Congratulations to the 2010 Excellence in Summer Service Award Winners!

This evening at 6 p.m. at Laurel Hall, MCCOY and the partners of the Summer Youth Program Fund will honor 23 local young people with the Excellence in Summer Service Education Award (ESSA).


Craig MacFarlane, Founder of the 20/20 Inner Vision Foundation, will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony honoring the work, commitment and service young people provide our community as full-time staff or volunteers in Marion County summer youth programs. The mission of 20/20 Inner Vision Foundation is to increase high school graduation rates and create positive employment futures by instilling a sense of pride and dignity in the youth of America. MacFarlane, a victim of a tragic accident that left him totally blind at the age of 2, is a superstar in the hearts and minds of anyone who has watched him take on of life’s greatest blows and turn that into a tower of inspiration for the world to see. He founded 20/20 Inner Vision Foundation to inspire a sense of value for high school completion as well as to motivate young people to have a high degree of self worth.

Summer programs are essential to decreasing the learning loss that occurs when students take time off from studies, as well as helps to keep youth engaged and busy with positive activities. The young people that work in these summer programs work hard to ensure that their programs are of the highest quality and hold a constructive role in the summer schedule of youth. Whether our award winners are working as camp counselors, program manager, lifeguards or educational staff, they serve a very important role for their organizations and to their peers and the youth they serve.

“At a time when young people are often criticized for being concerned only about themselves, the Summer Youth Program Fund partners and MCCOY are pleased to recognize and honor these 23 young women and men who have given so much of themselves to our community and its young people. Through their efforts, literally thousands of young people in neighborhoods across our city had the chance to participate in summer programs that taught them new skills, gave them new experiences, and exposed them to new opportunities. Most of all, what these exemplary Summer Service Award winners showed the students that they worked with is that somebody cares about them and is interested in their growth, well-being and future success.” said John Brandon, MCCOY President.

Elizabeth Gore, President of the Indianapolis Public School Board and retired US Airways Reservation Supervisor, served on the Excellence in Summer Service Award Selection Committee for the second year in a row. Gore says, “I enjoyed reading about the experiences these young people had during their summer work and volunteer time, and how their interactions with other young people and the staff members of their organization made a true difference in their lives.”

Gore along with seven other community leaders served on the ESSA Selection Committee. The committee, led by Anne Hudson of Good Seeds Consulting, met after the application deadline, to read through the applications and select the 23 winners. The committee shared a tremendous responsibility of choosing from such a high caliber of applicants.

Award winner Jessica Wolfe, a senior at Butler University and captain the of Bulldogs volleyball team had an inspiring summer working with the young women from Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis. “I am somebody who feels they were born to help others; I find myself responsible to others in the community because I think everyone deserves a chance at a bright future. I found pleasure working the girls this summer, and helping them become independent women with success in their minds and love in their hearts,” said Jessica of her experience working with Girls, Inc.

Forty-nine young workers from summer programs submitted applications for the Excellence in Summer Service Education Award. At the awards ceremony, the 23 winners will receive a certificate of recognition and $1000 to be used for education-related expenses such as buying books or equipment, paying tuition, or making a deposit in an educational savings account.

The 2010 Excellence in Summer Service Education Award winners are:

Damilola Awonusi, Anglican Church of the Resurrection LEAP Summer Camp
Ronald Frye, Concord Neighborhood Center
Dylan Wallace-Maxwell, Concord Neighborhood Center
Calasia Williams, Coppin Chapel African American Episcopal Church
Bridget Price, CYO Camp Rancho Framasa
Claudia White, Dayspring Camp Discovery
Gavin Rucker, Dayspring Camp Discovery
Marc Hardy, Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center
Paige Leigh Thomas, Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center
Jessica Wolfe, Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis
Amber Remeeus, Herron School of Art & Design
Austin Crawford, Indianapolis Algebra Project
Jasmine Dominique Walton, Indianapolis Algebra Project
Brie Anderson, Indianapolis Algebra Project
Katherine Janowski, Jameson Camp
Joanie Dawson, Marian University Math & Science Club
Lauren Graham, Martin Luther King Community Center
Mandy Walker, National Junior League of Indianapolis
Riley Phillips, The Y
Courtney Coleman, Westminster Neighborhood Ministries
Mandisha Wells, Westminster Neighborhood Ministries
Warren Stokes, Y-Press, Inc.
Jessika Officer, Y-Press, Inc.

View more information on our award winners.

For more information on the Summer Youth Program Fund and the Excellence in Summer Service Awards, please visit www.mccoyouth.org.

Youth and Youth Worker Input Needed for Summer Celebration Task Force

As a result of the violent youth activity that coincided with the 2010 Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration and the increasing violence that threatens our youth on a daily basis, the city of Indianapolis along with Indiana Black Expo (IBE) formed the Summer Celebration Task Force. The task force was created to address youth violence, security and safety at future IBE and community events as well as to identify the root causes of youth violence.


However, there are two key audiences missing from the task force: youth and youth workers. While it is important for the task force to include community, business and government leaders, without youth voice and youth worker input on the task force, the root causes will not be genuinely identified and a solution will not be found. Youth, whom are the ones that will be directly impacted from the decisions and recommendations, have valuable perspectives to add to the task force.

Because of the significant gap in youth representation on the task force, the Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY), went to the source, youth, to ask their opinions on youth violence, why it happens and what we as a community can do together to solve this issue. MCCOY staff members conducted three focus groups at local youth-serving agencies: Lilly Unit of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Indianapolis, Hawthorne Community Center, and YouthBuild Indy. During these focus groups, youth ranging from age 11-24 answered questions about youth violence and contributed their insights about possible solutions addressing the issue.

The findings of MCCOY’s focus groups, which were sent to the city of Indianapolis and the IBE office, are included in a report titled Perspectives on Youth Violence: Youth Share their Thoughts on a Community-Wide Problem. It is our hope that MCCOY’s work will contribute to the success of the Summer Celebration Task Force in grappling with this difficult issue and that the task force will consider adding youth voice and youth worker input on the task force itself. The community at large will also find our report helpful in working with youth and adding youth voice to address and identify community issues.

Download your copy of Perspectives on Youth Violence: Youth Share their Thoughts on a Community-Wide Problem.

Art & Nature = Free Fun for Kids of All Ages!

Have you been to the Indianapolis Museum of Art recently?

The newly opened nature park is so unique, fun and definitely something that all our city's children would enjoy.

The park, called 100 Acres, fuses nature and art-- two elements vital to a healthy, happy soul for kids and adults (in my opinion).

The best part: the park and the art museum are always totally FREE!

Check out this great video about 100 Acres that aired recently on the national PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer!

Photos of 100 Acres from the Indianapolis Museum of Art website.

Mentors Can Help Children Bridge the Learning Gap

Once again, the Indianapolis Star's Our Children, Our City series is shedding light on challenges facing our young people. Below is an excerpt from Robert King's most recent article for the series. Read the full article: Challenges clear for School 61 kindergartners.

"This vast gulf of readiness for kindergarten was evident in children seated right next to each other in the same class.

SeNyah Bolden, a 5-year-old who showed up with an entourage -- her mom, grandma, grandpa, aunt and assorted siblings and cousins -- smiles readily and responds to her teacher's questions. In a congested room, she offers a pleasant "excuse me" to an adult in her path. She is glad to be here. She is a teacher's dream.

Next to her is a boy who showed up on the first day without anyone. He gave his name to the librarian and the principal, but his teacher could glean only a first initial and his last name. For the first three days, that's how he was known. He started making a name for himself in other ways.

On his first trip to the library, he wandered to the back of the room and started spinning in a chair. Unresponsive to the librarian, he earned a trip to the principal's office -- two hours into his school career.

It wouldn't be his last. By the end of his first week, the boy called a lunchroom worker a name that included the F-word and was reported by a bus driver for dangerously waving sticks around other kids at the bus stop.

Two children, as different as night and day, taking their first steps across life's tender little starting line. Though, clearly, not starting from the same place."


Photo credit: Alan Petersime / The Star

MCCOY's Learning Network Presents: Youth Worker Summit

The Youth Worker Summit will be an opportunity for other youth development organizations to receive high quality training in areas highly relevant to their work. Each participant will have an opportunity to attend 2 workshops led by highly skilled facilitators. In addition, the large group sessions and networking opportunities will provide insightful information that will provoke meaningful conversations and thoughts. This youth development approach is based in positive youth development research, and the desire to create a safe, supportive, and productive environment for youth. The approach, is premised on the belief that it is a youth worker’s job to set up an environment for youth in which needs are met and learning is encouraged—to create a space in which youth can thrive.

1. Voice & Choice – Providing young people with authentic, meaningful choices is a hallmark of truly engaging environments. This workshop is focused on providing meaningful choice within activities and voice within the youth program itself.
2. Building Community – This lively workshop introduces participants to numerous community-building and relationship-building activities.
3. Cooperative Learning – This workshop addresses youth’s interaction in groups—both the cooperative learning environment and leadership opportunities.
4. Active Learning – Introduces the remarkable benefits of providing opportunities for youth to actively explore materials and ideas. The workshop introduces the “ingredients” of active learning as well as methods for creating high-impact, active environments.
5. Scaffolding for Success – How do you set the bar high for youth and help them exceed their expectations? This workshop is about working closely with youth to find their learning edge and helping them experience just the right amount of challenge.
6. Ask-Listen-Encourage – Introduces a method for building supportive, youth-centered relationships. The workshop prepares participants to ask lots of effective questions, to listen actively to youth, and to encourage youth by tapping their intrinsic motivation.

Who should attend?
The Youth Work Methods workshops are designed to empower direct-staff with tools that will increase the quality of their work with youth.
Limited Registration 
Registration Deadline: September 3
When: Thursday September 16,2010
Time: 8am-3:30p
Where: Franklin University
lake Point Center 5 8415 Allison Point Blvd., Suite 400
Indianapolis, In 46250

Click here to register: http://www.rsvpbook.com/event.php?417316

Delivering some strong medicine: 'Teachable moment' in ER helps change crime victims' lives

An article in today's Indianapolis Star illustrates the powerful, positive, life-changing impact of Wishard Hospital's Prescription for Hope program.

Click here to read Shari Rudavsky's full story on the hospital's intervention program that is having impressive results.

The Prescription for Hope program helped Chris Lee (center)
and his family after he was shot. He poses with (clockwise from lower left)
Dicimber Lee, Jauvyion Lee, Victoria Wright, Jonathan McCann,
Jaunelle McCann, Ishiah Bethea and Janyiah Lee. - Jennifer Cecil / The Star

What we know and what we need to find out

After an inclusive strategic planning process, the Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) Initiative was launched in July 2010. Ten strategies were identified that, when successfully implemented, will help keep our children, youth and families free from child abuse, neglect and delinquency and will reduce the need for child welfare and juvenile justice interventions.

We believe that the EIP Initiative has the potential to significantly reduce the incidence rates of child abuse, neglect and delinquency in our community and lower the public cost of dealing with these tragic events. In order for us to be able to show whether our efforts are successful, we must be able to measure the current rates of child abuse, neglect and delinquency--what we call a "baseline" measurement, meaning the situation before we start trying to change things--and then to measure the rate of change as the EIP Initiative continues over the next three years.

Part of the challenge is that most of the information we need is not readily available. The Indiana Department of Child Services publishes aggregate reports on their website on various aspects of the child abuse/neglect problem in Marion County and across the state, but these do not include the raw data necessary for further analysis and do not include information on some key indicators for the EIP Initiative such as public costs for DCS services or number of first-time incidents. Juvenile court data reflecting delinquency incidence rates are much harder to find, since access to minors' court records is legally restricted (unless a legitimate need to know is shown).

In June, July and August, MCCOY met with a number of experts to advise us on which data sets are needed to measure the EIP Initiative's effectiveness in reducing child abuse, neglect and delinquency, keeping families out of "the system" and reducing public costs, and how to obtain those data sets. We have prepared and submitted formal Requests for Information to the Department of Child Services and the Indiana Supreme Court to begin collecting these data in a systematic way. Our next step is to populate a Data Collection & Dissemination Team to oversee analysis of the raw data to measure whether the EIP Initiative is having a positive impact and guide our community reporting efforts.

If you have a knack for data, know the child welfare or juvenile justice systems inside and out, or have a passion for keeping children safe and out of trouble, we want you to join the Data Collection & Dissemination Team! We need people who can help us tell the story behind the numbers and what they mean to the children and families in our community as well as hard data lovers, so there is room on this team for everyone who can help us spread the word about our impact. If you are interested in participating or simply want to find out more, please e-mail Shanna Malott at shanna.malott@mccoyouth.org.