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| A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT |
| Dear Friends:
We hope 2019 is off to a wonderful start and want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who support City Youth Now. Without you there is simply no way we can deliver all the help we do to young San Franciscans in need. The end of 2018 was a busy time for CYN with our annual holiday gift giveaway and party for our youth on probation and their families. All our regular programming is back in full swing: planning college visits for our students in the Juvenile Justice Center (Inside-Out);engaging youth in extracurricular activities(PEP); and recruiting for our internship program (YPEE). We know keeping kids busy, engaged and imbuing them with a sense of purpose are key ingredients to building a successful life.
We have so much to be thankful for this year including a generous three-year grant totaling $225,000 from the City of San Francisco which will allow us to continue and expand our very successful Youth Internship Program. We are also collaborating with Mayor London Breed's Opportunities For All (OFA) initiative which connects high school students to paid internships, employment, training, and educational opportunities. City Youth Now staff is looking forward to hosting OFA interns this summer!
City Youth Now is excited to announce our annual our 2019 Rise Awards will take place on May 31st. This year’s theme is “Shine a Light” as we turn the spotlight on our hard-working scholars, selfless volunteers, and committed donors who have supported CYN youth on their path to success.
We are delighted to announce Charles Higgins has taken on the role of CYN Board Vice-President. Charles has successfully led several non-profits and has years of service on multiple boards, including Booker T. Washington. At the same time, we say a fond farewell to Bill Johnston who is a retired probation officer and was key in supporting staff with program development. He will continue to assist CYN and we are deeply appreciative for it.
The CYN Board is looking for people who are interested in a rewarding few hours per month serving youth in challenging situations from San Francisco's most under-resourced neighborhoods. It’s okay if you have never served on a board before. It’s a great way to share your skill sets and talents and develop some in return. If you or anyone you know might be interested in sitting on the CYN Board, please contact me directly.
We look forward to celebrating City Youth Now and all of you on May 31st.
Best regards,Didier Perez President, Board of Directors City Youth Now didier@cityyouthnow.org |
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This year, City Youth Now provided gifts to over 380 children and teens in the foster care and juvenile justice systems and other at-risk situations.Thank you to our hardworking "elves" (volunteers) who dutifully organized our toy closet, picked out age-appropriate gifts, and wrapped them up with such care. |
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Also, thank you to our partners who helped us distribute some holiday joy this season including:
Family Treatment Court Human Services Agency Juvenile Probation Department Seneca Family of Agencies Unity Care Juvenile Justice Center Child Protection Center |
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JPD STEPS and City Youth Now's 4th Annual Holiday Party |
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City Youth Now and the Juvenile Probation Department STEPS Program also collaborated to host our 4th Annual Holiday Party for youth on probation and their families.
Our teens received gift cards to places such as Barnes & Noble and Old Navy, which will give them an extra boost in acquiring the resources they need. Their younger siblings received toys and a lucky few walked away with some special raffle prizes, including a telescope and life size teddy bear. Six parents also won gift baskets, such as the Relaxation Kit and a Movie Night basket.
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A huge thank you to John Knox for his vision and initiative in making this all happen!
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Personal Empowerment Program |
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Thank you to The Olympic Club Foundation for renewing our $3,000 grant to support youth engagement in sports activities.
In 2018, this grant allowed 19 foster and justice-involved youth to participate in athletics including swimming, boxing, cross-country, and dance. Our youth were also provided with necessary equipment such as uniforms and safety gear.
Participation in sports helps at-risk youth develop key soft skills that are essential for their successful transition into adulthood, including interpersonal skills, time-management, and self-confidence. Athletics also serve as a stress management technique that helps youth maintain a healthy lifestyle. |
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Youth Partnering for Education and Employment |
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CYN and JPD staff are collaborating to organize Spring Break College Tours to six local colleges: Cal State East Bay, Laney College, USF, SFSU, Skyline, and CCSF.
Thanks to our grant from the City and County of San Francisco, we are looking forward to engaging even more youth with paid internship opportunities and professional development workshops.
If you would like to refer a youth on probation to our internship program or our college tours, please email our Program Coordinator, Shanel Singh: shanel@cityyouthnow.org. |
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This semester, three youth at the Juvenile Justice Center are enrolled in CCSF online courses! CYN volunteer tutors are there to help the students problem-solve and stay on track with their coursework. They support online college students, the Woodside Learning Center high school classes, and youth completing independent studies for high school credit. |
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| | | Meet a FAMILY of City Youth Now Volunteers |
| | Pat, David, and their son, Andrew have been providing volunteer services to City Youth Now since 2017. |
| What has your role been as a volunteer at City Youth Now?
A: I work as a tutor in the Juvenile Detention Center. I work in the English class and Gardening & Cooking class. P: My role as a volunteer is to be an extra set of hands for the CYN staff. And they have a lot on their plates so I have been busy in so many different ways. This has included grant research, data input, closet and supply organization, and anything else I am asked to do. D: I have helped CYN wherever I can. But I think my biggest contribution was to volunteer as the photographer at last year's gala. |
| What was your most memorable moment at City Youth Now?
A: My most memorable moment was definitely a time when there was a disruption in one of the classes. I was very impressed with how the staff handled that situation. They were very professional and worked hard to ensure that the students stayed calm. P: My most memorable moment has to be being able to watch the scholarship awards at the annual gala. Seeing those young people being recognized and awarded support to continue their educations was very inspiring. D: I definitely enjoyed the gala and I know my most memorable moment was that evening. I learned so much about CYN. |
| CYN's internship program provides youth with their first work experience. What was your first job, and how did it impact you?
A: My first job was as an IT technical administrator. It helped me really learn what I wanted to do -which was not IT!
P: My first job was working for a family owned manufacturing company. I learned an enormous amount in a short period of time. I was very grateful for the opportunity and it helped me learn how important it is to have positive and constructive relationships with all your co-workers.
D: My first job was working as a staff photographer at Sunset Magazine. I was sent all over the west to photograph gardens, houses, food, and travel. I think that seeing so much about lifestyles in the western U.S. opened my eyes to how diverse and fascinating this part of the country is. |
| Why should someone volunteer at City Youth Now?
A: I think these young men and women benefit from seeing and interacting with people from different backgrounds. I'm really glad I've been able to volunteer as a tutor and I think anyone who can should volunteer. They would really help the kids.
P: CYN is a wonderful organization with a unique and important mission. Helping them help this city's youth is something everyone should try to do. D: People who want to give back to the community should really look at CYN as a place that can use their help. |
| | | | Toni Powell San Francisco Juvenile Probation: Supervising Court Officer |
| Toni Powell is a native San Franciscan who was raised in the Western Addition and graduated from San Francisco State University.
Toni has worked for the City & County of SF for over 30 years.
She has been an employee of the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department since 1987, first as a Juvenile Hall Counselor and in 1989 as a bilingual Probation Officer.
After serving as the first African American female Director of Log Cabin Ranch and then becoming the first African American female Director of the Juvenile Justice Center (Juvenile Hall), Toni returned to her position as Supervisory Probation Officer. She is currently supervising the Court Officer/Special Services Unit. |
| | Thank you to Toni, Pastor E. Lane Hawkins, and the Neighborhood Baptist Church community for donating to City Youth Now as part of our Holiday Wish Tree fundraiser for a second year in a row. They raised over $1,700, even more than they raised last year! Thanks to these contributions, our youth will continue to receive the support for their diverse and unique needs, whether it be emergency groceries, summer camps, or gym memberships.
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Neighborhood Baptist Church
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| | How does City Youth Now change the lives of the people it serves? TP: Going back 31 years...They supported every type of program that we ever had whether it was having speakers come in or any type of sports competition with an outside partner...When you see someone who comes in who has written a book and they look like you and grew up in a similar circumstance it will help to motivate you. |
| What is your favorite City Youth Now success story?
TP: The scholarships the young people receive are really helpful and motivating. One of our youths aged out of the system got into college and had to move. He didn’t have anything because he didn’t have any family support. City Youth Now really helped him get a computer and some basic furniture. |
| When you hear the words “City Youth Now” what thoughts come to your mind?
TP: When I started out as a counselor I saw them doing their best to support the probation youth. They have such as positive impact on these youth.I think of them as caretakers of the youth who are in the system. |
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| | | Development Advisory Board |
| | Ben Beisswenger Technical Architect: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative |
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Earning a degree in Engineering from Dartmouth College, I try to apply a scientific approach while keeping a sense of humor and a sense of joy at moving projects and partnerships forward. I moved to San Francisco from New Hampshire because I believe that technology has the potential to bring us closer together as a global family. Currently, I work as a Technical Architect at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
I believe strongly in CYN's ability to reverse the cycle of poverty and help the youth we serve to find a positive future. I love to ski, discuss philosophy, hike, and work on puzzles of all sorts.
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| The Development Advisory Board is recruiting!
Email info@cityyouthnow.org for more information on how to join! |
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Thank you to all those that attended our General Assembly Meeting on Wednesday, January 30. We enjoyed discussing City Youth Now's plans and hearing your feedback and ideas.
We deeply appreciate your support for CYN's past and future endeavors!
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| | City Youth Now is partnering with local judges to provide stuffed animals to youth on their adoption day, and to siblings and other dependents who attend court. Lick-Wilmerding High School is stepping up to the plate again (as they did last year to donate school supplies!) to host a collection and fundraisers.
If you would like to donate a NEW stuffed animal, please email yvette@cityyouthnow.org, or mail them to 375 Woodside Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127. |
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| | Click Here To Donate a Teddy Bear! >> |
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| 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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www.cityyouthnow.org
415-753-7576
375 Woodside Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127 |
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