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News: Character & Asset Builders Newletter

July 2007

Welcome to our new season!

After a successful and busy 2006-07 season we are looking brightly into our next season of community projects.

The Assets for Santa Barbara Youth Coalition has several projects on board for the 2007-08 year. An interest survey has been distributed and we are currently tallying the interest for the following projects;

Empowering Youth to Create Change – Anti-Bullying Campaign (2nd year)
Neighborhood Pilot Project
Parent Summit at each secondary school
Youth Summit (2nd year)
Community Training
Assets for Ventura Youth Coalition

For more information or to receive an interest survey email Lisa Thomas Macrum LisaTM@ciymca.org

This month’s theme; Youth Involvement

One area that we built upon this past year was involving more youth in our programming. This happened primarily in the Empowering Youth to Create Change outreaches at 4 secondary schools and the Youth Summit. Last year we held one of our coalition meetings with a Las Alturas high school class. The response was positive as students voiced an interest in being participatory. At the Youth Summit, we received much input from teens via conversations and in writing. Here are a few of the comments that we received in the suggestion folders;

“I am sick of the violence stabbings and shootings.”
“Get the word out to people about this program. It will help like it helped me.”
“I would like to see a youth cooking program.”
“I think there should be a drive in Movie Theater, more dances for teens and the graffiti idea sounds great.”
“I don’t appreciate the violence”!
“Why don’t they have security guards at Jr. High Schools”?
“Do you think if we had more teachers it would prevent ditching”?
“What different kinds of programs are there for after school to keep kids out of trouble”?
“My thoughts are this is very interesting and fun because it can make a difference and can change the world in so many ways. I hope by when we’re done with this summit that the bullying will become fewer people being bullied.”

As we plan our next meeting we aim to incorporate youth perspectives on our upcoming season. Your ideas and suggestions are welcome as we seek a variety of ways to do this. Please email LisaTM@ciymca.org with your input.

Have you heard of the World Alliance of YMCA’s?

Check out their website as they are on the cutting edge of global community building. http://www.ymca.int/

Below is an article of some of the work they are doing relating to global Youth Involvement.

News from the World Alliance of YMCA’s: Youth ask United Nations for more action on development

On 4 July, at the United Nations in Geneva, young people challenged governments to take more action on development and make more space for youth in decision making processes. The call comes as part of a review by ministers of the progress of the Millennium Development Goals.

“We know from experience that for development policies to be truly sustainable we need to involve the people most directly affected by those policies,” said young people in a statement read out at the Economic and Social Council. The Council, known as ECOSOC, is the central United Nations forum for discussing international economic and social issues and for formulating policy recommendations.

The statement, which was the result of a workshop co-organised by the World Alliance of YMCAs, went on to say, “Participation is an essential part of development, for development is the process by which communities, families and individuals grow stronger, can enjoy fuller and more productive lives and become less vulnerable – including to poverty.”

Young people made clear, practical recommendations to member states at the Council on how youth participation for development can be achieved.

You can download the statement here.

Conference Information

Search Institute presents their annual conference;

Theme: TRANSFORMING Relationships: For the Common Good

November 8-10, 2007
Hyatt Regency Hotel and Riverside Convention Center
Rochester, NY

Designed for people who work with or care about youth, this one-of-a-kind conference brings together people from different community sectors nationally and internationally who share a common goal: to work together to promote positive youth development through asset building. During the conference, participants will learn with and from each other, make connections that will prove beneficial in their work and lives, and renew their commitment to asset building through hard work and fun!

The conference last year was truly transformative. For more information visit the website www.search-institute.org.

The 40 Developmental Asset Framework was created by Peter Benson of Search Institute. The Assets for Santa Barbara Youth Coalition is based on building Assets and Character with and for our community youth through a variety of projects in our schools and community. We are a collaborative of 40 members consisting of youth serving agencies, law enforcement, educational and civic leaders.

New season Assets for Santa Barbara Youth Coalition meeting August 2007

Date TBA

For more information on the Assets for Santa Barbara Youth Coalition contact;

Lisa Thomas Macrum, Director Youth Outreach Programs
Youth and Family Services branch
Channel Islands YMCA
805-569-1103 ext. 11

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