YVRD has been in DSVP’s portfolio since 2008. Under co-Leads David Miller & Scott Chase, our Partners have engaged in projects including strategic planning, fund development planning, board training and program evaluation. Our financial investments, of over $142,000, have helped to underwrite a portion of salaries of both the executive and operations directors and underwrote a UTD to study on their program’s effectiveness.Through your annual contribution to the Partnership, along with gifts “beyond” to our Children First Fund, you’re a vital part of Youth Village Resources’ mission and impact!
Executive Director Jerry Silhan has asked us to share gratitude from his staff and board through the following testimonial from a resident of the Youth Village facility, which demonstrates the powerful results made possible by working together:
“I first got in real trouble when I was 14. I was arrested for selling marijuana and having a gun at school. Around the same time I had learned that my girlfriend was pregnant. I spent 10 days in detention and was released. Five days later I got caught for skipping school and ran from the police. A little over a year later I got caught again with a gun at school but it wasn’t mine. My best friend’s sister had been raped by some of the guys at school and he brought a gun to school to take care of them later. I took the gun from him to prevent him from getting in some real trouble. When the school principal was alerted to a gun at school my locker was searched and I was arrested again. This time got sent to the Dallas County Youth Village.
I had no idea what to expect when I got to the Youth Village. I just surrendered to whatever was going to happen. Some of my toughest moments were my weekly 5 minute phone calls when my girlfriend would be crying and I could hear my daughter in the background asking where daddy is.
My Probation Officer at the YV told me about Youth Village Resources of Dallas and some of their classes I could take that could maybe help me get a job when I got out. I asked her to please put my name on the list for the computer class and the culinary arts class. I passed both classes and got certificates. I also got my food handler license and then heard about Café Momentum from some of the older guys who had already worked at one. I got chosen to be trained to work at the next Café Momentum dinner. I worked three CM dinners before my release back home. I was able to get my GED as well. I interviewed and got a job with the Conference Hospitality Group using the resume YVRD helped me create that listed my job skills and references.
I know I would probably already be back in trouble if I did not have this job and a future. I am taking care of my daughter, helping pay my mother’s rent and will marry my girlfriend after she graduates from High School this year.”
