Or an onion. Or a parfait. For those of you who haven't seen the cultural phenomenon that is "Shrek," allow me to put this another way. Joel's Place has layers. There is a lot going on here, and there is even more going on behind the scenes...and even more behind that. An explanation is in order.
Joel's Place is fun, a lot of fun. Skateboarders are flying up and down ramps. When they are taking a break from the skating, kids are eating snacks, watching movies, playing video games, pool, or dodgeball. This summer we are adding an outdoor skating area, a basketball court and an area for volleyball. There are crafts to make, camps to attend, instruments to learn and a garden to grow. The fun and activities are what draw kids in at first. But there is more.
Joel's Place is service. We have dozens of Americorps members volunteering with nonprofits in the community. They are farming, cleaning, building, feeding, filing paperwork, working with kids, doing more cleaning and providing technical assistance. We sponsor and supervise two summer food service sites to provide free meals for kids. There is a constant stream of people coming in and going out to give of themselves to others. But there is more.
Joel's Place is mentoring. While the kids are here playing, they are also learning. They are watching the staff and Americorps members, absorbing how older people interact. They are learning how to win and lose well. They are learning how to try new things with joy. They are learning to treat others with respect. They are learning how to serve and look out for those who have less. There is a small train of boys who tromp out to work in our garden every day just to spend time with a young Americorps guy. But there is more.
Joel's Place is assets. Helping Kids Succeed- Alaskan Style is a resource released by the State of Alaska, based off of a study conducted by the Search Institute of Minnesota. It lays out 40 resources that support and encourage a child's development. These assets range from Family Support to Homework to Social Justice to Positive Peer Influence. The study found that there is a direct correlation between assets and healthy lifestyle in kids. Kids with less than 10 assets are at great risk for drug and alcohol abuse, depression, school problems and a life of violence. Children with 11-20 assets reduce that risk by 50%. Children with 21-30 assets reduce that risk by another 50%. Our goal at Joel's Place is to provide every child and teenager who comes through our doors with at least 10 assets through short-term programs and long-term relationships. 10 assets would bump everyone up to the next level of success, no matter where they are when they come in.
Kids come to Joel's Place to play and hang out. But while they are doing that, the direction of their life is changing. There is a lot going on here. Some of it you can even see...if you know what to look for.
No comments:
Post a Comment