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| A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT |
| | Dear Friends,
A lot has changed in the 70 years since City Youth Now was founded. In 1950, San Francisco was a different city. Things moved at a slower pace, housing was affordable and there were different kinds of jobs and opportunities.
One thing that has remained the same all these years, is our commitment to support young people on their journeys, especially when they face challenges and obstacles. We are dedicated to transforming the lives with whatever resources we have.
As we advance into this exciting new year, we are encouraged by new partnerships with local companies, enthusiastic energy from our volunteers and capable leadership from our staff.
With support from the City and County of San Francisco, foundations, and the generous support of individuals and companies, City Youth Now is able to continue the important work that was started by good hearted people so many years ago.
Kind Regards,Charles Higgins President, Board of Directors City Youth Now charleshiggins@cityyouthnow.org
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| | 10 x 10 Fundraising Event |
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We are so honored to have had the opportunity to participate in a fundraising event hosted by 10x10 Philanthropy. During this event, Our Program and Administrative Manager, Ronesha provided an in-depth look into the work we do. It was a pleasure to participate alongside other community based organizations: Simply the Basics and Coalition on Homelessness. A huge shout out to the team at 10x10 San Francisco, for providing us with the opportunity to fund-raise and share the work that we do. |
| | This year was the 5th annual Juvenile Probation Department Holiday Party sponsored in collaboration with City Youth Now. For the past 5 years, John Knox has been hosting this event for probation youth, and their families. We had over 70 youth, siblings, and their parents come out and participate. City Youth Now supported by ensuring that every youth and their siblings had a gift to open. Special thanks to our Board Vice President, Toni Powell and the Neighborhood Baptist Church, for donating food bags for each family. A great time was had by all who attended. |
| | As the year ended, many members of our community adopted youth from our annual "Giving Tree" fundraiser. 53 youth were able to have a great holiday due to the outcomes of this fundraiser. We have received awesome feedback about this program and we are looking forward to continuing the tradition next year. "This is the second year that I have been able to count on the support of City Youth Now to ensure that kids on my caseload who are in real need can enjoy the holiday season."--SF County Social Worker |
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| | During the Holidays, CYN provided and wrapped over 400 gifts for youth on probation, inside the JJC, and in foster care. This season, we hosted a Holiday Gift Wrapping Volunteer Session for individuals and groups who were looking to give back during the holiday season. We had a great turn out with board members, JPD staff, community volunteers, and a volunteer group from Salesforce. Thank you to Sterne Grove High school for collecting and donating wrapping paper. This season would not have been possible without your support. |
| | 102.9 KBLX Cares Interview |
| City Youth Now was invited to 102.9 KBLX studios, to participate in the segment KBLX Cares. During this segment, they shine light on people and organizations that serve, celebrate, and enlighten communities. Our Vice President of the Board, Toni Powell, and Program Coordinator, Jocelynn Esteban, were able to go on air and represent CYN. They discussed our programs, future plans for the organization, and different ways people can give back. Thank you again to Sterling James and KBLX for shining a light on City Youth Now!
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Personal Empowerment Program |
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| 2019 ended with an amazing holiday season that provided City Youth Now the opportunity to support 714 youth and families during November and December. Through holiday gifts, small grants, and critical need items like hats, gloves, coats, and scarves we were able to contribute to a positive holiday season to families that need it the most.
Thank you to our donors and these awesome organizations that made it possible: Ticket to Dream Toys for Tots The Nines Salesforce JPD HSA Project Glimmer |
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Youth Partnering for Education and Employment |
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| | In December, CYN was invited to take a group of youth to the Sephora Corporate Office in San Francisco for a day of empowerment. Our youth were able to participate in makeovers, headshots, workshops, and conversations with industry-leading women. This was a great opportunity for them to network and see empowering women in action, and be able to feel empowered. A huge thank you to Project Glimmer and Sephora for hosting this event and inviting City Youth Now to be a part of it! |
| | Youth Vision Board Workshop |
| We started the New Year with a Youth Vision Board Workshop. Many young men and women came together to create 2020 vision boards, discuss goal setting and make positive memories with one another. They also had a chance to set SMART goals for the year and a list of things they hope to accomplish and learn this year. For most of them, this was their first time actually sitting down, setting goals, and creating a vision board of their own. They all had a great time and were able to listen to our guest speaker, Damien Posey. Our youth also got to go home with some awesome raffle prizes. We hope they all accomplish their 2020 goals! |
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| | Through our Inside Out Program, CYN is able to take recreational activities to youth inside Juvenile Hall. During this winter season, the youth were visited by the Zoomobile. They were able to interact with different animals from turtles to chinchillas, which was a new experience for most of them. The representative from the Zomobile talked to the youth about how community impact affects these animals. We know they were able to take away some new knowledge and experience from them! |
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| | | Meet Our Volunteers from Union College: Crystal and Blake |
| What brought you to City Youth Now?
Crystal: "I was very interested in education and how it is upheld in different situations, and I wanted to tutor through City Youth Now. I was also interested in the services that CYN provides because I want to work in the development field.
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| What brought you to City Youth Now?
Blake: "The college I attend offers a study-away internship program in San Francisco. City Youth Now was open to hiring me and I'm extremely glad. I did not know what this would be at first, but it is and continues to be an incredible experience."
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| What have you been working on so far, and what do you hope to eventually learn?
Crystal: "In addition to tutoring in the hall, I have been working on program development. I started developing a mentorship program and I ran a table about goal setting at a career exploration workshop we put on. I have also been reorganizing our closets and finding content for our various social media sites."
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| What have you been working on so far, and what do you hope to eventually learn?
Blake: "I have worked on establishing consistency and efficiency with our data management, worked with portions of grant applications, and I run the twitter account (GO FOLLOW US). I hope to keep working on the data management and grant writing. There is a ton to learn and I absorb more every day I am here."
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| | You're visiting from New York, how different is it from San Francisco?
Crystal: "New York is definitely more fast-paced and intense. There are fewer parks and people are very much in their own heads. I love the energy and grit of New York, but San Francisco has a lot of personality. It's great to see so many small businesses and artwork in every neighborhood." |
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| You're visiting from New York, how different is it from San Francisco?
Blake: "New York is a different animal, especially in the winter. San Francisco's weather has been beautiful and provides a wonderful environment to work in. I don't have much experience with the juvenile justice system in NY, but I'm sure there aren't many people who are as kind and helpful as Ronesha and Jocelynn". |
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| If you could describe in 3 words the work that City Youth Now has done over the past 70 years, what would they be?
Crystal: "Diverse, meaningful, and successful."
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| If you could describe in 3 words the work that City Youth Now has done over the past 70 years, what would they be?
Blake: "Invaluable and ever-adapting" |
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| | | | | | | | | | | Before you go, don’t forget to follow us on social media for local news and updates on foster care and juvenile justice.
Visit us online http://www.cityyouthnow.org/ | Follow us at: |
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