"YOU'th" Are Worthy

Proverbs 6:6 - Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Since our inception, we have fought to overcome socio-economic barriers in general, and the lack of access to transportation and proper equipment in particular.

Despite challenges and set-backs, many generous benefactors and donors who have provided resources to enable us to succeed in offering S.E.A.L. to youth aged 10 to 18 and soon, additional programs to younger youth.

Since 1999, RISKids.org has served as a mission-based, local community intermediary, fiscal agent and program developer for youth living in communities that are socioeconomically “at” or below poverty.

The "YOU'th Are Worthy tag line and Proverbs 6:6 are two foundational principles of the Resource Initiative for Safe Kids (RISKids.org). RISKids.org is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and under Code of Virginia § 58.1-609.11. Additionally, RISKids.org is listed with Virginia State Office of Consumer Affairs, Dun & Bradstreet, and the Richmond Better Business Bureau.

All of our board members, trained volunteers /mentors and staff submit to criminal background screening. Our finances are independently audited and overseen by Moya Accounting CPA; Risk management for all of our youth participants is chartered through the Heart of Virginia Boy Scouts Council; and we are underwritten by the Alliance of Non-profit Insurers - through the USI Insurance firm. We are represented by the law firm of Meyer Goergan and Marrs.

Our Target Demographic

Our initial target area is the incorporated town of McKenney and nearby Dewitt, both are located at the southern end of Dinwiddie County along Boyton Plank Road. Our predominant service area is the Crews Mobile Home Community. This community exists within the town limits and is comprised of 35 single wide mobile homes most of which are more than 25+ years old. The inhabitants of the community are primarily blue collar, high school or less educated, and 95% of the neighborhood is at or below the poverty level. These statistics contribute to the Town qualifying for USDA area benefit, meaning that its population has 51% of its inhabitants being at or below the poverty rate. Dinwiddie county as a whole measures just at 30%.

Fig # 1: According to County sponsored surveys, many youth in rural communities feel geographically isolated due to the lack of out of school time options and transportation barriers. As a result, many youth:

· Lack of first hand observation of potential career opportunities;

· Lack access to adult role models for civic responsibility and volunteering;

· Have; more unsupervised time, during out of school time, and;

· Believe, youth activities access and equity barriers lead to at-risk behaviors.

Research, studies, and public opinion polls indicate there are several mitigating social issues facing rural youth that can be addressed through youth development organizations. In order to document this need locally, RISKids.org conducted a door to door random sampling of the parents of underprivileged youth in the trailer park and surrounding it. Our conversations with parents confirmed the primary results of a 2006 Dinwiddie youth needs assessment which revealed that not only were youth performing below average academically, but many of these youth are participating in risky behaviors, such as “gateway” use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; promiscuous sex involvement; unhealthy eating habits; and stressful living.

Finally, our survey and the county needs assessment, provided evidence that there are negative community “access” and “equity” issues that limit pro-social youth development and capacity building. Many believe that these issues increase the likely hood of involvement in risky behaviors among underprivileged and underserved rural youth; particularly in trailer parks.

History

In early 1998 Anthony Jones, founder and president of Endicott Civic Association, was in the process of developing a non-profit grassroots community initiative called AMETRO Community Link, when he encountered an opportunity to establish a partnership enabling civic associations to obtain funds to resolve traffic safety issues. He saw opportunity, when approached by representatives of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Vince Burgess, David Mosely, and Makita Lewis to conduct an inner-city safe community program pilot called The Richmond Inner City Project.

Anthony D. Jones and DMV theorized that if a neighborhood based non-profit were given resources (seed money, technical expertise, etc.) to increase awareness of safety issues within the inner city community, then the community at large would benefit through the reduction of injuries and fatalities. The Endicott Civic Association served as address for the Richmond Inner City Project. The Richmond Inner City's first Project was a Bike Rodeo and Safety Festival. In year 2000, the Endicott Civic Association agreed with Anthony D. Jones that The Richmond Inner City Project was beyond its scope. Therefore, a separate autonomous organization was established and the Richmond Inner City Project became known as The Richmond Initiative for Safe Kids (RISKids.org), and Anthony D. Jones became its President/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

For the next 3 years The Richmond Initiative for Safe Kids (RISKids.org) would engage in a series of collaborative events aimed at increasing awareness and responding to youth issues in the city of Richmond. In January 2003, the Richmond Initiative for Safe Kids headquarters was moved to rural Dinwiddie County, Virginia where the name, scope, identity and employer identification number of the organization was changed to its current designation, The Resource Initiative for Safe Kids (RISKids.org).