JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Miles Dawson, 13 of Jamestown, and several other kids ages 10 to 15 recently graduated from a six-week YWCA Empower U Summer Leadership Summit in Jamestown.
“Oh, it’s been a pleasure, because if I was hot here, I just would have spent my whole summer just wasting away. Here actually gives me something to do,” said Dawson.
The free program was made possible thanks to a $100,000 grant from the State Office of Cannabis Management’s Community Grant Reinvestment Program, one of 50 grants awarded in 24 counties.
Of those 50 grants, 38 were given to 13 priority counties that have a high rate of poverty and experienced higher-than-average cannabis arrests.
“The money probably allowed for all of us to impact our community in a way where we saw the most need because we’re the ones out here trying to meet those needs,” said Deborah Brannon, director of Empower U at the YWCA.
Program leaders say activities included life lessons in leadership, goal setting and socializing with others. They also choreographed a dance, went on field trips and led a community action project, raising money for the homeless.
“We’re hoping that they got to walk away with some new skills to be able to communicate, even if it takes practice. They genuinely were put in a position to have some type of supports and skills that we hope will transfer into school, and home and all these other areas,” said Brannon.
“Real change happens from the ground up, not from the top down,” said Tuona Batchelor, a senior advisor with the OCM.
OCM leaders say the state invested an additional $15 million in the program in 2025 to help expand access for grassroots organizations. Money for the program comes from a portion of the cannabis sales tax generated from legal sales.
“As the cannabis industry grows, so too will this fund. We’re making sure that we can keep families whole and we’ve got extra dollars to invest into communities, so it’s really a win-win,” said Batchelor.
Dawson says he looks forward to returning next year, and encourages others to sign up as well.
“Have a purpose for their summer, walk away with skills. A lot of my friends probably are sitting at home on their devices, doing absolutely nothing all summer,” said Dawson.
Applications for the 2026 reinvestment fund are now closed.