Martinsville, Va. — A coalition of youth-focused organizations in Martinsville and Henry County (MHC) is focused on empowering young people in the community to reach their full potential.
Piedmont Community Services received a $260,609 investment from The Harvest Foundation to support The Helping Youth Thrive Collaborative, which aligns with the foundation’s goal of creating a thriving youth culture and providing first-class opportunities for youth from birth to college and beyond.
The collaborative brings together key partners supporting youth success in MHC including schools, law enforcement, after-school programs, and community organizations dedicated to serving families. “It’s evident how much our community partners care about creating an environment that supports families so that youth can create paths to success. The Helping Youth Thrive Collaborative was created on that very foundation,” commented Tobie Panos, Lead Community Organizer and HYT Coordinator for Piedmont Community Services.
“The opportunities and experiences we provide for our youth will not only shape their individual futures but will also define the future of our community,” said Dr. Sandy Strayer, program officer at The Harvest Foundation. “Our responsibility is to ensure that the youth are positively engaged, empowered, and actively involved, with a strong voice in shaping the world around them.”
Key objectives for this grant include offering a variety of enrichment opportunities for youth that could include cooking, dance, music, drama, outdoor education, and sports while addressing barriers to participation like funding and transportation. A comprehensive inventory of existing youth services will be completed to prevent redundancy and identify gaps along with finding creative ways to promote these activities.
The group will also research successful youth programs in other regions and gather feedback from local youth and adults on new program ideas.
“This opportunity through The Harvest Foundation emphasizes the importance of community engagement and supporting youth where they’re at,” said Regina Clark, Director of Prevention Services for Piedmont Community Services. “We’re excited to learn about other research-based practices and how we can implement them locally to support youth to be successful. Our goal in prevention is to increase protective factors for students that will ultimately build resiliency and help them to go after their goals, despite any challenges they may face.”
The Helping Youth Thrive Collaborative meets monthly to seek funding opportunities and plan and implement a continuum of youth services throughout the community. All groups and individuals interested in supporting MHC’s youth are welcome to attend.
To find out more, call (276) 201-2382 or email tpanos@piedmontcsb.org.
