Program:
Extreme Green Youth Works
- Budget:
-
$72,000
- Category:
-
Youth Development
- Population Served:
-
Ethnic/Racial Minorities -- General
-
Children Only (5 - 14 years)
-
Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
Program Description:
The Programming: The green outdoors
Initiative
The green outdoors initiative is comprised of several
innovative low-cost, high-impact programs that combine a focus on healthy
eating, physical outdoor play, youth environmental awareness, and services to
the community that integrates each of these components.
The integrated approach that we take does not only address
food choices, because this is only half of the equation. We combine nutritional
education with outdoor play to increase children’s levels of physical activity while simultaneously
teaching them to be responsible environmental stewards of the green outdoors –
the place where they can harvest fresh, healthy food, play in safe, green
areas, and teach their families and neighbors to preserve the environment of
their community.
The Vision: At the green outdoors, we
envision neighborhoods with…
- “Children
at play”. We envision every urban community having at least one safe, clean, healthy,
and technology free green common area with playground equipment that
encourages brisk physical activity.
- “People
with their hands in the dirt”. We envision a community garden
collective where people can plant and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables,
donate a portion of these to the local food bank, sell a portion of these
to raise monies for the sustained greening of the community, and learn to
socially network with one another as neighbors, building the type of unity
and camaraderie that characterizes healthy communities.
- “Little
people teaching big people how to act, for a change”. We envision
developing such a passion in youth for environmental stewardship that each
one becomes an official “Youth Environmental Ambassador”, an outspoken
advocate who recognizes opportunities for conservation, evaluates the
impact of others’ activities on the environment, and evangelizes their
families, neighbors, and schools into the green movement.
- “Piles and
piles of trash on the corner”. We envision every urban community
having visible, easily-accessible recycling sites, which will encourage
the recycling of plastics, aluminum, paper, and technology within the
community, cutting down on waste and landfills.
The Mission of the green outdoors
Initiative
The mission of the green outdoors initiative is to engage
youth in green education that will help them become advocates of environmental
stewardship, mobilize youth to help bring their communities into the green
movement through gardening, recycling, conservation, beautification, and the
development of play areas, and to expose youth to a variety of outdoor
activities, including outdoor play, where they can increase their physical
fitness while developing a appreciation for the green outdoors.
Program Long-Term Success:
Long-Term
Outcomes / Impacts on the Urban Community
- Lower
obesity in children as a result of access to fresh fruits and vegetables
and consistent physical outdoor play and gardening activities
- Increased
level of wellness in adults as a result of immediate access to fresh
fruits and vegetables
- Safer,
healthier communities, as fewer environment-harming, polluting pesticides
are used on lawns, healthier cleaning products are used in homes, and
daily choices are made that result in less-damaging impacts on the
community’s environment
- Community-generated
revenue from the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables, which can finance
the continued “greening” of the community
- Increased
community pride as cleaner, healthier, mission-focused communities lead to
reduced deviance and lower crime rates
- Increased
levels of social responsibility in youth as they engage not only in
learning about the environment themselves, but engaging in service to
others in the community that helps them operate as responsible, green
citizens
- Increased
property values as a result of more conscious awareness of the need to
care for the community to keep it green, safe, and healthy
Program Short-Term Success:
Short-Term
Outcomes / Impacts on the Urban Community
- Increased
access to fresh, nutritional produce in urban communities (food deserts)
- Increased
self-sufficiency as a result of growing their own fresh fruits and
vegetables
- Increased
levels of environmentally responsible behaviors in urban schools and
neighborhoods through community workshops and hands-on green coaching
- More
attractive communities as a result of youth learning about environmental
stewardship and increasing the consciousness of others about what litter
and trash do to the environment and the community
- Youth
who think outside of themselves through engaging in helping behaviors and
service opportunities that help lead community citizens into the green
movement
- Increased
access to fruit and vegetables for food banks that serve depressed urban
communities, as some of the harvested produce are donated to these
agencies
- Increased
recycling behavior among community residents as visible, easily accessible
recycling stations are present within the community
Program Success Monitored by:
Short
Tem Measurement
and Evaluation
The SHORT TERM effectiveness of each aspect of the green outdoors initiative will be measured as a
function of the following:
- Number
of youth trained/educated in green behaviors monthly
- Number
of minutes youth are exposed to and engage in outdoor physical activity
- Number
of minutes youth work to beautify, clean up and care for the community
- Number
of community residents educated in green behaviors monthly
- Number
of community residents who implement a gardening or composting system
monthly
- Number
of community residents who have signed a pact to “go green”
- Hours
spent by youth and adults cultivating and maintaining community garden
- Pounds
of recycled materials collected at community recycling centers monthly
(including paper, plastics, etc.)
- Pounds
of produce harvested monthly through community gardens
- Pounds
of produce distributed monthly to local food banks
- Number
of youth enrolled in green programs/clubs in local schools
Long
Term
Measurement and Evaluation
The LONG TERM effectiveness of each aspect of the green outdoors initiative will
be measured as a function of the following:
- Health
screening results performed on youth when they enter the program and in 6
months increments after they enroll in the program
- Health
screening results performed on adults when they enter the program and in 6
month increments after they enroll in the program
- Number
of families that report the use of green pesticides, lawn agents, cleaning
agents, etc.
- Total
of funds generated from the sale of crops harvested from the community
garden
- Level
of positive regard for the community as reported on surveys disseminated
at the kickoff of the program and surveys disseminated each 6 months
- Parental
feedback on surveys that measure their youth’s level of altruism
- Average
property values of homes within the geographical boundaries served by the
program
- Level
of youth retention who remain with the program long term and who become
green ambassadors
Program Success Examples:
Measurement
and Evaluation Tools
The following tools will be utilized to measurement and
evaluation reports for the green
outdoors initiative:
- Pre-
and post-surveys
- Health
screenings that measure weight (obesity), blood pressure, cholesterol,
blood sugar, etc. (facilitated by trained health professionals)
- Sign-in
and sign-out logs
- Cash
receipts (sale of produce from garden)
- Attendance
forms (trainings, coaching, and seminars)
- Observation
by program facilitators
Program:
I Like Me
- Budget:
-
$50,000
- Category:
-
Youth Development
- Population Served:
-
Female Youth/Adolescents (14 - 19 years)
Program Description:
Program Description
I Like Me! is an offering
from Optimum Lifestyle CDC (OLCDC) that meet its vision and mission goals for
helping girls develop and maintain healthy relationships.
Adolescence marks a time of
rapid and intense emotional and physical changes. There is an increased value
placed on peer acceptance and approval, and a heightened attention to external
influences and social messages about cultural norms.
Social influences, however,
which include the media and popular/mainstream culture, may promote specific
images and standards of beauty and attractiveness that contradict good health
practices and one's ability to achieve a specific body type or image.
Although these messages permeate the whole of
society, including adolescent boys and girls, girls are often targeted by media
and social body image ideals and are more likely to suffer negative health
outcomes associated with body dissatisfaction.
OLCDC through the “I Like Me!
Girls… & Mom Day Camp” seize the opportunity to meet the needs of girls,
with the help of their mothers, to reach them before negative behaviors begin.
We believe mother~daughter relationships can easily be strained during this
time of transition into maturity, therefore, bonding and intentional
involvement of mothers, in the life of her daughter(s), is not only necessary
but vital. Encouraging and supporting one another is what helps build the wall
against outside, negative influences. Many times the struggle with positive body
images and media influence tells us we’re not good enough to be a model. Realizing
that a large number of girls and women, at one time, dreamed of being a model,
OLCDC celebrates each girl… and her mom by giving them the opportunity to “be a
model for a day” and walk the runway! “I
Like Me!” Day Camps cover the following:
q Accessories and Mommy
Makeover in 5 Minutes (mom's only)
q How To Put Your Best
Face Forward, Naturally (mom's and daughters)
q Diva's On the Move (mom's and daughters exercise and fun)
q Secrets of the Male
Mind by Men Who Were Once Boys" Men's Panel Dialogue/Q
& A
q I Like Me! A dialogue on Bullying, Facebook/Online Safety (mom's and daughters)
q Do I Talk? - encouragement of mother/daughter bond - last
10 minutes of class write, "What I like about my Mom" (daughters only)
q Do I Listen? - encouragement of mother/daughter bond - last
10 minutes of class write, "What I like about my Daughter(s)" (mom's only)
q General Assembly/Dialogue (mom's
and daughters affirm each other)
q A Look at Literacy
& Money Chat" (mom's and daughters)
q Mother~Daughter
Model-For-A-Day Showcase (mother~daughter ‘walk
the runway’)
I Like Me!. meetings take place monthly. The
sessions are led by staff and volunteers. In addition, community service
projects are embedded in the program, thus helping girls understand the
importance of giving back to the community. Enrichment opportunities such as
trips and other formal “I Like Me!” showcases will be offered periodically.
Last, but not least, ongoing support is available to leaders and mentors
for successful implementation of the program. “I Like Me!” events can
take place at schools, churches, youth homes, and community
centers.
Group Meetings
consist of
·
Literacy
·
Esteem
and Beauty Tips
·
Image
Consulting
·
Relationship
Coaching
·
Money
Management
·
Talent
Development
·
Accountability
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples: