The HUB Central Access Point for Young Adults is one of our five Lincoln nonprofit finalists and aims to provide support and curriculum for teenagers and young adults as they become productive, independent, active members of the community. This week’s responses are courtesy of Rose Hood Buss, executive director. Vote for The HUB here!
Q: Why do you need an office makeover?
A: The HUB Central Access Point for Young Adults, like many nonprofits, has furnishings that are all donated from various sources. While the furniture we have is functional, it would be a great improvement to have chairs in our classroom that slid on the carpet without fear of ripping the carpet and were cleanable. In our second classroom, there are currently booths from a diner that, while they do provide seating options, are not conducive to group meetings or multi-use of the space.
Q: How do you devote ethical business practices to fulfilling your mission?
A: At The HUB we believe every young person deserves to be treated with respect and dignity despite their circumstances. The HUB’s mission is to provide support and access to services for young people transitioning into adulthood who are disconnected from their family and their community. To carry out our mission with a devotion to ethical practices, we are transparent in the work that we do and strive to be the best stewards of the financial resources we receive through grants and donations.
Q: What are some positive examples of your influence on the community?
A: Bobby is one of the young people connected to The Hub. From age 6, Bobby was in foster care with many placements including multiple foster homes in different states, group homes and juvenile detention facilities. At 19, Bobby aged out of the foster care system. Through Bobby’s connection with The HUB and Project Everlast Youth Council he was able to learn about the legislative process in Nebraska and had the opportunity to use his voice to share with state senators and the governor his experiences in care. He even chose to testify in front of the Health ad Human Services committee about the importance of sexual abuse training when he saw no one else standing up and testifying. Bobby shares that his experiences with the Youth Council and The HUB are the reasons he felt confident enough to speak up for others so they do not experience what he did. Sixteen, pregnant and drop-out are three words that tell a story, a story that doesn’t usually connect with the outcome of post-secondary education. But, for HUB participant Samantha that is her story. Samantha dropped out of high school when she found out she was pregnant. Samantha worked hard and aced her first three of four GED tests with scores high enough to display she was college ready. The baby came before Samantha finished her fourth test but after a short break, Samantha came back to The HUB and aced her last exam. Samantha is now enrolled in post-secondary education!
Q: Please demonstrate your leadership.
A: The HUB is seen as a leader in serving transition-aged youth. This is demonstrated through our many partnerships including Lincoln Public Schools having two staff co-located in school buildings to serve youth. The HUB is a United Way-funded agency, a member of the Human Services Federation, active on the Homeless Coalition, Employment & Training Committee and the Lincoln Connected Youth Committee. However, the most visible way of seeing our leadership is through the agency truly embodying the concept of youth leadership through the Youth Council. Youth lead the coalition from budgeting to programming with very little guidance from the staff sponsors. Following a presentation by the Youth Council The HUB received the following note: “The staff at Holmes were blown away by the experience of seeing the youth talk! I received lots of positive feedback including ‘that was the best professional development in the 20 years I have worked for LPS.'”