Tuesday, December 23, 2008
South LA Development Problems
This Buckingham Place building in South L.A. is more than 90% finished but has been vacant for nearly a year. The Community Redevelopment Agency provided $8.5 million for the project. The city can’t hire another firm to complete the work because the site is tied up in bankruptcy court. Community leaders call the 71-unit apartment building an eyesore.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Jessica Alba - Coach Cares
Please visit the Coach Cares Website to find out how to get some amazing gifts and give to YMC at the same time
December Mentor Tips
2-MINUTE MENTOR TIPS
By Youth Mentoring Connection
A series of helpful hints for mentors
12/11/08
Coming up in this issue:
Scenario: What would you do? Situations you may encounter with your mentee
Things To Do: Things to do with your mentee
Inspiration: Selected quote(s)
What would you do?
Situation:
Q: What are the guidelines for giving a gift to my mentee?
It is certainly okay to give your mentee a modest gift for the holidays, or for his/her birthday. However, please keep in mind that when you give of yourself (your time, energy and caring) you offer the greatest gift of all.
For material gifting, here are some things to consider:
1. Keep it simple and inexpensive. When your gift is too extravagant you risk being seen as a source for material goods, which changes the nature of the relationship.
2. Gifts that say, “I’m thinking of you” or “I really value this relationship” are the best. Some examples would be a framed photo of you and your mentee at an activity; or something relevant to what you’ve been discussing together, such as a book on careers, or a sports book, or something simple related to your culture.
3. A good alternative to a material gift would be to take your mentee someplace special.
4. Do not give your mentee a gift that his/her family could not afford.
5. Never give your mentee a gift in the presence of other mentor/mentee pairs. Some students may receive gifts and others might not, which creates problems at school and resentful students. This may also put other mentors in a difficult position.
6. If you are part of a work-site mentoring program your company may decide to give a gift to each of the students participating in the program. That’s okay, because it is seen as coming from the organization, and doesn’t impinge on your individual relationship. It is still recommended that the gifts be modest.
7. If you know that your mentee has a real need for something you can provide, but doesn’t fit into the parameters above, you may want to find a creative way for the mentee to earn it or ‘win’ it from the program. This challenges you to examine your motives, because you don’t get to be the generous ‘Santa’. It is the program that is giving the gift and not you. We believe that in the long run this will serve you, your mentee, and her family better.
Again, we want our youth to understand that the purpose of having a mentor is not to receive cool gifts, but to develop a friendship with a caring adult.
Inspiration
“Give whatever you give with love. Then even the tiniest pebble you offer will have great meaning. Its fruit will come back to you a thousand fold, because it is not the pebble that you give, it is love.”
- Gurumayi
Our sincerest Holiday Wishes to our favorite class of people:
Those that give of themselves so children may be better off. Thank you mentors!
How can we help? If you have any questions/concerns regarding your
relationship with your mentee, please feel free to email them to us at
ymc@youthmentoring.org
check out whats happening in LA during the Holidays
Youth Mentoring Connection
1818 S Western Avenue, Ste 505
Los Angeles, CA 90006
Ph: (323) 731-8080 Fax: (323) 731-9090
By Youth Mentoring Connection
A series of helpful hints for mentors
12/11/08
Coming up in this issue:
Scenario: What would you do? Situations you may encounter with your mentee
Things To Do: Things to do with your mentee
Inspiration: Selected quote(s)
What would you do?
Situation:
Q: What are the guidelines for giving a gift to my mentee?
It is certainly okay to give your mentee a modest gift for the holidays, or for his/her birthday. However, please keep in mind that when you give of yourself (your time, energy and caring) you offer the greatest gift of all.
For material gifting, here are some things to consider:
1. Keep it simple and inexpensive. When your gift is too extravagant you risk being seen as a source for material goods, which changes the nature of the relationship.
2. Gifts that say, “I’m thinking of you” or “I really value this relationship” are the best. Some examples would be a framed photo of you and your mentee at an activity; or something relevant to what you’ve been discussing together, such as a book on careers, or a sports book, or something simple related to your culture.
3. A good alternative to a material gift would be to take your mentee someplace special.
4. Do not give your mentee a gift that his/her family could not afford.
5. Never give your mentee a gift in the presence of other mentor/mentee pairs. Some students may receive gifts and others might not, which creates problems at school and resentful students. This may also put other mentors in a difficult position.
6. If you are part of a work-site mentoring program your company may decide to give a gift to each of the students participating in the program. That’s okay, because it is seen as coming from the organization, and doesn’t impinge on your individual relationship. It is still recommended that the gifts be modest.
7. If you know that your mentee has a real need for something you can provide, but doesn’t fit into the parameters above, you may want to find a creative way for the mentee to earn it or ‘win’ it from the program. This challenges you to examine your motives, because you don’t get to be the generous ‘Santa’. It is the program that is giving the gift and not you. We believe that in the long run this will serve you, your mentee, and her family better.
Again, we want our youth to understand that the purpose of having a mentor is not to receive cool gifts, but to develop a friendship with a caring adult.
Inspiration
“Give whatever you give with love. Then even the tiniest pebble you offer will have great meaning. Its fruit will come back to you a thousand fold, because it is not the pebble that you give, it is love.”
- Gurumayi
Our sincerest Holiday Wishes to our favorite class of people:
Those that give of themselves so children may be better off. Thank you mentors!
How can we help? If you have any questions/concerns regarding your
relationship with your mentee, please feel free to email them to us at
ymc@youthmentoring.org
check out whats happening in LA during the Holidays
Youth Mentoring Connection
1818 S Western Avenue, Ste 505
Los Angeles, CA 90006
Ph: (323) 731-8080 Fax: (323) 731-9090
Friday, December 19, 2008
Fresh Food Shortage
It can be hard to improve the health of a community if there is little in the way of fresh food available. This article in the Associated Press highlights one woman's efforts to help her mother lose weight.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Holiday Gift Idea
Dear Friend,If you are like me, the holidays are both a joy and a pain. I don’t have to explain the first, but the pain comes from finding just the right gift for your family or friends. You want it to be special and meaningful but let’s face it—how many Caribbean cruises can you afford to give?
Don’t fret. I’ve got a great idea.
Make a contribution to YMC in the name of your friend or family member and we’ll send them a specially designed charitable gift card . We’ll be able to help more youth—and you’ll get a tax deduction. Talk about a win/win situation. To sweeten the pot, the Frieda C. Fox Foundation will make a two to one match of gifts of $100 to $500. So, your $100 gift is worth $300 to YMC.
Whatever holiday gifts you chose to give, I want to personally thank you for the gifts you bring to us. Working with us to make sure our youth have an opportunity to give THEIR gifts to the world is so important. I know it takes time, patience and love. Thank you for sharing all of that and more with us and our kids.
Click here if you are ready to make a donation
Peace,
Tony LoRe
Founder and President
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Racial Profiling and the LAPD
Policing the diverse communities of Los Angeles has been a challenge for many reasons. One of the greatest barriers to the Community trusting the Police has been the perception that some Policing decisions have been racially motivated. A recent study be the ACLU looked at this issue in greater depth making some interesting recommendations.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Removing Guns
The BBC have been looking at the rise of Guns being handed in as part of an exchange program in South LA, and suggesting some of the reasons behind it.
An interesting gang puishment
The LA Times reports on a new Initiative by the City Attorney to reduce Gang Leaders benefit from illegal activities, even targeting those already in prison. The money gained from this is to benefit the Communities that have been blighted by the drugs and violence.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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