Greensheet's Education Foundation (Youth Scoop) was the brainchild of a creative team with Greensheet and Kathy Douglass. From the start, it was clear to everyone involved that literacy was the bridge between the Greensheet's print publication and a dire community need.
Today, Youth Scoop reaches over 40,000 elementary through high school students in over 200 school districts each year, and while it has certainly made its mark on the community, it didn't happen overnight. There have always been programs that focused on fighting illiteracy, but Greensheet wanted to cover ground that we felt was being overlooked. We started with a belief that literacy is not just about learning how to read, but is part of something larger -- something that involves using many skills to express ideas, through many mediums.
Knowing this, Youth Scoop was designed to support and enhance a child's ability to creatively express themselves and offers them a place to share and celebrate these skills. Youth Scoop chose to focus on schools that didn't already have this type of program built into their curriculum. We started in one classroom and have expanded to schools in every print market and beyond through our expansive website, YouthScoop.com.
More than just a chance to improve their writing skills, children find Youth Scoop workshops to be an exciting time where they are taught to be proud of things they write and create. The chance to have their work published in the Greensheet is the icing on the cake because the kids can share their pride with friends, family, and community. It is a pride so great that one young girl wore her Youth Scoop t-shirt every day for two weeks - until it began to tatter. That's the kind of impact Youth Scoop has on kids. It's about more than just writing. Youth Scoop gives children the confidence to take ownership of their ideas. Greensheet's Youth Scoop Program builds self-esteem.
Youth Scoop and YouthScoop.com continue to help kids gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed in school and throughout their lifetime. The Greensheet Education Foundation <http://www.greensheetyouthscoop.com/> is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation