Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program Grant Review Board Meeting - December 11, 2025

The Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program (YNAP) Grant Review Board met on December 11, 2025, to hear presentations from community groups seeking funding for youth-focused projects. The meeting was chaired by Vice Chair Chloe Camarillo, with a quorum of members present. No public comments were made. The board heard presentations from five groups and will vote on funding recommendations at a later meeting, with final recommendations to be presented to the Las Vegas City Council on February 4, 2026.

Discussion Items

Moments Music Matter – Presented by youth leaders Layla Willis, Lila Tremell, and Lovely Carla Davis. The project proposes an interactive exhibit showcasing the evolution of music from cassette tapes to digital streaming, to be held at Northwest Career and Technical Academy. The group pledged 47 volunteers contributing 40 hours each. Budget items include clothes, boom boxes, speakers, and tribute payments to local DJs for interviews. Board members asked about the location, the use of gift card stipends for participating youth, and the potential to expand to world music. The group indicated they would interview local DJs and allow students to help build the exhibit.

Read Up Youth Little Libraries, Big Future – Presented by Celine Chang and Rohitha Vascran. The project aims to build eight little free libraries near Title I elementary schools in Las Vegas to address the literacy crisis, noting that two-thirds of students in Nevada read below grade level. The group requested $1,600 for materials and books, and pledged 20–30 volunteers for 125 hours. Board members noted that projects must be within Las Vegas city limits (excluding North Las Vegas), and the presenters agreed to adjust locations. Questions addressed permission from schools, cross-referencing existing little library locations, and building from scratch versus buying kits. The board offered to provide a list of eligible schools.

Las Vegas Alumni Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy Rose Book Drive for Kids – Presented by youth leader Zoe Lewis and six other members. The project assembles literacy kits for preschool-aged children containing two books, a fruit snack, fidget toy, blanket, and stuffed animal, to be distributed at Helen Toland and Kermit Booker Elementary Schools. Budget requested $2,000. The group pledged 10–16 volunteers for 111 hours. Board members suggested reading to the children, varying book titles across kits, and tracking literacy impact data for future grant applications.

Top Enrichment CDC Literacy and Reading Enrichment Program – Presented by Janine Palmer. The project creates a reading corner with age-appropriate books, small group reading sessions, and book giveaways at elementary schools, targeting literacy loss due to COVID-19 and summer slide. Budget requested $2,000 for books, shelves, furniture, e-readers (iPads), and supplies. The group pledged five teen volunteers plus an overseer. Board members asked about distribution method (pop-up with book giveaways), tracking impact through quarterly school visits, permission from schools, and using library checkout data to select genres. The presenter said they had not yet contacted schools but had a plan.

Operation Chill Crew Beat the Heat Baskets – Presented by youth leader Sarah Wang. The project provides cooling baskets to people experiencing homelessness through the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, addressing heat-related deaths: 147 homeless individuals died from heat in Clark County last year (a 39% increase), and 34% of heat-associated deaths were homeless people. Each basket includes sunscreen, wide-brim hat, neck wrap, ice packs, fans, and a cooling station map. Budget requested $1,000 for 50 baskets. The group pledged 30 volunteers for 1.5 hours each (total 45 youth hours). Board members suggested using backpacks instead of baskets, adding water bottles, providing flyers on heat risks, and coordinating with other shelters like the Courtyard. The presenters also proposed future battery donations to sustain the fans.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken on funding awards. The board will deliberate and vote on funding recommendations at a future meeting (potentially December 15, 2025, if excused groups appear).
• The YNAP board will present its funding recommendations to the Las Vegas City Council on February 4, 2026.
• Groups will be notified of the board’s recommendations within three weeks via Tara Manor.
• Vice Chair Camarillo reminded groups that projects must take place within Las Vegas city limits.