By Emily Nishi | Director, Youth Services
Since our last update, our services have ramped up. New staff on board has provided us with more time open and lots of new activities. We still have a safe, welcoming drop-in center for all youth ages 13-24 in the St. Louis region. Food, shower and laundry services remain a benefit, and with our very cold and snowy winter, increasing our hours has offered more warm space to hang out.
New weekly activities have begun including several focus groups to learn more about youth goals, dreams and service needs. We paid attention to this year’s Olympic Winter Games by viewing events on tv and making crafts celebrating the spirit of teamwork, perseverance and competition. With our youth, we also created our own “Scategories” game, developing topics relevant to February – the Olympics, Valentine’s Day and Black History Month. Also around Valentine’s Day, we focused discussions around safer sex by having a lube taste test and discussion around proper use, and creating roses out of condoms. These craft and game activities open up discussion around topics relevant and interesting to youth visiting The SPOT. It gives staff an opportunity to provide factual education in a non-intimidating way.
As we move toward spring, we look forward to our annual kickball tournament and more activities outside. We anticipate starting a multi-session photography program to introduce youth to digital cameras and encourage them to explore our community and personal themes through images. In the fourth quarter of 2013, 462 new youth visited The SPOT. There were a total of 2,321 encounters between October - December, 2013.
Thank you for supporting our youth!
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