Coordinated By: Karna Powdyel – This Shall have 11 Members:

First, individuals from Greater Cincinnati in Ohio own the Bhutanese Community and fund their ownership to support community functions. ​The Sports & Youth Leadership Development Council for the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati (BCC) is envisioned as a dynamic council focused on fostering sports activities, youth leadership, and community engagement.​ With Karna Powdyel as the coordinator, the council will consist of 11 members, drawing from relevant sports backgrounds and involving community members from Greater Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati (BCC) can gain significant benefits and iconic status by forming the Sports and Youth Leadership Development Council (SYLDC). This initiative can serve as a community engagement and development model, fostering leadership and unity while promoting cultural pride through strategic programs and initiatives.

Generally, games and sports exist in the pioneering principle of Development, Discipline, and Dynamism. When this principle is adopted into the community, showcasing cultural unity, sports diversities, and youth leadership, the outcome is the blend of capacity development and vibrancy building for the community at large in the longer term. Besides, the Sports & Youth Leadership Development Council is entrusted with developing several income-generating and self-sustaining activities, programs, and training to exchange ideas, channel resources, and glorify the Bhutanese Community’s identity in the greater Cincinnati. The concept of SYLDC at the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati is to set up, promote, and functionalize the sports clubs of at least one of its kind, thereby building trust and identity where youth leadership brings Development, discipline, and Dynamism for the community seeking collaboration and identity enlightenment.

The Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati (BCC) recognizes the importance of investing in its youth for the community’s sustainable growth and empowerment. The Sports and Youth Leadership Development Council (SYLDC) aims to create opportunities for Bhutanese youth to excel in leadership, sports, and personal development while preserving their cultural heritage.

Mission:

Celebrating identity, embracing diversity, and fostering a welcoming community for all: Empower Bhutanese youth through sports, leadership training, and community engagement, fostering a generation of confident, healthy, and responsible individuals.

Objectives:

  1. Engage Youth: Provide platforms for physical, mental, and emotional well-being through sports and recreation.
  2. Develop Leadership: Train youth in leadership, public speaking, and decision-making to prepare them for future roles in the community and beyond.
  3. Preserve Culture: Organize culturally relevant activities to strengthen ties to Bhutanese heritage.
  4. Build Connections: Facilitate networking opportunities with other communities and organizations in Cincinnati.
  5. Promote Talent: Identify and nurture sports and leadership talents, opening doors for scholarships and career opportunities.

Forming a Sports and Youth Leadership Development Council for the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati (BCC) could bring numerous benefits, addressing key needs and aspirations of the community. Here are some reasons why such a council would be valuable:

1. Youth Engagement and Empowerment:

  • Many Nepali-speaking Bhutanese American youths face challenges integrating into the broader society while maintaining their cultural identity. A council could provide a structured platform for:
    • Creating access to the opportunity at the scope of the SYLDC.
    • Building skillset in games and sports.
    • Developing leadership skills.
    • Encouraging active community participation.
    • Instilling a sense of responsibility and pride in their heritage.
    • Enhance the broader involvement of individual talents and sports clubs.
    • Recognition of skills, talents, and identities as a source of celebration for the individual, families, and community.

2. Promoting Physical and Mental Health:

  • Sports and recreational activities can help tackle issues like sedentary lifestyles, stress, and mental health challenges.
  • This can also create opportunities for teamwork, discipline, and resilience.
  • Games and sports help an individual develop their full mind, body, and spiritual potential, and leadership development will open the door to opportunities within the community and around the world.
  • Games, sports, and leadership development will help individuals tame themselves with critical thinking, performance building, and intellectual enhancement.

3. Preserving Cultural Identity:

  • Through culturally relevant activities, the council can ensure that younger generations stay connected to their roots while blending seamlessly into cultural diversity.

4. Talent Development and Opportunities:

  • The council could identify and nurture talents in sports and leadership, potentially leading to scholarships, professional opportunities, or representation in the broader community through local, regional, and wider events.

5. Building Community Solidarity:

  • Sports and leadership initiatives foster collaboration, fellowship, and trust among community members, strengthening the bonds within the Bhutanese community.

6. Reducing Negative Influences:

  • By providing constructive outlets for time and energy, such a council can help steer youth away from potentially harmful activities, such as substance abuse or gang involvement.
  • This also prevents community youths from forming harmful habits. Those bad habits can already be identified early through peer influence and managed carefully with appropriate corrective measures.

7. Networking and Representation:

  • A council could connect Bhutanese youth with other immigrant or mainstream organizations, enhancing their exposure, representation, and voice in larger forums.
  • This can extend the identity across the diversities and breed a towering presence for the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati.
  • This can bring connections to sources, resources, talents, and funding opportunities.
  • This also promotes self-funding activities, income-generating programs, and identity-forming norms for the talents of the Bhutanese.
  • Programmatic collaboration and strategic partnership with community organizations, stakeholders, and governmental organizations.

8. Sustainability of Leadership:

  • Developing a pipeline of young leaders ensures the long-term sustainability of the Bhutanese community’s presence and influence in Cincinnati and beyond.

9. Access to Resources:

  • A formal council increases the chances of securing grants, sponsorships, and partnerships with local organizations, schools, and government entities.
  • The sports clubs under this council can gain individualized participation in local and regional sports and beyond.

10. Showcasing Community Achievements:

  • The council could showcase the Bhutanese community’s contributions to Cincinnati’s multicultural landscape through sports tournaments, youth conferences, and leadership programs.

11. Strategic Community Enhancement:

The SYLDC has the potential to enhance the community by fostering greater involvement among its members. By organizing culturally inclusive events and leadership programs, the Council can create opportunities for youth and adults to engage and contribute meaningfully to community projects. Such involvement strengthens community bonds and solidifies the BCC’s reputation as a vibrant and active cultural body, serving as an encouraging model for surrounding communities.

12. Youth Empowerment and Development

The Council provides an invaluable platform for nurturing youth empowerment and development within the Bhutanese Community. The youth are encouraged to take on leadership roles and actively participate in community service through structured programs and mentorship opportunities. By emphasizing skills development in public speaking, conflict resolution, and cultural appreciation, the SYLDC ensures that young people can confidently step into leadership positions, thereby illustrating the community’s commitment to nurturing future leaders.

13. Promoting Cultural Identity and Pride

An essential focus of the SYLDC is preserving and promoting cultural identity, which is central to the Bhutanese Community’s sense of belonging and unity. By hosting cultural festivals, sporting events, and educational workshops, the Council creates a platform for showcasing Bhutanese traditions and customs, thereby enhancing cultural pride and recognition. Such initiatives make the BCC more visible and respected within the broader Cincinnati area, promoting a narrative of cultural richness and community strength.

14. Economic Growth and Sustainability:

Through diverse economic initiatives, such as sponsorship for cultural and sports events and establishing partnerships with local businesses, the SYLDC can significantly contribute to the community’s economic development. These activities provide financial sustainability for the Council’s programs and highlight the BCC’s role as a contributor to the local economy. By driving economic growth and ensuring the financial viability of its initiatives, the community positions itself as a proactive and self-sufficient entity.

15. Building an Iconic Community Presence:

​The combined efforts of youth empowerment, cultural promotion, and economic sustainability championed by the SYLDC can transform the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati into an iconic presence locally and beyond.​ The community can effectively communicate its successes and contributions by creating a strong brand identity that reflects its values and goals. Regular engagement with local media, participation in civic events, and a robust online presence further solidify the community’s reputation as a leader in cultural and social initiatives, setting an example that others might aspire to replicate.

By leveraging the council to address these strategic areas, the BCC enhances its internal community and elevates its status and visibility as a dynamic and prosperous entity within Cincinnati, making it an iconic locally and potentially broader community.

Council Structure: The council will be composed primarily of individuals with a substantial sports or community involvement background. Any member of the Bhutanese Community in Greater Cincinnati can be nominated, ensuring inclusivity and broad representation. A transparent nomination process will include the council coordinator submitting the nomination list to the Board of Directors for approval. Nominees will be required to submit a brief biography and statements of interest, and the Chairman will officiate the final selection to the Board of Directors for approval in a meeting or through an exclusive motion. The chairman can rectify or amend any information in the proposal in consultation with the council coordinator.

  • Coordinator: The council’s primary roles will encompass strategic planning, program development, and community engagement. Council Members will focus on creating initiatives that enhance youth participation in sports, cultivate leadership, and strengthen community bonds. Specific responsibilities will include:
  • The Council Coordinator mainly leads strategic leadership and program direction.
  • Financial management is primarily overseen by the treasurer for budgeting and fundraising initiatives.
  • The Secretary manages Documentation and communications to ensure regulatory compliance and transparency.
  • Directing youth programs, particularly the Program Coordinator, to design engagement activities tailored to community youths’ needs.
  • The Board of Directors of the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati assigns this person to lead the council and oversee all activities. The coordinator prepares the monthly activity reports and submits them to the secretariat before the first of each month.
  • Sports Wing: Five to Seven Member—Committee: This committee advises and supports sports events, teams, and tournaments to the coordinator. It will organize all kinds of sports and related programs and activities. Each of these activities needs to be approved by the Board of Directors.
  • Youth Leadership Development Wing three – five-member committee: This wing designs and implements leadership development activities, which the Board must approve of the Directors. Each of these activities needs to be approved by the Board of Directors.
  • Advisory Board: The Board of Directors for the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati serves as the advisory authority for the council. The Board of Directors is accountable for the council’s activities as much as it is liable for all activities and their outcomes.

Proposed Initiatives

1. Sports Programs

  • Organize annual sports tournaments (e.g., soccer, pool, Chase, Carom board, volleyball, cricket, basketball).
  • Regular practice sessions and league participation.
  • Wellness workshops emphasize the importance of fitness.
  • Develop summer sports camps to engage the community talents towards professional skills building in various games and sports.
  • Develop afterschool programs to engage the talents and build the leadership acumen of the participants.

2. Leadership Development

  • Organize various co-curricular and educational activities to bring youth from different walks of life into leadership development campaigns.
  • Host leadership boot camps and workshops.
  • Public speaking and debate competitions.
  • Mentor-mentee programs pairing youth with community leaders.

3. Cultural and Community Events

  • Coordinate, support, and volunteer in the cultural and community events the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati organized.

4. Outreach and Networking

  • Collaborate sports and youth leadership development programs with local school programs, city events, and non-profit activities.
  • Build relationships with other sports, games, and leadership development initiatives from different immigrant communities in Cincinnati.
  • Explore partnerships with youth-focused organizations for shared programs.

5. Talent Promotion

  • Create a database of talented youth in sports and leadership.
  • Advocate opportunities in local leagues, scholarships, and internships.
  • Help mentor and coach individuals seeking participation both competitively and ongoing.
  • Potential Funding Sources: To ensure the successful implementation of its programs, the resource and research council will explore diverse funding avenues, including grants specifically designed for youth sports and leadership development. Opportunities identified through platforms like Grants.gov or local funding bodies will be critical in securing the necessary financial resources. Additionally, the council will emphasize fundraising activities, community sponsorships, and grants to promote fiscal responsibility and continuity.
  • The Charity Community Building and Business Community Development Council guides all fundraising activities. The Sports and Youth Leadership Development Council can raise funds for the event they want to design, but the Treasurer guides all financial activities directly. Community contributions and fundraising events cannot be separately nested by individual councils.
  • The Board of Directors must approve all funding activities and charity initiatives.
  • The Sports & Youth Leadership Development Council may coordinate with the research and resource council to undertake resource navigation activities and, if necessary, involve the Board of Directors for furtherance and fulfillment.
  • Collaboration Partnerships with schools, colleges, non-profits, and other sports & Youth Leadership initiatives.

Expected Outcomes

  1. Increased youth engagement and reduced social isolation.
  2. Skills building, Participation, and community enhancement.
  3. Development of confidence and capacity building, including intellectuality and critical thinking.
  4. Recognition of Bhutanese talents in sports and leadership circles.
  5. Strengthening community ties within and beyond Cincinnati.
  6. Enhancing visibility and reputation of the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati as a dynamic and vibrant cultural entity.

Implementation Timeline – Annual Commitment:

S/No.PhaseActivityTimeline
1.Phase 1Recruit Council members – 10 +1 = 11Month 1
2Phase 2Plan and announce initial programs and events:Month 2
3Phase 3Launch the first sports tournament and workshop.Month 3-6
4Phase 4Evaluate and expand initiatives.Month 7-12

Conclusion

The Sports and Youth Leadership Development Council is a transformative initiative that addresses the immediate and long-term needs of the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati. By fostering youth empowerment, promoting cultural pride, and encouraging community solidarity, the SYLDC positions the BCC as the community development and artistic preservation. With strategic planning, committed leadership, and sustainable funding, this council will create opportunities for American Bhutanese youth to thrive while elevating the community’s identity within the multicultural fabric of Cincinnati and beyond.