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BLACK ACHIEVERS YOUTH PROGRAM

YOUTH PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Objective:  Plan the overall schedule of youth program activities throughout the program year (volunteers 1-year program commitment).  This committee governs the actual implementation of all youth programs (i.e. career clusters, world of work tours, socials, leadership, youth ensemble, college tour, etc.).  This committee meets every third Monday of each month.

CAREER CLUSTERS
Objective:  Plan (assign responsibilities) and execute program designed to enhance a youth’s understanding of his/her career aspiration.  Previous program year included a College Fair, “Future Technology-Computer 101”, “Meet the Professionals” Workshop and a Career Fair.

WORLD OF WORK TOURS
Objective:  To provide Greater Cincinnati African-American High School students with first hand information about the operations of local companies, with the goal of exposing the youth to career opportunities that may exist (1998-1999: Cinergy’s Bedford Plant, Firstar Bank, Cincinnati Financial, Hillshire Farm & Kahn’s, Sun Chemical, and ChoiceCare/Humana).  Past organizations also included Procter & Gamble, Harrison-Davis and Associates and many more.

YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT
This program encourages students to develop the skills of persuasive speaking, mediation, negotiation, cooperation and leadership. Students participate in Hi-Y Model Legislature in Columbus, serving as Supreme Court Justices, Senators and pages.  In preparation, students write legislation and prepare Supreme Court briefs.

YOUTH ENSEMBLE
Through involvement in the Youth Ensemble, youth in grades 8-12 have the opportunity of fellowship with other youth all over the Cincinnati area, as well as from other cities and states, and perform Gospel-oriented music.  Their participation will enhance self-esteem and confidence through singing, spiritual and social relationships.

COLLEGE TOUR
The YMCA Black Achievers 2002 Program year Spring Break College visited 9 colleges and universities emphasizing career readiness through education.  Student and college representatives conduct presentations designed to encourage academic excellence.  Institutions visited include Rust College, Mississippi Valley State, Alcorn State, Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, Florida A&M, Florida State, Edward Waters College and Bethune Cookman.

TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL
Volunteers in this program work with students in developing their ability to speak professionally in front of an audience.  The youth learn to develop speaking skills that will enable them to speak with confidence and poise.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP
The Youth Leadership Program is designed to do the following:

  • Provide an arena for youth to develop leadership skills
  • Enable youth to enhance leadership skills through practical application.
  • Train and develop leadership skills through retreats and conferences related to topics that impact young people.
  • Incorporate steps on how to become a successful leader.

Tangible benefits for the students that participate in the program include:

  • Gaining a better understanding of what it means to be a leader.
  • Exposure to successful leaders in the community.
  • Learning to take a team approach to solving problems.
  • Gaining a stronger competitive edge.
  • Succeeding without losing touch with their African-American roots.

Conferences attended included the Fall Leadership Conference, the Character Awards Banquet, Values Ski Conference, and the Blue Ridge Values Conference.

COMPUTER PROGRAM
This new program is designed to expose youth to all aspects of cybernetic/computer functions.  Youth are given opportunities to learn hands-on software programs (e.g. Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, etc.).

SPORTS PROGRAM
This new program concept is designed to expose youth to many aspects of sports (e.g. sports medicine, teamwork, intervals) and other sport driven opportunities.  Sport representatives such as lawyers, broadcasters, officials from the front office of the Bengals football team, etc., spoke with students regarding behind the scenes working of professional sports.

RECRUITMENT/ PARENT
Increases the involvement of area youth, alumni achievers and parents.  Presents information about the program to the community resources aimed at stimulating interest in the Black Achievers program.  This committee goes into area high schools to recruit youth achievers for the program year.

NEWSLETTER
Volunteers and youth publish at least 4 newsletters as a means of internal communication with youth, parents and achievers/volunteers.  The youth use their own creative ideas, research and methods to distribute a quality news and information-oriented publication.

KWANZAA SOCIAL
This program is designed to promote and understand the African-American culture.  Everyone is invited to this event to celebrate awareness, family values and pride.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
Each year we expand our traditional programming beyond the monthly clusters and workshops. The leadership of our adult volunteers in the past enabled us to develop and participate in the additional programs:

  • Black History Program
  • Holiday Social
  • Get Acquainted Picnic
  • Youth Weekend
  • Youth Gospel Explosion
  • Youth Speak Out
  • Youth Talent Show

WORKSHOPS
Objective:  Encourage achievers and parents to become involved in issue-oriented discussions and group dynamics.  Challenge participants, particularly the youth, to express their opinions through an open forum.  This committee meets as often as necessary to plan their particular workshop (usually 3-4 meetings).

Orientation Picnic:  This workshop serves as an orientation to new youth and adult participants.  It gives the youth the opportunity to review the various program options of Black Achievers.  It also allows youth to discuss their chosen career paths and sign up for various committee functions.   This is the first time the youth and adults actually get together to plan the program year.  The members of this committee usually meet 3-4 times to plan this major kick-off.

Communication Skills:  This workshop covers a variety of skills that are needed for the students to function effectively in schools, work and parental situations.  The areas covered include listening, speaking, interviewing, and completing applications.  This committee covers a large amount of information, which is usually presented in two separate workshops.  Each part of this committee meets 3-4 times for each part of the presentation.

Financial Aid:  This two-part workshop is aimed at orienting juniors and seniors and their parents to different colleges, scholarships and the grants that are available.  The committee actually assists the parents and students in filling out the forms.   This committee meets 3-4 times per workshop.

Black History: This workshop is designed to foster pride and a sense of self-worth and to instill cultural values.   It also teaches the contributions of African-Americans and Africans to the total society.  This committee normally meets 3-5 times to provide achievers with an informative and exciting workshop.

Entrepreneurial:   Designed to stimulate and increase the youth’s understanding of how to develop, manage and operate their own business.  This committee normally meets 2-3 times.

Leadership Retreat:  A limited number of youth will be chosen to experience various challenges of leadership development.   The retreat will be an overnight or weekend experience designed to enhance each youth’s own leadership abilities.  The committee meets as many times as necessary to plan the event.