The LifeSavers program provides youth with educational opportunities and meaningful work experiences. These experiences are provided in the context of a mentoring structure that is in place to supervise, advise, mentor and teach the youth. The program currently serves 25 youth, ages 14-20. They are chosen by an application process and are paid for their work.
The youth (the “LifeSavers”) meet Monday through Friday afternoons after school and have a radio program on Sundays. They work at the gardens and greenhouses at Gethsemane Baptist Church through a collaboration with Century Lifestyle Health & Wellness, directed by Minister Ina Chapman. They may work at this site three days a week, for example. This work enables them to learn first-hand how plants grow. The flowers and vegetable plants or vegetables are given away in the community.
On Thursdays, they run a TV show called “OPEN TV” at 4pm at the Apollo Theater. The show is run by 15-20 youth who interview guests and break down issues for the community, sometimes with a panel of five youth talking with guests.
The LifeSavers serve as ushers for the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at Kleinhan’s Music Hall, with Ms. Bessie Patterson. They volunteer at Dr. Anita O. Williams’ annual event “Taking it to the Streets”, which is a free community festival in MLK park., and at Buffalo’s Juneteenth celebration.
The LifeSavers’ radio program is on Sundays 2:30-3:00pm on Sundays. They discuss youth, progress, peer pressure, violence, school and politics. It is on WUFO which is found at Mix 1080 AM and 96.5 FM, and is heard nationally on the WUFO website. This opportunity is possible because of the support of Ms. Sheila Brown, the owner of WUFO.
The youth are paid through the Youth Employment Program (YEP) of Erie County and the Summer YEP (SYEP) which is operated by the Buffalo Urban League and Career Connection Network, LLC.
Please note, however, that the Stop the Violence Coalition does not get paid for any of these services or for organizing and operating these initiatives. To donate any amount to Stop the Violence Coalition, please click below. All donations are greatly appreciated and support programs for youth.
