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News: Character & Asset Builders Newletter

February 2007

We are in full swing with; Empowering Youth to Create Change ~ Anti-Bullying Project

Empowering Youth to Create Change ~ Anti-Bullying Strategies~
This project aims to be highly comprehensive with a strong focus on youth empowerment. Through supporting youth to be the ones to generate and lead change, we perceive there will be more youth “buy in”. Our challenge (and goal) is to pave the way for youth to Make a Difference beginning with their schools. We will offer Anti-Bullying training to teachers and staff, parental outreach trainings and presentations to each school and to our community (at large) through a series of community presentations and “town hall” meetings. We aim to bring wide spread awareness on this issue and the coping strategies to Santa Barbara as a community. With the focus being; All Kids are Our Kids

Participating schools in this year’s pilot:

La Cumbre Jr. High,
Santa Barbara Jr. High,
Santa Barbara High School. Plans to include
La Cuesta High School are in motion.

Student representatives at each school are on their “learning curve” with presentations by Youth Outreach Director, Lisa Thomas Macrum & Coalition members on a). What is bullying, an exploration on the types of bullying, b). Assertiveness Skills, c).Video of the News piece on Freedom Writers with discussion on the power of Making a Difference and d). ice breaker activities to familiarize students with each other, e). Conflict Resolution Skills f). Gun violence, g). The importance of Character and the 40 Developmental Assets and more (public speaking etc.) Upcoming presenters in the classrooms are;

Lupe Martinez (Coalition Against Gun Violence) essential information on issues surrounding the dangers of guns.
Scott McCann. Ph.D. (Planned Parenthood Education) on Conflict Resolution Skills & further explorations on bullying,
Virginia Benson (Planned Parenthood Education) Assertiveness Skills,
Mariela Marin (Pacific Pride Foundation) Respect for all - issues surrounding discrimination and harassment of sexual identity and preference choices
Alena Donovan (SB Rape Crisis Center) Sexual harassment, bullying issues

Both Jr. High schools have websites and have begun to design them. Both Jr. Highs also have begun school integration with a variety of projects beginning to emerge including, twice a week inserts into school bulletin, creation of main hall banner “Choose to Make a Difference” and “Did you know?” posters for the school, skits and short presentations for other classes on topics learned, “Stories Project” gathering bullying and harassment stories from fellow students (each school will create a book of stories to be on display at the Youth Summit, April 28th, SB Courthouse), plans to create a documentary are in the works as well as surveying all participating schools by UCSB researcher, Mike Furlong (to commence in May) students to receive results and present it to Staff. Students will create a school wide action plan to present at the Youth Summit, April 28th, 2007

Teacher & Staff Training ~
Tentative training to be on April 28th, 2007 at the Santa Barbara Courthouse at the Youth Summit! “Becoming an Ally: Interrupting Name-Calling and Bullying” ~ conducted by certified trainers through the Anti-Defamation League’s A World of Difference Institute

This workshop is interactive, participatory, and provides practical opportunities for educators to develop and practice skills to respond to incidents of name-calling and bullying among students.

Parent Training and Presentation ~
Coalition members are currently discussing several outreaches to PTA’s (both English and Spanish speaking). Presentations planned to begin at the end of March, 2007. Also, student input and direction will be solicited in the participating classes on reaching parents.

Community Training and Presentation ~
April 14th, 2007 is the tentative date for the Assets for Santa Barbara Youth Coalition’s Community Training. Tentative title is “All Kids are Our Kids ~ Santa Barbara Cares”.

Approximately 5 Coalition member agencies will collaborate to give a half day presentation on the issues facing our community youth with discussions on what our community has to offer and strengths and challenges for addressing needs for our youth.

Youth Summit, April 28th, 2007: Santa Barbara Courthouse

8:30 – 12:30 (inside courthouse) Empowering Youth to Create Change (a variety of activities including student panels, community leader speakers, interactive sessions).

1:00- 4:00 (sunken gardens) Music & Performing Arts groups highlighting youth. There will also be food booths, a raffle, youth serving agency booths, activities for all ages including arts & crafts & community “Chalk for Change” project around the courthouse

Call Sinead or Megan at the Channel Islands YMCA 569-1103 ext. 28 if you know of Santa Barbara Youth Performers or performing groups for the Youth Summit on April 28th, 2007

We are seeking diverse performing styles.

Welcome back Sinead! Sinead is back in the office 2 days a week until May when she is off to Spain to teach English! She has plans to become a teacher when she completes her work in Spain. Sinead is the coordinator for the Building Bridges Project and will be assisting in the organization the Youth Summit afternoon.

Welcome Megan Lovingier, Sociology Major at Westmont College who is doing her Internship with the Youth Outreach Programs of the Channel Islands YMCA (Yippee). Megan is working in all the classrooms for the pilot program as well as several hours per week in the office assisting with administrative work. Megan is assisting in organizing the Youth Summit afternoon.

We are Building Assets

Empowering Youth to Create Change - Anti-Bullying Strategies Builds 27 of the 40 Assets as outlined by Search Institute.

#2. Positive Family Communication-Young person and her or his parent(s) communicate positively, and young person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parent(s).

#5. Caring School Climate-School provides caring, encouraging environment.

#7. Community Values Youth-Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth.

#8. Youth as Resources-Young people are given useful roles in the community.

#9. Service to Others- Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week.

#10. Safety-Young person feels safe at home, at school, and in the neighborhood

#12. School provides clear rules and consequences

#14. Adult Role Models-Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.

#15. Positive Peer Influence- Young person’s best friends model responsible behavior.

#16. High Expectations-Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well.

#17. Creative Activities-Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theatre, or other arts.

#18. Youth Programs-Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school/and or in the community.

#21. Achievement Motivation-Young person is motivated to do well in school.

#22. School Engagement- Young person is actively engaged in learning.

#24. Bonding to School-Young person cares about her or his school.

#26. Caring-Young person places high value on helping other people.

#27. Equality and Social Justice-Young person places high value on promoting equality.

#28. Integrity-Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs.

#29. Honesty- Young person “tells the truth even when it is not easy.”

#31. Restraint-Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs.

#33. Interpersonal Competence-Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.

#34. Cultural Competence-Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.

#35. Resistance Skills-Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.

#36. Peaceful Conflict Resolution- Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.

#37. Personal Power-Young person feels he or she has control over “things that happen to me.”

#38. Self-Esteem- Young person reports having a high self-esteem.

#40. Positive View of Personal Future-Young person is optimistic about her or his personal future.

We are Building Character

Empowering Youth to Create Change ~ Anti-Bullying Strategies actively builds the six pillars of character as outlined by the Josephson Institute of Ethics

Trustworthiness – Teaching young people to be honest, to do what they say they will do, to have the courage to do the right thing, to build a good reputation, to be loyal and to stand by their friends, family and community

Respect – Teaching young people to treat others with respect, be tolerant of differences, use good manners, not bad language, be considerate of others, don’t threaten, hit or hurt others, deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements

Responsibility – Teaching young people to do what their supposed to do, persevere, keep on trying, do your best, use self control, think before you act, consider the consequences, be accountable for your choices

Fairness – Teaching young people to play by the rules, take turns and share, be open-minded, listen to others, don’t take advantage of others, don’t blame others carelessly

Caring – Teaching young people to be kind, be compassionate and show you care, express gratitude, forgive others, help people in need

Citizenship – Teaching young people to do their part to improve your school and community, to cooperate, stay informed, be a good neighbor, obey laws and rules, respect Authority

Thank you, Assets for Santa Barbara Coalition Members for your participation.

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