Joel's Place has staff meetings every Friday afternoon led by Kelli, our Program Director. Sometimes I get to sit in on them; most times I have other appointments and can't make them. This past week I finished my other meetings early and stopped by. The topic of the day was Membership Dues for the kids that use Joel's Place.
The cost of membership is very straightforward: $10 per year for access to Joel's Place which increases to $50 per year if you want to participate in any biking/skating sessions. Annual membership fees are due in October (so the youth can use some of their dividend if needed) which has led to some grumbling the past few weeks. Our staff have talked with the kids and their parents, handed out scholarships as needed and sought out those who felt that money was keeping them out of Joel's Place. The downside has been a little bit more paperwork to fill out and a few uncomfortable conversations. But it has led to some really good discussions among our staff:
Why do we charge money to kids who are at risk? Why not just offer our facility for free? $10, or even $50 per member is not going to make or break our organization. Wouldn't it simply be easier, and more compassionate, to not ask for any money from these kids who are barely making it?
The answer is: Yes. It would be easier to not ask the members for money. It would eliminate unpleasant conversations and awkward silences. It would be easier...in the short run. Long term, though? Charging a minimal fee creates an environment that is so much better than the alternative. That environment is created not by increasing our bank account, but by increasing ownership.
People invest their heart where they invest their money. When they put their own money into Joel's Place, suddenly they care about what it looks like, what kind of people hang out there, what behavior is acceptable and what is not. Joel's Place goes from "Them" to "We" and the youth help police themselves.
Kelli gave an example: When we set out free soda in the cafe, what we end up with is half-drunk cans that are scattered everywhere, everywhere throughout the building. There are puddles of soda across the floors and furniture and skate ramps...it is a complete mess. When kids have to buy their soda from the counter or the machine, they drink it all and dispose of their cans neatly...usually. They invest their money in something as small as a Coke, and it takes on extra value.
We are not going to let $10 keep a teenager out of Joel's Place. We value the kids too much for that. But we are going to find someway for them to invest themselves here, whether that be volunteering, helping other kids, cleaning or something else. That is the buy-in. That is young people becoming stakeholders in Joel's Place.
We also need community buy-in so that money does not come keep teenagers out of Joel's Place. We need individuals and corporations, churches and government programs to invest in us so that at-risk youth have a place that they can feel invested in. We need people who are willing to allow their hearts and their finances to be poured into young people who are starved for both. We need people who will buy in to these young men and women who often go unnoticed.
This is why we are having our Ramp It Up Fundraiser this Friday. It is not just for the money; I can go ask for money any time. It is an opportunity to bring together our community and proclaim that if we buy in, if we invest our hearts and our time and our money into our members, not only will we be saving lives...we will be transforming lives. And when we transform the lives of those who reside in the fringes of society and have fallen through the cracks of the system, we transform our community.
You want to change the world? It starts here and now with the sweaty, stinky, loud and obnoxious youth who long desperately to be loved and valued and affirmed by someone.
I invite you to come join us at Ramp it Up. Friends Church. 6:30pm. Friday the 16th of November. Tickets are available for $40. I'll see you there.
James
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