The goal of APPS is to enrich the lives of youth (ages 14-21) and young adults by connecting them to services and programs focused on building life skills, character development, jobs, post secondary education, and other components that further enhance the recreational programs we currently provide. This is achieved by developing partnerships, expanding and leveraging resources, and creating programs that reflect best practices in promoting education and reducing crime and violence.
“I’m a high school student and I like my style, music and hanging out with friends. My friends are my friends and although they may not always make the best decisions, I would not be me without them. You may think they’re rough but it’s alright once you get to know them. We hit the streets and make Columbus our playground and live in the now. The one thing I don’t realize is that my future is being decided right now.”
Sound familiar? We all have good kids that can be misguided at times and let’s face it: we cannot force them to make the right decisions. Applications for Pride, Purpose and Success (APPS) can help because it connects young adults with empowering programs and services that focus on building life skills, character development, jobs, post secondary education, and safe environments to have fun.
APPS started with a vision by Mayor Coleman to create a violence-free city environment, especially after an increase in the city's homicide rate in 2010. The program is a shared effort between Recreation and Parks and the Mayor's Office to reach a young adult demographic which the city felt was under-served by the recreation department's existing offerings. Many activities are centered around young children or adults, but older kids are often overlooked in recreation programming models. APPS was designed to build relationships with the participants and to grow a community of trust while giving them a safe environment where they can do something more productive than idly roaming city streets. Many scientific studies of indolent urban youth indicate that they are prone to many negative influences when there is not much for them to do including becoming involved in gangs or experimenting with drugs and alcohol.
One of the main challenges with designing activities for the 14 - 21 age group is attracting their attention, and then keeping them interested enough to come back. The APPS program offers a wide variety of activities, going beyond traditional recreational center offerings. The young adults have access to computers, game tournaments, cookouts, guest speakers, and more. To help them stay off the streets year-round, GED assistance and college prep classes are offered, as well as counselors from APPS' partnership with Directions for Youth and Family Services.
The goal of the program is to be as inclusive as possible, and the organizers behind it are actively seeking out troubled youths rather than waiting for them to show up. The Huckleberry House, a local nonprofit that works with at-risk and runaway teens, has partnered with APPS to encourage awareness of its offerings as well.
In its first year, APPS had 2,700 teenagers and young adults participate. Mayor Coleman believes that APPS is a direct factor in the reduction of violence this past summer, which is one of the many reasons the program was created in the first place.
Plans are in place to expand the program. This fall, more activities will be added to attract young women, and more 'street soldiers' will be employed to seek out participants by knocking on doors and finding locations such as street corners and libraries where young adults tend to hang out. Time will tell, but judging by the many nights that teens are waiting outside recreation center doors before they even open, it seems as if APPS is on its way to making a big difference for not just young adults, but the whole city.
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Locations
Barack Community Center»
Barnett Community Center»
Beatty Community Center»
Driving Park Community Center»
Glenwood Community Center»
Linden Community Center»
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Corey D. Leftridge
APPS Recreation Coordinator
CDLeftridge@columbus.gov
(614)645-8430
Community Partners
Directions for Youth and Family Services»
Huckleberry House»
YMCA Juvenile Justice»
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