Dr. Kemp gives Youth Life students and families a reason to smile.

Dr. Phillip Kemp, DDS, Brentwood, Tennessee dentist at Kemp Dental, will be performing free dental care to our students and their families at YLLC-Kirkpatrick on April 21st through his Hope Smiles initiative.  Hope Smiles, a nonprofit, Christian organization, aims to “help individuals receive restorative and cosmetic dental work at little or no cost, made possible by community and private financial support, donated materials and volunteer dental professionals.”  Hope Smiles also gives dental students, soon to be dentists, the opportunity to work with his team.  Although this care will be provided, he hopes that his efforts will reflect on a focus for restoration and love of students and families.

Knowing Yolanda Shields,  CEO of Youth Life Learning Centers, for over fifteen years, first as a patient and now as a friend, Dr. Kemp saw a need among YLLC’s family members and students.  Taking notice of what our organization provides, he believes that we lead hope and change within the at-risk environments served at Youth Life.

“Dentistry is an unmet need in our country,” says Dr. Kemp. “Unfortunately, there are so many who experience pain and discomfort with no hope for relief. Hope Smiles is our small part of bringing a glimpse of hope to a situation that can often feel hopeless. …The need is so great. One of the number one reasons that kids miss school is due to dental pain. This breaks my heart and should not be the case. Also, not to be able to confidently smile significantly effects one’s self-esteem and can also prevent someone from securing employment. The name, Hope Smiles, was chosen because of just like it sounds, Hope Smiles. When someone has hope, he or she cannot help but smile. We love being able to help people smile. We love to share hope.”

When he reflects on lives changed, Dr. Kemp recalls a particular girl, who at one time struggled with an eating disorder.  She felt that God was able to pull her out of these times to find a new sense of peace and love.  Each time the girl looked in the mirror, however, she was reminded of this past struggle by the look of her teeth, which had eroded away.  After transforming her teeth, her new smile brought not only a physical healing, but also an emotional one by erasing a painful reminder.

Dr. Kemp wants to tell all of the students served at Youth Life Learning Centers to never give up and trust God in all that they do.  The staff and YLLC students and families members would like to give him a special thank you for his efforts that will not just provide smiles but a sense of restoration, hope and love.

Thank you Women’s History Month readers for making big smiles and big impacts on our kids!

We would like to give a special thanks to all of our Women’s History Month readers throughout March!  We know that you touched the lives of our at-risk students by helping them learn from role models who have gone before them and challenged the norm.  Students learned about anything from the suffrage movement and famous, historical female figures to modern-day equality.  Many readers talked with the students during and after the story about what it meant to them individually.

YLLC board member, Rachel Baily, stops by YLLC-West to read "Elizabeth Leads the Way," a story about Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who helped get women the right to vote and fought for many other women's rights. "I'd be happy to come out again anytime," Baily says.

"It was fun and magical, because she was so pretty. The book was so funny, and it talked about what you're gonna be when you grow up," said Abrea King, YLLC-Riverchase second-grade student (pictured left of volunteer reader, Nisha Garner.)

At YLLC-Hillside, Lori Cain reads a story about Mary McLeod Bethune, a renowned educator, who was best known for starting a school for African-American students and being an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

YLLC-Hillside's second Women's History Month reader, Valerie Lancaster, read a poem on fearlessness by Maya Angelou. After listening to the poem, the students wrote their own poems about being fearless and presented them to Valerie and their YLLC peers.

Kim Church read the story of Dr. Mae C. Jemison, the first black female astronaut to go into space from the book, "5 Brave Explorers" at YLLC-Easley. "I had the opportunity to not only read to the kids but spend time with them and learn about their lives and dreams. We talked about their goals and what they wanted to do with their lives. The experience once again reminded me of the importance of YLLC and how we are changing lives everyday," says Church.

Visit our Facebook page to see more pictures from our reading celebrations in honor of Women’s History Month.

YLLC partners with “Unconditional,” film to hit theaters fall 2012, for call to “ACT.”

Youth Life partners with “Unconditional,” a film to hit theaters this coming fall, to express the urgent need to serve at-risk children and youth in inner-city communities all across the country in a movement called, “ACT.”  After “Unconditional” producers came to know our ministry through their relationship with the Boselli Foundation in Jacksonville, Florida, the partnership seemed inevitable.  In fact, producers shot their “ACT” video at Youth Life Learning Centers in Jacksonville.

“They really want it to be more than just a movie but a movement to action,” says Yolanda Shields, CEO of Youth Life Learning Centers.  “I didn’t realize until halfway into the movie that it was about my friend, Joe Bradford, whom I have known for over 20 years!  He is definitely an example of how one person can make a difference to impact children living in the inner-city.  Our partnership with “Unconditional” and “ACT” will allow observers to see what faith based organizations throughout the country are already doing to impact children and families and how they can help the cause.”

“What Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee (YLFT) has been doing since 2001 is a perfect model of doing urban ministry in a way that brings sustainable changes to the lives of at-risk children and youth,” says Benjamin Thigpen, Director of Community Relations and ACT for Harbinger Media Partners, LLC, Producers of “Unconditional.” “By focusing on a balanced program of education, character and life skills, Youth Life has deeply impacted kids living in Tennessee communities.  YLLC is an urban ministry that we are proud to highlight and encourage our viewers to support via donations, volunteering, partnering, etc.“

Make sure to check out “Unconditional” at a theater near you this September!  Read more about “Unconditional” and the ACT movement.

Wesley Legg, Co-Producer of “Unconditional” and Chief Operating Officer of Harbinger Media Partners, added, “We are blown away by how many people are responding to the movie and we can’t wait to see how God moves on the hearts of audiences across the country this fall.”

Rosa Parks play by Youth Life Learning Centers at Riverchase

For Black History Month 2012, YLLC-Rivechase students create a short play based on Rosa Parks.

Students start off with a brief overview on Rosa Park’s story during The Civil Rights Movement.  At 0:52, their Rosa Parks play begins.  Listen carefully as students use yellow shirts to indicate those who can sit in the front of the bus versus those who cannot.  In their play, “Rosa Parks,” refuses to sit in the back of the bus even though she is not wearing a yellow shirt.  She is immediately arrested.  Shortly after her release from jail, she begins a boycott.  See clip below to watch the play.

“I learned that Rosa Parks started the bus boycott.  And I learned that we need to treat people fair.”  -Dyamond Armstrong, fifth-grade YLLC-Riverchase student.

What else went on at YLLC-Riverchase for Black History Month?  The students at YLLC-Riverchase were given a choice of writing a song, making a poster, or doing this play.  When the boys decided to write and perform a song about Louis Armstrong, the girls decided to break off and put together this play.

The students were very excited to practice their performances.  No one wanted to go to activity time all week!  They begged to work on their performances longer.

We’d like to “Share the Advantage” of our latest partnership

Southwestern Advantage, the longest running summer program that allows entrepreneurial college and university students to sell learning system tools, recently partnered with Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee (YLFT) through Southwestern’s “Share The Advantage” outreach program, as both share an aim to help children get ahead, obtain better grades and learn life skills.  After communications directors met for the first time at a local Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) meeting, it became clear that the partnership was a perfect fit.

“Since not everyone can afford or come into contact with the products that the college students at Southwestern Advantage sell, we have been able to donate products all over the world to individuals and organizations —from orphans in Mexico to kids just like the ones served at YLFT.  The college students in our program are a key part to helping children, as they work with organizations in their own hometowns to ‘share the advantages.’…I think YLFT is unique, because it is faith-based and the children it is assisting are those who are in dire need to perform better in school.  Also, having multiple centers means more reach in different areas.” – Trey Campbell, Director of Communications at Southwestern Advantage.

For preschoolers through high school students, Southwestern Advantage’s tools include thousands of interactive learning tools such as videos, practice problems and quizzes, language learning and plenty of reference content.  These resources are able to be accommodate students at various levels of pace, skill and progress.

“We do individualized learning plans …we recognize that every child is a different learner with different skill sets and different passions, so any resource that allows us to individualize that gives them choice within their learning, making it fun and engaging.” – Lindsay Daly, Program Director of Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee.

“We are excited and inspired to have such a partnership with Southwestern Advantage.  This is the type of corporate partnership that will help our city impact the achievement gap.”  – Yolanda Shields, CEO, Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee.

After watching Giraffe on the projector to introduce the program, the eight-foot mascot walked through the door to surprise the students.  Between the singing, clapping and smiles, we know the students were overjoyed to receive these gifts.  Although their first trip was to Youth Life Learning Centers at Hillside, Southwestern Advantage plans to hit other Youth Life locations.  We would like to thank Southwestern Advantage for our recent collaboration, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for our partnership.  Learn more about Share the Advantage.

Visit their Facebook page to see more pictures from Southwestern Advantage’s visit to YLLC-Hillside.

Also, don’t forget to watch their  video to see the reactions of Youth Life students and hear more from Lindsay Daly about what the partnership will mean for Youth Life Learning Centers.

Ryan Daly dedicates himself to be behind the lens for YLLC

Ryan Daly, owner of 29Eleven Productions, has been lending his unique talent for filming to Youth Life since 2005.    Originally from Ohio, Ryan moved to Nashville to attend Lipscomb University.   He started volunteering after hearing about the opportunity from Lindsay Daly, older sister and now program director at YLLC.  Ryan films everything from special events and Fun Fridays to PSAs and campaigns.  He is so dedicated to filming at our centers that kids oftentimes don’t recognize him unless his video camera is in hand.

Ryan lends so many of his skills to benefit our programming, because he is motivated by creativity and standing up for his beliefs.  He is an awesome role model to YLLC students, showing students that they can make a difference in a positive, unique way.

“I have been volunteering my video production skills at Youth Life since 2005. I think being able to spread the word about how great Youth Life Learning Centers is has made a positive difference in my own video work.  I see YLLC helping thousands more inner-city kids, educationally, spiritually and mentally.  I believe 100% in what YLLC stands for,” says Ryan. 

Volunteering his talent has given him unique opportunities that he might otherwise not have had, such as interviewing many NFL and former NFL players at various YLLC events.  Also, Ryan enjoys simply interacting with the children served in our programming, especially with all the funny comments that our students say while they’re on camera.

Youth Life would like to extend a warm thank you to Ryan for his many hours of dedication and talent to benefit our organization.

Baking up the holidays with YLLC-Riverchase

What might be delicious, creative and full of holiday cheer?  Why the Christmas cookie decorating at YLLC-Riverchase, of course!   The center’s volunteers brought many sugar cookies to share with students, but were instructed to get crafty.  Kids were given white icing in six different bowls, which the teachers filled with food coloring for various colors.  This exercise gave students a chance to learn about primary colors –red, yellow, and blue– and shout out the guesses as to what secondary colors –orange, green and purple— would come of mixing them together.  Then, the kids had a blast being creative and applying all the colored icing and sprinkles they could gather to decorate their own, unique holiday cookie!  

“Can we eat it now?” asked Kelando Eubanks, seven-year-old YLLC student, shortly after decorating his cookie.  Like the students at YLLC with excess icing on their chins, we wish all of our supporters alike a very merry Christmas.  Watch more from our cookie decorating session here.

We hope you can join us for Thursday’s Christmas party at Bethel World Outreach Church at 6 p.m. to volunteer.  Click here to read more.

Terriana Waters shows leadership for the next generation

D0 you remember that student in your classroom who seemed like a natural born leader?  Well for YLLC-Easley, that student is Terriana Waters.  It is no surprise to other students when she wins an award at the center, such as the “Most Respected Student Award,” voted on by her peers and Youth Life volunteers.  She has also been leading in the amount of YLLC bucks, which are used as incentives for hard work, since the beginning of the school year.  Terriana’s hard work is proven when she makes the honor roll in school for getting all As and Bs.

“..She seemed a little leery and reluctant with us at first, but she is very much a positive attribute to our group now,” says her teacher at YLLC-Easley.  “She is a great leader, because she takes all aspects of our program seriously and fulfills her responsibilities.  Not only does she work hard on her school and program work, but Terriana even volunteers to do extra work or chores around the center.  The students know she makes the right choices, which is why they voted her as the student who displays the most respect.”

Leadership doesn’t come natural to some.  For some, it takes time and practice.  Whether born or made, we must start taking a closer look at the next generation of leaders.  After all, they are our tomorrow, too.  Don’t you want to make tomorrow better?  

To volunteer with students like Terriana, register today.

Tashi McClain encourages students with some tough love.

Each Thursday and Friday, Tashi McClain gets to interact with kids on a one-on-one basis, while going on fun field trips, such as a trip to a Halloween corn maze.  After hearing about Youth Life on a freshman year field trip with one of her classes, Tashi, a Lipscomb University senior, studying law, justice and society, and a member of her school’s Phi Alpha Delta, later came across Youth Life again and decided to take action.  She has been volunteering in YLLC West’s middle school classroom for the past year and a half.  Although the days of the week have varied due to the class schedule that semester, Tashi’s mission is the same– to encourage the students that they can succeed.  She says that when the students complain about work being too difficult or too long, rather than sugar-coating it, she tells students that homework only gets more difficult when you get to college and that understanding the foundation for education will help them later.  Encouragement from students not to give up is sometimes all they need, no matter their circumstances.

“I want to be an example for them [communicating to them] that no matter what background you are from, you can do whatever you want to do.  I came from a single-parent home like many of the YLLC students… even though I fell under that statistic, I didn’t let that stop me from reaching my goals.”

Tashi is truly one who sets an example for those at Youth Life.  When students see that she is still able to volunteer at the centers twice per week to help students with their homework, they too feel they can step it up.  Tashi would like to invite others to volunteer with her at Youth Life Learning Centers.

“Give it a chance,” she says.  “You can’t change the world, but you can make a difference with one student at a time.  You don’t need to come every day, but if you change one life, they can change other lives.  You can start the chain and think about the greater good.  And it honestly doesn’t take a lot, even if it’s only one or two hours per week.”

Why Tennessee Needs You to Care

The state we know and love recently learned some news in education that may have been difficult to hear.  However, it is important that we understand why services like Youth Life are needed in this community.  If you aren’t sure what I might be talking about, please read the article below.

According to 2011 National Assessment of Education Progress, Tennessee dropped one to seven places in the national ranking, putting the state in the bottom ten for reading and math among fourth and eighth grade levels.  Read more.

Although this is our present state, it does not have to be our future.  Articles like this make you realize why Tennessee needs you to care and make a stand for a change in academics.  Services like ours provides students with the right tools to complete their homework, learn what they may not have understood in the classroom, and receive one-on-one time strengthening their academic weaknesses.  This is why it is critical to support services like Youth Life for not only the future of these students’ lives, but also for the sake of our state.

If you haven’t made the decision to change the future of Tennessee, start today.

1. Give $10 to Youth Life through our $Ten for Tenn. Campaign!
2. Help students with their homework
3. Become a mentor to a student living in the inner-city