While analyzing the needs of the York community, the team at Shiloh Baptist Church recognized a lack of professional advancement programs for people of color and began working on a program to fill that gap.
The Impact Project (TIP) is a 10- week education and job readiness project for youth between 13-18 years old. The Project is designed to minimize equity gaps and racial disparities for communities of color through job training, career preparedness, income equity, and wealth. TIP aims to help families go from generational poverty to generational prosperity.
As a predominately African American congregation located in York City, Shiloh Baptist has a long history of advocating for communities of color through community activism and youth empowerment. Shiloh Baptist Church was one of the first nonprofits to receive a grant from YCCF’s new Racial Equity Fund – a fund created to support projects and programs that address racism and inequity in our community. “The Racial Equity Fund grant supports our efforts to continue to help families break the barriers of inequity through teaching, training, and equipping youth with jobs, careers, or entrepreneurship opportunities,” shared Dr. Larry T. Walthour, Senior Pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church.
The Project provides youth with important tools to enhance their life skills and provide information on employment preparedness, banking and finance, civics and political engagement. TIP will also include field trips to expose youth to opportunities that exist in these areas. “We hope to serve at least 50 youth that have been negatively impacted by inequities and racial disparities. It is extremely important to the Project’s outcomes that the youth come from families looking for a ‘hand up’ and not a ‘hand out’,” said Dr. Walthour.
During the 10-week Project, youth must meet attendance requirements, complete bi-weekly progress reports, complete tasks, and prepare an essay highlighting what they learned from the Project. In addition to youth participation, parental involvement is also key to the success of this program. Parents attend the Project’s opening orientation session and the closing graduation ceremony where the students will highlight their accomplishments and future aspirations.
Shiloh Baptist Church is partnering with several community organizations including the York City School District, Sunshine Christian Daycare and Learning Center, First Capital Kids Clothing and More, Traditions Bank, York County Economic Alliance, and Four Squares Development, Inc. to expose participating youth to opportunities that move them forward on a path to prosperity.
