Thank you for taking the time to read this note where I give you the latest on the happenings of IYN.
For starters, we are revamping our online presence to make it more effective and are doing away with some offices and/or keeping them for a time when we can find people who can fill them better (with the exception of the ones we decide are necessary at this time and are already being filled by people who fit the job description).
For example, I was given the title of Deputy Chairman of Public Relations, but I'm really not administrative material, so, if Russell decides that this position is a keeper, I won't be the one filling it in the future, and I'm very okay with that. For one thing, it makes my sig-block look less busy.
However, that's just one small matter. The BIG matter is how to make IYN step outside of the computer and into the real world more. We're still keeping our online presence, but the kids we serve don't live inside of a computer. They are out in the real world, and Russell has written about this so well that I've made his words into blog-entries that can be found by going here and here.
We are looking for people who are able to do any, some, or all of the following:
- Keep us in your prayers and/or positive thoughts.
- Send us cash donations and/or items we have listed on our wish list. To find out more about this, go here and here.
- Use your special talents to help us in our mission. For instance, if you can knit, our young people could use some stocking caps. If you can quilt, make one or more one-person-sized quilts. If you're a musician, consider staging a benefit concert. If you're a member of the medical profession (e.g. doctor, nurse, dentist), donate part of your time to caring for our street kids. If you're a writer and/or blogger write about us--and we appreciate your sharing information about us in your e-mails as well.
- Go here to find out how to become a mentor.
- When you looked at our donation link, did you also notice the opportunities to help raise funds for our mission by doing things that you probably do already such as making purchases online and surfing the internet? Consider doing this at least part of the time when you shop and/or surf. We also have other ways where you can raise funds by doing what comes naturally such as playing online games. When we post something like this, please check it out.
- Consider starting an online chapter in your area that will get both local and global issues "out there" to a greater number of people. You can check out the chapters that have already been set up--plus get more information about starting your own--by going here.
- If your community has a population of street youth, put together an outreach group and go out to bring things they might be able to use to them--meaning things such as food, food cards, store cards, personal hygiene items, clothing, backpacks, blankets, etc. and, most importantly, a non-judgmental listening ear.
- Sign any or all of our petitions to make it official that Youth Outreach Day takes place on the second Saturday of every October (details here and here) as well as organizing/encouraging others in your community to organize special activities on that day.
- Finally, feel free to contact us with your own ideas. We can always tell you that it won't work with us and why--though we're open to most ideas just so long as the best interests of our youth wouldn't be compromised. For example, we have no place for those judgmental, bullying boot-camps or that kind of mentality. These young people have been hurt and put down enough already, and this kind of thing is the last thing they need happening in their lives.
Blessings!
Ainsley Jo Phillips
Founding Member & Public Information Officer
Invisible Youth Network
Chapter President
Sugar Fork Creek Chapter of Madison County
When love is shared, it increases instead of decreasing.
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