Yolo County "Let's Get It Started" youth conference set for Sept. 26
by Izabelle Ponce, Youth Engagement Leader
Woodland Coalition for Youth / Yolo Family Resource Center
The Woodland Coalition for Youth is planning the second installment of the annual Yolo County Youth Leadership Conference, which planning team members are calling “Let’s Get It Started.” The name implies that the September gathering will be the kickoff to a series of youth conference-type workshops in the months to follow.
Unlike last year, the focus of the planning team is the seventh- and eighth-grade population. This year, we’re focusing on middle-school students because leadership conferences in Northern California traditionally target high schools. The committee thought it was important to engage the younger of our future leaders.
“Let’s Get It Started” will take place on Sept. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Woodland Community College and will be free of charge. However, space is limited to the first 100 youth who pre-register. The day’s activities include creating focus groups with the end-of-day goal to compile a list of future leadership workshops that the same participants would like to attend.
“We’re asking youth to take a seat at the table and tell us what they want to learn,” says Sara Diaz, a youth organizer on the planning team. “We’re also planning on having music, food and games to keep it fun and interesting.”
In addition to adults, the planning team has several youth like Sara involved. Adult members value the opinions of their younger counterparts so much that no decision about the conference can be made without the support of youth. The youth involved in the planning stages of the conference are given responsibilities just the same as their adult allies. They have a say in the location, food, program, raffle prizes and entertainment, and their artistic flare is valued in designing all advertising materials.
We’ve come a long way from the traditional talking at youth during an hour-long motivational speech. With the youth development approach, we inspire a dialogue with our young audience and bring out the best in a young person. We give young people a platform to have a voice and use critical thinking. I like to say that our youth are learning to be future board members.
The planning team youth and adult members include Stephanie Alvarez, Sarah Brown, Debbie Carrion, Ernesto Canales, Sara Diaz, Esther Guardado, Hugo Hernandez, Kristi Link, Anahid Lopez, Irma Lozano, Karen Ortega, Stephanie Ortiz, Lori Perez, Izabelle Ponce, Ana Quezada, Erick Rodriguez, Celeste Salazar and Rogelio Villagrana.
If you would like more information about sponsoring “Let’s Get It Started,” holding a future workshop, volunteering or registering a middle-school student, please call Youth Engagement Leader Izabelle Ponce at (530) 406-7221 x111 or e-mail iponce@yolofrc.org. Sponsorships or donations may be monetary or in-kind.
The Woodland Coalition for Youth is a REACH Community Action coalition.