Meadowview conference sets stage to “change the view”
by Shuntae Campbell
Youth Organizer,
Sacramento ACT Meadowview Partnership
The Meadowview community is a place where many youth have experienced an increase in youth issues. Statistically, the Meadowview community is deemed to be a “bad” neighborhood. Sacramento Area Congregations Together took notice of this, thus, creating the ACT Meadowview Partnership.
The ACT Meadowview Partnership is made up of many congregations and youth leaders in the South Sacramento area. As a group, we decided that it would be best to host a Meadowview Youth Leadership Conference. The conference would be a two-day event. Our primary objective was to instill into the youth that they could take a leadership role in creating change in their community. This was a broader goal to change the view. We wanted the youth to realize that they did not have to settle with how things are.
While planning the Meadowview Youth Leadership Conference, our main focus was to empower the youth of Meadowview. We began to meet on a regular basis to plan our 1st Annual Meadowview Youth Leadership Conference. Though our planning process was consistent, it was not an easy one. Our meetings were held at the Sam Pannell Meadowview Community Center every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The planning committee was made up of both youth and adults. In our planning group, as well as in our organization, we believe strongly in youth and adult partnerships. We had two main goals. The first goal was to turn out 300 youth within the Meadowview area. Our second goal was to make sure that our workshops were built around empowerment and leadership. We started our planning back in October, and we had until April 25 and 26 to make things happen.
On the day of the event, you could feel the nervous vibe floating around the Sam Pannell Community Center. We were all anxious to see how our hard work would pay off. The first day of the event was filled with testimonies and talent showcases. Our setup was beautiful. We wanted to make sure that we were entertaining the youth, as well as teaching them. We did a good job of doing both tasks. We had more than 300 youth who attended on the first day of the event. According to the evaluations that the youth completed, the testimonies were inspiring and the talent show was fun. Many youth felt that the first day was something they had never seen and were anxious to see what the next day would bring.
On the last day of the event, all of the workshops were held. We also had two keynote speakers. Our first keynote speaker was the mayoral candidate, Kevin Johnson. He spoke primarily about the importance of education. He did a great job of getting the youth involved, and getting them to realize just how important education really is. Our second keynote speaker was Ms. Hmong International, Mercedes Ly. She was phenomenal. She was only 18 years old and she won the competition to become Ms. Hmong International. The thing that caught everyone's eye is that she was from the Meadowview area. She was a walking example of what we were trying to get across to these youth. She spoke about how making a change for your community is important, and how youth shouldn't settle for the statistics that people place on them. They should take a stand and begin to do what's right.
The second half of the day was filled with workshops. Some of the workshop topics were jobs, gang involvement, abstinence, the rights of youth and college access. Many youth loved every workshop, but the workshop that was most talked about was the job skills workshop. This was a great interest to many youth, and they felt this particular workshop captured the things that they were not aware of. Our goal of making sure our workshops empowered the youth was fulfilled.
At the end of the event, youth felt the conference was the most real event they have ever been to. They mentioned they have never been to anything like it and were anxious to see what next year's conference would bring. Overall, we set a foundation to change the Meadowview community.
The Sacramento ACT Meadowview Partnership is a REACH Community Action coalition. Learn about all seven Community Action coalitions on the REACH Web site.
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Rancho Cordova youth hold rally at Capitol
by Nicole Jarred
Community Collaborations Manager,
Cordova Community Collaborative
The Rancho Cordova Youth Advisory Council held a Youth Voice Event focused on the potential cuts to school budgets on April 30 on the north steps of the State Capitol. The event was an incredible, youth-driven response to the budget crisis. The youth hoped to influence adults who make policies that affect youth by telling and showing them why this is important to them. They felt that it is important for there to be a youth voice about these cuts because this issue affects them the most. The youth noticed that young people had not been asked questions by news reporters, and they had not found quotes from other students in TV and newspaper stories about the budget cuts.
 Wanting to be part of the solution, and to be heard, the Youth Advisory Council held the Youth Voice Event. In the early part of the day, the Youth Advisory Council executive members met with their local elected officials to discuss why this issue is important to youth, and to ask their representatives what their plan was to ensure adequate school funding. In the afternoon, more youth joined the executives at the north steps and held a rally. The youth spoke about the direct negative effects of the school budget cuts, asked for donations and spread the word about the issue. At 4 p.m., State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell accepted the youths' donations on behalf of California schools and spoke about the importance of youth involvement and voice in issues that directly affect them.
The Cordova Community Collaborative is a REACH Community Action coalition. Learn about all seven Community Action coalitions on the REACH Web site.
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South Sacramento youth to present Art & Talent Show
by Emily Bender
Coordinator,
South Sacramento Coalition for Future Leaders
The Youth Leadership Council (YLC) is proud to present its first Art & Talent Show! The YLC is part of the South Sacramento Coalition for Future Leaders (SSCFL) and the youth have been working hard at planning this special event. Since the beginning of the year, this group of 35 11- to 17-year-olds have met weekly to plan and organize the details. This project began with offering Art Mini-Grants to youth in the Lemon Hill area of South Sacramento. Young artists have applied for these mini-grants to purchase art supplies. Those who are approved will receive $200 (individual) or $400 (group) in pre-approved supplies. This grant is a great opportunity for artistic youth to express themselves.
Now, it's time to show off those artistic talents! All youth from the Sacramento area have been invited to perform at the Art & Talent Show. Prizes will be given for best performances! Judges will consist of a panel of youth and adults… think American Idol! The special event is scheduled for May 30 at Hiram Johnson High School, located at 6879 14th Ave. in Sacramento. The talent show begins at 5 p.m. in the auditorium. After the presentation, all guests will be provided with dinner and refreshments. After the dinner break, the art gallery will open in the school's theater.
This is a free event and everyone is welcome to attend! Please come out and show your support to our wonderful Youth Leadership Council. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (916) 388-9522. See you May 30!
The South Sacramento Coalition for Future Leaders is a REACH Community Action coalition. Learn about all seven Community Action coalitions on the REACH Web site.
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Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills addresses underage drinking
by DJ Peterson
Project Director,
Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills
The Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills is seeking to coordinate services with local, county, state and federal agencies and others to prevent and reduce underage drinking. The nonprofit organization, Community Vision, Inc., recently applied for a federal grant to prevent and reduce underage drinking by addressing factors in the community that serve to increase youth risk behaviors, and increasing protective factors that minimize risk behavior, such as youth development, resiliency and asset-building strategies.
To achieve their goals, the coalition will mobilize the community to provide effective and coordinated strategies and evidence-based prevention services and activities for youth ages 11-18. They plan to implement the following strategies that were recommended by the community at a Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking held April 3:
» Reduce youth access to alcohol at retail outlets by “decoy/sting” and “shoulder tap” operations in coordination with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
» Increase intervention services with increased fines or other consequences through a teen court program.
» Increase youth development supports and opportunities, such as increasing safe places for youth, positive youth activities, youth leadership, mentoring and community involvement.
» Increase perception of disapproval of underage drinking by adults and peers, and reduce drinking and driving by supporting alcohol-free grad nights, increased Friday Night Live and Club Live Activities and “Every 15 Minutes” program at schools.
» Increase counseling services, such as alcohol and drug counseling and school-based mental health counseling.
» Increase parent education workshops and materials, especially regarding hosting and supervising parties.
In order to implement these strategies, the coalition will continue working closely with key partners and members of the coalition, such as the El Dorado Hills Community Services District, the El Dorado County Public Health Department, local schools and school districts, law enforcement, youth groups, business leaders, faith organizations and other sectors of the community.
For more information about the Vision Coalition, contact DJ Peterson, Project Director, at (916) 933-1771 or visit www.edhvisioncoalition.org.
The Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills is a REACH Community Action coalition. Learn about all seven Community Action coalitions on the REACH Web site.
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Community leaders sign Compact for Children and Youth
by Suzanne Mayes
Project Consultant,
Capital Region Ready by 21
On April 28, the Capital Region Ready by 21 Coalition hosted a community convening to further its commitment to building a vision of shared accountability for improving the outcomes for our youth. The event was attended by well over 200 community members representing education, youth service providers, business, the faith community and philanthropy, among others. Also in attendance were Mayor Fargo and other elected and high-level officials from throughout the Sacramento Region.
During the convening, which was organized and implemented by adult and youth coalition representatives, the Capital Region Compact for Children and Youth was presented and signed by most of those attending. The compact identifies commitments and strategies community members can adopt to make an impact to support the coalition's goals. Key stakeholders throughout the region committed themselves and their organizations to adopt specific strategies and be publicly accountable for increasing the odds that all youth are ready by 21 for college, work and life.
Lyn Corbett shared information about the City of Sacramento's newly created Office of Youth Development and its plans to ensure all youth are successful in completing the journey into adulthood. Participants worked in small groups to further discuss the six commitments outlined in the compact and the associated strategies and indicators of success. At the end of the evening, participants signed cards committing themselves and their organizations to adopt specific strategies to increase the odds for youth success and be publicly accountable for keeping those commitments.
In the next few months, the Capital Region Ready by 21 Coalition will meet to adopt next-steps strategies that will catalyze the creation of a truly youth-friendly community that ensures that all youth are ready by 21 for college, work and life. The strategies will focus on the convening participants' strong conviction for the need for increased youth participation and real engagement in the future of the community.
For more information about the Capital Region Ready by 21 Coalition, please contact Vicki Stockbridge at (916) 231-5333 x15 or vicki@ydnetwork.org. The Capital Region Compact for Children and Youth and the results of the convening are available at www.ydnetwork.org.
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Program Improvement grants to fund 10 capital-region youth projects
by Katy Pasini
Communications Associate,
Sierra Health Foundation
Through projects including a youth soccer league in Woodland and anti-bullying campaigns in Placerville, youth and their adult allies will create positive opportunities for young people in their communities with Program Improvement grants, recently awarded by Sierra Health Foundation.
Since the REACH youth program began in early 2006, Sierra Health Foundation has awarded 54 Program Improvement grants — totaling $525,000 — to nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of youth programs in the capital region. We're pleased to announce the following 10 recent grant recipients:
» Cottage Housing, Inc.
» Family Connections El Dorado, Inc.
» Herbert C. Green Middle School
» NorCal Center on Deafness
» North Valley Sponsoring Committee
» Roberts Family Development Center
» Rural Innovations in Social Economics Inc. (RISE)
» Sacramento City Unified School District/Healthy Start Teen and Family Resource Center
» St. John's Shelter
» Yolo County Housing Authority
For more information about Program Improvement grants and to read descriptions of funded programs and projects, visit Sierra Health's REACH Web site.
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Funding Opportunities
The California Council for the Humanities offers grants of up to $10,000 for projects that gather and present untold or underreported stories of California communities. The council seeks projects that enhance our understanding of the diversity of California and its cultures, peoples and history. Stories can be presented in a variety of formats, including photography exhibits, dramatic presentations, video screenings, radio documentaries and storytelling events. Applications are due July 1. Get information at www.californiastories.org.
Visit the Youth Development Network's Grants and Funding Opportunities page for a list of opportunities in categories such as arts, civic engagement, health, life skills and safety.
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Resources
Child
Trends is an independent, nonpartisan research center
working to improve outcomes for children by providing research
and analysis to the people and institutions whose decisions and
actions affect children. Online resources include research briefs
and a data bank of national trends and research.
Organized
Communities, Stronger Schools presents
findings from a six-year study by the Community Involvement Program,
which is studying the impact of community organizing for school
reform on student outcomes. The study found strong and consistent
relationships between community organizing and policy and resource
decisions, school-level improvement and student outcomes. The
program is part of the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at
Brown University.
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Calendar
May 15
Noon
Spring 2008 Program Improvement grant applications due
Download application materials on the REACH Web site.
May 17
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
West Sacramento Youth Fun Fair
Bryte Park (Carrie Street and Todhunter Avenue)
May 30
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
South Sacramento Youth Leadership Council Art & Talent Show
Hiram Johnson High School auditorium and theater (6879 14th Ave.)
July 9
REACH Regional Youth Development Conference
Radisson Hotel Sacramento
Save the date! See future issues of REACH e-news for details.
E-mail story ideas, funding opportunities, resources and calendar items to us at REACH.
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