The Life House Youth Center is a fun, free, safe place for young people in our community from the ages of 10-17 years of age. Our desire is that students build positive, impactful relationships, learn life skills through our programs, have fun and get help meeting their basic needs.
WHAT WE'RE ABOUT
For several years LHYC Director Jennifier Massie-Fadler had been concerned about the community's youth and realized the need for something that not only makes a positive difference in their lives but that also has a lasting impact on the community. In 2016 Jennifier reached out to organizations, businesses and community leaders for help in establishing her vision of a youth center for children. With the passion and help from Stefan Wehmeyer, Marsha Thompson, our families, Fidelity Communications Co. and many other selfless volunteers and donors, a vision became reality when Life House Youth Center opened its doors in Sullivan on September 1, 2017.
Life House Youth Center is a non-for-profit center open to all children 10-17 free of charge. We provide our youth a fun, structured, safe and loving place to spend time with their peers after school and in the summer. They can get a meal, get homework assistance, have internet access, learn a new skill or hobby and be surrounded by people who care about them. We provide them a support system made up of caring staff members and volunteers who actively and constantly seek to foster values, morals, life skills and self-confidence. LHYC's #1 goal is to build lasting relationships with the youth in our community to empower them to make positive choices and enable them to maximize their full potential and achieve their highest goals. LHYC is completely unique to our area. There is no other agency around offering all of these things at no cost.
Since opening our doors, we see an average of 30 students a night.
We have enjoyed over three years of successful operation so far, and our hope is to continue to grow and for our programs to make a real difference in the lives of the children who attend the center.
HOW CAN I PARTNER?
There are so many ways that an individual can help at the LHYC. The center only operates at it’s best when we have the help of the community, making us as effective as possible. A person can partner with the center in several ways.
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A person can sign up to volunteer at the youth center and help with "daily operations" (such as cooking dinner, leading a program, or just being here to build relationships with our kiddos) throughout the night.
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A person can sign up to mentor at the youth center and provide positive relationships.
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A person can also help by donating financially to help us to continue to effectively reach the youth in our community.
"Life House keeps kids out of trouble and shows them a different path."
-LHYC student quote
WHAT WE DO?
The LHYC is a non-profit youth center open to all children ages 10-17 years old FREE of charge. The center opened its doors on September 1st, 2017 to provide our community's young people a fun, structured, safe and loving place to spend time after school and in the summer.
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Staff and volunteers strive to provide a support system that fosters good values, life skills and self-confidence. in children who attend the center. At LHYC, children do homework, have access to computers and receive help from volunteers for tutoring. They socialize with their peers in our newly renovated lobby and outside area where they can play volleyball and basketball. They participate in structured activities, life skills classes/programs and perform chores at the center.
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The LHYC's #1 goal is to build lasting relationships with the youth in our community to empower them to maximize their full potential and achieve their highest goals.
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2020 programs: Youth Development, Student Leadership, Mentoring, Homework assistance/tutoring, Young Men's Bible Study, CrossFit, and ArtFeeds (a nationally renowned art program)
MEET THE STAFF
Jennifier Massie-Fadler
Executive Director
"There is a great need in this community, and it's time to create change. The LHYC does that by providing love and possibilities. At LHYC, we challenge children, celebrate them, encourage them, teach them consequences and provide redirection when needed. We operate the center like we do our own homes. We treat these children like our own children. Simply, we just love and support them through the good, the bad and the ugly. Because of this, we are seeing positive change. Change doesn't happen overnight but we are seeing change happen."
Kayla Watters
Operations Manager
Kayla Watters is the mother of a beautiful baby girl and a vital member to our team here at the Life House. Kayla oversees our Mentor Program, oversees all operations here in Sullivan, and is an instrumental part of the team overseeing the Life House's BIG vision! Kayla came aboard in May 2020 and continues to leave her impact on the Center and on our kiddos day in and day out! Kayla has a B.A. in Psychology and is currently attending Missouri Baptist Online working towards her Masters in School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health!
Matthew De Leo
Sullivan Site Staff
Matt De Leo brings a lot of value to the Youth Center! Matt lead the youth group at a local church for the several years, and now brings all of that experience here to the Youth Center!
Alysa Lindley
Sullivan Site Staff
Matt De Leo brings a lot of value to the Youth Center! Matt lead the youth group at a local church for the several years, and now brings all of that experience here to the Youth Center!
Kaylee Parks
Sullivan Site Staff
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Ronin Tomure
Cuba Site Supervisor
I get to maintain Life House with boots on the ground by building relationships with and providing for our students through dinner time, rides to and from life house, running programs, and playing games.
Noah Massie
Cuba Site Staff
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CORE VALUES
HOPE
LOVE
SERVICE
COURAGE
KINDNESS
INCLUSION
COMPASSION
EMPOWERMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY
MISSION
Life House Youth Center's mission is to start a cycle of love by assisting the children and families of Franklin and Crawford Counties to discover their full potential regardless of their social/economic backgrounds.
We envision a stronger family unit and children who are prepared to tackle the world ahead of them.