Joel's Place: Live and Unplugged: Graduation

Friday, May 9, 2014

Graduation

I wrote this letter earlier this week:

To our Community Partners,

Joel’s Place Youth Center has been serving the teens of Interior Alaska for over a decade. We offer a Safe Place for teens to have Fun while pursuing the Developmental Resources that they will need to thrive.

One of the central pieces that we have learned is that young people look to model themselves after older teenagers. Recognizing this, we want to publicly celebrate our members who have successfully committed themselves to their education and are graduating from High School. We want to inspire our younger teens to follow these positive examples.

Would you consider joining us in hosting a graduation party that celebrates our Joel’s Place graduating seniors? We are looking for community partners who would be willing to donate some supplies that we need to put on a joyful celebration. Thank you for your consideration.

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I have been talking with Kelli for the past few weeks about our upcoming Graduation Party. We both agree that this should become one of our big annual events. High School Graduation is a milestone that many of our members are in danger of not achieving. Some need to drop out of school to support their family. Some have developmental delays that make passing classes challenging. Some are in and out of treatment which makes it hard to consistently attend school. Some just do not believe that education is worth pursuing.

It is a joy to be able to celebrate our seniors who are graduating. It is important for us to be able to show the younger members that their mentors, the riders that they look up to and respect, have invested in school and in their future. As in most things, the staff can preach all day and it will not have as much impact as a young person watching one of their older friends act in a certain way. Actions speak louder than words. We really value our members investing in their education and their future. It speaks to their hopes and dreams; it is evidence that they have ambition and are eager to pursue something more than what they have now.

We are proud of our Seniors. We are eager to see them establish a legacy of success here at Joel's Place. Thanks for supporting us as we support them.

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Giving

If you would like to become a financial partner with us and support the work of Joel's Place, here's how:

1.) To make an online donation:

2.)Mail us a check at P.O. Box 83584, Fairbanks, AK 99708

Or

3.)Call our front desk at 452-2621 with your credit card information. Our official hours are Mon- Fri, 12pm-6pm , but there is usually someone by the phones from 8am on.

And

4.) You can link your Fred Meyer Rewards card to Joel's Place at this link. Every purchase on your card increases the Fred Meyer Foundation's annual donations to our organization.

Thank you for your encouragement and support.

From the Staff

Leah Byam, Program Assistant

On Sunday after Church a group of us went to Subway to eat lunch. When we get in line it's very busy, so we wait patiently in line. As I'm waiting in line I see CS, a young man who has been coming to Joel's Place for a very long time. He's working behind the counter. He's assertive, polite, taking peoples orders, and going on to the next costumer giving them kindness and the same professional service. As I watch him from afar my eye's tear up. I know his past. I've walked with him on so many journeys. I love this kid so much, I am so so so proud of him. As I get closer he see's me and his face lights up. We were able to talk. He tells me that he just graduated with his high school degree, that he's still saving up, he will be going to Hawaii as planned in September to work. I was able to tell him, How proud I am of Him, and I meant it in every sense of the word.