Front Page - Camden Youth Engagement Project - The Camden Youth Engagement Project: Taking youth to a whole new level

Caption photo 1: Youth Engagement Project dance-off winners.

Caption photo 2: Crew members include: Jaredo Covington, Eric Robinson, Rosa Nguyen, Susan Yang, Tabitha Edwards, Pa Cha Vang, Joel Kissoon, Lily Voravong, Jaszmine Sims, Tisha Edwards, Shakayla Petty and CYEP Adult Advisory Team Amy Luesebrink, Athelgra Williams and Rebecca Gilgen.

As summer draws near and the school year comes to a close, we wish to thank our current sponsors the Lind Bohanon Neighborhood Association and the Otto Bremer Foundation for believing in us. We are also proud to announce we have just recently received a two-year $50,000 McKnight Foundation grant to support our CYEP efforts. We're excited and extremely honored to learn also that we were the only new youth project that they chose to fund this year. We can't wait to continue our efforts to continue to raise the voice of youth in Camden and produce more positive youth activities in our community.

                The Camden Youth Engagement Project (CYEP) first began in 2006 with the hope of keeping kids off the streets and decreasing the percentage of urban youth violence and drug and alcohol consumption. For the past several years, 10 to 15 youth from various backgrounds have gathered weekly in order to promote and produce positive youth activities for the Camden Community. These youth work closely with the youth crew leader and other adults to create a firm basis and foundation to make the project a success.

    This past year, the group has held fun and positive activities for the community, such as a talent show held at the Warren-An Artist's Habitat, and informative documentary screenings (created by locals) held at Steamworks Coffee (both businesses are at 44th and Penn). CYEP produced a dance-off competition held at Folwell Park. Each event has had between 30 to 50 youth participating. The group also gives back to the community, by providing services at events such as Toys for Tots and the North Housing Fair. Their most recent event, the dance-off competition, saw a spectacular crew from Patrick Henry High School taking the title as the best dance crew. Kenneth McKinney, Tim Thao, Tommy Tran, Andre Davenport and Hue Yang all came and represented the Minneapolis area well, showing their pride in the Northside! This has all been due to the youth of the Camden Youth Engagement Project and their determination to change the Camden area for the better, and ultimately making the community stronger.

    For more information about what CYEP is doing and how you can get involved go to facebook.com and check out Camden Youth Engagement Project or go to www.lindbohanon.org.