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Youth Matter Grants
About
Youth Matter Grants (YMG) initiative offers funds, training and support for youth-adult partnerships aiming to help youth feel valued. The initiative focuses on all youth ages 12-24 in Anchorage.
YMG was established after local data showed many young people felt undervalued by their community. Research, data and focus group input highlighted the need. Anchorage Youth Development Coalition developed this initiative with support from an Alaska Division of Behavioral Health grant (2014-2019).
Grantees are supported in creating impactful, youth-led projects that enhance relationships, environments, experiences and promote health and well-being among their peers.
Who Can apply: Applications are open to all Anchorage youth ages 12-24.
Grant Amount: Each group receives $5,000 to complete their project.
Evaluation: Youth receive support in designing their own evaluation plan. This will include a survey to share their experience.
Contact: For more information or to apply, please email Rebekah Wilcox, AYDC Program Manager, at rebekah@safealaskans.org
Apply
Please submit your grant application by November 8, 2024. Don’t miss the information session on October 17, 2024. See timeline below for details.
Timeline
Click each date to expand details.
October 9, 2024 - Grant Applications Open
Application link coming soon!
October 17, 2024 - Information Session for Potential Applicants
Optional: Information Session for Potential Applicants
- Join our optional info session designed for potential applicants.
- RSVP/questions can be emailed to Rebekah at Rebekah@safealaskans.org.
November 8, 2024 - Grant Applications Due
Applications can be edited until they close at 11:59 pm on November 8, 2024. No changes can be made after this time.
November 25, 2024 - Grantees Selected
Grantees will be announced on this date.
December 5, 2024 - Zoom Orientation, 3-4 PM
Required: All Grantee Orientation for Youth and Organization Representatives
- Safe Alaskans staff will meet with all grantee youth and organizational representatives via zoom to discuss projects, timelines, and goals, and schedule site visits.
January 6 - 24, 2025 - Safe Alaskans Staff visit Grantee Sites
Required: Safe Alaskans Staff visit Grantee Sites
- Safe Alaskans staff will visit grantee sites, provide orientation, and hold project planning meetings. These will be scheduled with each grantee between January 6-24, 2025.
January 15, 2025 (Date Tentatively Scheduled) - Impact Evaluation Workshop
Required: Impact Evaluation Workshop for All Grantee Youth and Organization Representatives
- This in-person workshop will be facilitated by a professional evaluator from Safe Alaskans. Each grantee will create a plan to measure their project’s community impact.
January 24, 2025 - Impact Evaluations Due
Impact Evaluations due.
Week of March 3-7, 2025 - Midpoint Check-In
Required: Midpoint check in with All Grantee Youth and Organization Representatives
- Connect with Safe Alaskans and fellow grantees to share project updates, receive peer feedback, and support on projects as needed.
May 2, 2025 - Complete Projects
Complete Project, Final Project Report, Youth Participants Post-Survey, and Final Invoice due
- All project work, including impact evaluations, must be completed
- Final Report including impact evaluation data due
- Post-surveys completed by youth participants
- Final invoice for 40% of grant award due; Safe Alaskans will administer final payment upon completion of project, delivery of invoice, and approval of all final paperwork.
May 8, 2025 (Time TBD) - In-Person Grantee Celebration
Required: All Grantee Celebration:
- This is an opportunity to present your project and share your experiences and successes with other grantees. This event is open to friends, family, and community members. We’ll confirm the event date during the January orientation to accommodate all grantees.
Goals for Projects
We are looking to support projects that address the following goals:
Safety
Youth want to live in a community that is both physically and emotionally safe, allowing them to be themselves.
Support, Respect, Fairness
Youth want to be treated fairly and with respect by adults. Having friendly, supportive, and positive relationships with adults provides the right role models to empower youth.
Make a Difference
Youth want to be engaged and make a difference. This may be through providing impactful opportunities and service- or civic-based activities. Meaningful engagement includes opportunities for service- or civic-based activities and involvement in decision-making, leadership, and project implementation.
Youth Matter Grant Showcase
2024
Covenant House: Building Community Through "Gaymers"
At Covenant House, a group of youth took the initiative to create the “Gaymers” program. This gaming group provided a safe and inclusive space for young people living in transitional housing. Meeting three times a week, the program aimed to foster community, reduce isolation, and offer positive, engaging activities that helped youth avoid the pitfalls of isolation and substance misuse, which are common challenges in transitional living. By encouraging teamwork and social interaction, “Gaymers” provided entertainment and critical social support for its participants.
The impact of the program was profound:
- 18% of participants reported that they were more confident in knowing there are people in their community they could rely on for support.
- 23.5% noted that they felt better equipped to handle conflict in their personal relationships, a key skill for maintaining healthy connections.
- A remarkable 70% of the group said they made new connections through the program, with 39% forming strong friendships and 31% reporting deep and meaningful connections.
The “Gaymers” program is a testament to the power of community-building initiatives, providing a lifeline for vulnerable youth.
Alaska Dance Theatre: Empowering Youth Through Mental Health & Leadership
At AK Dance Theatre, youth dancers took charge of shaping their community by forming a youth advisory committee. This team worked together to design a comprehensive learning series addressing key issues that many young performers face: mental health challenges, awareness of eating disorders, bullying prevention, leadership development, and the importance of cultivating kindness and supportive friendships in a competitive environment. This initiative emphasized artistic growth, personal well-being, and resilience in a high-pressure world.
The learning series had a significant and lasting impact on participants:
- 36% of dancers reported a better understanding of where to turn for help if they or someone they knew were struggling with an eating disorder.
- 25% of participants actively chose to avoid social media content that negatively affected their self-esteem, a critical step toward mental well-being in the digital age.
- Impressively, nearly 85% of participants said they felt more appreciated and valued by their community after completing the program, reflecting the transformative power of positive reinforcement and support.
This initiative by AK Dance Theatre enriched the dancers’ skills and provided them with essential tools to navigate life’s challenges, creating stronger, more empathetic leaders in their community.
Alaska Theatre of Youth: Advocating for Anti-Bullying Through "Mean Girls, Jr."
As part of their spring production of Mean Girls, Jr., AK Theatre of Youth (ATY) didn’t just focus on performance—they took a stand against bullying by integrating activism into their work. Youth involved in the production hosted community dialogues, organized talkbacks after performances, and took to social media to promote anti-bullying messages. They also created a detailed study guide that was distributed to local schools, helping to spread awareness on how to address and prevent bullying, both online and in person.
The outcomes of this youth-led anti-bullying initiative were significant:
- Participants reported a 14% improvement in their belief that being true to themselves was more important than changing to fit in or be accepted by others, demonstrating an increase in self-confidence.
- There was also an 8% increase in participants who felt empowered to accept and value differences in others, showing a greater appreciation for diversity and inclusivity.
By combining theater with advocacy, ATY helped young people recognize their potential to effect positive change in their lives and their communities.
Alaska Native Heritage Center: Cultural Connections Through Mask Making
At the Alaska Native Heritage Center, youth embraced their cultural heritage through a unique public workshop centered on traditional Sugpiaq mask-making. Under the guiding principle of “Unguwat” (coming together for a purpose), the workshop was led by internationally acclaimed Suqpiaq Alutiiq mask maker Perry Eaton. It provided participants with a hands-on experience in cultural expression and artistic tradition. This event was a celebration of heritage and a platform for cultural exchange, community-building, and personal growth.
The workshop was part of the Youth Matter Grant project, and the results spoke volumes:
- Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the content and instruction, particularly praising the depth of cultural engagement and the opportunity to work with such a respected artist.
- The workshop fostered a deeper connection to cultural roots while building strong community bonds among participants.
The success of this workshop highlights the ongoing impact of the youth at Alaska Native Heritage Center as they create culturally enriching experiences that benefit individual participants and the wider community.
Anchorage Youth Vote: Engaging Youth in Local Politics
The youth at Anchorage Youth Vote (AYV) recognized the importance of civic engagement and took action by creating a series of informative podcasts. These podcasts broke down the structure of local and state government and explained how young people can get involved in local politics. Through interviews with youth activists and community leaders, the series also highlighted stories of youth-led activism and how young people can influence positive change in their communities.
The podcasts had a measurable impact on listeners:
- 39% of listeners reported an increased understanding of how to engage with local government and participate in politics, empowering them to become more active citizens.
- Before listening to the podcast, 61% of listeners understood what the local Assembly was and its role, while 30% were neutral, and 7% disagreed. After listening, 100% of respondents reported a clear understanding, with 46% strongly agreeing that they now fully understand the Assembly’s function.
2023
The Alaska Youth Orchestra produced a short film that explores the benefits of mentorship between Anchorage Youth Symphony musicians and the AYO Symphony School and/or Camp Fire participants at sites where AYO is providing music programming.
TBA
Youth from the YANA (You Are Not Alone) club at Begich Middle School met in the spring to work with a trauma dog organization and learn about how to support others in post-traumatic situations. The youth at Begich will be continuing this project in the fall by assembling trauma baskets to have ready to distribute to families and schools when traumatic events arise.
TBA
The Alaska Youth Orchestra produced a short film that explores the benefits of mentorship between Anchorage Youth Symphony musicians and the AYO Symphony School and/or Camp Fire participants at sites where AYO is providing music programming.
"By incorporating (Alaska Native studies) into our educational framework, we can foster empathy, understanding, and a drive for positive change."
Anchorage Youth Vote Created a PSA campaign around Civil Discourse designed to educate and engage young people in conversation. Some of the questions they asked were, “Why is civil discourse important? Is civil discourse missing in today’s political climate? How can youth inspire greater civility and understanding in our schools, communities, and beyond?” Youth Vote members scripted the PSAs, worked with a graphic designer and film editor to produce the PSAs, and then the messages were shared on social media and in area high school classrooms. In addition to the PSAs, the youth updated and improved their online voter toolkit for the 2023 municipal election and shared this with local middle and high schools.
TBA
2022
1 – 2 minute video infomercial on social media
"Our project empowered youth to make a difference ... They're change-makers!"
Theme
Safe Driving Messages for Youth
Series of videos and internet/social media platform interactions that tell an educational, parabolic story in a fun, puzzling way. An ad spot will direct viewers to the website that continues the game. Ad and website will contain distracted driving messaging.
This has been a wonderful experience and I'm interested in stretching the boundaries of the types of projects that can be done with the grant.
Theme
Safe Driving Messages for Youth
An audio drama that deals with issues of appropriation, colonialism and othering. By thinking about how these themes affect indigenous cultures, youth involved will have the opportunity to work through these important issues in a thoughtful and creative way.
ATMI youth producers led this project from start to finish. We acted as storytellers, troubleshooters and cultural ambassadors.
Theme
Wellbeing
A short film that explores the realities of pandemic music education and performance as well as the value of music in the lives of youth. Share the film with 3-5 ASD high school music programs.
This was the first time Alaska Youth Orchestra's Performing Directors have taken on a wellness project like this, and the experience was exceedingly positive.
Theme
Wellbeing
Create a toolkit on how to advocate for change locally and nationally. Create and lead a workshop on Youth Advocacy/ local and congressional advocacy. Register young people to vote on Presidents Day. And a possible meet and greet with one of our Senators.
"The group of individuals that helped create and facilitate the workshop are grateful for the opportunity and learned skills. The young people loved the conversation that we decided as the Anchorage Youth Task Force and CHA we will continue twice a month open conversations with the young people.
Theme
Wellbeing
Create the “I am Youth Vote’ campaign designed to inspire and motivate young people to get engaged in community problem solving. Improve voter tools on our website for the 2022 municipal election and share with classrooms in 3-5 middle and/or high schools.
Youth Vote provided meaningful engagement during the development of this project by including youth in decision-making,leadership, and project implementation. We created peer-education and peer-empowerment resources specifically designed to increase feelings of youth mattering in Anchorage.
Theme
Wellbeing
Youth interns and organization representative will facilitate lessons, activities, and students reflections throughout a series of afterschool workshops. Maintain a weekly social media campaign to document learnings from the class.
Our youth leaders helped shape this project from the beginning of the process, starting with developing the grant application and vision for the class
Theme
Wellbeing
Additional Resources
- PILOT Youth Matter Cohort 1&2 Evaluations: evaluation summary report from 2 grantee cohorts (2017-2018)
- 2016 Youth Perception of Mattering Being Valued and Connecting to their Community – A summary of literature and best practices: By Becky Judd on behalf of AYDC
- 2016 Youth Perception of Mattering Being Valued and Connecting to their Community – Highlights: Four-page summary of review
- 2016 Youth Perception of Mattering Being Valued and Connecting to their Community – Appendices
- 2018 List of AYDC Youth Matter grantees and projects: AYDC awarded $22,500 to youth groups for five projects. Find descriptions of project here.
- 2017 List of AYDC Youth Matter grantees and projects: AYDC awarded $30,500 to youth groups for eight projects.
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Center for Safe Alaskans
4241 B Street, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 929-3939
E-mail: info@safealaskans.org
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