AAYHF NEWS

Newsletter

May 1, 2023 Newsletter

REVISED AAYHF Newsletter – May is Mental Health Awareness Month ????Judge Muller Meets w/AAYHF for Support – 25 In-House Non-Profit Partners Come Together!

MAY IS

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

On April 25, AAYHF participated in Mental Health Day and activities at Austin Achieve Public School.

The activities were: Making Stress Balls and Kindness and Self-esteem activity with Skittles and M&M’s candies.

Mental Health &

Wellness Trainings – See Topics Below

Feb 9, Mar 9, Apr 13 & May 18

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH

AWARENESS MONTH

NEW SUMMER/FALL 2023

MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING DATES!

HOW TO REGISTER? SCAN THE QR CODE OR CLICK HERE!

Need Support Now?

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

About 988

People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.

988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be:

• Thoughts of suicide

• Mental health or substance use crisis, or

• Any other kind of emotion distress

• https://988lifeline.org/

4/30: The African American Youth Harvest Foundation met this weekend with its 25 In-House Non-Profit Partners at the Resource Center to discuss collaborative ways to enhance Programing Service to the Central Texas Community. Texas NAACP President Gary Bledsoe met with the team as well. Mr. Bledsoe’s Law Office as well as NAACP State Branch Office is in the Resource Center.

More to follow on this story next week as we prepare a Directory of all the Programs and Services at The African American Youth and Family Resource Center.

-Michael Lofton

Austin Texas Exonerated LaCresha Murray reaches out to AAYHF for assistance to remove two bullets from her arm being shot 6 times by off duty police officer in Copperas Cove Texas. LaCresha is needing basic needs support along with counseling. The officer has been indicted and Mr. Gary Bledsoe’s Law Firm is representing LaCresha Murray.

LaCresha Murray receiving services clothes/food/shoes) from AAYHF.

Michael Lofton, Founder & CEO, African American Youth Harvest Foundation, was the Keynote Speaker for the 2023 District 3 Honors Awards, Represented by Councilmember Casey Thomas, II – Dallas, TX.

SAVE THE DATE

Martin Luther King, III,

will be the Keynote Speaker at the African American Youth Harvest Foundation Annual Gala, Saturday, October 28. In addition, he will be present for a VIP Brunch and Youth Summit on Friday, October 27. For Sponsorship and Special Event inquires contact Michael Lofton: MRLOFTON@AAYHF.ORG

7th Annual Kids Fest ATX – April 29

Youth Justice Meeting at AAYHF April 28

The next Family & Parenting Workshop starts May 23 -June 8!

It’s FREE!

Or scan the QR Code below

April 19 – AAYHF VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENT

We participated in the Earth Day 2023 festivities!

New Mentor Training at AAYHF!

The Foundation had a very busy Tuesday evening on April 25! There were eight (8) youth meetings that night. Our male and female youth mentoring groups had some engaging guest speakers and dinner was also cooked on-site–delicious burgers!

4/18: Weekly male mentoring group meeting, B2M (Boys2Men)

4/11 – Anthony Collier was the Guest Speaker at this weeks B2M (Boys2Men) Mentoring Group.

AAYHF weekly male mentoring group, B2M (Boys2Men) met Tuesday, April 4, for another inspiring session!

4/25: AAYHF Girl’s Mentoring Group

Thank you to our Guest Speaker: Priscilla Toussant for a night of Empowerment!! “Loving yourself begins with Respecting yourselves!!”

Guest Speaker will be Priscilla Toussant – on “Self-Care”

Topic: Raising Queens in Today’s World

What Does it Take?

A little about Priscilla,

“My name is Priscilla Young- Toussant, and My Life’s Purpose is to help others in need, help build and nurture our younger Queens and Straighten Crowns along the way.. I’m currently employed by HCA Central West Texas Division as a Medical Staff Coordinator. I’m here today to lend a hand to our Beautiful up and coming Queens, to extend tips that will help each of you Affirm and Balance your journey. We walk a tough and tight road …so sometimes we need a little assistance straightening our Crowns.

Wishing each of you Young Ladies the Best,

Priscilla Young Toussant”

4/18: AAYHF weekly girl’s mentoring group meeting

4/11 – AAYHF Girl’s Mentoring Group – Another amazing session!

We talked about peer pressure. The young ladies were eager to participate in a little role play for example: Stealing, Skipping School, Bullying; Upset Mom portrayed by volunteer/parent which is why some photos may look like confrontation is taking place, but it was all an act!

AAYHF GIRL’S MENTORING GROUP – 4/4/2023

What an exciting time!! Our Guest was Lasabre Moore ( Cosmetologist/ Skin Care Consultant ) who shared her expertise with our young ladies on the proper way to cleanse you face. She also provide a little extra tip to soften up the hands. When all was said and done, we heard statements like “I’m Beautiful”, ” My skin is so soft”. Then the questioned was asked ” When can we do this again”. What a lasting impression!!

Families facing hardship and crisis can apply for assistance. Find out complete details HERE.

AAYHF STEM & TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE

LOOK AT A FEW OF OUR TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS’ 3D PRINTING CREATIONS!

We want to recognize

Jaden, Tristen and Noah!

Jaden, Tristen and Noah are STEM/Technology/Gaming/Coding/3D Printing students at AAYHF and they created these designs using Coding and the 3D Printer.

Look at their fine work.

AAYHF and Dell Technologies are in partnership with Manor ISD working, training, mentoring in educating Dell Student Tech Crew of Manor how to diagnose and repair Chromebooks.

STEM and technology are ongoing workshops for youth at the African American Youth Harvest Foundation that are FREE! Photographed here is from a weekend STEM workshop.

STEM is offered at no charge for youth ages kindergarten through 12th grade. STEM workshops are one of the continuous programs that AAYHF offers for young people.

What is STEM? STEM consists of the natural sciences, technology-related, engineering and math fields.

Outstanding News here! Two AAYHF youth earn their Dell Tech Certification!

4/11 & 4/12: Our COVID Outreach & Distribution Team regularly delivers COVID safety supplies to local schools and businesses. On this day supplies were donated to Oak Springs Elementary, Ortega Elementary, Williams Elementary and

Ridgetop Elementary

Austin Legal Access has launched a new law firm, located inside of the African American Youth Resource Center at 6633 E Hwy 290, Suite 303, Austin, Texas 78723. ALA opened its doors for legal services on March 6, 2023. Executive Director and Managing Attorney, Dyan Lofton, will be accepting cases in the following areas: Criminal Defense, Family Law, and Wills/Probate. For more information and to learn more about ALA, please visit: www.AustinLegalAccess.org