MYSPACE Youth Wellness Center – Youth leadership and youth being empowered within themselves, their school
and their community is a key component of the CANDU vision. We’ve known for some time (not the least
because the youth told us so) that having a place of their own – youth led,
youth organized, youth centered – was essential for that to happen. We have such a place and the youth have
grand visions for what it can and should be, but until this grant opportunity
came up, we haven’t had the funding or resources to make it so. MySpace is located in a separate wing of the
SAFE shelter facility in a space formerly occupied by Anana’s House emergency
receiving home. Over 1,000 square feet,
MySpace has two activity rooms/bedrooms, a bathroom, full kitchen, dining room,
living room, arctic entry way, and separate entrances from the main
building. The Wellness Center will be
open seven days a week in the afternoons and evenings, with continuous
scheduled events as well as maintaining a safe, quiet, supportive space and an
open door.
The lion’s share of
this initial grant application funding is allocated to initiating MySpace
Wellness Center including funding for a Manager and staff, multi-media and
communications equipment, supplies for the in-house activities and the Summer
Youth Services program, and pro-rated facility costs. Most of the equipment and supply costs are
one-time purchases (furniture, kitchen & cooking supplies, set up satellite
dish for internet, computer, etc.).
The Wellness Center
projects and activities will address a wide range of issues identified by Dillingham
youth on the academic, physical, mental, emotional, and social and community
level and will include:
o Youth court – in coordination with Dillingham School District & Curyung Tribe
o Culture Club – traditional dance, storytelling, arts & crafts
o Workforce/Vocational Career Training
o Youth & Elders Advisory Council
o Summer Services Splash Coordinating Team
o Website design/maintenance & Geek Squad
o Peer led Essential Life Skills Instruction (ELSI) – cooking, menu planning, child care, personal health & hygiene, budgeting, job search, etc.
o Homework Haven /Tutoring Program
o After school 4th R Leadership & Positive Behavior Support program
o Al-Anon & YESS (Youth Electing Safety & Sobriety)
o White Ribbon Campaign /Choose Respect (Men and boys working to end violence)
o Teen Media Institute
o Leadership Alliance & Youth Coalition (LAYC)
o Rural Alliance For Teens (RAFT)
o Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA) Dillingham/Rebels to Pebble
o Teen Support Groups & Talking Circles
o Community Volunteer Corp Coordination
o Community Webpage/Calendar
o Community Café & Coffee House poetry & readings
o Dance and aerobics class (in Razz Room)
o Ulla’s Thrift Store and Arts Cooperative