Empowering teen voice in Alaska

Annual Report

2012- 2013

Iris Strongheart, 14, 2013 ATMI Radio Camp Participant

MissionStatement:

Spirit of Youth is dedicated tocreating, promoting and recognizing youth involvement in communities across Alaska.

Julia Gebert, 13, 2013 Spirit of Youth Award Recipient

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What’s Inside:Message from the President & Executive Director 3

Accomplishments 4

About Us 5

Our Programs 7

Who We Are 13

Financials 14

Many Thanks 16

Our Vision 17

Community Partners 17

Selah Rees, 19, 2013 Spirit of Youth Award Recipient

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Design and layout by Natasha Price

Dear Supporters of Alaska’s Youth,

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Thanks to the active engagement of our partners, board, friends and staff, Spirit of Youth is a thriving organization working to create, promote and recognize youth involvement in communities across Alaska. As you will read in this report, our highlights from 2013 are many.

This year over 100 individuals took the time to nominate deserving teens from 43 different communities across Alaska for recognition. For a complete list of nominees visit spiritofyouth.org.

The Alaska Teen Media program empowered teen voice across the state and conducted hands-on media training in 10 different communities. ATMI’s youth were contracted by 40 community agencies to conduct media trainings and produce content. ATMI student producers also developed more than 20 stories for their monthly broadcast, “In Other News.” Read more on page 10 and at alaskateenmedia.org.

Spirit of Youth Champions around the state celebrated our Promote the Positive Campaign garnering a significant increase in individual giving and, even more importantly, increasing awareness of our programs and mission. We will continue to ensure our sustainability through business and community partnerships, striving to expand our impact and improving community opportunities for youth.

Our staff, board of directors and partners have thrived in their efforts to empower youth voice. As always, we are especially grateful for the support from a broad range of friends who believe in our mission.

Thank you for a great year and we look forward to sharing the successes of Alaska’s youth with you again in 2014.

Sincerely,

Josh Wilson Karen ZemanPresident, Board of Directors Executive Director

Create

Promote

Recognize

Through our positive media campaign, we broadcast 48 stories about youth each year to 76,000 listeners in nearly 100 Alaska communities.

Since 1997, more than 2,000 Alaska youth have received Spirit of Youth recognition.

Alaska Teen Media Institute student reporters produced 22 stories in 2013 for “In Other News.”

Sarah Bartholomew, 17, Teen Advisory Council member

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About us

Spirit of Youth is a statewide organization working to unite Alaskans, of all ages, to promote positive youth development and increase resiliency and connectedness in Alaska’s youth.

By working within the community Spirit of Youth links adults and youth in healthy supportive relationships and creates opportunities for community engagement across the state.

[I felt] excited and accomplished. It was nice to be recognized. I told my parents, my friends and the other adults who had been helping me in my efforts.

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-Spirit of Youth award honoree

Kelly May (left), 18, 2013 Spirit of Youth Award Recipient

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Our Reach

Spirit of YouthAward Nominees

ATMI collaborations

Radio Stories and Stations

In 2013, Spirit of Youth reached more than 120 Alaska communities through its positive youth programs.

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Program Highlights

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Recognition and Positive Media Campaign

In 2013 Spirit of Youth received 156 nominations from 43 different communities in Alaska. Twenty-two nominees were selected to receive special awards at the statewide annual awards event in April 2014.

Spirit of Youth reaches nearly 100 Alaska communities through its positive media campaign. The public is often unaware of the good things young people do to improve their communities. Media plays a major role in shaping public perceptions of teens. Bringing to light positive images and stories about adolescents through media can help dismantle stereotypes and the problems they cause.

Michael Bialy, Emily Berryman, Tony Boyer and Tandy Vangtan created the Bethel P.R.I.D.E. dance group after the AK P.R.I.D.E. troupe from Anchorage performed in Bethel. The group is dedicated to bringing their community together through artistic expression. This team of self-motivated teens spent a summer fundraising, recruiting and defining what Bethel P.R.I.D.E. is all about so their new tradition can be shared with other rural areas of Alaska.

Bethel P.R.I.D.E., 2014 Spirit of Youth Award Recipient

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50%Being recognized by Spirit of Youth helped me earn respect from people in my community.

Spirit of Youth recognition inspires me to work harder to achieve my goals.

41%Being recognized by Spirit of Youth encourages me to make healthy life choices.

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* Results from an anonymous survey of 2012 honorees

57%

In TheirWords

My group and I felt so honored to accept this award. It made us feel important for our small group to be a part of something so big. It motivated each of us to keep doing what we do in our community and be better than we are now.

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-Spirit of Youth award honoree

Sydney Zuyus, 16, 2013 Spirit of Youth Award Recipient

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Alaska Teen Media InstituteAlaska Teen Media Institute’s radio show, “In Other News,” is celebrating 10 years on the air in 2014. Teens who produce the show see it as a way to learn things they don’t learn anywhere else and make a difference in the community.

In September 2013, ATMI partnered with Bear Tooth Theatre in Anchorage for the first-ever “After School Special” film screening. The event gave young filmmakers the opportunity to have their work showcased to the community. More than 125 community members attended and 23 youth films were shown.

Producer Chloe Chaobal, 16, received first place honors at the 2013 Youth Journalism International Awards for her multi-media feature, “Aggressors, Victims, Bystanders.” Seventeen-year-old Arina Filippenko’s story on a local teen band was honored as one of this year’s top youth-produced radio stories in the nation by Public Radio Exchange.

Mario Davis, 21, ATMI producer

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100%I feel respected and included by the adults at ATMI.

75%The skills I learn at ATMI help me do better in school.

100%ATMI is a safe, caring and encouraging environment.

I have learned media skills that most people my age don’t know or haven’t heard of. If you plan on continuing your media studies outside of high school, ATMI is a great place to get a head start.

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-ATMI Alumnus

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* Results from a 2012 ATMI survey

In TheirWords

Arina Filippenko, 17, ATMI producer

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Spirit of YouthTeen Advisory Council

The Spirit of Youth Teen Advisory Council was involved in community events all year, from organizing the annual

Spirit of Youth Awards Dinner to volunteering at the grand opening of a local playground. SOYTAC also spent an afternoon creating positive sidewalk art at Denali Montessori School to welcome students during United Way’s Chalk the Walks.

Que Pasa? Anchorage is an events calendar where teens can find positive activities in the Anchorage area, such as volunteerism, education, the arts, sports and employment.

Increased staffing and saturation of event posts have led to the addition of a comprehensive Google calendar and Tumblr blog. 12

Que Pasa? Anchorage

Board ofDirectors

Ally BeischerStudent, UAA

Andrew BehrendAlaska Railroad

Darrell VincekAnchorage School District

Davyn Williams State of Alaska

Donna BachY-K Delta Health Corp.

Elizabeth HensleyNANA Regional Corp.

Jenny SheasleyStudent, West High

Jessica HoldenInformation Insights

Joshua Wilson Alaska Correctional Officers Association

Karthik Murugesan, P.E.Civil Engineer

Katherine Jernstrom The Boardroom

Kelsey HernandezStudent, UAA

Ley SchleichEducation Specialist

Mary Rita ElyAnchorage School District

Olivia Pepe-PhelpsStudent, Dimond High

Rhonda Johnson, DrPH, MPH, FNP UAA

Our Staff

Karen Zeman - Executive Director, Spirit of Youth

Rosey Robards - Director, Alaska Teen Media Institute

Robert Stormo - Assistant Director, Alaska Teen Media Institute

Natasha Price - Program Associate, Spirit of Youth

Shana Sheehy - Radio Story Producer

Cari Zawodny - Teen Advisory Council Coordinator 13

2013 Financial Summary

State of Alaska......................................................................................................................$218,200Assoc. of Alaska School Boards............................................................................................$26,944 United Way.............................................................................................................................$13,750Community Impact Campaign...............................................................................................$5,900 Alaska Humanities Forum.......................................................................................................$5,800Earned Income.......................................................................................................................$59,998Individual Giving....................................................................................................................$19,290Event Ticket Sales....................................................................................................................$3,835 Corporate/Foundation Donations........................................................................................$22,420In-kind.......................................................................................................................................$5,258 Total Funding......................................................................................................$381,395

Sources of Funding

Functional ExpensesProgram Services .................................................................................................................$261,992Media and Production...........................................................................................................$64,142Management and General.....................................................................................................$57,021Development and Marketing.................................................................................................$10,660Total Functional Expenses...................................................................................................$393,815Less In-kind Depreciation.....................................................................................................-$11,751Total Expenses....................................................................................................$382,064

Assets and LiabilitiesCash and Equivalents...........................................................................................................$141,063Accounts/Grants Receivable.................................................................................................$47,033Pre-paid Expenses and Deposits............................................................................................$1,695Current Assets.......................................................................................................................$189,791Property and Equipment.........................................................................................................$7,693Total Assets...........................................................................................................................$197,484Current Liabilities.....................................................................................................................$7,887 Total Net Assets..................................................................................................$189,597Total Liabilities and Equity...................................................................................$197,484

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FundingSources

55%  

7%  4%  1%  

2%  

1%  

15%  

5%  

1%  8%  

1%   State of Alaska

Assoc. of Alaska School Boards

United Way

Alaska Community Foundation

Community Impact Campaign

Alaska Humanities Forum

Earned Income

Individual Giving

Event Ticket Sales

Corporate Donations

In-kind

State of Alaska

Assoc. of Alaska School Boards

United Way

Alaska Community Foundation

Community Impact Campaign

Alaska Humanities Forum

Earned Income

Individual Giving

In-kind

Corporate Donations

Program Services

Media and Production

Management and General

Development and Marketing

FunctionalExpenses 66%17%

14%

3%

57%

7%

15%

8%5%

4%1%1%

1%

1%

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ManyThanks

Shrinking grant and corporate dollars mean we must count on the community to help provide us with positive programs for Alaska’s youth. By giving to Spirit of Youth you are developing good citizens.

Your continued help is crucial:

Karthik Murugesan BP Fabric of America FundJames McCoy William Streever Jaci Mellott James Miller and Mary OlsonShana SheehyHDR Jan Hazen Katherine Jernstrom Becky JuddElizabeth Hensley & Maligiaq PadillaHeather & Josh HarrisKarl & Ley Schleich Terra A. RentzCarol SchatzAndre Layral Barbara Hall Bill & Brenda Holden

Capt. Robert & Elizabeth Moss Davyn & David WilliamsDelisa CulpepperDiane MoxnessJames Durr Jean Sauget Jim Torgerson Joan Fisher Lauren Suiter Mary Rita Ely McHugh Pierre Melissa A. Branch Michael Kerosky Mollie Boyer Peter Stortz T.M. Grovier Vikram B. PatelJosh Wilson

Major funding provided by:State of Alaska Division of Behavioral HealthAdditional support from:Association of Alaska School Boards United Way of AnchorageRasmuson FoundationAlaska Humanities ForumAlaska Mental Health Trust Authority BP Atwood FoundationMat-Su Health Foundation Simone Machamer Charitable Fund of the Juneau Community FoundationNational Alliance for Media, Arts and Culture Alaska Airlines Era Aviation

Spirit of Youth Award SponsorsRhonda Johnson & Don BertoletteAlaska GeographicAlaska Broadcasters Assoc. Altman Rogers & Co.Architects AlaskaDenali Alaska Credit Union Donlin Gold EnstarFirst National Bank of AlaskaNANAAnchorage MarriottAgnew-Beck Municipal Light & PowerPIP Printing

Thank You to our individual donors($200-$1,000)

Hailey Hughes (left), 17, 2013 Spirit of Youth nominee

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RurAL CAPAssociation of Alaska School BoardsKoahnic Broadcasting System (KNBA)Anchorage School Business PartnershipsArctic EntriesAlaska Wellness CoalitionAnchorage Youth Development Coalition

Alaska Press ClubUS Forest ServiceAnchorage Cradle to Career 90% by 2020Alaska Youth AdvocatesStatewide Suicide Prevention CouncilAnchorage Public Library

Our Vision:Empowered and engaged youth celebrated across Alaska

Spirit of Youth’s five-year strategic plan to accomplish this goal includes the following steps:

1. Empower Spirit of Youth to become recognized statewide as a leader in championing youth.

2. Support all Alaska communities to demonstrate commitment to creating, promoting and recognizing youth involvement.

3. Expand strategic partnerships statewide.

4. Achieve a diversified revenue stream and long-term fiscal stability.

Community Partners

Tony Boyer, 13, of Bethel P.R.I.D.E., 2014 Spirit of Youth Award Recipient

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Spirit of Youth | P.O. Box 243721 Anchorage, AK 99524 | (907) 272-2875