YOUTH ADVANTAGE INC
12276 MARQUESS WAY, LAKE ELMO, MN 55042 www.youthadvantage.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: WE HELP CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES FIND AND PURSUE THEIR PASSION THROUGH THEIR PARTICIPATION IN ARTS, ATHLETICS, AND EDUCATIONAL-ENRICHMENT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PAY FOR THE ACTIVITY FEES AND THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT REQUIRED BY THE ACTIVITY. WE ALSO HELP CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES GAIN ACCESS TO MATH AND READING/COMPREHENSION TUTORING SERVICES BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THESE SERVICES. WE PROVIDE A WEEKLY IN-HOUSE MENTORING SERVICE TO AT- RISK MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS.

YOUTH ADVANTAGE (YA) PROMOTES HEALTHY MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS IN LOW INCOME YOUTH BY PROVIDING THEM WITH ACCESS TO EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOUTH ADVANTAGE CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT CHILDREN IN THEIR PURSUIT OF THEIR PASSIONS THUS IMPROVING THEIR CHANCES OF FUTURE SUCCESS AS WELL AS SUPPORT THE OPERATING COSTS OF OUR OFFICE LOCATION WHICH HOUSES OUR BRAVE BOLD GIRLS GROUP. YOUTH ADVANTAGE ALSO ASSISTS FAMILIES IN THE NAVIGATION OF EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES, COUNSELING THEM TO ENSURE THAT SUCCESS IS ACHIEVED IN THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY WHILE ALSO GUIDING THEM TO OTHER RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP THEM SUCCEED IN SUPPORTING THEIR CHILD/CHILDREN IN THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SOCIAL WORKERS, PARENT MENTORS, GOVERNMENT SERVICES, OTHER NONPROFIT AGENCY SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE, SCHOOL COUNSELING AND TEACHER INTERACTION, AND HOLIDAY MEAL AND GIFT SERVICES. OUR MISSION STEMS LARGELY OFF OF THE RESEARCH PROVIDED BY SEARCH INSTITUTE WHOSE MISSION IS "TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE ARE VALUED AND THRIVE". 1 THERE ARE 40 DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS THAT THEY HAVE DETERMINED AS NECESSARY FOR A CHILD TO GROW UP HEALTHY, CARING AND RESPONSIBLE. THESE ASSETS REPRESENT THE RELATIONSHIPS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND PERSONAL QUALITIES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO AVOID RISKS AND TO THRIVE. YOUTH ADVANTAGE BELIEVES THAT 19 OF THE 40 ASSETS CAN BE DEVELOPED AND DEEPENED BY ENGAGING CHILDREN IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. THIS IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE OF THE UNSETTLING REALITY SEARCH INSTITUTE'S RESEARCH REVEALS: "ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, IN SMALL TOWNS AND LARGE CITIES ALIKE, THE AVERAGE YOUNG PERSON EXPERIENCES FEWER THAN HALF OF THE 40 ASSETS, AND BOYS EXPERIENCE AN AVERAGE OF THREE FEWER ASSETS THAN GIRLS." YOUTH ADVANTAGE RECOGNIZES THIS AS AN EPIDEMIC AND WE EXPERIENCE THESE STORIES FIRSTHAND FROM FAMILIES WHO COME TO US FOR SERVICES, YET WE ARE FOCUSED ON BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING THESE ASSETS IN OUR CLIENTS. WE BELIEVE THAT A COMMUNITY THAT INVESTS IN ITS CHILDREN IS A STRONG ONE, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY ONE CHILD AT A TIME. RESEARCH INDICATES THE BENEFITS OF EXTRACURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CHILD CHOOSING SUCCESS AND FAILURE, BECOMING A DELINQUENT OR A CONTRIBUTING CITIZEN. YOUTH ADVANTAGE OPERATES TWO INTER-LINKING PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR TARGET POPULATION'S ENGAGEMENT INTO EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: 1) THE YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND 2) THE EQUIPMENT PROVISION PROGRAM. THE YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS TO YOUTH WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED-FEE LUNCH, ARE IN GRADES K-12, GO TO SCHOOL OR RESIDE IN THE BOUNDARIES OF STILLWATER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 834, AND WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN ACADEMIC, ARTISTIC, OR ATHLETIC EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. WE ESTIMATE THAT THERE ARE 1,400 CHILDREN WHO QUALIFY FOR OUR SERVICES BASED ON THE STATISTICS RECEIVED FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS. YOUTH ADVANTAGED ENGAGED 329 UNIQUE CHILDREN INTO 654 EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN 2019. MOST OF THE THE YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS SUPPLEMENTED BY OUR EQUIPMENT PROVISION PROGRAM. WE LOAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO CLIENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN EITHER THEIR SCHOOL'S MUSIC PROGRAM OR LESSONS PROVIDED BY ONE OF OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND WE GIVE ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT TO OUR CLIENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM OF THEIR CHOICE. THE COST OF THE EQUIPMENT AND THE COST OF THE ACTIVITY ARE BOTH BARRIERS TO CHILDREN OF FAMILIES IN NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. ALL OF THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT ARE DONATED TO US BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS OR PURCHASED WITH A GRANT SPECIFIC TO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND ARE HOUSED IN OUR OFFICE, OCCUPYING 50% OF OUR SPACE. DISTRIBUTION OF THE ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT MAINLY OCCURS AT OUR EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION EVENTS WHERE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES VOLUNTEER TO WORK WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS, ENSURING PROPER FIT OF EQUIPMENT WHILE INADVERTENTLY INSPIRING THEM AND SERVING AS ROLE MODELS (PER PARENT TESTIMONIALS). IN 2019, YOUTH ADVANTAGE PROVIDED ITS CLIENTS WITH 641 PIECES OF ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT FOR ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS CASUAL PLAY. CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS A NATIONAL EPIDEMIC SO WE ENCOURAGE OUR CLIENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ORGANIZED AND UNORGANIZED ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR HEALTH AND FITNESS IN ADDITION TO THE BENEFITS THAT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES PROMOTE BY PROVIDING THEM WITH EQUIPMENT EVEN IF IT IS TO BE USED IN THE BACKYARD OR ANOTHER UNORGANIZED ENVIRONMENT. FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, WE LOANED 91 CHILDREN INSTRUMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR SCHOOLS' BAND AND ORCHESTRA PROGRAMS. THESE STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR SCHOOL'S BAND OR ORCHESTRA AND RECEIVED FREE INSTRUCTION THROUGH THE SCHOOL. WE ALSO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH HOVLAND CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, ST. CROIX FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER (WHICH HAS GUITAR LESSONS FOR THEIR CLIENTS), AND CATHY ARNFELT PIANO. WITH THE FREE USE OF A YOUTH ADVANTAGE INSTRUMENT, THERE WAS A COST SAVINGS OF 315 (AVERAGE) PER STUDENT HAD THE PARENTS RENTED THE INSTRUMENTS (WHICH IN ALL REALITY WOULDN'T HAD OCCURRED AS IT IS COST-PROHIBITIVE). MENTORING GROUP FOR AT-RISK MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS BEGINNING IN FALL 2018, YA INITIATED A PILOT AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR YA FEMALE CLIENTS IN GRADES 6-8 THAT FOCUSES ON WHOLE HEALTH. OUR BRAVE BOLD GIRLS (BBG) PROGRAM AIMS TO REACH AT-RISK GIRLS AT A CRITICAL TIME IN THEIR ADOLESCENCE AND EXPLORES AND EDUCATES PARTICIPANTS IN HEALTHY NUTRITION, HANDLING SOCIAL PRESSURES, PHYSICAL FITNESS, AND MANY ADDITIONAL ISSUES GIRLS FACE TODAY (FRIENDSHIPS, SELF-IMAGE, COMMUNICATION, SOCIAL MEDIA, ETC.). THE PROGRAM INTRODUCES EMPOWERING EXERCISES AND ACTIVITIES AND HELPS THE GIRLS DEVELOP TOOLS TO INCREASE SELF-ESTEEM AND WELL-BEING. BBG GREW TO CAPACITY IN 2019 AND IS THRIVING. EXPERTS IN NUTRITION, YOGA, ZUMBA, HIP HOP, ART CLASSES, ETC. DONATE THEIR TIME TO TEACH THE GROUP ON A ROTATING SCHEDULE. THE GROUP LEADER REMAINS A CONSISTENT MENTOR TO THE NINE GIRLS AND EACH WEEK SHE DISCUSSES A TOPIC ON ISSUES THEY MAY BE FACING. THE BACKGROUNDS OF THE GIRLS VARY. ONE PARTICIPANT IS BEING RAISED BY HER GRANDPARENTS BECAUSE BOTH OF HER PARENTS ARE ADDICTED TO DRUGS WHILE ANOTHER LOST HER SISTER AND MOTHER TO SUICIDE. MOST OF THE PARTICIPANTS LIVE WITH THEIR MOTHER AND MANY DO NOT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR FATHER. WE INTEND TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM NEXT YEAR TO SERVE TWICE AS MANY GIRLS BY ADDING A SECOND SESSION FOR THE PARTICIPANTS WHO MOVE INTO HIGH SCHOOL (KEEPING THE GROUP SIZE AT 9 OR LESS FOR INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP- BUILDING REASON). ACCESS TO MATH AND READING/COMPREHENSION TUTORING SERVICES IN MAY 2019, YOUTH ADVANTAGE BEGAN A TUTORING PILOT PROGRAM THANKS TO A GENEROUS ANNUAL DONATION COMMITMENT OF A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND THE DISCOUNT AND/OR CREATIVE PROGRAMMING OF THE TUTORING COMPANIES. THE PRIVATE DONOR HAS MADE AN INITIAL COMMITMENT TO FIVE YEARS OF FUNDING 80% OF THE TUTORING PROGRAM WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTINUED FUNDING. TUTORING SERVICES ARE A PROVEN MODALITY TO ENHANCE SUBJECT COMPREHENSION AND REMOVING THE SOCIAL STIGMA AFFIXED TO THOSE THAT PERFORM POORLY IN SCHOOL, YET TUTORING IS COST-PROHIBITIVE FOR FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED-FEE LUNCH. YA IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOLS TO HELP IDENTIFY STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR THIS SERVICE. YA BELIEVES THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL NOT ONLY COMPLEMENT EXISTING PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES, IT WILL PROVIDE A MORE FERTILE GROUND TO CULTIVATE AN EMPOWERED, EDUCATED, AND SELF-CONFIDENT YOUTH THAT WILL IN TIME STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY. SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, YOUTH ADVANTAGE HAS ENGAGED TWELVE QUALIFIED STUDENTS INTO MATH TUTORING AND BEGINNING IN DECEMBER 2019, WE ENGAGED OUR FIRST QUALIFIED STUDENT INTO READING AND COMPREHENSION TUTORING. ALTHOUGH OUR TUTORING CLIENTS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM FOR AN AVERAGE OF SIX MONTHS, WE HAVE TWO CLIENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THEIR EIGHTH MONTH OF TUTORING. HERE IS A RECENT TESTIMONIAL FROM THE MOTHER OF ONE OF THOSE CLIENTS: "SINCE SINCE ATTENDING MATHNASIUM, MY SON HAS BUILT MORE SELF-CONFIDENCE, NOT ONLY FOR MATH, BUT IN GENERAL. HE STARTED MATHNASIUM IN 4TH GRADE AND WHEN HE TOOK THE STATE MATH TEST AT SCHOOL IN 5TH GRADE HE NOT ONLY MAINTAINED HIS LEVEL OVER THE SUMMER, BUT HE EXCEEDED IT ATTENDING MATHNASIUM HAS TAKEN AWAY SO MUCH STRESS OVER MATH FOR OUR HOUSEHOLD." IN JUNE 2020, YOUTH ADVANTAGE PARTNERED WITH HILL MURRAY SCHOOL, LITERACY MATTERS, AND SAUER FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE A SIX WEEK, NINE HOUR PER WEEK READING AND COMPREHENSION TUTORING SERVICE FOR 28 YOUTH ADVANTAGE CLIENTS IN GRADES K-8. YOUTH ADVANTAGE ALSO PAID FOR BUSING SERVICES FOR OUR CLIENTS TO OBTAIN TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE PROGRAM FROM THE YOUTH ADVANTAGE OFFICE AND THE CIMARRON COMMUNITY (SINCE OUR VAN DID NOT MEET COVID-19 DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS) AND WE ENGAGED STILLWATER SCHOOL DISTRICT 834 TO PROVIDE A DAILY BAG LUNCH FOR THE STUDENTS WHO ALL QUALI

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