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Youth POWER is a youth philanthropy program of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. Started in 2001, this group of Linn County teen leaders awards $10,000 per year to organizations and groups that apply and are selected to receive a Youth POWER grant. The youth board awards the funds to support projects addressing issues of youth in the community.
Youth POWER gives young people the opportunity to voice their opinions and make important decisions on issues that affect them. The program helps youth discover and understand the greatest needs in the community and allows them to decide how to respond.
For the 2008-2009 school year, Youth POWER board consists of 14 local high school youth from throughout Linn County:
Ellen Gardner, Senior, Alburnett High School
Ashwath Gunasekar, Junior, Kennedy High School
Allison Johnson, Junior, Washington High School
Emily Kratovil, Junior, Washington High School
Alycia Lee, Senior, Linn Mar High School
Max McGee, Sophomore, Washington High School
Jason Milke, Junior, Xavier High School
Kristin Neal, Youth POWER Student Director
Luke Reynolds, Junior, Washington High School
Christine Smith, Junior, Washington High School
Jeralyn Westercamp, Junior, Kennedy High School
The program is designed and run in collaboration with the youth. Everything, including the mission statement, name, logo, recruitment process, and grant selection criteria is their work. A student director under the supervision of the Grants Program Associate facilitates the program. The core activities surround grant making:
Youth POWER Board Grantmaking
Award grants totaling $10,000 from a field of applicants
Conduct needs assessments through research and interviews
Applicant interviews
Reading and scoring grant applications
Grant award ceremony in May
Applications to serve on the 2009-2010 Youth POWER board of directors are now being accepted until April 6, 2009. Please click on the Word document below for additional information. You may also contact Elizabeth Pollard, Youth POWER coordinator at 319.366.2862 or elizabeth.pollard@gcrcf.org.
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