New web resource for youth!
We are excited to invite youth, parents, mentors and organizations to utilize www.helpempoweryouth.com to find resources and information about organizations, events and activities going on around the County for youth.  We have printed post card announcements to give out to young people and post around the community.  Let us know if you would like a few to spread the word in your area. 

* If you have a newsletter, please consider adding this announcement about www.helpempoweryouth.com :

Find out what is going on for youth - www.helpempoweryouth.com
The Windham County Youth Initiative is pleased to invite you to visit their exciting new web site, www.helpempoweryouth.com , which has been developed as a central place where parents, mentors, young people and organizations can find out what's happening for kids in Windham County.  Check out the special events calendar, a list of ongoing activities and the organizations that provide them.  There is also information about local and online resources for young people and families.  Please visit the web site at school, in the library or at home to see all the great activities happening to help empower youth!

Film production in full swing

We are in the midst of creating our second film about young people in our community and how adults can better support them.  This film is focusing on young people ages 10 through 13. 

We have completed our fist two film shoots with youth from Windham Southwest and Windham Southeast.  Our next film shoot is scheduled for Thursday January 20th at Parks Place in Bellows Falls.

We will also be interviewing parents in the future.  Please let me know if you are interested in being a part of this important and compelling film.

Youth trained to give presentations

Eight students from Brattleboro Union High School have been trained to help give presentations about H.E.Y.! Help Empower Youth.  These young people are eager to talk with community members about what is going on with young people and how adults can help them grow up healthy and successful. 

* Please contact me if you would like a presentation to be given to staff at your place of employment, or to a civic group or neighborhood association you are involved with. 
*I would also love to hear of young people from other areas of the county that would like to be trained.

Chamber Mixer in Bellows Falls

 The Windham County Youth Initiative will be cohosting the Greater Falls Chamber of Commerce Mixer with Annie Guyon Communications on Wednesday January 19th at the Waypoint Center from 5:30-7:00.  It will be a time for business leaders to learn more about H.E.Y.! Help Empower Youth and how they can become a part of this important effort. 

National Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring month.  As part of the Mentoring Network here in Windham County, the Youth Initiative has been working to help get the word out about how important it is for young people to have mentors.  Posters are being put up all over the county, we are creating a new radio spot,  and we getting information into the newspapers. 

The most effective way, however, to get someone to become a mentor is by a friend encouraging them to do so.  Please encourage your friends and coworkers to take the time to mentor a young person - it will change the life of a child in our community.

Quarters for kids

Quarters From Kids is a grass-roots initiative to engage young Americans, and adults who work with them, in a collective response to the tsunami disaster in Asia .

Already, more than 100 organizations dedicated to youth – including educators, service organizations, social entrepreneurs, youth and childcare organizations, colleges, and schools working with millions of children across America – have joined together to help this initiative succeed.

You can help by visiting the Quarters From Kids web site: www.QuartersFromKids.org to learn more about this effort and to sign on as a supporting organization or individual.

New Americorps VISTA position needs to be filled