College Readiness Retreat in Yosemite

This fall, the YMCA Youth Institute traveled to one of the most beautiful places in the world – Yosemite National Park. Thirty youth & staff spent four days enjoying the warmth of the valley and cool star lit nights. It was a first time experience for all the youth and some of the staff who attended and gazed upon this magnificent wonder of nature. The youth & staff hiked for 90 minutes to our secret climbing wall that was over 750 feet from the valley floor below North Dome. Youth and staff also biked around the valley visiting the museum, Yosemite Falls and Mirror Lake. It was an experience for all who attended; swimming in the river, night hikes into the meadows, rock climbing and riding bikes. This was the perfect venue to talk to the youth about their future academic goals and post-secondary education. Eddie Gardner delivered a great College Readiness program discussion.To see more pictures of the event Click HERE.

2011 YAM LA Event

The YMCA Youth Institute for the past 3 years has been an active member of the Youth Arts & Media Los Angeles (YAM LA) group. As one of its founding members, we have been fortunate enough to work with some of these agencies 11 years ago in providing technical support – digital media arts training and purchasing of technology to start their own Digital Media Arts Programs. This year was our Second annual event to showcase the creative talents of all the youth in LA County in the areas of digital photography, digital storytelling, 8mm filmmaking, dance, music, DJ and skate boarding. For more information about YAM LA Click HERE. To see more pictures of the event Click HERE.

A New Decade in the Youth Institute Has Begun

Congratulations to the graduating class of the 2011 Youth Institute (YI). This new class was a very unique group of young people who brought a resurgence of creativity and leadership that will take the Youth Institute into a new decade. Over 45 films were showcased on August 6, 2011 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Over 400 people were in attendance. It was also a special day for 16 youth from Central Los Angeles who have joined the legacy of the Youth Institute by becoming the first graduating class of the Community Build Youth Institute. It was but one of five Youth Institute programs operating this summer. The replication of the Youth Institute has expanded this past summer — year one of Community Build YI, year one of Children’s Institute YI, year two for the East Palo Alto YI, year six for Stephens Middle School YI, and year eleven for the Long Beach Youth Institute. For pictures of the event visit our Youth Institute Website.

Community Development's VP in Cambodia

Bob Cabeza, our VP of Community Development is presently in Cambodia with Boon Chin Tan YMCA USA International Director to assist with the development of a Cambodian exchange between the Community Development YMCA and the brand new Cambodian YMCA located in Pnomh Penh. If successful, our YMCA hopes to help the Cambodian YMCA with a series of exchanges between our Cambodian professional staff and our Cambodian youth who would travel to Cambodia to provide projects and assistance where needed around helping Cambodian youth build skills in technology and digital arts. Culminating in the possibility of those youth creating micro-businesses in Phnom Penh. In exchange, our Americanized youth could get in touch with their culture and homeland.

Also involved is the YMCA Asian Alliance.

See pictures from his trip here!

Celebrating 10 Years of the Youth Institute

On May 26^th 150 very important guests attended the Youth Institute 10 Year Celebration Dinner at the Grand in Long Beach. The dinner was hosted by the Youth Institute Alumni, with Phyras Men as the Committee Leader and Leo Salcido as the Master of Ceremonies. The night began with great entertainment from three very talented Youth Institute Alums, Johnny Romero on guitar, Nicole Gutierrez on violin and Ben Falealili performing his Spoken Word piece. Then we gave out awards to our supporters who stuck with us over the years such as Alan Hostrup. Ralph Hurtado and Sally Lew. We also gave awards to our long time financial supporters such as the California Emerging Technology Foundation, ZeroDivide, the California Consumer Protection Foundation, the Beneventures Foundation, Brian Kariger, Marilyn Bohl and Southern California Edison. We want to especially thank the Jeanne Giovannoni Trust for her generous donation for this event. But most of all we wanted to honor our Youth and Alumni who grew up out of the Youth Institute but always find ways to give back. A huge thanks to the YI Alumni Committee for putting on a flawless and professional celebration that the next group will have a hard time matching at the fifteen year event!! Click here to view the photos .

CALSAC 2011

During this Years California School-Age Consortium (or CalSAC) we had 5 youth go to the Capitol Building in Sacramento to advocate for Afterschool programs. Our youth met with other students and advocates from all across the state of California. They shared conversation and ideas on how they can spread the word of keeping Afterschool programs funded in our communities. The youth then had the chance to meet with Legislators and spread their word right to the source. It was a great success and the youth are all looking forward to next year. Click here to view the pics!

Battle of the Bands 3

The Youth Institute hosted its 3rd Annual Battle of the Bands, high school bands were selected to duke it out in a very intense competition held at the Scottish Rite Cathedral Theater. Georgia Terminal, Twin Pines, The Anachronisms, and 3rd Perspective all put on their game faces to play a fifteen-minute set each that evening. Along with the competing bands, we had three very special guest performers, Fox Hollow, JL, which includes our very own alumni Leslie and John, and The Marital, which includes alumni, Kevin, Matt, and Nick. With the support of our alumni, the bands, and our community, we raised over $3000 for our YMCA and Youth Institute. Special thanks to Zumiez for supporting the event and State Farm Insurance for co-sponsoring our event! Their generosity led to a fun-filled raffle. The grand raffle prize, a new Macbook, was the ultimate showstopper! Three hours of inspiring music, fun giveaways, endless amounts of laughing and screaming, our third Battle of the Bands was no less than successful. Our packed house with over 400 guests attending the event gave us a reason to prepare for our next Battle of the Bands! Click here to view all of the photos.