Friday, July 30, 2010

North Port Youth complete Community Engagement Training

Tour of City Hall North Port City Clerk Helen Raimbeau and Community Outreach Manager Erin Bryce meet with students at City Hall as part of CYD’s Civic Engagement program. Tour of North Port Vision North Port Executive Director Peter Bartolotta gives a tour of North Port to youth participating in the CYD’s Civic Engagement program. North Port Rap As part of CYD’s Civic Engagement program, students prepared a “rap” song about their view of North Port.

Ten youth completed the first CYD Community Engagement program held this week in North Port. CYD partnered with North Port HS, City of North Port, and Vision North Port to offer this 4 day program to increase awareness of the resources in North Port, and ways in which teens can participate in the community.

Students conducted a tour of city hall, fire and police stations, as well as a bus tour with stops at Warm Mineral Springs, North Port Art Center and TKM Stable. Classroom sessions helped youth to understand more about how communities function, and meet leaders who can provide opportunities to become active as leaders and volunteers. North Port Chamber Executive Director William Gunnin, Boys & Girls Club director Dorothy St. Pierre and Tyra Keating, from the North Port Library shared information on their organization and ways the youth can get involved.

CYD was pleased with the success of the program and will be exploring ways to offer it again. L’tea Woodard, CYD staff member in charge of the program, is looking forward to the next session. “I feel that this program changed the way students looked at North Port,” said Woodard. According to Dan Woods, a senior at North Port HS he learned “there are adults in North Port who really care about youth.” La Kendra Gainer, also a senior at North Port HS added “North Port is full of potential. I heard about the future plans from city and community leaders, and it makes me want to come back here to work” after college.

“I hope people will learn that youth really want to be involved in positive things,” said L’tea Woodard. “Youth have a lot to contribute and want to shape their community as much as adults do.”

Students completing the program are from North Port HS:
La Kendra Gainer 12th
Clayton Meiron 10th
Courtney Naylor 9th
Mackenzie Cooper 11th
Cody Huntley 10th
Jessica Popity 9th
Aubrey Richards 9th
Kelsey Taylor 9th
Francesca Tebano 12th
Daniel Woods 12th

Assisting with the program are CYD youth leaders from North Port: Kimberley McRae, Booker HS 12th grader, Kailey Taylor and Krystal Sanchez, both 12th graders at North Port HS.

For more information on CYD, please visit www.cydonline.org or call 922-5126.