Oh, The Places You’ll Go
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hen Kelly Hicks arrived as a Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) volunteer in 2000, she was a fresh-faced college graduate who didn’t have a career direction but had a strong desire to serve young people. For two years, she did just that at the Rockcastle Youth and Teen Center and at Camp AJ. It was a formational experience in her life. “My time with CAP directly impacted what was next for me,” she said. “It was a big part of defining who I wanted to be as an adult and set me on the path to a very fulfilling career.” At CAP, Hicks realized she was passionate about working with teens and has found a home for that passion at Youth Go, a supportive community for youth in Neenah, Wisconsin. Now the executive director, Hicks has grown with the organization for 12 years.
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While Hicks has found her home and vocation in Wisconsin, her time in Kentucky left an imprint on her heart. “It is my second home,” she stated unequivocally. She has found a way to honor the importance of both places in her life and annually brings Youth Go teens to CAP for a spring break service trip. Hicks is thrilled to share her special place with the kids from Wisconsin; she also knows the possibility that many will have their own life-changing experiences. Youth Go is a drop-in center for teens in grades 5-12 providing nocost recreation, education, support, and wellness programs. They provide dinner, tutoring, transportation, and activities. While the programs are important, Hicks believes the most important thing is that teens feel safe, valued, and supported. The foundation for that work is positive and encouraging relationships between staff members and the youth they serve.
christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive | SPRING / SUMMER 2019
Ethen Emenecker, a recent Youth Go graduate shared, “My Youth Go experience has been truly life changing. It has provided me with a home on days I needed one. When I look back on my Youth Go experience, I can say I have gone from going nowhere, believing nothing is possible, to developing a sense of self-belonging and believing I am capable of anything.” While a special emphasis is placed on recruiting at-risk youth who are in most need of their services, the diversity among participants makes the center a unique place. Youth Go celebrates the value of all youth. Because of that value, it attracts attendees from all family, socio-economic, neighborhood, and cultural backgrounds. Hicks continues to bring Youth Go teens to CAP because she has seen transformations, including one that is similar to her own. James came to
