Chelsea Education Foundation Awards SRSLY Grant for Youth Leadership

Editor's note: This press release was submitted by SRSLY Chelsea.

The Chelsea Education Foundation recently awarded SRSLY a $1,000 grant for youth-led prevention projects. These projects are designed, planned, and led by middle school students in the Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) program at Beach Middle School in Chelsea.

Developed by the University of Michigan School of Public Health Prevention Research Center, the YES program builds teamwork and leadership skills of middle school students, and prepares them to implement their own community improvement projects.

More than 40 students have participated in the YES program since it was first implemented in Chelsea in 2009. During four YES workshops, youth meet with Chelsea leaders, tour a community asset, and conduct a “wind-shielding” activity, where they learn how to identify community strengths and liabilities.

The YES Program kicked-off Nov. 12 at Beach Middle School, with 20 students participating.

“I like that we get to decide how we want to improve the community, then make it happen,” said Madison, a 7th grade YES participant.

Past YES team projects have included: Operation Active, an after-school field day at Beach Middle School; Leap for Faith, a collection of birthday party supplies for families at Faith in Action; SRSLY Educ8, a bullying prevention assembly; and Bag n’ Tag, an informational brochure on prescription drug abuse.

“I’m proud of what we did,” said Skyler, a Leap for Faith team member. “I think it’s a really good thing and I’m excited we could give the (birthday party) baskets to Faith in Action.”

The Chelsea Education Foundation grant will support each project team’s budget, helping them purchase supplies and other necessary items for implementation — from brochures and posters for educational projects, to refreshments or prizes for the community.

For more information, visit www.srslychelsea.org.