Community Development Summer 2012 Newsletter

Click Here to Download the Summer 2012 Community Development Newsletter!

2012 National Youth Institute Newsletter

Click Below to Download the 2012 National Youth Institute Newsletter

MOLAA Family Art Day 2012

By: Mark Marano, After School Operations Director

“This was the best day ever!”, exclaimed seven year-old Akemi Nakachi.  On Saturday, May 19^th, she and over 200 other families from the various programs of the Community Development branch participated in our first YMCA Family Art Day at the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA). Through our collaboration with MOLAA, Community Development planned a free, fun-filled morning of art exploration for the community. The event consisted of ten staff and volunteer-led arts-related workshops including: artistic science, perspective and depth, printmaking, crafts, origami, jewelry making, mask making, rain-stick making, and book making. In addition, families were treated to guitar demonstrations and instruction as well as high-energy Zumba classes. The event also included of a film festival showcasing films created by our Youth Institute participants and a Get Connected! Technology Fair, complete with an interactive, self-contained technology bus equipped with all the bells and whistles to provide computer literacy classes for families. Lastly, families were invited to join the museum’s membership program at a discounted rate and were offered complimentary bilingual gallery tours, exploring current exhibits. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Fresh & Easy and Albertsons (both located in downtown’s CityPlace for their generous supply donations. Through community collaboration, we were able to provide an engaging arts-filled morning for the families we serve to connect, learn, and have fun!

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Spring 2012 Community Development Newsletter

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Youth Institute Alumni Grand Canyon Trip 2012

This past spring break, 29 staff and youth made the journey to one of the seventh wonders of the world - GRAND CANYON National Park. It was an experience that all will not forget. We hiked the South Rim, toured the Visitor's Center, sang songs around the campfire and experienced a spring shower & hail storm. The nights in the canyon where amazing with all the stars in the sky - that sight only surpassed by the sunrise and sunset on the South Rim. Check out the photos of our stay at the Grand Canyon HERE. 

"A Cambodia Journey" - Reviewed by KHMERICAN

Click the Link below to read the review by Khmerican.com!
http://khmerican.com/2012/04/10/a-cambodia-journey-a-review/

Congratulations to Sammy Jo Greulich for winning the long Beach Unified School District Education Foundation’s ‘Most Inspirational Student Award’. This prestigious award was given at the Annual Education Foundation Dinner. Sammy is a true leader of the Youth Institute and was just hired as one of our staff at our Longfellow Elementary After School WRAP Site.

Congratulations from all of us at the Community Development YMCA Sammy Jo!!!

Family Involvement Family Art Day

Families from Stevenson, Roosevelt and Burnett Elementary schools, which are currently on intersession, gathered at St Luke’s on Monday, April 2nd to do a Welcome Spring Arts and Craft Social.  After learning about College Readiness for four weeks and working really hard on In-Home Education for eight weeks, the parents and children enjoyed sitting and sharing together a social time where they were able to laugh and play with other families. They were very creative and did fabulous decorations including bunnies, flowers, Easter baskets and many other crafts. Everyone took home their creations as well as Easter eggs and candy. To see me more photos of this event CLICK HERE.

The YMCA Cambodia Project

   Three years ago, our Cambodian Staff had a new idea, to help Cambodian American's connect to their heritage in Cambodia. It was an easy idea to grasp considering two things: In Long Beach, we have the largest population of Cambodians outside of Cambodia and our branch reflects this by having the most Cambodian YMCA employees in the country. The idea became a goal and three years later this goal was met.  Last November, we sent 6 of our Cambodian Staff to Cambodia to participate in a cultural exchange. The trip was a huge success. It was also filmed and a documentary was produced by our very own Change Agent Productions. We are now proud to announce the documentary is complete and is available to view on YouTube (www.youtube.com/ymcacambodiaproject) or you can watch it below. We are very excited for the opportunities that this production will open up for not only our staff but also the Cambodian YMCA we have partnered with.  Enjoy the film.
        For more information on the YMCA Cambodia Project and how to get involved please visit, www.ymcacambodiaproject.org. 

2012 Strong Kids Campaign Brochures!

Download our 2012 Strong Kids Brochures in 3 different Languages!

English PDF 1.5mb

Spanish PDF 1.5mb

Khmer PDF 1.8mb

Winter Newsletter 2011/12

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Community Development Board of Directors

Left to Right: Mike Alviar, Willie Elston, Henry Ung, Julie Mendell, Vicky Hernandez, Milton Cortez, Jose Lara, Sally Lew, Karen Hilburn, Scott Eberlein, Jose Joaquin, Robin Thorne, Bob Cabeza, Cheryl Lee

Our Community Development Board of Directors just finished their Annual Board Retreat last Saturday, January 14th. They worked on the Board Structure, the Branch Strategic Plan, How to get the Board more involved and the Strong Kids Campaign. We also formed our NEW Program, Financial, Development, Nominating and Program Committees. A great time of fellowship and hard work was had by all! Many thanks to Sally Lew, Curt Gibbs and Alan Kumamoto for organizing and running the event. Many thanks also to Ron Ung who coordinated the event location and logistics. Check out our very talented and good looking CD YMCA Board of Managers in the photo as well!