The U.S. program office of the Baltimore-based International Youth Foundation (IYF) is changing its name and modifying its mission. Located in the D.C. suburb of Takoma Park, Md., the U.S. program, headed since its creation in 1995 by Karen Pittman, will henceforth be known as the Forum for Youth Investment (FYI). That name, says Pittman, better reflects the work of her office, which hopes to act as a convener of funders and others interested in advancing youth development. Its new tag line is, “Helping organizations that invest in youth invest in change.” One recent undertaking at Pittman’s 16-person shop, funded by a $300,000 Ford Foundation grant over two years, is a Broadcast Partnership that aims to strengthen the youth development field’s weak dissemination capabilities. Contact: (301) 270-7144, www.iyfnet.org.
The 170-member D.C.-based National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) has a new manager of policy and information services. Joining the 10-member staff is Kiva Harris, formerly the legislative director to U.S. Rep. Juanita McDonald (D-Calif.). NYEC recently selected 38 professionals to participate in its “New Leaders Academy,” which provides advanced in-service training to upward bound, early-career program managers in youth-serving agencies. Among those chosen were: Narges Akhavi, director of youth services, American Red Cross, Santa Ana, Calif.; Lori Ethier, program coordinator, Jobs for Ocean State Graduates, Cranston, R.I.; Sandra Harris, associate director, Assets for Colorado Youth, Denver; Yvette Lucas, project coordinator, Louisiana Youth Leadership Forum, Baton Rouge; and, Karen Zeman, career prep coordinator, Boys & Girls Club of Portland, Ore. Contact: (202) 659-1064, www.nyec.org.
Departed after 12 years as national director of REAL Enterprises is Rick Larson. Co-founded in 1986 by Jonathan Sher, now president of the North Carolina Child Advocacy Institute, the youth entrepreneurship/training program grew under Larson from less than 20 sites – mostly in schools – to over 600 sites in 33 states. Contact: (800) 798-0643, www.realenterprises.org.
Add the NoGraf Network to the endless list of nonprofits fighting for the public good. The new federation of anti-graffiti experts is the result of a merger of three groups and will be headed by Randy Campbell in Lake Forest, Calif. Contact (949) 581-8014, www.nograffiti.com.
