Youth First Named State Farm Neighborhood Assist® Top 200 Finalist

 Youth First with Joshua Academy has been selected as one of the Top 200 finalists in the State Farm Neighborhood Assist® grant program.

Youth First needs your votes to receive a $25,000 grant from State Farm® to help improve their community. Their campaign, “Building Mental Health for Minority Youth in Evansville, IN,” will launch Youth First Social Work services at Joshua Academy, and you can be a part of it by voting at  www.neighborhoodassist.com/entry/2033532.

Joshua Academy Principal Arveneda McDonald says: “We call our students ‘the bright ones,’ because we know they are open to learning and shining with potential, but only 30% can read at grade level. Only 40% can do math at grade level. Why? In part because they are dealing with serious challenges: incarcerated or addicted parents, poverty, anger, depression issues, and more. The school needs a Youth First Social Worker in the building to provide resilience-building strategies, skilled resourcing, teacher/parent training, and a dedicated mentoring presence.”

Youth First’s proven model of mental health support and prevention will help Joshua Academy’s 250 students shine even brighter. Research confirms that mental health support is essential to success in school and in life. A State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant will equip Joshua Academy’s students with powerful tools and caring relationships that help them overcome social, emotional, and economic barriers.

“We are very grateful to State Farm for choosing the Youth First-Joshua Academy project as a worthy finalist,” said Parri O. Black, Youth First’s President & CEO. “Everyone who votes for us will help underserved young people grow their resilience, excel in the classroom, and become the community’s next generation of leaders.”

Voting takes place September 23 – October 2 and U.S. residents who are 18 and older are allowed up to 10 votes per day per email address. Go to www.neighborhoodassist.com/entry/2033532 and cast as many votes as you can for this impactful project.

On November 4, the top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced and a $25,000 grant will be awarded to each of the affiliated nonprofits.