Kelly Grosser, YWCA Tri-County Area’s Director of Youth Empowerment Programs, has earned third place in the Superstar Awards competition, sponsored by Hello Insight and Youth INC.
Grosser, of North Coventry Township, has led YW’s Youth Empowerment Programs for boys and girls since 2008. She guided its growth from basic nutrition education program for girls with one part-time staff member to a multi-faceted suite of youth programming with a staff of four. The program now includes college and career exploration, life skills such as positive communication, relationship building, stress management, and self-esteem, fitness and nutrition practice, and parent engagement.
The 2019 Superstar Awards recognize the work of outstanding practitioners who use data to improve the lives of young people. Data-driven decision making is critical to the organization’s capacity to create change. YWCA Tri-County Area, with the support of the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, uses Hello Insight’s platform to determine the needs of youth, design meaningful programming to meet their needs, and evaluate both the effectiveness of the programming and the achievements of the participating youth.
“We are grateful and fortunate to be aligned with Hello Insight and the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation that prioritize the value of evaluation and using those results to develop and enhance our programming for youth,” Grosser said. “I’m also grateful to the Youth Empowerment team. Our success in using and analyzing data has been possible because of the effort of the entire team.”
The Youth Empowerment Program and YW are participating in several initiatives that have the goal of maximizing positive impact on the youth in the Tri-County Area.
YW is participating in the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation Learning Opportunity with Hello Insight, with program staff and development/marketing staff participating in group workshops and meetings with Hello Insight staff. YW is participating in the RISE Partnership, a 3-year project with the Scattergood Foundation and other nonprofits designed to improve data collection, analysis, and sharing in youth-focused programs. Participating in the RISE Partnership will give YW the capacity to establish data management processes that inform organizational decision making and ultimately improve services and outcomes for Tri-County youth.
The Superstar Awards were developed by the Superstar Foundation to provide recognition for direct service staff who distinguish themselves and their work by using data to adjust service delivery while striving to build transformational relationships with youth.
Through an nomination process developed by the Superstar Foundation, judges reviewed more than 30 applications from candidates in the United States who are using data to improve outcomes for young people. Grosser and the three other winners will receive their awards at a reception on December 10 in New York.
YWCA Tri-County Area is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. YW3CA is a leader in advocacy for women and girls, works to eliminate racism, and empowers women through quality affordable childcare, adult literacy, and a host
To learn more about the Youth Empowerment Program, visit ywcatricountyarea.org/what-we-do/yep.
