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Program Description:
The Leadership Project is an intergenerational mentoring program that involves 15 diverse junior high and high school aged youth who have all been identified as influential peer leaders by their school administrators. The students are invited to apply to this project as an honor, because of their identified leadership abilities. Approximately 10 of the students are from junior high school, and 5 are high school students chosen to be “peer mentors.” Each participant has demonstrated a strong inclination to help others. Together with five adults, they meet weekly and for special weekend projects over the course of 14 sessions. Currently two Leadership Project programs are offered each year, involving a total of 30 teens and 8 – 10 adults.
“The Ropes Course is a great reminder that everyone, no matter age, color of skin, financial situation, is the same in so many ways and experiences the same emotions, like fear.” -Maria Halverson, Leadership Project Mentor |
“He has really changed his attitude. He is much less interested in having a hard gang member type image. I see him smiling and laughing much more frequently.” -High School Resource Officer |
The Leadership Project was planned in the fall of 2003 and piloted in the spring of 2004 as a way of intervening with youth in need of extra support and alternative activities and directions. The program was developed by the OVYF’s Program Committee, a group of youth and adults from the OVYF board of directors and community. Among the adults are the Ojai Chief of Police, the Superintendent of the Ojai Unified School District, a professor of Education at Cal State Northridge, and an Ojai City Council member.
Background:
The Ojai Valley Youth Foundation was formed in 1997 to address youth issues by connecting community resources and involving young people in positive opportunities in the after-school hours. Our mission is “to connect youth and adults for a healthy community.” We do this by activating adults to make young people a priority, and by connecting teenagers with opportunities to make a difference in their own lives, influence their future, and benefit the entire community. Among our current programs are: drop in after-school enrichment and community service programs at the junior high school, a youth employment service, career exploration and skill building through a youth media agency, teen leadership trainings and opportunities, and the Leadership Project (described below). Approx. 1,000 unduplicated youth are involved each year.
“You have given me something to look forward to every week. I don’t want this wonderful program to end…You have taught me how to put my trust into people and to really listen to what people are saying and get something from it.” -7th Grade Girl |
“We have a lot of cliques on our campus. Racism feels like a problem. Now I am friends with someone in another group and we help our friends understand stuff about each other.” -8th Grade Boy |
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