REACH conference focuses on youth-adult partnerships to create change
Hot temperatures and smoky air didn’t keep almost 500 youth and adults from attending Sierra Health Foundation’s second REACH Youth Development Conference on July 9 at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento. With a theme of “Our Voices Creating a New World,” the conference brought people together to talk about a myriad of ways youth and adults can work together to create a positive, healthy environment for young people in our region.
Workshops included Youth Voice Creating Change, Are You Really Making A Difference?, Engaging Youth Through Service, Academic Success for Underrepresented Youth and Finding Your Voice, Following Your Passion. A popular spot throughout the day was the Youth Lounge, where young people participated in fun, interactive workshops titled How to Seek and Secure a Summer Job and Hip Hop It Don’t Stop, School Reform It Can’t Be Stopped.
Conference participants of all ages were inspired by keynote speaker David Muhammad from the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services in Washington, D.C., who spoke on “Unlocking the Unlimited Potential of Our Youth” and told his personal story about overcoming adversities while growing up in Oakland. Also inspirational was Shuntae Campbell, a Meadowview youth organizer with Sacramento Area Congregations Together who shared his experience of being a gang member, and then turning his life around to become a leader for youth in his community. Guest speaker Jenny Bogoni from the Philadelphia Youth Network gave an informational and inspiring talk about Project U-Turn, a successful citywide campaign that keeps disconnected and disadvantaged youth in school.
Thank you to the many people who made this conference a success! See photos, a list of conference community partners and workshop descriptions on Sierra Health’s REACH Web site.
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Capital-region youth projects receive Program Improvement grants
Since the REACH youth program began in early 2006, Sierra Health Foundation has awarded 65 Program Improvement grants — totaling more than $630,000 — to nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of youth programs in the capital region. Congratulations to the following 11 grant recipients from the Spring 2008 funding cycle!
- Amador County Recreation Agency
ACRA After School Program
- Children's Receiving Home of Sacramento
Reach the Youth — Youth Mentor Program
- Mercy Housing California
Pay It Forward Youth Leadership Program
- Nevada County Superintendent of Schools
Nevada County Health Career Club
- Sacramento County Office of Education
Club Live Leadership Training
- Shenandoah High School
Learning Through Internships
- Sutter/Yuba Friday Night Live, Inc.
Afterschool Performing Arts Program
- United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Sacramento
Building Bridges Youth Connection
- Wonder, Inc.
Counselor In Leadership Training
- Woodland High School
Woodland High School Peer Mediators
- Yolo County Health Department
Yolo County Anti-Tobacco Youth Coalition
For more information about REACH Program Improvement grants, visit Sierra Health’s REACH Web site.
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Youth Media Workshop provides a voice for students
by Jessica Sandoval
Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills member
The second annual Youth Media Workshop, sponsored by the Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills, was held at the El Dorado Hills Community Services District June 17 to 19. Two professionals from Royer Studios, an educational production company, trained the attendees in basic filmmaking fundamentals. Over the course of the three-day class, students created their own brief videos about harassment and participated in the setup of the short movie “We are Free.”
The workshop exemplified “how it would be on a movie set — fast paced, but there is plenty of down time,” said Eric Robert Jessup, an animation facilitator for Royer Studios and one of the instructors. “It is the same filmmaking process slowed down a little bit.”
During the first two days, students formed three groups, captured footage for films about bullying and edited the video clips.
“The students had all the professional equipment needed to tell a story,” said Daniel Ruiz, associate producer at Royer Studios and the second instructor. “We empower the students, giving the ability to create so we learn about what is really going on in the teenage years.”
“Problems that young people face have gone unnoticed and they want us to be aware. Their voices are being heard when they create their personalized films,” said D.J. Peterson, director of Vision Coalition. “This is one of the many things that we do to help young people — we sponsor programs and activities to teach youth skills and we give them opportunities for positive youth development.”
After learning the filmmaking processes, workshop attendees aided in the production of the film “We are Free” by working on the set, acting as extras in various scenes and filming behind-the-scenes footage. “We are Free” focuses on the lifestyles of three teenagers who meet at a rehabilitation center. Since the adolescents suffer from rape, drug addiction or physical abuse, they unite due to their pain and form a friendship bond.
Royer Studios “has really sparked our interest to create more films… to inform the audience about an ongoing problem,” said Spencer Reed, who directed, wrote and played the character “Matthew” in “We Are Free.” The film provides a “shock value, for too many videos these days are sugar-coated. Every film we have done promotes community awareness.”
On June 20, the short anti-harassment videos were shown in a premiere at the CSD. “Hopefully we started them off with something they can continue on in their young life,” said Ruiz. It is the “same in the big films, but on a smaller scale… so shoot, shoot, shoot, because the more practice you have, the better filmmaker you become.”
For information on upcoming Vision Coalition events, call (916) 643-4393 or visit the Vision Coalition Web site and become a member.
Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills is a REACH Community Action coalition.
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The Food Bank of El Dorado County touches lives
by Arielle Baran
Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills member
Every morning, Food Bank trucks flock out, traveling to local grocery stores. The trucks return to the Food Bank’s Diamond Springs location three tons heavier, carrying products ranging from nutritious eggs to protein-packed meat, and donated foods ranging from canned vegetables to packaged breads.
More than 400 volunteers and 3,000 to 4,000 regular donors have kept the Food Bank of El Dorado County thriving since the organization was founded by Executive Director Mike Sproull in 2000. Sproull’s father, before his death, asked him to start a charity and to spend his life helping others. After discovering that El Dorado County was one of three counties in California without a food bank, Sproull created the Food Bank. Over the years, he has expanded its services and last year distributed 1.7 million pounds of food, providing food assistance to more than 12,000 county residents every month. Distributing not just food but nutritious food is of high concern to Sproull and the Food Bank’s many volunteers.
“We prevent hunger and we provide hope to people,” says Sproull, who has expanded the Food Bank’s role significantly in the past eight years. Along with distributing food to those in need, Sproull has become an advocate for less-fortunate residents in El Dorado County, advocating nutrition and promoting self-reliance. Sproull is working to inspire volunteerism in the community and to educate people about hunger.
The Food Bank’s services reach individuals throughout the county due to its partnerships and relationships with more than 50 other charities in El Dorado County. Sproull has formed a network of collaborative charities, thereby creating a “safety net of charities throughout the whole county.” The Upper Room Dining Hall, Rolling Hills Community Church, El Dorado County Habitat for Humanity, El Dorado Women’s Center and other local charities receive food from the El Dorado County Food Bank regularly and have become food sources for many of those in need.
“Food isn’t what it’s all about; knowing that people are out there that care about you and will help you is huge to these people,” affirms Sproull.
With a grant from the Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills, funded in part by Sierra Health Foundation’s REACH program, the Food Bank is starting a summer lunch program and an after-school snack program to make nutritious lunches and snacks available for children year-round. The Food Bank, in partnership with the Vision Coalition, hopes to receive community support and interest to help back this new program.
The Food Bank’s ambition is to educate youth and teach them how they can help. Every holiday season, schools across the county participate in a Food Drive, last year collecting 50,000 cans for the hungry. “Education is the main thing,” says Sproull.
For more information on the Food Bank of El Dorado County and on ways to help, visit the Food Bank’s Web site.
Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills is a REACH Community Action coalition.
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Youth leaders needed for Sacramento Youth Commission
by Christina DeMoss-Giffin
Youth Resource Coordinator,
City of Sacramento Office of Youth Development
The City of Sacramento Office of Youth Development is currently recruiting to fill youth seats for the Sacramento Youth Commission (SYC). The Youth Commission is a youth-led commission/advocacy group whose mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the quality of life for Sacramento youth by advising the City Council and the public on issues relating to youth policies, programs and opportunities.
The commissioners, with direction of the Office of Youth Development, will participate in the following projects:
Teen Centers: Members of the SYC Safe Places for Youth Standing Committee are in the process of developing “Vibe,” a teen-developed and teen-run lounge in midtown that will offer teens a place to relax, see live shows, attend teen support groups and have the opportunity to earn school credits while gaining work experience. The midtown location will be a pilot teen center with the goal of opening multiple centers throughout Sacramento.
Youth Action Teams: Commissioners from each council district will attend neighborhood meetings and appoint eight other youth in their council district to identify major community issues. The youth action teams will distribute district-wide surveys to youth to determine areas of youth concern. Once issues are identified, the commissioners and action teams will create policies and action plans to address community issues.
Green Teens: Commissioners will form a sustainability standing committee that will review how teens can be more green in Sacramento. Ultimately, this group will challenge local businesses, public agencies and community-based organizations to adopt green practices and encourage youth to do the same.
Commissioners should meet the following qualifications:
- reside or attend school in the city of Sacramento
- be between the ages of 14 and 19
- have an interest in improving the lives of youth in Sacramento
Youth Commission meetings will begin in August. Commissioners receive a $50 stipend each month for attending the meetings. Interested youth should call the City Clerk’s office at (916) 808-7200 to apply.
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Opportunities
The Campaign for College Opportunity invites middle school and high school students and the people who work with them to “Save Me a Spot in College Day!,” being held Aug. 6 at the State Capitol. Learn about college access, see the Capitol and hear from your legislators. A ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., followed by lunch, Capitol tours and legislative visits starting at 11 a.m. This is a free, student-friendly event. RSPV by Aug. 1 to marialuisa@collegecampaign.org and indicate if you would like to join the afternoon legislative visits.
The California Exposition and State Fair is accepting applications for its Step Up Positive Change Awards, a non-traditional scholarship program that will highlight significant and productive life changes made by at-risk youth. The first-place award will be $500, second-place $300 and third-place $200. Award winners will be announced and recognized Sept. 1 during the Step Up Talent Show at the California State Fair. Applicants must be California residents ages 16 to 25. Get application forms at the California State Fair administration building, by calling (916) 263-3912 or online at www.bigfun.org. Applications are due by July 25.
Common Sense California is offering $125,000 in funds to municipalities, school districts and nonprofit organizations that are attempting to engage their citizens in legitimate, informed decision making. Four Common Sense Grants up to $25,000 each will be awarded for use in developing campaigns that involve the public in issues pertaining to city/regional and/or K-12 policy. Applications are due by Sept. 12, and recipients will be notified in early October. “Catalyst Grants” in amounts up to $7,500 will be awarded on a rolling basis. For application instructions, visit the Common Sense California Web site.
E-mail story ideas, funding opportunities, resources and calendar items to us at REACH.
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