At FCS, we want to see neighborhoods become places of opportunity, access, and belonging – especially for the next generation. After nearly 50 years as an organization, we have seen the fruit of cultivating connection and community among youth. That’s part of why our Neighborhood Engagement team has been growing, both in size and variety of opportunities that youth can join in! Here are a few of them.
1. Horseback Riding with SOOFA Ranch
South Atlanta youth are hitting the saddle! Thanks to a new partnership with SOOFA Ranch, young people are building confidence and life skills, including empathy and communication, by learning how to ride and care for horses. Thanks to their support from SOOFA, we’re able to offer these sessions once a month, giving even more children a chance to benefit from this incredible opportunity to connect with animals in a meaningful way.
2. Growing food and boosting nutrition with Grape Roots
Grape Roots is more than just a community garden—it’s a space where kids in South Atlanta can learn about gardening, nutrition, and make healthy food choices. Allowing children to be hands-on with their nutrition options is also a bonus! This is also a great way for volunteers to get involved and make a tangible difference in the lives of the growing generation of South Atlanta.
3. Summer Sleepaway and Day Camps
When it comes to summertime, we all benefit from a brain break. But the summer slide is a real risk for students who need their minds stimulated and their hard-won skills fortified from the previous year! Each year, we collaborate with sleepaway camps like Southern Ground to take older children to sleepaway camp. Closer to home, FCS offers regular activities during the day such as art camps and fun excursions. No matter the activity, youth walk away with a sense of connectedness, possibility, and pride in the new experiences and strengths they discovered.
“When she came back, she had a glow on her face,” says Chanelle, who sent her daughter to camp.
4. South Atlanta Bike Team
“When you see us like this on our bikes, we have less stress and fear,” one youth group member shared. Created during the pandemic, the Bike Team has been a youth and parent favorite ever since. Young people gather together to build community, get to know their neighborhood through exploration, and boost their fitness together. The benefits extend even deeper. “We know physical activity, time outside, and social interaction goes a long way in supporting kids’ emotional and mental health,” says Michelle Witherspoon, Youth Development Coordinator.
5. Youth Group Meetings
The South Atlanta youth group has a storied legacy of cultivating a connection to the neighborhood and neighbors! “It’s all about relationships and belonging. Youth Group meetings are where the children and teens knit their lives together and forge bonds that are going to last for decades,” says Michelle. Among the other activities available in South Atlanta for kids, the youth group provides a space to ask faith-filled questions and provides an opportunity for older teens to be involved and mentor their younger neighbors.
Your contributions make all of this possible.
Support from people like you is an essential part of strengthening the next generation of neighbors. Here are two ways that you can invest in youth:
- Consider making a regular, long-term commitment to volunteer. Adults who can spend time cultivating connections with youth provide mentorship and stability. The critical piece: consistency and time. If you have roots in Atlanta for the long haul and want to see youth thrive, email damien@fcsministries.org or michellew@fcsministries.org.
- Donate towards a summer of enriching growth opportunities. It costs $200 to send one child to sleepaway camp for a week, and we want to make sure every child who wants to go has the ability to do so, regardless of financial background. Click here to sponsor a camper today.
Together we can ensure that generations of neighbors flourish! It all starts with taking the time to connect with youth.
