In addition to a substantial complement of direct services, advocacy and referral, the Family & Youth Services Bureau, in working to fulfill its mission—“more over, the agency will encourage the community to nurture and care for all of its children” —envisions a community where each of us finds a way to support and parent the community’s children.
That is why we established the initiative All Kids Matter, an effort to encourage actions and activities that develop and support the youth in our community.
Over the past few months we have visited numerous area businesses and discovered many ways that our community cares for our young people: Chad Clifford at Front Porch Music hosts weekly open stage nights for all ages, providing opportunities for youth to be on the stage in a supportive atmosphere; Brenda Magnetti Erickson at rTrail Collective Edge always has kids activities set up in the gallery, and has a separate area where a parent and child can sit down and read a book; Shirley Williams at Shirley’s Merle Norman assists at Women’s Shelters with make-up lessons; Chesterton Art Center offers art classes for pre-schoolers through teens, and this summer will offer free Saturday classes for kids and families to introduce them to art.
To promote this effort, we offer a window decal for your office or car stating “We Believe All Kids Matter” and a framed wall statement noting your business or organization is a place that supports the nurturing and care of the teens and children in our area.
If you would like information about how to make a positive difference in a young person’s life, a window decal, a framed wall statement or to hear more about the All Kids Matter initiative, please contact Jackie Gray at 464-9585 or jgray@fysb.org.