This week we got to have a conversation with Lori Thomas, the Executive Director of Youth First.
-- Lori started working with kids as a Young Life volunteer in college, 1979. (40 years ago)
---graduated from UNR, taught English and coached at Reed High School for 4 years
---went on YL staff and was Area Director in this area for 21 years
---taught alternative and Adult Ed part-time with Washoe County School District 20-ish years at various schools
--worked @ Truckee Meadows Boys & Girls Club as director of teen centers for 3 years, while deciding what I wanted to be when I grew up. ☺
--Started Youth First in 2010 as Executive Director
I oversee operations of four ministry teams (listed below), recruit, train and deploy volunteers and ministry helpers, oversee fundraisers, network with our community partners, and mentor young adults and young moms.
Youth First is a non-denominational outreach that works within the context of mentoring and relationship-building to bring the gospel to kids and families in generational poverty and the urban parts of our city. We also mentor in terms of life skills, with homework help, emergency referrals, financial education, etc.
YF MINISTRY “CLUBS”
-- 1010 Moms Club (Moms in their 20’s or teens)
-- KFC (Kids First Club—an elementary school on Denslowe Dr / Lemelson Stem neighborhood)
--Young Adults (kids coming out of Hug High)
--Hug High YF club
