By Josephine Mazyck | Executive Director
Good day, beautiful souls.
Thanks to you, we wrapped an amazing summer with joy, laughter, and our very first FANmily sleepover! That’s right, 25 kiddos spent the night, and it was absolutely hilarious and much needed.
We’re so grateful to everyone who contributed toward our Safe Spaces, Safe Summers campaign and to get our 15k match goal. While we didn’t quite hit the $15K match, together we raised $26,690, a huge win that ensured our young people had a summer to remember. Take a look at our summer recap to see some of the highlights!
Now it’s back-to-school, always a bittersweet moment. Normally, I’d be offering tips to ease back into the rhythm of classes, homework, and rest. But in light of our current political climate, I want to share safety tips instead. Over the past few weeks, I’ve sat in on listening sessions, and here are some things that stood out especially for our youth:
Curfew: For those under 17, curfew is now 11:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. Monday–Thursday, and 12:01 a.m.–6:00 a.m. Friday–Sunday. If you need to be out, move in small groups of 2–3 — not larger groups of 5 or more.
Know your rights: With the uptick in police presence, it’s important to remember:
For more resources, I encourage you to follow @harrietsdreams and @freedcproject on Instagram — both are sharing vital updates and community information.
These are trying times, but through it all, I’m deeply thankful for each of you: for showing up, for linking hearts, and for supporting this work.
To our young people heading back to school: we’re so proud of you. You’ve got this, and we’re cheering for you every step of the way. Please continue to stay safe, find joy, and lean into the things you love.
FANtastic Stories: Showing up for community
“From the Bus Stop to Belonging”
It all started in October 2024, when a group of young people regularly gathered at the bus stop in front of our office. On one especially cold afternoon, they asked if they could wait inside to escape the weather. We gladly opened our doors.
That simple act of hospitality quickly grew into something bigger. The youth began stopping by more often asking for snacks, watching TV, and most importantly, finding a space where they could simply be themselves.
What began as a warm place to wait has blossomed into deep connection. Today, all five of those young people are enrolled in our program, proudly maintaining perfect attendance. Even during the summer, when the oldest participant worked with the Summer Youth Employment Program, she came straight to FAN after her shift.
One of our favorite moments came from Ant. One day she walked into FAN and casually said, “I need to leave early today.” When we asked why, she grinned and announced, “I’m in a play tonight!” Everyone stopped in disbelief: “A play??” Antoine laughed, explaining she was excited but also a little sad. She didn’t think anyone would be there to watch. Her mom had some free tickets but probably wouldn’t use them, and besides, “no one buys tickets for a play.”
That was all we needed to hear. The team sprang into action. Mrs. Jo suggested splitting up responsibilities: the SYEP students would still get their ice cream social, but the younger youth and staff would go support Antoine. We bought tickets, loaded up the FAN van, and 13 youth plus 3 team members rolled out to see The Wiz.
When Ant stepped on stage and spotted her FAN family in the audience, her whole face lit up. She nearly forgot her dance moves, beaming at the cheers of her friends. Afterwards, she was overwhelmed—she couldn’t believe everyone showed up just for her, and even paid to be there. She said if FAN hadn’t come that night, there wouldn’t have been anyone in the audience cheering for her. That made all the difference.
This story captures what FAN is all about, meeting youth where they are, creating moments of joy, and showing up when it matters most. Sometimes it starts with an open door at a bus stop. Sometimes it’s buying tickets to a play. Every time, it’s about building belonging and reminding young people they matter.
When we asked our youth how they wanted to spend their last days of summer, their answer was simple: “together.” So, we hosted an old-fashioned end-of-summer slumber party! We danced, laughed, ate, played games, told jokes, and made memories that will last well beyond the season.
The night also featured our 2nd Annual Youth Cook-Off, and our chefs did not disappoint. The menus were extensive:
Participant 1: spaghetti, garlic bread, cake pops, and lemonade
Participant 2: chicken wings, cabbage, mashed potatoes, and honey cornbread
Participant 3: hot honey chicken with homemade ranch, mac & cheese, green beans, and Oreo dump cookies
Each dish was judged on presentation, taste, and price (since the youth created restaurant concepts and priced their plates). Everything was so delicious that the competition ended in a three-way tie!
It was the perfect way to close out summer: full of joy, teamwork, and plenty of good food.
By Josephine Mazyck | Executive Director
By Josephine Mazyck | Executive Director
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
