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Youth First History
2006
January 2006 a Landlord training was held with approx 25 participants. An attorney and rental property person were available for questions about current laws and ways to screen renters. Another training to be held in February 06 with a Law Officer to do information on Meth Labs and how to identify if one is in a rental of yours.
Presentations to community service groups on the Cesar Chavez mural started. Education continues to be needed.
February 1, 2006 Presentation to BUSD board about the Task Force work and assets, very well received.
Feb 23, 06: The Executive Committee of the Task Force met for 4 hours at the GUSD and decided on many main concerns regarding the direction of the group. The name was too long and did not describe the group. The group was clear about the direction of the 40 Developmental Assets and agreed that the work of this group was not only about gang prevention, but a positive youth developmental model that focuses on what youth need to grow up healthy, not just keep them out of gangs, drugs, alcohol, and all other deviant behaviors. In defining our work it was voted that the Gridley Biggs Community Safety Task Force would become Youth First. Youth are our primary focus. A logo was designed at a later date. At the same meeting a number of responsibilities and organizational descriptions were decided upon and are included in the group minutes for public review.
March 2006 Presentation to the City of Biggs City Council re: the work of the Task Force so they know where we are and where we want to go.
March 29, 2006 Youth/Adult one hour introduction to Assets facilitated by Cynthia Soares and Maggie Hepworth at the GUARDIAN Building. One-hour Gang Awareness program speaker was Dean Price
August 2006: Biggs publicly recognizes they have no money to fund the work of Youth First, but want to generate volunteers to participate. When they have money, they will do what they can. Gridley funds $40K budget.
August 16, 2006 All day event Leading With Assets facilitated by James Vollbracht from SI with 55 youth and 10 adults at the GUARDIAN Building. (45 Gridley/Manzanita 10 Biggs) Youth make plan to take back to schools and Speakers Bureau ideas start.
August 25, 2006 Clay Roberts came to GUSD and present to entire school district. Youth did a brief skit.
October, 2006 GUSD teachers get “I make a difference” bracelets for themselves and to give to students for doing something nice for someone else.
November 1, 2006 Speaker’s Bureau training 8 teams of youth/adults to educate the rest of the community about the assets and the mission of Youth First.