Hey everyone!
The 1City Youth Project in NYC (Bedford-Stuyvesant) is in need of volunteers starting September, 2009. The organization serves between 50-100 kids (grades 4 to 12) annually, providing free activities on Saturdays. The group has even branched off and created its own fraternal organization to house the kids who have aged out of the program or adults who want to be part of something that is community service oriented. The group recently became incorporated as Sigma Theta Rho and they are mostly responsible for running 1City on a weekly basis. Even with these members pitching in, they are often outnumbered by the kids.
Here are the types of projects that they need volunteers for --
COACHES: For flag football, basketball, cheerleading and step
TEACHERS: For hip-hop dance, praise dance, drama, fashion design
TUTORS: To help kids with their homework and study for examinations
TEAMS: To help plan various events. The group is entering its 20th year of service and needs help planning a series of events that will reunite members who have come through the program since its inception in 1990.
FUNDRAISERS: The program provides all of these clubs, but is not funded. Groups can elect to fundraise for the organization or for specific groups within the organization.
GENERAL: To help update their website; chaperone kids on trips; help reach more kids; conduct workshops for youth and parents.
Although they need consistent volunteers, they also take groups who can help "once in a while". The talent of committed volunteers is what helps them develop more comprehensive programming. For example, if someone wants to volunteer consistently and start a double-dutch team, they can do that.
The group is also looking into expanding into other boroughs.
If anyone is interested, please visit their website at
www.1cityyouth.org. You can also visit their MySpace page at
www.myspace.com/1city2007. Contact information may be found there.