Contra Costa Countywide Youth Commission

2005 Youth Hall of Fame

It is time once again for the annual Youth Hall of Fame sponsored by the Countywide Youth Commission (CYC).  The CYC believes that there are many people who make valuable contributions to our communities and are rarely recognized for these good deeds.  To this end, we are sponsoring the Youth Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding individuals -- youth (between 12 & 18 years of age) and adults who reside in Contra Costa County -- who deserve to be honored.

Here are the categories....

Good Samaritan: someone who goes out of his or her way to do something good without getting recognition.
School Leadership: someone who exhibits outstanding school pride and who lends a helping hand for the good of the school.
Valiant Volunteer: someone who gives his or her time and energy to a worthy cause or organization.
Sports Leadership: someone who works unselfishly for the good of the team.
Artiste: someone who uses his or her musical, literary, or artistic talent to benefit the school or community.
Adult Advocate: someone (an adult) who works diligently to support our youth

We invite you to submit a nomination of these categories by completing the attached form.  Please , no nominations of immediate relatives.

2005_YHOF_Nomination_Form.doc -- (Microsoft Word format)
2005_YHOF_Nomination_Form.pdf -- (Adobe Acrobat format)
Click Here To Download Adobe Acrobat 7.0

Nominations must be received or postmarked by 5:00pm Friday, February 18, 2005.

Further instructions are on the Nomination Form.  Thank your for your submission.

Communications Meeting Agenda, December 13, 2004

Date: Monday, December 13th, 2004
Time: 8:00pm – 9:00pm:
Meeting of the CYC Communications Committee
Location: UCCE, 75 Santa Barbara Rd, 2nd Floor, Pleasant Hill

Agenda

A. 8:00-8:05        Welcome, Adoption of Agenda, Approval of Minutes (Commissioner Chen)
B. 8:05-8:10        Public Comment (Speakers are limited to 3 minutes)
C. 8:10-8:20        Advertisements and new sections in The Bridge
D. 8:20-8:35        Article ideas and due date for the next edition of The Bridge
E. 8:35-8:45        Countywide Youth Commission Blog
F. 8:45-8:50        Newspaper press releases
G. 8:50-8:55        KQED radio announcement
H. 8:55-9:00        Approval of next meeting date and agenda items
I. 9:00                    Adjourn

Policy Meeting Agenda, December 12, 2004

Date: Monday, December 12th, 2004
Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm:  Meeting of the CYC Policy Committee
Location: UCCE, 75 Santa Barbara Rd, 2nd Floor, Pleasant Hill

Agenda

A.        Welcome, Adoption of Agenda, Approval of Minutes (Commissioner Pineda)
B.        Public Comment (Speakers are limited to 3 minutes)
C.        Youth Forum Report: Discuss, develop, and design methods of utilizing the information gathered in the Youth Forum Report.
D.        Discuss and revise the Recommendation to the Board of Supervisors Regarding Meeting Times.
E.        Research and invite expert presenters to Committee and Commission meetings.
F.        Discuss Police Survey Questions and discuss current status of chosen schools that will receive surveys
G.        Approval of next meeting date and agenda items
H.        Adjourn

Commission Meeting Agenda, Dec 15, 2004

Contra Costa Countywide Youth Commission
Wednesday, December 15, 20046:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Regular Monthly MeetingLocation: Danville Library, Mt. Diablo Room, 400 Front Street, Danville

Agenda

6:30 - 6:35    Welcome, Review Agenda
6:35 - 6:40    Public Comment (Speakers may be limited to 3 minutes)
6:40 – 6:45    Approve Minutes from September Regular Meeting, October Regular Meeting, October Joint Meeting, and November Regular Meeting
6:45 - 6:50    Review Policy Regarding Attendance
6:50 - 7:00    Discuss and Approve New CYC Logo- Commissioner Pineda
7:00 - 7:10    Review Status on Meetings with Supervisors
7:10 - 7:25    Discuss Results of Meeting with Family and Human Services Regarding Meeting
                           Time Recommendation- Commissioners Guptill, Hudkins, Pineda, and Ruscitti
7:25 - 7:35    Break
7:35 - 7:45    Discuss response to Commissioner Lai’s Letter to Local Youth Councils
7:45 - 7:55    Discuss and Approve Police Survey Questions and Distribution   
7:55 – 8:15    Subcommittee Reports-Subcommittee Chairs
8:15 - 8:25    Staff/Commissioner Reports-Coordinator Chow and Commission Members
8:25 - 8:30    Agenda Items for 1/26/05 Meeting in Pittsburg
8:30    Adjourn

* Please bring a donation for the Lighthouse Mentoring Center.

Meeting Time Recommendation

CONTRA COSTA COUNTYWIDE YOUTH COMMISSION

Recommendation to the Board of Supervisors Regarding

Meeting Times and Youth Input

The Countywide Youth Commission (CYC) was founded on the principle of involving youth in government and public policy. Indeed, the mission statement of the CYC states that the Commission’s purpose is to “…give the youth of Contra Costa County a voice and the power to change their world…” In order to further that goal, the CYC believes it is necessary to remove the barriers that hinder youth involvement in county government. One of the barriers that has been created is the time at which the Board of Supervisors, its committees, and its advisory bodies conduct their meetings. The Board, for example, holds meetings at 9:00 AM on Tuesdays, a time that is not conducive to youth involvement, or to the involvement of the greater public, as most individuals must be at work or school. The result is sparsely attended meetings where only those with a special interest, often businesses with a paid representative, voice their opinions. Because the current situation hinders youth involvement in government, the CYC has the following recommendations.

The CYC recommends that:

1.  The Board of Supervisors adopt policy requiring all committees and advisory bodies that deal with issues directly affecting youth and their families conduct their meetings between the hours of 6:00 and 10:00 PM.

2.  The Board of Supervisors adopt policy allowing public comment on items before the Board and its advisory bodies via electronic communications, postal mail and, if viable, telephone messages.

3.  The Board of Supervisors place an electronic comment form on their website, utilizing a system similar to the one used by members of Congress.

4. The Board of Supervisors adopt a policy of actively seeking youth input, through the CYC and other means, before implementing any major youth-related policy changes.

Adopting these recommendations will help bring youth and their families into the decision making process and will remove one of the barriers to youth empowerment. Nighttime meetings will allow students, parents, and full time workers to attend and voice their opinions about the issues at hand, as currently occurs with local school board and city council meetings. This, in turn, will lead to better decisions that have greater community support, because people will feel as if an effort was being made to include them. Allowing electronic and postal mail to be used will give a voice to those who cannot attend meetings, as will telephone messages, if viable. Actively seeking youth input is another way of encouraging better decision-making with regards to youth issues. By bringing those who will be directly affected into the process, the Board will get a new perspective on the issues, one that is potentially invaluable. Adopting these recommendations will improve the process and results of government when dealing with youth issues.

Commission Meeting Agenda, Nov 17, 2004

Contra Costa Countywide Youth Commission
Wednesday, November 17, 2004, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Regular Monthly Meeting
Location: Supervisor Gioia’s Office, 11780 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito

Agenda

6:30 - 6:35    Welcome, Review Agenda
6:35 - 6:40    Public Comment (Speakers may be limited to 3 minutes)
6:40 – 6:45    Approve Minutes from September Regular Meeting, October Regular Meeting, and October Joint Meeting
6:45 - 7:00    Review CYC Logo Ad Hoc Committee Suggestions-Commissioner Pineda
7:00 - 7:10    Review Status on Meetings with Supervisors
7:10 - 7:20    Discuss Joint Meeting with Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board
7:20 - 7:25    Elect Liaison to AOD Advisory Board
7:25 - 7:35    Break
7:35 - 7:45    Review changes to Commissioners Lai’s Letter to Local Youth Councils
7:45 - 7:55    Review Commissioner Schlegel’s Letter Regarding After-School Activities    
7:55 – 8:15    Subcommittee Reports-Subcommittee Chairs
8:15 - 8:25    Staff/Commissioner Reports-Coordinator Chow and Commission Members
8:25 - 8:30    Agenda Items for 12/15/04 Danville Meeting
8:30    Adjourn