November 2019
Dear Friends of PRO Youth & Families,

DREAM BIG. This mantra has been our refrain for years and this month we’re thankful to celebrate BIG things happening with PRO.

MOVING DAY is quickly approaching! After 20+ years at our Auburn Boulevard location, we’re moving to the Fruit Ridge Community Collaborative (FRCC) in South Oak Park. We've been sharing space at FRCC for several years and are excited to have the entire team together. This location brings us closer to our participants and will foster more effective collaboration with other community residents and stakeholders.

NEW approaches to serving our youth & families = maximum impact. As a founding member of the Youth and Family Collective, PRO is committed to working smarter by sharing knowledge and resources to build stronger, healthier, and more hopeful communities. Two pilot projects (involving 8 collaborative partners!) are getting off the ground this fall. We’re excited for these opportunities and will keep you posted as we move forward.

Thank you for dreaming big with us.  We’re thankful for you and wishing each of you a Thanksgiving filled BIG smiles, good food, and lots of laughter.


Sincerely,

Staci
Staci Anderson
PRO is on the Move
We're Growing and Moving
The new address is: 4625 44th Street, Sacramento, 95820.
Phone number will remain the same: 916-576-3300
Program News and Updates
YFC Launches Two New Programs
California Community Reinvestment Grant

On September 25, 2019 the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development announced the inaugural grant recipients for the California Community Reinvestment Grants (CalCRG) program . The mission of the CalCRG program is to advance health, wellness, and economic justice for populations and communities harmed by the War on Drugs (WoD). “We have a moral responsibility to address the War on Drugs’ multi-generational impacts that have marginalized communities throughout our state,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Programs like CalCRG exemplify California’s commitment to this responsibility, and it ensures our cannabis marketplace remains rooted in social justice.”

We are pleased to announce that Six YFC organizations that came
together to submit a proposal to support the South Oak Park/Fruit Ridge Neighborhood have been awarded funding to address inequity by 1) reducing recidivism; 2) increasing employment; and 3) increasing economic security through a workforce navigation program. This program is designed to seamlessly provide support to community members, especially those involved with the criminal justice system, to connect with needed services, engage in skill development – both social-emotional and job skills, and place participants in jobs. We want to congratulate the collaborating organizations for this proposal which include: 1) Pivot Sacramento; 2) Outside the Walls; 3) Self-Awareness and Recovery; 4) Neighborhood Innovation Project; 5) Green Technical Education and Employment; and 6) PRO Youth & Families.

All six organizations are tenants at the Fruit Ridge Community Collaborative (FRCC) located in the Oak Park neighborhood. There are currently 23 nonprofit organizations at FRCC serving diverse populations and offering a wide-range of critical support programs that address health and economic disparities.
" The war on drugs has waged devastation on communities that will last for generations. The CalCRG grant is one of the first intentional efforts to rebuild our families and create a chance for true equity, advancement and hope. NIP is excited to be part of a strategy for change, backed by real resources catered to the people most affected." ~ Michael Blair -The Neighborhood Innovation Project
To read the Governor’s full press release Click Here
The HOPE Program
(Relationship Skills for Youth)

We are pleased to announce that through a collaborative effort, four of our YFC partners have received federal funding to empower youth to thrive: PRO Youth and Families, My Sister’s House, the HAWK Institute and The Center.

The goal of The HOPE Program is to create Impact through improved
skills around self-regulation, goal setting, risk behaviors and recognition of unhealthy relationships. The students to benefit are youth age 15-19, with participation at 6 area high schools and at FRCC.

Food and incentives for participants are included as part of the 12 hour curriculum.

If you are interested in having the HOPE Program training at your organization for your participants please contact Dimitrius Stone:
Coordinated Summer Programming
Our first Summer @ FRCC programming finished up in August and we'd like to give a huge shout out to all of the participating organizations for their support in our first year. Summer @ FRCC was a 5 week, full-day program held at Fruit Ridge Community Collaborative serving Middle and High School students from some of the most fragile communities we serve. It was a great learning experience for all involved, and each partner organization contributed greatly to the overall success of the program. We’d like to offer our special thanks to Buffalo Pizza and The HUB for underwriting an amazing field trip to the United States Tennis Association Tournament at San Jose State University.     
Students and parents alike had good things to say about  Summer @ FRCC 

Student:
"The experience at FRCC is a great experience. It's really fun. There were a lot of activities and I made lots of friends."

Parent:
"This program was a great experience for my daughter. She met new friends and was exposed to new things that she hadn't done or tried before. I am looking forward to next summer! Thank you all very much! This was so needed for our young adults."
Summer Participants Include:
 6 Players Under ground Theater
916 Ink
Buffalo Pizza
Colonial Heights Library
Cornflower Creamery
Eagle Force Robotics
HAWK Institute
Health Education Council
Just Breathe Mindful Yoga
NAMI Sacramento
Pleasant Grove High School
ProForma
Project Lifelong
PRO Youth and Families
Sacramento Bike Kitchen
Sacramento Library
Sacramento Native American Health Center
Schools Credit Union
Six Players
SMUD
The Hub
United Way
USTA Tennis
Wolfpops
Yisrael Family Farm
Back To School With PRO
About After School Programs
PRO Youth and Families vision and actions respond to the widespread impacts of trauma. Our strategy works at many levels: reorienting and strengthening community organizations, engaging youth and
their families in the communities they live in at a grass-roots level, and sharing and building the skills critical to reducing the social and emotional impact of trauma.

Our current programs focus on Advocacy & Civic Engagement, Mentoring, Relationship Skills, and Substance Abuse Prevention.

Our programs are currently running in 30 schools (middle & high school level), in three districts in the Sacramento Region. For a complete list of schools CLICK HERE
For a complete list of programs please visit our website: proyouthandfamilies.org
SACOG Youth Leadership Academy
Last year, in partnership with Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), PRO Youth & Families has launched the Youth Leadership Academy for high school juniors and seniors. The Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) is an opportunity for students from across SACOG’s six counties (Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba, Placer, and El Dorado) to weigh in on policies surrounding transportation, land use, affordable housing, and environmental impacts of development.
The goal of the Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) is to bridge the gap between youth and the leaders of today. The program also provides students from across the region the opportunity to learn about local and regional government, planning, civic engagement, promote careers in the public sector, and aid in their professional development.

This year we received 52 applications and will be accepting around 40 students. We have students primarily from Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Davis. We will be having a welcome reception in November, and formally kicking off the program in January.

For more information and a look at last year's Youth Leadership Academy Graduates CLICK HERE
Youth @ City Council
Youth @ City Council is a civic engagement program for Rancho Cordova youth ages 13-18 years old. If you know of someone who might be interested in having an impact on their community, networking with Rancho Cordova leaders, gaining leadership
skills, and working closely with government officials – please share! Applications are due by Friday, November 29, 2019

The program will be held at the City of Rancho Cordova City Hall on Mondays from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM beginning Monday, January 6, 2020 through Monday, June 1, 2020.
Mock City Council Meeting is Tuesday, June 2, 2020

To download the flyer

For the online application
In the News!
On Tuesday, November 5, 2019, PRO youth joined hundreds of other students in what was standing room only at city hall to encourage the Sacramento City Council to put the kids first initiative on the March Ballot.
The measure is now in the hands of the City Council. By Dec. 3, the City Council will decide whether or not to place the Children’s Fund ballot measure on the March 2020 ballot or to delay until November. The students urged the Council to do what is best for kids and place it on the March ballot.

For the CBS 13 news story:

For the Sacramento Bee news story:
Census Work
PRO has a new partnership with Sacramento County Office of
Education to deliver a Youth Engagement Initiative that works with students, teachers and school administrators at 15 regional High Schools to create youth lead campaigns around Action Civics and the 2020 Census.  
Welcome to the PRO Team
Meet Our Newest Team Members
Nicole Cuellar
CalCRG Project Manager
Nicole is managing the Youth & Family Workforce Navigation Program. She is passionate about elevating communities, and hopes to support collaborative shifts that empower youth.
Roxanne Flores
HOPE Program Engagement Coordinator
Being a first generation, Latinx woman, I have and continue to navigate systematic barriers of obtaining resources for support to achieve my goals. It is from this experience my passion for youth development and engagement was born. I strive to help support all youth to reach their fullest potential, academically and personally through self-empowerment and self-advocacy skills. I value impacting student lives on an individual and communal level and have consistently provided a safe space to further support their journey. 
Francis Banks
Program Manager
As one of the newest members of the Pro Team, Francis is really excited to be a part of this amazing organization. With a background in communication, education, and performing arts, Francis is eager to help our youth discover their voices and take control of their future. He is hopeful that through his time here with Pro he can help our youth begin to take the steps in making an impact on their community.
LaReina Jones
Front Office Manager @ FRCC
LaReina was born and raised in Sacramento, has a strong customer service background and tells us that she is "ecstatic to be involved" with Fruit Ridge Community Collaborative. She loves to see everyone working together for such a positive purpose and appreciates how great everyone has treated her in her short time here. LaReina enjoys listening to jazz music and spending time with her 12 year old daughter.
Leading the YFC Revolution
Youth & Family Collective
PRO is currently leading the Youth & Family Collective (YFC) initiative, which is bringing together nonprofit organizations with business partners
and government to create a new model for serving youth and families.

YFC is working to align and leverage resources and programming, to create systematic response that address interconnected challenges faced by youth and families in low-opportunity communities and operational challenges faced by nonprofit organizations.

To learn more CLICK HERE
FRCC News and Updates
PRO @ FRCC
PRO Youth & Families is currently managing Fruit Ridge Community Collaborative (FRCC), now a hub for neighborhood empowerment housing 23 nonprofit organizations and serving as a meeting place for dozens more. The grounds are repeatedly used for community and family friendly events. It is a place where residents can come to find needed resources and celebrate
their community.

The site now serves close to 15,000 men, women and children each year.

We are so proud of the efforts that PRO has been leading at FRCC. To date we have accumulated close to $500,000.00 in volunteer hours and in kind donations. If you would like more information about what is happening at FRCC and how you can participate please CLICK HERE
Facility Rental Space @ FRCC
Fruit Ridge Community Collaborative is located in the southern district of Sacramento's first suburb, Oak Park. It is housed on 8 acres of the re-purposed Fruit Ridge Elementary School. There is lots of indoor and outdoor space for meetings, seminars, town halls, parties, weddings, festivals etc...

If you are interested in using the space you can find all of information you need including photos, the rate sheet and application by clicking this link to the website. CLICK HERE
PRO Youth & Families was proud to coordinate the third annual Trunk or Treat @ FRCC in conjunction
with Oak Park - Black Child Legacy Campaign, Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna and Up To Good.

This event again was a huge success with over 800 families joining in on the fun and excitement.

The success of Trunk or Treat @ FRCC highly depends on the collaborative efforts of businesses, organizations and our community partners!

We want to thank all of the folks that came out to host trunks or tables, volunteer and who donated candy for the event. We couldn't have done it without you.
Announcements
Announcements
What if Sacramento were known as the Kids First City? What if we put as much time, energy and resources into being a Kids First
City, as we do with being the Farm to Fork Capitol? 

Tell Mayor Steinberg that you support increased funding for Sacramento's kids! If you agree, please sign our petition by clicking the link below! 

To the petition CLICK HERE