January Newsletter
A new year brings us closer to a new initiative:
The Youth Action Network
We are so excited to start the Youth Action Network Planning Committee Meetings! We will be holding our first meeting on February 1st, where we will be getting to know one another and co-create community agreements focused on Hart’s Ladder of Participation and Youth-Adult Partnerships. 
 
Stay tuned to meet our planning committee team next week! We will be introducing them on our social media pages: make sure to follow us on Instagram & Facebook!
 
We also want to acknowledge the amazing youth leadership groups that we will be working with! We recognize the ever-changing and challenging environment that is within a virtual space and we greatly appreciate their time and commitment to building out the Youth Action Network together. And thank you to those who have expressed interest and support but do not capacity at this time, we look forward to engaging and working with you once YAN is established!
Roadmap for Resilience: The California Surgeon General's Report on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Toxic Stress, and Health
“ACEs and toxic stress are a public health crisis in California and throughout our nation. But ACEs are not our destiny, said California General Surgeon Nadine Burke Harris.

The Roadmap for Resilience serves as a blueprint for how communities, states, and nations can recognize and effectively address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress as a root cause to some of the most harmful, persistent, and expensive societal and health challenges facing our world today. The report provides clear cross-sector and equitable response solutions, models, and best practices to be replicated or tailored to serve community needs.

Local Efforts:
Our local First 5 is taking steps toward spreading awareness about ACEs and how it affects children in our community through the Santa Cruz County ACEs Network of Care.

  • Past & Upcoming Sessions: 
  • 1st Session: The Pair of ACEs in Practice 
  • 2nd Session: Connecting Across Sectors 
  • 3rd and Upcoming Session: Connecting ACEs, Equity & Resilience
  • February 11th from 11:45-2:00pm 
  • Register Here

Working with the ACEs framework and creating trauma-informed systems was a key part of the Youth Violence Prevention Network’s strategic plan as well as Project Thrive's work to support boys and men of color who have been impacted by violence. 

The Youth Action Network is committed to addressing the Pair of ACEs by centering youth voice and leadership in decision making, promoting well-being for youth in our community, holding the space to create relationships with youth and partners, provide equitable opportunities, and plans to continue to support youth through a trauma-informed/healing-centered lens. 
 
We look forward to learning more about how we can further implement the models from this report and learn from the ACEs Network of Care Sessions.
Based on a call to action from Watsonville Police Department, United Way of Santa Cruz County convened a group of community leaders representing the Santa Cruz County Youth Action Network, Jovenes SANOS, Watsonville United 4 Youth: Community Action Board, Conflict Resolution Center, Living Evolution, Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, Youth Now, and Youth Serve; as well as, Santa Cruz County Probation, Santa Cruz County Children's Behavioral Health, Santa Cruz County Office of Education, and COPA.
Collectively, partners are checking in with the youth they work with and plan to provide wrap-around support to youth in need. We then plan to share what was gathered from the check-ins with community leaders to guide their violence response and community safety efforts.

Check out the full op-ed following this link: https://www.unitedwaysc.org/news/youthcirculos
Community Opportunities & Events
CA Youth Leadership Summit

The California Youth Leadership Summit is led by youth for youth. Panelists include high school and college students participating from the State of California, as well as students from countries where California’s 356 sister cities around the world are located.

The theme of the event is Peace, Kindness and Cooperation and all of the topics are decided by the youth panel organizing team. These topics will relate to the subjects of:
  • climate change and sustainability
  • world peace and cooperation
  • racial equality and gender equity
  • coping with the pandemic
Saturday, February 6, 2021 from 2:00-5:00pm (PST)
NEST Flight 2021
NEST Flight is a career development youth conference packed with inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, powerful panel discussions and one of a kind networking opportunities --all crafted to help students propel their careers, no matter where you are in your job exploration!

Follow this link if you are interested in registering and learning more: https://www.nestflight.org/
Shared Safety Community Forum:
Working Together to Build Saftey for All
The goal of this forum is to deepen our understanding of the impacts of crime survivors, advance health and healing, break the cycle of harm, and envision a community where everyone can attain safety.

Hosted by the Santa Cruz County Community Corrections Partnership Community Education & Engagement Workgroup.

Date: February 3rd, 2021
Time: 5:30-7:30pm
Registration Link: https://sharedsafety.eventbrite.com
Questions?: Please contact Sarah Emmert: semmert@unitedwaysc.org
PVPSA Parent & Teacher Support Groups
Next Parent Support Group: Finding Balance in Disorienting Times 2/25 @3:00pm

Next Teacher Support Group: Balancing Boundaries 2/23 @ 3:00pm'

Interested in attending? email: Marisol.Maciel@PVPSA.org
Women and Girls+ Climate Justice Forum
This forum will shed light on how the climate emergency disproportionately impacts girls and women and the essential work they do.

Speakers will explore the intersection of sexism, racism, classism, and other oppressions as they tell their stories of climate impacts, climate activism and building resilient communities, and working for social and environmental justice.

Date: March 3, 2021, from 3:00-5:00pm

Register here: https://www.regenerationpajarovalley.org/copy-of-climate-of-hope-2020
Share your thoughts on police in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz Local is a news organization that focuses on deep and investigative local journalism guided by community needs. Over the summer they heard that people want more reporting on law enforcement and would like more information on what police reform could look like locally.

They producing a podcast series on police in Santa Cruz County and your responses will help guide their reporting.

If you are interested fill our their survey:


Youth Action Network Coordinators

Amanda Gamban

Gabriela Sanchez Ramirez
gsanchez@unitedwaysc.org


4450 Capitola Rd, Ste 106
Capitola, CA 95010

PHONE | [831.479.5466]
Follow us on Facebook & Instagam