Monday, July 12, 2010

TheLookUp941.org is the answer

	TheLookup941.org Look for this logo to find positive events for youth! TheLookUp941 - an online database of positive activities

Every parent has encountered the frustration- you want your child to be active, have fun with others… but how do you find positive activities? “It is usually difficult to find activities for children in Sarasota. It often seems as if the activities for kids are few and far between,” said Randi Lewis, mother of a teenage girl. For the past three years, youth and adults from Community Youth Development (CYD) have been collecting data about activities for Sarasota County youth.

TheLookUp941.org, an online directory where local businesses and non profits post activities for youth ages 5-18 was launched through a grant from Sarasota County Government in 2007. The database can be searched by a child’s interest, or by more specific details such as the zip code, the day of the week when the activity occurs, or the age of the child. As Katy Horine mother of a 13 year old son said, “I really like the ease of use and how the searches can be narrowed by categories and updated by RSS Feed. Finding activities that meet my son’s interests has gotten easier thanks to this site!” Added George Guck, father of two boys aged 11 and 16, “It (TheLookUp941.org) is truly a one-stop shop for positive activities for children of all ages. It gives parents the ability to see what’s available in the community and plan activities that work with their schedules.”

An increased involvement in positive activities benefits youth and the community. As Maria Mellish, mother of two girls (ages two and sixteen), knows “Today it seems much more important for children to be involved in good activities to buffer them against bad influences that may be present.” Non-profit youth agencies are always eager to promote their activities have been working to improve promotion of TheLookUp site through joint marketing activities at their organizations. “To be able to have central location to post information for parents and kids to choose from is ideal,” said Kay Mathers, Director of Community Affairs for Girls Incorporated. “There are so many activities happening in the area and the hardest part for nonprofits is getting the word out.”

TheLookUp941.org is a free resource for community organizations or businesses offering positive activities for school-aged youth in Sarasota County. To enroll your activities, go to the “Contact Us” section on the website and complete the form provided. Staff will contact the organization with specific instructions.

For more information, please contact the CYD office at 922-5126 or by email at info@cydonline.org.