Community Intervention Program
The Community Intervention Program has operated for the past two years on a totally volunteer basis, led by Steve Purich. Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley (GICV), Inc., and its GoodGuides® Youth Mentoring Program is a key partner and was awarded a grant from the Foundation to expand the collaboration of local mentoring programs and support two AmeriCorps workers. The program has been progressing very well and Rich Uzelac has filled one of these AmeriCorps positions as the official Outreach Program Coordinator. Rich, after recently announcing his retirement from the Christian Home, said this was an opportunity of a lifetime that he could not say no to.
No one was more enthused about the appointment than Steve Purich, the volunteer leader of the program since its inception, who said, "Rich's hiring will give the program needed stability and permanence as we progress into the future."
Steve launched the Community Intervention Program to break what he has called a “cycle of poverty and desperation” among area youths. With partnerships throughout the Greater Johnstown region, including the GICV as the lead agency and administrator, the Program links caring adults with disadvantaged youth, helping them gain the confidence, support, and skills that they need to reach their potential. Since its inception, and with the addition of the GICV support, approximately 127 volunteer mentors have received training and passed the required federal and state clearances; 126 kids have been matched with trained mentors and are receiving mentoring and career development each month; and seven secure and safe mentoring sites in at-risk communities have been identified, as well as chess clubs at Greater Johnstown’s Middle and High schools.
Steve also announced the completion of his newly constructed museum in the woods, "Tranquility Gardens," which is to be used as a unique retreat for these children and their various programs. He said, "Most of the children we work with do not have a chance to see much of the outside world. It is our hope that a visit to Tranquility Gardens becomes such a special place - a destination to experience something new and unique, even if it is only for a day. Perhaps such an experience will give some of these children a new perspective on life and a renewed hope for a better tomorrow."
Tranquilty Gardens brings a bit of t
he world directly to those who visit and will be used as a retreat for the Community Intervention Program. Its motto, "Come for the day and see the whole world" is borrowed (with permission) from Liz Gilbert and Jose Nunes, the subjects for the best-selling novel, "Eat, Pray, Love." In fact, all of the artifacts for the Temple Ruins portion of the garden were personally selected by Jose during the couple's travels throught India, Indonesia and Bali.
Become a mentor or refer a young person to the Community Intervention Program today.
