Hope Grants support youth-led service learning in Galt
by Patricia St. James
Galt Area Youth Coalition
The Galt Area Youth Coalition works with our youth to promote our Hope Grant program. This youth-led mini-grant program provides an opportunity for youth to evaluate our community and select the issues they wish to address. The Hope Grant is available to any youth or group of youth in the greater Galt area for student-led service learning projects. The grants are reviewed and approved by their peers. This year Galt youth approved four grants. Each is unique and reflects the concerns of the various groups that submitted the grant requests.
Ability Awareness:
This grant developed out of the desire to offer something positive for students with special needs. It became evident the need was to build tolerance through awareness, thus Ability Awareness was offered for all students at McCaffrey Middle School. The Youth LEAD group developed six stations where students could experience some form of challenge. Stations included a table where students put on glasses smeared with Vaseline and were asked to complete a word search. One station required the students to put thick socks on their hands and then put on and button a shirt. Another station had the students place a smooth pebble in one shoe, tie one leg with a stick so they could not bend at the knee, and use a walker to maneuver around an area. The debrief at the end of the experience drove home the power of tolerance.
Cleats for Soccer: A Galt High School student saw the need for youth to have something to do after school. He knew many young people who enjoy soccer but did not have the money for cleats. Josh Ochoa wrote a compelling grant request to buy soccer shoes, and the youth grant readers deemed it a worthy endeavor.
Relay for Life: The Youth LEAD group at New Hope School wanted to participate in the Relay for Life at Galt High School. The students were aware that one of their beloved teachers had been struggling with cancer for more than two years. They were very motivated to promote healthy nutrition and lifestyle. Their logo of a shark taking a bite out of cancer was the anchor of their booth, which took first place for booth design. Participants of the Relay for Life munched on healthy snacks while the youth educated them on 10 beneficial foods for cancer prevention. They were impressed with the students’ knowledge and enthusiasm for life choices that lead to well-being.
Environmental Improvement: The Arcohe Youth LEAD group was interested in planting indigenous plants at McFarland Ranch, but the area was not ready in time. Instead, they were offered several alternatives. They chose to clear two areas next to the visitor’s information center at the Cosumnes River Preserve, which benefits the preserve and its many visitors.
The Galt Area Youth Coalition is a REACH Community Action coalition.
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Galt makes progress on youth master plan
Youth and adults from the Galt Area Youth Coalition and other community members came together on Sept. 17 to give their input on the Galt Youth Master Plan. The interactive community forum included activities to encourage youth and adults to share what they see as the needs for specific age groups. The master plan will guide policy and program decisions in future years, addressing outcomes for youth up to age 24 in five developmental areas: Learning, Working, Thriving, Connecting and Leading. Youth master plan work will continue in subgroups, and another community forum is planned for January. Stay tuned!
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Youth and adults “Get It Started” in Woodland
by Izabelle Ponce, Youth Engagement Leader
Woodland Coalition for Youth / Yolo Family Resource Center
Youth and adult partnerships were formed at the “Let’s Get It Started” youth conference held on Sept. 26 at Woodland Community College in the historic town of Woodland.
The conference was the second annual of what organizers from the Woodland Coalition for Youth plan to be a yearly event. Seventy-five people, young and old, took part in the day’s activities, which focused on interacting with one another to build leadership skills. The event also served as the kickoff of a six-month series of workshops in Woodland. The next session will take place on Oct. 17 at the community college.
“Let’s Get It Started” was made possible with the support of the Yolo Family Resource Center, Yolo County Office of Education, Woodland Public Library Children’s Services, Early Academic Outreach Program and UC Davis, Woodland Community College, Yolo County Friday Night Live Partnership and Sierra Health Foundation.
For more information, please contact me at (530) 406-7221 ext. 111 or iponce@yolofrc.org.
The Woodland Coalition for Youth is a REACH Community Action coalition.
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Youth documentaries make an impact
by Kindra F. Montgomery-Block, M.P.A.
Associate Director of Training and Technical Assistance
Community School Partnerships
UC Davis School of Education-CRESS Center
The REACH Youth Media Project has served as a vital part of the REACH coalitions’ work in that it created a venue for youth to engage communities. The Youth Media Project enlisted diverse youth teams comprised of three to five members representing four of the seven initial REACH Community Action coalitions. These youth participated in a hands-on experience that allowed them to express themselves within a real-world context. Through multiple literacies, participating youth captured their voices and the voices of other youth surrounding a topic of personal interest and relevance in documentaries led, produced and directed by youth.
Since unveiling all four of their youth-led documentaries on May 22, the REACH Youth Media teams have been tremendously busy with ongoing efforts to create awareness and community change around their documentary topics. We have been totally blown away by their commitment to youth-led community change! And we are sure that you will be, too. This month, we received a behind-the-scenes update on the current outreach and outcomes of the REACH Youth Media Project. Coalitions and community partners continue to move forward connecting Data and Stories to create community Change.
The Galt Area Youth Coalition’s documentary, Small City, Big Problem: What Would You Do About It? is engaging community members and increasing buy-in for the Galt Youth Master Plan. The Sacramento ACT Meadowview Partnership is using its video, A Lack of Role Models in Our Community, to increase student engagement with the Burbank High School Youth Leadership Teams. The South Sacramento Coalition for Future Leaders is using its video, Education Depletion: Rising Up and Taking Action, in its work with CARE (Committee Addressing Race Equity). The Woodland Coalition for Youth used its documentary,
Open Your Eyes: Teen Pregnancy, for policy change at Woodland middle schools, where Life Education is now required instruction for eighth-grade classes. The
Cordova Community Collaborative currently is producing a public service awareness video on youth safety in Rancho Cordova.
Learn more about the REACH Youth Media Project and watch the documentaries on the REACH Web site.
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GABY continues commitment to community
by Yumi Sera, Program Officer
Sacramento Region Community Foundation
The Grants Advisory Board for Youth (GABY) supports young people to learn about giving and serving and taking action on issues that they care about. A new board of Sacramento youth is excited to facilitate change in our community. We will be launching our new Web site and request for GABY proposals on Oct. 12! Proposals will be due Dec. 16.
Sierra Health Foundation recently hosted this year’s GABY members, their parents and organizational partners at its conference center. GABY members start the year with a hands-on retreat at the Center for Land Based Learning, where they will learn about wellness and the environment, and ready themselves for their commitment to the community.
GABY is a program of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, with grant support from Sierra Health Foundation. Please check out the GABY Web site or e-mail gaby@sacregcf.org. Contact me at (916) 921-7723 if you would like to request a presentation to your youth group.
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Opportunities
The City of Sacramento Office of Youth Development would like to keep you informed. Join the mailing list to stay updated on current projects, programs and opportunities. Sign up online!
ABCD Training and NeighborWorks America will present the Western Regional ABCD into Action Training Dec. 7-8 in Oakland. This event will focus on asset-based community development principles and applying them to mobilize people, organizations and communities. Download a flier for details and registration information.
(Note: Last month in REACH e-news, we reported that this event also would be held in Los Angeles Oct. 7-8; however, the events have been consolidated and the training will be held only in Oakland Dec. 7-8.)
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CalendarOct. 3
Plan to attend the 8th Annual Neighbors Fair at Riverwalk Park in West Sacramento, with live music, dance exhibitions, handcrafted arts, a KidZone and food booths. Admission is free. Youth and adults from the West Sacramento Youth Resource Coalition are helping to plan this community event. Visit the Neighbors Fair Web site for more information.
Oct. 7 and 8
The Youth Development Network will present Vantage Points: Diversity and Awareness from a New Perspective at Sierra Health Foundation. This training for youth and adults will focus on how our perceptions affect our interactions with youth, staff and parents, and how youth development is implemented in programs. Get more information and registration details on the YDN Web site.
E-mail story ideas, funding opportunities, resources and calendar items to us at REACH.
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