Youth Commission appoints Sactown Heroes
by Elias Flores, youth leader
Sactown Heroes and Youth Commission for West Sacramento
One day in the middle of a Sactown Heroes meeting I was introduced to something called a youth commission. During the meeting I became very interested, so I filled out an application. A week later I got a call from commission leaders and they said they had an opening, but first I needed to have an interview. I showed up for the interview and I was really nervous. Once the interview was over they informed me they would contact me to let me know if I got the spot or not. I was so anxious to find out. I didn’t know what to think at the time. Shortly afterward I received a call from an unknown number. When I answered I heard, “Thank you for your time and congratulations, you have been appointed to the Youth Commission.” I was so excited! All of my efforts were because I like helping people. Now I have a position where I can help youth have a voice in the city. Thanks to
Sactown Heroes, I can expand on my potential and be a leader for my community.
Congratulations to Elias and two of his fellow Sactown Heroes, Kenny Nix and Bradly Palmer, for their appointments as commissioners on the Youth Commission for West Sacramento. Sactown Heroes members now hold three of seven positions on the commission. The Sactown Heroes youth leadership team is part of the West Sacramento Youth Resource Coalition, a Community Action coalition of Sierra Health Foundation’s REACH youth program.
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Operation Medicine Cabinet aims to reduce access to drugs
by Cory Knapp, Teen News Team member
Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills
On Oct. 14, more than 50 people came to a Vision Coalition event called Operation Medicine Cabinet. Many local organizations came to support this event and host resource tables, including El Dorado County Community Health Center, The Center for Violence-Free Relationships, New Morning, Recovery Happens, Diogenes, Family Connections, El Dorado Sheriff’s Office and El Dorado Hills Fire Department.
The purpose of the event was to bring awareness to the increasing problem of the abuse of household medicines. According to DJ Peterson, director of the Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills, there have been two deaths of young people in El Dorado Hills due to prescription drug misuse in the last three months.
The main speaker, Jon Daily, director at Recovery Happens Counseling Services, gave a presentation about the dangers of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicine abuse. He said, “Kids do not realize the dangers of prescription drugs; they just see them as another way to get high.”
Anne Baird, representative of Assemblywoman Alyson Huber’s office, commented that she wants to support this effort to reduce access to drugs and keep them out of the hands of teens.
Captain Mark Getchel of the El Dorado Sheriff’s Office demonstrated the Federal Drug Administration procedure for proper drug disposal. More than 200 bottles of medications were collected and destroyed.
For more information on upcoming Vision Coalition events, call (916) 941-8482 or visit the Vision Coalition Web site and become a member.
The Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills is a Community Action coalition of Sierra Health Foundation’s REACH youth program.
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GABY focuses on giving, service and grantmaking for living well
by Yumi Sera, Program Officer
Sacramento Region Community Foundation
The Grants Advisory Board for Youth (GABY) supports young people to engage in their community by sparking their interest in giving and taking action on issues that are important to them. The Sacramento Region Community Foundation has launched its updated “e-learning course” for youth and request for grant proposals for “living well.”
GABY stimulates youth-led community action by providing a web-based platform to explore interests and teach skills to organize projects. Under an organizational sponsor, teams of youth can compete for grants up to $500 to support “living well” activities for their schools, communities and neighborhoods.
GABY asks that you let us know what it takes for you and your community to live a quality life. Examples of projects may include working in a community or school garden, cleaning up the neighborhood vacant lots, or organizing a multicultural festival to promote understanding.
The e-learning course includes:
Gift of Giving: Explore ways to give to the community and discover the causes you care most about.
Learning to Serve: Inspire and build a team, commit to community service and create change through a step-by-step interactive project planning process.
Grantmaking for Living Well: Learn to articulate your vision and how to apply for grant funds.
GABY provides grants up to $500 for youth-led projects in Sacramento and Yolo counties that focus on living well. The deadline for grant applications is Dec. 16. All eligible applicants are required to present their projects in person at a workshop on Jan. 30 at Sacramento State University.
Registration is simple. Visit the GABY 2.0 Web site. You will create your own unique user account that will give you access to many of the interactive components designed just for you.
Send us an e-mail or give us a call at 916.921.7723 if you want us to make a presentation to your group! Download the GABY 2009 flier.
GABY is supported by Sacramento Region Community Foundation and Sierra Health Foundation.
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Correction notice
In the September issue of REACH e-news, the article titled Youth documentaries make an impact contained incorrect information. The Woodland Coalition for Youth used its documentary, Open Your Eyes: Teen Pregnancy, to support change wherein Life Education is now being taught at both middle schools in Woodland.
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Opportunities
The City of Sacramento Office of Youth Development in partnership with Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento is seeking to identify a local community-based organization to implement a hospital-based intervention program called the Sacramento Violence Intervention Program,
starting January 2010. An applicants’ conference will be held Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. in Historic City Hall Hearing Room 204 at 915 I St. in Sacramento. Statements of qualifications are due Nov. 13 by 2 p.m. Get more information on the City of Sacramento Web site or call (916) 808-5200.
Join the Youth Development Network, Valley Vision and UC Davis on Nov. 6 for The Power of Networks: Mobilizing our Community of Assets to Support Youth Success.
Meet and connect with network and collaborative leaders representing a broad cross-section of fields who are all working to improve the lives of young people. This meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon at KVIE, 2030 West El Camino Ave. in Sacramento. Get information and registration details on the YDN Web site.
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CalendarDec. 16
GABY grant applications due
Apply for grants up to $500 for youth-led projects in Sacramento and Yolo counties that focus on living well. See the article above for details.
E-mail story ideas, funding opportunities, resources and calendar items to us at REACH.
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