Youth Center in Ypsilanti

Dear Community,

As with many areas in the nation, Ypsilanti, Michigan’s economy has been hit hard. On the most recent census, 26.4% live below the poverty line and three out of four students earn a high school diploma on time.  February 1, 2013, Michigan Public Radio broadcasted a report stating the drop-out rate has increased in Washtenaw County.   Youth, in our community, identified a need for a youth community center.  Dedicated to Make a Change, L3C agrees.  We emphasize experiential learning and challenging work; engaging youth in service driven by their passions.  Providing a youth center gives us a place to do the front end work to address and obliterate problems amongst youth such as bullying, suicide, violence, substance abuse and dependence and school dropouts.  

In the center of Ypsilanti, I found an office building with an attached warehouse.  It is a perfect place.   There is space for partnering with other area youth organizations.  There is space for youth to develop their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive abilities; experiencing learning, achievement, leadership, enjoyment and friendship.  The asking price is $90,000.  I am working with my real-estate agent to develop agreeable terms.  

I am seeking funds to defray the cost of the building and the operations.  The funds received will go to the purchase, insurance, and upkeep of the building.  I am requesting any assistance that you are willing to give, whether it is monetary support, publicity of a new center in Ypsilanti, or a donation of furniture, carpets, and/or kitchen appliances.  You can contact me at the phone number or email address listed below.

To find out more about our all inclusive youth organization or to make a donation, visit our website: www. dedicatedtomakeachange.com.

Thank you for your generosity!  

Gail Wolkoff

Executive Director 

Dedicated to Make a Change, L3C

www.dedicatedtomakeachange.com

734 218 2953

Being Kind

Everyone heading back to school and/or work today~ Be kind to yourself.  Just being there is a great accomplishment.  Visit, talk, share, eat cookies, and smile~ There will be more time to engage tomorrow.

New Orleans 2013

Here is an update of New Orleans information. 

February 14, 2013, is a Guest Grillin’ at the Mongolian Barbecue event. We will not only raise money but we will have much fun. Here is how it works, participants invite and sell tickets to friends, family, neighbors, and everyone else. Eat and laugh at dinner. If you are 18+ you can be a guest griller. All profits go to the youth.

From the LEARNING brings CHANGE. CHANGE brings HOPE FUNdraiser, the price for the NOLA trip has dropped. The price is $690.00. Thank you to the youth participants and their amazing families.
Remember~ Dedicated to Make a Change is committed to letting all youth participate. If there is an interest; there is away!

Tuesday, January 8, 15, 22, 29 at 5pm, are NOLA Informational meetings. We meet at the B-24, 217 Michigan Ave.
in Ypsilanti. It is only necessary to come to one informational meeting.

If you know of other people who are interested, share information. I happily plan NOLA informational meetings around schedules.

Please contact Gail, gail@dedicatedtomakeachange.com or call//text, 734 218 2953 for questions.

Wishing you peace, love and understanding in 2013~

Practice purposeful acts of kindness,

Youth from Dedicated to Make a Change are busy preparing for our FUNdraiser’s live entertainment! Join us and see these amazing youth perform live!

HOPE and CHANGE: a FUNdraiser for NOLA Trip 2013!

Saturday, November 3rd…6-9pm…Mix Marketplace in Downtown Ypsilanti

Special Guest: Mack McClendon, Executive Director of the Lower Ninth Ward Village

TICKETS: $25.00 for everyone ages 12 and over. $5.00 for children ages 6-11. Donation for children ages 5 and under.

6 DAYS LEFT TO DONATE TO OUR INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN!!

After Hurricane Katrina, youth expressed a to travel to New Orleans to help. Since then, we have cultivated ongoing partnerships with the Lower 9th Ward Village, United Saints, School At Blair Grocery and Green Light New Orleans.

NOLA Trip 2013 marks the seventh year of service work trips to the Lower 9th Ward for our group of youth. To fund our winter and spring work trips, we have created an Indiegogo campaign called LEARNING brings CHANGE. CHANGE brings HOPE. 

With 6 days left, we have $858 in contributions!! Help us reach our goal of $4,000!! A donor has committed to matching any contributions made up to $2,000!!!!  THERE'S STILL TIME LEFT TO CONTRIBUTE!!! 

Follow this link and contribute today: http://www.indiegogo.com/LEARNCHANGEHOPE 

Check out our Flicker Account to see pictures from our service work trip to New Orleans.   http://www.flickr.com/photos/nolatrip/page1/

LEARNING brings CHANGE

CHANGE brings HOPE

NOLA Fundraiser! Save the date!

There is going to be a fundraiser for the New Orleans trips!! It will be Saturday, November 3rd, from 6:00-9:00 pm. Save the date! It will be located at the Mix Marketplace, 200 W Michigan Avenue.  Tickets will be $25 for a night of beverages and hors d'oeuvres, silent auction and photographic slideshows and live entertainment produced by youth!All of the proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the New Orleans trips in winter and spring. I went on the New Orleans trip this past spring because I heard of it from a friend who also went on this trip, and it was one of the omost life changing experiences I've ever had. I not only bonded with the people on the trip with me and got a taste of the flavor, the culture and the history and the overall feeling of New Orleans, I was also able to help a community trying to recover from one of the greatest natural disastors of our life time. I fully intend to go back, because the city still needs help, and once you've been to New Orleans...the city owns a part of you. It's that unforgettable. The people are kind and tough, the food is amazing, the architecture is this crazy mash of modern and old cultures clashing in colorful exuberance. Please make it possible for me, and others like me, to go back. If you aren't able to make it to this fundraiser, you can visit dedicatedtomakeachange.com to donate, or a website called Indigogo which will soon be up and running and I will post more about that later. The crescent city thanks you! :)

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