By Shaila Patel -Special to the Times The Morgan Hill Youth
Advisory Committee (YAC) serves as the prominent voice representing
the youth in our community. As a group of dedicated teenagers, YAC
focuses on tending to the recreational and leisure needs and
interest of young people from adolescents to young adults to age
18.
By Shaila Patel -Special to the Times
The Morgan Hill Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) serves as the prominent voice representing the youth in our community. As a group of dedicated teenagers, YAC focuses on tending to the recreational and leisure needs and interest of young people from adolescents to young adults to age 18.
Contributing hundreds of hours this past year alone, Morgan Hill’s YAC has organized, hosted, volunteered for and participated in a number of events for youth.
This year YAC received a grant from the Cornerstone Project, an organization whose main purpose is to establish positive youth and adult relationships through youth-led activities. The YAC, Cornerstone Committee was comprised of nine YAC members and City Councilman Steve Tate, YMCA representative Debbie Cupp and Leadership Morgan Hill graduate Cricket Rubino. Together the team organized events for the youth in the community. The grant money was used for the Roofless Band Concert held in June and will be used for the Cultural Dance Show scheduled for Oct. 2.
Over the last year, YAC worked on three major events: the Third Annual Cultural Dance Show, Open Mic Night, and the Third Annual Roofless Concert. The Cultural Dance Show was held in late fall of 2004 and was a great success featuring 14 performances. The event’s purpose was to raise cultural awareness and enlighten the public with diverse ethnic entertainment.
The Open Mic night was co-hosted by Jumpin’ Juice N Java on Saturday, March 19. The event was an attempt to raise money to save the local skate park which is danger of being shut down due to vandalism and deterioration of the skate elements. Ten percent of specialty drinks and bakery items purchased were donated toward repairing the skate park. The Open Mic featured acoustic performances, poetry as well as some stand-up comedy by adolescents in Morgan Hill.
The Roofless Concert held at the Community and Cultural Center Amphitheater on June 4 was a smashing hit. Six bands played for four hours as 250 teens camped out on the lawn in front of the stage.
Local band Curbside Attraction (CSA) said, “Roofless this year gave beginning bands like us the opportunity to show our skills and talents to the community.”
In conjunction with the Leadership Class of 2003, the YAC adopted the Civic Center Park, which is located behind City Hall, as a community service project. The YAC helped beautify and maintain the park. YAC also served their community by volunteering at numerous events that include Jackson Elementary School’s Fun Faire, the Morgan Hill Public Library’s’ 50th Anniversary, and the Movie Night by making animal balloons and face painting for the children. They ended the fiscal year of 2004-2005 by participating at the safari hats booth at the Art Ala Carte on Saturday, May 14th.
YAC recently began its new fiscal year 2005-2006 and appointed new members and officers for the committee. YAC members are Chair Shaila Patel, Live Oak; Vice- Chair Isela Baòuelos, Sobrato; Secretary Kelly Del Carlo, Valley Christian; Board Members Casey Corbin, Notre Dame; Katherine Soult, Live Oak; Tirza Baòuelos, Notre Dame; Nadia Rahim, St. Francis; Ariana Hosseini, Live Oak; and Andy Hui, Sobrato. The associate members are Michael Lucarelli-Cowles, Live Oak; Vince Moreschini, St. Francis; Abhilasha Devaraj, Sobrato; Matice McClellan, Live Oak; Brittany Garrido, Monte Vista; Jenenetta Marisclan, Sobrato; Samantha Bondi, Sobrato; Sarah Goodere, Live Oak; Trevor Watson, Britton MS; and Will Cambra, Sobrato.
As for now, YAC continues to plan youth activities. Future ideas include having a senior ball with the seniors in the community, organizing a youth summer concert series and the Cultural Dance Show.
For more information on any YAC activities or other questions on how to get involved, please call Chiquy Schoenduve at 782-0008 at the Community and Cultural Center.
