Lubbock, Texas
Overview
This is the first year Lubbock’s has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People. Lubbock residents are committed to ensuring their youth are brought up in a healthy, safe and nurturing environment. To ensure local youth are making educated health decisions, the Texas Healthy Adolescent Initiative uses an evidence-based youth development approach to increase healthy behaviors. During the local Bully Prevention Day, 800 bookmarks were distributed featuring bully-free designs from local students. To encourage future local leaders, Youth in Philanthropy puts Lubbock’s young residents through an advanced leadership track where they solicit and then review local organization grant applications. In addition, the Youth Connection Program offers volunteer opportunities and training in leadership development and civic engagement. Lubbock’s graduation rate is nearly 82 percent, due in large part to these initiatives.
Community Programs
- The Texas Healthy Adolescent Initiative (THAI) uses an evidence-based youth development approach to help increase healthy behaviors and decision-making among Texas adolescents.
- The local Parents Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG ) chapter is supported by 24 local businesses, churches and organizations, and meets monthly and provides local fund-raising and educational events throughout the year.
- During the YWCA’s Bully Prevention Day, over 800 bully-free bookmarks were passed out featuring designs from local students listing ways to stay bully-free.
- The Youth Connection Program connects youth to volunteer opportunities and offers training in leadership development and civic engagement.
- The Youth in Philanthropy puts youth through an advanced leadership track where they solicit and then review local organization grant applications.
Youth Voices
One program that has really helped me with my future is AVID. AVID has really helped me by showing me all the opportunities that are open for me to get into a four year college and before AVID I really didn’t think that I was going to attend a four year college. No one in my family has ever made it through college. With the AVID program’s training on how to make it to college, I believe that I can be the first to graduate in my family.
—Savannah
Throughout my growing years, I have taken countless trips that have opened my eyes and built my character. During those journeys, I changed as a person because I learned how other people in different parts of the world lived and that life was not all about me.
—Heather