The Foundation’s Initiative is Moving Quickly

Please mark Wednesday, March 12^th at 5:30pm on your calendar.  That will be the date and time of the next convening for the You’N-I (Youth Network Initiative) at the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. In the aftermath of the 1^st convening on January 14^th at which 160+ stakeholders, including 60 youth, gathered, we’ve been busy. Participants and Steering Committee members are using what we heard and learned from the youth who are struggling with multiple issues of homelessness.  Their challenges of education, health, employment, transportation, and a variety of life-impacting issues encompass much more than a place to sleep. At the March 12th community-wide convening local service providers will be reaching out to connect with youth and to help them.  We also invite adults who care about helping young people who are facing challenges we wouldn’t want for any of our children, to share their ideas and learn about the situation. These struggling youth are emerging as leaders and are teaching us at every step of the way through their work on this initiative and its various subcommittees. The youth participation is what is giving this initiative its momentum and impact. In addition to connecting youth with support services at the meeting on March 12^th, we will also discuss the unmet needs challenging youth and discover the barriers that keep them from using existing services. We’re sending out invitations and hope you will spread the word.  This is an event for stakeholders, which includes any community member that cares and wants to help. I hope this includes you. At the Community Foundation of Western Nevada we’ve taken our expanded mission and recently adopted values to heart. We are striving to bring a new element of community inclusiveness and involvement to address persistent problems.  What could be more important than helping a young person, who is facing big challenges with small resources, become a fully integrated community member? We are your Community Foundation - making philanthropy simple, powerful, and effective. Chris Askin, President & CEO, 775.762.1932 or caskin@cfwnv.org