Growing Together PASadena

Launches Services & Support for Young Families

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

Location: La Pintoresca Library

1335 N Raymond Ave.

Pasadena ,  CA  91103 United States

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).

Growing Together PASadena sites are set to launch November 15, 2019 at the following locations:

More information can be found at www.GrowingTogetherPASadena.org

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.

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. 

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.  

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 .

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.”

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.

Homelessness in Our Community

Town Hall

CSPC Survey Results Are In

am-pluh-fahy

v. to make stronger; enlarge; extend