Keeping Milwaukee teenagers safe, just got harder. With a reduction of funding being allocated to local after school programs, the Running Rebels Community Organization is struggling to obtain the financial resources necessary to continue its after school program that has helped keep so many youth keep off the streets and focused on positive activities. This video talks about the devastating impact of the funding shortfall and what we can do about it.

Running Rebels believes it is not enough to simply provide a supervised recreational area and tutoring for their after school program… the key to transforming youth is tapping into their passions, whether it’s a love for basketball, or poetry, or rap or their desire to make money and use these interests as a way to engage them in effective one-on-one mentoring, case management and lifelong support. Which is why Running Rebels program supervisors are trained in the evidence based JCIP (Juvenile Cognitive Intervention Program), a cognitive-behavioral based program that guides youth through a process of examining their beliefs that are driving their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; leading to either desired or undesired consequences in their lives. The goal of JCIP is to teach the youth skills that will assist them in identifying, controlling and changing their personal thinking patterns and underlying beliefs that are unproductive and/or destructive. In addition, supervisors are trained in Restorative Justice Practices, Community Building, Trauma-Informed Care, CPR & First Aid and Fulfill the Dream, a culturally relevant character development program. Running Rebels is aligned with the Center for Youth Engagement’s Beyond the Bell Initiative and Community Building Milwaukee.

To meet the total recreation and mentoring needs for Running Rebels’ after school programming will require $95,500.

Running Rebels After School Program Budget:

1 full-time program coordinator: $40,000

2 part-time program staff: $35,500

Food/Beverages: $5,000

Outings and field trips: $3,000

Student Transportation: $6,000

Supplies: $3,000

Youth stipends and incentives: $3,000 (each year Running Rebels identifies a number of at-risk youth that require a guided paid work experience with oversight by a trained mentor to pave the way for future employment ouside the agency)

If we can also get our link posted in efforts to raise funds: https://www.crowdrise.com/rebelsafterschool

Thank You!