Open Letter from Mr. Tom Bieri

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

After 15 years with Social Advocates for Youth, I am resigning as the Executive Director. I am grateful for the partnerships and community that I have enjoyed over the years in helping to provide support, opportunities, and hope to children and youth in our community.

Matt Martin has been appointed by SAY’s Board of Directors to be the Interim Executive Director. I have great faith in Matt’s ability to lead, and encourage you to reach out to him in a collaborative spirit when thinking of our community’s children, youth, and families.

Thank you for working with me over the years to enrich the lives of children, youth, and families. I look back with great satisfaction at how the community has come together to help those that might have otherwise fallen through the cracks.

My new e-mail address is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Matt can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Warm regards,
Tom Bieri

For Immediate Release

Social Advocates for Youth Executive Director Resigns

Santa Rosa, California, August 26, 2010

After 15 years of service, Tom Bieri has resigned as the Executive Director of Social Advocates for Youth (SAY).  Matt Martin, SAY’s Director of Community Resource Development, has been named Interim Executive Director, effective immediately. 

Board President, Robert Casanova, commented that under Mr. Martin’s tenure as Director of Community Resource Development, SAY has increased its fundraising capacity to record heights.  Mr. Martin, formerly Director of Operations at Boys & Girls Clubs of Petaluma, brings a wide range of expertise in staff development, program evaluation, and community partnerships.  Mr. Martin stated that “Tom Bieri brought SAY to a new level of effectiveness and impact.  I pledge to continue and expand upon the organization’s good work.  I am truly honored to have the opportunity to lead SAY during this exciting transition.”

The Board thanked Mr. Bieri for his long-time service and heartfelt dedication to SAY.  Mr. Bieri began as a counselor with the agency in 1995 and became Executive Director in 2006.

Contact: Matt Martin, 707-544-3299, ext. 226

Tom Bieri, SAY’s Executive Director, played a part this weekend in helping the Santa Rosa Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force put on a boxing event that was aimed at raising awareness of the gang prevention efforts being done in our community.  Held at the Santa Rosa Plaza, Double Punches Boxing Club put on an incredible show of well trained humble young fighters. There was also a Celebrity Boxing Match between Sonoma County Board of Supervisor Efren Carrillo and Double Punches Coach and Golden Glove boxer Enrique Gutierrez.  Enrique was once ranked first in the U.S., and he put on an impressive show.  Efren showed incredible heart out there in the ring with the master.

John Meislahn, an SAY Board Member, was one of the Masters of Ceremonies for the event.  SAY’s Matt Martin was seen mingling with the crowd.

The Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force has given money SAY to run our Youth Employment Center (YEC) as well as the Santa Rosa Clean Slate Tattoo Removal Program. The Clean Slate Tattoo Removal Program is a partnership with the Santa Rosa Community Health Center and Kaiser Permanente.

This summer, our YEC staff was folded into the Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps to employ 100 at-risk youth in the Santa Rosa region. The Youth Ecology Corps is a a collaborative effort that involved the Workforce Investment Board, the Sonoma County Water Agency, New Ways to Work, the Sonoma County Department of Education, and the Human Services Department.

As part of a contingent of community representatives that received a Golden Resolution in recognition of Gang Prevention Awareness Week, Tom Bieri and two young men employed by SAY in the Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps spoke before the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning. On Tuesday afternoon, they helped receive a resolution from the Santa Rosa City Council honoring Gang Prevention Awareness Week. Recently, these two young men were each offered jobs by the City of Santa Rosa to continue their work in the parks after the Youth Ecology Corps ends at the end of this week.

Many thanks to a community that is coming together to support offering all of our youth the unique kind of hope and sense of personal significance that comes with having a promising job.  This is an important part of our gang prevention efforts.

You can view a gallery of images from the event here on photographer Melissa Agoc’s website.

SAY celebrated the Grand Opening of the Sunflower Community Garden with a BBQ party last Thursday, July 29th. Our partners from the City of Santa Rosa Recreation, Parks & Communities Department, as well as members of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce were on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony led by SAY’s Executive Director Tom Bieri, and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Juan Hernandez and Vice President Macros Suarez. Video of the ribbon cutting ceremony is below:

After a month and a half of solid work in in the Sunflower Community Garden, the SAY Youth Employment Center crew has accomplished an enormous feat–they have transformed the once overgrown garden into an organized, and bountiful, vegetable garden. As you can see in our before photos, the garden needed a thorough overhaul, and our 4 crew members outdid themselves in their efforts to clean up the space. Caitlin Childs, SAY’s resident photographer, revisited the garden on July 14th to get some after photos, which you can see below:

SAY celebrated the Grand Opening of the Sunflower Community Garden with a BBQ party last Thursday, July 29th. Our partners from the City of Santa Rosa Recreation, Parks & Communities Department, as well as members of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce were on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony led by SAY’s Executive Director Tom Bieri. Photos from the Grand Opening Part are below:

SAY Director of Community Resource Development was interviewed last week on KSRO 1350AM radio.

Listen to the interview on KSRO’s website here.

In partnership with Catholic Charities and the City of Santa Rosa, Social Advocates for Youth recently took over the management and maintenance of the Sunflower Community Garden. When the City approached SAY about taking over the garden this year, our Youth Employment Center leapt at the opportunity to take on a project that could employ at-risk youth and help them learn valuable job skills.

With funding from the City of Santa Rosa, The Sunflower Garden now employs three youth and one supervisor to work in the garden four days a week. A first job for most of the youth, they are learning about more than just what it feels like to get that first paycheck; their work the garden is teaching them about sustainability, food production, and how good it feels to be able to provide for others—all of the food they grow is dropped off at the Catholic Charities homeless shelter across the street from the garden.

For now, the joint venture between the City of Santa Rosa and SAY is a pilot program, with funding secure until September, but all of us at SAY are hoping that the funding will come through for the upcoming winter produce season, and we’re looking forward to many bountiful harvests!

The Press Democrat featured the Sunflower Garden last week, you can read the story, and check out their photo gallery here.

Before the youth got started working on the project, we went out and took some before photos of the garden, check them out below:

The Sunflower Garden is located at 7th and A street in downtown Santa Rosa. SAY is currently seeking farmers and master gardeners interested in helping to mentor and educate our youth in sustainability and best practices. If you’re interested in getting involved, please contact Toni Abraham or Jennifer Green at 707-544-3299 x 227.

Social Advocates for Youth has joined the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Sonoma County. Pictured (l-r), HC President Juan Hernandez; Teri Shaughnessy- Coldwell Banker, Kim McEachron- Medtronic Cardiovascular, Matt Martin- Social Advocates for Youth, Marco Suarez, HC Board Member

Board of Supervisors Unanimously SAY “Yes” to Non Profit Funding!

Sonoma County Human Services Commission funds allow non-profit organizations to fill gaps in social services, saving the County thousands of dollars each year. Up until recently, these funds were in jeopardy. But, in swoop the Super Supes!!

By a straw vote yesterday afternoon, our Sonoma County Board of Supervisors unanimously restored Human Services Commission funding to 100%!  Later this morning, the Board will surely formalize their support.  Please join Social Advocates for Youth in honoring their commitment to our community’s most vulnerable.

Social Advocates for Youth is proud to be a part of the HSC network- 19 organizations providing services to over 11,000 Sonoma County children, youth, and adults.

Please write and call the Supervisors and thank them for sustaining the common thread to the County’s most critical safety net:

1st District Supervisor Valerie Brown
2nd District Supervisor Mike Kerns
3rd District Supervisor Shirlee Zane
4th District Supervisor Paul Kelley
5th District Supervisor Efren Carrillo

Phone: (707) 565-2241 Fax: (707) 565-3778

Finally, thank YOU! The ripple effect created by your phone calls, letters, and emails will continue on as life changing services.  Your Advocacy is real and it matters!

I first came to SAY three or four years ago and was part of the Summer Leadership Program, which is a program to get people like me off the streets and working on community service projects. Jenny Corella-Nestor and Chris Oseguera from SAY took us to do all kinds of stuff: we cleaned up creeks, and painted over graffiti, and went to Bodega Bay to clean up the beaches. We also had fun and went white water rafting, played soccer, flew kites and went on a zip line.

When we were painting over the tags people had done, at first I was really confused, like, why are we doing this? What’s the point? But later, I realized that it was important for me to give back to the community and try to make it better to make up for some of the bad stuff I had done. And cleaning up the creeks and painting over graffiti was good, because it made the parks and creeks a lot nicer for the kids who go to them. I enjoy doing it for the community.

I came back to SAY this year because I needed help to find a job. I have an 18-month-old son that I need to support. I feel good coming back because SAY has helped me in the past.

When I came in to find a job, Toni and Jennifer helped me make a resume. They checked in to see how I was doing and a few weeks later, they told me about the new community garden program they are doing and asked me if I wanted to work on that project. I told them that I would be happy to be a part of the Sunflower Garden Project and I felt good because on my first day back, they helped me out a lot.

– Jorge, 23

Help us create more success stories like Jorge’s. Donate to SAY today.

My success story starts with me walking into my job interview with the 2009 Summer Jobs Program. It was a group interview and I was surprised when I saw how many kids were there and thought: “there’s no way I’m going to get hired with all these people here.”

But that interview was nothing like I expected…we played games and had fun and at the end of the day, I got hired. It was great! After getting the job I woke up early every day to get on the bus to go meet my Crew at our pick-up spot. Having a job made me feel responsible again.

After about a week of working, our Crew had to vote for one of us to become the Assistant Crew Leader. The Assistant Crew Leader would get paid more and have more responsibilities and our Crew voted for me to be the Assistant Crew Leader. “Wow, a promotion, already!” I thought, “I am loving this job!”

Near the end of the summer, I met Toni Abraham, who told me and my Crew that if we needed help finding another job after the summer, we should go and see her at the SAY Youth Employment Center and she gave each of us one of her business cards.

When the Summer Jobs Program ended, I had saved enough money to buy a car, which was my main goal for the summer, but I still needed to find another job. But a few months went by, and I still hadn’t found another job, it was horrible! Then I saw Toni’s card in my wallet and when I called her, she invited me to come down to her office the next day. I did, and she enrolled me in a Job Readiness Workshop, where I learned how to make a resume, how to dress when looking for a job, and I learned some interview skills.

Toni helped me start applying for jobs online and she even met me at the Mall to help me put in applications. Soon, I received a call from someone at Costco, who asked me to come in for an Interview.

My mom was so proud that she told all of her friends and one of my mom’s friends bought me a new suit for my interview! Toni had me come into SAY and helped me do practice interviews, which helped me very, very much because at the end of my real interview at Costco, they offered me a job!

Now, I am working at Costco, thanks to Toni and the SAY Youth Employment Center, and I still have the car I bought with the money I saved from the summer.

Thank you so much, SAY!

– Steven, 21

Help us create more success stories like Steven’s. Donate to SAY today.

SAY has helped me a lot. My Mom is the one who called Toni at the Youth Employment Center to help me get started. Then, I came into the office and Toni & Jennifer helped me create a resumé and helped me to get an interview with the City of Santa Rosa’s Parks and Recreation Department to work in their After School Program.

The day of my interview, Toni and Jennifer called me in and the 3 of us practiced a mock interview to prepare me for my real interview. It really helped me because when I got to my real interview, I was prepared, ready and focused.

My interview went great, and a couple of days later, someone from the After School Program called me to tell me that I got the job. I started my job a few months ago, and I like it a lot. I enjoy working with the kids and getting to know them and how they act. I like helping them with their homework and answering their questions. I also like playing football with them.

I’m very happy where I am right now, with my job and school and I’m going to save the money I’m earning at my job for my insurance and gas for my car which my Grandpa is buying me now that I have gotten a job, so that I will be able to drive from home to school, to work, and back home.

SAY has been helping me ever since the 2009 Summer Jobs Program, and I appreciate everything they do for me. None of it would be possible without Toni & Jennifer helping and preparing me, and I am very thankful and happy SAY is around. The Youth Employment Center is a great program and I advise others to call Toni and Jennifer and get started.

– Kyle, 18

Help us create more success stories like Kyle’s. Donate to SAY today.

Before I was introduced to the Social Advocates for Youth, I was a young single mother in search of a job – and if possible – a new beginning. SAY offered me that opportunity to restart and get back on track to a meaningful life that could help support me and my child.

In the Spring of 2009, shortly after my daughter was born, I heard about a summer job program that would allow me the chance to expand my future job opportunities by experiencing a type of work I had never thought I was capable of: ecological restoration. When the job first began I didn’t think that I would be up for it or even have the strength to complete most tasks that were asked of me, but after a short while I realized that I loved working outdoors and actively improving the community.  Even after the Summer Jobs Program ended, Toni and Jennifer at the Youth Employment Center have continued to help me and anytime I needed advice on job applications or interviews they were always willing to help.

Toni and Jennifer helped me create a job portfolio and helped me to better understand what businesses are looking for on a resumé. They have helped me gain confidence in the work world and they brought me to my first career expo where I found another job. I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for SAY and everyone’s willingness to give back to those who need it. I would especially like to thank Toni and Jennifer for all of their help in guiding me towards unlimited possibilities of success.

SAY has helped steer my life in the right direction. I began working on creek restoration through SAY’s summer job program, and since then they helped me find a better paying job at the Laguna de Santa Rosa based on that summer work experience. I bought my first car this year. Today I’m achieving my own success with a new job that can allow me the opportunity to support my daughter on my own!

– Jamie, 20

Help us create more success stories like Jamie’s. Donate to SAY today.

SAY’s Lead Therapist Elizabeth Goldman shares two success stories from our Medi-Cal Counseling Clinic in Santa Rosa:

I am excited to share two very happy success stories, both highlighting the academic accomplishments of two of my clients.

Although they do not know each other, they are fine examples of the progress that can be made with the combination of personal determination and the support of SAY’s Counseling Clinic.  Both are single mothers, in their early 20’s, and both have young daughters.  Both of the young women have overcome many obstacles, including exiting violent relationships and establishing healthy peer groups.  Through their personal growth in counseling, both have learned to set boundaries, speak up for themselves, and decrease their impulsivity, depression, and anxiety.

One of the young women, age 24, just graduated from SRJC and is applying to jobs in her chosen field.  She has worked hard on the goals she set in counseling, and has gone from having a smaller role in the care of her daughter to being the primary caregiver and loving mother she wants to be.  She is so very proud to model the traits in herself that she hopes to see in her daughter.

The other young women, age 23, just completed her very first semester at SRJC.  This 23 year old is the first in her family to even attempt college.  Due to a chaotic family environment when she was growing up, she never experienced success in school.  She often went hungry as a child and is determined to provide a better life for her child.  Before she started the semester, the school attempted to schedule placement exams, but this client knew herself and told the school she knew she needed to start at the very beginning.  Throughout the semester, she worked hard to prioritize her schoolwork, and the effort paid off in excellent grades.  She has decided she liked college so much that she plans to attend summer school.  Why wait for the fall semester when one is on this kind of a roll!

Neither of these young women started from easy circumstances, and both of them have shown that with a little help and a little time there can be a big payoff.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Goldman, SAY Lead Therapist

Thank You! With your help, the 2010 Human Race was a ton of fun and profitable.  Together with SAY’s wonderful Human Race crew, friends, board members and staff helped raise over $4,000 for SAY programs and services.  The fleet and the fast, together with the sure footed, walked and ran the 3 and 10k races.  We are sure records were set due to the energy boost everyone got from wearing a snazzy SAY t shirt.  (We still have a few left.  See below on how to purchase one.)  After the race, we all had an important birthday party to attend. The Tamayo House  celebrated its 5th anniversary.  In honor of this occasion, La Tortilla Factory hosted an incredible BBQ Pig Roast.

Here are a few photos from the day’s events:

If you would like to purchase one of our tee shirts for just $15, please call Caitlin Childs at 707-544-3299 x 216 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to reserve a shirt.  (Who knows, it might make you run a little faster???)

Whew! It’s been a whirlwind few weeks here at SAY as we prepared for this year’s BIG Event The O SAY Corral. The big day came on Saturday April 10 and the O SAY Corral was a HUGE success! We raised more than $133,000 at the BIG Event through sponsorships, ticket sales, auction purchases and donations, and we had a great time doing it!

Highlights from the O SAY Corral include:

• The arrest of Tom Bieri, SAY’s Executive Director on charges of “Tom Foolery”, the arrest of Tom’s daughter Kayla on charges of “horse thieving” and the arrest of SAY’s Board President on charges of having a “Poor Golf Swing!”
• Music from Hugh Shacklett and George Inskeep, Jan White, Scott “The Singing Cowboy” Gerber, and the Blue Moon Band.
• The SAY Board of Director’s performing a rendition of “Achy Breaky Heart” led by Ray Olmstead.
• A rowdy live auction including a Ladies Night dinner at the Santa Rosa Firehouse followed by dancing and drinks at the Cantina, and not one but two trips to France!
• A heartfelt story from SAY’s Outreach Coordinator Lisa Fatu and from Mariano, a member of SAY’s Youth Advisory Board about his experiences in working with SAY to change his own life.
• And last, but certainly not least, the incredible generosity of the more than 300 attendees in helping us to raise more than $125,000 in funding for our programs and services.

Mike Chase of Mike Chase Photography and Elizabeth Goldman, SAY’s Lead Therapist were on hand taking photos of our guests in all of their western attired glory, check out some of their photos below:

In partnership with Artiste Winery in Healdsburg, SAY is launching a private label wine (affectionately called BIG Red) which we will be selling at our upcoming event, the O SAY Corral. Local artist Carole Watanabe created the label for BIG Red, and she joined us last night at Artiste for a reception honoring the sponsors of the BIG Event, including title sponsors Friedman’s Home Improvement and Our Green Challenge. SAY Executive Director Tom Bieri, manned the grill at the reception cooking up abalone fritters donated by Willie Tamayo of La Tortilla Factory and John Meislahn of Exchange Bank.

Carole’s painting will be up on the auction block at the O SAY Corral along with a host of fabulous packages including: an abalone dinner with Willie Tamayo and a 1 week stay at Sea Ranch, an unforgettable getaway to Soreze, France and a Bay Area Sports Package, including Infineon Raceway, San Francisco Giants, the 49ers, and more to come!

Find out more about the event and buy your tickets online here, and in the meantime, please enjoy some photos from last night’s event.

This letter was written by Pamela, a mother of a youth who lived at SAY’s Tamayo House from November 2007 to June 2009.

I am writing to express my appreciation and support for Social Advocates For Youth (SAY). This organization’s critically needed programs benefit our community in so many ways, particularly for mentally ill youth. I can attest to its effectiveness in one young man’s life.

I first learned about SAY several years ago through a group called Parents Supporting Parents (PSP). I had joined PSP for help in dealing with my teenage son’s out of control behavior, which would be explained by a later diagnosis of mental illness. But during this time I assumed I was dealing with extreme teen rebelliousness and sadly discovered there were few community resources to help families in crisis, particularly for youth.

PSP members often cited the SAY teen shelter as an emergency resource and my son used it on several occasions. He also helped a friend escape a violent home environment by taking him there. I learned about SAY’s counseling and referral services along the way, and took advantage of them.

After a psychotic break my son was finally diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2007 and medical intervention began to stabilize his life. But he was unable to live independently, so housing became a major issue. There appeared to be nothing available for youth. Then I discovered SAY’s transitional housing program at Tamayo House.

I learned about this remarkable program purely by coincidence – I work for the County of Sonoma and employees of the mental health department would occasionally come into my office. One day out of desperation I asked one of these employees whether he knew of any programs that might help a homeless mentally ill teen. I almost fell over when he told me he worked for Project Hope and the Transitional Age Youth (TAY) program, which partnered with SAY’s transitional housing program. He said that my son seemed like the perfect candidate and we began the process of applying. He was accepted into the TAY program and eventually found a spot at Tamayo House.

This wonderful facility provides a safe place to live and a path to self-sufficiency for mentally ill youth. Discovering [Tamayo House] seemed like a miracle, since I was in a very desperate situation up to that point…my son’s illness hadn’t completely stabilized yet and our relationship had deteriorated to the point that I felt unsafe around him. I couldn’t allow him in the house, yet there was nowhere else for him to go. At times he lived in my garage or in a tent in the back yard.

I never knew what I’d find when I returned home from work and constantly hoped he’d suffer a psychotic break severe enough to require extended hospitalization, just so he’d have a roof over his head. It was a terrible time.

But through TAY and SAY he found a secure and comfortable home. He lived at Tamayo House from November 2007 until June 2009, and during that time he acquired essential living skills and learned how to communicate and work cooperatively with others. The foundation he received has enabled him to move into a subsidized studio apartment and live on his own for the first time in his life.

I can’t say enough about the good work SAY does. Without its help I’m certain my son would be homeless and his illness much worse than it is. He’d have none of the skills that are enabling him to live semi-independently and attend the local community college.

Mentally ill youth are a particularly vulnerable population, and programs like SAY provide a critical safety net that wouldn’t otherwise exist. My son is living proof that SAY is measurably improving the lives of youth in our community.

Sincerely, Pamela

Each December, the Tamayo Family gets together to cook a very special dinner for the residents of Tamayo House.  For those not in the know, Tamayo House is a transitional housing opportunity for youth who have aged out of the foster care system.  It offers a safe place to live, case management, counseling, and invaluable job training and educational support.  Right now, there are about 20 youth living at Tamayo House, many of whom work and go to school.  Although the residents share a kitchen, they don’t always share meals.  That is why the holiday dinner is so special; it’s a time for everyone to come together to enjoy a festive meal and celebrate the friendships they’ve built over the year.

This year’s holiday party was especially festive thanks to the generosity of the Kobrin Family.  Together with their clients at Kobrin Financial Services, the family donated gifts for the residents of Tamayo House.  It was a wonderful evening. Watch the slideshow below and see just how festive the evening was.  One photo is worth a thousand words!

Dear Friends of SAY,

As we enter into 2010, I want to thank you for being part of a community that knows how to work together to care for our most vulnerable community members: our youth and children.

We have learned that SAY, in collaboration with the Seneca Center, has been chosen by Sonoma County to build a large Wraparound program. This program will allow 12 kids who are in placements such as foster care to return home to their families. They will receive services such as family coaching and family therapy to help them come together again successfully as a family. The youth will also have opportunities to become involved in sports, arts and other recreational programs. The prospects here are very exciting. Our goal is to return up to 24 youth to their families and provide them with the full support of a comprehensive wraparound program.

SAY’s Functional Family Therapy program (FFT) will be a major part of the Wraparound Program. SAY has been providing FFT to troubled youth in Sonoma County since 2000. Every dollar spent on Functional Family Therapy saves the community $28.00 in public intervention costs¹.  Since it began, SAY’s FFT program has had the lowest recidivism rate of any program funded by the Sonoma County Department of Probation.

The following stories demonstrate SAY’s success in carrying out its mission: to be a community leader in providing support, opportunities, and hope to children youth and families.

A young woman was removed from the custody of her parents because of extreme abuse and neglect. She first came to SAY to heal the emotional scars that she carried. Later, she came to live at the Tamayo House, SAY’s home for transitional age youth. Like many of the residents there, her prior residence was a foster care home. This remarkable young woman quickly learned how to take responsibility for herself and steer her future in a positive direction. She is smart, articulate, and engaging. She now has a great job and is also going to college. Her future looks bright. Many people with a background like hers succumb to self destructive behaviors and became a drain on society. In contrast, she has lifted herself out of the negative behaviors that were handed to her by her parents and is becoming a gifted communicator and a positive agent of social change. I am grateful to know her, and to be part of a community that helped her become a talented community leader.

I was recently sitting with a young man who was crying tears of joy during a painful gang tattoo removal procedure. He seemed anxious to leave. The case manager asked him what was going on. He said, “My wife’s in labor and I want to be there to watch my son being born.” As he was walking out of the treatment room with the case manager, he turned and said, “What a wonderful thing [to do]. Now on my son’s birthday, I can tell him that on the day he was born was the day I got my old tattoos removed. And I can tell him on his birthday that he changed my life, and now I have a new life with him.” I am thrilled about being part of community that decided to give him a second chance. Thank you to Kaiser and Southwest Community Health Center for helping SAY to remove that last visible reminder of gang identification from 88 individuals this year.

SAY served 6,584 individuals last year. Housing was provided to 173 individuals. 11,000 meals were served to homeless youth. And we helped 300 youth find jobs.

SAY’s Youth Employment Center has earned the highest service performance index score of any program working with high-risk youth since the first funding cycle of the City of Santa Rosa’s Measure O funds became available. Social Advocates for Youth and a wonderful team of community partners employed 165 low income youth in Santa Rosa and Sonoma Valley as part of the Summer Jobs Program. This team included the following: The Workforce Investment Board, The Sonoma County Water Agency, The Sonoma County Human Services Department, The Sonoma County Office of Education, and New Ways to Work. The youth did ecological work while earning wages paid by President Obama’s stimulus funds. SAY’s Youth Employment Center helped find 135 other youth paying jobs in nonsubsidized work programs. Having these individuals engaged in meaningful work was an important factor in helping Sonoma County reach its lowest juvenile hall population rate that anyone can remember in recent history.

I am grateful for the support that community members provide and the encouragement you give to youth who face great challenges in their lives. In this time of decreased government spending on human services, your continued support is immensely appreciated.
We, as a community, are helping some of our more disadvantaged children reach their potential, and we, as a community, can all take pride in their accomplishments.

Thank you for your continued support to SAY and the children, youth, and families we serve.

Warm regards,
 
Tom Bieri,
Executive Director

P.S. While we gratefully receive all gifts, those of $100 or more can help us make a substantial impact right away! And with our new pledge program, you can make a large gift and spread payments over 10 months. Please send your gift today.

¹The Comparative Costs and Benefits of Programs to Reduce Crime, Washington State Institute for Public Policy, May 2001.