Courtney Dunn, MSW Trauma and Youth Specialist No one likes to be told their child may be exhibiting behaviors that result from psychological trauma. These are hard topics of discussion, but depression, stress and anxiety drastically affect a large number of our youth. YouthZone saw an increased need for therapy and substance intervention in 2020 when youth and parents experienced stress and psychological trauma as […]
Continue ReadingYouthZone is Offering Free 1-Hour Parent Consults
Trying to juggle work, changing school schedules, increased stress and mental health needs of your teens on top of handling daily family routines is becoming more difficult by the day. If you don’t know what to do next, you are not alone. YouthZone is now offering free one-hour parent consultations to parents who need guidance and support. For […]
Continue ReadingRestorative Justice Across Cultures Repairs Harm and Creates Community
Rami El Gharib Restorative Justice Coordinator Lebanon, with its history of war and armed conflict, is the same country that I call home. Several Lebanese communities were left fractured in the brutal civil war from 1975 to 1990. If you look at these places now though, it is as if a war had never happened. […]
Continue ReadingAnderson Ranch Artists Create Banner to Share YouthZone’s story
YouthZone was one of five local nonprofits selected to work with Anderson Ranch this August on a public arts initiative supported by the City of Aspen. Members of the artistic staff at Anderson Ranch worked with each nonprofit to bring visibility to their missions through artistic collaborations. The created artworks were reproduced as outdoor-scaled banners […]
Continue ReadingSay Hello to New Grants and Data Manager Stephanie Maurice
YouthZone recently welcomed Stefanie Maurice as the new Grants and Data Manager. Stefanie has a background in both health care administration and writing, and her attention to detail and her preexisting knowledge of privacy and accuracy have helped her settle into this position. Stefanie also has a good understanding of the nonprofit sector because many health care facilities function as a nonprofit. She is familiar with […]
Continue ReadingHelp YouthZone Celebrate Colorado Gives Day!
Carol Wolff Development Director Giving is one of the most gratifying feelings in the world, and better yet, one of the simplest. Gifts aren’t always material; sometimes they are simple acts of human kindness or supporting a cause that is important to you. Philanthropy is described as “the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good […]
Continue ReadingWalking the Line Between Social Distance and Isolation
Claire Hemme Communications Coordinator Recently I noticed myself forcing my gaze from the floor back into the eyes of a peer for the third time in a single conversation. “How strange,” I thought to myself, “Why is this so hard?” I’ve been a natural communicator since childhood, nearly everyone in my life knows me as a social […]
Continue ReadingYouthZone Creates First LGBTQ+ Safe Space for Local Teens
Rami El Gharib Restorative Justice Coordinator YouthZone Restorative Justice program has received a $25,000 micro-grant from the Colorado Restorative Justice Coordinating Council. This grant will be used to fund the valley’s first youth LGBTQ+ safe space, known as The Space. Having lived in Lebanon as an openly gay teen, I know the importance of a […]
Continue ReadingYouthZone Celebrates Administrative Staff
Claire Hemme Communications Coordinator Every organization needs a “glue” to hold the staff together to keep things running smoothly. For some, this can be programs or spreadsheets, but here at YouthZone it’s our administrative staff, Linda Green and Mary Bess Bolling. These women work tirelessly every day to keep our staff and clients working […]
Continue ReadingFundraising During a Pandemic: What it Means for a Non-profit
Claire Hemme Communications Coordinator YouthZone holds its annual Ascent fundraiser to gather enough funding to keep its services available for youth and families. We are grateful to be a part of a community that understands the challenges presented by state and local restrictions to gather in large groups this year, and we thank those who […]
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