YDA Session One, Day Three

One of our counselors, James Petitfils gave us a glimpse of the kids' day with the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team:

Whether getting off the bus, standing in line, hanging in a group of peers, or participating in one of the many YDA (Youth Development Academy for those of you who don’t know the abbrev. of it yet) activities, the students LOVE TO DANCE!  Thus, it was only fitting that we began our day with an organized dance session.  This was a neat opportunity for the students to “cut some rug,” “bust a move,” or “drop it like it’s hot” (I’m not sure what all these terms mean, but I think they relate to dancing).  Likewise, it was a perfect moment for us counselors to make the students laugh as we engaged in a hopeless attempt at keeping rhythm.  What a classic picture:  students and leaders from all walks of life, ages, cities, socio-economic categories, and personalities joining in a (somewhat) unified dance sequence.

James and the crew getting down

Following the dance portion, we headed over to the Home Depot Center and enjoyed an insider tour of the Galaxy facilities.  The tour facilitators said that ours was the biggest tour they have every given (with the most people).  Not only did the students sit in the box seats, stroll through the fitness center and “backstage” areas of the Center, but the Home Depot Center gave each camper a free Galaxy soccer ball and poster.  The balls were deflated—thankfully for the counselors—so most of the students wore them as hats.  We left right as the L.A. Sols (the new professional women’s soccer team in Los Angeles) began their game.



After a refreshing break, it was straight to the athletic field for some very unique recreation.  Following a few team-building exercises, we played a spin-off version of soccer.  It was like a combination of “steal the bacon,” soccer, and pool.  My team for the next two weeks—our team name is “Crispy” based on a drama presentation we put together wherein we became a human toaster—had an absolute blast!

All in all, Wednesday was yet another powerful, fun, and blissfully exhausting day of YDA!  In just half a week, my team “Crispy” and all of the other teams (with names including, but not limited to, “The Burritos,” “The Best Team Ever,” and “School House”) have really bonded.  It is truly a beautiful sight!  Tomorrow we look forward to learning about how we can make an impact in our local communities and we will also be making quite a splash during pool time.  CANNON BALL!!!

Video from day one

This will probably give you an idea of what the kids are really excited about.

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YDA Session One, Day Two

Yesterday, Youth Development Academy students got to know each other. Today, they got to know themselves.

Using the PATH4TEENS curriculum, kids gathered in a Cal State University Dominguez classroom to define who they are and break definitions that constrained them.

They did this through exercises like listing the gifts, talents and values they hold close; making sure to choose the path they want for themselves — not one someone else pressures them into; and breaking negative stereotypes.



One student from each group stood and shared his or her "Talent Shield" — a visual representation of four personal talents they value the most, ones to give them a better sense of self.

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To break away from any negative pressure, each student wrote down one bad expectation people have about them. But then they passed it to another student who turned that negative statement into a positive one. They even examined outside influences on their lives, whether it be parents, teachers, TV, music or movies.

Shannell McMillan, who ran the session, said the idea is to give them a positive, practical foundation to develop a set of life skills for healthy decision making.

"They need to know what they're passionate about first," she said. "It's like focusing them like a laser."

Learning about themselves gave them a better idea of how to pursue their aspirations.



Tomorrow the kids get to take a tour of the L.A. Galaxy's facility. Don't miss it.

YDA Session One, Day One

For two of the four weeks in the Youth Development Academy, ShareFest counselors work with the first half of the students to sharpen their dreams and learn they are leaders — but first they have to meet each other.

Today, half the students at the academy broke the ice with theater arts exercises, whether it was rooting themselves to the ground as a tree

or mirroring a partner's actions:



or trusting other members in their groups by falling into their arms:



This gave these kids from different races, neighborhoods and communities a new common experience to bond around.

"It was kinda weird at first, but I did throw some of my trust into them," 13-year-old Khalon said. "I really think I could actually trust them if I had to."

One of ShareFest's goals is building relationships in communities, and this community of young leaders is no different.

"It instills team-building. It instills trust in their piers. It allows everyone to be comfortable," Anwar Shariff, the theater arts instructor, said. "It's wonderful to see kids break out of their shells and foster relationships through these exercises."

And then it was time for skits:



Check back tomorrow and see the potiential in these middle- and high-schoolers develop throughout July.

Communities headed toward healing

These two articles in the L.A. Times about the community center ShareFest helped create in Harbor Gateway are examples of the direction ShareFest is nudging neighborhoods.

Both articles discuss the Cheryl Green Community Youth Center that ShareFest volunteers built on the Sixth Annual Workday, but they also show a glimpse of the community it is helping heal.

I accordance with ShareFest's goals, the center is a step toward diffusing violence, gangs and racial tension in Harbor Gateway, but there is still change to be had in this area and so many others.

Let's be proud of the work done but remember there is plenty more.

Youth center opens as racial tensions ease in Harbor Gateway

After Cheryl Green, a black teenager, was gunned down, allegedly by Latino gang members, near her house after school, her mother was approached by several African Americans offering to retaliate violently for her daughter's death.

Earlier this week, Charlene Lovett recalled the moment, looking back on how tense relations between blacks and Latinos had become in the section of Harbor Gateway known as "The Strip."

That was in December 2006, at a time when blacks said they feared Latino gangs were trying to push them out of the neighborhood. Lovett said retaliation, however, was not the answer.

Full article

Youth center named for victim of ethnic violence

Los Angeles officials on Monday dedicated the Cheryl Green Community Youth Center in Harbor Gateway, named after the African American teenager who was shot to death in 2006 by Latino gang members.

Green, 14, was killed near her home when a 204th Street gang member fired into a group of black youths on Harvard Boulevard, police said. The Latino gang had been preying on and attacking blacks for years.

Full article