Strong Communities Development Programs
The Racine Family YMCA Strong Communities Agenda provides a range of programs designed to increase the strength and effectiveness of community life and improving local conditions, especially for youth in disadvantaged situations.
YOUNG LEADERS ACADEMY (YLA)
The African philosophy, "It takes a village to raise a child" explains the critical role parents, teachers, volunteers, donors, community members, and YLA members play in helping achieve our mission. There is not another program in Racine like the YLA. We are a member program with the goal of changing the attitudes of youth toward and empowering them to achieve success in school and life.
Members embark on the three components of the Young Leaders Academy between a two to six-year period, depending on when they start the program.
FIRST CHOICE PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
First Choice is a 6 week program focusing on Tools for Success as a prerequisite for construction concepts, road building and safety. In the Tools for Success curriculum emphasis is placed within the curriculum personal growth and development assets. Our experience is that employers value a candidate who brings time, stress, anger management and other employability skills to them while the prospective employer provides other skills in the building trades for successful careers
APPLICATION FORM
FOCUS ON FATHERS
Focus on Fathers is a multi-faceted fatherhood initiative that enhances the capacity of fathers to be positively involved in the lives of their children and their communities. There are afternoon and weekday sessions, young father mentoring, support groups, as well as workshops to interested organizations.
Through evidence based fatherhood, relationship, and early childhood development programming fathers learn principles of effective parenting and communication.
HEALTHY LIVING KITCHEN
Childhood obesity and food insecurity are serious challenges in low-income populations, disproportionately impacting the African American community. Over the past decades, sharp increases in overweight and obesity rates have occurred among African American and other ethnic groups, nationally and in Racine.
To address the issue of poor nutrition among low income youth in Racine’s inner city, the Racine Family YMCA is constructing a Healthy Living Kitchen to provide hot, nutritious meals free to 150 children and teens at least twice per week to start and eventually every school day, with a goal to introduce a free summer meal program. When completed, the Healthy Living Kitchen will also provide meals for the Food for Thought component of the Credible Messenger gang-diversion program funded by Racine County Human Services. Mentors and youth gather around the table to share a meal, bond and build trust, and discuss the day’s topics.
The Healthy Living Kitchen is made possible by the Mead Witter Foundation and the Ascension Foundation, with support from the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
