YouthAction--The Perfect Gift....

Five years ago...in October 2000...I was invited to join the board of YouthAction. I'd actually applied to join YouthAction's board in late 1999, but I was turned down...in favor of my roommate....who joined the board...went to one board meeting...and never turned up again. But I'm totally over that.

For the last five years, I have grown with, learned from, and supported this amazing organization that provides technical assistance, organizational development, political education and training, and support to grass roots youth-led, youth-run progressive/radical/revolution organizations and projects in the United States Southeast and Southwest. I have served as the organizations Program Committee Chair, Finance Committee Chair, Board Co-Chair, and I currently am the Interim Executive Director. YouthAction works hand in hand with low-income youth, youth of color, and queer young people in the most underserved regions of the United States to assist those young people in changing their lives and their communities...YouthAction acts as a networking agent...bridging isolated youth communities and creating a broader connectedness in the youth movement in the U.S. YouthAction has been doing this work for almost 20 years...and...like most small progressive non-profit organizations...YouthAction is struggling hardcore at the moment.

For those of you that have never had the pleasure of interacting with the funding community...you will not be aware of how foundation funding works. In general...foundation giving is about 3-4 years behind the current state of the economy. So while the economy in the United States may have strengthened as compared to just a few years ago...foundation endowments are operating, right now, as if this were 2000-2001 and the NASDAQ bubble had just burst. This means funding for everyone is short...and it will be another 3-4 years of a half way decent economy...before funding will even begin to look as it did at the end of century. YouthAction, in the past, has relied almost solely on large grants from progressive foundations. Those grants have largely dried up. YouthAction can no longer rely on large foundation gifts to carry the day...we need the help of people...near and far...young and old...that believe in the power of young people to change their world in positive ways...to support YouthAction right now.  YouthAction is looking at a major budget shortfall for 2006. This will most likely mean a reduction in staff (from our current amazingly large staff of four)...and a reduction in our ability to serve young people...the demand for our services has increased exponentially...now is not the time to reduce services...but we will have to if we do not receive support from individuals that care about young people's futures.

I am asking each of you that reads this blog entry...whether you read it today or two months from now...to direct your web browser to www.youthaction.net, where you can give a donation...online...using your credit card or debit card...to YouthAction. We accept gifts of all sizes...whether it is $5 or $50,000...we'll take both and everything in between just as happily. You can also send checks or money orders made payable to YouthAction to YouthAction, PO Box 12372, Albuquerque, NM 87195. Please make a gift right now...today....our work is necessary...it is vital...and it is crucial. With our help...young people have stopped a youth prison from being built in North Carolina...have forced their schools to recognize Black History Month....have fought school re-segregration...have organized around protecting indigenous sacred sites...fought for and had included sexual orientation as a protected group in school non-discrimination policies...and so much more...again...go to www.youthaction.net to make a gift online or send a check to PO Box 127372, Albuquerque, NM 87195 made out to YouthAction...and help us continue to change this country for the better.