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ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Ready to Work: Graduation will be held on April 12th, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Sonoma Valley Inn. Join us and congratulate our teens.
- Learn skills to work int he food industry! ServSafe and Service Etiquette Class, Monday, April 15th, 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm, includes dinner. Register by calling 707-939-1452.
- Be a Sponsor - Be a Star: Our Cowboy Cab sponsors help underwrite the costs of our annual event, allowing more of the event proceeds to keep our teens smiling.
- Cowboy Cab 2019: Tickets are now available - Sunday, June 9th, 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm - The Barn at Tyge Williams Cellars, Cornerstone.
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SPRING IS IN THE AIR!
Not only does the calendar say so, the sky is clear blue, the green grass covers the hills, and flowers are beginning to burst forth. At Teen Services Sonoma, we are witnessing another version of growth and development as we watch a record number of Ready to Work students gain the skills and confidence they need to be successful. Our Ready to Work instructor, Jennifer Blackwood, and our program director, Francesca Fifis, work hard to implement a program that engages youth, potential employers, and our volunteer job coaches. It takes this whole village to have an impactful program that benefits our youth.
We are also deep into planning and preparations for our annual Cowboy Cab event (see below) on June 9. We have some unique live auction lots, a few twists on the silent auction, delicious food and wine, and all served with a smile by our teens. A shout out to board member, Tammy Samut, for sharing her expertise and talents with us in spearheading this event. The proceeds from Cowboy Cab go toward supporting everything we do at Teen Services to prepare youth for the work world including Ready to Work Classes, Career Exploration, on-the-job training, and coaching support. Please plan to attend and enjoy a fun evening for a good cause!
With thanks,
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GET READY FOR COWBOY CAB 2019!!
Once again, Tammy Samut, TSS board member and Google's event manager, is ready to work her magic at Cowboy Cab 2019! While Tammy and her vendors are planning all of the food, wine, décor, and logistics, other board members, staff, and friends of TSS are working with our auctioneer to plan just the right combo of unique experiences for another great evening of country-casual fun.
Sunday, June 9, 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm at
The Barn at Tyge William Cellars, Cornerstone
Many thanks to everyone who is helping to make this another amazing event and a special thank you to Pat Meier-Johnson for her beautiful artwork and graphic design expertise. Those actually are the boots she will be wearing at Cowboy Cab!
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RECORD NUMBERS FOR READY TO WORK
This spring, we have record numbers enrolled in the Ready to Work (RTW) Certification sessions for Sonoma Valley and Creekside High Schools. Increased numbers are a good indicator of success, but perhaps the individual stories are even more telling. With each graduating cohort, instructor Jennifer Blackwood (left) is amazed by the personal growth of students, but there are some individuals who exceed her expectations.
Jennifer described one such student:
He sat alone in class; disregarded some of the work; disobeyed our cell phone rules; wore his pants too low; and had an aloof and rebellious energy the first couple of classes. He wasn't someone I thought we'd reach very well. I love it when I'm wrong! He became one of the star students in that cohort.
During the fourth session, he had to leave class early to pick up his sister from school when she was ill. His mother works a lot and couldn't get there herself. He was going to have to ride his bike from Creekside to her elementary school - an almost two mile ride. We urged him to come back to make up the lost time in class. His response was, "Oh I'm coming back! This is an important opportunity that I can't waste."
And he meant it. He returned and did fabulously in his job interviews with Sonoma employers. He did so well, in fact, that multiple companies wanted to offer him a job.
Come meet these amazing young men and women at their RTW Graduation on April 12, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Sonoma Valley Inn. RSVP to
Joelynn Lee
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MEDICAL CAREER EXPLORATION NIGHT
On March 28th, teens, board members and representatives of various careers in the medical field shared an evening of pizza, conversation and questions. Before the evening began, the students received a tour of the Health Clinic by Maricarmen Reyes, Outreach/Events Coordinator at SVHC, who also helped coordinate the evening with Francisca Fifis and Jennifer Blackwood. The group learned about some of the career opportunities available.
This was the third
Career Exploration Night, and at each of the three, the representatives from the various careers have shared a common theme with the teens, "When you find something that you are interested in, pursue it, and don't give up." The representatives stressed that they are not alone in their pursuit and that mentors are willing to help them if they just ask.
Our panel had representatives from various areas of the medical field: Eduardo Sanchez a medical interpreter, Joe Gilmore a paramedic, Victoria Roeher a marriage and family therapist, and nurses Jennifer Darby, Carrie Brophy and Ingrid Barry.
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A SPECIAL VOLUNTEER NEEDED
Teen Services Sonoma depends on volunteers in every aspect of our work: as a job coach, decorating cookies and baking pies, helping teens with bike mechanics, event assistance, graphic design, homework help and more. If you have a skill and enjoy working with others (especially teens), chances are there is a spot for you at Teen Services Sonoma.
We are now looking for a very special volunteer - someone to coordinate and track all of our volunteers! The Volunteer Coordinator
will help recruit people to assist with programs and special projects; maintain a database of volunteer contact information, interests, and availability; and help us create a Volunteer Appreciation Program. To learn more about this special volunteer position,
click here
or
contact Executive Director, Becky Jo Peterson.
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GET THOSE WHEELS SPINNING
The sun is shining, the daffodils blooming, and the bike paths are calling! Time for you to stop by Operation Bicycle for a tune-up or a purchase. We have plenty of stock for
enthusiasts of all sizes, ages, and abilities. Come on by - we are open Wednesday through Sunday from 12:00 -7:00 pm, and closed on Monday and Tuesday. For more information about Operation Bicycle, contact Adrian Palenchar
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MORE GOOD NEWS AT TSS
Operation Bicycle continues to draw new customers and it also has great neighbors. Last November, North Bay Credit Union offered to donate $25 to Teen Services for every new account opened at their new location. We were very happy to receive a check for $1,650 from Branch Manager
Lynnette Barlesi. Thank you NBCU!
Another huge thank you goes to Kiwanis Club of Sonoma Valley for their $1,400 contribution to support two Sonoma Valley teens through our Ready to Work Program.
Teen Services was also selected as one of two nonprofits serving teens to benefit from the Napa Jammers Concert Series hosted by the Crosswalk Community Church in Napa on March 8th.
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IN APRIL, SPRING INTO ACTION AND MAKE A
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THANK YOU TO THESE FRIENDS OF TEEN SERVICES
FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN 2019
Barry Ansell
Diana and Allan Arntz
Ingrid Barry
Elizabeth Begley
Carrie Brophy
Sharon Graham Burt
Jennifer Darby
David Deigan
Rayne Dessayer
Sandy Drew
Osias Encarnacion
Christine Fife
Amy Gill
Joe Gilmore
Bruce Goldstein
Hewitt Jackson
Pat Meier-Johnson
Lee Ann Knuthson
Debby Kweller
Marney Malik
John McCaull
Larinda Merkins
Marcia Petersen
Maricarmen Reyes
Victoria Roeher
Eduardo Sanchez
Ellen Schwartz and Joseph Cutler
Judy Scotchmoor
Tom Sours
Susanne Spitzer
Barbara Talbott
John Tuohy
Crosswalk Community Church
Kiwanis Club of Sonoma Plaza
North Bay Credit Union
Optima Building Services
Rabobank
Rotary Club of Glen Ellen Kenwood
Sonoma Valley Community Health Center
Warren Roofing
Women's Fellowship - First Congregational Church
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