CJ Extra: Topeka Youth Project to host series about issues that affect youths

The teenage years can be difficult ones, whether the problems are trying to obtain and hold a first job or coping with such issues as bullying, cyberbullying, financial awareness, furthering one’s education, mental health issues or others.

The Topeka Youth Project is a local program that is helping area youths navigate the teenage years. Mark Arganbright, its executive director, answered questions about the organization and its work.

Could you tell us a little about the Topeka Youth Project, its history, purpose and goals?

The Topeka Youth Project was created in 1982 to address concerns that youth didn’t have enough positive options in our community with ways to spend their time. Jobs for Young Adults was the first program that the board developed. Since 1983, we’ve helped over 6,000 of Topeka’s youth get and keep their first jobs. We’ve been doing this so long, that we’re beginning to see the grandchildren of our original students go through the program.

In 1993 we got more active with youth court here in Topeka. We’ve helped hundreds of youth in Shawnee County find restorative justice for their first mistakes, often traffic violations. The youth court program has created over 75,000 hours of community service for nonprofits in our area. Many youth volunteering as a part of their sentence continue helping at the organizations.

How many members does the group currently have?

We’re not a membership type of organization, at the time. Here’s some of the numbers we like people to know:

• Over 6,000 youth trained in skills to get and keep their first jobs.

• 75,000 hours of community service.

• Relationships with over 200 Topeka employers.

• Close to 40 years of service to the Topeka community.

Who would this group appeal to?

We’ve primarily supported youth 16 to 20, but with a couple new expansions to programs we’re expanding the age range to 16 to 25 for Jobs for Young Adults. Youth Court will continue to help youth 14 to 20. One of our new programs is Weekly Youth Livestream, a collaboration with Topeka Youth Commission and Washburn University. Humanities Kansas provided a quick grant to help us hear the stories of youth in Topeka about issues that affect them.

What are some of the projects the group has been involved in? Any current ones?

Throughout the years we’ve been involved in a great number of projects in Topeka. People have talked to me about their experiences helping paint playground equipment, do mock interviews, and several small celebrations along the way. We’re looking forward to working with the community around our new (headquarters) at Avalon East. SENT, Community Resource Council, Community Action and Hi-Crest Church and other organizations are transforming the narrative and the neighborhood. We hope we’re invited to help where we can.

I understand the group has just been awarded a grant by the Kansas Humanities Council. How much is the grant for and when did the group receive it? Could you give us more details of the grant?

We’ve been looking for years how best to share the news and insight of youth in our community. The Topeka Youth Commission and the Topeka Youth Project are separate organizations that work to support each other. The other youth in the Topeka Youth Commission are great leaders and have picked out a number of issues they want to address in the community. Washburn University Mass Media are an invaluable partner. They will help us make sure we can put together the best live stream programming possible. Humanities Kansas helps to tell the stories of Kansans so we can all learn from one another.

The job of TYP in this project is helping with the coordination, being organizers and ensuring this is a constructive opportunity for youth. We’ll have Topeka professionals be available for each live stream, to help tell the story of these issues in Topeka, and the young adults with the youth commission will be able to ask questions and share their points of view. Other youth and adults can also participate live by typing in chat of the livestreams on Facebook. The producer from Washburn will be able to highlight and share the questions on the fly with the hosts. Other questions can be submitted anonymously by e-mailing us in advance.

We’re finalizing a topics list and production dates currently, but issues range from being a part of a mentor system, volunteering, financial planning, disability awareness, sexual health and awareness, anti-bullying initiatives, mental health and more.

How can one access these livestreams and what are some upcoming topics?

A lot of it will be connecting youth to services that already exist in our community, but they may not know about. People share information mouth to mouth. We share information on social media every day. I hope this allows youth to talk about serious topics and helps them connect with professionals who deal with issues folks are scared to admit they deal with. We have to break social stigmas to be a healthier society.

CRC (Community Resources Council) has been helping renters turn into home owners. SENT has a number of things they’re doing: buying air conditioner units to relieve misery, buying up houses in terrible condition and helping new owners renovate and build, recently they bought a location to help teen moms get a foothold in the community.

When working with the homeless in Wichita about 10 years ago, a wise man told me, everyone needs to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, but we have to open our eyes and realize not everyone has bootstraps. I see the organizations working in the neighborhood as bootstrap creators. I think we all see our jobs as creating environments where people can help themselves.

We’re looking at either Tuesday or Thursday nights around 7 pm for broadcasts, nothing set in stone till after school starts.

Where can more information about the Topeka Youth Project be found?

Our current website is www.topekayouthproject.org, facebook.com/tyouthproject, and by email (to) director@topekayouthproject.com.