Teen Court. You may have heard about it, either from family members or friends who have participated in it, but what is it? How do you get involved? Why should you bother spending your time participating in this program when you could instead be playing Among Us? Well, I’m here to tell you about the awesome program that is Teen Court and why you should be part of it!  What is Teen Court? Teen Court is a restorative justice-based diversion program that serves first-time juvenile offenders and middle school and high school student volunteers. Basically, Teen Court is a program that allows f ..read more

“I attended my first TEENPOWER conference in seventh grade. Ever since that first walk to the dorms with a dozen excited high schoolers screaming “WELCOME TO TEENPOWER”, I fell in love with YR and everything it had to offer. TEENPOWER camp became the highlight of my summers. It helped me find my voice and discover who I wanted to be for those around me. Without TEENPOWER, I would not be the leader or person I am today. TEENPOWER offered a never failing support system and a circle of unfailing love. I applied to be on Youth Staff my sophomore year of high school. Receiving my acceptance le ..read more

The preparation is underway leading up to Youth Resources’ annual YR Day celebration on November 7, 2020! Youth Resources hosted its first YR Day in 2017, surpassing its initial fundraising goal. YR’s goal is to raise $30,000 this year in order to provide funds and supplies for YR’s four youth-led leadership programs. Throughout this celebration, you can find NINE different teams to donate to, ranging from TAC members to YR Alumni!  This year is different due to the limitations COVID-19 has inflicted on Youth Resources other annual fundrasising events, including the Hall of Fame and the F ..read more

It’s official—YR’s Teen Advisory Council (TAC) is back in action and we couldn’t be more excited! On Friday, August 14, TAC held its first meeting of the 2020-21 school year virtually on a Zoom call. Although it was a very different start than we’ve had in years past, everyone was so excited to be able to meet their new committees. With so many changes this year in all aspects of our lives, still being able to have our TAC mornings, virtual or in-person, is a really comforting thought. It’s nice to know that regardless of what kind of craziness is happening at school or within our community, T ..read more

17-year old Shelby Ames is always up for a challenge. The Central High School senior, who has faced difficulties of her own, puts her heart into everything she does – whether that’s serving as a tutor for students in her Medical Professionals Academy classes, or as a devoted manager at Dairy Queen. In 7th grade Shelby complained about a buzzing sound and was taken to have her ears checked. After multiple tests and imaging, doctors discovered that she had developed a hearing deficiency, and had lost 70% of her hearing in one ear and 40% of her hearing in the other ear. “Shelby started wearing h ..read more

17-year old Reitz senior Jace Lemp has been involved in scouting since he attended an informational meeting in fifth grade. Jace credits scouting with helping him to focus on being a kind leader, and always looking for ways to lend a hand. Youth Resources is proud to name Jace as our July Youth of the Month. “Leadership in scouting has taught me to be prepared for anything, listen to those around you, and help where you can,” Jace said. Jace found an opportunity to be helpful during COVID-19, when he came across an article about a Scout in Canada who had started printing 3D ear guards for heal ..read more

Deleah with McGary teacher Mrs. Betsy Nellis Not many 13 year-olds can say they’ve written and illustrated a book, but Deleah Payne isn’t your average 13 year-old. The incoming McGary eighth grader self-published a 63-page book called “Our World,” which celebrates autism awareness and explains autism from Deleah and her younger sister Delynn’s perspective.  Autism spectrum disorder is considered a developmental disorder that affects behavior and communication. Individuals diagnosed with autism may experience repetitive behaviors, restricted interest and have difficulty interacting ..read more

15-year old North Posey High School sophomore Reagan Koester is no stranger to overcoming obstacles and persevering. When a basketball injury the summer before freshman year changed the trajectory of her high school sports career, she decided to focus her energy and positive attitude on ways she could make a difference where her injury did not hinder her abilities. “Sports were a big part of my life,” Reagan said, “I have been involved in soccer training since a young child. I was transitioning to a new school for my freshman year and was dedicated to sports training. However, one simple baske ..read more

We’ve all heard the saying “Two heads are better than one.” April’s Youth of the Month winners took teamwork (and sisterhood) to the next level, by creating over 250 masks for health care workers, while stuck at home during COVID-19. Sydney Kleiman (junior) and Sophie Kleiman (sophomore) are both students at Mater Dei High School, and like others their age across the globe, they have been homebound during the pandemic. They decided to work together, with the help of their mom, to create and sew masks as a project to help others during this time. The sisters first began making masks to help out ..read more

To say this year’s BMOC was different than years past is a vast understatement. For the first time ever the fundraiser for YR’s Teen Advisory Council was moved to a virtual 3-day event because of COVID-19 shelter-in-place restrictions. That didn’t stop our five contestants from bringing their all! Winner Isaac Wetzel, a senior at Memorial High School, talked with us about what it was like to compete from home, his favorite segment of the show, and how nervous he felt waiting to hear the winner’s name! You raised nearly $700 from your friends and family during BMOC first (and hopefully only!) o ..read more