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AAYHF NEWS

May 8, 2023 Newsletter

AAYHF Newsletter – VOTE FOR AAYHF! – Austin Police Chief Visits AAYHF Boys/Girls Mentoring Group for Community Discussion – May is Mental Health Awareness Month ????
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VOTE TODAY FOR

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION BEST NON-PROFIT CATEGORY

Your support is always appreciated!

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VOTE HERE TODAY!


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AAYHF 2023 MOTHER’S DAY

PHOTO SHOOT

All of the beautiful moms (not all photos shown) received a free photo shoot with their children/family and also were given roses and gift bags.

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May 2 at AAYHF –

CHIEF JOSE CHACON VISITS AAYHF &

BOY’S & GIRL’S MENTORING GROUP

Greetings from Michael Lofton

“We had a great meeting last night with our Youth & Parents and APD Chief Jose Chacon. The Community had a great discussion with Chief Chacon on Community Policing and discussed ways to improve relationships.

Some of the Topics we Discussed were as follows:

Disparate Traffic Stops by DPS

Police Training / Ethical Concerns / Disciplinary Actions

Texas Relays and The Targeting of Black Youth Showing off their Vehicles, with Excessive Traffic Stops

APD Re-engagement in The Community to Improve Relationships

Addressing The Mental Health / Stress from Years of Policing Concerns in the African American Community

APD / AAYHF Youth and Sport Competition Events -For Example: Flag Football / Basketball

APD / More Engagement with Youth in Our Group Mentoring Programs and our Urban University Summer Camp

In closing It was a great conversation by all and we had fun with our kids, and we have plans for future conversations with the community and our youth.

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WATCH THIS VIDEO – MR. LOFTON LEADING YOUTH AFFIRMATIONS!!

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Just a few more from the individual Boy’s & Girl’s Mentoring meetings on May 2, where the Austin Chief of Police also visited with parents, youth and other members of the community.

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AAYHF participated today in the 7th Annual STEAM FEST at Martin Middle School

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AAYHF provided bus transportation for Huston Tillotson University students graduation day!

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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.


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REGISTER HERE!

Mental Health &

Wellness Trainings – See Topics Below

Feb 9, Mar 9, Apr 13 & May 18

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH

AWARENESS MONTH


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NEW SUMMER/FALL 2023

MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING DATES!

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

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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/

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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


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5/4: AAYHF DELL TECH CREW

AAYHF and Dell Technologies at Manor ISD working with Manor Dell Student Tech Crew on weekly system repair. The students are brilliant!!

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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.


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

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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.

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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

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7th Annual Kids Fest ATX – April 29

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Youth Justice Meeting at AAYHF April 28

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

It’s FREE!

SIGN UP HERE!

Or scan the QR Code below

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April 19 – AAYHF VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENT

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We participated in the Earth Day 2023 festivities!

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New Mentor Training at AAYHF!

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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!

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

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

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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”


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

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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!

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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!!



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

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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 


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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

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STEM SATURDAYS WITH AAYHF!!

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AAYHF PROGRAMS

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Happening in Austin!

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RAIN TO WATER

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE: https://tinyurl.com/rainaustin


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African American Youth Harvest Foundation

www.aayhf.org

6633 Hwy 290 E., #307

Austin, TX 78723

512-428-4480

Email: CONTACTUS@AAYHF.ORG

Michael Lofton, Founder & CEO


WAYS TO DONATE:

www.aayhf.org/donate

Text a Donation: Text text word

CHANGE to 77948

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