2679 Farnam Street, Suite 205
Omaha, NE 68131
402-345-5187
www.yesomaha.org
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Youth Emergency Services assists youth experiencing homelessness
and near homelessness by providing critically-needed resources
which support them in their desire to be self-sufficient.
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Get Tickets, Cast Votes for 2021 Dance for a Chance
Presented by Lindsay Corporation, the annual fundraising event -- YES' biggest of the year -- features a mix of community and business leaders who are learning a dance while also raising money to provide services and resources for homeless and near-homeless youth in our community.
This year's event is Thursday, October 7, from 6-9 p.m. once again at
the Omaha Design Center.
“After having to cancel last year’s event due to COVID, we are so excited to welcome everyone back to the Omaha Design Center this year for a fun, safe event,” said YES Director of Development Barb Farho. “Dance for a Chance is an opportunity to get out and have a great time while also giving back to the community.
“We are grateful for our dancers, instructors, and everyone who supports the critical work of helping homeless and near-homeless youth in the metro area to become self-sufficient.”
Dancers this year are (listed alphabetically):
Similar to Dancing with the Stars, Dance for a Chance pairs up dancers with instructors, who then work together over a series of weeks to create a dance, pick accompanying music and practice before competing in October.
At the same time, the dancers are working within their personal and professional networks – largely via social media – to raise awareness and money for Youth Emergency Services.
Dancers, instructors and attendees are invited to dress in 1920s attire as well. Ibsen Costume Gallery of Omaha has signed on to provide attendees a 15 percent rental discount with the purchase of their event ticket.
To accommodate attendees who may not be comfortable assembling at a big event or who live out of town but want to support dancers, instructors and YES, there will also be a virtual broadcast of this year’s Dance for a Chance.
Event tickets are available for purchase online! They are $100/ticket and $1000/table of 10. This includes heavy hors d'oeuvres, open bar (including signature drink), silent auction and LIVE entertainment!
Virtual tickets are also available for $25, and they include silent auction, dancer voting and live viewing via a telecast link (that will be emailed with each purchase).
Other sponsorships (including the virtual broadcast) remain available. Please contact Barb to learn more about the advantages of becoming a Dance for a Chance sponsor.
Dance for a Chance will also include silent auction items. Contact Barb if you’d like to make donations for that as well.
We Look Forward to a Grand Old Time!
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Great Need for Meals this Fall to Feed Homeless Youth
Because of you, homeless youth in our community DON'T GO HUNGRY -- and we are SO GRATEFUL!
However, looking ahead into September and the fall months, WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Starting TODAY, meals can once again be HOMEMADE, although we still appreciate catered and frozen meals!
Without your help, they can go for days without a meal. Meals should be large enough to feed between 20 and 25 youth. Further details can be found on our Meals Donation Page*.
Please contact Maren with any questions.
Thank you for signing up today so our youth don't go hungry!
*Your donations are tax deductible.
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Dush Creates, Nurtures Community-Based
Partnerships for Making A Connection
Prior to joining YES last December, Making A Connection (MAC) Community Initiatives Manager Karla Dush (pictured) was the program manager for a community backbone agency which was charged with juvenile justice reform in Douglas County.
She has been working with youth and families involved in the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems for over 25 years. Her years of experience have not only provided Dush with opportunities to interact with youth and families, but more importantly, they have provided her with opportunities of continuous growth and development.
It was this background as well as YES' mission that brought her to the organization.
"As an organization, YES stays true to its mission, which is something that I value," she said. "My hope is that ALL youth and families have equitable access to services, prior to any system involvement.
"Being a part of YES, an organization that focuses on prevention by providing critically-needed resources and meets individuals where 'they' are, supports the vision of MAC."
Tell us about Making A Connection (MAC). What is its purpose and how does it help youth and families?
MAC’s vision is to provide equitable access to resources for non-system-involved runaway youth and families, achieved through community-based partnerships that are family-focused and culturally-sensitive and empower individuals and families to improve their quality of life and promote the restoration of a strong sense of community. MAC builds a 1:1 connection with the youth and family, provides information on resources and connects them to community supports.
MAC believes that families must be active participants and drive the change process; thus, MAC partners with families and uses a strength-based approach. Any family with a child between the ages of 11-18 who is non-system-involved (not currently working with Probation, Diversion or DHHS) and who is at risk for running away or has run away can access services through MAC.
What kind of impact do you want/hope to make in the community through your work in MAC?
There are several impacts that I hope MAC can make in the community. I hope that we see a decrease in the number of runaway/missing youth as well as those who avoid system involvement because youth and families have access to the resources they identify as needing.
I hope that MAC can build partnerships with existing resources that are in the communities where the youth and families reside; and that existing resources that are culturally sensitive can be maximized. I hope that families feel empowered as active participants and not passive recipients of services.
What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What makes for a satisfying day?
One of the things I enjoy most about the work I do is being able to spend time with youth and families and build connections with them. I understand how fortunate I am to have them share their time and space with me despite it being a stressful time for them. I also enjoy working with community partners -- learning more about the services they provide and the great work being done within the agencies. I feel it is a good day when a youth says they feel safe and supported.
How can people access the services and resources available through MAC?
MAC collaborates with the Omaha Police Department and Project Harmony and receives referrals to provide supportive services and resources to families. Agencies, schools, families and youth themselves may also contact me directly or reach out to YES if they know of someone who may benefit from or is interested themselves in receiving services through MAC.
What kind of response have you heard or received from the communities you serve?
Many of the families that I have worked with have been grateful that someone reached out to them. They often share that they would like to put some things in place for their family or their child, but they don’t know where to start, who to call or where to go. That's where MAC comes in. Families know what’s best for them; they just may not know how to access certain resources or supports. MAC connects families to those supports, helps to remove barriers and works in partnership with the families.
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YES Supporters Enjoy Great Weather, Golfing for Successful Fundraiser
Thank You to all of our sponsors and participants -- particularly Union Pacific -- for making this another FANTASTIC fundraiser to help homeless and near-homeless youth!
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United Way of the Midlands Grants YES $33,000 to Fund Job Readiness Program
Youth Emergency Services is excited to announce it has received a $33,000 gift from United Way of the Midlands to fund Youth Emergency Services’ (YES) Partnership for Youth Job Skill Development (job readiness) program.
“We are incredibly grateful to the United Way of the Midlands for recognizing the need for job readiness development for youth experiencing homelessness and near-homelessness,” said YES Director of Development Barb Farho. “We can’t do what we do and provide all of the many services we do for our youth without the support of organizations like the United Way of the Midlands.”
YES’ Job Readiness Program helps youth aged 16-24 identify long-term career interests, pursue education goals, learn appropriate job applicant behavior, and seek and obtain employment. A Job Readiness Coordinator, a community advisory council and partnerships with area businesses and schools provides:
- Thorough assessments of current education and employability status;
- Personalized guidance in development of long-term career/education goals;
- Instruction in basic pre-employment skills: interviewing, resumes, networking, communication, search strategies, role-playing, teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking and professionalism;
- Transportation to and from interviews, job fairs, job trainings and employment;
- Volunteer opportunities to enhance social skills and be exposed to work environments; and
- Support from area businesses.
With the help of this grant, YES is able to help youth from any of YES’ programs (Emergency Shelter, Transitional Living program, Maternity Home or accessing services at the Street Outreach Center) and will complement YES’ current continuum of care by filling the gaps in each participant’s education and work experience.
Youth must be aged 16-24, able to commit to 6 weeks of structured training sessions and hands-on work experience, and have a desire to work and make progress toward their educational and career goals.
“The Job Readiness Program enhances their learning opportunities by providing a consistent adult who cares about them and teaches them how to be a good employee,” Farho said.
“The Job Readiness Coordinator works with key employers in the community to fill the gaps, obtain internships and apprenticeships for the youth and connect the youth to educational opportunities.”
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Pickleman's Returns to Support YES in November
For the second year, YES is Partnering with Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe the month of November to help raise money for homeless youth in our community!
Beginning November 1 through the end of the month, patrons will have the opportunity to donate $1 with each transaction. Despite the pandemic, this month-long event raised more than $4,300 in 2020.
"Pickleman's is excited to once again support Youth Emergency Services; we believe in the work they do and the impact they make in the community to help young people," said Alex Harrington, owner of the Omaha-area stores. "We hope the Omaha community will come out in big numbers to help us help homeless youth."
Visit any of the 6 Pickleman's locations throughout the Omaha Metro in November
and help homeless youth! Thank you!
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We have some exciting EVENTS coming up. We would LOVE your support!
If you'd like more information about participation or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Barb.
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YES is Here, There
and Everywhere!
We love telling you about the great things we do every day to change the lives of homeless and near-homeless youth -- and here's proof!
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Like What We're
Saying? Please Share!
Please share this newsletter with friends and family, and if you aren't seeing something you want to know about YES -- please let us know!
Look for the October 2021 issue of YES News in your mailbox Friday, October 1!
Thank you for helping us spread the word about the great things happening at YES!
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