Youth nonprofit expands activities

RNL Youth of Peoria is expanding its programs for at-risk children to include games, crafts, musicanship, dancing and other activities, but it also needs volunteers to teach them.

“I’m doing this outreach to anyone who wants the help,” said coach Joe Matthews, RNL Youth director. “When we brought these kids back to the classroom (after COVID), many had lost their social skills. A lot of them feel they’ve lost their value and I want to bring it back to them. There are a lot of retired teachers, dancers, musicians, or whatever in Sun City who want to do something, but don’t know how to get involved. I need their help. If anyone wants to teach anything, I’ll take it.”

RNL Youth, a 501c nonprofit organization, started five years ago with basketball and teen leadership programs, said Matthews, who is also a youth paster at Renewed Life Church in Peoria. This year, the organization is expanding with the 116 Avenue Music Outreach and the Afterschool Academy.

“(The 116 Avenue Music Outreach) is starting with ukulele and guitar because of who we have to teach it,” Matthews said. “We have drums, but nobody to teach it.”

The Afterschool Academy will branch into fun events designed to keep kids off the street and build their social skills, such as crafts, dance and games.

“Kids that are left on their own make a lot of bad decisions,” Matthews said. “My goal is to get these kids off the street and give them some direction.”

Seventy percent of the children in the program, 5-16 years of age, are considered underprivileged and 75% are considered at-risk, he said.

Paul Davis, an airman serving at Luke Air Force Base, is a coach-parent in the program. He said he got involved after he was transferred here about three years ago from Germany as a way to help children and to spend time with his daughter, who participates in the program after school. He helps coach the basketball team.

“I have kids here every day,” Matthews said. “Any day anyone is available from 4-6 p.m. or Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. are open.”

The number of children for each class is limited, but that number is set by the instructor, he said. Typically, music classes are limited to five participants with other classes set at 15.

Classes are located at Heritage Elementary School, 6805 N. 125th Ave., Peoria; Renewed Life Church, 8815 N. Peoria Ave., Peoria; and Peoria Sonoran Science Academy, 17667 N. 91st Ave.

For information or to volunteer, email Matthews at joe@rnlyouth.org or visit rnlyouth.org/volunteercenter.