City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission (City HRC) Youth Ambassador Cohort

Transcription

1 1 City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission (City HRC) Youth Ambassador Cohort

2 2 Attention high school students, ages 14-17: If you are eager to create change, become an effective leader, learn about policy, legislation and exercise your voice, then apply to the Nationally recognized & Award Winning Los Angeles Youth Ambassador (Y.A.) Program today! WHO WE ARE (The Nation s Leading Model for Youth Engagement) th The Y.A. Program is in its 5 year, it s a citywide nonpartisan effort, it is one of the one of the more engaging and most comprehensive youth engagement programs in the nation. It galvanizes the support of the Mayor, City Council, City Departments, Congress, the White House and the private sector to create a initiative that brings positive life changing experiences to youth populations. Our exclusive program helps promote youth involvement in three targeted areas: leadership, civic engagement, and volunteerism. WHAT WE DO (We Provide Outstanding Community Service Opportunities.) We bring together teens from all socio-economic backgrounds in a year-long program of activities and workshops, culminating in a 5-day trip to Washington, D.C., where YA s meet with congressional leaders, White House administration and tour the historical foundations and institutional structures that make up our great nation. WORKSHOPS! Through workshops, field trips, travel, and volunteer events, Y.A. Program teens learn about policy, legislation, the civic process, and how our local, state, and federal governments operate. They practice leadership, innovation, advocacy, and develop relationships with other youth groups to promote civic activities. Congresswoman Janice Hahn Representing the 44th District of California Diplomacy Reception Room at the White House

3 3 HOW IT WORKS Each year our committee selects a number of students from a pool of public and private high school applicants throughout Los Angeles. The selected teens (called Y.A. Cohorts) are invited to participate in a year of monthly workshops to learn about civic engagement, volunteerism, government, the history of Los Angeles, and human relations. Y.A. Cohort members find out how to identify needs in their communities, manage projects, plan events, and how to effectively work with government agencies. SAMPLE CURRICULUM: Some exciting topic areas in the Y.A. Program eight-month workshop include: Introduction to Government: An insider s guide to how local, state, and federal governments really work. L.A. History (1781 to present): Explore how Los Angeles has evolved and transformed politically over the years. Civic Engagement: Examine real-life examples showing what it takes to collaborate, organize, and facilitate a project through layers of government to get results. Social Justice & Organizing: Define the areas of need in your community and develop the skills to become engaged and make a difference. Human Relations: Find out how to manage groups, solve conflicts, motivate others, and assess human dynamics. STEM: Meet directly with top level executives, programmers & engineers at Google, have discussions through Google Moderator, Google +, tour and discuss career paths over lunch. Sit down with White House Executive staff and highlight your passions for Science & Technology. Domestic Issues Debate: ask a liberal speaker and a conservative speaker to share their views and positions on current issues you are concerned about and that impact your community. Global Warming/ Climate change: How can we turn the corner towards climate stability? Legislative Process: What is Legislation? How does citizen input reflect in the process? Learn what point in the process do members of the public have access to take part in shaping legislation. The Role of Citizenship in Sustaining Democracy: Explore different action that citizens can take to impact their communities and shape the course of public decision making (Cooperative Civic Commitment, Oppositional Civic Commitment.)

4 4 Health & Wellness: Explore sound approaches to health and obesity in your community (Farmers markets, Policy, Advocacy, and Outreach.) Creative Government-Business Alliances: Work directly with businesses to find innovative ways to work with government agencies. Fashion/Apparel: Learn how to dress for formal, semi-formal and business casual functions from the best designers and tailors in the fashion industry. Check us out on ABC 7: The Youth Ambassador documentary film is coming this fall, Directed and Produced by Award-Winning Filmmaker s, Winston A. Abalos, Deborah Mozer. Youth Ambassador s Honored by Councilmember Joe Buscaino YA S join Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Joe Buscaino at a press conference in DTLA.

5 5 Y.A. PROGRAM APPLICATION The Youth Ambassador Program is a highly competitive program. The City HRC staff, commissioners and partnership base review all applications very thoroughly. Although grades and academics are important, we look beyond numbers and focus on leadership characteristics, initiative, and ambition. Our goal is to equip our Youth Ambassadors with the proper tools needed to become our next generation of leaders. Applicants should be: No younger than age 14 and no older than age 17 at the start of the program on September 24, A student in the Los Angeles public or private school system. Foster Youth, Homeschooled children are also encouraged to apply. Able to pay travel and program fee cost of approximately $2,500 for program services, and travel, or meet the financial aid/ sponsorship assistance requirements. Available for an in person interview prior to the first workshop Must be a resident of the City of Los Angeles We encourage you to fill out the application included in this packet and begin your path to leadership. You will be challenged like never before, you will meet others from diverse backgrounds, advocate on behalf of your community as the youth voice, and learn what it takes to be a leader. Reminder: Make to make sure that your application is complete before you submit it. Section 1: Completed by you, and includes: Three essays and a bonus question Two letters of recommendation (see application form for details) Your documented attendance record for the previous school year ( ) Section 2: Completed and signed by a parent or legal guardian. Please submit your application as follows: 1.) Certified Mail (Postmarked on or before September 24 th 2015) 2.) Sheldon.Cruz@lacity.org ( Subject: YA Application ) Attention: Sheldon Cruz, Y.A. Cohort Founder, City of Los Angeles 200 North Spring Street City Hall Room 2111 Tel: (213) Sheldon.Cruz@lacity.org

6 6 Google Engineer Staff Quotes: Lily Yuan, Account Solutions Specialist The kids were so BRIGHT and asked fantastic questions! I had a ton of fun participating in the panel. Jason Carr, Account Executive Media Entertainment I was extremely impressed with the enthusiasm, knowledge and drive of the students from the Youth Ambassadors program. The program and staff are doing great service for these students by encouraging thought leadership as well as instilling a desire to see these students grow and hopefully become future Googlers! Since % of Y.A. s are accepted into four-year colleges A total of 61 youth representing all (15) Council Districts have been admitted into the Cohort 100% retention rate 90% of Y.A. s are interested in public service 100% of Y.A. s complete 100 hours of community service/volunteer hours by the time they graduate from high school 100% of Y.A. alumni join our intercollegiate consortium Youth Ambassadors are more likely to get admitted into the University of their choice than their counterparts because of their strong community service & civic-engagement portfolio.

7 Our Youth Ambassadors have been either accepted or have enrolled in the following Universities: LEADERSHIP, CIVIC-ENGAGEMENT, VOLUNTEERISM 7 UC Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Cruz Georgetown University Stanford Harvard Dartmouth College YALE Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Cal State Northridge, Long Beach, LA Northwestern University of Southern California (USC) University of Hawaii Mount Saint Mary University (MSMU) Dillard University Pacific Lutheran The Youth Ambassador Cohort Initiative has successfully serviced all (15) Council Districts, within the City of Los Angeles geographic area each year, including outreach to all 1,270 LAUSD schools within the city line and its student body population of 907,019.

8 8 City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission (City HRC) Youth Ambassador Cohort A P P L I C A T I O N F O R M SECTION I ALL SECTIONS MUST BE COMPLETED AND SIGNED. STUDENT INFORMATION (Mandatory) Student s Full Name: Date of Birth: Grade: Address: City: Zip Code: High School: Organizations (school clubs, etc.) Academic recognition (awards, honors, etc.) Volunteer work: Phone Numbers (mandatory) (Home or landline): (Cell phone): Address: Student Signature/Date:

9 9 ESSAY Please answer the following questions: 1) In 300 words (typed or written) tell us (300 words is the minimum requirement): Why you would like to participate in the Youth Ambassador Program? 2) In 300 words (typed or written) tell us: What problems or issues currently exist in the community where you live? How would you help solve or change these problems if you could? 3) In 300 words (typed or written) tell us: How would you define leadership? Please provide an example of leadership in action and what it meant to you. BONUS QUESTION (optional) If you were to host a dinner party and could invite five leaders, dead or alive, who would they be and why? IMPORTANT! Don t forget to provide the following with your application (Incomplete Applications will not be accepted):

10 10 RECOMMENDAT IONS Two (2) letters of recommendations from a teacher, guardian, employer, organization head, or any qualified adult that can tell us why you deserve to be a candidate. We want to hear examples of your passion, responsibility, and willingness to make a difference. Please make sure to have your recommenders write on their official letterhead and/or include their contact information. ATTENDANCE RECORD An official record or notice from your school administration confirming your solid attendance record. SECTION II SURVEY TO BE COMPLETED BY YOUR PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN The City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission would like to determine financial needs in order to help make this trip affordable for all candidates. The survey responses are strictly confidential. Please check all that apply: I am able to pay the full program cost of $2,500 for my child s trip to Washington, D.C. I am able to contribute a portion of the cost, approximately $. I need a partial scholarship or a minimum of $ to make this trip possible. I am able to donate to help fund another student. I can donate $. I am able to help with fundraising and/or volunteering my time or resources. All parents or guardians, please answer the following: 1) I will arrange for transportation for my child to and from special events that are mandatory for the Y.A. Program. Yes No 2) I am willing to provide feedback about the Y.A. Program for evaluations, marketing, public relations, public service announcements, and other promotional purposes. Yes No 3) I am available to volunteer, at least once, for the City of Los Angeles Human Rights Commission Angel Award Gala honoring the Y.A. graduates. Yes No Parent or Guardian Full Name (PRINT): Parent or Guardian Signature Phone Numbers (Home or landline): (Work): (Cell phone):

11 11 Important Dates: Open Enrollment Begins August 31st, Get Ready! August 31 st 2015 thru September 24 th 2015: Open Enrollment October 9th: 1st Mandatory Orientation Breakfast, 8am-10:30am, City Hall Towers November 7th: Workshop Series 1 Begins, L.A. History (1781 to present): November June: Y.A. Workshops in session November - June: Complete mandatory volunteer assignments. Spring Break 2016 (March 19, 2016 March 25, 2016): Washington, D.C., 5-Day Trip June 2016: Final Y.A. Workshop and culmination event. Students that receive a passing score on their applications will be required to participate in a mandatory oral interview session. Please submit your application as follows: 3.) Certified Mail (Postmarked on or before September 24 th 2015) 4.) Sheldon.Cruz@lacity.org ( Subject: YA Application ) Attention: Sheldon Cruz, Y.A. Cohort Founder, City of Los Angeles 200 North Spring Street City Hall Room 2111 Tel: (213) Sheldon.Cruz@lacity.org CONTACT INFORMATION For further information regarding your interest in supporting and/or participating in the Youth Ambassador Initiative, please direct all questions and inquiries to Y.A. Founder, Sheldon Cruz at (213) , or by at: Sheldon.Cruz@lacity.org.