Cutting seniors’ lawns, painting dumpsters or placing murals on buildings are only a few of the services that the North Central Family Centre (NCFC) provides to Regina’s inner-city area through its Youth Empowerment Program.
2010 marks the fifth consecutive year of a partnership between the Association of Regina REALTORS® Inc. (ARR) and the NCFC for the ARR to provide assistance to the Program.
The ARR’s assistance takes the form of a further $5,000 contribution this year to fund the operations of the Program. In addition, proceeds from the ARR’s golf tournament in July will go towards assisting the Program. The ARR has provided the NCFC with $22,000 in assistance over the five-year period.
The Youth Empowerment Program employs 15-20 inner-city youth to provide services to Regina’s north-central neighbourhood, many of whom would not otherwise be employed. These services include lawn-care, snow removal in the winter, doing year-round odd jobs for north-central area residents, painting dumpsters and operating an arts and crafts gallery.
The 2010 funding will be used to acquire paint and materials for the placement of murals on neighbourhood buildings and to paint dumpsters in the North Central community. It will also assist with a neighbourhood clean up to remove unwanted and eyesore materials from alleys and other spaces.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to continue our partnership with the North Central Family Centre. It’s really amazing to see the work it does with youth and families in the area”, said Ian Johnston, 2010 President of the Association of Regina REALTORS® Inc.
“The Youth Empowerment Program not only contributes to the quality of life in the area in very practical ways by sprucing up properties and assisting people, but also provides an opportunity for young people to gain some needed job experience that otherwise may not be there. To see these young people do this work with the care and enthusiasm they display is very gratifying.”
The NCFC mission is to carry out works for the encouragement and empowerment of the inner city community by offering educational, sports and recreation, social, cultural and counseling programs to promote positive and healthy changes in the north-central Regina. The NCFC delivers in excess of 45 structured programs to Regina’s inner-city children, youth, families and seniors.
Pictured: Participants and staff from the Youth Empowerment Program and the NCFC pose as ARR President Ian Johnston presents a cheque to NCFC Executive Director Sandy Wankel.
