<![CDATA[BETTER FAMILY LIFE YOUTH DEPT - News & Events]]>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:07:30 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Better Family Life recognized as HUD Envision Center]]>Tue, 30 Jun 2020 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.bflyouth.org/news--events/better-family-life-recognized-as-hud-envision-center
On Tuesday, June 30th, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that Better Family Life will now be a centrally located HUD Envision Center in St. Louis, MO. 

Envision Centers are centralized hubs that provide people with resources and support needed to excel in life. The 4 HUD Self-Sufficiency Pillars are designed to improve economic sustainability of individuals by empowering them with opportunities to improve economic outlook.

We are extremely honored to receive this recognition from HUD! For more information, go to hud.gov/envisioncenters
]]><![CDATA[A Call to Address Youth Isolation During the COVID-19 Crisis]]>Wed, 25 Mar 2020 17:17:54 GMThttps://www.bflyouth.org/news--events/a-call-to-address-youth-isolation-during-the-covid-19-crisis

​The sport-based youth development (SBYD) community emphasizes the need to support community building and preservation of connections between coach-mentors and youth during the pandemic.


Over one billion young people are currently experiencing a disruption in their ability to go to school and participate in extracurricular activities. This crisis will not only interrupt classroom learning, but will also create a sense of isolation that will spread more widely and quickly than the pandemic itself.

Read the full article here:
]]><![CDATA[Better Family Life Youth Addresses Coronavirus]]>Fri, 13 Mar 2020 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.bflyouth.org/news--events/hello-update-on-the-coronavirus-covid-19Dear Friends,

Over the past few weeks, Better Family Life Youth has been tracking developments regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Because the health and safety of our community is our highest priority, we have been following the recommendations of all health authorities, and we have been in almost daily consultation with experts to understand how our organization can help slow the spread of the virus. 

We have now made the difficult decision to modify programming at BFL Youth for the next two weeks, shifting all on-site programming to remote services only, in an effort to protect the safety of our families, our staff and our larger community. We are postponing all public and sporting events for March, and we will continue to evaluate the situation as it evolves. Our primary responsibility is to serve our families, keeping them safe and helping them thrive. This is our primary consideration in making this decision, as if is for all decisions at BFL.

We encourage everyone to stay calm, informed, and prepared. For accurate and up-to-date information, please visit Corona-virus-STL and cdc.gov. Health and safety are all of our responsibilities. We encourage you to practice safety measures at home and when you're out. Wash your hands with soap and water frequently. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when sneezing and coughing and please stay home if you are sick. Take measures to avoid unnecessary contact with large crowds and confined gatherings of people to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

If you have questions, please reach out to BFL Youth staff, who remain available via phone during this time.

All our best,

- BFL Youth ]]><![CDATA[21st Century students submit artwork for Google Contest]]>Wed, 11 Mar 2020 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.bflyouth.org/news--events/were-joining-the-doodle-for-google-community
Gonz Jove (Artistic Coordinator), announced that several students, participating in our 21st Century after-school program, had their artwork submitted to the Google Doodle contest.

Most artists dream of sharing their art with an audience of hundreds, maybe thousands. But the team behind Google's Doodles - those quirky illustrations and animations that replace the search engine's logo each day - has their work seen by billions. 
Google has released an open call for it's 12th annual Doodle for Google contest, which invites young US artists in grades K-12 to use their creativity to design their own interpretation of the Google logo, based on a congenial theme.
This year's Doodle for Google theme is:
​
'I SHOW KINDNESS BY..."
"Acts of kindness bring more joy, light and warmth to the world. They cost nothing but mean everything."
But kindness is so much more than just being nice. This year's theme invites students to show kindness. Is it by helping around your home, volunteering in your community's green space? Maybe it's comforting someone who's down, or picking up trash in the park.

The winner will be chosen from a shortlist of five finalists. Besides having their illustration featured atop Google.com for a day, the winner will also receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 technology package for their school, and a trip to the company's headquarters in California. The four other finalists will also join on the trip and will each get a $5,000 scholarship. Submissions for this year's contest closes on March 20, 2020. 

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!

Below are several art pieces submitted to Google:
Anyla Boyd Johnson
​Jefferson Elementary
Brandel Sow
Jefferson Elementary
Brihanna Cosby
Barack Obama Elementary
Charlie Brown
Barack Obama Elementary
DMarion Johnson
Washington Elementary
Jayniya Edwards
Barack Obama Elementary
Khloe Medley
Barack Obama Elementary
Markevia Vearson
Lucas Crossing Elementary
Patrick Clemons
Washington Elementary
Rogerlyn Echols
Washington Elementary
Skyler Foster
Jefferson Elementary
Terrell Anderson
Lucas Crossing Elementary
]]><![CDATA[Better Family Life's 7th Annual Jr. Unity Ball]]>Mon, 02 Mar 2020 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.bflyouth.org/news--events/better-family-lifes-7th-annual-jr-unity-ball



​What a stunning event!


Better Family Life hosted the 7th Annual Jr. Unity Ball for youth ages 5-18 on Saturday, February 29th, 2020 at the Better Family Life Cultural, Educational and Business Center located in the heart of West St. Louis. 

The premier formal affair integrated the sounds, fashion influence and cultural inspiration of the era known as the "Roaring Twenties" while providing entertainment, inspiration and education for everyone in attendance.
The fun-filled evening included the 7th Annual America SCORES Poetry Slam, a scholarship awards ceremony, art activities, live entertainment and special huests highlighting a message of hope, and the confirmation that achievement and the path to success is readily available to any child who puts a keen focus on the pursuit of excellence. 

Special guests included Better Family Life's CEO Malik Ahmed, Vice President of the Youth, Family and Clinical Services Department, Miranda Jones, sounds by DJ Bishop V-Luv, DJ KP da Kid and many more.


]]><![CDATA[America SCORES - St. Louis to Escort USA Men's Soccer Team for The USA vs. Uruguay Match at Busch Stadium]]>Fri, 06 Sep 2019 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.bflyouth.org/news--events/america-scores-st-louis-to-escort-usa-mens-soccer-teamfor-the-usa-vs-uruguay-match-at-busch-stadium
Children from America Scores St. Louis, operated by Better Family Life, will escort players from USA and Uruguay national soccer teams during the match here in St. Louis at Busch Stadium on Tuesday, September 10.
 
The youth escorts represent the ten (10) St. Louis area America Scores teams that operate in the school districts of St. Louis Public Schools, Jennings, Normandy and Better Family Life.
America SCORES-BFL St. Louis empowers students in urban communities using soccer, writing, creative expression, and service-learning. With teamwork as the unifying value, America SCORES-BFL St. Louis inspires youth to lead healthy lifestyles, be engaged students, and become agents of change in their schools and communities.
 
Sponsored by Nike and Volkswagen, the children will be given replica uniforms and will each escort each one of the USA National team player onto the field. 

For more information visit: USSoccer.com
]]><![CDATA[Young Lives Matter National Peace and Empowerment Rally]]>Fri, 26 Jul 2019 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.bflyouth.org/news--events/young-lives-matter-national-peace-and-empowerment-rally

On Thursday, July 25th, the Youth, Family and Clinical Services Department of Better Family life will hold a “Young Lives Matter - Youth & Empowerment Rally for Peace on the front lawn of Better Family Life’s Cultural, Educational and Business Center in response to the murders of youth in and around the St. Louis Metropolitan area over the 6 months.

“We must participate, we must do  something even if it is only to show the faces of those who are most vulnerable.” -Aniya Sykes, 14 years old

Better Family Life’s Youth Department and the Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) have initiated a Young Lives Matter movement designed to bring awareness and stop the upsurge of violence perpetrated against the young people of this community. The youth have expressed a desire for their voice to be heard and feel that they can no longer stay silent and want the community to know that their lives matters..

The rally is open to the public. We are asking all who wish to participate to assemble at 9:45am in the front lawn of Better Family Life. The rally will include student, civic and adult speakers who will make the plea to the community to stop the
violence. We are inviting all youth, local summer camp programs and adults including the media to this event.
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