STRONG Words - Fall/Winter 2013

Fall – Winter 2013

S.T.R.O.N.G. Words 800 Jerusalem Ave Uniondale, NY 11553 www.strongyouthinc.com T: (516)483-1350 S.T.R.O.N.G. YOUTH, INC.

@strongyouthinc

Rahsmia’s message: As this holiday season approaches, I cannot help but have mixed emotions. I feel sadness thinking about all the youth & families dealing with violence and its horrible impact. But optimism quickly kicks in when I think about everything we are going to achieve in 2014.

S.T.R.O.N.G.’s new & improved team is equipped to educate, support and empower our youth, families and communities to get involved in changing lives. We recently hired a licensed social worker & case manager, who in conjunction with our counselors & interns, are totally dedicated to providing the holistic services necessary to achieve success. S.T.R.O.N.G. is also expanding programming to include more concrete family and community development activities such as our Victims Impact Panel. We will be interactively exploring the impact violence has on our society and developing plans of action to strengthen and reunite all members of all communities. Look out….S.T.R.O.N.G. is ready for CHANGE!

Important Announcement We are pleased to announce that thanks in part to a grant from the Long Island Community Foundation, S.T.R.O.N.G. now offers case management and social work mental health services. Yay!!!!

News from the Frontlines This season has gotten off to a great start. We are currently serving more than 300 youth and their families through our University, Chapter and Boyz/Girlz groups! We are providing counseling, leadership and empowerment workshops, community and family events, and civic engagement opportunities our youth can engage in. Every month, starting in January 2014, S.T.R.O.N.G. will be hosting a Victims Impact Panel that will bring to life the devastating and far-reaching effects of violence on individuals and the community.

S.T.R.O.N.G. Girlz. Young ladies discuss skills and issues that relate to them and are mentored by role models.

S.T.R.O.N.G. will be presenting at the 2014 Long Island Mentorship Conference in March. Stay tuned for updates!

S.T.R.O.N.G. Boyz. Youth learn skills and are mentored every week.

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University. Youth involved in the criminal justice system learn to become productive members of society.

S.T.R.O.N.G. Chapters. In Uniondale HS, Turtle Hook MS, Lawrence Road MS, and Cornelius Court. We are busy educating and empowering our youth to make our schools and communities safer.

Telemundo aired a special program on S.T.R.O.N.G. and its impact on our communities on 11/11/13.

Highlight: Giving Back with No Limit: Vanneza Cardona and Gabriella Orellana, last year 2 Long Beach residents decided to take matters into their own hands after Hurricane Sandy and were able to collect over 3000 new toys. This Christmas, LB Holiday Toy Drive is teaming up with S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc. and No Limit Auto Body to provide 115 homeless and displaced Kindergarteners of Hempstead’s Prospect School with new toys.

Youth on the Rise After making several mistakes that led to a conviction, one young lady is now working to materialize her dreams. She is now an active participant in STRONG, enrolling for college, and will speak at the 2014 Hofstra Gang Conference.

S.T.R.O.N.G. Girlz learn the power of education

“I can’t believe these girls have gone through so much.” -Shyan B. “Thank you for bringing us. I learned so much about girls in other countries.” -Julie K. STRONG Girlz Trip to the film screening of Girl Rising— 11/7/13

“Never give up on your dreams.” - Jasmin C.

S.T.R.O.N.G. will be presenting at the 2014 Long Island Mentorship Conference in March. Stay tuned for updates!

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