YMCA of Norwalk, Inc.

This project proposes to serve up to serve up to 731 youth with the assistance of up to 84 mentors. This project utilizes the comprehensive facilities of the Norwalk YMCA to facilitate the development and empowerment of the youth of Norwalk and in particular those youth who are economically disadvantaged. While the Norwalk Y is the only organization that can provide faith-based development and empowerment of youth in the Norwalk area, the project utilizes the Y’s existing organizational partnership resources (described on the Norwalk YMCA Organizational Background which we’ve attached the end of this proposal) in order to multiply positive impact potential to Norwalk youth and their families.

Teen Volunteer Initiative (TVI) ($100,000 requested) – The TVI encompasses several initiatives and includes monies to be deployed to retain part-time staff, multi-year to help our outreach coordinator manage the programs. We have broken these components/dollar amounts down as follows:

 

• Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) ($15,000 requested to expand the Mayor’s program beyond the Summer) – We plan to hire (2) part-time counselors at

$10/hr, 20 hours per week for 8 weeks. This staff will also assist with the implementation of the four FISLL programs that will be deployed over four quarters. These dollars are targeted for labor costs only.

• TVI YMCA Program ($15,000 requested) – monies would be deployed to fund (15) youth for a full year at current annual membership rates ($5,000) AND fund (1) part-time assistant  to coordinate the program ($10/hr X 20 hrs per week X 50 weeks). We introduced this program this year and have learned from experience that it will need dedicated support/staff training ($10,000).

• FISLL Mentoring Events ($40,000 requested) – We plan to promote, staff and execute four FISLL events per year (one per quarter @ $10,000 per 7-week program). Y-USA has been supportive in our efforts to conduct this and are interested in a national roll-out, but would like to see a few more deployed by the Norwalk Y before identifying us as a “best practices Y” and thought leader for this endeavour.

• International Y Exchange with Nuremberg, Germany ($30,000 requested) – a key ingredient in religious development and appreciation is to share international experiences and we plan to reciprocate an existing relationship with the Nuremberg, Germany YMCA, who have already been to visit/share with us at the Norwalk Y twice in the past two years. It is very important that our youth have an opportunity to experience this valuable international exposure. It would be a unique, and possibly life-changing sharing experience for (15) people. The Nuremberg Y would host, along with their German families and it would be an opportunity to worship with them as well.