Community IMPACT! Is a neighborhood-based, youth-centered, non-profit organization that is empowering young people, ages 15-24, to take control of their individual futures and the futures of their neighborhood. Their mission is to mobilize neighborhoods-youth, families, businesses, and organizations-to increase educational and economic opportunities for young people. Through the Youth Opportunities Network (YON), youth have the opportunity to engage in community research, analysis, and advocacy. YON youth work with strategic neighborhood partners to become change agents within their community.
Contact: Anderson Williams, awilliams@impactnashville.com, 615-226-5899
Eligibility: Reside in East Nashville (East Literature, Stratford, Maplewood)
Hours/week: Full time in summer, part time during school
Duration: Summer- 9 weeks
Website: www.impactnashville.com
The mission of PPMET (Planned Parenthood of Middle Tennessee) is to proudly meet the highest standards of quality and professionalism in: providing access to reproductive, sexual and complementary health care services and information in settings that preserve and protect the right to privacy; providing educational programs that enhance understanding of human sexuality; and advocating for public policies that guarantee these rights and ensure access to these services. The PG-13 Players are teen actors from high schools in Middle Tennessee. As a group, they develop and perform skits dealing with a variety of teen issues: teenage pregnancy, peer pressure, alcohol and drug use, and prejudice.
Contact: Brandon Baxter, Teen Theatre Coordinator, brandonb@ppmet.org, (615) 345-0952
Eligibility: High school students in Middle Tennessee
Hours/week: Varies by month
Duration: June-May
Website: WWW.PPMET.ORG
Studio 2B is a program initiative for teen women sponsored by the Girl Scouts of the USA. Studio 2B is a program by girls, for girls. It provides teen women with the opportunity to create their own program, leadership or club experience. Studio 2B and the Girl Scout Council of Cumberland Valley has numerous opportunities for young women to take on leadership roles. Programs are open to all young women in Middle Tennessee.
Contact: Stacy Nunnally, Director of Program Development, snunnally@girlscoutsofcv.org, (615) 383-0490
Eligibility: Teenage women (do not have to be a Girl Scout)
Hours/week: Varies by program
Duration: Varies by program
Websites: WWW.STUDIO2B.ORG | WWW.GIRLSCOUTSOFCV.ORG
The Tennessean is the Midstate's major daily newspaper and the flagship publication of the Tennessean multi-media company. The Teenessean is a segment of the Tennessean's Newspaper in Education program for students in grades 9-12. This quarterly publication is distributed to high school educators and students along with copies of the Tennessean for use in Middle Tennessee classrooms. Teenessean is created in part by teenagers for teenagers to address character-building principles and to raise awareness of teen issues.
Contact: Becky Fleenor, teenessean@comcast.net, (615) 726-8918
Eligibility: high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Hours/week: varies
Duration: School year
Website: www.tennessean.com
The Tennessee Youth Advisory Council (TYAC) is a group of current and former foster youth from the greater Nashville area that meet on a monthly basis to improve the lives of youth in care and make an impact on the foster care system. We believe that the only way to affect real change in the foster care system is to engage current and former foster youth in making the system better, and we serve as advisors to state and local policymakers about issues of concern to foster youth.
Contact: Laura Galovits, lgalovits@oasiscenter.org, 327-4455
Eligibility: Between ages 14-24
Hours/week: One Saturday a month and 30 service hours per year
Duration: 1 year terms
Website: http://tnfosteryouth.org
YMCA Youth in Government has served thousands of students from Memphis to the Tri-cities. All three of their programs provide teenagers with an exciting glimpse of the world of politics and help build a student's self-confidence and leadership skills. Programs include Model Metropolitan Government, Model United Nations Conference, and Youth Legislature.
Contact: Susan Moriarty, (615) 259-3418
Eligibility: high school students
Hours/week: varies by program
Duration: varies by program
Website: www.ymcamidtn.org/youth
The Alcohol and Drug Council is a professionally associated non-profit organization founded in 1966 to provide Middle Tennesseans with services and programs which address the issues of chemical dependency in the family, workplace, community, and schools. Their missions is to offer help and hope to those adversely affected by alcohol and drugs. Youth Alive and Free Counselors train students, known as Peer Leaders, who sign a commitment to remain drug and alcohol free and serve as role models. Peer leaders organize participation in Red Ribbon and Violence Awareness Weeks, as well as Prom Promise. YAF is located at Antioch, Hillsboro, Hillwood, Hume Fogg, Hunters Lane, and Overton high schools.
Contact: Trevor Crowder, (615) 269-0029
Eligibility: high school student at schools listed above
Hours/week: varies
Duration: 1-2 year terms
Website: WWW.ADCMT.ORG
Tennessee Voices for Children is a state-wide, not-for-profit, non-partisan organization of families, professionals, businesses, and community leaders, and government representatives committed to improving and expanding services related to the emotional and behavioral well-being of children. The YIA is devoted to advocating for the needs of youth dealing with mental health issues. They inform and educate the public on how to best meet the needs of this unique population. Their purpose is to increase knowledge and understanding of mental health issues for youth and the community as a whole. Their goal is to erase the stigma associated with youth with mental health issues.
Contact: Tiffany Washington, twashington@tnvoices.org, (615) 269-7751
Eligibility: youth ages 13-18 who have been affected by mental health issues
Hours/week: varies
Duration: at least 1 year terms
Website: www.tnvoices.org
The Youth Incorporated Circle YI camp is located on 170 acres of rolling hills in Rutherford County on Percy Priest Lake. Each summer, youth from surrounding counties apply to be summer staff. A Counselor-In-Training (C.I.T.) lives in the cabins with the campers and counselors and assists counselors with bunk and specialty areas. During the day the Camp Director may assign them to a Specialty Area. This experience as a C.I.T. teaches teens important lessons in dealing with children in a camp environment and learning conflict resolution. Training, insurance, and room and board are provided for all summer staff.
Contact: Sue Owensby, camp@youthincorporated.org, (615) 459-3971
Eligibility: at least 15 years old
Hours/week: full time
Duration: May 31-July 26 (Summer 2004 dates)
Website: WWW.YOUTHINCORPORATED.ORG