United Way of Douglas County has provided $75,000 in funding for two very different community efforts.

One focuses on preventing assault, and the other prepares junior high students for the work force.

“These are innovative and collaborative ideas that are trying to address systemic issues,” said Erika Dvorske, president and CEO of the United Way of Douglas County. “They are really trying to look at the root causes of issues instead of just trying to solve the immediate crisis, so that, over time, we are reducing demand for services.”

Preventing assault

The United Way gave $2,500 to a project called “Safe Bar Alliance — Not On Our Watch,” a collaborative effort with the GaDuGi SafeCenter, the Douglas County Attorney’s Office and Lawrence bar owners.

The safe center and attorney’s office will provide training to bar owners and their employees about how they can help prevent assault. The training will address the relationship between alcohol and sexual assault. It will provide information on laws and community resources.

“There will be materials at the bars, like coasters, with information about how to prevent sexual assaults — not just victim behavior, but perpetrator behavior,” Chrissie Heikkila, GaDuGi outreach coordinator, said.

She said the effort was initiated by bar owners.

“We had some different bars in Lawrence contact us, wanting to know what they could do in sketchy situations and scenarios where they felt like maybe they should intervene,” Heikkila said.

So far, four bar owners have signed up for the effort: Abe and Jake’s Landing, GasLight Tavern, The Replay Lounge and Jackpot Saloon.

Heikkila said any Lawrence bar can participate.

“The more people we can get involved, the more staff we can get trained, the more effective it is going to be,” she said.

For more information or to sign up for the program, contact Heikkila at 843-8985.

Preparing teens

The United Way provided $72,500 to a youth program called “Compass” that involves the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence, the Lawrence school district and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

The goal is to prepare junior high students — seventh- through ninth-graders — for the work force. They will encourage the students to finish high school and then pursue whatever education they need to fulfill their career goals and dreams.

“They will be learning job skills and exploring different job opportunities,” said Janet Murphy, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club.

The chamber will teach leadership skills, and the school district will help students explore career and college opportunities. The students will take field trips to businesses in Lawrence, Topeka and Kansas City.

Murphy said the goal is to have 100 students attend the program, which will be in the new teen center, 1520 Haskell Ave. It will be offered for 35 weeks during the school year, and again in the summer.

“It’s going to be really important to make sure that we are giving our teens the very best experience that we can,” Murphy said.

For more information on the program, contact Murphy at 841-5672.