With 82 percent of children in Central neighborhood living in poverty and only 32 percent of residents graduating high school, Central’s youth fight barriers every day that impact their ability toward a better future. They’re vulnerable to challenges with employment, safety, neglect, health, and self-esteem, placing them at risk for a sustainable life. But with these challenges comes hope.

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center has received a $200,000 grant from the William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation to support a new community outreach program—the Resilient Youth Project.

Aimed at helping adolescents in Central neighborhood, the program will enroll youth ages 13-15 years in work and activities designed to teach both life and job skills, as well as promote educational and community impact. Working with the Central Recreation Center and St. Philip’s Christian Church, the program’s Outreach Specialist will develop adult-supervised projects that promote job readiness and self-sufficiency. Students will also participate in monthly field trips to explore future job opportunities and mentorship/leadership programs.

“I’ve worked with the kids in the Central neighborhood for many years and the Resilient Youth Project is going to be extremely beneficial to those who participate,” said Bill Myers, Manager of Cleveland’s Central Recreation Center. “The activities and opportunities they are going to be involved with are going to help them prepare for high school and beyond.”

With an estimated 40 percent of health outcomes determined by social and economic factors and the overarching goal of the program to improve community health, the Resilient Youth Project will help accomplish this by:

• Providing a safe location for youth to engage in constructive activities with like-minded peers

• Access to supportive adult relationships to establish consistent, positive role models

• Provide stipend income to promote the dignity and value of work, increase job-readiness and teach financial literacy

• Engage families in intentional activities focused on strengthening relationships

“For many years, St. Vincent’s Outreach Department has worked with the Central Recreation Center and other neighborhood organizations that are committed to strengthening the bonds of the families of the Central neighborhood,” said David F. Perse, MD, president and CEO. “We are excited to further develop that relationship and create a lasting impact on the children in our neighborhood through the Resilient Youth Project.”