Recently, student groups from Mitchell and Gifford completed their Youth As Resources-funded capstone projects, each addressing a unique community need.
Youth As Resources, often known as YAR, empowers the next generation of changemakers in Racine County. These youth-led grants and service projects encourage, middle school students to tackle community challenges and gives them valuable skills in leadership and civic engagement. YAR is a partnership between United Way of Racine County and Racine Unified School District’s middle school academies at Mitchell, Gifford and Jerstad-Agerholm.
At Gifford, students in Mrs. Schuster’s 3B class focused their efforts on supporting local veterans. They painted two benches and purchased 16 mailboxes for the tiny homes at the Veterans Outreach campus, creating a more welcoming and comfortable environment for those who served our country. Thirteen student volunteers contributed 10-14 hours each, gaining hands-on experience in teamwork, communication and project planning.
Students in Ms. Apilado’s capstone class at Mitchell took a powerful stand against gun violence. Partnering with Voices of Black Mothers United, they delivered classroom presentations to raise awareness about how gun violence affects youth and families in Racine. They also participated in the National Gun Violence Awareness Day rally on June 6 and distributed bracelets to spark conversation and build awareness. Their efforts reached more than 1,200 people and helped each of the 16 students involved develop confidence, empathy and a strong sense of civic responsibility.
To continue their advocacy, the class organized a charity dance to raise funds for Voices of Black Mothers United. The event combined education, action and peer engagement through the Wear Orange campaign and served as a powerful platform for students to amplify their message. Proceeds from the event were donated to the organization, which students were first introduced to through the Impact Our Community Fair. Seventeen student volunteers led every part of the event from planning and promotion to set up and outreach, gaining real-world experience in event coordination and collaboration.
As Ms. Apilado shared, “The project helped them build practical skills and a sense of social responsibility.” Student Melissa Gonzales reflected, “This experience taught me the importance of giving back to the community and working together to make a difference.”
These YAR projects highlight the impact young people can make when given the opportunity to lead. With support and encouragement, Racine Unified students are not just learning about their community, they are working to improve it, creating a brighter future for all.
