Agueda's Thoughts: Empower

If people from all walks of life, economic status, color, gender, etc all work together, we can create the change that we all envision and need.

The promise of healthy food in Los Angeles

http://laist.com/2009/11/30/market_makeovers.php

In a city where liquor stores out number places where one can find good fresh fruit and vegetables, it is great to know that there is a conscious effort being made to provide the community with healthier alternatives. Not only are teens from South Los Angeles partnering with Health Eating Active Communities to encourage youth to eat healthy snacks as alternatives to what they typically consume but there is also an effort being made to have local corner stores convert to selling more fresh fruits and vegetables. Although it is a hard task, the benefits that the community will receive are definitely the incentive. It seems that more and more people are beginning to see how crucial it is to make an effort in trying to provide the community with healthier options. The youth is society’s most useful resource because they bring energy and hope to our constant struggles, therefore, educating them and really bringing a sense of consciousness to them is vital for the needs of our communities to be met. Too often they are undervalued and ignored but what they have to offer can really change course of our struggles.

The Beauty of Music

Michelle Obama gives Harmony Projects a round of applause

A select group of organizations met with Michelle Obama to receive awards and recognition for their work in various communities across the nation. LA's very own Harmony Project received an award for bringing music into the underserved youth in Los Angeles. They provide musical instruments, instruction and various opportunities for youth to showcase their talent at no cost. The Harmony Project has received several awards and featured in numerous magazines.

The Harmony Project's focus is on music, but their efforts have helped youth in other areas of their lives. Self confidence being one of them. “I’m so thankful Harmony Projects got my confidence back. I have no limits now”, from one of their participants who attended the White House event. With art programs disappearing from schools, the significance of groups like the Harmony Project is greater than ever before.

Thursday's Thoughts

"Teens lack jobs despite job effort"

The Workforce Investment Act summer program was designed to train youth ages 14-24 with the skills they need to enter the workforce. Unfortunately in several states, including California, this program didn't reach the group of people in was intended for. With the state of the economy, many adults turned to this opportunity to brush up on their skills and take advantage of the job opportunities that were available to them. This would have been a great opportunity for many of our teens to learn new skills, but it's difficult when they don't know what is available to them.

Thursday's Thoughts

This week I'd like to highlight a great organization that one of our very own mentors, Bridgett Thompson, is a part of. Let's Give Them a Shot, founded by Derek Locklear, provides quality sports instruction and equipment to kids living in "at-risk" areas of Los Angeles. LGTS teaches kids the basics of volleyball, baseball/softball, and soccer. While kids have the opportunity to play sports, they are also learning important life lessons such as sharing, teamwork and community and beginning a path towards a healthy lifestyle. Many of the kids LGTS works with, live in areas with limited resources, limited open space to play in addition to high obesity rates.

Bridgett Thompson is going onto her 7th year as mentor in our Odyssey program. Not only is she a great mentor, but somehow she finds the time to be a part of another great organization like Let's Give Them a Shot. She firmly believes in the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and discovering oneself through sports. “I love sports and know that it can be a healthy tool in building character. Participating in sports is more than just about winning its learning life lessons: helping others, sharing and team work. Kid’s lives these days often have a lot vying for their attention. I coach to teach kids to let go, relax, enjoy and play their game in that moment. It is important to look forward but also stay in the present. These lessons and skills will last long after the season ends.”

Thanks to LGTS many kids will benefit from having positive role models in their life!

If you would like more information about Let's Give Them a Shot, please visit their website: www.letsgivethemashot.org

Thursday's Thoughts

"Mentoring to a new beat"


The Digital Youth Network is an innovative program that gives students from Chicago the "tools to be engaged, articulate, critical and collaborative... and facilitate the ability to become creators -designers, builders, and innovators-who can envision new possibilities". Students learn valuable skills in music composition, film making, and game design among others. This program has so much potential in creating a new wave of artists especially because it values connecting the instruction to student's passions and interests. Students are assigned projects in topics they can relate to and find common ground with the experience of others. A typical assignment might require them to use a creative expression of a book they read, and by doing this "the text becomes reality".
While this program offers students opportunities to explore various media outlets, they are also deconstructing the world around them with the help of program instructors who are more than instructors for their students. Their connection with each student allows them to earn their trust and help uncover their creativity. Instructors serve as role models that students can look up to, receive guidance from and become empowered to follow their dreams in the process. The Digital Youth Network seems to offer a great environment where students can use their talents to make a greater impact.

Thursday's Thoughts

"L.A turns on the lights and takes back the nights"

We all know that the need is great to provide our youth with a space where they can enjoy outdoor activities and spend time with family and friends. Keeping parks open late at night through the Summer Night Lights Program has proven beneficial for countless families in Los Angeles, so I wonder, along with Ruben from the article, how we can continue this program all year long?

Thursday's Thoughts

"Nonprofit Spotlight: Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy"

Young Visionaries was created by two men, previously in gangs, who provide youth with services such as employment assistance, mentoring, tutoring and encouraging gang youth to continue their education through their Corners for College program. This academy understands the complex issues youth face that they even have on-site mental health and substance abuse counselors. It is great to know there are other organizations addressing the needs of youth and understand their potential in this world. We need more people who have overcome their difficulties and have the desire to give youth guidance, especially in these hard times where many services are disappearing.

Thursday's Thoughts

California seeks sponsors for state parks
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-state-park-cuts30-2009jul30,0,1097002.story?track=rss


Luis Sincon / Los Angeles Times
The remains of a once thriving gold mining community are the main attractions of Bodie State Historic Park. But the ghost town receives mainly seasonal visitors who do not generate enough revenue to keep the park open.

With only 13 of 279 parks and beaches financially self-sustaining, officials are desperate for new sources of funding to keep some of the vulnerable ones from being closed because of budget cuts.
By Louis Sahagun July 30, 2009

State parks officials and nonprofit organizations scrambled Wednesday to find funding and possibly new corporate sponsors to keep as many as 100 parks and beaches open after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger slashed an additional $6.2 million out of the state parks system.Budget cuts also suspended a land conservation program that has been hailed as a key to preventing sprawl and easing economic pressure on farmers and ranchers.


Greenspace: The Times' environment blog
More cuts to California state parks
State officials won't finalize a list of park closures until Labor Day and said they hope to see the parks reopened in one to two years."We are actively seeking anyone who can help us with these places, all of them jewels, at a time when people need them most," said state parks Director Ruth Coleman.

"There are many groups and corporations that will step up to the plate and try to help," said Elizabeth Goldstein, executive director of the California State Parks Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting state parks. "But it would be a mistake to think that these efforts will be sufficient to replace the public funds being extracted."

Thursday's Thoughts

Self Help Graphics & Art Seeks Students for Summer Programs
http://egpnews.com/?p=11569

SOY Artista students pictured here are Anabel De La Garza, Paula Esparza, Lidia Lopez, Adrian Ulloa, and Jacob Soto. Photo courtesy Self Help Graphics & Art

Responding to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s cancellation of summer school, the organization scrambled to revive its Summer of Youth Artist Program, (“S.O.Y. Artista”) for high school students, but the kids are not coming.

“We though they’d be knocking down the door,” Executive Director Evonne Gallardo told EGP. “It was a last minute response to what was happening in the community.”

The free program has capacity for 30 students but as of July 17, only four students had joined. The four-week program, from Tuesday to Friday, began July 14 and runs until August 7. The target age is 14 to 17-year-olds.

This week, students learned to make relief prints using the medium of linocut. Next week the students will make kites using their new skills.

On “Wild Card Fridays,” the students will have a surprise workshop relating to the “Hard in Da Paint” hip-hop class. For more information on the S.O.Y. Artista programs and other events visit www.selfhelpgraphics.com or call (323) 881-6444. Self Help Graphics & Arts is located at 3802 Cesar E. Chavez Avenue in Boyle Heights.

Thursday's Thoughts

Designing For A Cause

Prominent designer, David Phoenix, is using his talent to enrich the lives of LGBT youth by partnering with LifeWorks, a Los Angeles nonprofit which helps LGBT youth through housing, education, career, and personal development. Phoenix’s personal mentoring experience inspired him to help LifeWorks provide services to a population where 1 in 3 teens seriously contemplates suicide.

Thursday's Thoughts

To fight graffiti, LA Council may restrict spraypaint sales

Many people see graffiti as a nuisance, but don't take the time to acknowledge young people's creative talent. If the City Council wants to deter people from utilizing public spaces for their canvass, why don't they begin by increasing funding for more art programs in schools. If students had the opportunity to channel their creativity through art projects, we might be surprised to find the next big hits in the art world.