YOUth CAN!
Presented by Sunflower and Humphreys Counties Youth Courts.
Mission
It is the YOUth Can! mission to strengthen the self-determination of teens in Sunflower and Humphreys Counties by equipping them with academic confidence and life skills.
About YOUth CAN!
YOUth Can! offers EXCITING new empowerment programs for youth ages 11-18. YOUth Can! achieves its mission through three (3) outreach initiatives:
Ambassadors-In-Training (AIT) is a three (3) month leadership training program where teens receive weekly after-school tutoring and attend bi-monthly leadership workshops.
M-Power where the “M” means Mentorship, is a program that pairs applicants with role models from the community. In order to become a Mentor, individuals must submit an application and the results of a background check. Once paired, Mentors and their Mentees must attend at least one YOUth Can! session per month and spend a minimum of 12 additional hours together each month.
Open Community Forums are hosted by the YOUth Can! program in conjunction with the youth courts. These events are open to the community and are designed to raise awareness about obstacles youth face on a daily basis.
YOUth Can! provides a slew of opportunities for our youth to engage with the greater community. We are ACTIVELY seeking volunteers, mentors, and mentees. For more information, contact: Laura K. Cooper, Program Coordinator | Email: lcooper@sunflowerms.net |After Hours: 662-339-5753 or 662-379-0023 Address: 200 Main Street Indianola, Mississippi 38751 | Post Office Box: 2144
Events
On September 12th, the YOUth Can! Ambassadors tilled the soil, weeded flower beds, built and filled new flower beds, and planted seeds at the Community Garden in Indianola, Mississippi. We had a great turn out! YOUth Can students from both counties, as well as Mentor Atty. Mack Arthur Turner, Mentor Atty. Ashley Richardson, Jonasha Quinn and even a few Girl Scouts participated. We even had parents to join our efforts. During the event, participants learned about wasps and honeybees and the importance of these insects to the world. The event ended with fresh barbeque and a kickball game. The Court would like to extend special thanks to Samesa Hoskins, Master Gardener, for providing this opportunity for our youth to become servant-leaders.
“If youth knew; if age could.”
— SIGMUND FREUD