Our Programs
All programs are designed to help young people, especially those who need us most to build strong character and realize their full potential as responsible citizens and leaders.
Civics Ambassador Academy
YVWA has partnered with the United Nations Association of St. Louis to build the capacity of young adults in being ambassadors in their communities. This program will promote civic responsibility by providing our students with opportunities and education to further encourage their interaction and affinity with the public through widespread interests and involvement, internationally and locally.
CAASTL will be studying the seventeen sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations in September 2015. The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.
STEM & Robotics Program
Thank you for joining Young Voices with Action STEM initiative with Bricks 4 Kidz. Students from the University City School District (UCSD) and Normandy School Collaborative (NSC) will be introduced to engineering and architecture principles and math and science concepts. By partnering with STEM Bricks 4 Kidz, we learn, we build, and we play with LEGO® Bricks! We use LEGO® products to provide a fun, hands-on learning and building experience focused on STEM concepts. The goal of Bricks 4 Kidz is to provide a learning experience for children that encourages critical thinking, creativity, organizational skills, problem-solving, and teamwork. Science provides kids with a new scientific vocabulary. Lessons focus on topics such as laws of motion, employ the concept of physical science, requiring children to apply what they’ve learned to their build. Technology implements the use of science to invent and problem solve. Children use their creativity and analytical skills to discover viable solutions to problems presented at the start of each lesson. Engineering uses the practical application of science to design and create. Although they may not realize it, kids use engineering skills to construct models, such as bridges, towers and roller coasters. Math is where children are given the opportunity to invariably utilize math skills as they estimate, count, measure and build with LEGO® Bricks.
Arts & Crafts
Arts & Craft Day is designed to give young people the opportunity to express themselves in the form of art. By enrolling in this program, young people of all ages are able to enhance and further demonstrate common traits that mature youth possess: Writing, Self-Expression, Critical Thinking, and Public Speaking.Through this program, young people learn how to appreciate and value images and artifacts across times and cultures. They also understand the contexts in which various cultural items were made. Their experiences in art, craft and design will enable them to learn how to reflect critically on their own and others’ work. They think and act as artists, makers and designers, working creatively and intelligently. They will develop an appreciation of and engagement in art, craft and design as critical consumers and audiences and an understanding of its role in the creative and cultural industries that shape and enrich their lives.
Season of Service
Volunteering is an essential component of a well-rounded and fulfilling life experience, and we would like to help you get involved and make a difference. Every year, Young Voices with Action initiates its Season of Service Program. The Season of Service Program is a voluntary program offering YVWA members, volunteers and community stakeholders across the St. Louis region an opportunity to place themselves at the service of others.Individuals volunteer at selected dates and sites throughout the 2019 Young Voices with Action calendar year, as their schedules allow. The programs are organized by populations served and type of service.
Discipleship Training
We believe spiritual development is a life-long process of manifesting the acts of flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) less and less and producing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23) more and more. They Holy Spirit produces the fruit in us. We are teaching and disciplining ourselves to submit to the Spirit’s leading, because it is the Spirit who produces the fruit of spiritual growth in our lives. As young people, we want to know what spiritual growth looks like. In Galatians 5:22-23, it says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. If we are to become more loving, more joyful, more kind, more self-controlled, etc., then our spiritual growth must always grow and grow.
Young Men of Tomorrow
Young Leaders of Tomorrow (YLT) program course consist of a four-month course that provides future graduates with options in their post-high school life. YLT has a strategy that ensures students are learning basic professional and personal values, the 4E’s. OBJECTIVES:Youth will have the necessary training and research to make decisions on/about:
– 5 Core Values – Learning, Persistence, Responsibility, Flexibility, Determination
– Enrollment (College)
– Employment (Skills)
– Entrepreneurship (Career)
– Engagement (Social Justice)
Urban Farming Training
The Youth Ambassador Urban Farming Training Program is designed to provide new urban farmers in THE St. Louis region the introductory knowledge and skills to start an urban farm. At the end of the program, it is expected that participants will be able to maintain and develop gardens, write a viable business plan and have the information necessary to move forward with their urban farming goals. Upon completion of this program and training, youth will have the necessary training and research to:
– Develop the basic knowledge of the hard skills involved in urban farming systems.
– Improve Access to Healthy Food
– Improve Economic Health
– Help revitalize a neighborhood
– Understand the financial and business tools needed to manage a profitable farm.
Interested In Learning More About Our Services & Programs?
Services Offered
Youth Mentoring Services
Young Voices with Action has extensively worked with young people through our Ladies in Training Program and Gentleman with Action Program. Our mentoring and tutoring group is designed to help young males and females to develop into mannerable individuals.
While participating in this program, students are taught and practicing respect, discipline and responsibility to self, family and community. Our mentors and tutors work closely with our students’ school, teachers and parents to identify areas of strength and academic improvement. We help them excel academically in their class work, learn to set personal goals and to work hard to achieve them, become accountable for their behavior during school and in the community. We desire to see the young boys and girls that participate in this program to become even more productive members of society while emphasizing cultural education and empowerment.
Workforce Development
Our workforce Development consist of technical and mechanical job training. This training seeks to help economically-disadvantaged African American and other men living in the St. Louis metropolitan community find jobs and have the opportunity to earn livable wages. This training will complete these objectives by assisting the participants in obtaining Post-Secondary Education and Job Training and teaching the imperative career-skills and work ethic necessary to become successful employees while Entering Today’s Workforce.
Part of our curriculum also entails teaching participants on how to apply for jobs, how to keep a job, how to get promoted, and how to stay marketable. We invite multiple employers to be guest at our classes to explain company’s profile, job opportunities, and screening of candidates. It is our goal to prepare and equip men for meeting of major St. Louis employers that has committed to hiring and hosting hiring fairs for men from our training program.
Community Service
Through community service projects and activities, we are able to help young people develop and increased sense of social responsibility. By helping them realize the global view of society and heart for “giving back” and helping others, they are presented with an opportunity to apply academic learning to real human needs which enables them to improve critical thinking skills.
These projects and activities are spearheaded by young people. They help with college admissions, finding career paths and further help develop young people in leadership roles.
Utility Assistance
Young Voices with Action recognizes how difficult paying utility costs can be on our neighbors’ monthly budgets. We do everything within our power to maintain the lowest rates possible for our community. To assist our lower-income customers, Young Voices with Action wishes to remind the community that we continue to offer special programs for income-qualified households.
Our assistance programs help low income families, seniors, and the working poor. Also locate job placement, debt reduction, and mortgage assistance in the city and county of St. Louis. Assistance is dependent upon availability of funds and discretion of YVWA management.
Jail Support Services
Young Voices with Action wants to support, educate and empower anyone who has or had a loved one in the prison system. We envisions a supportive community free of judgment where individuals affected by having their loved ones incarcerated are empowered to lead healthy lives without stigma and discrimination.
We offer support in supporting incarcerated family members financially and the removal of visitation barriers. If you have a family member incarcerated in the State of Missouri or Department of Corrections. Assistance is dependent upon availability of funds and discretion of YVWA management.