Community Youth
Development Initiative
CYDI
Presented by Rosemary Gass and Vicky Lovell
CYDI Mission
CYDI (Community Youth Development Initiative) is an
approach by which community members share responsibility
for the success of all our young people.
Guiding Principles for our Work
Everyone in our community has strengths and can contribute
to making our community a better place.
As we build on our community’s strengths, we also recognize
that there are needs and problems to be addressed.
Youth and adults working together can create the nurturing
place and necessary supports that will encourage youth to
share responsibility for their community now and in the
future.
History
Challenges to our community (deaths, poor reputation, lack
of activities, need for relationship and awareness)
Many groups are working separately to fix the same problem.
Researched programs in Farmington, Howell, South Lyon,
Jackson, and Ohio.
Faith Medical is a successful example of a community
working together for a common cause.
Who are the youth?
Grades 5 – 8 : Foundation – Research shows initial drug use
often takes place prior to age 13. Many of Pinckney’s
severely addicted teens were using drugs before high school.
This group must be reached to provide healthy alternatives
prior to poor choices being made.
Grades 9 – 12: Stable – These are the students who are
making good choices, showing success in school and in life,
and can be used as mentors to other students.
Grade 9 – 12: Lost – These are the at-risk students who are
showing a decline academically, are chronically absent, and
are not connected. They need to be sought out and
personally invested in to show they matter in our community.
Research
A study done in 2010 by the Washtenaw County Public Health
and Washtenaw Community Health Organization focusing on
substance abuse indicators in Livingston and Washtenaw
Counties found the following:
Livingston and Washtenaw Counties have the highest rate of
marijuana initiation compared to other Michigan counties
and nearly all of the United States.
Livingston County youth initiate alcohol use at age of 13.3
years and marijuana at age 14, on average.
The hours of 3pm – 6pm are when drug use amongst
adolescents is the highest.
Youth who use marijuana are likely to have lower grades, say
their teachers never or seldom notice when they do a good
job, and never or seldom enjoy being at school. They feel
disconnected.
The Researchers clearly identified links between absenteeism
and substance abuse. Tracking chronic absenteeism for
individual students creates opportunity for identifying youth
at risk of substance abuse.
Livingston and Washtenaw Region has significant excesses
regarding alcohol use and binge drinking compared to
Michigan or the United States.
Earlier ages of first use are directly related to the risk of
dependence, as well as the severity of dependence.
Non-violent crimes performed by youth and young adults
rates have quadrupled in the past 4 years.
Academic achievement also predicts substance abuse.
Students who grades continue to deteriorate are more likely
to start using marijuana.
Marijuana and alcohol are gateway drugs to more addictive
and dangerous drugs such as heroine, cocaine, crack, and
many other street drugs.
Intervention designed to delay age of first use must target
youth in 4th/5th grade or younger.
Increasing perceived risk may decrease substance use.
Interventions to increased perceived risks need be
implemented.
There are many successful programs available to educate our
youth and families: Project Northland, All Stars, ‘Parents Who
Host, Lose the Most’, and peer mediation to name a few.
What exists for youth in
Pinckney?
School and Community Athletic Programs
School Intramurals and Clubs
Band, Choir, Orchestra, Drama
Community Education Classes and Theatre
Seasonal Activities: Movies in the Park, Paintball, BMX Bike
Trails, Lakeland Trails
Church Youth Groups
Individuals projects: D20 Coffee Shop, Art Lessons, Youth
Bands, Nature Projects, etc.
What is missing for youth?
A place for youth to be connected for those who are not involved
in organized athletics or clubs
A location to do homework in the later evening with access to
food and other people
Recreational facilities: bowling alleys, movie theater, skate park,
malls, shopping
A venue for concerts, poetry reading, comedians, special guests
(Jane Tasch Auditorium exists but is not used as a place for
youth to gather regularly)
A place for teens to mentor other teens and to take ownership
A Pinckney-wide Community Youth Group with service
opportunities for youth to ‘make a difference’
Who can help?
Schools are already tapped of resources and are battling
redistricting, layoffs, and other concerns. Other community
members must step up.
Four Main Pillars: Education, Business, Political, and Faith
Community. These pillars working together can save lives.
YOUTH – The youth can help the youth. There are amazing
world changers in our community that are ready to make a
difference.
This MUST be a community-wide effort!
Goal: To Create a Community
Youth Center
This will be a center that spans the entire community and
does not have only one physical location.
There will be a main hub that interconnects the many
components of this community-wide, “work in progress”,
effort.
The main hub will serve as a location for students to do
homework, develop relationships, learn about events at
various venues, and to take ownership of a place that is
“theirs”.
Ideal Location
Hamburg/Hell/Lakeland/Pinckney spans across
approximately 12 miles. This makes it difficult to find one
location that is the “perfect” location which is why we need
multiple sites.
To avoid having one location that creates its own culture and
unintentionally excludes any persons, it is necessary to have
multiple venues to provide a variety of activities to appeal to
the needs of all youth.
It makes fiscal sense to have a smaller main site to avoid
having the overhead costs of a large facility.
A Community Working Together
Athletics –
Legacy Center,
Community
Clubs, HS
Athletics
Construction &
Landscaping –
Masons and HS
classes, Builders
and Landscapers
Musical Concerts
– Churches,
Barns, Jane
Tasch, Etc.
The
Hub/Main
Site
Service – Mission
and Service Trips
& Community
Service through
local churches
and groups
Outdoor –
Laughing Duck,
Conservation
Club, Bike Park,
Hells Survivors,
Skate Park
Arts – Drama,
Art, and Music
Lessons at
Various locations
Locations considered for the main
building
The Lumberyard
The Pinckney Department of Public Works
The former Pinckney Library (now Senior Center)
The former Putnam Township Firehouse (not for sale)
The former Stonehouse Café (now the Wild Indoors)
The corridor between Navigator and Pathfinder Schools
The Old St. Mary
Klave’s Marina Annex on Dexter-Pinckney Road
A property on Pettysville Road
A property on M-36 and Farley Roads
How will this center operate?
There will be Director who will oversee the operation of the
Community Youth Center.
The staff will be a trained volunteer staff comprised of
dedicated community members. This is modeled after a
program in Ohio that has tremendous success.
Youth will take ownership and will be involved in every step
of the center from the planning process, to marketing, to
fundraising, to operations.
The model CYDI program is a 5-10 year model program that
clearly identifies how to roll out the center in the most
effective manner (See CYDI Strategic Initiative).
Re-Create Pinckney Event
It is important to generate community support for this effort.
There will be an event in May held at Pinckney High School
to share the vision with the community.
Community members will be able to sign up for steering
committee positions, will be able to commit to helping with
the center, and will be able to make financial contributions.
L.E.A.D. Foundation is partnering as the non-profit group
who will manage the finances of the center and will be
involved in the success of the program.
Funding the Community Youth Center
Pinckney Palooza is an annual event that is hosted by St. Mary on
the grounds of the church. It was initially created to provide a fun
event for the residents in the area. St. Mary agreed to give all
profits of this event to the Community Youth Center. This will
require additional community help and support of this event to
make it bigger to generate a higher revenue.
Grant writing will be essential to secure additional monies.
Community support from local businesses and individuals is key.
Contact media outlets to show how a community is coming
together to garner positive publicity for Pinckney and the
Community Youth Center. Possible sponsorships may result.
Have students involved in the fundraising process.
Next Steps
Continue to meet with local businesses to personally invite
them to support CYDI.
Meet with leaders from each of the organizations that are
willing to be venues for youth activities to set expectations.
Launch the Re-Create Pinckney event to inform the community
of our efforts and to get support from interested members
and donors.
Find a location for the main center.
Secure funding to move forward.
“…speaking in truth in love, we will in all things grow up
into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the
whole body joined and held together by every supporting
ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does
its work.” – Ephesians 4:15-16
A building will not save a life, but a relationship within the
walls of a building will.
It’s time we go back to the basics and show compassion to
our youth. After all, it is LOVE that transforms the human
heart. Together we can “love” this community back into a
place people are proud to call home.
Action Steps
Today we ask you to step up and become a CYDI partner.
Advocate the development of CYDI.
Support program activities.
Refer others to join CYDI.
Share your time, talents, and treasures.
Consider a board or steering committee position.
Thank You!
Questions and Answers
Contact Information
Shalom Lutheran Church
Attn: CYDI
1740 E. M-36, Pinckney, MI 48169
Rosemary Gass - 734-330-3782
Vicky Lovell – 734-276-2682
CYDI e-mail – h2lpcydi@gmail.com