The Chaffee County Youth Alliance awarded a total of $10,150 in grant funds through its 6th annual mini-grant program, supporting eight local community non-profits working with youth across Chaffee County.

CCYA is a community-based prevention program promoting positive youth development (PYD). 

CCYA serves as the local Communities that Care (CTC) coalition, a collaborative effort facilitated through Chaffee County Family & Youth Initiatives (FYI) housed within Chaffee County Department of Human Services. Positive Youth Development (PYD) is: “an intentional, prosocial approach that engages youth… in a manner that is productive and constructive; recognizes, utilizes, and enhances young people’s strengths; and promotes positive outcomes for young people by providing opportunities, fostering positive relationships, and furnishing the support needed to build on their leadership strengths.” PYD is a hallmark of CCYA’s mission to create opportunities, remove barriers and allocate resources to cultivate positive relationships and promote youth and family well-being across Chaffee County.

The 2023 CCYA grant awards ranged from $600 to $2500 to help fund projects and programs focused on positive youth development in Chaffee County. This year’s PYD grant recipients included 100 Elk Outdoor Center, Partnership for Community Action, Salida Theater Project, Colorado TINTS, Salida Circus, Full Circle Restorative Justice, Guidestone Colorado, and Buena Vista Public Library. Funded proposals ranged from performance art and theater training and productions, to youth interns facilitating peer conflict resolution and story walk installation, to adolescent summer camp activities and youth leadership pathways, and backcountry skills training. The CCYA has distributed over $52,600 to local youth-serving community organizations since the launch of its mini-grant program in 2018.

CTC is an evidence-based prevention approach aimed at helping communities prevent youth risk problem behaviors before they develop, including use of alcohol, tobacco and other substances. These efforts are funded through the Colorado Department of Public Health, with the state marijuana tax cash fund. Learn more about CCYA and FYI at www.chaffeecountyfyi.org/copy-of-community-based-prevention.

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Dan R

Danny “Dan R” Ridenour has been in radio and television broadcasting for over 40 years, starting as a senior in high school in Rogers, Arkansas. His radio career has had stops in Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma, and eventually, Colorado. Dan enjoys being involved in the community, having been a member of the Upper Arkansas Service Club and is currently on the board of directors for the Salida Community Center and is a member of the Chaffee County Fair Committee. He and his wife Carrie spend their days doing everything the mountains have to offer: hiking, camping, fishing and skiing. They've raised 3 children and have 2 grandchildren.

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