These are our recent activities completed thus far in the 2009-2010 YAP year.

 

Cesar Chavez Day of Service

The Youth Action Project's 3rd Annual Cesar Chavez Day was a success! The event took place at the Provisional Accelerated Learning (PAL) Center located in Muscoy, CA. For the past 2 years, the Youth Action Project chose to restore and rebuild a local community park in the Inland Empire to give back and commemorate the legendary Cesar Chavez and all his accomplishments. This year YAP has chosen to aid the PAL Center in rebuilding its community park so it can be inhabited by community members once again.

YAP was able to successfully recruit over 75 skilled community volunteers eager to lend a helping hand in restoring the local community park. Tasks for volunteers included participating in adding ground cover to a children's playground, painting and restoring the park recreational area, building benches, removing dead tress and shrubbery, and adding new greenery. As an incentive, all of our volunteers who registered in time to participate received a free Disney Day pass to Disneyland for their generous work.

Although, this was only Phase 1 of restoring this park. We are eager to expand this project by returning to the site in the near future with plans of providing a full scale playground for children.

YAP is also looking for any kind of sponsorships or in-kind donations volunteers or businesses would like to donate for Phase 2 of this specific project. Items needed include gardening and landscape materials, mulch and ground cover donations, paint and paint supplies or drinks and snacks for volunteers. Please take some time to view our pdf presentation on the PAL Center and the benfits for sponsoring this event. For sponsorship and donation inquiries please email us to find out how you can participate.

Click here to see the Pre-Press Release

 

Jam n' Slam with 99.1 KGGI

The Youth Action Project took on the 99.1 KGGI staff in a Jam n' Slam Basketball Fundraiser funding the Cesar Chavez Day of Service. The game was held at Arroyo Valley High School on February 25.

All proceeds from this event will go directly to the Cesar Chavez Day of Service event being held on April 3, 2010. Funds will purchase paint, brushes, gardening utensils and other materials needed to restore the PAL Center Community Park. Thank you for all of those who gave their contributions and for making the game fun and memorable.

Click here to see the Press Release

 

2009 YAP Meet n' Greet

On December 18, 2009 YAP held a "Meet n' Greet" to kick off the 2009-2010 year. New and old members got together to get acquainted with one another and to get together and have some fun before the work begins.

Youth Action Project members participated in all the festivities: playing games, solving trivia, networking and other team building activities. Keith Hosea, one of YAP's board members, attended the event as well. He also participated in the festivities and gave an inspirational speech on courage for all the members.

The event was a success thanks to all the members and our partners who sponsored the event. Subway generously donated the food and a special thanks to Jonathan Buffong at the New Hope and Family Life Center for allowing us to use his facility.

Click here to see the Press Release

 

College Prep Day / Senior Boot Camp @ Arroyo Valley H.S.!

YAP partnered with BLU Educational Foundation on November 21, 2009 to hold an all day event educating high school students on the necessary steps needed to attend and exit college.

Around 50 students from all over the San Bernardino area attended the event and received valuable information. There were workshops on obtaining financial aid, the A-G requirements necessary to enter college and also information on other college options such as Historically Black Colleges/Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutions.

Pre-registered seniors spent their day filling out applications to several colleges and working on their personal statements. Comments from students were very positive over the event and most valued the importance of attending and using YAP and BLU's resources.

"Today was a push for us. [It] makes us believe we can go to college."

"They really explained what we needed to do well."

"It was easier to do my personal statement because I had people there that can help me."

"[I] always had intentions of going [to college], but now it's more realistic. After today I know I will."

YAP members also felt rewarded with their efforts in aiding the students. One new YAP member, Miranda Makamure, said,

"The whole thing opened up so many doors for the students. We really showed them the next step."

The event was a success and a warm-up for events to take place later in the year. For more information on how to participate in the next college preparation event call the YAP office (909) 888-7881 ext. 249 to find out when you can participate!

Click here to see the Press Release