| Name | Corri |
|---|---|
| Last Name | Bischer |
| Home Address | 1135 Greens Road Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 United States |
| Organization Name | MiWakesh Foundation-Teen Pop-up and Game Night |
| Describe Your Role In The Organization | I am the Executive Director of MiWakesh Foundation. I am responsible for hiring staff and volunteers. I manage the board of directors. I am responsible for the day-to-day activities of the foundation. We have been on a hiatus because of COVID and are just getting back to having activities. We have several trips planned for this year throughout TN and GA. I am responsible for making sure we have the teams, the legalities, and the financial ability to plan these trips and activities. |
| Organization Address | 1135 Greens Road Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 United States |
| Website | |
| Best Phone Number To Reach You | 4233203248 |
| Alternate Phone Number | |
| Email Address | corribischer@gmail.com |
| Alternate Email Address | corribischer@gmail.com |
| Please Describe Your Project In Detail | Our weekend Teen (13-18yrs old) Pop-ups will provide Teens an opportunity to come to hang out in a safe environment to have fun, socialize and have the conversations that they need to have with one another, adults, and those in the mental health care profession. We will use this informal and fun time to discuss life using board games, food, and fun. There will be at least one adult at each game that is equipped to facilitate any conversations that are brought up by the youth during the night. The first and foremost agenda is for the youth to feel they are in a fun and safe environment. For relationships and friendships to nurture and grow, it is imperative that the youth feel that this is a place they can be heard. We will have licensed counselors on-site if a student feels they want to speak to someone one-on-one or in a private conversation. Parents will be able to drop the youth off on Fridays at 6pm and return for them at 1130pm so they may have a date night with their spouse, girls’ night out, or just sit around the house doing absolutely nothing. This is a mental health break for both the parents and the youth. Also, this is a time to disconnect from the electronic world, so no cell phones will be permitted at the Drop-In. We will follow COVID guidelines by providing masks, and hand sanitation stations. |
| Please explain how your project meets the requirements of the American Rescue Plan | This project meets actually two areas of this funding. One, it is studied that the most criminal activity among youth is between 3-6pm and the weekends beginning at 3pm. There is also a lack of mental health counselors and therapists in the school's systems and under-utilized services in the low-income health population. Our program addresses both issues. We are providing a location for students to be in a safe environment during those hours and providing counselors who are trained to listen. We provide a service for the youth with our fun, food, and conversation. We provide a service for the parents by allowing them an evening to mentally regroup. |
| Where would your project take place? | We have two locations in the city of Chattanooga. 1731 Lee Highway and 3231 Brainerd Rd. |
| How much will your project cost in total? | 47000.00 |
| Do you have any matching funding sources from other local governments, private entities, non-profits, or philanthropic entities for your project? | No |
| Please describe the source and list amounts of any other funding. | |
| What portion of the project are you asking the city to fund? | |
| If funded, when would your project start? | May 20, 2022 |
| How long would your project take to complete? | one year ongoing beginning this summer |
| What milestones would you use to measure your project’s progress? | Our milestones will include a pre-expectancy quiz for our youth and and "what did I get out of this?" quiz once the program is over. Our progress will be measured by the number of youth that comes to our events and if they invite others. The more young men and women we are able to provide a safe environment for, the less there are on the streets, falling prey to gang violence and gang or criminal activity. It is our goal to have 25 youth initially and we will ask them to bring at least one friend the next time they come. If this is successful, we will have touched the lives of at least 50 youth that otherwise may have made other choices. |
| How would you ensure accountability and transparency throughout the project lifecycle? | Our accountability will actually be to our youth. We will need to do as we say and say as we do. Our youth are the quickest to pick up on dishonesty and shady behavior. We will put our intentions on the table to let them know they can as well. We will have several ice-breaker activities that will immediately provide an opportunity for not only the youth to be vulnerable but the adults as well. The best way to teach what we want to see is by being that very thing. It is our belief if we can show our youth that we are vulnerable, that we have issues to deal with, that we are currently dealing with things in our lives, and that we need each other as adults, then they will understand that it is ok to accept a helping hand from someone they trust. It is our goal to become those adults they can trust. It does not get any more transparent than that. |
| If successful, how would your project benefit the community? | Our program will benefit the community because our youth are our community. We are changing the generational curses, the repeated mindset, and mistakes. We are bridging the gap between youth who have been misfits and outsiders because of their passions and interest that now find others who love the same things that they do. We are building friendships that otherwise would not exist because we are providing a safe space for youth to be themselves. This benefits the community by helping youth become strong confident adults who follow their passions. These passions lead to them being self-sufficient and fulfilled adults. Our program is a domino effect on our entire city, state, nation, and world. Reaching the youth is the best way to build a better tomorrow. We may not be the ones with the answers, but we are certainly influencing those who will discover the answers. Chattanooga needs to step up and be part of that ecosystem. This is how we benefit the community. |
| How will you attract community buy-in for your project? | Our neighborhoods have been asking for something for our young people to do. The recreations centers are not open during these times. There aren't many "teen" driven activities for the youth. We are an answer to many parents' prayers. They want their children to have something to do and friends to hang out with, but where can they go? When doing our research, overwhelmingly, we received input that we would be supported by participation and financially to make sure we are able to continue the efforts of our counselors and staff. We have the buy-in because it was the parents that asked for this kind of activity. We have also let them know on some nights, parents will be invited to stay as well and get beat on some board games as well. I know some of them still know how to play old-school games--Monopoly, Scrabble, Connect 4, Clue. |
| Is there anything else you would like us to know about your project? | Thank you for this opportunity to change some lives around, keep some on track, and have fun doing it. Our youth deserve better and we are excited to provide them an opportunity to be themselves. We want to thank you in advance for seeing this and prayerfully, approving our request. |