Spectrum Youth and Family Services is a local non-profit here in Burlington, Vermont helping to empower troubled youth and their families. Spectrum is actively guiding young people to better opportunities through a wide variety of services, ranging from residential programs to street outreach to mentoring to employment attainment. The organization offers a drop-in center and health clinic on Pearl Street, and is striving to accommodate the needs of Vermont youth in every aspect of their lives. The non-profit operates through donations and fundraising and is therefore also concentrated on awareness in the community. To stay connected with donors, families, the Burlington community and the world, Spectrum is beginning to utilize the wonders of social media.
Spectrum has primarily been using facebook and twitter to keep people aware of their service and activism in Vermont, from updates on residential renovations to recognition in local politics. The organization posts photos of mentors and mentees, classes offered, and events like “Empty Bowls” and the “Spectrum Ride” that bring the community together in support of troubled youth. Spectrum has an official events page on facebook promoting fundraisers and inviting the people of Burlington to participate in the action. Most importantly, the non-profit uses posts to acknowledge its appreciation to the donors and activists it works with. Though Spectrum is small, its support through online networks is growing in numbers with 721 “likes” on facebook and 972 followers on twitter.
Most recently, Spectrum has been updating the network on its “Solidarity Sleep Out” movement. On March 29th, 50+ people (businessmen, community leaders, families) slept outside at the Unitarian Church in downtown Burlington to bring awareness to homelessness in Vermont, and especially that of young people. This event really opened the facebook forum for community interaction. With status updates, Spectrum promoted the event, providing dates, times and details and even announcing well-known members of the greater Burlington area who would be participating. Far more importantly, after the 29th, participants were able to post testimonials and comment on their experience, realizations and hopes for homeless youth. Without an interactive platform to discuss the benefits of the “Sleep Out,” community members and supporters would have little chance to reflect and notice the heightened awareness this event did create.
Spectrum's mission is to empower teenagers, young adults, people with a history of violence, and their families to make and sustain positive changes. Now social media can also give them strength.
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