CROYA is an organization that works directly with the extended Lake Forest and Lake Bluff community to help address the needs of these communities’ youth. Although CROYA was founded in the 1980s it was originally started in the seventies, when the community was prompted to help support the youths’ needs.
Sophie Portalatin ‘25, student at Lake Forest High school and CROYA Fundraising Chair, shared that, “CROYA strives to improve and help students throughout their high school and middle school years.” She also shared that it is an open and inclusive space, “where everyone is welcome and the staff are always around to help you with anything.” Regarding activities they do, “They provide fun activities weekly for high school students, allowing students to meet new people they wouldn’t have otherwise met.”
LFA liaison Jason Xing ‘24’s role with CROYA is to act like a bridge between the two communities, “it’s a way for me to meet people outside of LFA which is very neat for me to do.” This is an experience that not everyone has the opportunity to take part in other surrounding communities. Xing is able to combine the community of LFA and Lake Forest through CROYA, so students should take part in this organization to take advantage of the opportunities for community involvement.
There are many things that young adults can take away from the CROYA organization. Xing also said, “it’s an opportunity for us to partner with nonprofits and community organizations” that you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to previously partner with.
CROYA hosts weekly meetings that last around an hour and Portalatin shared, “The activities CROYA hosts are planned by the CROYA high school executive board. They are different each week and can vary so much.” Events vary from water balloon wars and game shows to playing football and eating dinner with the Lake Forest Police Department. CROYA is a resource that can help high schoolers distress and have fun.
When it comes to getting LFA involved in CROYA, there are several roadblocks LFA needs to overcome – such as study hours, work load, and previous extracurriculars. Xing’s role as the communication between LFA and CROYA is to, “bring LFA to CROYA meaning if CROYA host some events I would technically post posters or announcements via school.” His role is to keep the LFA students informed on upcoming events and announcements CROYA has while overcoming these roadblocks as well.
Portalatin also shared that, “LFA could get more involved by spreading the word through social media.” Portalatin also stated that she could also get the, “executive board to visit LFA because we visited Woodlands to spread the word about CROYA.”
For students interested in CROYA, LFA will have an opening on the CROYA board next year. Students will have an opportunity to give a speech this spring in hopes to get a role on the
