News from Teen Services Sonoma

March 2016

We are so excited to share all of the latest news from Teen Services Sonoma with you!

Cowboy Cab Tickets are on Sale Now!

Time to dust off your boots, chaps and cowboy hats

and get ready for Teen Services Sonoma's

fun-filled, country-casual Cowboy Cab benefit.

Get your tickets or become a sponsor here!

Skills For Life Spring Sessions Begin

The Ready to Work Skills for Life sessions kicked off this week with 45 students attending orientations at Hanna Boys Center and the Sonoma Valley High School campus.

Over the next six weeks, the students will attend workshops taught by industry professionals, with the goal of preparing these young adults for the working world. The course covers everything from general employment behavior to advanced networking skills.

There will also be a Speed Networking event on April 25th that is open to all teens in Sonoma Valley. Building on its success last year, this collaborative event is a partnership among Teen Services Sonoma, Sonoma Valley High School, Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, Hanna Boys Center and Sonoma Valley Boys & Girls Club and helps teens identify community business partners, understand what local employers are looking for, and practice their networking skills. To sign up please email Emilia Donovan or call the office at (707) 939-1452 .

The Return of The Shop

Originally founded in 1999 in a dusty warehouse on the outskirts of Sonoma as a senior class project for budding garage bands, The Shop grew into a popular teen music venue. It was run by teens for teens, hosting live bands, open mics, music competitions, and interactive cult movie screenings.

After a 13-year run, it sadly closed its doors in 2012 following the deaths of two beloved and key figures: Operation Youth founder John Randall, who oversaw and mentored the all-teen board, and entrepreneur Niels Chew, who secured and donated The Shop location.

The Shop has found its new home in Hanna Boys Center's brand-new, state-of-the-art auditorium. However, staying true to its roots and mission, the 2016, re-imagined Shop is being run by a newly-minted board of directors comprised of 11 teens, ranging in age from 15 to 17 years old. They attend meetings, discuss issues, make decisions, and are steering the new venture on their own terms with limited guidance from staff and former Shop board members.

On March 12th, more than 100 teens came out for the first Shop show in over three years. DJ CAL, a Shop alumnus got everyone moving with Reggae music. Founding member Katie Kelly, whose senior project started The Shop, was also in attendance. Katie was delighted at the number of teens there and offered up her interior design knowledge to help the board decorate the auditorium for future shows. We are excited to see how this generation will make The Shop their own!

Like The Shop on Facebook for information about upcoming shows!