PFF Blog News- All About Youth Voice!

Driving Social Change

2012-02-08T11:36:00.000-05:00

Adam Fletcher: Youth Engagement and Personal Engagement

2012-02-08T11:24:00.001-05:00

Human engagement specialist Adam Fletcher introduces the connection between the practices of youth work, youth voice, youth engagement, and his new area of examination, personal engagement. Adam is a speaker, writer, and consultant with organizations around the world. Learn more athttp://adamfletcher.net or http://commonaction.org

Youth Kicking Butt in 2012- by Adam Fletcher Sasse

2012-02-07T11:32:00.000-05:00

Youth Kicking Butt in 2012

Across the United States there are a number of innovative youth leadership programs that excite me. I get to interact with them sometimes, and other times I merely study them, read about them, or just hear about them from my friends and colleagues in the field.

For just over a decade, I've been working to support an decentralized movement of young people and adults working around the world. This movement has many different guises, including youth-led activism, youth voice, youth mainstreaming, youth engagement, intergenerational partnerships, and youth empowerment. All of them include youth leadership, in all its myriad forms. Another thing they do is center on transforming the roles of young people throughout society, and that has been my main interest, action that actively evolves society.

(Read more here- Look for Perrin Family Foundation shout out)

http://commonaction.blogspot.com/2012/02/youth-kicking-butt-in-2012-for-brad.html

Seeking youth participants for Peace Monument project in Dixwell

2012-01-11T09:26:00.000-05:00

For International Day of Peace in September 2012 the City of New Haven Peace Commission will be installing a Peace Monument in the Dixwell neighborhood. Over the last few years we have installed peace monuments in about half a dozen neighborhoods around the city. Here is the peace monument we did in
Newhallville two years ago: http://newhallvillepeacemonument.org/default.aspx

Each Peace Monument represents a collaboration between the Peace Commission and neighborhood organizations. Over several months leading up to International Day of Peace we work with the community on siting the monument, creating an appropriate text to be displayed on the monument, and coming up with a program to dedicate the monument.

We would like to collaborate with any groups that do work in Dixwell. In particular we hope to collaborate with youth and youth organizations.

Would you or your organization be interested in working on this project to promote peace in our neighborhoods and peace across the globe? Please let me know as soon as possible.

Thanks!

Aaron Goode

City of New Haven Peace Commission

203 589 9445

aaron.goode@gmail.com

Police Chief Joseph Gaudette and Sheila Perrin named CT 2012 Champions of Children

2012-01-06T09:19:00.000-05:00

Police Chief Joseph Gaudette and Sheila Perrin named CT 2012 Champions of Children

January 4, 2012 (HARTFORD, CT) The Center for Children's Advocacy, a Connecticut nonprofit that protects the legal rights of abused and neglected children throughout the state, announced the winners of their 2012 Fairfield County Champion of Children awards today. Award winners are Sheila Perrin, President and Co-Founder of the Perrin Family Foundation in Ridgefield, CT; and Joseph L. Gaudett, Jr., Chief of Police of the City of Bridgeport, CT.

The Center’s Champion of Children awards recognize ongoing outstanding effort in support of children and youth who suffer without the basics of a stable and health life: they lack stable homes, access to healthcare, necessary educational support, families of their own.

The Perrin Family Foundation has supported the Center for Children’s Advocacy’s work with youth in poor communities since 2007. With Perrin’s support, the Center is able to change the lives of youth who critically need help, giving them the confidence to engage in problem solving and decision making, and effectively manage their lives.

“My own children have the benefit of the resources necessary to grow into healthy, self-fulfilled adults. I have always kept the vision in my mind of children and youth not so fortunate, and continue to be saddened by the great inequities among a certain population of our youth, “says Sheila Perrin. “As co-founder of the Perrin Family Foundation, I want to see all young people mentally and physically healthy, and well prepared to live a self-satisfying and productive life.”

Chief Joseph Gaudett has been with the Bridgeport Police Department since 1983, and was appointed Chief of Police in 2010. Dedicated to helping Bridgeport youth overcome the disadvantages of their environment, he enthusiastically supports programs that provide opportunities to enable city youth to look forward to a secure and productive future.

Chief Gaudett is working with the Center for Children’s Advocacy to reduce race discrimination issues prevalent between police and youth in Connecticut’s poorest cities. “Our goal must be to help Bridgeport youth overcome the disadvantages that surround them, with a focus on education and graduation and an eye to a self-sufficient future,” said Gaudett. His leadership is a critical component of the success of efforts to help teens stay in school and avoid involvement with the juvenile justice system.

The Center’s Champion of Children Awards will be presented at the "Sunshine in February" event to be held February 29, 2012 at Trump Parc, One Broad Street, Stamford, from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The event is open to the public and tickets are available at www.kidscounsel.org or by calling 860-570-5327 .

"The support we provide to children and youth is critical," said Martha Stone, Executive Director of the Center for Children’s Advocacy, "We serve the poorest of the poor, and their problems are often overwhelming. With our community partners, we're able to reach children who have suffered from abuse, from neglect, from lack of support and without a safe place to live. We give children hope, and they deserve the right to live safe and healthy lives."

Catering for the event is generously provided by Stamford's Fairway Market, and Trump Parc is made available by Thomas L. Rich and Louis R. Cappelli.

The Center for Children's Advocacy was established in 1997 to protect the legal rights of Connecticut's most vulnerable children - those falling through the cracks of the state's child welfare, education, juvenile justice, health and mental health systems.

To purchase tickets, go to www.kidscounsel.org or email bberk@kidscounsel.org. For more information, please call 860-570-5327 .

reprinted from the Council of Philanthropy

WNPR discusses the power of youth voice!

2011-12-08T11:41:00.000-05:00

WNPR's critically acclaimed Where We Live recently dedicated a morning show to the power of using youth media as a youth empowerment and community change strategy. Youth Rights Media, a PFF grantee, spoke about their work and their newest documentary film project on NPR's acclaimed Where We Live. You can listen in here.

The Ben & Jerry's Foundation offers competitive grants

2011-12-07T10:26:00.000-05:00

The Ben & Jerry's Foundation offers competitive grants to not-for-profit, grassroots community organizations throughout the United States and in Vermont, working to bring about progressive social change by addressing the underlying conditions of societal and environmental problems. The Employee Advisory Committee meets nine times a year to review proposals. There is no deadline for applying.
We make one-year grants for up to $15,000. Generally we fund organizations with budgets under $500,000. Only organizations with 501(c)3 status, or who have a fiscal agent with this status are eligible to apply.

http://www.benandjerrysfoundation.org/the-national-grassroots-grant-program.html

CT After School Network has a SHOUT-OUT to young people. We need your help to inform policy makers who fund programs for you. Please tell us what you think!

2011-12-06T10:04:00.002-05:00

We need your help this month!

In 2012, state officials will be preparing a State Plan for Afterschool and Summer Programs, and we need to hear from you and the families you serve. The Connecticut After School Network is collecting information from youth, parents and providers to share with these officials and incorporate into the state plan.
Four ways you can help:
1) Have young people complete the survey (on-line or on paper and mail it in):
·         On-line Youth Survey (this on-line survey branches to different questions for those age 14 and older, and other questions for those 13 and younger) on-line here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RRCLSS5
·     Paper copy of Youth Survey for ages 13 and younger
·         Paper copy of Youth Survey for ages 14 and older
2) Share the survey with families
·         On-line Parent Survey on-line here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R6H3BFT
·         Paper copy of Parent Survey (English)

·       Paper copy of Parent Survey (Spanish)
·           Parent flyer to send home with youth
3) Tell us your opinions too! and share with your co-workers:
·         On-line Provider Survey on-line here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RSZFGNW
·         Paper copy of Provider Survey
4) Forward this email to others in Connecticut!
Thank you very much for your participation. If you have any questions about the surveys or about the ways they will be used, please contact Michelle Doucette Cunningham, Executive Director at the Connecticut After School Network at 860-730-2941 or mdc@ctafterschoolnetwork.org.

Please leave a comment here to encourage others to get involved!

Laura McCargar joins Perrin Family Foundation as Program Officer

2011-12-02T12:26:00.000-05:00

The Perrin Family Foundation is happy to announce that Laura McCargar will be joining its team! As the Perrin Foundation’s new Program Officer, Laura will be responsible for managing our social change grantmaking activities and developing strategies to support, strengthen, promote and expand youth organizing practices throughout Connecticut. Laura comes to the Foundation with extensive knowledge of Connecticut’s youth landscape, demonstrated experience as a community organizer and youth development practitioner, and a deep commitment to empowering young people as agents of change. “I am delighted to join the Perrin team,” explains Laura, “because I firmly believe that young people develop most profoundly – and our communities become the strongest – when young people are engaged as leaders, decision-makers and change agents in the issues that most impact them. Youth-driven social change has the potential to fundamentally reconstitute young people’s realities and the landscape of opportunities available to them.”

Prior to joining the Perrin Foundation, Laura was awarded a Soros Justice Fellowship from Open Society Foundations, where she engaged in research and organizing work around Connecticut’s school to prison pipeline. She also previously served as the founding Executive Director of Youth Rights Media, a New Haven-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth to use media and organizing strategies to create both individual and community change. In 2007, Laura was awarded the international Reebok Human Rights Award in recognition of her outstanding work with and on behalf of marginalized youth. She graduated from Yale University Magna Cum Laude in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies.

Join us as we welcome Laura!

Reflections by Jenine on Youth Activism

2011-11-08T10:24:00.001-05:00

“What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!" There I was, in downtown Philadelphia, marching and chanting alongside my peers, mentors, and myriad organizations that shared a common interest: to expose the atrocious state of food in America. Youth from coast to coast united, under the commonality of change, to discuss the current food issues and struggles within our own communities. I feel empowered to make a change in my community.

The actual summit was extraordinary. We visited local farmers markets and high schools that were making great strides for a greener, healthier tomorrow. That's one of the most important things I've learned, initiative has to start today; As the adage goes, it is better to be proactive than reactive. I have broadened my mind beyond its bounds, and I am greatly appreciative of the experience.

Initially, no one honestly believes that with sheer willpower they can make a change. But, we have to step back and think to ourselves, what if Nelson Mandela had said "We will never be free from bondage, so don't bother"? What if Susan B. Anthony succumbed to the prejudice, ignorance, and malice of her male counterparts, and had not propelled the women's suffrage movement?

In order for us to make a significant change, no matter what it is, we have to first believe that we can. Even though we are often cast away as "children", we do have a voice and if we speak out, our voices will be heard. The cigarette companies tried to pool the wool over the American public's eyes, and hard working adults and young adults a like, fought and won. I honestly believe we too can put an end to the autocracy that is our current food system.

With the bond that I have a created with Hartford Food System, I hope that we too can add to the Food Movement. After returning from the conference, we immediately brainstormed ideas of projects we could initiate here in Hartford. We all loved the idea of creating a mural in the city. Philadelphia had the most beautiful murals that brought a lustrous vibrancy to the city. We thought that by creating a mural centered around food, that we would (1) artistically introduce a healthier lifestyle to the community, and (2) open a channel for discussion with the people of the community. Written by Jenine- age 17

This is an EXCELLENT example of youth initiated social change right here in New Haven

2011-11-04T12:18:00.000-04:00

New Haven is proving to be a real hot bed of activity as it relates to youth voice and youth initiated social change. We are so excited to see that youth are talking, they are meeting, they are engaged and now in New Haven they are invited to forums, they are planning peace marches and petitioning the city leaders to make meaningful changes! On their minds; improving sanitation at the schools. Yes, toilet paper and soap in dispensers are necessities. Students are pouring over budgets and recommending that the number of administrators be reduced from the one administrator to three teacher to ratio so that dollars can be spent on text books. Currently the books being shared are older then the 16 and 17 year old student. Yes, I said SHARED! Here is where it is going. The youth are taking to the streets and talking to the community leaders about the violence and about the lack of jobs. Read more here..."More Jobs, Less Violence!" New Haven Independent

Blogging For Change

2011-11-03T11:23:00.000-04:00

Read this article for inspiration!
Column by Chelsea Murray

This summer instead of basking in the sun or traveling, I have had the pleasure of spearheading a blogging program with a group of amazing young women at Waterbury Youth Services.

The program evolved out of an argument with my father, who owns the Waterbury Observer, and who drives me crazy sometimes. Frustrated that day, I picked up the phone and called Kelly Cronin, the executive director of Waterbury Youth Services, and asked if I could invent a program for the summer. I felt the need to do something different with my life and wanted the opportunity to help others. I wasn’t sure what her response would be. I was young, practically just-out-of-college, and she could have told me to get lost. Instead, Kelly invited me down to her office and asked me to propose a program.
Blogging For Change

LEAP Panel: Youth Violence is a Community Issue by Martha Colaresi

2011-10-27T12:23:00.000-04:00

10/26/2011 by jcolonese
Crime is on the decline in New Haven. Mayor DeStefano and the New Haven Police Department recently reported that audited statistics for the first six months of 2011 showed that overall crime was down about 9% from the same time period last year.
The other good news is that New Haven has made the America’s Promise Alliance list of 100 Best Communities for Young People – recognizing communities that make “extraordinary efforts to reduce dropout rates and provide outstanding services and supports to their youth. New Haven was honored for “the community’s ability to come together to help address the challenges its young people face; and specifically praised for engaging youth in “career development, community building and organizing.” (New Haven Register, 10/13/11)

The bad news is that homicide is on the rise. At this writing, 28 people in the city have been murder victims in 2011 -- the last one, a 13-year-old boy.“The motives vary, when they are known,” reported the New Haven Register, 10/1/11. “Jealousy. Drugs. Revenge. Robbery. Often gangs.”

LEAP was founded in 1992 to counteract all of the above factors that lead to violence, particularly youth violence. For the past 20 years, LEAP has been supplying children and youth with the tools they need in order to manage negative emotions, feel good about themselves, deal peaceably with conflict, and make healthy lifestyle choices. We are teaching them non-violence by providing them with caring mentors and positive role models.

Research has shown that programs like ours, that create opportunities for children to learn in a safe and accepting environment, help young adults make positive changes in their lives. Unsupervised youth are at the greatest risk of perpetuating or being victims of violence during out-of-school-time hours, especially young people in low-income communities such as those we serve. In contrast, children and youth who attend after-school programs have higher grades and school attendance, and lower levels of teen pregnancy and drug use (U.S. Dept. of Education; National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center).

After-school programs are only one piece of the solution. It takes a community to eradicate violence before it starts. How to do so? LEAP does not have the answers – but we have the questions. We are kicking off our 20th anniversary year with a public forum in which to hear the shared concerns of prominent New Haven and Connecticut citizens.

On November 3, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Yale Law School Auditorium, LEAP will be presenting the first of a series of two panel discussions addressing the topic of youth violence in New Haven. Since we provide alternatives to violent behavior through Leadership, Education, Athletics and Partnership, the first panel will feature leaders and educators; the second, scheduled to take place in April, will showcase athletes and community partners.

The leadership panel will be moderated by Alice Forrester, Executive Director of the Clifford Beers Clinic. Panelists include Mike Lawlor of the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management; Henry Fernandez, founding Executive Director of LEAP; Dr. Chisara Asomugha, Deputy Mayor for Community Services, City of New Haven; and Lawrence Turner, Pastor at Community Baptist Church.

The education panel, moderated by Claudia Merson, Director of School Partnerships at Yale University, will feature Dr. Michael Sampson, Dean of the School of Education for Southern Connecticut State University; Garth Harries, Assistant Superintendent of New Haven Public Schools; Emily Byrne, Executive Director of the New Haven Promise; and Danielle Neves, a LEAP alumna who is principal of a Washington, DC public school.

The LEAP community is joining forces with the New Haven community to address challenges faced by our children and youth. Come support us by attending the panel discussion on November 3. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required to attend. Please call or write Lucy Diaz, LEAP Director of Development, at 203-773-0770 or ldiaz@leapforkids.org, or visit www.panelone.eventbrite.com.

WOW! A national training for young organizers, young member leaders, and youth organizers from across the country.

2011-10-27T09:52:00.000-04:00

2012 National Youth Organizing Training Institute

February 29 - March 3 Oakland, CA

Please save the date! Applications coming soon.

The INSTITUTE 2012 is a national training for young organizers, young member leaders, and youth organizers from across the country.

Participants will come together to build their skills, exchange lessons learned, and strategize to win justice for our communities. We’ll develop a solid and systematic orientation to the fundamentals of organizing, including base-building, campaign strategy and leadership development. Rooted in current youth struggles, the INSTITUTE will provide a unique space for emerging leaders to engage with the challenges and opportunities of the current moment, to advance our organizations and to build a stronger movement.

For more information, please email SOUL at nyoti@schoolofunityandliberation.org or contact Nefertiti at 510. 451. 5466 ext. 312.

Free Webinar Today- Wednesday 10/26 @ 4:00

2011-10-26T09:16:00.000-04:00

Finding Grants to Support Students in Solving Community Problems

Authors:

Lana Peterson & Jennifer Stockwell

Free webinar on October 26, 2011 exploring how to find resources and funding to support service-learning projects.

Do you or your students have an idea for a project that requires a budget larger than a shoestring? Join NYLC’s Development Director to learn about strategies for securing resources and hear about funding opportunities that are specific to service-learning.

This webinar begins at 4:00 p.m. CT and will run for an hour.
Sign up here -> http://www.nylc.org/cart

Community Radio for Youth Power! Webinar today

2011-10-25T11:13:00.001-04:00

Community Radio for Youth Power!
Youth voices. Youth choices.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
3:30 - 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Register now Click Here

We have a historic opportunity now to empower youth groups. Join Prometheus Radio Project and youth groups across the country to learn how you can start your own community radio station! A newly passed law will allow nonprofits and community groups to apply for brand new community radio station licenses as soon as next summer.

These noncommercial stations are controlled locally to amplify local voices and views. They can serve as multimedia community centers to engage the local and global community in creative new ways. The Philadelphia Student Union and Radio Rootz will be on to share how they are effectively using radio as a tool for youth organizing.

What could you do with your own radio station?

Join this webinar to learn about this historic opportunity for youth to control the media and the message. Amplify our voices. Amplify our movements!

Brought to you by: Allied Media Project, Global Action Project, Prometheus Radio Project, Radio Rootz of People's Production House, and the Philly Student Union.

Learn more at: www.prometheusradio.org photo credit: People's Production House

FORUM: New Haven schools gain by embracing dissent- The New Haven Register - Serving New Haven, Connecticut

2011-10-13T12:58:00.002-04:00

By Kenna Barrett
AS a rhetoric teacher, I’m interested in how language meets social change. And, a recent controversy at Wilbur Cross High School reflects a pattern of communication that threatens to undercut the reforms that have been realized.In March 2010, a Wilbur Cross student led a demonstration at City Hall to protest how resources were allocated in the school budget. When this student, Isaiah Lee, subsequently won the Student Council presidency, the Cross administration nullified the election results. In September, the entire Student Council was dissolved by the school administration.The rationale for dissolving the council was not the student agitator. According to the Cross administration, the relatively small council was not representative of the entire student body; instead, it was “elitist.”“Elitist” is a suggestive word choice. Elites, of course, are those who have the power in any given situation. In the context of a school — even a school with two tracks of students — it’s a stretch for administrators to label a group of students elites. It wouldn’t be a stretch to wonder whether the administration positioning itself as egalitarian is a move to gain sympathy for undercutting student protesters.As a parent of a New Haven student, I’ve seen similar moves by the school district, moves to flip the script on parent- or student-led movements by co-opting the language and behavior of protest and reform. In one instance, I saw district leaders stampede a meeting of the parent organization Teach our Children, effectively shutting down the meeting.In these script-flipping cases, what’s often been the administration’s rationale for stifling dissent? It says the protester groups do not represent the viewpoints of the majority of parents or students. We see the same rhetorical pattern as at Cross: The protesters are outliers, the district is in it for the people.When the district embarked on a reform initiative several years ago, tensions fortunately seemed to lessen. But, waving the reform banner is the same communication strategy the district had used before, writ large: Appropriate the rhetoric of transformation to neutralize dissent.Am I saying the district’s reform effort is just a way of preserving the status quo? No, I believe measurable progress has been made and that leaders would like to see great schools. And, I’m thankful for my daughter’s valiant and dedicated teachers.But, true reform means welcoming dissent. New Haven’s public schools need to embrace, not stifle, all parent and student voices, even those that challenge the district — especially, those that do.Indeed, what has dropped out of the controversy over the Cross Student Council are exactly the questions Isaiah Lee asked in the first place: Who decides the budget and why are resources allocated the way they are?I, too, would like to know how precious resources are spent, and you can bet I would attend any public meeting that had this as its topic. But, as far as I can see, the district has not yet established a forum for true discussion, although the new Citywide PTO could be a powerful vehicle for such an effort.Until then, one may conclude — from its rhetoric and its seemingly unwelcoming stance on difficult discourse — that the district does not want to encourage a reform process that incorporates true engagement.If the New Haven schools’ leaders are serious about reform, I urge them to develop a model of engaging parents and students that embraces dissent and the wisdom it brings.Kenna Barrett is adjunct professor of English at Quinnipiac University and parent of a preschool student attending King/Robinson International Baccalaureate School. Write to her at 21 Bellevue Road, New Haven 06511. Email: cmbarrett@quinnipiac.edu.

FORUM: New Haven schools gain by embracing dissent- The New Haven Register - Serving New Haven, Connecticut

Youth Leaders Needed in New Haven on Food Justice Issues

2011-10-12T12:48:00.000-04:00

Teens interested in participating in the Food Policy Council Youth Coalition are needed. Here is the basic information, people can either contact me or Lydia to let us know who would like to come, and give us the student's contact information.

Youth Coalition for the New Haven Food Policy Council
meetings once a month, Wednesday afternoon, 3:30-5pm @ Main Library Downtown

Youth have an official youth member on the council with voting rights as their representative.
Youth will have the opportunity to have a voice in food issues in our city and in their schools such as:
- input in new school lunch menus
- help improve food available in neighborhood stores and restaurants
- conduct community based research about food issues
- have input into city-wide food policy addressing availability of fresh healthy food for all people, urban farming, food and environmental issues, food education etc.

This is a great leadership opportunity for teens and a chance to be involved with grassroots organizing and city government. If you know of any teens that are interested in food issues, please encourage them to attend this first meeting!

Thank you!
Tagan Engel
Food. Community. Design.
taganskitchen.blogspot.com
tagan.engel@gmail.com
New Haven, CT
646.206.2621

Think About New Roles for Young People in Our Community!

2011-09-30T10:08:00.000-04:00

Excerpted from: http://www.freechild.org/YouthVoice/roles.htm

With the development of new technology, new learning experiences, and different avenues for participation throughout our communities, young people have assumed, been assigned, and have co-created new roles for Youth Voice.

Youth as Facilitators. Knowledge comes from study, experience, and reflection. Engaging young people as teachers helps reinforce their commitment to learning and the subject they are teaching; it also engages both young and older learners in exciting ways.

Youth as Researchers. Identifying issues, surveying interests, analyzing findings, and developing projects in response are all powerful avenues for Youth Voice.

Youth as Planners – Planning includes program design, event planning, curriculum development, and hiring staff. Youth planning activities can lend validity, creativity, and applicability to abstract concepts and broad outcomes.

Youth as Organizers – Community organizing happens when leaders bring together everyone in a community in a role that fosters social change. Youth community organizers focus on issues that affect themselves and their communities; they rally their peers, families, and community members for action.

Youth as Decision-Makers. Making rules in classrooms is not the only way to engage young people in decision-making. Committees, board membership, and other forms of representation and leadership reinforce the significance of Youth Voice throughout communities.

Youth as Advocates – When young people stand for their beliefs and understand the impact of their voices, they can represent their families and communities with pride, courage, and ability.

Youth as Evaluators. Assessing and evaluating the effects of programs, classes, activities, and projects can promote Youth Voice in powerful ways. Young people can learn that their opinions are important, and their experiences are valid indicators of success.

Youth as Specialists – Envisioning roles for youth to teach youth is relatively easy; seeing new roles for youth to teach adults is more challenging. Youth specialists bring expert knowledge about particular subjects to programs and organizations, enriching everyone’s ability to be more effective.

More Roles for Young People

Each of the following roles can be a successful way to engage young people. Every position is different, offering a variety of perspectives and actions for youth to share their perspectives and take action.

Youth as...

• Advisors
• Designers
• Teachers
• Grant-makers
• Planners
• Lobbyists
• Trainers
• Philanthropists
• Politicians
• Recruiters
• Social entrepreneurs
• Paid staff
• Mentors
• Decision makers
• Activity Leaders
• Policy makers

Creating Engaging Lifestyles

Youth Voice is a logical starting point for any organization that wants to serve its constituency more effectively. It is also a powerful avenue for actually changing the lives of young people. By taking a constructivist approach to Youth Voice, communities can truly sustain young peoples’ engagement throughout society. That means acknowledging what young people already know, expanding their exposure to, knowledge of, and opportunities to generate new thinking. All of the models above can help educators weave an intricate blanket of engagement that captures people for all their lives.

Thank you FreeChild.org!!!!
forwarded by Rachel Heerema, Executive Director
Citywide Youth Coalition, Inc.

YDTRC Launches Social Media Blog- Check out the Hill Youth Action Team.

2011-09-23T09:47:00.001-04:00

The HYAT Works For Change in the Hill: This summer a group of 8 youth from the Hill Neig...:

This summer a group of 8 youth from the Hill Neighborhood in New Haven, CT got together for 5 weeks of paid training based on youth development, youth leadership and youth community engagement. The focus this summer was group and individual service learning , educational enrichment, and enhancing critical and creative thinking . The team worked diligently on creating public art to display in their community, while learning about the art museums and other public art available to them in New Haven. Every Monday, for five weeks, the Hill Youth Action Team worked on creating a peace of public art that would represent them as a team and promote change and positive attitudes in the Hill Neighborhood. They attended weekly workshops at the New Haven Free Public Libraries on Employability, while researching the schools they were interested in in attending in the future, discussing the process of applying, and visiting one State University about an hour away from New Haven. The HYAT provided service to their community by volunteering as a group and as individuals in different summer camps and community programs such as Camp Farnam, The YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, And Leap.

CACLD offers Training Course to Parents of Learning Disabled Students. How to Advocate For Services at Schools.

2011-09-15T09:19:00.002-04:00

Have you ever asked yourself...

• What are the laws governing special education services and how does it apply to my child's problems?

• How do I get services from the school?

• What is an IEP?

• What does a good evaluation consist of?

• What questions do I need to ask?

• How do you measure progress?

Then this CACLD program is for you!

• Become an informed consumer

• Gain an understanding of the process

• Learn how to advocate more effectively to obtain appropriate services for your child

• Build your confidence as an advocate

• Know where to find the answers

• Become a knowledgeable member of the team

Becoming An Effective Advocate

10 Workshops for Parents and Professionals

Tuesdays from October 4, 2011 to December 6, 2011

10:15 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.

25 Van Zant Street, Norwalk, CT

To read the brochure click here: Becoming An Effective Advocate Brochure
Limited scholarships are available.
Click on the link below for more information!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Your-child-is-having-problems-at-school---Do-you-know-what-to-do-.html?soid=1103596296371&aid=Zw-o8bcFJ5Q

Afterschool Alliance :: Lights On Afterschool Win $5000!!!!

2011-09-14T11:16:00.001-04:00

Announcements:

Win up to $5,000 in the Light Up a Landmark for Lights On Afterschool Contest! We've seen the Empire State Building, LA's Lindbergh Beacon and Mt Rushmore lit up for Lights On Afterschool. What are you planning to shine a spotlight on the importance of afterschool in your community? Eleven (11) sites will be selected nationwide to receive awards from longtime afterschool champion jcpenney : One $5,000 Megawatt award and Ten $1,000 Spotlight awards. Read more
Afterschool Alliance :: Lights On Afterschool

Prepare To Be Inspired by the CT Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities

2011-09-12T12:36:00.001-04:00

The AYD Course is Coming to Fairfield County This Fall. The Training Will Take Place at the Burroughs Community Center on the Bridgeport/Fairfield line!

2011-09-09T13:55:00.002-04:00

The Youth Development Training and Resource Center is a resource center and intermediary to assist youth programs, local youth-serving networks, and funders of youth agencies throughout Connecticut. The YDTRC was founded in 1993 by the City Wide Youth Coalition and The Consultation Center. Through the use of our services, we hope to promote positive youth development. We are here to help you directly or to connect you with the resources that will be most effective for you.

Description

Advancing Youth Development (AYD) is a nationally acclaimed course designed for front-line youth workers who interact with adolescents on a daily basis. The 30-hour course was based on curricula from the Center for Youth Development and Policy Research, Academy for Educational Development and the National Network for Runaway Youth.

Seven sessions cover the history of youth work, the youth development framework, fostering youth participation and leadership, culturally competent programming, program assessment, and professional competencies of youth workers:

Location: Burroughs Community Center, 2470 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT

Session 1: The Youth Development Framework
Session 2: Developmental Youth Outcomes (Supports and Opportunities)
Session 3: Providing Developmentally Appropriate & Responsive Programs
Session 4: Increasing our Ability to Develop Young People
Session 5: Expanding Opportunities for Youth Participation
Session 6: Program Planning & Assessing Program Outcomes
Session 7: Professional Competencies of Youth Workers

Goals
AYD aims to help youth workers to:
Gain familiarity with the youth development approach and use this approach to explore, share, and learn new strategies for working with young people.
Strengthen their ability to communicate their ideas, expertise and experience to their constituencies: board members, families, co-workers, community leaders, and youth.
Discuss practical strategies for integrating a youth development approach into their programs.
Develop an informal peer network and become ongoing resources to each other.

Course Instructors
All AYD instructors are qualified YDTRC facilitators who have completed the 30-hour AYD course and the intensive 3-day Training for AYD Course Facilitators. Community-based youth workers who have completed the 30-hour course often help with selected sessions when the course is in their geographic area. Tai Richardson is the facilitator for the 2011 course.

Participant Selection

Registration is open to staff members of youth-serving agencies, including public and private organizations, neighborhoods, community centers, or residential programs. The course is designed to benefit front-line youth workers, as well as all others who come in direct contact with or supervise people who work directly with young people. Participants will be selected from the initial registration list based upon the location and type of agency.

If you are interested in discussing opportunities for bringing the AYD course to your agency staff, please contact Deborah Stewart at 203-789-7645.

Cost

The fee is $195 per participant for the seven-session course. Partial scholarships may be available. For more information, contact Keeley Forrestel at 203-789-7645, ext. 137.

Click here for registration details.
http://www.theconsultationcenter.org/ydtrc/ayd.html

Great Social Media Platform for Youth to Inspire Change!

2011-09-09T11:19:00.002-04:00

LikeMinded is looking for stories of local change!

LikeMinded continues to serve as the best place to share and discover Ideas for Change from your neighborhood and across the country. Got a story of local change? Post it to http://www.likeminded.org/ today so that others may learn from your good work!

Will you take advantage of this new tool and post your youth project?

This is really COOL and you are INVITED!

2011-08-03T09:52:00.000-04:00

This summer, Solar Youth is MAKING news and ON the news!
From all of us at Solar Youth, have a wonderful end-of-summer!
You're Invited!

WHAT: Green Jobs Apprentices
C-SAP Presentations

WHERE: Burke Auditorium, top floor of Kroon Hall,
195 Prospect St
New Haven, CT 06511

WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 9th, 5:30pm

WHY: So youth can teach what they accomplished during their Community Service Action Projects (C-SAPs)!

As a part of the Green Jobs Youth Development program, youth from Westville Manor have identified problems in their community, and then designed action plans to fix them! Now, with formal and fun presentations, they're going to show you what they've done. Projects include landscaping their neighbor's yards, building an erosion control retaining wall, designing artwork for boarded up buildings, and creating long-lasting signs to celebrate the gardens they planted. Come show your support!

For more information, or to RSVP, please email us at info@solaryouth.com.

********************************************************************************
Solar Youth on the News
Check our our LIVE TV debut!

Thanks to FOSY (Friend of Solar Youth) Millie Grenough, we were asked to be on Saturday's morning show.

SHORT FILMS BY YOUTH RIGHTS MEDIA at the WHITNEY HUMANITIES CENTER

2011-08-01T10:13:00.000-04:00

Youth Rights Media presents Summer Shorts, an evening of short films by youth in its 2011 Summer Institute, at the Whitney Humanities Center, 53 Wall Street, New Haven, on Thursday, August 4, from 6-8pm. A reception will be held from 6-7pm, with light refreshments, followed by the screening. An audience talkback immediately follows the screening.

“I’m so proud of our youth,” says Janis Astor del Valle, YRM’s Executive Director. “For many, this was their first time working on narrative filmmaking, which is quite different from documentary. I’m impressed by the range of issues their films explore – bullying, immigration, HIV, STI’s – and by how hard and creatively they’ve worked to pull it all together.”

29 youth have participated in this year’s Summer Institute, an intensive five-week summer employment program designed to build the civic leadership, community organizing and media arts skills of New Haven teens. Youth participants have spent their time learning about their communities, society and strategies for becoming effective change agents.

The Summer Institute is taught by Carina Tautu, who holds an MFA in Film from Columbia Univ., and Nicole Ivy, a PhD candidate in African American Studies and American Studies at Yale. Additional instruction is provided by Kerry Kincy, who holds a BA in Movement, Learning & Social Abilities from Trinity College.

YRM’s Summer Institute is made possible by support from Casey Family Services, New Haven Youth Services, Marrakech, Inc., the Community Action Agency of New Haven, the Children’s Center of Hamden, and the Children’s Community Programs of CT, Inc.

The Whitney Humanities Center is located on 53 Wall St., at the corner of Wall and Church Sts. Reservations are recommended, please call: (203) 776-4034.

CommonAction Consulting: Free Youth Worker Coaching

2011-07-22T10:48:00.000-04:00

CommonAction Consulting: Free Youth Worker Coaching: "Starting today, CommonAction Consulting, home of The Freechild Project and SoundOut, is offering free 30 minute coaching sessions to youth w..."

“Stop The Violence For My Sake”

2011-07-22T10:44:00.000-04:00

A PEACE SUMMIT IN NEW HAVEN

Frontline Souljaz, My Brother’s Keeper, Mothers For Justice, members of the New Haven community along with Clifton Graves a long time youth mentor and community activist are working together with youth to push for peace in the city. Our children deserve a chance to live, learn, play and thrive in a safe environment. If interested in being a part of the solution come join us in working toward a citywide truce. We meet each Monday 6-7:30pm at 298 Whalley Ave. We believe our efforts will culminate in a significant reduction in gun violence and the rebuilding of ONE New Haven. Let’s work together so children like her can dream again. Resolve conflict without violence. Living by the gun increases your chance of dying by the gun. End the senseless violence, trauma and pain that robs us all.

For More Info call Blest (203)627-8556 or Remidy (203) 584-2139

Here is an inspirational video about the power of youth voice.

2011-07-13T12:31:00.000-04:00

http://www.ted.com/talks/kiran_bir_sethi_teaches_kids_to_take_charge.html

Please be sure to share this with the youth you know!

Sheila Perrin, honored by Danbury Youth Services for years of support.

2011-06-28T11:11:00.002-04:00

A delightful event shared with friends and family-
(L-R) Paul & Noelle Levine,
Diana Friedlander, Myra and Sam Ross,
Sheila, Charie and Jeff Perrin and Arnold Friedlander.

On June 28^th, Danbury Youth Services (DYS) honored Sheila Perrin at the 11^th Annual Butterfly Breakfast held in Danbury. DYS Executive Director, Julie Schmitter thanked Sheila, President and co-founder of the Ridgefield based Perrin Family Foundation for more than 15 years of support and technical assistance for the DYS counseling and youth leadership programs. Ms. Perrin and her family, devote their efforts to support non-profit programs in under resourced communities throughout the state of Connecticut that build youth leadership skills and opportunities for “Youth Voice”. According to Sheila, “The Perrin Family Foundation philosophy is based on a belief that youth are partners for social change. Research shows that children in underserved communities are given few chances to voice their opinions on issues facing their own lives. The PFF grant making strategy starts with the expectation that youth should be given opportunities to develop skill sets that help them to engage in problem solving and decision making to better enable them to effectively manage their own lives. With the understanding that youth need to be allied with adult mentors that have a knowledge of youth development principles and youth led organizing practices, the Perrin Family Foundation has taken on the work of promoting best practices for youth workers. To that end, the Perrin Family Foundation has initiated workshops, supported educational opportunities for both youth participants and youth workers as well as encouraged statewide networking for youth organizing programs. The goal of this work is to serve as a catalyst for creating more awareness of the importance of youth voice!”

Sheila Perrin with Julie Schimitter, Executive Director of Danbury Youth Services

2011-06-24T12:54:00.000-04:00

Letter to the Editor of the New Haven Register

Recent articles published by the New Haven Register, including “New Haven's Wilbur Cross principal nullifies student activist’s election,” “Student anti-violence rally cancelled in New Haven after last-minute change in performers” and “Wilbur Cross disbands student activists club” are showing a distressing pattern of silencing young voices.

Schools in particular need to focus on more than just test scores and graduation rates. One goal of public schools should be to produce citizens prepared for voting and democratic involvement. Students need the opportunity to try out leadership roles. The New Haven community has both the opportunity and responsibility to support young people in understanding big issues and help them to grow in their ability to participate in the decisions that impact them.

In fact, there is a large body of research on the importance of youth voice and youth decision-making as critical to positive youth development. In schools, strategies for promoting voice include gathering information from students through surveys and focus groups, involving students as researchers, and engaging students as equal partners in school reform. In communities, young people can provide meaningful input by consulting with government leaders about public policy, participating in community coalitions, engaging in organizational decision making, activism, and carrying out service-learning projects (Camino & Zeldin, 2002). Oldfather (1995) found that enhancing student voice in school gave disconnected youth a sense of ownership and helped them to re-connect to school.

The goal of youth voice is fully achieved when youth have full ownership and the adult facilitator becomes the “guide on the side.” As youth prepare to meet the challenges of successful adulthood, they need less and less interference from adults and more and more freedom to become, on their own terms, the kind of caring, contributing citizens who are confident in their own ability to self-govern. We rob them of this opportunity when we step in and over-rule them.

As the director of Citywide Youth Coalition, a community coalition which supports all youth in their healthy development, I have the honor of working with a wide range of people and organizations who are committed to positive youth development and youth success. We believe that youth must be engaged as active and valued contributors, both for enhancing the quality of community life today and for building strong communities for the future.

Rachel Heerema
Citywide Youth Coalition
@ The Grove
71 Orange St
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 464-7838

Cross Principal Vetoes Student Election Results | New Haven Independent

2011-06-24T09:56:00.001-04:00

This story is hard to believe and one that we will be tracking closely. New Haven has many youth serving organizations that fully embrace the importance of youth voice, youth leadership, youth organizing yet there remains a serious disconnect as you will see here. Be sure to take a look at the comments left by so many youth below the story link.

Cross Principal Vetoes Student Election Results New Haven Independent

We welcome your comments! Thank you City Wide Youth Coalition for sharing this via googlegroups!

My Brother’s Keeper is hosting the screening of a documentary filmed in New Haven by Youth Rights Media , “Locked and Loaded”.

2011-06-24T09:37:00.000-04:00

The War On Drugs Turned 40 This Month

Are We Winning????

JOIN US IN DIALGOUE ABOUT THE WAR ON DRUGS WAR AND ITS CONNECTION TO VIOLENCE IN ON OUR COMMUNITIES

WHEN: TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2011

WHERE: COURTLAND WILSON LIBRARY

303 WASHINGTON AVE, NEW HAVEN

TIME: 5:30 PM

Across the nation we are witnessing forty years of American injustice with no end in sight. The “war on drugs” was supposed to eradicate drug abuse. On June 17, 1971, President Richard Nixon sent a 5300 word message to Congress “to consolidate at the highest level a full scale attack on the problem.” In effect he declared war on the American people utilizing aggressive criminal justice policy with police as “foot soldiers”. Since Nixon declared a “war on drugs” we are arresting over a million people annually, 75% for marijuana possession. Over 50% of those in state and federal prisons are non- violent drug offenders. Over 700,000 are released from prison each year with huge barriers to reintegration, many specific to drug law violators. Many of those arrested and sent to prison are disproportionately people of color. Have drug laws replaced “Jim Crow laws”? After four decades are we winning this war? Can we arrest our way out of this crisis? Gun violence is rampant in our community. Is there a connection? My Brother’s Keeper is hosting the screening of a documentary filmed in New Haven by Youth Rights Media , “Locked and Loaded” that asks that question. Hear from youth in the community and activists from around the state. Following the film a panel discussion will follow. Asking real questions….Seeking real solutions. Join us.

A Very Successful Youth Forum in Bridgeport!

2011-06-23T13:00:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the youth and the adult allies representing Original Works, Inc., McGivney Community Center and Bridgeport Housing Authority After School Programs. An impressive group youth came together from three different neighborhoods in Bridgeport to discuss the many issues they face as teens in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Bullying has been a hot topic across the U.S. in the past few years and it is indeed a daily concern for so many youth. Add to it that bullying also includes pressures to be sexually involved with peers that you may or may not have a relationship with and refusal to do so may result in retaliation. On June 8th a Youth Forum was held and presented to over 300 Bridgeport students. The performance and youth forum was adeptly titled "Dying To Live" and addressed bullying, teen pregnancy, racism and "what about those baggy pants". Research on all of the issues was done by the youth and they shared information, statistics, trends and more with the audience. For instance, did you know that the urban low riding baggy pant fashion trend is connected to the prisons? In the past prisoners were issued generically sized pants but could not be trusted with belts. Many young men (and women) in the audience quickly realized that their fashion statement was not so cool after all. The forum and performance were very well done. Congratulations to all involved.

Here is some feedback from a teacher who attended the performance with her class:

Dear Donna Sue,

We would like to thank you again for the opportunity to attend your recent presentation of Dying to Live on June 8th at The Downtown Cabaret Theatre. Many of your aspiring artists are former students of mine and we were greatly inspired by their talent and commitment. I have seen several of your performances in the past and have enjoyed them all. The students at Tisdale School expressed a deep understanding of the underlying messages of the scenes and were interested in finding out more about the performing arts. I understand the importance of this for our city youth because I was in the drama club at Warren Harding High School and it had a tremendous impact on my development that led me to attain my Associates Degree in Theatre at Grahm Jr. College in Boston through a fully funded scholarship. Without appropriate funding and the ability to participate in the performing arts and other outside activities, our youth in the City of Bridgeport and elsewhere may not otherwise be aware of the endless opportunities that exist. Incredibly enough, the learning experience continued for our Tisdale Students as they boarded the bus and excitedly read the brochure all the way back to the school, so even your program had an educational component.

Keep up the great work and we look forward to seeing more of your outstanding shows!

Mary Krotki

6th Grade Elementary Education Teacher
Jettie S. Tisdale School
Bridgeport, CT

I believe that all adults, parents, and educators have a strong impact on the life of a child.
We must take a step in educating each child that we come in contact with to the best of our ability, to give every child an opportunity to aspire to be the best that they can be...

KUDOS!-Solar Youth Bridges Gap | New Haven Independent

2011-06-13T10:17:00.000-04:00

Check out this great story and pictures about youth in Connecticut taking on a project that benefits their community.
Solar Youth Bridges Gap New Haven Independent

Solar Youth’s Spring Public Education Forum is set for June 9 at the New Haven Free Public Library

2011-06-06T09:31:00.001-04:00

Solar Youth’s Spring Public Education Forum is set for June 9 at the New Haven Free Public Library

WHAT: Youth-led Public Education Forum

WHY: So New Haven youth can teach what they learned about the environment and present what they accomplished this spring during Solar Youth programs

WHERE: New Haven Free Public Library Program Room

WHEN: June 9, 2011 at 6pm

Learn about how youth are becoming leading environmental stewards in New Haven!

Through songs, skits, displays and other performances, youth aged of 4 to 18 will demonstrate what they learned and accomplished this spring as participants in Solar Youth programs. Youth-led projects this spring have included:

• Flower planting and an anti-robbery campaign in the Westville Manor neighborhood
• A water pollution awareness campaign and clean-up at Barnard School
• A tree stewardship project and an anti-bullying campaign at John S. Martinez School
• Flower planting and litter clean-up in the McConaughy Terrace neighborhood
• A LifeStraw fundraiser at Truman School

Solar Youth’s mission is to provide opportunities for young people to develop a positive sense of self and connection and commitment to others through programs that incorporate environmental exploration, leadership and community service. Following each season of programming, Solar Youth participants teach what they have learned about local environmental issues and accomplished through Community Service Action Projects during a Public Education Forum.
The Perrin Family Foundation, a multi-year supporter of Solar Youth, is the primary sponsor of the event, recently awarding Solar Youth a $25,000 grant.

About Solar Youth:
Solar Youth, Inc. is a New Haven-based non-profit youth development and environmental education organization founded in the fall of 2000 by youth and adults. Solar Youth targets youth who reside in New Haven's low income communities and are faced with incredible challenges such as poverty, crime and violence, and are in great need of positive supports and opportunities to succeed. All Solar Youth programs are based on the unique program model: Kids Explore! Kids Do! Kids Teach!

"A Spark Ignited" Reflections by Sheila Perrin

2011-06-02T12:43:00.001-04:00

David Perrin, a son of the founders and a board member of the Perrin Family Foundation of Ridgefield, Connecticut, came to the family with an idea a few years ago. “We need to support young people working for social change.” A young man himself, David had been involved in some youth organizing efforts and felt strongly that the family should be supporting young people to address social change in their lives, essentially giving them a voice in an adult driven world.

This marked the beginning of many challenging family conversations and, ultimately, resulted in the foundation creating a ‘youth voice’ focus, a somewhat scaled down model of David’s original vision. But, non- the- less, it was a beginning to supporting and expanding youth organizing in CT and putting the spotlight on the importance of giving young people a say in their own lives.

Starting late in 2003, David began networking and researching organizations doing youth organizing. One by one the foundation began funding these groups continuing to hone its strategy while considering the varied opinions of family members, including Jeff, David’s brother who always brought his thoughtful perspective to the conversation. A few small group networking meetings were organized to learn more about the field of youth organizing and how to help support the work beyond grant making. In 2007 the foundation hired a part time program officer to further develop the focus area including arranging for more networking opportunities, workshops and technical assistance to grantees. Slowly the work has expanded. Today the Perrin Family Foundation supports an array of youth driven programming in CT, offers professional development opportunities, has begun to educate other funders on the importance of the work and encourages the foundation’s long time out of school grantees to show evidence of youth voice in their programming.

In April of 2011, a pivotal moment in the foundation’s history, adult allies and mentors from twenty CT organizations, many of whom did not know about the work of others, gathered to talk about the growing youth organizing movement taking place across the state. Organized by the Perrin Family Foundation program officer, Julia Murphy Klein, and facilitated by Supriya Pillai, Executive Director of New York based Funder’s Collaborative of Youth Organizing (FCYO), the group engaged in a thoughtful conversation about the challenges of building this movement. Those from outside CT learned about the important, but little known work, going on throughout the state. Those from within the state where challenged to expand and deepen their work.

A spark ignited and participants left with a renewed energy to work together to help support youth working for social change in Connecticut.
From one young man’s vision and their ongoing thoughtful strategy, the family has been gratified with the effect that a focused grant making strategy can have and proud that their sons have had considerable impact on the direction that the family foundation is going.

Written by Sheila Perrin
President and Co-Founder
Perrin Family Foundation
Ridgefield, CT

www.PerrinFamilyFoundation.org

Youth Activism: Two Girl Scouts Seek to Create Change within GSUSA

2011-05-25T09:26:00.002-04:00

Here is a very interesting article about two teens who discover that their leadership skills and knowledge on an issue near to their hearts help them become activists to create change with in their own program.

These girls have become empowered by the Girl Scouts leadership skill building initiatives over the years. They now have the tools, the confidence and they are educated on this issue that is of tremendous importance to them, and to our global community. They have uncovered a situation that they feel passionate about and are engaging in social activism to bring about change. Congratulations to Rhiannon and Madison for speaking out to protect the orangutans and rainforests. We hope that the Girl Scout organization will celebrate their efforts and see that these young women are “success stories” and a tribute to the Girl Scout mission. We hope that as an organization they will continue to sincerely embrace “Youth Voice” and ask these and other young women to be a part of finding a solution to this conundrum that they must now address.

http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12541:youth-activism-two-girl-scouts-create-rebellion-in-the-ranks&catid=155:nonprofit-newswire&Itemid=986

Youth Voice can be very powerful. We will continue to keep you updated on this situation.
What do you think should happen?

Education Vs. Prison: THE REAL COST OF FAILING OUR KIDS

2011-05-16T09:31:00.000-04:00

Domus featured in CPTV education documentary

Connecticut Public Television's latest documentary, Education Vs. Prison:
The Real Cost Of Failing Our Kids, features our educational work with very struggling youth involved in the justice system who still have tremendous potential for success. Watch the trailer here, which also lists the next air dates and times (5/17 and 5/22).

http://www.cpbn.org/educationvsincarceration.html

Connecticut Youth Organizing is Growing and Gaining Momentum!

2011-05-11T12:35:00.000-04:00

“Never apologize for your passion!” was the response from Supriya Pillai, Executive Director of Funders’ Collaborative of Youth Organizing to Marlene Berg, from the Institute for Community Research in Hartford. Ms. Berg (standing center in photo) is the Program Director for the organization’s Youth Action Research Initiative (YARI) program. The YARI youth members have immersed themselves in research and have created numerous action campaigns on community issues such as teen dating violence and educational reform practices. Clearly the momentum for youth organizing is growing and Ms. Berg, along with her fellow colleagues are inspired by the youth work in Connecticut.

On Thursday, April 28, 2011 Perrin Family Foundation hosted their annual Social Change networking event at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk. Adult allies and mentors from 20 Connecticut organizations gathered from around the state to talk about the growing youth organizing movement taking place across the state. Throughout Connecticut youth are tackling big issues that directly impact their lives. Local environmental and food justice issues are being combated as youth grow organic produce and deliver it to the inner-city bodegas. Harsh realities of the school to prison pipelines within Connecticut’s education system are being revealed via creative media. Other action campaigns address; bullying, supportive classroom environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, and reform in the foster care system, to name a few.

This event was facilitated by staff from Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing (FCYO) headquartered in New York City. FCYO is a coalition of foundations representatives working together in supporting youth lead social change campaigns across the United States. Additionally, FCYO provides resources and toolkits to organizations seeking out such support. For more information please visit the website at http://www.fcyo.org/.

Standing from left to right behind Ms. Berg: Barry Felson of NexGen Leaders/PeaceJam Northeast, Caryn Olcik of Waterbury Youth Services, Bob Francis of Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership (RYASAP) in Bridgeport, Amanda Gumbs of National Conference for Community & Justice (NCCJ) in Windsor, Terry Freeman of Youth Development Training & Resource Center (YDTRC) at The Consultation Center in New Haven.

YOUTH MEET WITH SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN NEW HAVEN, DEMAND CHANGES TO TRANSITIONAL SCHOOLS & ADULT EDUCATION

2011-05-10T13:11:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Janis Astor del Valle, Janis@youthrightsmedia.org, (203) 776-4034

New Haven, CT – May 6, 2011 – Yesterday, youth organizers from Youth Rights Media, a Connecticut nonprofit dedicated to building youth power and leadership through video media production and community organizing, met with Dr. Reginald Mayo, Superintendent of New Haven Public Schools, to share their concerns about transitional schools and adult education, and make recommendations for reform.

YRM youth organizers argued that many students are shuffled off too easily to transitional schools, which overall provide a lower quality education and offer fewer opportunities. Youth leaders asked the district to create a written policy on how and why students can be placed into transitional schools and how they can transition out of these schools.

“There is no way out; once you are in these schools you cannot transition back even if you are making progress,” said Patra Drury, a youth leader who will graduate from her transitional school this June. “Because there is no official protocol, I could not easily return to my mainstream school.” Drury was counseled out of Wilbur Cross after her grades dropped and behavior spiked. No one ever asked the former Honors student why the sudden plummet in her academics or whether she needed help – instead, they just encouraged her to attend New Horizons. “I’m graduating without any resources, I’m not college-ready,” stated Drury.

“High school is supposed to be the most fun time of your life. For me, I think if I went to a better school, that would be true,” added youth leader Kwasiada Robinson. Robinson has never received a suspension or gotten in any serious trouble. She attends a transitional school because of what she calls, “false advertisement,” noting “I was told it was a good school with a smaller environment that could give me one-on-one support. Instead, I don’t get any support, I’m labeled as a ‘bad’ kid just because I go there, and I’m not challenged.”

Indeed, students who attend transitional schools do not have access in their schools to Honors courses, foreign language courses, extracurricular activities, or even libraries. Many also do not receive homework on a regular basis and have to share text books that they cannot take home.

Youth leaders also described how other students are persuaded to completely withdraw from NHPS and enroll in adult education, where students are in classes with people 20 years older than them.

“We asked the district to establish a policy that declares adult education and credit diploma programs are a last resort and that students need to be informed that they have a legal right to stay in school until age 21,” said Andrew Thorpe, an adult education student who missed out on “typical” high school things and instead, spent four years repeating the same coursework over and over again in adult education. Most students who end up in high school credit programs or adult education do not graduate – last year, only 6% enrolled in adult education got a GED and only 34% got a diploma through the credit program – so doing as much as possible to avoid these paths will be beneficial for most students.

While Dr. Mayo did not commit to any of the solutions identified by the youth, he did invite the youth to return for a follow-up meeting with some principals on May 16.

“I’m glad the district agreed to meet with us and we look forward to our next meeting to further discuss the students’ solutions,” said Janis Astor del Valle, executor director of Youth Rights Media. “Their recommendations are critical for ensuring all students attend the school that’s best for them and have the opportunity to succeed.”

Youth Rights Media was joined by Advancement Project, a national advocacy group.

“We were excited to support the youth and are hopeful that Dr. Mayo will take YRM’s recommendations seriously,” said Alexi Nunn Freeman, staff attorney with Advancement Project. “We encourage the district to look to best practices in the state to keep students in mainstream schools as much as possible.”

For more information on Youth Rights Media, visit www.youthrightsmedia.org.

"Let's Get Connected!" Peer to Peer Tuesdays

2011-05-04T11:42:00.000-04:00

Open Invitation to All CT Youth Organizations from

FRESH New London

FRESH will begin hosting Peer to Peer days on Tuesdays.

"Get a tour of the FRESH Farm, have lunch made by youth & eat at the Community Garden. Let's exchange knowledge about our work with one another. We will end the day with even more fun youth led activities."

Book Available Tuesday Dates:

July 12th

July 19th

Aug 2nd

Aug 9th

Aug 16th

Time:

10:00-2:30pm

For more information please contact:
Jessica Cartagena,FRESH Youth Coordinator
Ms.JCartagena@gmail.com
Office # 860-444-8050 x14
http://www.freshnewlondon.org/

Bridgeport Youth Write Press Release for their June 8th Youth Forum "Dying To Live". Hit the SHARE BUTTON!

2011-04-27T10:20:00.003-04:00

Press Release:

“Teens are Losing Their Teen Lives!” - Samuel

A group of dynamic, young leaders are speaking out on bullying, teen pregnancy, peer pressure, racism and “How ‘bout them baggy pants” by planning a performance and a Youth Forum here in Bridgeport. More than twenty youth, ranging in age from 12-18 years old, are involved with the project. These youth come together twice a week, representing three non-profit organizations known as Original Works (OW), McGivney Community Center (MCG), and the Housing Authority City of Bridgeport (HACB). They are collaborating on this joint project because in the participants own words “we need to send a message” “teen pregnancy and being bullied into sex is real”; “it needs to be told… straight”. This project includes a daytime performance followed by a youth forum around these complicated issues. Planning and practicing happens twice a week at the different sites now through June. The youth forum and performances are scheduled for June 8th, 2011, at the Downtown Cabaret in Bridgeport. The daytime event includes a performance and youth forum. This will be held from 10:30 am – 1:00 pm for students only. The evening event will be just the performance at 7:00pm, and is open to the public. Tickets are $10.00 and available at each site. A concession stand will be available. When asked why they are doing this event, Joshua and Samuel stated “Now it’s time for youth to stand up and let their voices be heard.”

For information or to buy tickets to the evening performance, please call Donna Sue de Guzman at Original works, Inc (203) 870-0666, Alexis Bivens at McGivney Community Center (203) 333-2789 or Kate Kelly at the Housing Authority City of Bridgeport (203)337-8936. Start up funds were provided by the Perrin Family Foundation which believes that youth voice is an essential component in helping to build healthy communities.

This press release was written by Youth Forum participants: Samuel P., Luis R., Joshua D., Judith M., Fekianne C., Sarah R., ages (12-15)

Institute for Community Research & Center for Youth Leadership Create a Phone App

2011-04-27T09:42:00.003-04:00

The Center for Youth Leadership, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Institute for Community Research, and Connecticut's Child Advocate have created a phone app about teen dating violence.

Please click on the following link to listen to Lucy Nalpathanchil, Smartphone App Teaches Teens About Healthy Relationships, WNPR, April 25, 2011

http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Lucy/td%20APP%20feature.mp3

___________________________
Submitted by:
Bob Kocienda
Center for Youth Leadership
Brien McMahon High School, Norwalk
(web) http://www.gocyl.org/

For more information on Institute for Community Research (ICR), please visit www.incommunityresearch.org. ICR is currently receiving funding from PFF for its Youth Action Research & Engagement program.

From CT After School Network- Funding Opportunities.

2011-04-15T12:31:00.000-04:00

Innovation Generation Grants

Deadline - April 22, 2011
Ages Served - Any
Maximum Award - $250,000

Sponsoring Organization: Motorola Solutions Foundation
http://responsibility.motorolasolutions.com/index.php/society/comminvest/education/igg/

Short Description

The Innovation Generation program is designed to inspire students to learn about science and generate interest in science-related careers. Grants will engage preschool through university students in STEM programming - especially girls and underrepresented minorities - as well as Motorola Solutions employee volunteers. Eligible non-profit organizations, schools and school districts near communities where Motorola Solutions has an employee presence are invited to apply.

The 2011 Innovation Generation grants program will feature two distinct funding areas:

Local Impact Grants will support targeted, innovative STEM education programs for U.S. preschool through university students and teachers. Requests must be between $25,000 and $50,000. Collaborative Grants support medium to large scale STEM education collaborations between two or more non-profit organizations, schools and/or school districts. Requests must be between $100,000 and $250,000 per partnership.

Geographic Eligibility: National

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Entertainment Software Association Foundation

Deadline: May 15, 2011
Ages Served: Elementary School, High School, Middle School
Maximum Award: $50,000

Sponsoring Organization: Entertainment Software Association

www.theesa.com/foundation/application.asp
Short Description

The ESA Foundation is dedicated to supporting positive programs and opportunities that make a difference in the lives of America’s youth. The foundation seeks to harness the collective power of the interactive entertainment industry to create positive social impact in our communities.

Grant requests must provide programs and services that utilize technology and/or computer and video games to educate America’s youth and young adults. Organizations should seek funding for a specific project or program that is or will be implemented or available nationwide or at a minimum in two or more states in the United States. Programs must serve American youth between the ages of 7 and 18.

Geographic Eligibility: National

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Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Grants

Deadline: Rolling
Ages Served: Any

Sponsoring Organization: Michael and Susan Dell Foundation

www.msdf.org/Grants/Grant_Application/default.aspx

Short Description

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation funds projects that directly serve or impact children living in urban poverty in five essential focus areas: education, health, safety, youth development and early childhood care. The focus is on opportunities with the greatest potential to directly and measurably transform the lives of children.

Examples of funded projects include working to close the achievement gap through programs to improve large urban school districts in cities nationwide, and national school-based programs that engage teachers, students and their community in healthy eating choices and regular physical activity.

Geographic Eligibility: National
________________________________

Information supplied by our friends at:
Connecticut After School Network
12 Melrose Avenue, Branford, CT 06405 phone: 203-483-9757 fax: 203-481-7160 email: info@ctafterschoolnetwork.org

Visit our Web site at: www.ctafterschoolnetwork.org

Teen Dating Violence- Great information

2011-04-12T12:01:00.000-04:00

When Dating Violence Turns LETHAL
http://nmforumforyouth.org/documents/tdv/WhenDatingViolenceTurnsLethal.pdf

Is this a problem at your school?

Effective School and Police Partnership Forum in Waterbury, Wilton, New Haven

2011-04-11T12:47:00.003-04:00

Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance
Save the Dates:

Waterbury will be having its school and police partnership forum next week. New Haven and Wilton/Norwalk will be having their forums in May and June, respectively.

Effective School and Police Partnership Forum in Waterbury
Thursday, April 14, 2011
4:30pm snacks/refreshments

5:00-7:00pm program

Waterbury Youth Service System, Inc.
83 Prospect Street
Waterbury, CT 06702
Please RSVP to Kelly Cronin at kcronin@waterburyyouthservices.org
_____________________________________________________
Effective School and Police Partnership Forum in New Haven
Thursday, May 19, 2011
5:30pm snack/refreshments

6:00-8:00pm program
Parachute Factory
319 Peck Street, Erector Square, Bldg. 1
New Haven, Connecticut 06513

Please RSVP to John Gill at jgill@childrenscommunityprograms.org
_________________________________________________________

Effective School and Police Partnership Forum in Wilton

Thursday, June 9, 2011
8:30am breakfast

9:00-11:00am program
Trackside
15 Station Road
Wilton, Connecticut 06897

Please RSVP to Colleen Fawcett at colleen.fawcett@wiltonct.org

100 Youth RoundTables

2011-03-30T11:18:00.002-04:00

The Obama administration has pledged to participate in 100 Youth Roundtables all across the country this spring. These will be hosted by young people themselves. Watch the video of President Obama at the Youth Roundtable in Cleveland, Ohio, and find out how to bring the White House to your community.

Link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/03/09/president-obama-announces-100-youth-roundtables

This post was forwarded by SparkAction.
For more information please visit http://www.sparkaction.org/

Congratulations to all of the New AYD Certified Youth Workers in Fairfield County!

2011-03-28T10:26:00.001-04:00

Kamera Dukes- CTE, Inc.
Tara Tomaselli- Escape To The Arts
Sade Owoye- CPEP
Donna Marie Lellis- Girl Scouts of CT
Bret Woodson- DOMUS/Chester Addison CC
Dhani Spinola- Family & Children's Agency
Marybeth Gioffre Nisco- Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Rhonda Capuano- HSC/Dr. Appleby Health Care Center
Laura Magnotta- Burroughs Community Center
Eddie Petrocelli- Center for Women and Children
Oliver Tubman- Ralphola Taylor Community Center
Linda Chave- Mid Fairfield Child Guidance
Sean Campbell- Council of Churches
Arlyn Kilduff- SoundWaters
Ken Riley- Norwalk Housing Authority

The Perrin Family Foundation would like to thank Deb Stewart of the Youth Development Training & Resource Center (YDTRC) and Alexis Bivins and Maurice Muchene the wonderful course facilitators.

SoundWaters has been recognized as the Organization of the Year 2011 by the Connecticut Outdoor & Environmental Education Association Fund (COEEA)!!

2011-03-24T11:03:00.000-04:00

SoundWaters has been recognized as the Organization of the Year 2011 by the Connecticut Outdoor & Environmental Education Association Fund (COEEA)!!

Each year COEEA recognizes the talented, dedicated individuals and organizations who promote responsible environmental stewardship in Connecticut through teaching and leadership. This award recognizes all of our collective efforts over many years. As someone who has been and is a part of making SoundWaters thrive— you are part of the reason we are being recognized. Thank you for all you do with and for SoundWaters!

The awards ceremony is tomorrow, and the entire ed staff (Alisha, Amy, Arlyn, Joceyln, Kate, Lilia) plus myself, James Stuart and Sue Baker will be there on behalf of us all.

Congratulations, and thank you for all of your support of SoundWaters!

Leigh Shemitz, Ph.D.
Executive Director, SoundWaters
Protecting Long Island Sound through Education
http://www.soundwaters.org/

Youth leader Andre’ St. Surin speaks out "How do we build a culture of service among African American youth?"

2011-03-10T12:01:00.000-05:00

Creating a culture of “Giving Back” - Community Service among young African Americans

By Andre’ St. Surin

The Carver Center of Norwalk has long been a place that promotes service and volunteerism. I think Carver is one of the best at attracting and engaging youth from more elite neighborhoods and towns. We know that community service literally develops a sense of community, especially for youth who may not often see how the other half lives. As a student of the Youth Development Program I have benefited from services provided by volunteers (from more elite towns) such as: Mothers and Other’s Celebration (a celebration for Carver Mothers and those who are in role of Mothers hosted by students and volunteers), Holiday Party, Career Fair, “Breakfast with Champions”- (A catered breakfast with successful professionals sharing their secret to success) and tutoring in Math. Our Volunteer coordinator Kaaren Shoulders confirmed my suspicion that approximately ninety five percent of the Carver volunteers are Caucasian. In fact, if it was not for the Carver Basketball league this percentage would even be higher. Most of the volunteer coaches for the Carver Basketball league are African American men.

How do we build a culture of service among African American youth? This is an issue that should be looked at seriously by leaders in Norwalk. As a student at Carver I am encouraged and given opportunities to do community service such as: A dance-a-thon against violence, feeding the homeless at Christmas, tutoring elementary students, Halloween Party for the community kids and Thanksgiving Food Drive. This is certainly not enough. Volunteering to help others who are less fortunate gives me an opportunity to see how others live and to appreciate how much we do have. Being poor does not mean that there aren’t others who are less fortunate than me. I am sure that many of the Caucasian kids who volunteers religiously at Carver see similarities as well as differences. Many may have learned that any differences they have pale in comparison with all we have in common. In a casual conversation with a few high school volunteers I have learned that volunteering is a requirement for graduation at their Prep School and another student shared that this is an expectation by his parents. In one instance both mom and daughter are dedicated volunteers.

Since community service help to foster compassion, and create a more caring individual, the best kind of "doing good" comes from your heart. So whether we are volunteering just to meet a school requirement, religious obligation or our parents’ expectation, we are being placed in a position to see and feel the benefits of helping other people. We need more programs, schools, religious institutions, community leaders and parents in our African American community to place more emphasis on service. Role model for us! Remember that the things you do will have a far more lasting impression on us than anything you say. Help us develop a life-long sense of gratitude for our gifts.

"Outcast" or Cast Out?

2011-03-09T11:36:00.000-05:00

Laura McCargar is currently engaged in research and organizing around the School to Prison Pipeline as a Soros Justice Fellow at A Better Way Foundation. Prior to her work as a fellow, Laura served as the founding Executive Director of Youth Rights Media, a youth empowerment organization that engages youth in media production and community organizing.

Over the past several months I have heard many explanations of how and why high school aged students land in adult education programs, but one of the most unexpected came from a staff member at an adult ed center who asked me very matter of factly, "where else would the cross-dressers go if they didn't have us?"

Read the rest of this post at:
http://cby25.blogspot.com/2011/03/outcast-or-cast-out.html

If you are a teen, have you ever asked yourself these questions?

2011-03-08T13:07:00.001-05:00

What are my rights if my parents are abusive? Can I stay in the school I was in before I moved to the shelter?
What are my options if I’m not doing well in school?
Can I live independently from my parents?
Can I stay in this country legally?
How can I establish paternity? How can I spend time with my child?
How do I get a court order to get child support?
Does my school have to provide a tutor when I leave to have my baby?
If I am a minor, do I need the permission of my parent or guardian to go to a clinic?

Complex issues with a legal component often keep teenagers from taking full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them.)Teens may be dealing with abusive parents, homelessness, special education needs, or immigration issues. They might be teen parents and need financial assistance so they can finish high school, or be living in a shelter without transportation to school.

The Center for Children's Advocacy established the Teen Legal Advocacy Clinic (TLAC) in 1998. The first office was on site at Hartford Public High School, making it one of six school-based legal services programs in the country at that time. After more than ten years, the TLAC has expanded to provide legal services to youth in all Hartford schools. In 2007, the TLAC opened on site at Harding High School in Bridgeport, and in 2010 the TLAC began work with Stamford students.

Trainings for teens help youth understand their legal rights and know how to advocate for themselves when issues arise. These trainings often include education on legal issues and the contacts in agencies who can help teens resolve their legal problems. Attorneys with the Center’s Teen Legal Clinic also bring services and support directly to youth who live in shelters throughout the state, and to youth working with other community agencies

For more information please contact:
Stacey Violante Cote, Esq.
Director, Teen Legal Advocacy Clinic
sviolant@kidscounsel.org
http://www.kidscounsel.org/

Quote of the Day!

2011-03-07T10:58:00.000-05:00

"Youth and families are resources in creating programs, not just recipients of services, and should therefore have a strong voice in the decision-making process." from the Domus/ChesterAddison core principles.
That is music to our ears!

March 6th the Youth Forum on “Bullying and How to Prevent It” will be featured on Cablevision’s Neighborhood Journal program!

2011-03-03T09:53:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to announce that on Sunday, March 6th the Youth Forum on “Bullying and How to Prevent It” will be featured on Cablevision’s Neighborhood Journal program. According to the show’s producer, the segment will air at 6 pm (with subsequent airings at 7pm, 8pm, 9pm etc.) on Cablevision Local Programming channel 84. The program will also air on week nights at the same hours.

A special thank you to our esteemed guest speakers Elaine Zimmerman and Dickon Pownall-Gray, to our youth panelists and moderator who all did a fabulous job and to the YESS Leadership Team for their organization and implementation of the event. Congratulations to all!
Marybeth Gioffre Nisco

Manager of Youth Programs
Stepping Stones Museum for Children

Girlz RULE program makes the local news

2011-03-03T09:46:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Donna Marie Lellis of the Girl Scouts who created the curriculum for Girlz Rule program and offers it you young women here in Fairfield County. I had the privilege of attending one session last year and was very impressed. The program is now growing and will be replicated. Check out the news clip here.
http://www.ctnow.com/videobeta/21c98226-9dcb-4f5b-98ba-ce9d61a2a70a/News/Girl-Scouts-Advocacy-Day-3-2%20

The National Conference for Community & Justice (NCCJ) is on the radio.

2011-03-01T11:20:00.000-05:00

The press release NCCJ sent out announcing the Perrin Family Foundation support of NCCJ’s Youth Action Coalition caught the attention of the WPLR radio show, ‘For the People.' The host, John Voket, interviewed Dr. Andrea Kandel, Executive Director, about YAC and the Foundation support.

The show aired this past weekend, but there will be a podcast airing for the remainder of the week. Please click on:

http://wplr.com/features/for-the-people.html

For more information on NCCJ, please contact

Amanda Gumbs
Associate Director, Institutional Support
NCCJ
1095 Day Hill Road, Ste. 100
Windsor, CT 06095
Ph: 860.683.1039 ext. 106
Fx: 860.683.1409
agumbs@nccj.org
http://www.nccj.org

Learning Disabilities...Kids...HELP YOURSelves and others with LD GET SERVICES.

2011-02-17T09:38:00.003-05:00

CACLD

The Connecticut Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilites
** UPDATED ** ACTION ALERT
HELP YOUR CHILDREN GET SERVICES!

• an updated link to explain how SRBI can delay evaluations and services http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1103596296371-8/SRBI+Creates+Delays+-+Casparino+2-15-2011%5b1%5d.pdf

• new links to assist you in communicating with your representatives http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/CGAFindLeg.asp

Dear Friend in the Special Education Community,
It is time for the Special Education Community to stand together and be counted. Many of us in the field are seeing an alarming trend of reduced special education services. The agendas of local boards of education, teacher unions, and others are well represented by powerful lobbyists. These agendas, at times, conflict with the needs of those requiring specialized instruction.

Bill HB 5683 was proposed by Representative Larry Cafero of Norwalk. The Bill seeks to ensure that a comprehensive evaluation and eligibility is not delayed while the Scientifically Research-Based Intervention (SRBI) process ensues. Click here for an explanation of how SRBI can delay evaluations and services.

It's important we show, in impressive numbers, that we care how our legislators vote on special education issues. It is a tremendous opportunity to rally together. A display of overwhelming support will not only help with the passage of HB 5683 but will help with the passage of future Bills that address special education interests. Conversely, if public support is not demonstrated, Bill 5683 will fail as our legislators will conclude that the needs of students requiring specialized instruction are being appropriately met.

We ask you [and your LD youth} to do 3 things:

1) Write or e-mail your state legislators, and copy the Education Committee Chairpersons, to ask for their support of the Bill. The addresses of the Chairpersons and a link to identify your legislators can be found at the bottom of this e-mail. Included is a generic statement that can be cut and pasted, but if you have any personal experience with denial/delay of service, please share it in your e-mail even if it is only a sentence or two.
Sample Text for Letter:

Dear (Insert the name of your legislator),

Please support Bill HB 5683 raised by the Education Committee which reads:

"That section 10-76ff is amended to require that each local and regional school board of education shall ensure that evaluations and determinations of eligibility under this section are carried out promptly and are not delayed while a child undergoes interventions under the Connecticut response to intervention program."

The purpose of this Bill is to prevent a delay in the evaluation of children suspected of having a disability as well as the identification of such children requiring special education. This is a goal I endorse and hope you will champion as well.

Sincerely,

(Name, street address and town)

2) Pass this e-mail on to as many friends, parents, grandparents, advocates, attorneys, service providers, or anyone that cares about appropriate special education services. Try to ensure that at least 2 other people contact their legislators.

3) Provide your e-mail address to CACLD volunteer, Marianne Roday at MMRoday@gmail.com . The public hearing has not been scheduled. When it is, there may be as little as 5 days notice. If we have your address on file we can notify you of the date as soon as it is set. This campaign will be most successful with both a barrage of e-mails and large attendance at the public hearing. Just being there will make a difference.

Our winter has demonstrated that while a singular snowflake doesn't count for much, sticking together does make a difference.

When you e-mail your legislator, cut and paste the following e-mail addresses into the CC field:

Andrew.Fleischmann@cga.ct.gov;

Andrea.Stillman@cga.ct.gov;

Chris.Calabrese@cga.ct.gov
Thank you for your assistance.

The Connecticut Association for Children & Adults with Learning Disabilities (CACLD)
Phone (203) 838-5010 Fax (203) 866-6108
Website: www.cacld.org
Email: cacld@optonline.net

Egypt's Youth Groups Struggle To Find One Voice

2011-02-16T11:22:00.003-05:00

image credit: Luis Vazquez at Gulf News

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro at NPR

February 16, 2011 While the military remains firmly in charge in Egypt, new divisions are emerging both within and among the youth movements that fought to topple strongman Hosni Mubarak.

Ahmed Nazmi, a professional basketball player, is sitting around a table with about 15 young people in an outdoor garden of an upscale hotel in Cairo. They are meeting to try to form some sort of organization — what kind exactly they aren't sure.
This is the third such gathering Nazmi has attended Tuesday. He doesn't know most of the other people at the table.
"It's a very quick dynamic; I don't have time to sleep," he says. "You almost feel you need to grow because of all the energy inside that's being channeled around."
In cafes and living rooms all around Egypt, meetings like this one are taking place — young people trying to translate their newly discovered sense of empowerment into something tangible.
There is no doubt that Egypt's youth have found a voice in this revolution, but beyond certain principles, it's unclear what they are saying.
Nazmi has formed his own group of about 40 people, called Miki after a popular comic book they read as teenagers. Beyond that the only thing that binds them is a sense they want to help make Egypt "a better place," he says.
read entire article here!
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/16/133785818/egypts-youth-groups-struggle-to-find-one-voice

CT Public Allies Has An Announcement...

2011-02-04T14:38:00.008-05:00

Public Allies Connecticut is an AmeriCorps Program designed to develop the next generation of community and nonprofit leaders. We are currently seeking dedicated, service-minded young adults to begin 10-month paid apprenticeships in nonprofit organizations around Connecticut, with positions available in the greater New Haven, Hartford, and Bridgeport areas. The next class of Allies will begin in September 2011, but the application process starts NOW!

We encourage you to apply as early as possible, as spaces fill up quickly! Here's what to do:

We strongly encourage you to review our website in detail BEFORE completing your application. Visit www.publicallies.org, then click on "Communities" and then "Connecticut" to get to our local site.
For questions about the program or the application process, you can reach us by email at apply-CT@publicallies.org or 203-764-2031.

For more about Public Allies, please review our website at http://www.publicallies.org/.
For more about AmeriCorps programs, please visit www.americorps.gov

RYASAP recognizes Youth Voice Efforts

2011-01-24T16:39:00.001-05:00

(Paige Nelson presents the 2010 Bellinger Youth Award to Christopher Sanchez)

This past fall RYASAP hosted its 18th Annual Good Friends Brunch

at Fairfield University’s Dolan School of Business.

“Over 125 individuals, businesses and community leaders supported our annual event,“ said Robert Francis, Executive Director. “This incredible level of support allows us to continue our mission of tackling the tough issues such as juvenile justice reform, teen dating violence, youth leadership, urban education reform and closing the achievement gap, gambling and substance use education.”

As part of the event, two awards were presented to members of the RYASAP community:

THE BELLINGER YOUTH AWARD, established in memory of George M. Bellinger, RYASAP's former chairman, is presented to a youth who has demonstrated resiliency in overcoming obstacles, commitment to community service and initiative in working to improve conditions for all people. This year, the Bellinger Award was presented to a Chris Sanchez, a junior at Fairfield University. Chris currently works as a Youth coordinator with RYASAP. While in high school, Chris was an active participant in RYASAP’s YouthSpeak program.

THE GOODSPEED/PFRIEM AWARD, established in honor of RYASAP’s founders Norwick Goodspeed and Elizabeth M. Pfriem, is presented to the adult and youth volunteer whose vision and energy have contributed to building a healthier and safer community and to enhancing life in the Greater Bridgeport region.
This year, the Goodspeed/Pfriem Award was presented to Peg Perillie, Chairperson of Trumbull Cares and to Jasmine Pierce, a senior at Masuk High School who has been an active participant in RYASAP’s Youth and Wellness programs.

“Our award recipients are true community leaders who through their volunteer work and commitment to RYASAP are making tremendous contributions to the Greater Bridgeport community,” said Francis. “They truly represent RYASAP’s mission to face the tough issues and bring about community change.”

For more information on RYASAP's youth programs, please contact:

Paige Nelson ,YouthINC Director
RYASAP- Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership
2470 Fairfield Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06605
(203) 579-2727
paigenelson@sbc.global.net

January 17th is Martin Luther King Day

2011-01-14T12:50:00.008-05:00

"I Have A Dream"

August 28, 1963

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves, who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity.
One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so we have come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must ever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecutions and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right down in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I will go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. And this will be the day, this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning, "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!" And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring -- from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring -- from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring -- from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring -- from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring -- from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that.

Let freedom ring -- from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring -- from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring -- from every hill and molehill of Mississippi, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual,

Free at last, free at last.

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last."

The Perrin Family Foundation Brings the "Advancing Youth Development" Course to Fairfield County

2011-01-14T11:02:00.000-05:00

JUMP FOR JOY!-The Perrin Family Foundation is working in partnership with the Youth Development Training and Resource Center to offer an excellent opportunity to youth workers in Fairfield County. (AYD) is an exciting, in-depth 30-hour course offered by Youth Development Training and Resource Center, based on curriculum from the Center for Youth Development and Policy Research, Academy for Educational Development and the National Network for Youth. The course is designed to inspire and ignite youth workers and youth advocates who interact with middle school and high school kids in group settings. This interactive and fun course will be facilitated by Alexis Bivens and Maurice Muchene, both experienced and well-qualified AYD Course Facilitators and respected practitioners in Fairfield County.

Seven sessions include: Historical Development of Youth Work, Achieving Youth Outcomes, Nurturing Youth Competencies, Planning Developmentally and Culturally Responsive Programs, Youth Engagement Strategies and Best Practices, Assessing Youth Outcomes, and Professional Competencies of Youth Workers.

The class size is limited and very near capacity. Please contact Kelly Weldon for more information. Kweldon@perrinfamilyfoundation.org

Youth Leadership Message for 2011

2011-01-05T11:55:00.001-05:00

Carver has some exciting news for 2011-PLUS: Perseverance | Leadership | Understanding | Success

2011-01-05T11:48:00.000-05:00

This year, Carver is experiencing transformational change, as profound perhaps as Carver’s very founding. Now in Norwalk’s four middle schools and Norwalk High School, Carver is creating a new case for support to increase in size and effectiveness all of its existing programs and to expand into even more schools.

PLUS is the name of this new comprehensive Carver initiative. PLUS is the perfecting of traditional Carver best practices and the expansion of new ones. PLUS is the name given to Carver’s future.

Dick Whitcomb is leading this initiative by making this year the largest private financial commitment in Carver’s history and by helping Carver to design, articulate and to share this worthy vision with others. Mr. Whitcomb is the former long-time headmaster of St. Luke’s School in New Canaan and for just as long a volunteer at Carver. In his retirement he is dedicating to Carver his deep knowledge of effective education and his unshakeable belief in the ability of every youth.
read more http://carverheroes.org/2011/01/05/plus-perseverance-leadership-understanding-success/

DVCC Teen Peace Work Youth Leader

2011-01-05T11:36:00.000-05:00

Ricky Rivera

Weston High School
Weston, CT

Ricky has participated in October domestic violence awareness events since he was in middle school, by helping to put purple ribbons on trees and handing out information at the Westport train station awareness event for the last four years. During his freshman year in high school, he joined the Weston High School teen task force against dating violence (now Weston Teen PeaceWorks) and lent his time and energies to various activities that heightened awareness about teen dating violence and domestic violence. Activities at the high school included giving out information, helping with teen dating violence surveys and helping with a talent show that educates the audience about teen dating violence issues. He is currently one of the co-chairs of Weston Teen PeaceWorks and has been actively involved in planning activities as well as recruiting new members. Two new activities Ricky helped to plan for this year are a movie night for new members and a short skit to be performed at a luncheon of the Weston Senior Center at the request of the Commission on Aging.

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

2010-12-20T17:27:00.002-05:00

Do you know the story behind this young civil rights activist?

Youth Leader Spotlight- Raul Oliva

2010-12-20T09:17:00.001-05:00

Raul Oliva, a senior at Stamford High School, works after-school as an intern at the SoundWaters Center at Cove Island Park. The 17-year-old is quite adept at slicing and dicing sea food for hungry creatures in the SoundWaters aquarium tanks. But he still remembers when he first learned about marine life and Long Island Sound: "It was here," he said, "at a camp for little kids."

He is one of a growing number of students, selected by their teachers, who are gaining real-life, paid work experience, along with job skills and personal responsibility through our Sound Interns program. Raul feeds crabs, fish and terrapins, cleans and maintains tanks, assists educators, engages adults and children at the touch tank, and moves tables, chairs and whatever else is needed. He likes his job so much, he recruited his cousin, Roberto Lopez, to sign up.

Raul's connection to SoundWaters is extensive, beginning with a visit by educators to his elementary school classroom, then reinforced through summer camp and after-school programs that feature outdoor field study activities. "I learned everything from SoundWaters," he said, without prompting. "I didn't know anything before that."

Raul, his parents and two siblings live close to Cove Island Park, where barbeques and beach walks are part of family life. "When I was younger, it was interesting to see the different animals, but I didn't know what they were," he said. "Sometimes we'd see the shells of horseshoe crabs, and I was scared."

Not any more. These days he is equipped to tell his family what he learned. "I kind of taught them about marine life," he said. Better yet, "I learned some stuff at SoundWaters that we go over at school." In science class, for example, when the subject turns to topics such as the turbidity of water, "I can easily raise my hand," he said. "SoundWaters helps me in school."

When asked about his future plans, Raul said he wanted to do something with sports and business. "But I'll be back," he promised. "I'll come back and help volunteer and teach little kids what I've learned."

Written byLeigh Shemitz, Ph.D.

Executive Director

SoundWaters

Human Service Counsel selected as a NPO for the "City That Helps" article

2010-12-17T11:39:00.001-05:00

Please click on the link below to read the exciting news about the Human Service Council in Norwalk! We are thrilled to see the excellent coverage on the Children's Connection Program and Dr. Appleby Health Clinic. http://www.thecitythathelps.com/2010/TCTH20105.pdf City That Helps

"Let's Turn Up The Volume For Fairfield County Youth !"

2010-12-13T11:27:00.005-05:00

This past week, Fairfield county after school programs attended a workshop hosted by Perrin Family Foundation & Fairfield County Community Foundation. This event was facilitated by Ms. Carla Roach, Sr. Director, Innovation Center for Community & Youth Development.

This interactive workshop focused on youth voice. "What does it mean? What does it look like? Why is it important?" There were several exercises and discussions in addressing these questions. New Haven social change program youth workers and youth members were on hand to share their insights and experiences, in providing opportunities for youth to be involved in decision making practices at their organizations.

We thank the following for their time and effort in joining the discussion:

Solar Youth, Inc.
(www.solaryouth.org),

YMCA Youth Center
(www.cccymca.org)

Youth Development Training & Resource Center @
The Consultation Center
(www.theconsultationcenter.org/ydtrc) &

Youth as Leaders & Family First Initiative @
Easter Seals/Goodwill Industries
(newhavengoodwill.easterseals.com/Youth Leaders)

For more information and resources on youth voice, please visit The Innovation Center at www.theinnovationcenter.org

U.S. High School Dropout Rate Declining Slowly, Report Reveals

2010-12-06T10:28:00.000-05:00

TURBO Award goes to CPEP- Connecticut Pre Engineering Program of Middletown

2010-12-03T11:52:00.001-05:00

HBS Club of Connecticut Presents $20,000 Award to Connecticut Pre Engineering Program of Middletown

HBS Club Continues Tradition of Recognizing Best Ideas to Spark Innovation and Benefit Connecticut Community

(Greenwich, CT), Nov. 11, 2010 - The Harvard Business School (HBS) Club of Connecticut Community Partners presented its second Turbo Award today to Connecticut Pre Engineering Program (CPEP). The first Turbo Award was presented by the Club in 2007. The $20,000 award recognizes the local nonprofit with the best idea to spark innovation and benefit the community. CPEP, based in Middletown, CT was chosen from over ninety applicants for its blended learning project which will allow over 1500 middle school children throughout Connecticut take advantage of the tremendous learning resources that are available to students through the internet. With assistance from educators and Science, Technology, Engineering at Mathematics (STEM) industry leaders, CPEP has developed a portfolio of hands-on projects that their students build with the help of trained certified teachers. Specifically, the $20,000 grant will be used to allow CPEP to migrate all of their current and future projects to the MOODLE blended learning environment, creating the platform for them to significantly increase the number of students served and to enhance the depth of their experience. click here

Community Partners, the nonprofit arm of the Harvard Business School Club of Connecticut, donated $10,000 for the award. New Country Porsche of Greenwich matched the donation. A reception was held honoring the recipient and all five finalists.

“The HBS Club of Connecticut continues to support nonprofit organizations in tough economic times helping extend their reach and impact in our community,” said club president Gautam Ramchandani (MBA 1977). “The Turbo Award challenges nonprofits to consider how they can "turbo-charge" their programs to accelerate their impact.”

Robert Whitby (MBA 1966), Chair of the Turbo Award Committee observed “By providing $20,000 to encourage the application of business concepts in the social sector, we incentivize nonprofits to improve an existing program, to launch a new initiative, or to enhance overall organizational effectiveness.”

Presenting the award to CPEP were Robert Whitby (MBA 1966), and other Community Partners Board members including Gautam Ramchandani (MBA1977), Anna Park Song (MBA 1992), and Nancy Tafoya (MBA 1980).

The Turbo Award Committee also decided to present a second place award this year of $5000 to Family ReEntry, Inc. of Norwalk, CT. This innovative nonprofit has developed a research based residential ex-offender reentry program for the city of Bridgeport and the award money will help them to formalize the Fresh Start Training Center, and increase throughput capacity from just under 50 individuals per year to 150 per year.

Three additional Connecticut nonprofits received honorable mention for their competitive proposals - Abilis of Greenwich, Mercy Learning of Bridgeport and Transportation Association of Greenwich (TAG).

About the HBS Club of Connecticut

The HBS Club of Connecticut unites more than 2,400 alumni who live and work in the state. The club is committed to volunteerism and public service. Through the Community Partners program, alumni have the opportunity to provide pro bono consulting and apply their wealth of functional, industry, and board expertise to the core business issues facing leading nonprofits. Community Partners also works in partnership with senior executives and boards in social enterprises across diverse sectors. It provides scholarships to the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management executive program at Harvard Business School. The program provides nonprofit leaders a forum for examining and realigning their goals and missions to achieve greater organizational success. In addition to promoting excellence in nonprofit management in Connecticut, the club offers a variety of educational, business, and career and social networking events to its growing alumni base.

The announcement is also posted to our website:

http://www.hbsconnecticut.org/community_partners.html?aid=107&cp_tog=1

Also, the photographs taken at the event have been uploaded to a Picasa web site and will be there for a month for you and your supporters to view and download.

The link to the album is http://picasaweb.google.com/gautam.ramchandani/HarvardTurboAwardCara?authkey=Gv1sRgCNCw26v67Zq-dw&feat=directlink

Matisyahu - One Day (YouTube Version)

2010-12-02T12:55:00.001-05:00

Tell us what song inspires you?

Bank Of America-Student Leadership Program

2010-12-01T11:04:00.000-05:00

Bank of America would like you to help us get the message out to Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk area high school juniors and seniors about Bank of America’s Student Leader Program, as it is truly a great program for high school students. The timeline for students to submit applications for student leaders is from October 1st to January 12th. I am asking you to please tell any high school juniors or seniors that attend a Bridgeport, Stamford and/or Norwalk area high school or live in the Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk area to consider applying to this program. This program recognizes these students as exemplary young people who have an interest in improving their neighborhoods. In addition, each student will have an opportunity to attend a leadership seminar in Washington, D.C. in July of 2011 with other student leaders from throughout the country. To further their personal and educational growth, students will participate in an eight-week paid internship in the summer of 2011 with a nonprofit organization in Fairfield County and be compensated accordingly. The program has had great success over the past few years in the Fairfield County community and all of the interns have enjoyed their experiences working with their nonprofits. Here is the internet link for more information and the online application process. http://www.bankofamerica.com/foundation/index.cfm?template=fd_studentleaders. Also, here is a link to a short video about the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative. http://www.bankofamerica.com/foundation/NEIVideo.wmv

If you should have any further questions, please call me 203-905-4132 or email me at nicholas.s.vazquez@bankofamerica.com .

Thanks again for any assistance that you can provide. Attached is a flyer about the Student Leader Program.

PLEASE ENCOURAGE LOCAL FAIRFIELD COUNTY (BRIDGEPORT/STAMFORD/NORWALK) HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO APPLY TO THIS PROGRAM AND REMEMBER THAT THE
DEADLINE FOR STUDENT LEADER APPLICATIONS IS JANUARY 12, 2011.

Sincerely,

Nicholas S. Vazquez
Market Specialist
Global Corporate Social Responsibility
Northeast and Great Lakes Region

Bank of America
CT2-522-12-01
1 Landmark Square,
Stamford, CT 06901
Ph: 203-905-4132

POP QUIZ... just for fun

2010-11-30T09:51:00.003-05:00

Young People – Spectrum of Attitudes Activity

This activity is devised to help directors and staff of “Out of School Time” programs determine whether young people are involved as “objects”, “recipients”, “resources” or “partners”.

__________ 1. Youth participants take a test at the completion of the program to demonstrate that it is
                          effective.

__________ 2. Young people and adults jointly determine what evaluation methods will be used.

__________ 3. To help young people develop their communication skills, adults allow young people to   conduct interviews with program participants using a script written by an adult.

__________ 4. Young people participate in focus groups interviews to help adults better understand how the program is functioning.

__________ 5. Young people review a draft of a questionnaire and make editorial suggestions regarding how it could be written in a teen- friendly language.

__________ 6. To help young people improve their computer skills, adults have them enter survey data into a spreadsheet for analysis.

__________ 7. Young people present evaluation findings to relevant stakeholder groups, with adults available to help, if needed.

__________ 8. Young people provide adults with suggestions regarding the evaluation methods they feel would be appropriate.

__________ 9. Young people help adults understand and interpret comments made by other youth.

__________ 10. Adults allow young people to distribute and collect questionnaires in their program.

__________ 11. Youth who participate in the programs are randomly assigned into control and experimental groups by adults conducting a study.

__________ 12. Young people and adults participate in a brainstorming session to identify questions they want to see answered by the evaluation.

RESULTS WILL BE POSTED In the Comment section of this post. GOOD LUCK.

"Offers Bold Strategies for Improvement" A Plan To Help Close Connecticut's Achievement Gap.

2010-11-29T10:02:00.004-05:00

(Table via ConnCAN)

A must read report for everyone who cares about youth in Connecticut.

Group Submits Final Report on Education Achievement Gap

Thank you Carver Center for sending this to us to post.
Will you share this report with someone? Who and why?

We are on FACEBOOK!

2010-11-17T10:44:00.003-05:00

Hello PFFer's,
We are very excited to announce that the Perrin Family Foundation has a facebook page and we would love you to become a FRIEND. Click here Perrin Family Foundation, CT Facebook page
Please let us know if you are on Facebook as we would love to become a friend or fan of yours.

Here is a question. Is it important for programs that serve youth to be on Facebook? Why?

Teen Leaders in anti-violence work at DVCC

2010-11-15T12:45:00.002-05:00

Courtney Williams
Westhill High School
Stamford, CT

Courtney is a senior at Westhill High School, and responsible for developing Westhill High School’s first Teen PeaceWorks group. Courtney found her passion for anti-violence work after participating in the Teen PeaceWorks Leadership and Advocacy Training at the Domestic Violence Crisis Center. Immediately after the training, Courtney began raising awareness among her peers. She coordinated a teen intimate partner violence (IPV) awareness day, complete with an information table and cafeteria decorations that impressed other students with important statistics as well as provided them with phone numbers and resources where they could get help. Additionally, she advocated to school administrators to host a seminar on teen dating violence after school. To continue to spread the message, Courtney volunteered, along with other area teens, to be interviewed for Stamford Magazine.

a project of the DVCC Stamford-Norwalk
Do you know a teen leader in our community? What have they been doing?

The Pride of the Lions- Amazing documentary! "Bassick High School, you guys rock," said Wiley Mullins, chair of the Bridgeport Public Education Fund

2010-11-04T13:16:00.005-04:00

"Just want to share our good news with everyone. It is sooo much fun to have an event that – takes little effort – is so much fun – and has a great outcome! This was one of the last grants we awarded through out Grants for Bridgeport Teachers funded through JPMorgan Chase – who underwrote the reception and congratulated Kathy and her team. If you missed our great event last night – you can read all about in the CT Post today. If you were there you already know what a positive and great event it was. Lots of good news for a rainy day." Marge Hiller

"It's more than making a movie," she said. http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1902518884?bctid=645201805001

BRIDGEPORT -- They came dressed in football jerseys, wearing backpacks, one on crutches.
http://www.ctpost.com/schools/article/Bassick-students-create-best-sports-documentary-719039.php

The carpet wasn't red, but there were hors d'oeuvres, fresh flowers and flash photography.

The local premiere of "The Pride of the Lions," a 20-minute documentary produced by video students at Bassick High School, drew such a crowd Wednesday that the ninth-floor Tower Room in the University of Bridgeport's A&H Center was deemed not big enough. The screening, for students, teachers, local school officials and members of the community, instead took place downstairs in the Littlefield Recital Hall.

"Bassick High School, you guys rock," said Wiley Mullins, chair of the Bridgeport Public Education Fund, which hosted the event. "We are proud of you."

The documentary follows both the football and soccer teams through a season in which they practiced without home fields. The football team walks several blocks from the Fairfield Avenue school to a nearby park to practice and plays home games at Kennedy Stadium, adjacent to Central High School. The soccer team practices and plays home games at Seaside Park.

The film, winner of the 2010 New York City Film Festival's Best Sports Documentary, has since been entered in three invitational film festivals in
Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Miami, said Kathy Silver, the teacher who directed the project.

Dale Kirkland, a sophomore football player who is on crutches because of a sprained ankle, called the film inspirational.

"It shows that, like, we have problems and need resources and a field, but that we don't give up," he said.

Marwane Agrignan, a senior soccer player who appears in the film, was excited to see himself. He's seen it several times.

Bassick Principal Alex Ortiz called the film "awesome." Former Bassick Principal Ronald Remy, now principal at Blackham, said he was impressed with the dedication of the students to the project and the leadership Silver took. It made him angry, too. "The part about the kids were afraid they were going to forfeit home soccer games because they had no bus to take them to a home soccer game ... That's just not right," Remy said.

Silver told the audience she hoped to chronicle something good happening, but also silence those who stand on the sidelines at Bassick games and make nasty comments about Bassick students. In addition to the award-winning film, the audience was treated to outtakes to give them a taste of the long hours that go into creating "a perfect, polished" documentary.

Marge Hiller, director of BPEF, said the film was not only compelling, but an example of active learning. Students learned how to interview, present themselves, tell a story, how to film.

Free Workshop on Developing the IEP for Students with Learning Disabilities.

2010-11-04T12:26:00.003-04:00

CACLD

The Connecticut Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities
Free Workshop on Developing the IEP
For Parents and Professionals

Wednesday, November 10, 2010
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Norwalk City Hall - Community Room

Please click below to read the flier and register for this free event!

http://library.constantcontact.com/doc200/1103596296371/doc/yYvJfePZbileB3Zh.pdf

Phone (203) 838-5010 Fax (203) 866-6108
Web Site: www.CACLD.org
E-mail: CACLD@optonline.net

2010-11-03T13:15:00.003-04:00

Press Release
Youth Rights Media Appoints New Executive Director
New Haven, Connecticut- October 28th, 2010 - Youth Rights Media, Connecticut’s premier youth-based nonprofit organization dedicated to building youth power and leadership by engaging young people in video media production and community organizing, has appointed Janis Astor del Valle as Executive Director.

An award-winning screenwriter and playwright, Astor del Valle holds an MFA in Film from Columbia University and a BA in Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College. Prior to joining YRM, she taught in the Creative Writing and Theatre departments of the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. She previously served as Director of Wesleyan University’s Green Street Arts Center, where she produced the documentary Our Elders, Our Youth and created the Peer Education Performance Project, a program designed to teach young people to become peer educators through theatre focusing on issues such as bullying, respect, peer pressure and alcohol and substance abuse prevention.

Fahd Vahidy, Chair of the search committee and Board member, says of the appointment, “Janis’ unique talents, particularly, as a filmmaker, teacher, and youth worker, are a tremendous asset to us.
Her energy, passion, and creativity are consistent with the ethos of Youth Rights Media and will only strengthen our mission of empowering youth to know, protect and advance their rights.”

Astor del Valle replaced Laura McCargar, founding Executive Director in September of this year. Astor del Valle says of this opportunity, “I’ve had my eye on this organization for five years, I stayed in touch with Laura and continued to be inspired by YRM’s work. When she called me last summer to encourage me to apply, I became excited by the opportunity. I feel so honored and blessed to join the organization – I am truly looking forward to building upon the solid foundation Laura, the staff, board and youth have created.”

Astor del Valle was also a Youth Development Specialist at The Point, a community cultural center in the South Bronx, where she launched arts and media projects designed to promote social change. A proud Bronx-born Puerto Rican, Janis tours her solo plays to schools and colleges, fostering discourse about diversity and acceptance. She lives in New Haven with her wife, and their dog and cat.

2010-11-03T11:47:00.002-04:00

Citywide Youth Coalition (CWYC), New Haven:

3 Free & Easy Ways to Support Youth in our Community

Greetings!We know you care deeply about youth in our community and how they're doing and what we can do to support their development.Here are some really easy ways that we can shift the way we engage with children and youth that help build youth sense of value in our community.Free & easy & powerful... things we know how to do. Will you take the time?

1. Smile and Say Hello to Me
This sounds like a "no-brainer," but smiling and saying hello to children and youth on the streets and in the halls is a great way help youth feel important. This simple step is especially powerful with teenagers who sometimes feel like outsiders between the worlds of childhood and adulthood.

2. Get to Know My Name
Get to know the names of the youth in your block, your building, and your faith community. Greet youth by name, so they know there is one more adult in their life who cares about them. You never know the impact you may have.

3. Ask Me What I Think & How I Feel
Another very simple step: ask questions and listen. Listen to your children, listen to your students, listen to children and youth. Learn about their world. Don't respond with advice. There are times to give advice and times to listen to show you care about what youth think and feel. Take time to learn about the world from the perspective of youth. Just imagine being young, going through the day -- from breakfast, to school, to after school program, back to your neighborhood and home -- with all the adults you meet along the way smiling, engaging and encouraging you in big and little ways. What could you achieve?

________________________
For more information and news please visit www.cwyc.org rachel@cwyc.org

Youth Rights Media in NEW HAVEN:Stranded Student Relates to "Waiting For Superman"

2010-11-01T10:47:00.002-04:00

“It was horrible—no textbooks, no supplies,” Drury said. “I can’t name 10 things that I learned from one school year.”

Drury said she landed at New Horizons after being kicked out of Wilbur Cross due to poor attendance. After one year at New Horizons, she sought desperately for a way out. Through the city’s school choice program, she applied in the spring to three well-reputed, small-scale high schools: New Haven Academy, High School in the Community and Coop (Cooperative Arts and Humanities Interdistrict Magnet).

Drury moved to New Haven five years ago from Bridgeport. In applying to a better school, Drury said, she was “trying to get out of New Haven and make something from myself.” If she graduates, she’ll be the first one in her family to finish high school.

Her own story was featured in a documentary called Lost In Translation made by fellow teens at Youth Rights Media. Waiting For “Superman”, which is directed by Davis Guggenheim, who also made An Inconvenient Truth, mirrored her story in some ways.

http://www.youthrightsmedia.org/m/
http://newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/waiting_for_superman/

Grantspace.org

2010-10-28T13:33:00.002-04:00

New Web Site Offers Grantseekers a Nexus for Knowledge,Community, and Guidance
GrantSpace Launched by the Foundation Center
New York, NY — October 5, 2010. The Foundation Center, the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide, has launched an online learning community for the social sector. GrantSpace (grantspace.org) provides free access to the most comprehensive set of information and resources available to anyone seeking grants on behalf of nonprofit organizations.
The Foundation Center, which maintains offices in Atlanta, Cleveland, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, has long been known as the premier resource for fundraisers and others seeking grants. In addition to housing the most comprehensive database on grantmakers and their grants, it also offers a robust curriculum of education and training — much of it for free in locations nationwide and online — to help grantseekers effectively navigate the grantseeking process. GrantSpace brings this unparalleled depth of information and educational offerings together with even more resources designed to meet the needs of grantseekers, including: recent news, published reports, podcasts, videos, statistics, sample documents, job listings, and requests for proposals.
"GrantSpace continues in the Foundation Center tradition of helping grantseekers succeed by giving them tools they can use and information they can trust," said Bradford Smith, president of the Foundation Center. "But GrantSpace is anything but traditional, harnessing the power of technology to build community, share ideas, and offer knowledge that is indispensable in today's nonprofit landscape."

Resources featured on GrantSpace are organized under the 13 most common subject areas of funding research — including health, education, and the arts — so visitors can easily access the most relevant content. Visitors are also offered the option of approaching the content by focusing on a particular skill they want to hone, including proposal writing, corporate fundraising, and collaboration. Video and audio recordings of onsite Foundation Center presentations, along with links to the most relevant FAQs in the extensive Knowledge Base, accompany each topic. The "Ask Us" link on each page connects visitors to expert assistance from Foundation Center staff via live chat or e-mail.
GrantSpace also provides a comprehensive calendar listing of all upcoming Foundation Center training opportunities in classrooms around the country and online. Visitors who register with the site for free can leave comments and share or rate the content throughout. And, for a limited time, anyone who registers will receive a gift card good for a free 24-hour subscription to the Foundation Center's Foundation Directory Online Professional, its searchable database of nearly 100,000 grantmakers and more than 2 million grants.

About the Foundation Center:
Established in 1956 and today supported by close to 550 foundations, the Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit the Center's web site each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of 450 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and beyond. For more information, please visit foundationcenter.org or call (212) 620-4230

Waiting for Superman

2010-10-27T10:02:00.000-04:00

Please let us know what your thoughts were about the film "Waiting For Superman". Did it make you angry? Does it give you a reason to hope that change can and will happen? In your opinion, what was the most powerful message that you heard? Do you believe the youth in Connecticut should see this movie...?

THE COLUMN: Waiting for "Superman" Director Davis Guggenheim Joins CT Forum Education Panel

New! Interdistrict Cooperative Grant Program RFP

2010-10-26T12:58:00.000-04:00

CT Department of Education is seeking applications!
Check out this funding opportunity.
CT After School Network - Home

Governance Can Become a Victim of Nepotism - Topic Paper

2010-10-25T09:34:00.001-04:00

This is a short but valuable "must read" if you have family members on your staff or Board of Directors.

Governance Can Become a Victim of Nepotism - Topic Paper

TEEN PEACEWORKS LEADERSHIP TRAINING

2010-10-19T12:37:00.001-04:00

Eleven teens from high schools in Stamford, Darien, Westport and Wilton recently devoted three evenings to learning more about the issue of teen dating violence and domestic violence. Each of the three-hour-long training seminars at DVCC's Stamford office was structured to help the teens become leaders in their respective schools around the issue of intimate partner violence. Most of the attendees are members or leaders of Teen PeaceWorks groups at their high schools, and one hopes to start a group. Seminar topics included: an overview of the dynamics of IPV; Teens and Technology; Technology and the Legal System; Boundaries; Responding to IPV; and services provided by the DVCC.

"The training is designed to help teens be better informed so that they can assume leadership positions in their schools, plan events during Domestic Violence and Teen Dating Violence Awareness months and assist as volunteers with agency events," said Lauren Linkowski, the DVCC PeaceWorks Educator who developed and ran the training. "This group of teens displayed enormous maturity and aptitude in understanding the difficult topics around IPV, and we very much look forward to working with them."

CommonAction Consulting: Everybody Loves Student Voice

2010-10-08T11:46:00.000-04:00

CommonAction Consulting: Everybody Loves Student Voice: "There is a growing awareness that student engagement is a vital element of school improvement. The belief that the social, emotional, academ..."

WOW! Norwalk Named One of the Nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People By America’s Promise Alliance and ING

2010-09-29T09:41:00.001-04:00

Pictured Above is Novelette Peterkin, ED of the George Washington Carver Center

and Alma Powell at the award ceremony

Competition Recognizes Communities Taking Action to Help Reduce Local Dropout Rates and Create Brighter Futures for Young People

Norwalk, Conn.—The efforts of Norwalk civic and community leaders were honored today when America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance), the nation’s largest partnership organization dedicated to youth and children, announced the city had been named a winner of the Alliance’s 100 Best Communities for Young People (100 Best) competition presented by ING, a global financial services company and leading provider of retirement plans and programs for teachers. Its 2010 recognition marks the first win for Norwalk in the competition.

The 100 Best designation recognizes those communities that make youth a priority by implementing programs that help keep children in school and prepare them for college and the 21st century workforce. The competition is open to all communities that make children and youth a priority, including small towns, large cities, counties and school districts. In addition to enhancing local educational opportunities, most winning communities have taken steps to facilitate improved access to health care for its young people, encourage youth civic engagement and supply developmental resources that create better places for young people to live and grow. The entire 2010 list of 100 Best Communities for Young People and their accomplishments can be found at www.americaspromise.org/100Best.

“Through its innovative and far-reaching programs, Norwalk is taking bold and effective steps to help their young people graduate and lead healthy, productive lives,” said Marguerite W. Kondracke, America’s Promise Alliance president and CEO. “Norwalk serves as an example to inspire and educate other communities across the nation to tackle the challenges facing their city and children, and to implement initiatives that give them the essential resources they need to succeed in life.”

Norwalk was named one of the nation’s 100 Best because of its commitment to providing young people with an excellent education, and leadership and service opportunities. With a 97 percent graduation rate, Norwalk continues to work toward closing the local academic achievement gap. Norwalk ACTS is a coalition of 50 leaders from government, business, human services and faith communities that are working to meet the early childhood education and youth engagement needs of the community’s young people to reduce the dropout rate.

The residents of Norwalk strive to instill a sense of community service and leadership in its young people.
The Center for Youth Leadership (CYL) at Brian McMahon High School is the largest youth activism organization in the Norwalk area. Its 220 student members promote social change through public awareness programs and activities on issues ranging from shaken baby syndrome to animal cruelty. Through volunteer activities, the CYL raises funds to administer grants to local organizations throughout the Norwalk community.

On September 21, 2010, Norwalk and the other winners spanning 37 states were recognized at a ceremony in front of the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Each of the winning communities was formally recognized with a designation on a map of the U.S., illustrating the geographic and demographic diversity of the winning 100 communities. In addition to the 100 Best distinction, Norwalk and the other top communities will receive two road signs identifying the city as one of 100 Best, as well as a trophy to be presented to local officials later this year.

Alliance Chair Alma Powell and President and CEO Marguerite W. Kondracke revealed the list of winners during the national celebration. They were joined by Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation and senior vice president, ING’s Office of Corporate Responsibility and Multicultural Affairs and Twilight’s Kellan Lutz, who both share a passion for the development of young people.

“ING is committed to children’s education and to the advancement of education initiatives that prepare them for successful futures,” said Mims. ”Our support for 100 Best demonstrates our goal of honoring communities like Norwalk that produce real, measurable results for improving the lives of young people.”

The competition is one element of the Alliance’s Grad Nation campaign, a 10-year initiative to mobilize all Americans to take action in their communities to end the high school dropout crisis and prepare young people for college and the 21st century workforce. More than 7,000 students drop out each school day in the U.S., resulting in 1.3 million young people a year. To help decrease these numbers, the Alliance is more committed than ever to recognizing communities – regardless of size, location or history – that are taking real action to help more young people stay in school and graduate on time.

“100 Best is an essential building block of an inspiring national movement that gives everyone a chance to ensure every young person graduates,” said Powell. “These winning communities refuse to let the challenges they face be the determining factor in the lives of their children and youth. Instead, they are helping to build an infrastructure of assertive, successful and dynamic young people that are the future of this country.”

About 100 Best
First held in 2005, 100 Best honors communities large and small, rural and urban, that are making progress to help young people achieve their potential, which includes earning a high school diploma, securing a good job, and playing an active, productive role in America’s economic vitality. This year, more than 350 communities in 50 states registered online for the 100 Best distinction at www.americaspromise.org/100best.

Being a 100 Best community not only demonstrates commitment to local young people; the award fosters local pride, bolsters economic development and shines the spotlight on the people and programs that are building better communities. The competition also facilitates the sharing of best practices among communities nationwide regarding education, access to health care, reading score improvement, youth service and pre-school enrollment, among many other areas.

Here is our QUOTE OF THE MONTH For September!

2010-09-29T08:56:00.002-04:00

Our teen program, in its second year, started out as a drop-in program due to feedback from

teens interested in having their own program in our building after school. However, last
year, the teens got bored really quickly with just hanging out after doing their homework.
After brainstorming with them this year, a schedule was devised that gave them varied
activities/duties throughout the week. They really love the structure, and
it fits in well with the structure of our afterschool activities as a whole. "So, lesson learned - teens love structure, as long as they have a say in how it’s set up."
Keep up the great work Karen King and the teens at McGivney Community Center. We cheer you on!

What lessons have you learned from the teens in your program?

CT After School Network wants you to know that

2010-09-24T10:06:00.001-04:00

JCPenny Needs Your Help to Give Away
$1,000,000 to After School!

This fall, JCPenney reached the $100 million milestone in support of after school programs across the country since becoming the company's signature cause in 1999. To celebrate the occasion, JCPenney is getting the public involved to help decide how the next one million dollars will be distributed and we need your help to spread the word!
Starting Sept. 21, JCPenney will ask Facebook fans to vote for their favorite after school charity - Boys & Girls Clubs of America, FIRST, 4-H and The Y. JCPenney will be awarding $25,000, $75,000, $150,000 and $250,000 based on the number of votes each charity receives by October 17th at facebook.com/jcpenney.
Additionally, teens ages 13-18 who donate their time to make a difference in their communities may also win one of 50 college scholarships plus a matching donation for their favorite charity. Please encourage great kids you know to submit an essay and photo to JCPenney's Facebook contest page at facebook.com/jcpenney and they could be selected to receive a scholarship from $3,000 to $50,000. The submission deadline is October 3rd.

Connecticut After School Network

12 Melrose Avenue, Branford, CT 06405 phone: 203-483-9757 fax: 203-481-7160 email: info@ctafterschoolnetwork.org
Visit our Web site at: www.ctafterschoolnetwork.org

Learning Disabilities and Special Education in CT

2010-09-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

Time For Action!

Make Your Voice Heard on This Important Issue Affecting
Your Children

The Connecticut State Department of Education published two important documents: 1. Proposed revised regulations regarding the provision of special education to eligible children. 2. Special education due process.
Public hearings for the proposed state regulations revisions will be held on:

Wednesday, September 22
9:30 a.m. to 3:30
25 Industrial Park Road
Room MCR3
Middletown, CT

Be sure to read the proposed revised regulations, as well as a summary and analysis of proposed changes. The state is proposing to make significant changes including:

A change in parental notice of PPT meetings, a lengthening of time for IEP implementation by staff after initial evaluation, changes to the mediation timeline, due process, control over placement and more.
Go to cpacinc.org or www.sde.ct/gov.
If you cannot attend the hearing, send your comments in an email to Terri DiFrancis at the CT State Department of Education, Theresa.defrancis@ct.gov

Make Your Voice Heard By Sept. 22!
Phone (203) 838-5010 Fax (203) 866-6108
Web Site: www.CACLD.org
E-mail: CACLD@optonline.net

Great CT Blog and article by Michelle Doucette Cunningham

2010-09-10T10:02:00.000-04:00

Michelle Doucette Cunningham advocates for quality After School Programs.
Thanks Michelle for this must read piece!

CT News Junkie OP-ED: The Importance of Quality After School Programs

2010-09-08T10:35:00.004-04:00

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
AN EDUCATION WORKSHOP
Hosted by “My Brothers Keeper”, an organization committed to closing the New Haven divide.
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, SEPT 8, 2010
WHERE:COURTLAND LIBRARY
LOCATED: Washington Av-Daggett St
TIME: 6:00-7:30 PM (Please be Prompt)

Teens and parents: You need to know your rights before you are “pushed” out of school….

Speakers: Attorneys Deborah Marcuse and Kathryn Scheinberg, Center of Children’s Advocacy

Light Refreshments- More Info: contact Barbara Fair (203)479-1105

Event information provided by:
CityWide Youth Coalition
http://www.cwyc.org/
203-777-5839

Planting seeds of leadership in kids

2010-08-31T11:56:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to PLTI Bridgeport for this excellent article about their CLTI program. Click here to read more! Planting seeds of leadership in kids

GIRL TO GIRL Scouts a success at Carver Center - Norwalk News - The Hour - Norwalk's Newspaper

2010-08-10T09:28:00.001-04:00

It is wonderful to hear about two PFF funded programs working together to develop leadership skills and respect for the environment in our youth. "Hats Off" to Jennifer Smith Turner, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut for taking the time to spend with the Carver Center girls. GIRL TO GIRL Scouts a success at Carver Center - Norwalk News - The Hour - Norwalk's Newspaper

Important Information passed on to us by Novelette Peterkin

2010-07-29T09:43:00.001-04:00

FYI
Annie E. Casey Foundation Releases 2010 KIDS COUNT Data Book (7/27/10)

Overall improvements in child well-being that began in the late 1990s stalled in the years leading up to the current economic downturn, a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation ( http://www.aecf.org/ ) finds.

This year's KIDS COUNT Data Book found that the 2008 child poverty rate topped 18 percent, which means the number of children living in poverty grew by a million between 2000 and 2008. Moreover, when more up-to-date Census data is released later this year, the child poverty rate is expected to climb past 20 percent. The report also found that child well-being worsened in three areas -- the percentage of low-birth-weight babies born, the percentage of children living in single-parent families, and the child poverty rate -- and that it improved in five areas: infant mortality, child deaths, teen deaths, teen births, and the percentage of teens not in school and not high school graduates.

Looking across all child well-being indicators, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Vermont ranked at the top of the list among the fifty states, while Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi ranked at the bottom. The states recording the biggest improvement in their rankings between 2000 and 2007 (health data) and 2000 and

2008 (economic data) were New York, Maryland, North Carolina, Illinois, Oregon, and Wyoming. The states with the biggest drop in their rankings were Montana, South Dakota, Maine, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Based on the report's findings, the Casey Foundation recommends that the federal government take steps to improve the collection of data on the nation's children, including enhancing the National Survey of Children's Health, which was last conducted in 2007 and is not scheduled again until 2011; adopting a supple- mental poverty measure that captures non-cash benefits such as food stamps and child care to better understand how children are faring; increasing the sample size of the American Community Survey to include urban neighborhoods and sparsely populated rural communities; and addressing problems within the Vital Statistics System, which over the past few years have resulted in significant gaps and delays in compiling key data on health.

"Our KIDS COUNT project has made significant strides in tracking results and compiling data on children and families during the past two decades," said Casey Foundation president and CEO Patrick T. McCarthy. "But the reality is that we can only go so far without needed improvements to our data collection systems.

None of us has a good grasp on the conditions facing America's children because state and federal agencies collect data too infrequently and often do not measure what really matters for kids."

"Rates of Children Living in Poverty Already on the Rise Before Recession Started; One Million More Children Living in Poverty in 2008." Annie E. Casey Foundation Press Release 7/27/10.

Novelette Peterkin, MBA
Executive Director
Carver Foundation of Norwalk Inc.
7 Academy Street
http://www.aecf.org/Norwalk, CT 06850

'Solar Youth' Youth Teach Public about Fossil Fuels

2010-07-29T09:35:00.001-04:00

Youth Teach Public about Fossil Fuels

On his way to a lunch date, a local reporter was "accosted" (nicely of course) by a group of funny looking youth who then engaged him in conversation about the use of fossil fuels for energy in the State of Connecticut.

Read the article about it here!
'Solar Youth July E-Newsletter'