Dear Friend of TYM,
During 2020, TYM has seen tremendous resiliency despite the unprecedented health crisis pandemic. So many people have continued to support TYM’s mission by participating in the first ever virtual walkathon in the spring and innovative virtual camp in the summer. The efforts of all our volunteers, families and champions like you, have positioned us for greater impact in 2021. In spite of the social distance challenges of the pandemic, TYM continues to transform the lives of urban youth in the Bay Area. For urban atrisk children and their families, predominantly black and brown people, traumatic events are born out of a vicious cycle of poverty, lack of access to resources, poor educational opportunities, and histories of abuse. TYM kids are sharply acquainted with trauma and hardships, exasperated by COVID-19. Meet 13 year old Melody* who has been in the custody of her Aunt Debra* for ten years. When you first meet Melody, her soprano voice rings as sweetly as a song. You may also notice her smooth dark chocolate skin and her radiant smile. If you show her sincere interest, she will tell you—in great detail—all her hopes and dreams. She is a child filled with love, resiliency, and strength. When Melody first arrived at TYM camp last year, she was eager to connect, grow, and escape the misfortunes of her life. For the first time she had no boundaries, not limited by environments and circumstances. Her free-spirited and affectionate nature were soon apparent, and on the final day of camp, she made the choice to follow Christ, along with over 100 of her peers between our two camps. We celebrated her experience and followed-up throughout the year. Melody then became a student in TYM’s THRIVE after-school program. She showed promise until she suddenly stopped attending. We discovered that Melody and her aunt lost their home to a fire and were forced to move into a local homeless shelter. She was overcome with depression, grief, and hopelessness. As a result, Melody’s grades dropped and her behavior deteriorated, both in and out of school. Her teacher explained that Melody had become desperate for acceptance, however, many of her peers bullied her instead. In the midst of Melody’s grief she was suspended due to several behavioral outbursts. A broken spirit left her feeling lonely, isolated, and overcome with fear and doubt. In a show of mercy, her principal invited me, along with several other trusted advocates, to help her transition from a fixed-mindset of hopelessness to a hopeful attitude about her future. I met with Melody prior to her arbitration meeting. She wept sorely about her conditions and her ill behavior. (cont’d)