Opportunities From: Volunteer Center of Racine County, Inc.

Board Members will have the voice of direction on which way Youth Voice Initiative will go. Here are some of the samples on what we can do, and the board will have the say and the push.

1) Push social change by writing to attorneys, judges, newspaper editors, etc to ensure that the legal system won't allow dangerous child abusers and predators get off with little more than a slap on the wrist, and to educate them on the lifelong scars that victims survive.

2) Brainstorm ideas in which we come up to fortify, change, or close loopholes for our elected officials to change up in order to have the muscle to protect our abused children.

3) Hold public meetings or inviting leaders in our community such as local and county law enforcment, school board, teachers, and other child professionals to ensure that they are educated in the lifelong effects of child abuse and how to recognize the signs and symptoms.

4) Push awareness of our organization in which more people are understanding who and what we are. Some fundraising will coincide with these types of events.

YVI meetings are on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 3pm until board decides to change.

This opportunity is for those who seek a challenge to help put and keep a non-profit's paper work in order, as well as to ensure that the view for social and legal changes are within the scope and legalities of protecting abused children.

To ensure that lobbying focuses are in tact, well organized and has the "teeth" needed to do some real good, the legal advocate will check to see if the activity is not only within attainable paramaters, but also not overlapping other existing laws.

Law students, Criminal Justice students, and Political Science students are all encouraged to volunteer for this board position or to serve as a volunteer member of this team.

We always need people who will be willing to write to legislators to get them to author a bill to help protect abused children. At any point, there will be an issue to push in some direction or another. After getting legislator support, then pass around a petition to urge said member and other legislators to support this bill.

During times that we are not pushing for legislation, we will continue to work on the same issues with Law Enforcement officers, attornies, judges, and other community officials, including school administrators to educate them on the burdens survivors of abuse endure for a life time, and to ensure that those who abuse our children get stiffer punishment than a slap on the wrist. Often, these same people will need to also learn about the signs and symptoms of abuse.

We need one person to be a board member and others to fill out the team for a small committee. Those who work with children as teachers, caregivers, tutors, etc encouraged to come serve with us. Those who are also disabled is also encouraged, to share information about how we can better serve our abused disabled children.

Youth Voice Initiative is looking for people who can freely speak with our legislators when we invite them for our meetings or when we travel to Madison to talk to them about the legislation on hand. We will also need to feel comfortable speaking with lawyers, judges, Law Enforcement Officers, school administration, and whom ever else we invite for a meeting.

These meetings may happen on or off YVI premises until we have an official building to conduct business. In case there is a case that we get invited to give a talk, to also feel comfortable to speak about our cause and why it is so important to protect our children, and how they can help, even if in the background.

We need people to not only keep track of incoming and outgoing funds for various purposes. People in this area will need to coordinate with other Board members and volunteers for the events that are being coordinated. Between the accounting board member and the treasurer, these two positions will have access to the YVI bank account to ensure that all funds are accounted for.

The administrative assistant will also have a board spot, and will have a small committee which will include the YVI secretary and coordinate information and also be a contact person for public contact.

Youth Voice Initiative is looking for people who can create our website, brochures, and information to distribute to the public. Each push in social change and legislation push will require it's own information sheet, as well as a brochure to wrap up all of the current information into a pamphlet.

Because we want to stay up on the edge, we will keep up with new information.

We meet the 3rd Saturday of the month at 3pm, and we need a board member and a couple volunteers to work on this.

About

Youth Voice Initiative is looking for people who can create and promote our events, such as a bake sale, organizing a booth within other events such as the Root River events, Party on the Pavement, National Night Out, YVI's annual "Untraditional Christmas Potluck", etc. as well as full out fundraising events to create awareness in our community to attract more attention and recruit more volunteers.

As a board member and a team, we will work together continuously throughout the year to ensure that the name is getting out there.

Those who are crafty are encouraged to participate, and possibly donate a craft item for donation for a fundraiser, having a mutually beneficial connection for the greater good of the local community.

As a nonprofit, projects and other events are always costly compared to our budget.  And because we represent abused children, and as a general rule, children don't have money, especially not abused children.  This is a cause for those who truly believe in the cause, selflessly.  Please consider donating something small, for the day to day needs to run what we need.