WHAT’S UP EVERYBODY!!   I know it’s been a minute since you’ve received a Hip Hop Youth Arts Center update.  But never fear, we’ve had some great developments over the past couple of months! First and foremost, we received a $30,000 matching grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation!  The Foundation wanted to show it’s support of our project, while also giving us “leverage on other funds.”  So now we need to raise our share of the matching grant, and we need YOUR help! Check www.natiyouthcenter.org to see our progress on the $30,000 goal.   Second, we’ve taken our entire contact list of over 700 interested individuals and put it into an online database system.  And you’re receiving the first email “blast” from the new system, complete with a couple HTML touches that I’ll be working to improve upon in the future.  Looks dope, right!  Big thanks to Miranda Millard and Tony Blankemeyer for all their hard work on these projects!  We’re now in the process of updating contact info for everyone on that list – so look for an email soon asking for the info we need to fill in your profile on our database.   Finally, we have set an opening date of JANUARY 3RD!  And that’s for real!  We don’t have enough money to hire staff, or pimp the place out with the best equipment and resources.  But, we will have open doors Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-10 PM and a place for 14-24 year olds to be!  Right now we’re working on getting a zoning variance and certificate of occupancy, pricing computers and other equipment, putting together our volunteer intake process, and completing our policies and procedures manual.  We’re also setting up speaking engagements at local schools and creating flyers to spread the word about our opening.  We will choose the final name for the Hip Hop Youth Arts Center by the end of October, and will be co-sponsoring a contest for high school students that will determine the logo we will use on everything from our business cards to the building’s awning.  So if you’re interested in having someone come speak at your school or want some info to pass out on your block, please let us know.   As you can tell, things are moving ahead in some major ways.  We’re extremely excited to open our doors, and while we wish we could open them tomorrow, we know that we’ve been patient this long for good reason.   Thank you for your continued support, and don’t forget to check out our recently updated website for our new WISH LIST, new photos, and more!   Peace,   Gavin Leonard Hip Hop Youth Arts Center Coordinator cell:  513.266.1508 www.natiyouthcenter.org