"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Emma Lazarus, 1883

"All children are gifted. 
YWAP exists to help inner-city young people 
build their way out of poverty and violence."

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
JLYASDW.

Youth With A Purpose Inc.
157 Locust Street
Buffalo, New York 14204
716-830-8240
[email protected]

We do appreciate and need your financial help. 
You can write a check to YWAP, we are a non-profit 501c3. 
Our online BWAP donation site may be found at:
http://www.gofundme.com/w5p6ee4 

Greetings YWAPsters,
     We hope your day is filled with heart smiles. There are good things happening in our new program called BWAP (Basketball With A Purpose.) On Thursdays at Expressway Assembly in Buffalo, we invite 18-30 yr. old guys into play ball, eat a homestyle meal and get some life direction. Thursday (8-13-15) will be Week 15 and the success stories grow every week. More on that program later, but 
what happens when a gang member goes legal?          Please take a good look at the guy to your right  hanging from the cliff, he represents many young people today. They're hanging from the cliffs of life by their fingernails. Gang members want to leave gangs. Guys want to stay out of jail. Who will help them?

We can't afford missed calls from young people.

The cost of incarcerating one inmate for one year in New York State is about $60,000. If a former gang member (with a history of being arrested) can maintain legal employment, what happens?

1. The taxpayers save $60,000 right off the top.
2. The tax base expands because the former gang member is now paying taxes (much to his chagrin!)
3. He no longer sells drugs causing addiction or death and more illegal activity resulting in more $60,000 price-tags.
4. He can support his kids who were on welfare.

There are many money saving reasons to help guys stay out of jail, but I know you get the point. Right now at YWAP, we have guys who used to be involved in street life including gangs doing good things.

• Going to work.
• Going to school.
• Going to church.
• Active in their children's lives.
• Doing community service.
• Avoiding jail.

     A few weeks ago our goal of helping these guys become role models for the next generation became a reality. A young man addressed his peers during the BWAP 9MD (9 Minute Direction.) He spoke on 9 minutes about putting God first in your life. He told a great story about needing money, being tempted to sell drugs and then deciding to talk to God instead. God came through and he had some opportunities to make money legally. Positive peer influence is powerful. It's happening, these guys are turning into role models of good character for the following generation!

What is BWAP?

   Each week the young men will play basketball from 7-8 pm. At 8 pm, all young men will be a part of a 9MD - 9 Minute Direction. Each week a guest speaker will give a 9-minute talk on one or more of components of the YWAP Building Character program. Possible speakers include:

Business owners, Law Enforcement, Pastors, Teachers, College and Military Recruiters, Professional Athletes etc. The presentation is 9 minutes, but the young guys will be given the opportunity to enter into more personal discussions after the initial program. Food is served as a family meal. Any remaining time is then used during a return to the basketball court.

As an extension of the relationships that we form wit these young men and their families, we will hold several career fairs at the Martha Mitchell Community Center in the heart of the Kenfield-Langfield Housing Project. The United States Attorney's Office, Western District of NY will be invited to hold a "Law Enforcement Career Fair" at the community Center. We will also invite the USAO to facilitate a seminar to educate young people and their families about the consequences of ignoring the law. It is our intent to portray Law Enforcement as an entity that exists for the betterment of society. 

 The long-term goal of the BWAP program is to teach young men how to be solid role models who become mentors of good character who form healthy relationships with the next generation. By helping young men in this age group to build solutions to poverty and violence, they will help future generations avoid destructive life cycles that have plagued Buffalo for many years.

SAVE THE DATE!
A Lunch Conversation About Inner-city Young Men
WHEN: April 28, 2016 from 11:30 - 12:45 pm 
WHAT: Luncheon & BWAP Relationship Building
WHERE: Expressway Assembly 260 Eggert Road
WHY: To give folks an opportunity to help in a unique ministry opportunity.
WHO: BWAP young guys will share their stories.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-lunch-conversation-about-inner-city-young-men-tickets-24470422693_

Please feel free to contact YWAP at:
Youth With A Purpose.
157 Locust Street
Buffalo, NY 14204
716-830-8240
[email protected]
www.youthwithapurpose.org

We do appreciate and need your financial help. You can write a check to YWAP, we are a non-profit 501c3. Our online BWAP donation site may be found at:
http://www.gofundme.com/w5p6ee4

Thanks for all you do for YWAP, we appreciate you.
Jesus loves you and so do we.