By Marcel Pacatte
Are you in middle school or high school, or the parent of someone who is? Are you not sure what you’re going to do once school is out for the summer but are looking to keep busy, have some fun, volunteer — and maybe even make some money?
Block out a couple of hours — from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., to be exact — and fill in the blanks because Midwest Youth Services has the plan for you.
The organization is sponsoring its “Connect and Kick-Off Summer!” event on Wednesday, May 6, at the 4-H Building at the Morgan County Fairgrounds, 110 N. Westgate Ave., Jacksonville.
In addition to information about opportunities that await, there also will be prizes, a light dinner and a complimentary planner to help you get organized.
Not only will a bunch of information about summer camps, programs, events and activities being planned by multiple organizations be available at the event, but so will the ability to sign up for them right then.
Anyone you talk to who is familiar with the organization and what it does sings its praises.
Braxton Stewart, an administrator formerly with Jacksonville School District 117 who now is principal and incoming superintendent in Franklin, used to work for the organization, supervising homeless youth doing community service work. He said it is a great organization doing important work, and that the kick-off event illustrates the reach it pursues, trying to reach as many people in as many ways possible.
“They do great work,” Stewart says. He and Waverly’s elementary principal, Christy Willman, said they refer students to the organization without reservation if a child or family is in need. Willman said they would avail themselves of more of the organization’s programs if they were closer.
Stewart said he would encourage anyone who is eligible to check out the Connect and Kick-Off Summer! event, and Willman said she already had shared information about the event on social media in hopes of the same.
So, what exactly is in store for the curious? Lots!
Community partners who have committed to being present at the event include Jacksonville Area Friends of Family Learning, Green Pastures, Lincoln Land Community College, Illinois College, Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Express Employment, Western Illinois Youth Camp, Jacksonville Area Roller Hockey, Jacksonville Bob Freesen YMCA and its swim team, Early Years, Central Christian Church, The Crossing Church, Scouting America, Jacksonville Teen Police Academy and the Morgan County Health Department.
It’s not just about jobs, volunteer opportunities and events, but also about the abundant resources that are out there for anyone between the ages of 11 and 17.
Midwest Youth Services is an organization that serves at-risk, runaway and homeless youth, in some cases, depending on the specific program, between 9 and 23 years old. The goal that underpins all that it does is to keep youth out of the juvenile justice and child welfare systems by promoting stronger families. Its services are free and confidential.
MYS’ “Connect and Kick-Off Summer!” event is open to all — and now that its tutoring program has ended for the year, the focus is on the summer and all that is available.
An important element of the kick-off event is that so much information and so many resources are gathered together in one place at the same time so that interested youth can learn and get involved — all in one stop.
