Our Two-Week Summer Youth Program

From  August 10 through August 21, 2026, Melvindale Thrive Initiative spent two weeks at Lankford Park Pavilion bringing children and families together for a hands-on summer enrichment program.

We originally planned to divide the program by age groups, but once families started coming, we quickly realized that keeping everyone together worked better.

And it really did.

Children of different ages participated side by side. Parents and grandparents stayed, joined in the activities, helped their children, talked with one another, and became part of the experience instead of simply dropping children off.

What started as a youth program became something more: a family and community experience.

Over the two weeks, children participated in activities such as art journaling, wood projects, fall crafts, leaf and sun printing, wind chimes, bracelets, window art, cookie activities, and other creative hands-on projects.

But some of the most important moments were not on the activity list.

They were the children asking:

“When can we come back?”

“What are we doing next?”

“Are you doing this again next year?”

That told us more than any survey could.

Families wanted something like this in their community. Children wanted a place where they could create, have fun, try something new, and spend time with other kids. Parents and grandparents appreciated having an activity they could enjoy alongside their children without having to travel far or spend a lot of money.

The program also taught us something important about how we want to build future programming.

We do not always have to separate families by age or create rigid programs that leave parents sitting on the sidelines. Sometimes the best community programming happens when children, parents, grandparents, volunteers, and neighbors are all participating together.

Those two weeks helped shape what Melvindale Thrive Initiative is building now.

We want to offer more opportunities in art, music, STEAM, creative learning, summer enrichment, and family activities, while keeping programs free or affordable whenever possible.

Our summer program was not perfect, and it was never supposed to be.

It was our beginning.

We showed up. Families showed up. Children came back. They asked for more.

And that is exactly why we are working so hard to create what comes next.

Building a Larger Youth Program

On July 11, 2026, Melvindale Thrive Initiative submitted a $5,000 grant request to xxxxx in support of our Youth Leadership & Thriving Communities Initiative.

The application remains pending, and we have not received a denial.

This funding request represents much more than a single event.

Our goal is to continue building a youth program that gives young people opportunities to lead, learn, volunteer, create, explore STEAM activities, participate in community safety efforts, and become actively involved in the place they call home.

Receiving funding is only the beginning of the work.

A program like this requires planning activities, coordinating volunteers and instructors, communicating with families, obtaining supplies and materials, organizing schedules, maintaining records, creating safe and appropriate programming, developing community partnerships, and making sure young people have meaningful experiences rather than simply filling time.

It also means creating opportunities for youth to participate in real community service and leadership.

We want young people to understand that they have a voice, that their ideas matter, and that they can be part of improving their own community.

Melvindale Thrive Initiative continues to pursue funding because programs like these require resources to grow and remain accessible to families.

We are willing to do the work. We are seeking the resources that will allow us to do more of it.

Youth Arts & Enrichment

Melvindale Thrive Initiative believes children and teens should have access to meaningful opportunities in music, visual arts, creative learning, STEAM, hands-on projects, and youth enrichment, regardless of a family's ability to pay.

We have already begun building these opportunities through community programs and partnerships, and we have actively pursued grant funding to expand what we can offer in partnership with our local schools and community.

Funding We Have Pursued

xxxxx

Submitted: August 3, 2026
Request: $25,000
Project: Create the Route: A Youth Arts, Enrichment & Community Connection Initiative
Status: Submitted — Decision Pending

This proposal was developed to support youth arts and education programming, including artist-led activities, creative projects, STEAM experiences, mixed-media and recycled art, cultural learning, family activities, and youth leadership.

We have not received a denial and are still awaiting a decision.

xxxxx

Submitted: July 11, 2026
Request: $25,000
Project: Youth Arts & Creative Learning Program
Status: Submitted — Decision Pending

This application was created to help address the lack of consistent, affordable arts opportunities available locally to children and families.

The proposed programming included opportunities in the arts and creative learning and was designed to help Melvindale Thrive Initiative begin building more consistent year-round youth enrichment.

We have not received a denial and are still awaiting a decision.

xxxxxx

Submitted: September 22, 2026
Request: $40,650
Status: Submitted — Decision Pending

This proposal was developed in partnership with Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools for programming at Melvindale High School.

The planned program includes three major enrichment areas:

Music & Music Production
Students would have the opportunity to explore music, music production, creativity, technology, and related skills.

Art & Design
Students would participate in hands-on visual arts and design experiences led by qualified instructors.

STEAM — Build & Experiment
Students would participate in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics activities emphasizing hands-on learning, experimentation, creativity, and problem-solving.

The proposed school-year program would serve high-school students through structured after-school programming, with additional summer programming planned.

We have not received a denial and are currently awaiting the grant decision.

We Are Building This One Opportunity at a Time

As a young nonprofit, we cannot simply decide that we want a music program, an arts program, or a STEAM program and immediately have the funding to make it happen.

We have to build partnerships, find instructors, locate program space, purchase supplies and equipment, and pursue the funding necessary to keep participation free or affordable for families.

That is exactly what we have been doing.

We have submitted multiple grant applications specifically to bring more music, art, STEAM, and enrichment opportunities to local young people.

Some applications will be funded and some may not be. But we will continue pursuing opportunities, developing partnerships, and looking for ways to give our children and teens access to experiences that help them create, learn, explore, and thrive.