Growing Together PASadena
Launches Services & Support for Young Families
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Join us as we celebrate the launch of our
Growing Together PASadena
Sites providing services and support for young families in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre!
There will be arts and crafts, children’s activities, healthy snacks, parenting, preschool and Early Childhood Resource Booths.
Date:
November 15
Time:
3:30 pm - 6:30 pm
1335 N Raymond Ave.
Pasadena ,
CA
91103 United States
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Early childhood development creates a foundation for a child’s future. Healthy brain development and supportive family relationships in the early years provide the building blocks for educational achievement, economic productivity, lifelong health, and strong communities.
In an effort to form an integrated service system for children birth to age five and their families, the City’s
Office of the Young Child is coordinating a network of seven early childhood hub sites called
Growing Together PASadena. “Throughout the last few years, a vibrant collaborative of parents and caregivers, service providers, and early childhood advocates has informed and led the development of this project.” said Crys O’Grady, Early Childhood Coordinator for the
Office of the Young Child.
Sites will serve as locations for families with children from birth to age five to access services and support focused on early childhood, with a specific focus on school readiness. All sites will off er a welcoming space for children and their families, individualized resources and referrals, parenting support, and opportunities for children to grow in the five key developmental areas defined by the
Early Development Instrument (EDI).
- Altadena Public Library
- ChapCare-Lincoln Health Center
- Families Forward Learning Center
- La Pintoresca Branch Library
- Pacific Clinics Early Head Start- Nesbitt Site
- Sierra Madre Public Library
- Villa Parke Community Center
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The Vision | The children of Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre all grow up in a safe, stable,
and supportive environment that prepares them for success in school and in life.
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Rose City Senior Research Engagement Project
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This project was a three-part collaborative effort during the month of October designed to educate and inform
Rose City High School students on issues that impact their community and ways they can affect change as well as to expose them to ideas they can use for their research projects. Student research projects are a major component of students’ senior defense, which is a
requirement for graduation from PUSD. It started on October 10
th with a Pasadena history bus tour, and culminated on the 23
rd with the State of the Youth resource fair convening at Pasadena High School.
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As both students and panelists settled into this first-ever format experience, students often returned to prior panelists or remained after the rotation bell to continue with their discussions, or to go deeper into other related topics. The setting invited mutual give-and-take on serious issues with earnest and trustworthy adults. At the end of the event, not only did the students remark on their surprise with the level of respect and engagement from the panelists, but the panelists too were Impressed with the students’ heartfelt interest in the topics and their willingness to share their own stories.
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The second part of the project, hosted by Collaborate PASadena at Pacific Oaks College on the 17
th
, consisted of a civic engagement speed dating format. Volunteer panelists from 15 Pasadena organizations sat at tables and small groups of Rose City students asked questions according to areas of interest in ten minute sessions before rotating to another table
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Based on a prior month’s polling of the students, panelists representing a variety of area organizations eagerly devoted their time to assist with the project. Many of the panelists expressed gratitude for the education and insight they received from this close-up experience with the students. “The main thing I want to emphasize,” said Rose City High School Principal, Brian Stanley, “is that we are seeking to connect students to the vast resources available to them in their community, and that we invite our community to be involved in helping students achieve success during and after high school.”
This event would not have happened without the commitment to our students from these partners:
Adelante Youth Alliance,
Altadena Library District
,
College Access Plan
,
Day One
,
Pasadena Public Library
,
Peace Over Violence
,
Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley
,
PUSD Families in Transition
,
PUSD School Board member Kim Kenne
,
Rosebud Coffee
, Dominic Correy from
Senator Portantino’s Office
,
Stars
,
Tournament of Roses,
Union Station Homeless Services
, and
Western Justice Center
.
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Hosted by the
Pasadena Youth Network
and
The Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families
, on October 23rd at
Pasadena High School
,
the
State of the Youth
was held for all youth to speak about their needs and priorities in our city. Six years ago, students, nonprofit leaders, and the City’s Public Health Department partnered to conduct a full assessment of student needs that resulted in the development of a Pasadena
Youth Master Plan
. The purpose of the plan is to envision a Pasadena with, “a youth-serving culture that is more than the sum of its parts – a city where each program and initiative collaborates to boost outcomes for individual children and families, while creating a culture of safety, of social and civic engagement, and of academic and vocational aspiration.” The annual gathering is intended to assess how well the plan is working and to identify any new areas that might need to be added to it.
With a focus on six priority areas--access to healthy food and environments; life ready; feeling free to be me; united youth support; buses & bikes; and alcohol, drugs and tobacco--youth were able to convene at tables of interest and discuss issues relating to these topics while the adults listened, and at times, asked clarifying questions. Some areas of concern among students were more mental health support (more availability at schools as well as peer training and support), improved transportation (more frequent buses, access to free bus passes, better lighting at bus stops and in neighborhoods when children walk home night), and a greater variety of safe and enjoyable places for kids to hang out after school.
Among the many attending representatives from the city’s agencies, businesses and organizations were Mayor Terry Tornek and Vice Mayor Tyron Hampton. Both talked to the youth and stated that they took the students’ comments and concerns very seriously. Councilmember Hampton additionally suggested all students download the Pasadena Citizen Service app (
Google
/
Apple
) to their phones, which gives residents, businesses, and visitors access to City hall 24/7 for graffiti, potholes, lights out, etc.
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Under Principal Brian Stanley, 2019 award recipient of Administrator of the Year,
Rose City High School is
currently in the process of re-designating as a model continuation school by the California Department of Education. Such an award means the school provides comprehensive services to at-risk students through exemplary instructional strategies, flexible scheduling, and guidance and counseling services. This is remarkable considering its roots as a “school of hard knocks” where the “bad kids” had to go when they were expelled from school.
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Stanley, a product of a broken home, former foster youth, and a high school dropout, has first-hand experience of what many of his at-risk students are going through and knows the value of supportive adults and community. “These are kids have simply fallen behind in school, and often because of some kind of trauma in their lives”. With the help of trusted adults and teachers, Stanley was able to turn his life around, going to college and continuing with a Masters and Most Outstanding Student in his graduating class. He got his start in PUSD teaching at McKinley School, then Rose City, before becoming dean and assistant principal before becoming principal.
Although academic success is important, Stanley believes in growing the “whole student”, to go beyond high school, to complete college, and to become knowledgeable, active citizens in a rapidly changing world. His vision is “Opportunity”, with the belief that learning from mistakes makes you stronger. He sees Rose City students as “advantaged and stronger” because of previous hardships. His core belief is to never underestimate the potential of students when their core academic and emotional needs are met. According to Marshall Principal, Mark Anderson, “[with Stanley’s leadership] Rose City is not the last chance but the best opportunity for students.”
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PUSD School Closures
We have all had to make really tough decisions in the past. Whether those decisions were regarding finances, family or fun, each have often impacted people other than just ourselves. The recent decision by th
e PUSD Board
of Education to consolidate three elementary and one middle school for the 2020 school year is an example of one of those tough decisions. This decision - that has led to a great deal of stress and anxiety - is as a result of declining enrollment and budget pressures related to the future of education in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre. The impacts of these difficult decisions will have ripple effects felt at every school, not just the ones slated to close. In his
Guest
Opinion in Pasadena Now
, parent and community member, Scott Harden calls on our communities to “join together in partnership for a vision of the next 5 to 10 years to define the future of education in Pasadena." He additionally calls for a "series of open workshops, led by community facilitators, attended by as many people as we can invite, to do the hard work to make the most of what we have, and to dream a little about what we should have.” Collaborate PASadena, is committed to engaging all stakeholders towards a new vision for PUSD and uplifting voices that have been marginalized in the process. We will be working with parent and community groups, non-profit organizations, other stakeholders and the PUSD to facilitate meeting the goals of a stronger and more equitable education community in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre.
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Homelessness in Our Community
Town Hall
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Thank you to all who came out to our town hall at
Rosebud Coffee
on Saturday, October 19th.
We had over 100 attendees, including members of the Pasadena City Council and School Board.
The panelists discussed the real causes of homelessness, dispelled misconceptions about those who are experiencing homelessness, as well as best practices for reducing it on our communities.
For those who would like to become, or continue to be, involved with efforts to end homelessness in our area, here is a
handy list of resources
.
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CSPC Survey Results Are In
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In May, we asked PUSD parents to take part in the The California School Parent Survey (CSPS). In recent years, the number of survey respondents has dropped precipitously. This year, we reversed that trend and nearly double the number of respondents from 2017-18. Thanks to all of you who participated!
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News and Events
Click here to find the latest news and events on the Collaborate PASadena website! We happily post partner news and events on our site and on our Facebook page. Submit to
info@collpas.org.
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Partner Praise
Stars
(formerly Lake Avenue Community Foundation) aims to prepare students for college through tutoring, enrichment classes, and homework help, beginning as far back as the first grade. We thank
Stars for continuing to be a valued partner with us on many collaborations.
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am-pluh-fahy
v. to make stronger; enlarge; extend
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