Mentoring 500 Alaskan Youth through Sports

In order to meet the goals of our GG project we need to hire new staff at Joel's Place to engage the youth in positive adult relationships. While this project has been drawn out over several years this is still a need that we have. It is our hope to hire 22 year old Gary Galbreath! Erik calls him the best skateboarder in Fairbanks!  He has been skating at Joel's Place since we opened our doors in 2004. Everytime the doors were open he was on his skateboard with his brothers.  This summer he was invited to join Blue and Gold Board Shop's team (as close as we get to professional boarders in Alaska).  He has been an active volunteer and just completed Sources of Strength Adult Advisor training.  Our next goal is to help him become a Certified Skateboarding Instructor.  Gary volunteers every weekend and we are so glad to have Joel's Place alumni who still believe in the mission of Joel's Place.  Positive activities, mentors and positive friends are all sources of strength, as a donor you will also be a source of strength with your generosity.

Through Sources of Strength we are reaching out to Fairbanks youth in schools, in youth groups and even to home schooled teens in the next two years with this positive culture message #Iamstrong partnering with the Fairbanks Wellness Coalition.  You can add your recurring donation to build resilience in Fairbanks youth who need our support.

Links:

• Our website!
• Download our App!
• Like us on Facebook!

First and foremost, Thank You for your continued support for Joel's Place and the youth who for 17 years now have come to play! Housing the only indoor skate park in Alaska has brought us many visitors this summer, some from as far away as Boston! As summer comes quickly to an end and the kids are back in school August 17th, we are extending our hours!  We will be open before and after school for students ages 5-12 and Friday, Saturday and Sunday for youth ages 12 and older.

One of the highlights of our summer is Lunch and Lessons!  Young skateboarders arrive about 12:30 for lunch followed by lessons by our Skate Park manager!  This beginning instruction gives 5-12 year olds confidence and skills to skate our indoor park.  It's the busiest time of our day.  Yesterday at the Tanana Valley State Fair booth we were encouraged by many who thanked us for expanding our programs for the benefit of Fairbanks youth. 

We have an announcement to make!  The beginning of July we were awarded a suicide prevention grant from the Fairbanks Wellness Coalition to partner with them to bring a national best practice program "Sources of Strength" to Fairbanks.  Two of our staff will become trainers over the next two years.  This award came to us because of our history providing strength based youth programs!  In our 17 year history working with young people we have not had a suicide, while every one of our teens has had a suicide loss of a friend or family member. 

Every gift to Joel's Place strengthens our ability to give creative, adventurous and adrenalin seeking youth a good, positive outlet for their energy.  That mission statement continues to speak of our heart to be a strength to the young people we serve. Thanks for partnering with us!

Directors

Links:

• Virtual Tour of Joel's Place