This year West Wind Education Policy, Inc. is celebrating its 10th anniversary. To honor the goals and purposes of West Wind, staff chose to celebrate by completing service projects in our community to support local K-12 education. In June, the West Wind team assisted the Mayor’s Youth Empowerment (MYEP) and Fast Trac Program as they transitioned into a new building. MYEP provides day-habilitation, respite, residential, after school and summer care opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities. The Fast Trac Program provides support for youth in grades 4 through 12, bringing together teachers, community leaders, families and students to provide activities, events, mentoring and academic guidance to students. The Fast Trac program offers the following as a statement of purpose:
“Our goal is change. Giving students a reason to change has always been the missing piece in motivating students to focus on their education. Since the FasTrac Program began, these students have exceeded all expectations set by themselves and by their parents. This program has grown from six original African-American students to currently over 100 students of all ethnic backgrounds. Additionally, the program assists students in 4th through 12th grade, now with a program for elementary school students, FasTrac-E, which follows each student in the program beginning in 4th grade, all the way through their high school career.”
MYEP and Fast Trac are amazing organizations, getting wonderful results for students. When we arrived, the staff was busy preparing materials for students and moving equipment through the rooms. Donated art work had been hung on the wall; games, books, and toys filled the rooms; foosball tables and televisions were available as well as school and art supplies. We spent the morning wiping out bins, locating missing puzzle pieces, dusting furniture, arranging books, and even moving a very heavy foosball table.
On the morning of August 3 the West Wind team joined other volunteers and organizers from To Gather Together, a local organization that gathers donations to buy school supplies from churches, individuals, businesses, and social services agencies. To Gather Together provides school supplies to over 3,000 children in Johnson County, Iowa. West Wind staff assisted by counting out supplies such as crayons, markers, folders, and paper. We sorted the supplies into stacks for specific schools and teams of volunteers delivered these the next day.
West Wind wants to offer our thanks to both the Mayor’s Youth Empowerment/Fast Trac Programs and To Gather Together for providing us the opportunity to support them in their work. Both of these programs are an amazing asset to our community and the staff and volunteers who make these programs function deserve a round of applause for their hard work and dedication to education for all children. Thank you on behalf of the West Wind team. It is heartening to work with individuals on the ground dedicated to educational opportunities for each and every child.