El Dorado Hills teens honored at youth awards ceremony

by Sameeha Khalid
Teen News Team member,
Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills

The second annual Youth Awards Ceremony sponsored by the Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills took place on Dec. 8 at the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Pavilion. The community joined in recognizing the contributions of youth and enjoyed an Italian potluck dinner. Coalition Executive Director DJ Peterson made introductions, then Coalition Coordinator Raeann Jones announced the honored youth. The awards were presented by board members of El Dorado Hills Community Vision, Inc.

The youth who were recognized participated in the many organizations sponsored by the Vision Coalition and were nominated by their peers and adult allies. Some of the organizations included the Teen Advisory Council, El Dorado Hills Community Services District Teen Center and Skate Park, Teen News Team, Teen Media Team and Royer Studios Live Action Video Training, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Marina Village Middle School’s WEB Crew (Where Everyone Belongs) and Club Live, Hands for Hope, Oak Ridge High School Link Crew, Safe School Ambassadors and Interact Club, White Rock Village Teen Council, El Dorado Hills Musical Theatre, WYLD Life and Project TEACH (Teens Educating About Classmate Harassment). The program also included a PowerPoint presentation and youth-made videos, including a comedic commercial promoting the CSD Teen Center.

Special mention was given to Dan Hill for his contributions to local journalism, including The Sacramento Bee, Mountain Democrat, Village Life, ORHS Ridge Review and the new Teenzhub.com Web site for youth; Andrew Kasabian for his civic participation in the El Dorado County Youth Council, EDH Teen Advisory Council and hosting the Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking; and Sean Clavere for his musical and auditory presentations at the REACH Regional Youth Conference in Sacramento and his popular fundraising concerts, “Reach Out and Teach,” where he has raised more than $20,000 for the Goma Student Fund. In response to continuing the philanthropic concert series again next year, Sean reported, “There will be a third!”

In all, 80 people attended and 30 youth were honored for their outstanding leadership in the community. The Vision Coalition is funded by a Sierra Health Foundation REACH Community Action grant and a SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) grant. Through its annual Mini-grant Program, the Vision Coalition sponsors youth-serving organizations to improve and develop their programs. Together the Vision Coalition and other organizations are expanding opportunities for youth in the El Dorado Hills community. To learn more or to get involved, call (916) 643-4393 or visit the Vision Coalition Web site.