Celebrate Youth Em"POWER"ment with AYA!


Our mission is..
To give teens POWER by advocating and fostering the well being of at-risk youth so they may lead productive lives.
The POWER Teen Center needs a new home.

We are actively looking for a new place for the POWER Teen Center to lease. If you know of any places in the downtown area or on a major bus route, please let us know.

If you would like to volunteer your time to help us move into our new space please e-mail Serena at [email protected].


UPCOMING TRAININGS
every third Thursday for youth between the ages of 13-23.

Adulting 101

January 19, 2017 4pm-5pm
Covenant House Alaska Weidner Room

AYA Peer Outreach Workers will present on the expectations of being an adult. Food and beverages will be provided. There will also be door prizes!
Call 929-2633 to reserve space.





Healthy Relationships
February 16, 2017
4pm-5pm
Location TBD
 
March Anti-Madness - Mental Health
March 16, 2017
4pm-5pm
Location TBD

Reproductive Health

April 20, 2017

4pm-5pm

Location TBD 

Thank you to an amazing anonymous donor for sponsoring the community presentations for 2017!
Thank you to Sarah Summers and her unofficial group of 30+ of military spouses for donating the food and beverages for the community presentations!

Message from a Peer Outreach Worker
 
Hello,
My name is Marsana Davis and I've been working with Alaska Youth Advocates as a Peer Outreach Worker since August 11, 2015 and have recently become the Peer Outreach Worker Lead. Working here has been so much fun! All of the learning and meeting new faces can be a lot to take in at times, but I have such a great team that is supportive and I really love what I do. One of the things that I love most about AYA is that everything is voluntary and peer lead. I get to decided if I want to lead a presentation, go on outreach or put in more hours. To me, the amount of work that me and my teammates do, shows dedication, commitment and effort.
Over the past few months we have been working to get our name back in the community and have more youth come into our drop-in center. Since August, we've maintained the POWER Teen Center at Covenant House Alaska, hosted nine presentations and collaborated on outreach with Parachutes Ministries Inc. and Covenant House Alaska.  
I'm really excited about the work that we're doing here at AYA. I hope to see you at our upcoming Silent Auction at TapRoot!
Giving Teens POWER
"AYA has always been a strong support in my life and journey. Not only was I able to grasp onto resources I never knew even existed until POWER, but I was also able to move forward into becoming who I wanted to be. I stand strong in the statement that I was given the space and knowledge to let myself sprout into who I am today, as well as being aware of tools to continue on my growth. It's a known fact that young adulthood is a rocky road, and I can say with full certainty that I've fallen many of times due to the spins. Even though I had so many plans, goals and aspirations, I couldn't find the courage and the strength to follow through. Through the circumstances given in my life, I didn't know how to support myself. Then I found AYA, and it was just the right resources given for me to realize that the road I was on was not the one preferred. Instead of picking me up, AYA did something much greater: they helped me realize I needed to pick myself up because I had POWER. "



Special thank you to everyone who has donated to AYA's upcoming Silent Auction:
 
ABC RV Sales
Air Aerial Fitness
 
AK Starfish
 
Alaska Club
 
Alaska Fur Exchange
 
Anchorage Cycle
 
Arctic Roadrunner Local Burgerman
 
Bass Pro Shop
 
Body Piercing Unlimited
 
Bradley House
 
Cabin Fever
 
Catelynn's Day Spa
 
Deha Yoga
 
Dino's Donuts
 
Fat Ptarmigan
 
Fire Island Bakery
 
Get Air
 
Grass Roots Fair Trade
 
Great Harvest Bread Co
 
IHOP
 
Intuition Day Spa
 
Kaladi Brothers Coffee
 
Kinleys Restaurant & Bar
 
Mooses Tooth
 
Music Man
 
Mylords Floral
 
Natural Pantry
 
New Sagaya
 
Oil and Vinegar
 
Oriental Healing Arts
 
Rainbow Toys
 
Regis Hair Salon
 
Skinny Raven
 
Southside Strength and Fitness
 
Spenard Road House
 
The Loft Hair Design
 
Tidal Wave Books
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Ways to Give
 
AYA offers Anchorage the promise of healthier young people who are able to make good decisions about their lives, complete their education, support themselves, and contribute to the community. Because of the way we operate - with a small staff, lean budget and effective partnerships - we also promise efficient use of dollars invested. Your donation gives at-risk youth employment, education and housing. Thank you. Please contact 907-929-2633 if you have any questions or if you would like to donate.

Monthly Donor: join others making a monthly commitment to at risk youth. Participate in a workplace campaign such as Federal, State or Anchorage School Districts Combined Campaign or United Way
 
Other ways to give
Donate 'In Kind' Items:  There are many ways you can help the at risk youth of our community. One of these is to donate 'in kind' items (and services in some circumstances) to Alaska Youth Advocates. As winter is approaching, we would appreciate your old winter jackets, gloves, hats, blankets and backpacks.

Volunteer:  Without volunteers and interns Alaska Youth Advocates could not reach the number of youth reached each day. We use the skill set of volunteers to meet every day needs. Please visit www.bethechange907.org for current volunteer opportunities.

Beneficiary Designations: Continue supporting at risk youth even after your lifetime by naming us as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, life insurance or insurance annuity assets.

Memorial and Honorary Gifts: If you have a family member or friend whose life has been touched by Alaska Youth Advocates and/or the issues we work to resolve, we hope you'll consider making a gift to us in honor of that person.


Alaska Youth Advocates
 1-907-929-2633  |  [email protected] |  www.akyouthadvocates.org