TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents and subsequent amendments between the City of Long Beach and the Long Beach Community Foundation, to provide Weed and Seed Youth Leadership Program Services in Central Long Beach in the amount of $14,000 for the period of March 1, 2010 through August 31, 2010. (Districts 1,6,7)
DISCUSSION
The Weed and Seed Youth Leadership Program (Program) was designed as a comprehensive approach to leadership training to meet the specific needs of low socioeconomic status youth residing in the Weed and Seed target area. The Program has three main areas of focus: individual growth and opportunity, family support, and community change. The program uses a systems perspective in recognizing that the health and well-being of youth is not independent of a healthy family and community.
The program strives to create a positive impact in multiple systems affecting the lives of youth. The model developed and utilized by the Health Department is based on research and best-practice methods.
Phase I of the program began with funding from the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network Youth Opportunity Center to offer paid work and volunteer experience to forty youth during the summer of 2009. Utilizing the Program's funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Phase II started in October 2009 with the Leadership Program continuing to emphasize the importance of civic engagement while holding weekly workshops that focused on teaching specific leadership skills and group work. Phase III has now begun and will be funded in part by this grant from the Long Beach Community Foundation.
The grant awarded by the Long Beach Community Foundation will fund efforts towards the following four goals of the Weed and Seed Youth Leadership Program:
Goal 1: Promote job training and job experience with youth in the Connected Corridor
Phase III Target Area in Central Long Beach
Goal 2: Create a youth-...
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