SEMO BAGS GRANT FOR YOUTH PROJECTS

Jack Stokes believes America's youth can contribute much to their communities.

That belief is at the heart of a $10,000 federal grant awarded to the social work and criminal justice departments at Southeast Missouri State University.

The "Youth as Resources Project" grant from the National Crime Prevention Council will fund youth groups' community service projects, up to $700 per project. The grant extends through the end of the year.

Stokes, an assistant professor of social work who is directing and administering the grant, said the program puts a new twist on the growing youth community service movement.

"It's not projects that adults identify and that youths do. The youth have to come up with the projects themselves," said Stokes.

"Often with community service things, youth end up doing what adults think are important," he said.

With this program, everything from the creation of the project to its completion will rest with the youth.

Youth will even serve on two boards being set up to oversee the program locally, said Johnny McGaha, an associate professor of criminal justice at Southeast. Adults also will serve on the boards.

One board will screen applications and award the grant money, and the other will serve as an advisory body.

McGaha said the goal is to involve "the whole spectrum of youth in the community," from delinquent kids to church groups.

"I think that's one of the neat things about this program, we are not limited," he said. "That is one of the things that attracted me to it. It wasn't the typical bureaucratic-type grant to start with."

McGaha said there's limited funding for any one project. "They are small grants," he said. "They are mainly just a stimulus to get kids involved in the community."

Stokes said: "I think it gives youth an opportunity to use their creativity, talent and skills, and it demonstrates that they can be part of the solution and not part of the problem, if we give them the opportunity to do that.

"We know that they have lots of talent, lots of energy, lots of skills, but we don't always tap into it."

The "Youth as Resources Project" has operated in a number of states.

Stokes said it was expanded this year to include towns affected by last year's flooding.

"Obviously, if we have some flood-related needs in communities, there is an opportunity for youth to get involved," he explained.

Stokes said the projects could involve youth, ranging in age from 10 or 11 to 19 or 20. A number of youth groups have been contacted and invited to an informational meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

Interested groups are encouraged to call Stokes at 651-2714 or 651-6542. To be eligible, groups must be sponsored by non-profit agencies.

Stokes said grant money could be awarded to youth groups in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding area.

"We have the ability to reach out in the county, and maybe even a little farther," he said. "We thought we may go as far north as Ste. Genevieve and as far south as Sikeston."

He said the grant would be used to fund a number of projects this summer and fall. He said he hopes some projects will be under way by July 1.

Projects could range from painting a parking lot to roofing an elderly person's home, he said.

"Youth as Resources" projects in other communities have included the performance of skits on teen parenting and renovation of low-income housing.

Nationwide, there's been a renewed emphasis on community service projects, Stokes said. "I think one of the things that's really stimulating this is the fact that communities are in trouble today with drugs and violence and gangs, and young people who are disenchanted."

The goal of community service programs is to encourage people to work together and build up their communities rather than tear them down, he said.