HEALTH CONCERNS WITH NO INCIDENTS.