The Youth Change Campaign (YCC) is a youth philanthropy initiative designed to increase philanthropic resources and build a movement of youth across the Southern region that are empowered to lead change in their communities. The Campaign seeks to establish permanent donor-advised Youth Change Funds at local foundations across the region, controlled by local youth and granted to youth groups that are exploring innovative strategies that engage youth in addressing social problems plaguing southern youth that will help them transform communities into more vibrant places.

Since 1999, Operation REACH, Inc. has been engaging youth across the South with its cradle-to-careers pipeline of programs.  ORI has a strong track record of building the capacity of youth-serving organizations through its Gulfsouth Youth Action Corps program, which since 2006 has engaged more than 12,000 youth, empowered more than 150 AmeriCorps members in service, and provided more than $500,000 in awards and grants to support community-focused youth leadership.

Operation REACH is seeking foundation partners who are interested in turning the dial on the downward spiraling quality of life indicators for Southern youth through pursuit of funding from the Social Innovation Fund, a new public-private collaboration created by the 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.  The Social Innovation Fund is designed to scale the most innovative strategies to create community change.  Partners who are interested in the Youth Change Campaign can submit a letter of intent to Operation REACH, Inc. by February 12, 2010.

 –  Makayla Counselman

This article was originally published in the February 8, 2010 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper