From left, Lisi Pena, Zya’ Brown, Marcus Lewis, Sheila Bautista Perez and Jaihlen Harper.
participate in a Build-A-Bear workshop for area foster children.
Students in the City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA) shared the joy of the holiday season with community service projects during December. Thanks to generous donations from AVL Technologies, the Asheville Brewers Alliance and JB Media, CAYLA students designed and outfitted three dozen bears at the Build-A-Bear Workshop that were donated to children in the foster care system.
“The CAYLA students are a dynamic group of students interested in helping the community. I was proud to watch them give their time this holiday season,” said City Workforce Development Programs Coordinator Erika Germer, who oversees the Asheville Youth Leadership program.
CAYLA students also organized holiday craft activities for kids at the Steadfast House shelter and the Grant Southside Center afterschool program.
CAYLA is an internship and college access program for students attending Asheville High School/SILSA and the Buncombe County high schools. In total, the group completed more than 20 volunteer projects during the fall semester.
Applications for the next round of CAYLA students will open on March 1. For more information, visit the CAYLA webpage or contact Erika Germer at egermer@ashevillenc.gov or 828- 271-6116.
