On behalf of the Milford Youth Commission and staff, we would like to thank everyone who attended, donated, supported, and volunteered to make the sixth annual St. Pat's Fundraiser successful! Due to the renovation, the fundraiser was held at the Marchegiano Club and included a cash bar, music, raffles, and appetizers! 

We also announced our 2015 Community and Individual Appreciation Awards. Paul Mina, President & CPO, accepted the Community Appreciation Award on behalf of the United Way of Tri-County. The United Way of Try-County was an easy selection as the recipient of this award, due to the years of their dedication to the Center. Both Paul Mina, Jen Maseda, and the entire staff have supported our efforts from the very beginning, allowing the Center to grow and continue to offer a free after school, an affordable summer camp and numerous youth and community events! In addition, the United Way of Tri-County goes well and beyond in supporting the Center with their annual campaigns, including their "Tools for School" Back Pack program and "Hope for the Holidays" gift collection, as well as reaching out to local businesses for "Days of Caring" and monetary contributions. In addition, we awarded former Senator Richard Moore and Rep. John Fernandes with the 2015 "Individual Appreciation Awards." Both individuals have partnered in their dedication to the Center from the very beginning! We know we can always count on their support; whether it be sponsoring one of or "March Madness teams, organizing two busloads of After School members to a trip to Edaville Railroad, or securing a $50K grant for the Center and our Renovation project! We are thankful for these long-lasting relationships that have helped the Center live up to its mission in providing a safe environment that promotes self-esteem, builds character, and fosters the notion of community and the importance of respecting and serving others. We would like to thank every individual, organization and/or businesses that contributed to this fundraiser. For complete list, please click here! 

For more photo's, click here. For video, that Town Engineer, Vonnie Reis, created for the event, click here. 

Would you like to take part in an opportunity to leave a lasting mark in front of the newly renovated Milford Youth Center, anticipated to be completed in September of 2015!?

We only have 48 bricks available to be sponsored, which will be located on the walkway as you enter the building. If you are interested in purchasing a brick, we are selling them for $125.00 each. Each brick measures, 4" x 8", with three lines and 18 characters per line allowed to be engraved! Click here for form - they are going fast and they are first come, first serve! 

We would like to recognize those who already sponsored one of the twelve pavers, which will be located on the patio as you enter the building (these are 12" x 12"): the DiAntonio Family, the Seaver Family, the Milford Youth Commission, Waters Corporation, Imperial Cars, Milford National Bank, Oliva's Market, Milford Rotary Club, Milford Regional Medical Center, Teacher's Driving Academy and the United Way of Tri-County! Thank you Ed Thompson and WMRC for helping us promote this fundraiser! 

On March 5th, nine MYC After School and JAG Youth Council members attended the Office of Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.'s "Student Wellness Conference: Promoting Good Decision Making & Positive Choices"! 

The members, along with staff, attended the full day conference at Anna Maria College and learned about the importance of making healthy and positive decisions! The youth were also interviewed on Worcester News Tonight. The event was a great opportunity for youth to engage with other area youth about important issues that effect their lives! For video, click here. For more photos of event, click here! 

On Thursday April 9th, the United Way of Tri-County will host their annual Recognition Event Breakfast! The event will be held at the Sheraton Framingham, from 7:30 am - 9:30 am. At the event, the United Way of Tri-County honors several volunteers, partners, programs, and supporters, as well as providing a breakfast and Keynote Speaker, Liz Murray.

Members of the Milford Youth Center annually attend this event to show our gratitude for the years or support from the United Way of Tri-County! We would not be able to accomplish everything we do without their continued confidence and support! We are excited to announce that the Center will receive the Community Impact Award and After School member, Victoria Williams will be awarded "Youth Volunteer of the Year Award!" For an article about the award, click here. For more information of event and to purchase tickets, click here. 

We would like to thank the individuals and businesses that donated to the Youth Center over the last month! First, we would like to thank Dave Balducci, owner or the Milford McDonald's (Rt. 109) and his team, for donating chairs and tables to the Center! They are already being put to good use! We would also like to thank IDG Enterprise in Framingham for donating office equipment to the Center! We would like to specifically thank Diane Anderson for organizing this for us!  Finally, we would like to thank Milford TV, who has been donating their time every Wednesday to train our After School members in how to use the cameras, lighting and editing equipment! 

We are accepting registrations for Teacher's Driving Academy for the 2015 school year! The Milford Youth Center is pleased to partner with Teachers Driving Academy to offer students a great program, at a reasonable price, with added convenience of taking classes right at school! For more information, click here. Every registration fee is made out the Milford Youth Center as a donation from the TDA. We are very grateful for this collaboration and support!     

The Juvenile Advocacy Group (JAG) would like to thank everyone who attended and helped plan the 3rd Annual Networking Breakfast! Over 100 local providers and organizations attended the breakfast, along with special guest speaker, Jeff Yalden! 

The results of this breakfast, efforts and relationships that have been created from the JAG has now become a "fixture" within the community and organizations. We have collectively tracked data through our partnerships with the MRMC ED, local police department and most importantly the decade of support from the MetroWest Health Foundation to provide the Adolescent Health Survey showing us trends and understanding of the emerging needs among our youth.  These partnerships have allowed us over the years to address the needs and more importantly secure funding for our efforts.

Most recently we have been working with in partnership with other community groups and the CHNA-6 on the Community Health Improvement Plan to address mental health and substance abuse prevention. it is our hope that through these efforts and events as  such as this our JAG efforts will be expanded to other communities and sustained within Milford, Bellingham, Hopedale, Mendon and Upton to address  adolescent Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse needs.

The adult JAG Coalition will have its next meeting on Wed., May 6th, at 8:45 am, at the Milford Police Station Training room. We are excited to announce that JAG will be awarded the Peter Lee Award at this year's Ounce of Prevention conference on Tuesday, April 7th at the DCU Center in Worcester!

The Juvenile Advocacy Group (JAG) provides an opportunity for youth, parents, community agencies, schools, state and local institutions, volunteers and our faith communities to network, coordinate services, identify and respond to emerging needs in the Greater Milford community. Through youth-adult collaboration JAG seeks to engage all sectors in the Greater Milford Area to promote healthy development for youth and families by reducing substance use, lowering risk factors and strengthening protective factors. For more information, contact Amy Leone. 

The JAG Youth Council and Milford Youth Center has signed up to participate in the Relay for Life of Greater Milford for the third year in a row! 

The JAG Youth Council decided that they wanted to participate in Milford's Relay for Life on May 16th to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that has already taken too much. Relay teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around the high school. Relay events are up to 24 hours in length and, because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times. To donate to the MYC & JAG team, click here. To see photos from last year's event, click here.  

Imperfectly Perfect: Sign up today for Perfectly Imperfect, a yoga and art series for ages 8-11! This program is to focus on self-love and self-expression! This program will be held at the Ahimsa Yoga Studio The class will be held on Thursdays from 3:45-5:15 on May 14, 21, 28, and June 4th. 

New Art and Yoga Group: Yoga and art therapy is based on addressing your need and on developing your strengths. For teens 12-16. 

Boys Club: This program will be limited to a small number of boys in groups of ages 5-7, 8-10. We will learn and practice both social thinking skills and regulation strategies. More information will be available soon!

To register, please visit: communityimpactinc.net

For more information, email here. 

Ahimsa Yoga Studio has its Spring class schedule available! classes for the month of December. Classes include: 

• Mondays Power Flow: 8:30-9:45AM 
• Thursdays Power Hour: 5:30-6:30AM
• Saturday Beginner Flow: 8:00-9:15AM  

To register, contact 

AhimsaYogaCS@gmail.com

There is a six class pass for $55, or individual classes for $12 per class. Because space is limited, please sign up for only the classes you will attend. Ahimsa Yoga Studio is located at the offices of Community Impact Inc., at 211 Main St. in Milford, Ma. 

Learn about the latest developments in drug abuse and parental liability as a social host allowing minors to drink alcohol in their home.  This forum will be lead by Amy Leone from Community Impact and Julie Lesure, Assistant District Attorney.  School officials, counselors, and law enforcement will also be present.

As a school system, we are committed to these forums as an important step in empowering students, families, schools and outside agencies to link arms in combating the perils of substance abuse for our children. 

When: April 14, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Milford High School Auditorium

Families are encouraged to email topics of interest or areas of concern to be addressed at this forum to: parentforum@milfordma.com

The Milford Family & Community Network has a bunch of new program being offered! Please call the office at 508-634-2356 to register for all programs.

Song & Story Time - This is a fun and interactive program for children from birth to 5 years old taking place on Friday, April 24th from 9:30 to 10:30am in our Playcenter.

Five Senses Fun - This is a fun, hands-on program for children from birth to 5 years old taking place on Monday, April 27th from 12:30 to 2:00pm in our Playcenter.

Nurturing a Reader; READING & RECREATION - This is a drop-off event for children from 5.5 to 7 years old taking place on Thursday, April 23rd from 9:30 to 11:00 am in our Playcenter.

In addition, we still have space in the following programs:

Baby Buddies - This is a 7-week series for babies from birth to 12 months and their caregivers from 10:00 to 11:30 am on Tuesdays, starting April 7th, 2015, in the Quarry Room at the Milford Town Library.

Supporting Siblings - A parent workshop designed to help parents support sibling relationships in a positive way.  This will be held on Wednesday, April 15th, from 7:00 to 9:00pm at the Bellingham Public Library.