USA Funds Supports Indiana Black Expo Youth Summit and Back-to-School Rallies

A grant from USA Funds^® is supporting Indiana Black Expo’s educational initiatives for youth. Since 2002 USA Funds has awarded a total of $150,000 to IBE to support its annual Youth Summit and back-to-school rallies in 11 Indiana cities.

Youth Summit
The Youth Summit, conducted during the annual IBE Summer Celebration in Indianapolis, empowers, trains and organizes youth to assume leadership positions in their communities. Local IBE chapters, county offices of family-and-children services and other youth-service organizations from across the state recommend the 250 participants, ages 11 to 18, in the three-day event.

To achieve the goal of helping to develop future leaders, the summit includes peer training, networking, educational workshops and entertainment. Attendees also make presentations on the results of community-service projects in support that were assigned during the previous summit.

The theme of Youth Summit 2005, held July 15-17, was “When I am 35 I want to be healthy, wealthy and wise.”

Back-to-School Rallies
Back-to-school rallies held in 11 chapter cities throughout Indiana, offer participants free educational material and school supplies to prepare students for the coming academic year. The rallies focus on parental involvement, academic achievement and cultural awareness. They serve as a platform for students, parents, teachers, administrators and community members to articulate how they will work together to achieve common goals.

During the 2005-2006 events, IBE will supplement the rallies by offering USA Funds Unlock the Future^® early awareness program to select parents and students. Local chapters also will solicit middle-school administrators, community centers and local churches to offer the program at their sites.

In 2004, 250 youth participated in the Youth Summit. Back-to-school rallies in 10 chapter cities reached 8,726 students and parents.