Sactown Heroes give time and energy to beautify West Sacramento
by Yaminah Bailey
Youth Development Specialist,
West Sacramento Youth Resource Coalition
The Sactown Heroes are currently in the process of completing one of their Community Beautification Projects at the Senior Center located in West Sacramento. So far the group has had two planning meetings, which consisted of youth, adults, residents of the center, master gardeners and residents of the community. During these planning meetings the youth facilitated discussions and were able to create a map layout of the end product. Volunteers, including youth from the Sactown Heroes, have given their time and energy on four Saturdays to work on the project.
In the meantime, the Sactown Heroes have begun conducting planning meetings for their next Community Beautification Project at Riverbank Elementary, which will begin in late January.
The Sactown Heroes youth subcommittee was created in January 2006 during the creation of the West Sacramento Youth Resource Coalition. The Sactown Heroes were originally just a few youth who found interest in their community and began leading focus groups at various schools in the Washington Unified School District. The goal of these focus groups was to find out how youth felt about their community. Since then the Sactown Heroes have grown to more than 25 members. One main focus of this amazing group of young people is to develop leadership skills that will help them in the future. To learn more, visit the West Sacramento Youth Resource Coalition Web site.
The West Sacramento Youth Resource Coalition is a REACH Community Action coalition.
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Youth Action Team works to make school better for youth
by Leslie Granciano and Jessica Ramos
Youth Action Team members,
Sacramento ACT Meadowview Partnership
The Youth Action Team at Luther Burbank High School meets after school every Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. There’s around 12 youth involved in this program, two people from each club at Luther Burbank High school, for example the New Age Latinas Club, Project Sunday, Project Uplift, the Black Student Union, and Hmong Women’s and Hmong Men’s circles. As we come up with information and changes that we can make, we bring that information to our clubs.
Luther Burbank High School is a public school located on Florin Road. This high school has a diversity of cultures, but it needs economic help, meaning that we really don’t have money to have classes that students want. The teachers are really nice and care about the students. The goal of the Youth Action Team is to try to make a difference at our school, so that things can be better for our youth. This is important because we want to show youth that there are people who are trying to make a difference, and that if we all worked together we could all change something and make our school better and safer.
The project we are currently working on is a survey. As a team we came up with questions and we survey students from different 7th-period classes. This is important because we want to see what students want and actually make a difference. We think it is important for students to play an active role in improving their school, because the students make the school and without students there’s no school. Also, it is important to get our point of view. We hope that we can actually do something to make our school better and make youth feel more comfortable.
Learning how to do community organizing at Burbank is really fun. We all get along — it is like a family. We also get to make decisions in order to make our school a lot better. We choose to be part of this action team because we want to be involved in what’s going on in our school. We are learning how to become better leaders and how youth can make a huge difference if we all work together. Our favorite part is that we get to meet new people and improve our leadership skills. We hope to have a better idea of what a leader is and what they do to help people out.
The Youth Action Team is part of the Sacramento ACT Meadowview Partnership’s Graduation and Beyond strategy. The Sacramento ACT Meadowview Partnership is a REACH Community Action coalition. Learn more on the Sacramento ACT Web site.
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Building youth self-confidence is part of the program
by Jessica Pratt
Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills
Kids of all ages gathered outside of Lakehills Church in El Dorado Hills to practice vocal numbers or to perfect their dance moves. Inside, confident actors and actresses recited their lines for what must have been the thousandth time. At first glance, observers might have assumed that this work was to prepare for something as big as a Broadway play. Although that would have been a good guess, a closer look inside would have revealed that this professional practice was just the rehearsal of El Dorado Musical Theater’s “Annie.”
Every production put on by El Dorado Musical Theater (EDMT) begins rehearsal eight weeks before shows are scheduled to run. EDMT has two types of shows: one is called a “Main Stage” production, while the other is an “Encore.” For “Main Stage” productions, all kids ages 8 through 20 are eligible to audition. Participants can choose to try out for a lead role, or they can just sign up to be a member of the ensemble, which includes singing and dancing. An “Encore” production is a little more selective — these shows have older cast members and everyone must audition, no matter the size of the role.
“EDMT gives children such a feeling of self-confidence,” said show producer Sue Mackin. “It carries into school, future job interviews and future careers.” Mackin also went on to explain how performing has done wonders for kids who have started off very shy and introverted. By the end of a show, most of the participants who used to be extremely quiet come out of their shell. Some, says Mackin, have even been inspired to do things they would have never done before, such as running for a student body position at school.
In order to ensure that no child is denied these life-changing advantages, EDMT offers about three scholarships to kids per show. With financial support from the Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills, which receives funding from Sierra Health Foundation’s REACH program, both organizations do their best to make sure no one is turned away because of an inability to pay.
EDMT started in 2001, and it has grown from being a small organization with a low budget to one of the largest youth theaters in California. This group has received multiple Elly nominations and awards, which are presented by the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance. Just as their lighting design, costumes and sets have continued to advance, it can only be hoped that the number of kids whose lives have changed for the better from being in a show will continue down the same path.
For more information on EDMT, go to www.edmt.info. For more programs that impact youth in positive ways, visit the Vision Coalition Web site or call (916) 643-4393.
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Convening to address human services workforce crisis
Join the Youth Development Network and other local partners on March 5 at Sierra Health Foundation for this important convening that will address the human services workforce crisis. Human service careers are expected to grow 27 percent over the next 10 years, with thousands of job openings for childcare workers, youth workers, recreation workers, teachers, social workers, substance and rehabilitation counselors, employment specialists, mental health workers, probation officers, and academic and vocational counselors.
The purpose of this convening will be to raise awareness of sector needs, share innovative state and local efforts, connect stakeholders and develop next steps. The convening will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To register, e-mail Kathy at YDN by Feb. 26.
This event is co-sponsored by the California School-Age Consortium, LEED (Linking Education and Economic Development), Sacramento Works and Sierra Health Foundation.
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GABY grants go environmental
Last month in REACH e-news, we announced GABY 2.0 — the innovative redesign of the Grants Advisory Board for Youth that focuses on e-learning and environmental grantmaking. GABY’s e-learning course provides a great opportunity for youth to learn about giving, serving and taking action on important issues in their communities. To register for the course, just visit the GABY Web site and create your own unique user account.
GABY will award grants from $50 to $500 for youth-led projects in Sacramento and Yolo counties that focus on the environment. Grant proposals are due to the Sacramento Region Community Foundation by Feb. 27. Visit the GABY Web site for details on how you can make a difference!
GABY will hold a workshop on March 6 from 5:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. for all eligible applicants. Lt. Gov. John Garamendi – who has been a champion of service and the environment – will be the keynote speaker. Sierra Health Foundation President and CEO Chet Hewitt will be a special guest.
For more information, e-mail GABY or call Yumi Sera at (916) 921-7723.
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Opportunities
The Folsom Cordova Community Partnership is accepting applications for a Youth Development Manager position. This person will be responsible for managing the Partnership’s Cordova Community Collaborative REACH coalition. The Youth Development Manager will develop, strengthen and support the implementation and operations of REACH, and facilitate community involvement in the program. Download the position description with application instructions.
The Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council invites Northern and Central California nonprofit organizations to apply for grants focused on getting youth outside. As part of its Youth Investment Program, the Stewardship Council will grant between $2 million and $2.5 million in funding to parks and programs that connect underserved youth ages 13 to 18 to the outdoors. Visit the Stewardship Council’s Web site to learn about 2009 funding opportunities.
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CalendarJan. 27-28
ABCD Training with NeighborWorks America and Sierra Health Foundation will present Asset Based Community Development training at Sierra Health Foundation. This engaging learning event will focus on asset-based community development principles and applying them to mobilizing people, organizations and communities. There is a fee for this training. Download an informational flyer.
Feb. 27
GABY grant applications due for Sacramento and Yolo counties
Visit the new GABY 2.0 Web site for information and to sign up for the e-learning course.
March 5
Workforce Development Convening
Join the Youth Development Network and other local partners at Sierra Health Foundation for this important convening that will address the human services workforce crisis. See the announcement above.
E-mail story ideas, funding opportunities, resources and calendar items to us at REACH.
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