Grant Coordinator Mary Banta reported that the April 21 Mercy Community Sale at the Raymond Family Community Center netted $40,482. Of that, $34,482 will benefit the Williston Skating Club. Another $6,148 will be given out in mini grants for asset building in the community.
Approved in the strategic plan were:
€ Healthy Williston Healthy Youth will continue to maintain a high level of public awareness through marketing strategies. This includes providing recognition opportunities for asset builders such the “Look at Who Was Caught Asset Building” award. It also includes marketing education and awareness of HWHY.
€ Healthy Williston Healthy Youth will identify and promote the development of local facilities to fill unmet needs of a healthy community. This includes initiating a research committee to identify unmet needs in Williston, write a comprehensive report of committee findings, present a community need report and partner with agencies to complete identified need. € Healthy Williston Healthy Youth will maintain financial stability and stewardship of funds. This includes obtaining a 501 (c) 3 status, writing and submitting local and federal grants, providing training for grant writing, and identifying specific asset building activities that require funding.
€ Healthy Williston Healthy Youth will partner with community entities to educate Williston residents in a process of community development that values all young people and equips adults with tools to make a positive difference in the lives of children.
This includes providing parenting and asset education for inmates, parents of juveniles in the court system, parents of students suspension and other high-risk situations. It also spells out providing support for the AfterSchool program with the help of volunteers. Another part of this strategy spells out recruiting individuals of all ages willing to be asset builders - identifying Williston residents who are good listeners or confidants (youth and adult).
In this strategy, coalition members were urged to collaborate with community organizations to provide adult and youth asset education .
Near the meeting's end, Jody Cymbaluk gave an update on the progress of the AfterSchool Program. The program was first launched in the fall of 2005. The AfterSchool program gives children a structured, but fun environment in the late afternoon hours before their families arrive home from work. Students complete homework, participate in academic-oriented activities, participate in physical exercise activities, and are given nutritional snacks. They recently took a field trip to the indoor swimming pool.
The AfterSchool program aims lessen the risk of children getting involved in activities that are not good for them because they are alone for two hours in the day when their parents are at work.
Cymbaluk reported that at one time, over 200 children were enrolled.
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