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Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
Area youth invited to conference
Galt’s Esparza selected as master of ceremonies
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Being a part of the Galt Area Youth Coalition is more than just sitting around talking about things. It’s about having a voice in the community, and having fun at the same time. Face painting is a popular activity for the kids of the coalition, providing a little fun on your face.
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By Rachael Ackerman
Herald Editor
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Have you ever wanted to take more of a role in your city’s planning as a teen, or wanted to have more of a teen voice in your community?
If the answer is yes, then you need to sign up for the REACH Youth Development Conference being held in Sacramento on July 9.
This event is sponsored by the Sierra Health Foundation and is being offered to Galt kids through the Galt Area Youth Coalition. There are spots for 20 kids from Galt to attend for free – eight spots remain, and the team doesn’t want to go leaving even one spot open.
“This is a free event for kids under the age of 18 who want to go and learn more about making changes in their own communities,” said youth coalition adult member Janet Munoz. “It’s really all about how to become more civic minded, to get a voice in the community and to be heard as the young people in the city.”
The conference is being held at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento on July 9 beginning at 8:30 a.m. An all day event, the kids will be transported to the Radisson by bus, which leaves Galt at 7:30 a.m., and remain at the conference until 4:30 p.m., when they will be returned home.
Taking Galt’s footprint into the greater Sacramento area, Galt’s own Eliseo Esparza has been selected to serve as master of ceremonies. Esparza was named the Galt High School Class of 2008 salutatorian and is well known for his outgoing personality and dedication to furthering the opportunities for the youth of Galt.
“We’re thrilled to have Eliseo serving as MC at this conference,” said Munoz. “The kids of the Galt Area Youth Coalition have really invested themselves into not only creating things for kids to do, but also in identifying the needs, fears, goals and hopes of the kids in our community.”
Munoz said one of the primary activities of the Galt Youth Coalition at this time is photo mapping the city.
“The kids are given disposable cameras and are asked to go around the city and take pictures of places where they feel safe, and of places that scare them,” said Munoz. “They take pictures of areas they’d like to see improved, and of places and city amenities that they enjoy.”
Munoz explained that, with kids, the pictures do so much of the talking when it comes to expressing how they feel about their own communities.
“One of the things the kids will be doing is presenting some of the photo-mapping they have already done. When laid out, the pictures tell a story of how the kids are feeling,” said Munoz. “These can be very powerful with school boards, councils and other organizations to share how the youth see the community and what they need.”
Yes, but will the conference be fun?
Oh yes, said Munoz.
“There is a really neat youth lounge at the conference with dancing and art,” she said. “This is really about having fun while learning some media and technological skills, or discussing the “hot issues” facing the youth of today.”
In addition to conferences and special events, the Galt Area Youth Coalition meets on a regular basis at different campuses in the Galt school district.
“Watch the calendar for when we will be near your neighborhood and tell your kids,” said Munoz. “This is a way they can have a voice.”
To register for this event, go online at www.reachyouthprogram.org, and enter Galt Area Youth Coalition. For assistance or for information on the Galt Area Youth Coalition, call Munoz at (209) 745-2641, ext. 550.
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