YouthWorks embarked on a new fundraising effort [...]]]> This year SF YouthWorks launched its first annual college scholarship competition for high school seniors. In the beginning of the school year session interns attended a money management workshop, and many created saving goals around attending college. YouthWorks staff decided to support the intern’s college savings goals by creating a college scholarship competition.

YouthWorks embarked on a new fundraising effort to raise money for the college scholarship competition. In February YouthWorks partnered with SF Weekly as the beneficiary of the event cocktails for a cause. Mentors, community members and supporters joined us as YouthWorks staff asked attendees to dig deep and purchase raffle tickets to help us with our fundraising efforts.

In April YouthWorks teamed up with our sister program MYEEP to raise money at the Cherry Blossom Festival. The Youth Leadership Team, YouthWorks staff, and a handful of dedicated volunteers turned out delicious lumpia and deep fried oreos for the hungry crowd.

Over 20 interns submitted applications for the college scholarship competition. Three winners were selected based on their short answer questions, mentor reference and financial need. Winners will be awarded a $500 scholarship at the YouthWorks Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday May 8th. Congratulations to our winners, Johnae Mazique, Regina Ramirez & Luan Tran.

On May 1st, people around the world will come together at rallies and demonstrations in the name of worker’s rights. Also known as International Worker’s Day, May 1st is a national holiday in more than 80 countries. Workers and their allies have been mobilizing to take collective action on this day in the US for [...]]]>

On May 1st, people around the world will come together at rallies and demonstrations in the name of worker’s rights. Also known as International Worker’s Day, May 1st is a national holiday in more than 80 countries. Workers and their allies have been mobilizing to take collective action on this day in the US for 127 years.

Established in the US as part of a larger effort to declare the eight hour work day, the first May Day holiday was decreed in 1886. Workers across major U.S. cities organized a general strike in support of the demand. Since then, the day has continued to evolve, and the 2013 protests will also incorporate immigrants rights advocacy.

To get involved here in SF, you can join in the SF march at 3:00 pm at 24th and Mission or join in at 5pm at City Hall. The event, “Rise for May Day!” encourages workers, youth, families, and immigrants to stand together.

As a youth employment program, we at SF YouthWorks also strive to educate our youth on their rights as workers. In this spirit, YouthWorks would like to take a moment to honor the ongoing struggle for labor rights on this historic day.

This Saturday come out to support SF YouthWorks at the Cherry Blossom Festival. We’ve teamed up with our sister organization MYEEP and will be serving up delicious lumpia and deep fried oreos. All proceeds will go toward the first ever YouthWorks Scholarship Competition. Stop by our booth and say hi while supporting YouthWorks.

Cherry Blossom Festival
Saturday April 20th, 10am-6pm
Our booth will be located on Webster St. between Post and Sutter

During the month of February and March, each Youth Leadership Team (YLT) member inputted much effort into creating a workshop for the Mentors based on the themes of relationship building and exposure to the work site department. All of the YLT members worked together and individually to build the whole workshop, [...]]]>

During the month of February and March, each Youth Leadership Team (YLT) member inputted much effort into creating a workshop for the Mentors based on the themes of relationship building and exposure to the work site department. All of the YLT members worked together and individually to build the whole workshop, including the ice breaker, their bios, group scenarios, discussion questions and tips for the mentors. The idea of this formal workshop was to give advice to mentors with a youth perspective.

On the day of the Mentor Workshop, Tuesday, March 26, each YLT was excited and nervous to be presenting a workshop to the mentors for the first time. In the end, the YLT was able to led through the whole workshop successfully. The mentors left with an understanding of the importance of relationship building and exposure to the worksite department. Through the question and answer panel hosted at the end of the workshop the mentors were able to gain a youth perspective and hear our advice on bettering their experience with each intern.  A challenge the YLT had was leading the mentors through the group agreements. The mentors did not present many ideas for group agreements. Luckily, with the help of other YLT members, the activity continued successfully.

Through the mentor workshop we were able to build on our skills in creating and facilitating a workshop for adults, not just for interns. It was a great opportunity to have as a youth leader.

-Blog written by YLT member Nancy Liang

The group led [...]]]> “What do you think of when I say economic justice?” members of Mission SF’s youth program, New Era, asked our interns at a recent workshop. At first, they weren’t sure what to think. However, by the end of the hour and a half workshop, interns had quite a bit to say on the topic.

The group led SF YouthWorks interns through a number of activities beginning with an exploration of the uneven distribution of wealth in this country. From there, they explained various types of financial institutions, breaking down the differences between banks and credit unions. A large chunk of the workshop focused on predatory financial services and lenders, such as check cashing services. Not only did the youth presenters encourage our interns to avoid these types of financial institutions, but they also exposed how these institutions target and exploit the poor.

Interns left the workshop not only better able to make smart choices about their personal finances, but also with a better understanding of the larger social justice issues surrounding the financial industry in the US.