Summer 2010

Photo Gallery: Connect to Summer Activities!

Did you know? According to the National Summer Learning Association:

Students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer than they do on the same tests at the beginning of summer.

All young people are at risk of experiencing setbacks in math skills over the summer months.

Young people in high-poverty communities face much greater risks of experiencing losses. Low-income children fall behind an average of 2-3 months in reading while their middle-income peers tend to make slight gains.

As losses accumulate summer after summer, by 5th grade lower-income kids are nearly 3 years behind their better-off peers in reading.

Two-thirds of the 9th grade achievement gap in reading can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities in the elementary school years.

Follow this link to the newly released "America After 3 PM Special Report on Summer."

3/4 of America's school children are not participating in a summer learning program. Find options for local summer programming through MyCom partner, Starting Point, at 216-575-0061.

FREE online resource developed by MyCom youth

MyCom just released the “Building stronger communities through our youth” brochure as a free resource at their website, www.mycom.net. The brochure contains tips on involving young people in community decision-making, and was developed by MyCom youth leaders to help educate adults on appropriate ways to respect and interact with youth in public meetings.

The Partnership For A Safer Cleveland helped the MyCom youth develop the content for the brochure.

Youth leaders from MyCom share their ideas and expertise in many forums, including to the directors of public child-serving systems at the Family & Children First Council Executive meeting last summer.

Employers Can Still Register to Offer Youth Jobs

Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) conducted their online registration for summer jobs for youth ages 14-18 in Cuyahoga County from April 1 to 23. Over 11,300 youth registered online -- showing a clear need for more summer employment opportunities for young people.

Youth learn important skills like arriving on time and interacting with customers,  in jobs in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood.

Though registration for youth has closed, employers can still register to offer youth jobs by visiting Y.O.U.'s Online Employer Registration Page.
 
Recently, Y.O.U., a MyCom partner, won the prestigious Anisfield-Wolf Memorial Award, presented annually by The Center for Community Solutions and The Cleveland Foundation to recognize outstanding service by one nonprofit organization serving Greater Clevelanders. Robert E. Eckardt, Senior Vice President for Programs and Evaluation of The Cleveland Foundation, presented the award and a $20,000 check to Neville Arjani, Chair of Y.O.U.’s Board of Trustees and Chief Actuary and Principal, Findley Davies, Inc.

"Last year, the country -- and Greater Cleveland -- experienced record numbers of unemployment. Boosted by federal stimulus funding, Y.O.U. found employment for 3,412 teens at 400 worksites; 200

Summer youth workers paint a mural through their Y.O.U. employment.

were placed with 56 employers in the private sector," Eckardt said. "Y.O.U. took on a big responsibility, acted quickly and efficiently in managing unique funds, worked collaboratively and effectively with other non-profits and businesses, and demonstrated outstanding results. In fact, 89 percent of the youth who started a summer job completed their assignments, including many 14- and 15-year-olds who had no prior job experience."

According to Carol Rivchun, President of Y.O.U.: "Summer employment provides both tangible and intangible benefits. First, young people gain a paycheck, which often goes to supplement family income, especially in times of high unemployment among parents. In addition, through summer employment teens gain self-esteem, an appreciation of what the workplace requires, and a stepping-stone to their next job. Just as important, they have a safe and constructive way to spend their time during the months away from school."

Learn more about Y.O.U. at youthopportunities.org.

Did you know?

Did you know that by the time a child reaches 18 years of age, he or she will have spent only 13% of his or her waking hours in school?

MyCom supports the 87% of a child’s waking hours spent outside of school, with enriching activities and opportunities. The opportunities children and youth have in the remaining waking hours play a major role in their development.

Find summer programming by calling MyCom partner, Starting Point, at 216-575-0061. 

(Source: Ohio Afterschool Network & The Ohio State University)

Voices for Ohio's Children Wins 2010 Health Care Heroes Award

Voices for Ohio's Children, the lead agency for advocacy in the MyCom network, received the Crain's Cleveland Business 2010 Health Care Heroes Award in the advocacy organization category. Voices accepted the award at a ceremony at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center with many of their fellow advocates, funders, and partners there showing support. These awards are about celebrating the dedication, leadership & innovative achievements of the individuals who make Northeast Ohio the destination for world-class health care. Over 105 nominations for nine award categories were received, with 27 finalists. Learn more about Voices at www.vfc-oh.org.

Parents: Tips for easy, fun activities this summer!

Use the ParentFurther Activity Generator to help think of easy, fun things to do with kids. The website also has other great resources about summer learning, and what kids need to succeed, developed by the Search Institute.

MyCom is making connections

"In the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood, the organizations providing youth services are getting to know each other much better. As a result, collaborations are beginning to happen," stated Lee Lazar, Executive Director, Rainey Institute. 
 
Earlier this year, representatives from St. Martin de Porres High School came to the Rainey Institute to speak to Rainey students and families about their school.

"Rainey students and families became more aware of St. Martin de Porres and one Rainey student has already applied. Good things are happening!" Lazar said.

Resources We Love

"Role Model Speakers Bureau" through Hard Hatted Women
Hard Hatted Women (HHW) is a community-based organization dedicated to empowering women to achieve economic diversity by creating workplace diversity in trade and technical careers. HHW launched the Role Model Speakers Bureau to educate our communities about high-demand trade and technical career opportunities for women and girls. The Role Model Speakers Bureau is comprised of volunteers who participate as guest speakers, panelists, or instructors to raise positive community awareness about women working in trade and technical careers.

Invite Hard Hatted Women to present to your youth council or youth-centered organization. For more information, please contact: Lonnie Brown, Leadership Development Coordinator, via phone at 216-861-6500, ext. 25, or email at lbrown@hardhattedwomen.org. To request a speaker, please visit: www.hardhattedwomen.org/rolemodelspeakerrequest1.asp.


Report on teenage drinking on NPR
"With Drinking, Parent Rules Do Affect Teens' Choices" article can be found at www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127222042.


Conflict Resolution Day Poetry Contest for Youth
Learn more at www.acrnet.org/crday/crday_poetryflyer.pdf.

MYCOM BY THE NUMBERS: Updates from the last quarter

23 new youth-related programs were added MyCom Positive Activities database and made available to the public. You can access the database by calling 216-575-0061!

37 youth provided input to prioritize MyCom’s focus areas at a Strategic Planning Session.

38 youth attended a Youth Retreat at which youth leaders from West Park and Mt. Pleasant presented videos created through career- and media-skill training.

269 pofessionals who work with young people attended MyCom's professional development trainings.

All 8 MyCom neighborhoods submitted proposals and received funding from the United Way’s John K. Mott Youth Fund for community service projects.

MyCom in the News

Many thanks to the news outlets that recognize the importance of youth development, and share information about our efforts. We have had some great coverage in the last few months: 

Shawn Albright, a MyCom youth leader from the Central neighborhood, and Jamie Woolfolk, youth leader from Midwest, were mentioned in the Plain Dealer article, "Northeast Ohio high school students honored during halftime of Cavaliers game for efforts against teen violence." Congratulations, Shawn and Jamie!

A career-exploration video project by West Park youth leaders was a front-page story for the Sun Post-Herald: "West Park Teens Explore Jobs Through Future U Film Project."

Lisa Bottoms of the Cleveland Foundation participated in Fox 8 TV's "Idol Chatter" segment as a representative of MyCom, critiquing recent contestants on the popular television show "American Idol."

Our Key Supporters

Over 250 organizations supported the development of MyCom, and over 150 young people helped plan MyCom.

Funders:
Board of County Commissioners
Family & Children First Council
Cleveland Foundation
The City of Cleveland
Charter One*
Saint Luke’s Foundation
Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland
Third Federal Foundation
* For Out-of-School-Time/Starting Point

Agencies:
Cleveland Public Library
Kent State University
Neighborhood Leadership Institute
Partnership for a Safer Cleveland
Starting Point
Voices for Ohio’s Children

Neighborhood Partners:
CENTRAL: Friendly Inn Settlement Inc.
MIDWEST (CUDELL): Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center
MT. PLEASANT: Mt. Pleasant Community Zone
PARMA: Parma City Schools
ST. CLAIR-SUPERIOR: St. Clair-Superior Development Corp.
SHAKER HEIGHTS: Shaker Heights Youth Center
SLAVIC VILLAGE: Slavic Village Development Corp.
WEST PARK: Bellaire Puritas Development Corp.

MyCom is a network of people who believe that youth development is a direct path to healthy, safe communities for everyone. We build strengths in young people and their neighborhoods by connecting existing programs and resources, and funding opportunities for positive growth. We also encourage all sectors of society to take responsibility for children’s development and transition into productive adulthood.

MyCom’s Areas of Focus:

Advocacy: MyCom advocates for the needs of children and youth through community education and policy work.

Transitions: For kids, major changes happen almost every 4 years, like going from home to kindergarten. MyCom supports youth with resources like 17,000 kindergarten kits.

Out-of-School Time: A youth should have more options for good ways to spend their time when they are not in school than harmful ways.

Neighborhoods: MyCom works to bolster what neighborhoods do well and to fill in gaps.

Youth Engagement: Real change affecting the lives of kids and teens cannot happen without leadership from youth.

Youth Employment: The right experience and career exposure today can lead to a successful, productive adulthood.

Have we sparked your interest? Call the MyCom line at 216-698-8927 or visit www.mycom.net to learn more!

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