YMCA of Greater Dayton One of Only Twelve to be Awarded IMPACTPLUS Grant
For Immediate Release
Contact: Rachael Mainord, Marketing and Communications Director
Phone Number: 937.223.5201
Fax Number: 937.223.3997
YMCA of Greater Dayton One of Only Twelve to be Awarded IMPACTPLUS Grant
May 13, 2005- The YMCA of Greater Dayton, in collaboration with East End Community Services, has recently been awarded the IMPACTPLUS Grant. The YMCA of Greater Dayton was one of only 12 YMCAs in the region to receive this grant.
IMPACTPLUS is a three year project aimed at helping young people use technology to leverage their participation in civic life. The project allows YMCA of the USA and its partner, Mighty Media Inc., to educate and train youth/teen serving staff, teens, and community partners in 21 st Century skills like media, technology, video production, collaboration, effective writing and critical thinking. IMPACTPLUS also leverages recent YMCA of the USA projects focused on service-learning, civic engagement, asset development and technology. The IMPACTPLUS grant is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Time Warner Foundation and the YMCA of the USA.
A key component of the IMPACTPLUS project is a planning process called resource mapping. Through the resource mapping process, young people begin to create a common understanding of their community and create a graphic representation of the areas resources and the challenges it faces. This is the starting point for deliberation and then action, and when conducted within the framework of appreciative inquiry, can inspire and motivate young people to find solutions to issues which the teens themselves have decided are important.
A team of five individuals, including two youth, will represent the YMCA and East End Community Services at a resource mapping retreat in Columbus, Ohio later this month. The two youth selected to be on this committee are Zac Sideras, a Junior at Fairmont High School and Robin Kane, a Freshman at Sinclair Community College. Both youth were selected based on their involvement with the YMCA and other community organizations, their dedication to making a difference in the community, and their leadership abilities. YMCA representatives are Jennifer Mueller, Director of Teen Leadership, and Steve Gill, Director of Community Development. The East End Community Services representative is Jeff Cartwright, Youth Program Director.
For more information about this grant, visit www.impactplus.org.