East Idaho Moms is excited to feature Community Youth in Action as our nonprofit for February 2022. Eastern Idaho is fortunate to have a wealth of nonprofit and service organizations. By highlighting some of these groups, we hope to encourage moms and families to get involved and learn about all that our wonderful community has to offer.
Community Youth in Action (CYA) is a free organization that serves children in grades 5 through 12. It was founded in 2018 by Becky Leatham, Executive Director, and a “handful of passionate teens,” whose mission is “a coalition empowering the voices of (our) youth through action and service to foster relationships and build healthy communities throughout southeastern Idaho.”
CYA puts this mission into action by providing the following programs and support to our community:
- Tutoring/Homework Help. This is offered free of charge 5 days a week. Powerschool can be checked and daily support is offered for missing work. A Saturday Homework Bootcamp occurs on the last two Saturdays of each trimester.
- Self-Defense. These classes help make sure your daughter is safe in all situations. Internet safety information is included.
- Class Action. Teens are placed in the trenches with law enforcement to learn laws that impact them and their peers. The youth tour places of interest like jails, Capitol buildings, and courtrooms. They also create their own videos depicting court cases where they act as the jury, judge, victims, and criminals. These hands-on experiences are difficult to replicate in a classroom.
- Art. Weekly art classes are provided by local professional artists
- Fitness. Fitness classes including Pound, MMA, boxing, and dance are offered. If the teens request different classes, CYA will find teachers.
- Music. Drumming, piano, guitar, ukulele, violin, and voice are among the music courses offered.
- Life Skills. These classes include many of the day-to-day activities and skills that really matter: positive friendships, substance use refusal skills, quality decision making.
- Bright Lights. This is a place to belong and find support for LGBTQ+ teens.
- Teen Support Group. “Let’s chat, we hear you.”
- STEM. CYA has a laser cutter, 3D printers, vinyl machines, and a Lego Team for teens interested in science, technology, engineering, and math.
- Volunteerism. College resumes can be boosted by making a difference in the community. CYA coordinates weekly service projects for interested teens.
- Substance Use Prevention Team. Peers and community partners work collectively to keep youth drug- and alcohol-free.
- Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Support. “If it matters to you, join the fight.”
- Safe and Sober Teen Activities. CYA plans fun and interesting activities for teens to do with their peers.
- Leadership. CYA teens just returned from speaking to their Congressman in Washington DC. In the next 6 months, youth will be participating in several other local and out-of-state leadership opportunities.
- Dinner is served nightly.
Upcoming Activities include sewing, gardening, hiking, and a Fireworks Stand fundraiser from June 24th until July 4th.
CYA is a place for teens to make connections, establish a sense of belonging, and feel welcome around their peers and with different activities. It is dedicated to providing a safe place for teens in our community. Every night there are 12-15 adult mentors in the building supporting the many ongoing programs, classes, and activities offered. Transportation from all schools to CYA and then home at 8:00 PM is provided, as needed. Teens and their parents can tour Monday through Thursday from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm. New teen orientations are offered every Monday after school.
More information regarding Community Youth in Action can be found on their website at cyaidaho.org, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CommunityYouthinAction.
Personal contact can be made through the Community Youth in Action‘s Executive Director, Becky Leatham, by email at becky@cyaidaho.org or by phone at 208-521-5328.
