Smart Business Magazine, February 2016

February 2016 Smart Business Akron Canton 25 director A lot of kids are in poverty so transportation is an issue We get a few kids that can take public transportation or get a ride with parents but most are within walking distance Parmelee adds that walking distance is a relative term with some of First Glances students When I started with our young adults program on Monday night I was living in Cuyahoga Falls and I talked to one of the guys who was there and got to know him a bit Parmelee says I found out he lived in Cuyahoga Falls too and was walking from Cuyahoga Falls to get here It would take him about four hours I said Dude I drive pretty close to your house let me give you a ride Thats how important it was to him He grew up in Kenmore and grew up coming to First Glance and he was going to do whatever it took to get back here First Glance has a series of continuous programs including Teen Moms ages 11 to 19 and Young Moms ages 20 to 26 that are geared to help young people at critical stages in their lives Our Young Moms started because our Teen Moms were aging out Swiger says We care about them These are our friends and our family and we dont want them to be pushed out on the street We want to walk with them So we created Young Moms to continue to be able to walk through life with them Ladies Night Out is a program for teenage girls to get together and play games and enjoy fun activities while Man Up strives to provide a similar experience for male participants Its all part of an approach that attempts to further First Glances mission of connecting young people to Christ but does so in a non threatening pressure free way You wont see us make everybody sit down and listen to something Swiger says We work through relationships Unconditional support The effort to help people who have experienced a lot of hardship in their young lives can be taxing So the same love support and friendship that is offered to students is also freely available to staff and volunteers whenever they need it Swiger says We want them to be equipped to handle what we do here she says And we tell our volunteers when they get burned out to take a month off and come back Your family is your first priority and you need to be able to be there at home When students get into trouble they can be suspended from coming to First Glance But even at that moment of separation a hand is being extended to welcome them back Even if we kick you out for three weeks for fighting we always tell you before you leave that in three weeks we want you to come back Swiger says We always accept them back In most cases they do come back And that puts them back on the path to being one of First Glances success stories Its cool to hear stories of these older students coming back and telling their stories and the experience they had at First Glance Parmelee says If we can get these teenagers to turn their lives around and come back and complete that cycle its awesome How to reach First Glance 330 848 9685 or www firstglance org I found out he lived in Cuyahoga Falls too and was walking from Cuyahoga Falls to get here It would take him about four hours I said Dude I drive pretty close to your house let me give you a ride Thats how important it was to him KASEY PARMELEE BUSINESS DIRECTOR FIRST GLANCE