Organization leaders, educators, youth advisers and concerned parents met Tuesday at the Pannell Meadowview Community Center to hear Rayford Johnson speak on gang violence and the "thug" mentality. About 40 audience members came in from all over the Sacramento area to be a part of this presentation. This workshop was part two of six of the "Addressing Thug Life" workshop series held by the city of Sacramento and Faith Leaders Initiative. Johnson is a photojournalist-turned-youth correctional adviser. He is also a licensed minister, author of the book, Thug Mentality Exposed, and director of the anti-gang initiative website, thugexposed.org. Having spent time with inmates in California'

Since 2002 the Sacramento Tree Foundation has been hard at work "building the best urban forest" in Sacramento and vicinity. The Foundation is openly looking for individuals to "get dirty" and to help in various tree planting activities. According to their website, "Volunteering is a simple, fun way to make a difference in your community and the environment." Since the organization manages a number of sites and many locations need attention the actual part of the urban forest needing work will not be determined until about a week before the event. One of the benefits of participation in tree-related activities sponsored by the Sacramento Tree Foundation is that volunteers will have acces

You're invited to the 23rd Annual Christmas Party Extravaganza benefiting Diogenes Youth Services. One of Sacramento's hottest holiday events. Whether you want to meet new Sacramentans, celebrate the holidays in style, or help at-risk youth in the Sacramento area, this event is not to miss. The party includes: Catered Appetizers from Tuli, Zocalo, Hot Italian and Rail Bridge Cellars Live Music by Utz and the Shuttlecocks Valet Parking A Full no-host Bar Fashion Show presented by A&A Music Events Special Performance by Sacramento Kings Dancers When: Thursday, December 17, 2009 7:30pm - 11:30pm Where: Niello Audi Dealership (2350 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento) Tickets: $60 in advance,

On November 21, 2009, the Sacramento Building Healthy Communities collaborative hosted two events in Oak Park and South Sacramento, designed to educate communities on the 10-year Building Healthy Communities (BHC) process. Earlier this year, the California Endowment awarded funding to 14 communities over ten years as part of their Building Healthy Communities program. This effort was designed to infuse at least $10 million into each community to bring about systemic change. The efforts are to be driven by four goals: • Health systems are family-centered and prioritize prevention. • Schools anchor communities, promote healthy behaviors and are a gateway for resources and services. • Human

The Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce will hold its 3rd Annual Installation Dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Radisson Hotel Sacramento. Guy Farris, co-host of News 10’s popular TV magazine program, Sacramento & Co., will serve as Master of Ceremonies. The evening will begin with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and live auction with auctioneer David Sobon of Maximum Benefit Auctions at 6:30 p.m. Auction offerings will include fine wine and dining packages, exotic travel and other luxury items. All proceeds from the dinner and auction will benefit the Rainbow Chamber Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting programs for at-risk youth and other causes. The evenin

  Reborn from the defunct North Area Teen Center, the after-school youth center serving young people across the area is now known as The Wall. With a new location at 5933 Sutter Ave. just off Fair Oaks Blvd, services will be expanding to include cooking classes, financial and insurance management, music and art programs. The celebration and Grand Opening Saturday August 1, 2009 brought supporters and friends to share the excitement at the new after-school youth service center. As parent’s thoughts turn to ‘back to school’ The Wall will be there to provide a safe, supervised place for kids in the ‘latch key’ hours between school’s end and parents coming home from work. NASCAR Star of To

For the past three months, young people from 10 to 21 years of age have come together in Sacramento once a week to discuss their role in their physical environment. As part of the Youth Voices for Change initiative, the group called the Sactown Heroes collaborated with UC Davis scholars, artists and graduate students to explore their community, what they like about it and what could change. The culminating event on Tuesday was a presentation of their findings to the community. 14-year-old Bradly Palmer said he would change "where youth are welcome and where they are hired for jobs. Some places discriminate against youth because they think they're trouble-makers." He is a student at West

Monday, June 22 11:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. 100 people from Californians for Disability Rights will rally on the north steps of the Capitol for health issues in the budget. Tuesday, June 23 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. 500 children and their parents will convene at the west steps of the Capitol for the California Children's Rally, a celebratory, kid-friendly rally. Here is the group's schedule of events: 10 a.m.: Kids ring school bell and get things started at the Annual California Children’s Rally Kazoo Parade “Students First: Children Speak About the Mission of Public Education,” a dialogue to define the mission of public education in California 10:30 a.m.: Informational hearing on SB604 [which elicits

 On Wednesday night, members of the VIBE foundation's Youth Leadership Board met at their 3,000 square-foot future lounge site, a building donated to them by the Sacramento Housing Redevelopment Agency, to discuss their recent accomplishments and funding plans. The youth lounge, which is scheduled to open in August, aims to provide a safe and fun environment conducive to the success of its youth members. In addition to after-school tutoring, the lounge will offer a game area and career center with a network of resources to help teens find jobs, internships and apprenticeships. VIBE is an all-volunteer organization, and the entirety of its fundraising efforts have been conducted by the VI

Thanks. Thank you. We are thankful. Thanks to Coach John Fleming at Hiram Johnson High School for making his classrooms and fields available these past eight Sundays for Game Plan Academy (GPA).  Please VOTE for Hiram Johnson High School (by clicking here) in Kellogg's 'Plant a Seed' program to "Help Rebuild America's Playing Fields." Here is a message from John Fleming, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Hiram Johnson High School, about this wonderful competition: "Hiram Johnson has nominated our football field for a make-over by Kelloggs. Out of 3,400 nominations, we were selected as a semi-finalist. 30 of the 100 semi-finalists will receive a $15,000 upgrade to the facil

Cameras flashing, limos, tuxedos and dresses: Thursday night at the Crest Theater, a film premier event will roll out the red carpet for a selection of bright young screenwriters, directors and actors. But there will be no Hollywood A-listers -- in fact, you won't even pay to get into this event showcasing the brightest young filmmakers from Sacramento-area high schools and middle schools. Sponsored by the Center for Multicultural Cooperation (CMC) and Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center (SCCSC), the premier will display three different types of films: youth voice stories and intergenerational stories that are both several minutes long, and 30-second anti-tobacco public service a

In an effort to shed light on the often-unnoticed positive efforts of Sacramento's youth, the City of Sacramento and Fox 40 News have created a "Youth of the Month" program and will announce their first award early next week. "Basically, it was seen that there’s always news value with youth and in the mainstream sometimes it's not always of positive images,” said Hindolo Brima, Public Information Officer for Sacramento Parks and Recreation and the Office of Youth Development, “But we all know there’s a lot of youth helping to make the city a better place and need to remind people that youth are contributing to the city." The collaboration is a part of the Sacramento Office of Youth Devel

 "5:30 in the morning." "Euphemism." & "Saturday night." Mayor Kevin Johnson shared his authentic tales of the past with student-athletes at Game Plan Academy (GPA) this past Sunday at Hiram Johnson High School, leaving them with with one final message in the process: "Give back. Whatever you do, always remember to give back." Remembering the days when he scored 48 points in the Hiram Johnson High School gymnasium as a standout Sacramento High School student-athlete who led the state of California in scoring, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson was simply "KJ" for the day, mixing in humor with serious pleas while expressing words of encouragement and sharing pearls of wisdom and lessons le

One of the keys to serving local communities effectively is supporting existing institutions that already provide valuable services. The Sacramento Food Bank is one such institution. This past Saturday, Game Plan Academy (GPA) students assembled alongside GPA mentors, Jesuit High School alumni, teachers, students, parents, and staff as part of a GoDoGood project.  The mission of GoDoGood is to capture people's energy to 'do good' and put these passions into action in local communities. The Sacramento Food Bank provides an excellent outlet for Sacramentans who want to 'do good' for those in need in a well-organized, structured, and warm, supportive environment. GoDoGood brought a talented,

 For his friends he was a tenacious fighter known for his fairness, and remembered for his love of the games. Former A-1 Comics Store Manager, Joe Guardalibene passed away but his strong example of the importance of knowing right from wrong lives on. Many of the kids who played in his game tournaments, including the popular Magic games, discovered a role model who inspired them beyond the game board. Joe was an important part of the Sacramento gaming community for over 8 years. He made many friends managing a local comic book and gaming store where he took great pride in keeping up to date on the latest popular games, comics, anime and was an expert on the market for older comic collectib

Remember, it's the little things that matter in life. As an entertaining reminder, watch Game Plan Academy's first edited football footage video here:  www.youtube.com/watch "Great job. Way to hustle, stay focused. It's the little things that are going to change our games -- it's the little things," shares Alex Van Dyke with the GPA students. This is what GPA is all about; mentorship in action--sharing the 'little things' and those perceptive 'tricks-of-the-trade' that will help students succeed in the classroom, on the playing field, and, ultimately, in the game of life. With wise, warm words of encouragement flowing at Game Plan Academy (GPA), bonding between mentors and students has

"Tweet!" Coach Alex Van Dyke, a former NFL wide-receiver and All-American at the University of Nevada, Reno and the operating owner of AVD's Going Vertical!, blows his whistle (Alex loves his whistle!) to rally the Game Plan Academy (GPA) student-athletes to huddle up. "GPA on three. One. Two. Three. GPA!" Coach Gio Carmazzi, a former NFL quarterback and National Scholar-Athlete at Hofstra University, leads the weekly GPA huddle cheer to conclude the football session during week four of eight this past Sunday, marking the half-way point of GPA. "Half-time!" Energy, enthusiasm, and excitement levels were high this past Sunday at GPA as student-athletes relished their opportunity to tra

Game Plan Academy (GPA) is awesome: the students are awesome (they represent Monterey Trail, Hiram Johnson, Rosemont, Highlands, Burbank, McClatchy, Rio Linda, Sheldon, and Florin High Schools), the facility is awesome (Hiram Johnson High School), the mentorship team is awesome (see www.GamePlanAcademy.com), the guest speakers are awesome (they include Mayor Kevin Johnson and Marty McNeal, to name a few), the sponsors are awesome (they include the Positive Coaching Alliance and Wells Fargo), the concept is awesome (the goal is to develop well-rounded student-athletes), and the camp is going awesomely (come out this Sunday from 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM to see the program in action)! With so much

The Following is a news release from the office of Congresswoman Doris Matsui: Today Congresswoman Doris Matsui met with multi-platinum performing artist Usher Raymond IV to discuss national service issues and the importance of empowering America’s urban youth ahead of the House Education and Labor Committee’s Improving Service and Volunteerism Hearing, at which Usher testified. As a Co-Chair of the National Service Congressional Caucus, Rep. Mastui has been a leader on national service issues, including advocating for volunteer corps to assist our country with education, environmental and public health projects, as well as provide relief in national emergencies. Usher is the founder of

The City of Sacramento Department of Neighborhood Services announces: The Sacramento Police Department is developing a Law Enforcement Youth Development Program (YDP). They are seeking a diversified group of young adults between the ages of 13 – 18 years old. These selected students must meet minimum requirements, such as a 2.0 GPA, leadership skills, school attendance, citizenship, and be interested in a possible career in law enforcement. Potential candidates must fill out an application, receive permission from their parents (if under age 18), and pass an interview. Upon acceptance into the program, students will be assigned a law enforcement employee to help guide them through the pr