Kingman Island Community Service Project

In the DC Youth Advisory Council, I have participated in many activities, but the one that stuck out to me the most was the Kingman Island cleaning. The council, along with several other groups helped in the beautification of the Kingman Island clean up. We walked up and down along the Anacostia River picking up trash and recyclables.

My experience with participating in this community service was amazing. I felt like I really made a difference after cleaning. I think participating in this activity brought us closer together, we laughed and I even fell in the mud, but at the end of the day, we grow a closer bond. We even had a contest to see who could collect the most bottles by the time we were ready to leave. I recommend youth to participate in the DC Youth Advisory Council to everyone especially those who enjoy teamwork and want to make a difference in their community just as I did.

By Clarence Lee

Blood Drive

One of the best experiences that I had as a member of the DCYAC and the Health and Human services subcommittee was participating in the 2010 Blood Drive in conjunction with Washington Hospital Center and The Sidwell Friends School.

It was something g that I had never done before but I felt that it would be a nice way to give back to my community. I was a little nervous at first because people were telling me that I would lose a lot of blood and I was concerned about losing enough blood to the point where I would probably pass out!

When we arrived at the Sidwell Friends school I saw the amount of blood that they would be taking out of me, that’s when I really got nervous. When I sat in the chair, I saw the biggest needle that I had ever seen in my life. Now, I’m not afraid of needles or anything but that was a huge needle. When it went in my arm, blood shot out to my wrist. After that everything was perfectly fine. My favorite part was when I received all of the cookies and candy after I was finished giving blood. I felt good about myself knowing that I gave someone else a second chance at life.

By Anthony McCannon

Toy Drive at Blue Plains MPD

On Wednesday and Thursday, December 2nd and 3rd, we had additional volunteers to assist with sorting toys by gender and age from 10am – 5pm at the Metropolitan Police Academy 4665 Blue Plains Drive, SW 20032. There are many children in the District of Columbia that are in need of toys for Christmas.

Elements of Toys for Tots:

1.) Toys for Tots activity, which takes place each year, is the collection and distribution of toys in the communities in which a Marine Corps Reserve Unit is located. Local Toys for Tots Campaign Coordinators conduct an array of voluntary activities designed to increase interest in Toys for Tots, and concurrently generate toys and monetary donations. 

  

                         A.)  United States Marine Corps

              

                         B.)  Marine Forces Reserve


                        C.) Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
            
                        D.) Marine Corps League Detachments
             
                        E.) Local Community Organizations


**The program was founded in 1947 by Major Bill Hendricks. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has supported Toys for Tots since 1991.


Goal:

• The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.

The Volunteers

Gabrielle Leach (Program Assistant), Ashley Pace (Intern)

More helpers to organize the toys

Thumbs Up for Toys For Tots

Please visit, http://www.toysfortots.org/ for more information regarding the Marines Toys for Tots Foundation.

Photos of the 2009/2010 Election Process

They all cast their vote..

The votes are in...

Congradulations for the

winners.  

The DCYAC  Election!!!

(Ryan Washington)

(John Verghese)

(Cleo Abram)

(Sean Gough and YAC getting ready for voting) 

(Voting in process)

The votes are in.....  

(Jesse Pollak)

(Tanise Martin)

(Committed intellectuals seeking to serve)

(Angelena Davis; Intern)

(Sean Gough and YAC )

(John Verghese)

(One of many candidates for the election)

(Sean Gough and Sarah Williams with ballots)

**********************************
DC's Youth Advisory Councilmembers  were elected to make a change for the young lives of the district.
***********************************

2009/2010 Election Results!!!

??What is an election??

1. An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population votes for an individual to hold the public office.

??What does it take to become a Youth Advisory Councilmember?? What are the role and responsibilities?

1.  Here at DC YAC, the election process is very momentous for DCYAC. Every year, the teenagers of DCYAC migrate to their respective location and cast their vote. On November 17, 2009, the committee members are elected. They are chosen to represent and lead the council. The candidates will have to be a representative, diligent, preserver, and collaborator. The Sub-Committees Chairs and Executive Committees will handle the significant public service responsibilities. They will communicate regularly with other youths to identify and understand plethora of issues, concerns, and challenges that adolescent’s encounter. Nevertheless, council members will have to participate in events as presenters, moderators, and panelists on issues pertaining to adolescents relationships.
2. The DC Youth Advisory Council are to embrace responsibilities with a profound sense of duty and appreciation.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES

Chairman - Philip Martin

• Shall be the principal officer of the group responsible for supervision and the control affairs of the group.

Vice Chairman - Gabrielle Leach

• In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chair shall perform all duties of the Chairman.

•  Chair of the Outreach Committee

•  Chair of the Diversity Committee

Secretary - Tanise Martin

• Keeps minutes of the membership meetings and see that all notices are given in accordance with the bylaws.

Parliamentarian - John Verghese

• Maintain the decorum of all meetings.

•  Chair of the Rules Committee

Treasurer - TBD

• The Treasurer shall have custody and be responsible for the collection and disbursements of all funds of the group.

•  Chair the Finance Committee

FINANCE COMMITTEE - TBD

• Appointed to consider financial issues

RULES COMMITTEE- John Verghese

• Have the authority to establish rules and usually determining the date a bill is presented for consideration.

OUTREACH COMMITTEE- Gabrielle Leach

• Vice Chair - Ryan Washington

•  Move outward to the local, national communities to help the homeless, youth, and young adults.

SUB-COMMITTEES

Employment Chairman - Jesse Pollak

• Shall focus on youth employment and job readiness. Also committee shall seek out internships, fellowships and scholarships.

•  Vice Chair - Clarence Lee

Health and Human Services Chair - Cleo C. Abram

• Focus on issues related to young people in the District. In addition, the committee shall focus on welfare and well being of young people in DC. There should be an emphasis on youth who are in foster care, disabled, or who have other special needs.

• Vice Chair - TBD

Education Chair - Andre Nicolas

• The education committee shall focus on issues pertaining to the education of the districts youth. They shall gather scholarships, grants, college fairs, vocational programs, and so forth pertaining to young people.

• Vice Chair - Shannon Grover Harris

 Public Safety Chair- Nyasha Klusmann

• Shall focus on issues pertaining to police matters, youth violence and the juvenile justice system. They shall gather information on these issues and disseminate the information throughout the school system.

•  Vice Chair – TBD

DCYAC Easter Project

Last Saturday, the DCYAC worked with families in the Valley Place Transitional Home to decorate Easter Eggs and to make Easter baskets. We'd like to thank Valley Place for providing us with an opportunity to help out.

Upcoming DCYAC Community Service Project

The next DCYAC community service project will take place on Saturday, April 11th from 11:00am-1:00pm (please arrive by 10:45am). We will be decorating Easter baskets and eggs for children in the Valley Place Family Transitional Program. If you would like to participate please RSVP to Benjamin Vance at Benjamin.vance@dc.gov. Here are additional details about the event:

1357 Valley Place, SE Suite 102
Washington, DC 20020
Closest METRO: Green Line-Anacostia Station