This year, Focus Points started our first youth summer camp, Youth Ignite! The intention was to create a safe space for young people ages 11-18 in the GES neighborhood to explore new interests while gaining practical life skills alongside peers from their community. This program is central to Focus Points’ mission of supporting families through a multigenerational approach that strengthens connections and creates opportunities for every member of the family to thrive. Hear from our Youth Coordinator, Will, as he reflects on the impact of our first ‘Youth Ignite’ summer program.
Ever since our Youth Advisory Committee started brainstorming what activities they would like participants in Youth Ignite to do, they were clear that they wanted community service and volunteering to be an integral part of the summer program. Conveniently, HUFM has a robust volunteer program and seemed like an amazing fit to let students interact, work with and serve their community – often times neighbors who they know.
Thus it was: a day where our students would help set up and take down the market, sell produce, interpret, and share about their experience in the youth program. I knew it would be successful, but I privately had my doubts. I mean, what high schooler wants to sell produce during the summer?
But nothing could have prepared me for the level of passion and engagement the youth showed during the market. They loved it. They loved it so much that many of them asked me if they could continue to volunteer at future markets! Comments I heard were “I didn’t realize how much I love Spanish/English interpretation”, “I loved the fast paced environment where I got to check shoppers out”, and “I want to continue to volunteer and serve my neighbors like this”. Bilingual students who were shy came out of their shells as they realized that their knowledge of two languages is a superpower they can use to help their community. Students who didn’t know how to use their energy in constructive ways found they thrived in the chaotic, multi-tasking environment of a farmers market through conversation, selling produce and counting cash. And all the students lit up when they saw their own families, friends and neighbors, and they were even more excited to get to hand them a fresh tomato at no cost.
Overall, session 1 of Youth Ignite was more successful than I could have dreamed. Each student came away with new friends. Each student grew in new skills, be that soccer, improv acting, using money intelligently or how to maintain a garden. And most importantly, each student came away with growth in confidence in character. No one wanted to introduce themselves in front of the group on the first day. By the end, each student proudly walked in front of their peers and adult supervisors to share their name, grade, what they learned in the previous block, and if they would rather have the superpower of flying or breathing underwater (or something silly along those lines). Me? I would definitely go with flying, thank you very much.
– Will Grubbs, Youth Coordinator
