November 2023

YouthNet is celebrating 15 years of service to the young people of South Orange and Maplewood. You might not know it, but for 15 years YouthNet has enhanced the lives of thousands of students in this community through our large network of clubs at South Orange and Maplewood Middle Schools and Columbia High School.

As a founding member and the current board chair of YouthNet, a 501c3 non-profit, I have been looking back. At first our mission was basic, to help both towns find a better way to creatively engage more SOMA middle school students after school. Fifteen years later, we have grown from 4 clubs to 40, and our mission has grown with it: to provide learning, understanding and support to ALL SOMA students after school.

What we do!

YouthNet runs over 40 clubs, serving nearly 1,000 students each year.

They engage with the spectrum club, the environment, Asian culture, and what makes science cool.

They have become songwriters, dancers, playwrights and filmmakers. Our students are published authors and entrepreneurs, video game doers and creators, history sleuths, podcasters and pickleball players.

YouthNet founded the Model UN program at both middle schools, and partnered with the Maplewood Police Department creating a CSI club, and with Seton Hall University‘s Swimming Program. We joined the SOPAC Poetry Slam, Choreographer Lydia Johnson, Curls on the Move, and Hip-Hop Dance with JJ. Our students organized and hosted the Peace, Love, Punk-Concert of Inclusion, the MAPSO Sanctuary City Forum, and Senior Bingo Night at Dehart, just to name a few.

YouthNet collaborates every summer with 20-25 local businesses and organizations to mentor CHS students and help them gain real life experience

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YouthNet sponsors the Open Gym Program, January-June, at CHS with the Community Engagement Unit of the Maplewood and South Orange Police Departments.

YouthNet funds scholarships; some years between 30-40% of our students.

We have had a GREAT run. For 15 years, we have provided a place where the young people of South Orange and Maplewood can explore parts of themselves they might not otherwise, while making new friendships through shared interests. All in a safe, judgment-free environment. YouthNet’s goal is to make all SOMA students productive members of the community and global citizens, no matter what their financial circumstances.

But the future looms large. The shift to a work from home model has increased the need for more after school engagement. YouthNet must expand and enhance our programming in order to meet this new world.

We need your help to make this happen! Your generous contribution could go a long way.

Finally, for a number of years now YouthNet has been searching for a way to support the mental health of students in our community. This focus on mental health has only increased since the pandemic. YouthNet’s plan is to launch a mental health initiative, and incorporate mental health support into our club system.

Please donate so that we can continue to reach more young people in our community!

Our goal is to raise $15,000 to help cover this exciting expansion. PLEASE DONATE so that YouthNet can make sure that ALL young people in our community reach their full potential and become productive citizens.

If you have any questions, please contact us at youthnet@somayouthnet.org

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Camilla Finch Teitelman

Board Chair of YouthNet

2023 YouthNet Fundraising

Help us Celebrate 15 Years of Serving the Teen Communities of South Orange and Maplewood