City of Birmingham’s Division of Youth Services to Host the Birmingham CARES Mentoring Fair on Saturday, January 23, 2010

(Birmingham, AL) – January is National Mentoring Month and on Saturday, January 23^rd, the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office-Division of Youth Services (DYS) will host the 2010 Birmingham CARES Mentoring Fair from 10:00am-2:00pm at the Boutwell Auditorium. Admission is FREE!

Birmingham CARES is designed to: (1) Inspire families and youth to get involved in mentoring initiatives that are available to them; (2) To increase awareness of mentoring programs and organizations in the City of Birmingham; and, (3) To provide mentoring organizations with networking opportunities that will increase their mentor and volunteer recruitment efforts.

Birmingham CARES is affiliated with the National CARES Mentoring Movement (NCMM) founded by Susan L. Taylor, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus Essence Magazine, and is comprised of a coalition of trusted local, national, civic, business, community, and government leaders who are committed to working together to solve the escalating crisis among our youth.

For more information about the 2010 Birmingham CARES Mentoring Fair, contact Cedric Sparks, Sr.-DYS Executive Director or Beverly Meadows-DYS Public Information Officer at 320-0879.

City of Birmingham’s DYS Accepting Registrations for St. Clair Correctional Facility FREEality Check Tour

(Birmingham, AL) – The City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office-Division of Youth Services (DYS) is currently registering Birmingham Public High School students for the October 9, 2009 FREEality Check tour.  The tour is for 10th-12th graders who have been cited for blatant disrespect of authority. Students and their parent/guardian will be touring the St. Clair Correctional Facility. Transportation and lunch will be provided.
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FREEality Check is designed to expose students headed down the wrong path to the realities of incarceration by touring detention centers and correctional facilities. This up-close-and-personal experience gives troubled youth and their parents the wake-up call needed to stress the benefits of staying FREE from a life behind bars.
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DYS will register 25 students to participate in the upcoming tour. Students must be recommended by their school’s principal or guidance counselor. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come/first-serve basis until all spaces have been filled. Parents/guardians may register students at the DYS office located at 808 North 18th Street in downtown Birmingham from 9:00am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday.
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FREEality Check participants must be accompanied by a parent/guardian during the mandatory pre-tour orientation on October 5, 2009. The orientation will be at 6:00pm in the auditorium of Linn-Henley Building of the Birmingham Public Library in downtown Birmingham. Participants must also be accompanied by a parent/guardian on October 9, 2009, from 8:00am-1:00pm, for the correctional facility tour.
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For more information about the St. Clair Correctional Facility FREEality Check Tour, contact Cedric D. Sparks, Sr.-DYS Executive Director or Beverly Meadows-DYS Public Information Officer at 320-0879.

Youth First Day at the UniverSoul Circus on Friday, August 14, 2009

(Birmingham, AL) – “When I Say Big Top, You Say CIRCUS!”  When you hear these words, it can only mean one thing–that the hip hopping, jaw dropping UniverSoul Circus is coming to town!  The circus tour will be at Birmingham’s historic Legion Field from August 12-16, 2009 and on Friday, August 14th, the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office-Division of Youth Services (DYS) will be celebrating Youth First Day at the UniverSoul Circus!

Youth First Day festivities will kick-off with a special 10:30am show. DYS will have a limited number of FREE tickets to share with Birmingham daycare centers for this special show.  DYS will also be sharing a limited number of FREE tickets with Birmingham youth service organizations for the 7:00pm show. Directors at local daycare centers and youth service organizations interested in receiving tickets should contact the DYS office at 320-0879. Ticket reservations will be accepted on a first-come/first-serve basis, until ticket supplies have been depleted.

In honor of 16 years of showcasing a blend of diverse cultures, talents and music, this year’s circus theme is “Sweet 16-The World Under One Ring.” This interactive, soulful circus will feature acts like Chinese Foot Jugglers, Twisted Soul, Stilt Walkers, the Watch My Feet Girls, Abyssinia Jugglers, and other dynamic performances under the Big Top.

For more information about Youth First Day at the UniverSoul Circus, contact Cedric D. Sparks, Sr. DYS Executive Director or Beverly Meadows-DYS Public Information Officer at 320-0879.  For more information about the Universoul Circus, go to www.universoulcircus.com. For ticket information, click on www.ticketmaster.com.

2009 Youth First Summit Series with a Special “She’s First” Event for Girls

The City of Birmingham’s Division of Youth Services Kicks Off The

2009 Youth First Summit Series with a Special “She’s First” Event for Girls

(Birmingham, AL) – On Saturday, May 30, 2009, the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office-Division of Youth Services (DYS) and Dream Girls Christian Academy will host the She’s First Summit for Birmingham middle and high school-aged girls and their mother, female guardian, or adult female mentor. This FREE event will take place from 10:00am -2:00pm at the Alabama School of Fine Arts located at 1800-8th Avenue North in downtown Birmingham.

Guest speakers will include State Representative Mary Moore and Dr. Jacqueline Stewart, Founder and President of Huggs & Kisses, Inc.  She’s First will also feature a series of breakout sessions that cover topics sensitive to today’s young women, like “Dating and Waiting” and “Girls Without a Conscious.” Adults can sign-up for sessions like “Parents Just Don’t Understand-Learning to Understand Your Daughter” and “Little Girls Being Grown Women.” She’s First attendees will also enjoy free lunch, prize drawings and more.

In order to participate, young ladies and their adult female guest must pre-register as a pair and attend the event together. Registration forms are available at the DYS office located at 808 North 18^th Street in downtown Birmingham. Registrations will be accepted M-F from 9:00am-4:00pm, except for holidays. The deadline to register is May 27, 2009 at 4:00pm.

For more information about the She’s First Summit, contact Cedric D. Sparks, Sr.-DYS Executive Director or Beverly Meadows-DYS Public Information Officer at 320-0879.

City of Birmingham’s Division of Youth Services Joins the National CARES Mentoring Movement

The City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office-Division of Youth Services (DYS) has joined the National CARES Mentoring Movement (NCMM).  To celebrate National Mentoring Month, DYS will host the Birmingham CARES Mentoring Fair on January 10, 2009 at the Boutwell Auditorium, from 10:00am – 2:00pm.

This FREE event is designed to promote the spirit of giving back to Birmingham’s youth throughout the year. Youth attendees will be connected to local mentoring organizations and adults will be encouraged to get involved by signing up to become mentors.

By joining the National CARES Mentoring Movement, DYS has become a part of a coalition of trusted national, business, community, and government leaders who are committed to working together to solve the escalating crisis among our youth.  To help us achieve this goal, a wide variety of organizations will be represented at the Mentoring Fair, including Girls, Inc., the Birmingham Police Department-Be Who You Want to Be Program, 100 Black Men of Birmingham-Mentoring the 100 Way, YouthServe, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Promoting Uplifting Life Lessons for Girls, Impact Counseling-Mentoring Children of Prisoners, and many other organizations.

For more information about the Birmingham CARES Mentoring Fair, contact DYS Executive Director Cedric Sparks or DYS Public Information Officer, Beverly Meadows, at 320-0879.

Got Food? DYS to provide food to needy Birmingham families

City of Birmingham’s Division of Youth Services Giving Away

FREE Nonperishable Food Items to Families in Need

 

 

(Birmingham, AL) – The City of Birmingham’s Division of Youth Services is donating nonperishable food items to Birmingham families as a part of our Youth First Holiday Campaign “Feed the Need” Project.

The distribution process will start on Tuesday, December 9, 2008. Supplies are limited and all food donations will be distributed on a first come/first serve basis. Birmingham families that are interested in receiving assistance should contact DYS at 320-0879 for additional details.

For more information about the “Feed the Need” Project, contact DYS Executive Director Cedric Sparks or DYS Public Information Officer, Beverly Meadows, at 320-0879.

FREE Tickets to SWAC Championship Game

City of Birmingham’s Division of Youth Services Giving Away

FREE SWAC Football Championship Tickets to Local Youth Service Organizations

(Birmingham, AL) – On Saturday, December 13, 2008, Jackson State University and Grambling State will face-off at Legion Field Stadium for the 10th Annual SWAC Football Championship, and the City of Birmingham’s Division of Youth Services has the ticket!

DYS is offering FREE game day tickets to local 501(c)(3) youth service organizations for their program participants who are under the age of 12 years old. Tickets will be available in increments of 50 per organization and will be distributed on a first come/ first serve basis. Organizations interested in obtaining tickets should contact DYS at 320-0879 for more information.  All tickets must be picked up from the DYS office no later than 4:00pm on Friday, December 12, 2008.  The DYS office is located at 808 North 18th Street, in downtown Birmingham.

For more information about the ticket giveaway, contact DYS Executive Director Cedric Sparks or DYS Public Information Officer, Beverly Meadows, at 320-0879.

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“Funtastical All Treats-No Tricks Cartoon Character Having Not Even A Little Bit Scary Funhouse Festiganza!”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008

DYS to Host “Funtastical All Treats-No Tricks Cartoon Character
Having Not Even A Little Bit Scary Funhouse Festiganza!”

(Birmingham, AL) – From 5:00pm-8:00pm on Thursday, October 30, 2008, Birmingham youth up to age 10 years old are invited to put on their favorite costume and walk the red carpet at the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office-Division of Youth Services’ “Funtastical All Treats-No Tricks Cartoon Character Having Not Even A Little Bit Scary Funhouse Festiganza!”

Sponge Bob Square Pants, Mrs. Incredible, Shrek’s Fiona, Big Bird, and King Kong are just a few of the characters that will be making an appearance at this FREE DYS primetime premiere party. The fun will take place at the DYS office located at 808 North 18th Street in downtown Birmingham. Guests attending this star-studded event will be treated to games, rides, food, beverages, and more. Also, Birmingham’s very own DJ Strick from 95.7FM Gospel JAMZ will be on-hand for a live remote.

For more information about the “Funtastical All Treats-No Tricks Cartoon Character Having Not Even A Little Bit Scary Funhouse Festiganza,” contact DYS Executive Director Cedric Sparks or DYS Public Information Officer, Beverly Meadows, at 320-0879.

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