MyCom: My Commitment, My Community

 MyCom: Discover Your Best Self


November Fall Frenzy for Youth! 

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What's New for the MyCom Network?
MyCom Network News: Youth Voice Awards
Did you know....Homeless Youth Awareness Month
National Youth Development News
State of Ohio Youth Development News
Spotlight on Youth: Takura Mikel
MyCom Network Events
MyCom Network News!
MyCom Youth Voice 2014
  • Register Today for the MyCom Youth Voice Awards-Thursday, November 13, 2014.  Celebrate the best and brightest in youth development across Cuyahoga County!  The event will be held at Ariel International Center from 5:30pm-7:30pm.  Tickets are $30 per person or a table of 8 for $200.  Click here to register.
  • Save the Date!  MyCom 2.0 Launch at the Hanna Theater with Russ Mitchell of Channel 3 WKYC-Wednesday, December 3, 2014 from 4:00pm-5:30pm.
  • The Princeton Prize in Race Relations announces its fifth year in the Greater Cleveland area. If you are a high school student (grades 9-12)  helping to improve race relations in your school or community, we want to hear from you!  The top winner in the region will receive a $1000 prize and an expenses-covered trip to Princeton University for a symposium on race relations.  Apply by January 31, 2015, to be eligible.  For more information, visit www.princeton.edu/pprize or email pprize@princeton.edu.

 
Did you know....
November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

 

Each year more than 1.6 million children are homeless at some point in their lives, and that number is increasing (The National Center on Family Homelessness). Along with losing their home, community, friends, and routines as well as their sense of stability and safety, many homeless youth are also victims of trauma. While trying to survive on the streets, youth are exposed to countless dangers, with an increased likelihood of substance abuse, early parenthood, impulsivity, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a vulnerability to being trafficked.


 
MyCom:  National Youth Development News
  • The National Collaboration for Youth has posted a policy report written by the National Assembly for Human Services entitled "Investing in Our Future: An Essential Agenda for America's Communities."  The report includes recommendations on how federal investments in human services can maximize outcomes for youth, seniors, families, and individuals with disabilities. Recommendations from the report specific to children and youth include:
    • Reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to support robust school-community partnership models, creating greater access to integrated services that address obstacles to scholastic success.
    • Support successful federal programs for opportunity youth, the 6.7 million Americans ages 16-24 disengaged from employment and education. Also known as disconnected youth, this population can be offered increased access to economic mobility through strategic investments from the Social Innovation Fund and the Workforce Innovation Fund.
 
MyCom:  State of Ohio Youth Development News
Voices of Ohio's Children Hosts 
Lights On Afterschool advocacy event at the State House in Columbus on October 23, 2014 with Cuyahoga County MyCom Delegation

On Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 3:00pm, MyCom youth from Cuyahoga County participated in the Lights On Afterschool advocacy event at the Ohio Statehouse. Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. This year Governor John Kasich signed a proclamation officially making October 23, 2014 Lights On Afterschool Day in Ohio.  The event drew attention to the need for more affordable and accessible quality afterschool and summer learning programs to State legislators.  MyCom youth participated as advocates on behalf of youth from Cuyahoga County in meetings with State legislators.


 

 

Today, 53 percent of Ohio's children would participate in an afterschool program if one were available to them.

 

Click here to see the full results of the America After 3PM survey.


 
MyCom Spotlight on Youth
Meet Takura Mikel

 

Takura Mikel has been a part of MyMedia since 2012, when she first participated in the MyVoice program. At MyVoice, she was a member of a teen-centered, roundtable discussion that aired Sunday mornings on z107.9.  In 2013 she participated in the MyMedia program where she created an impressive short documentary about teen pregnancy.  Her documentary took a sensitive look at her peers who are currently dealing with the different stages of child rearing and also included a focus on adult reflections of their teen years in order to offer guidance to today's youth.


 

Since the program ended, Takura has been an active participant in monthly MyVoice recordings and has encouraged friends and family to join the MyCom family.


 

In  2013, she was one of the leads on the student-led committee that created MyMedia Advanced, a news program that will launch this fall. Over this past summer, Takura was the lead editor of the MyPath documentary, a 15 minute in-depth look at the MyPath summer program.  She logged, watched, and edited over ten hours of footage on Adobe Premiere Pro, a professional grade editing software.


 

When not supporting MyCom, Takura spent her time as a tutor for Math Corps at Cleveland State University. She started her studies at Kent State this fall. Takura hopes to take her leadership skills into her future career as an elementary teacher.

 
MyCom Upcoming Events Across the Network
  • Plant the Seeds to Your Child's Future:  The Spanish American Committee's Early Childhood Enrichment Center's Open House, Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 8601 Sauer Avenue from 9:00am-1:00pm.  Click here for event details.
    Call to Action
  • CALL TO ACTION from Cuyahoga County's Division of Children & Family Services for their 300 "RISE OF THE MENTORS" Campaign Kick-Off, Saturday, November 8 at the Fatima Family Center from 10am - 12pm.
  • CLEVELAND- We want to make you a STAR!  We are looking for talent (all ages) for the next Scenarios USA short film House, Not Home, to be shot in the Old-Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland (near the Cleveland Zoo).  If you click the link below you will learn all you need to know about how to video your audition and submit it for a role in our next short film!  You must post your audition no later than Monday, November 3rd and we will call by Friday, November 7th, if we want to bring you in for an audition in person.  The film was written by teenager Skyler Edge of Facing History and Ourselves and will be directed by Joshua Butler (The Secret Circle, The Following, Nikita, and The Vampire Diaries).  For more info, just CLICK HERE. Not Ready for the Spotlight?  We need Teachers and Students to come be extras!  You can sign up to be a background player in one of our scenes if you CLICK HERE.
    • What is Scenarios USA?
      • Scenarios USA is a national non-profit organization that uses writing and filmmaking to foster youth leadership, advocacy and self-expression in students across the county. Scenarios USA asks young people to write about the issues that shape their lives such as bullying, stereotyping, sexuality, peer-pressure, drug/alcohol use, and gender norms. Scenarios USA believes that by valuing youth and listening to their opinions we can have an impact on promoting healthy relationships and empowering a generation of engaged citizens.
  • Cuyahoga Community College's SATURDAY FAMILY ACADEMY (SFA) is a program dedicated to facilitating parental involvement in education, which is critical and necessary to student success.  Registration is free and includes the remaining sessions to be held November 1 and 15 and December 6.  SFA engages the entire family and offers innovative instruction and advising in many crucial areas.  Topics include:
    • ABC-123 KIDS EXPRESS providing activities for children under 8 years
    • Chess instruction for youth ages 8-18 years
    • Educational and career opportunities
    • Personal and professional development
    • Self-esteem and respect
  • Voices of Ohio's Children OPEN HOUSE
    • Join Voices of Ohio's Children for an Open House of their new offices in Columbus!  Monday, November 17, 2014 from 4:30pm-6:30pm at 33 S. Third Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.  RSVP your attendance to: Dana@RaiseYourVoiceforKids.org.

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MyCom: My Commitment, My Community

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