Youth learn leadership, make memories at REACH Camp
by bel Reyes, Community Schools Program Coordinator
UC Davis Center for Community School Partnerships
For the past two years, Sierra Health Foundation’s REACH program hosted a youth leadership camp for diverse teams of youth and adults, representing each of the seven REACH Community Action coalitions. Each year, the REACH campers anticipate the excitement of seeing friends from the previous year and the chance to make new ones. To add to the excitement, this year’s camp welcomed the Vacaville Youth Roundtable REACH Coalition and the Youth Development Community Action Coalition of Yuba-Sutter to their first ever “REACH US” Camp experience!
On July 27, as the first bus pulled up, the camp planning team could vaguely see the silhouettes of those inside through the tinted windows. Our enthusiasm jolted us onto the bus before a single camper could take their first step toward fun, challenging and memorable leadership experiences. The first bus carried teams from the Woodland Coalition for Youth, Sacramento ACT Meadowview Partnership, South Sacramento Coalition for Future Leaders, West Sacramento Youth Resource Coalition and Galt Area Youth Coalition, with the arrival of Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills soon after. As we greeted the first bus, we received text messages telling us the second bus had mechanical problems. Would the teams from the Cordova Community Collaborative, Vacaville Youth Roundtable REACH Coalition and the Youth Development Community Action Coalition of Yuba-Sutter ever arrive? After a few stops and the
help of some camp planning team members, the bus and all those on board finally reached their long-awaited destination of Grizzly Creek Ranch in Plumas County. The mechanical difficulties became one of many unforgettable stories that youth would share from their five-day camp experience!
Youth were enthusiastic as they engaged in highly interactive team-building activities and outdoor activities such as swimming and archery. Campers also participated in interactive workshops based on this year’s camp theme of Youth As Community Leaders. Workshops included Myspace, Facebook, Twitter OH MY!, What’s the Plan Man? and Who Makes the Rules? Campers learned the importance of creating change by changing policy and learned ways to use social networking as a tool to support their coalitions’ community change efforts.
No one will ever forget the laughter that echoed throughout the night during the talent show. The show displayed heartwarming, hilarious, creative testaments to the relationships developed within coalition teams and across coalitions. See the West Sacramento Youth Resource Coalition’s talent show performance on the REACH Web site.
With hugs and phone number, MySpace and Facebook exchanges, campers said goodbye to each other on July 31. Where only a few days earlier buses had delivered eager youth, they now awaited the boarding of inspired campers. The experience left one youth to describe REACH Camp as a place of “meeting new people and getting out of your comfort zone to cooperate and work as a team on any and all types of challenges.” Others shared these thoughts:
“I loved the ropes course and the free time to hang with new people.”
“Best part was Thursday ropes course. It was great getting on top of the Alpine Tower.”
“I grew closer with everyone from my coalition.”
“I learned that some people’s power can be shifted and used to make a difference.”
Grizzly Creek Ranch is a project of Sierra Health Foundation and is available to organizations in Sierra Health’s funding region. Learn more about the camp on the Grizzly Creek Ranch Web site.
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Galt youth and adults develop youth master plan
Working with city and school leadership, youth in Galt are developing the city’s first youth master plan, which will guide policy and program decisions in future years. The master plan will address outcomes for youth up to age 24 in five developmental areas: Learning, Working, Thriving, Connecting and Leading. The Galt Youth Master Plan is a key focus area of the Galt Area Youth Coalition in 2009 and 2010.
The public is invited to a community meeting to learn about the youth master plan on Sept. 17 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Chabolla Hall, 660 Chabolla Ave. For more information, contact the coalition at reach@galt.k12.ca.us.
The Galt Area Youth Coalition is a REACH Community Action Coalition.
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Yolo County “Let’s Get It Started” youth conference set for Sept. 26
by Izabelle Ponce, Youth Engagement Leader
Woodland Coalition for Youth / Yolo Family Resource Center
The Woodland Coalition for Youth is planning the second installment of the annual Yolo County Youth Leadership Conference, which planning team members are calling “Let’s Get It Started.” The name implies that the September gathering will be the kickoff to a series of youth conference-type workshops in the months to follow.
Unlike last year, the focus of the planning team is the seventh- and eighth-grade population. This year, we’re focusing on middle-school students because leadership conferences in Northern California traditionally target high schools. The committee thought it was important to engage the younger of our future leaders.
“Let’s Get It Started” will take place on Sept. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Woodland Community College and will be free of charge. However, space is limited to the first 100 youth who pre-register. The day’s activities include creating focus groups with the end-of-day goal to compile a list of future leadership workshops that the same participants would like to attend.
“We’re asking youth to take a seat at the table and tell us what they want to learn,” says Sara Diaz, a youth organizer on the planning team. “We’re also planning on having music, food and games to keep it fun and interesting.”
In addition to adults, the planning team has several youth like Sara involved. Adult members value the opinions of their younger counterparts so much that no decision about the conference can be made without the support of youth. The youth involved in the planning stages of the conference are given responsibilities just the same as their adult allies. They have a say in the location, food, program, raffle prizes and entertainment, and their artistic flare is valued in designing all advertising materials.
We’ve come a long way from the traditional talking at youth during an hour-long motivational speech. With the youth development approach, we inspire a dialogue with our young audience and bring out the best in a young person. We give young people a platform to have a voice and use critical thinking. I like to say that our youth are learning to be future board members.
The planning team youth and adult members include Stephanie Alvarez, Sarah Brown, Debbie Carrion, Ernesto Canales, Sara Diaz, Esther Guardado, Hugo Hernandez, Kristi Link, Anahid Lopez, Irma Lozano, Karen Ortega, Stephanie Ortiz, Lori Perez, Izabelle Ponce, Ana Quezada, Erick Rodriguez, Celeste Salazar and Rogelio Villagrana.
If you would like more information about sponsoring “Let’s Get It Started,” holding a future workshop, volunteering or registering a middle-school student, please call Youth Engagement Leader Izabelle Ponce at (530) 406-7221 x111 or e-mail iponce@yolofrc.org. Sponsorships or donations may be monetary or in-kind.
The Woodland Coalition for Youth is a REACH Community Action coalition.
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New Web site will be information hub for El Dorado teens
by Raeann Jones, Coordinator
Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills
Teens from around El Dorado County are working together to create content for the new Web site www.Teenzhub.com, sponsored by the Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills.
“This new Web site is intended to become a local information source that lets teens know about where to get help if needed, job information and what to do this weekend,” said Richard Wilson, founder of Sentium Strategic Communications, who is developing the site. “We're hoping Teenzhub.com will become the center of the El Dorado teen universe.”
Currently, teams of teens and adults are working to acquire the starter content before the site goes live. An amazing amount of time and research is required to get as complete a set of information as possible. Some of the key topic areas to be included are: Things to Do, Places to Go, Getting Help, Finding Jobs and Teen News.
One of the largest groups of teen news reporters in local history is being assembled and trained to provide news content for Teenzhub.com. The goal is to have reporters from each high school and middle school in the region providing content. The plan is to have the site up and active this fall.
For more information about Teenzhub.com, contact the Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills at (916) 941-8482.
The Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills is a REACH Community Action coalition.
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Opportunities
The Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills will present The Parent Project training program for parents of teenagers beginning Sept. 10. The 10-week series is taught in a supportive environment that provides parents with effective techniques designed to help their teens become responsible, successful adults. Sessions are Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is a $150 fee for the series. This program is sponsored by the coalition’s Parent Advisory Council. Call (916) 941-8482 for more information and to register.
The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers will host the YO! Disabled & Proud Youth Advocacy Summit Sept. 11-13 for Northern California youth with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 28. The summit will provide youth with the skills and resources needed to get Disability History recognized by policy-makers and schools.
ABCD Training and NeighborWorks America will present Western Regional ABCD into Action Training Oct. 7-8 in Los Angeles and Dec. 7-8 in Oakland. These learning events will focus on asset-based community development principles and applying them to mobilize people, organizations and communities. Get details and registration information on the ABCD Web site.
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Resources
The Annie E. Casey Foundation has released the 20th annual KIDS COUNT Data Book, profiling the well-being of America’s children on a state-by-state basis and ranking states on 10 measures of well-being. The foundation also calls for a “data revolution” that uses timely and reliable information to track the progress and improve the lives of vulnerable children. Download the publication on the Annie E. Casey Foundation Web site.
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CalendarSept. 17
6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Galt Youth Master Plan community meeting will be held at Chabolla Hall, 660 Chabolla Ave. For information, contact the coalition at reach@galt.k12.ca.us. See article above.
Sept. 22
4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
e:merge Coalition Convening will be at the Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St. in Sacramento. Learn about the coalition’s Regional Compact for Children and Youth. e:merge is a project supported by the Youth Development Network. Learn more on the YDN Web site.
Sept. 26
8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Let’s Get It Started” Yolo County Youth Leadership Conference will take place at Woodland Community College. For information on volunteering or registering a middle-school student, call Izabelle Ponce at the Woodland Coalition for Youth at (530) 406-7221 x111 or e-mail iponce@yolofrc.org. See article above.
Oct. 3
Save this date for 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 event information.
E-mail story ideas, funding opportunities, resources and calendar items to us at REACH.
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