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| A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT |
| | Dear Friends,
A lot has changed in the 70 years since City Youth Now was founded. In 1950, San Francisco was a different city. Things moved at a slower pace, housing was affordable and there were different kinds of jobs and opportunities.
One thing that has remained the same all these years, is our commitment to support young people on their journeys, especially when they face challenges and obstacles. We are dedicated to transforming the lives with whatever resources we have.
As we advance into this exciting new year, we are encouraged by new partnerships with local companies, enthusiastic energy from our volunteers and capable leadership from our staff.
With support from the City and County of San Francisco, foundations, and the generous support of individuals and companies, City Youth Now is able to continue the important work that was started by good hearted people so many years ago.
Kind Regards,Charles Higgins President, Board of Directors City Youth Now charleshiggins@cityyouthnow.org
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| | 10 x 10 Fundraising Event |
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City Youth Now had the honor to attend an amazing fundraising event hosted by 10x10 Philanthropy. During this event, CYN along with 2 other community based organizations: Simply the Basics and Coalition on Homelessness, came together to deliver empowering messages on the work that they do. From the event, CYN was able to raise $5,550! A huge shout out to our Program and Administrative Manager, Ronesha, for delivering such a moving speech on behalf of City Youth Now and the work we do for at risk youth. |
| | This year was the 5th annual JPD Holiday Party sponsored by City Youth Now. For the past 5 years, John Knox has been putting together this event for probation youth, their families, and youth from group homes and foster care. City Youth Now worked to ensure that every youth and their siblings had a gift to open, and our Board Vice President, Toni Powell and her church, created food bags for each family. Again thank you to John Knox, JPD staff, the Juvenile Advisory Counsel, and CYN staff and volunteers for making this possible. |
| | The year ended with our giving trees fundraiser in which each tree had a stocking with a youth's story, and people were able to donate for a specific item for them. We had a great turn out, but we would like to give a special shout out to our Vice Board President, Toni Powell and her church, the Neighborhood Baptist Church. They were able to raise $2,300! Thank you to everyone else who donated as well. Because of you, many youth were able to have a great holiday season. |
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| | During the Holidays, CYN provided and wrapped over 400 gifts for youth on probation, inside the JJC, and in foster care. This season, we put together a Holiday Gift Wrapping Volunteer Session for those who were looking to give back during the holiday season, and assist us in wrapping all of the gifts. We had a great turn out of board members, JPD staff, community volunteers, and a volunteer group from Salesforce. Thank you to Sterne Grove High school for collecting and donating wrapping paper, and thank you to those who came out! |
| | 102.9 KBLX Cares Interview |
| City Youth Now was invited to 102.9 KBLX studios, for their segment KBLX Cares. During this segment, they shine light on people and organizations that serve, celebrate, and enlighten communities. Our Vice President of the Board, Toni Powell, and Program Coordinator, Jocelynn Esteban, were able to go on air and represent CYN. They discussed our programs, future plans for the organization, and different ways people can give back. Thank you again to Sterling James and KBLX for shining a light on City Youth Now!
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Personal Empowerment Program |
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| 2019 ended with an amazing holiday season that provided City Youth Now the opportunity to support 714 youth and families during November and December. Through holiday gifts, small grants, and critical need items like hats, gloves, coats, and scarves we were able to contribute to a positive holiday season to families that need it the most.
Thank you to our donors and these awesome organizations that made it possible: Ticket to Dream Toys for Tots The Nines Salesforce JPD HSA Project Glimmer |
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Youth Partnering for Education and Employment |
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| | In December, CYN was invited to take a group of youth to the Sephora Corporate Office in San Francisco for a day of empowerment. Our youth were able to participate in makeovers, headshots, workshops, and conversations with industry-leading women. This was a great opportunity for them to network and see empowering women in action, and be able to feel empowered. A huge thank you to Project Glimmer and Sephora for hosting this event and inviting City Youth now to be a part of it! |
| | Youth Vision Board Workshop |
| To start off 2020 our youth participated in a Vision Board Workshop. A group of them came together to create their 2020 vision boards. They also had a chance to set SMART goals for the year and a list of things they hope to accomplish and learn this year. For most of them, this was their first time actually sitting down, setting goals, and creating a vision board of their own. They all had a great time and were able to listen to our guest speaker, Damien Posey. Our youth also got to go home with some awesome raffle prizes. We hope they all accomplish their 2020 goals! |
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| | Through our Inside Out Program, CYN is able to take recreational activities to youth inside Juvenile Hall. During this winter season, the youth were visited by the Zoomobile. They were able to interact with different animals from turtles to chinchillas, which was a new experience for most of them. The representative from the Zomobile talked to the youth about how community impact affects these animals. We know they were able to take away some new knowledge and experience from them! |
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| | | Meet Our Volunteers from New York: Crystal and Blake |
| What brought you to City Youth Now?
Crystal: "I was very interested in education and how it is upheld in different situations, and I wanted to tutor through City Youth Now. I was also interested in the services that CYN provides because I want to work in the development field.
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| What brought you to City Youth Now?
Blake: "The college I attend offers a study-away internship program in San Francisco. City Youth Now was open to hiring me and I'm extremely glad. I did not know what this would be at first, but it is and continues to be an incredible experience."
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| What have you been working on so far, and what do you hope to eventually learn?
Crystal: "In addition to tutoring in the hall, I have been working on program development. I started developing a mentorship program and I ran a table about goal setting at a career exploration workshop we put on. I have also been reorganizing our closets and finding content for our various social media sites."
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| What have you been working on so far, and what do you hope to eventually learn?
Blake: "I have worked on establishing consistency and efficiency with our data management, worked with portions of grant applications, and I run the twitter account (GO FOLLOW US). I hope to keep working on the data management and grant writing. There is a ton to learn and I absorb more every day I am here."
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| | You're visiting from New York, how different is it from San Francisco?
Crystal: "New York is definitely more fast-paced and intense. There are fewer parks and people are very much in their own heads. I love the energy and grit of New York, but San Francisco has a lot of personality. It's great to see so many small businesses and artwork in every neighborhood." |
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| You're visiting from New York, how different is it from San Francisco?
Blake: "New York is a different animal, especially in the winter. San Francisco's weather has been beautiful and provides a wonderful environment to work in. I don't have much experience with the juvenile justice system in NY, but I'm sure there aren't many people who are as kind and helpful as Ronesha and Jocelynn". |
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| If you could describe in 3 words the work that City Youth Now has done over the past 70 years, what would they be?
Crystal: "Diverse, meaningful, and successful."
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| If you could describe in 3 words the work that City Youth Now has done over the past 70 years, what would they be?
Blake: "Invaluable and ever-adapting" |
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| | | | | | Supporter Appreciation Event |
| | | | | | Before you go, don’t forget to follow us on social media for local news and updates on foster care and juvenile justice.
Visit us online http://www.cityyouthnow.org/ | Follow us at: |
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