EDUCATION & YOUTH

American Red Cross Monterey Bay Area Chapter

www.RedCross.org/MontereyBay

624-6921

Founded: 1906

WHAT THEY DO: The American Red Cross responds to local disasters, offering impacted victims food, shelter, counseling and assistance in recovery. The Red Cross mobilizes volunteers to respond to emergencies and also teaches emergency preparedness, First Aid and CPR classes, in addition to conducting blood drives.

THE BIG IDEA: The Red Cross is sending area students grades 9-12 to the Leadership Development Center, a four-day overnight conference designed to build strong leaders and positive relationships among youth. The camp helps students recognize their potential, form positive relationships, participate in volunteer works and build skills; each $250 scholarship will cover all costs for one local student.

STEPPING UP: “I really have learned a lot about leadership here… I know that I will apply those skills later in life.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County

www.bgcmc.org

394-5171

Founded: 1968

WHAT THEY DO: Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County provides academic support, mentoring, sports, leadership and community service opportunities, life skills and nutritious meals daily to over 4,000 local youth in a safe and fun environment.

THE BIG IDEA: BGCMC is implementing STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math. The program inspires students in their pursuit of careers and in hopes of developing a savvy workforce. The multi-faceted approach also helps strengthen the nonprofit’s mission to empower youth to realize their full potential to become responsible, healthy, productive citizens through pro-active school and family engagement, along with mentoring and academic support.

GROWING BIG: “I credit the Boys & Girls Club for helping me realize my full potential.”

Chartwell School and The New High School Project

www.Chartwell.org

394-3468

Founded: 1983

WHAT THEY DO: Chartwell School educates students who might not do well in traditional classrooms, including those with learning variations like dyslexia. Chartwell considers each student’s unique needs to provide them with the academic skills, confidence and creativity necessary to meet the challenges of mainstream education and lifelong learning.

THE BIG IDEA: Chartwell wants to empower students with dyslexia and other learning differences to maximize their potential by providing a comprehensive diagnostic program to evaluate each student’s needs and turn them into engaged and independent learners.

ALL IN THE FAMILY: “Chartwell is not only a place that provides a great education and college advising, but a family as well… .At Chartwell, I made lifelong friends.”

Community of Caring Monterey Peninsula

www.CommunityofCaringMP.org

655-4755

Founded: 1998

WHAT THEY DO: Community of Caring bridges the gap between classroom and community by engaging K-12 students and teachers in volunteer opportunities. Programs are designed to teach life skills.

THE BIG IDEA: Inspiring big dreams in small people, Community of Caring wants to introduce fourth graders to college campuses and financial aid opportunities by making them “college students for a day” at Monterey Peninsula College. Kids will take tours and hear presentations about accessble education, led by current college students.

THE LONG VIEW: “I want to go to college because I want to get the job that’s right for me.”

Community Partnership for Youth

www.CPY.org

394-4279

Founded: 1992

WHAT THEY DO: Community Partnership for Youth connects Monterey County youth to positive alternatives to gangs, drugs and violence with mentoring, tutoring and job/life skills training.

THE BIG IDEA: CPY is raising funds for their Middle School Leadership Program for students who are transitioning to high-school leadership positions. To accomplish this, they need to pay for mentor and tutor positions; the program fosters leadership skills and grows employment skills.

180-DEGREE TURN: “This method that Community Partnership for Youth goes through, it works – and that’s what motivated me to change my life around.”

Easter Seals Central California

www.EasterSeals.com/CentralCal

684-2166

Founded: 1947

WHAT THEY DO: Easter Seals educate and support people with disabilities and their families by providing in-home assistance, teaching early intervention strategies to address challenging behavior from a young age and inspiring people with disabilities to reach beyond their limitations through healthy outdoor activities.

THE BIG IDEA: The nonprofit wants to make siblings of disabled children into ambassadors for disabled children, sponsoring workshops and giving them the knowledge and support to affect change like reducing stigma and labeling, ultimately improving interactions between disabled students and non-disabled peers.

KID LEADERS: “I have witnessed firsthand the powerful impact of peer support that this program instilled in my own children.”

Everett Alvarez High School French Club

402-4197

Founded: 1997

WHAT THEY DO: The French Club funds educational language travel for economically and culturally disadvantaged students, allowing them to experience new cultures and to improve self-esteem and future ambitions.

THE BIG IDEA: Everett Alvarez’s French club is gearing up for a journey that will take students away from their homes, in many cases for the first time, and bring them into contact with another culture. Funds will help create and execute an entire trip, from researching destinations in France and learning customs and manners, to traveling to and interacting in the culture and language they have studied.

BROADENING HORIZONS: “… best moments of my life… opened my mind up… motivated me to be a better student and person… it helped me to reach my decision to study abroad in college.”

Foundation for Monterey County Free Libraries

www.FMCFL.org

424-3564

Founded: 1989

WHAT THEY DO: The Foundation for Monterey County Free Libraries promotes literacy and free access to information through online tutoring services and homework help. They also supplement public funding for Monterey County Free Libraries.

THE BIG IDEA: The Foundation wants to expand their network of homework centers at 10 branches which focus on sparking the interest in science, technology and engineering. They seek to purchase science equipment that lets students explore biology, building kits to examine engineering, tangram puzzles to solve geometry problems, a marble track to study physics and other related supplies.

CREATIVE SPARKS: “This [Making Comics] workshop was about drawing. It was fun and the people were very nice.”

Friends of the Monterey Public Library

www.MPLFriends.com

646-3745

Founded: 2000

WHAT THEY DO: Friends of the Monterey Public Library raises money to provide community programs, meet special needs and host events at the library. With funds raised through Monterey County Gives!, they helped restore regular hours at the library, which serves 350,000 visitors with half a million checkouts each year.

THE BIG IDEA: In collaboration with the Monterey Public Library and Monterey High School, the Friends are raising money for the 21st Century Learning Skills Seminar to teach students to become effective team members and citizens of the community. The Teen Librarians collaborate with teachers and create research sessions, library orientations and assignments to maximize freshmen students’ knowledge and tech abilities.

BEYOND BOOKISH: “Everyone goes to the library after school! I wait for the bus there. Most people get picked up there, and others go to just chill.”

Friends of the Salinas Public Library

www.FriendsofSalinasPL.org

758-7311

Founded: 1978

WHAT THEY DO: Friends of the Salinas Public Library raises money to fund programs and purchases that are not allocated in the city budget for libraries. They create public awareness and support for the libraries and promote literacy both inside and outside the library walls through programming and by bringing library access to parks and neighborhoods.

THE BIG IDEA: Call it the ultimate Pushcart Prize: Friends are raising money to create mobile, walking libraries to circulate materials to East Salinas neighborhoods. The program will fund two pushcarts, each with a wireless hotspot, loaded with books available for checkout via iPads.

HOME LIBRARY: “It’s not easy for everybody to go to the library; with this, you learn respect and it’s a good way for the kids to read.”

Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast

www.GirlScoutsCCC.org

800-822-2427

Founded: 1924

WHAT THEY DO: The Girl Scouts provide programming for 2,000 girls, designed to build character, integrity, confidence and courage. They support mentoring and early-education interventions.

THE BIG IDEA: The Girl Scouts want to get 500 girls talking about water conservation, inspiring them to work on protecting this critical resource. They will fund a six-week Wonders of Water program in which girls plan a local water conservation project, learn about wetlands, estuaries and reservoirs, and meet women in water-related careers.

GREEN THUMBS: “Sarai hadn’t planted anything before, but in Girl Scouts, she planted a flower and it flourished, as her flower did, through the efforts and care of her peers and mentors.”

Guitars Not Guns

www.GNGMC.blogspot.com

601-9609

Founded: 2011

WHAT THEY DO: Guitars Not Guns provides youth an alternative to drugs, alcohol and gang violence by using music. They provide free guitars and classes, encouraging creativity for personal development, and diverting kids from self-destructive influences.

THE BIG IDEA: Guitars Not Guns wants to promote an annual concert festival to at-risk, underserved youth and offer eight-week master guitar classes at 12 locations, including Salinas, Soledad and Greenfield.

CROSS CURRICULAR: “The Guitars Not Guns program has been a strong partner of Rancho Cielo Youth Campus since its founding in Monterey County, serving over 150 students at our campus.”

Hidden Hills Ranch

www.HiddenHillsRanch.org

663-6471

Founded: 1996

WHAT THEY DO: Hidden Hills Ranch connects children to nature by offering field trips and educational programs that let kids work with rescued, well-cared-for animals, as well as getting their hands dirty in the farm-to-table process.

THE BIG IDEA: Hidden Hills Ranch will expand their successful Environmental Literacy Program to include people with special needs. This Big Idea means providing a two-hour therapeutic experience of animal-connection time with horses. Kids will also learn about environmental literacy.

GOOD MEMORIES: “Thank you for such a priceless day. Your staff was so friendly and helpful. We will be coming back!”

International School of Monterey

www.ISMonterey.org

583-2165

Founded: 1998

WHAT THEY DO: The International School of Monterey is a charter school offering tuition-free classes by specialists teaching Spanish, science, math and the arts. They also address differential learning to meet student abilities with equal access, no matter income levels.

THE BIG IDEA: The International School is evolving their curriculum within the International Baccalaureate framework to prepare students for maximum success. This year’s focus includes bringing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) to more students, preparing them for even more careers.

MOTIVATIONAL TEACHERS: “Our thanks for attracting and hiring a staff with such a rich set of skills and passion for teaching.”

International School-to-School Partnerships

www.ISSPweb.org

624-1091

Founded: 2011

WHAT THEY DO: International School-to-School Partnerships links schools worldwide for cross-cultural learning. Using e-learning, they help students and teachers collaborate with each other, preparing students for the international science and technology marketplace.

THE BIG IDEA: ISSP wants to train teachers and to bridge digital and cultural divides by connecting students around the world through exchanges of science and technology. They will connect two Monterey County schools with East and West African and Latin American schools.

BRINGING IT BACK HOME: “This program helps my students understand other cultures and helps me achieve our Peace Corps goal of bringing our experience as volunteers back home to the United States!”

Kinship Center

www.KinshipCenter.org

455-4723

Founded: 1985

WHAT THEY DO: The Kinship Center protects abused, neglected and abandoned children with safe, permanent families that will be there for life, and provides mental health and child development services to children who have suffered early childhood trauma. Their services involve adoption, specialized foster care, relative care and mental health services.

THE BIG IDEA: Kinship Center has expanded to South County and wants to continue meeting increased community needs of providing mental health services for children who do not have access to private insurance or Medi-Cal. They want to ensure that children affected by emotional trauma and socio-economic stresses heal and thrive.

A SECOND FAMILY: “Kinship Center really understands families. The staff are just like our extended family. We had the opportunity to receive their love and support through three foster-care situations.”

Loaves, Fishes & Computers

www.LoavesFishesComputers.org

393-9260

Founded: 2009

WHAT THEY DO: Loaves, Fishes & Computers refurbishes and distributes donated computers to marginalized individuals and families. They’ve given out 500 computers, diverting 33 tons of electronic waste from landfills and trained more than 200 local youth in computer repair.

THE BIG IDEA: For every $400 raised, LFC will teach a low-income high school student to refurbish two computers – one to keep and one for another low-income student in the same school. They’ll train students to give tech support, and provide teamwork and project management experience.

VIRTUAL REALITY: “With the computer, my son is more engaged in school. I’m also learning the basics. We work together; it has helped us build a relationship.”

The Lyceum

www.Lyceum.org

372-6098

Founded: 1960

WHAT THEY DO: The Lyceum emphasizes learning-by-doing by offering arts enrichment classes and programs like mock trial, Model United Nations and a spelling bee. Programming includes exploring the universe, examining the legal system, hands-on computer science and art.

THE BIG IDEA: Lyceum wants to reach a wider community to create, design and change. They’ll host events to incite applied knowledge in science, arts and humanities and beyond, including participation in mock trials, history day, space camp, cyber adventures and iLead+Design.

SPEAK UP: “iLead+Design is a great way to present ideas. There was no judging. I learned not to streamline the thinking process, that teamwork is a gift, and that the youth voice is unique and valuable.”

Monterey Bay Charter School

www.MBaySchool.org

655-4638

Founded: 1998

WHAT THEY DO: Monterey Bay Charter School provides a tuition-free, on-site Waldorf-inspired K-8 public education with the same rigorous California core standards of critical thinking in science, math, foreign language, arts, multicultural music and outdoor activities.

THE BIG IDEA: The school is growing at an exciting rate, and funds will help them add one class to each year, K-8. The Waldorf-inspired school will thus expand teaching of multicultural arts, outdoor and science activities and sustainable living skills.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT: “My daughter learned violin and decimals, wrote stories, built a clay oven and studied history while camping in gold country. This is public school?”

Monterey County Rape Crisis Center

www.MtryRapeCrisis.org

373-3955

Founded: 1973

WHAT THEY DO: The Monterey County Rape Crisis Center advocates for all victims and survivors of sexual assault and child sexual abuse. They provide support for healing to survivors of sexual assault, and work to prevent sexual violence through school prevention clubs.

THE BIG IDEA: The nonprofit wants to organize six high school clubs aimed at preventing sexual violence among youth through healthy communication. This will include empowering students to speak out against sexual violence, creating change and examining social and cultural norms that affect sexual violence.

FULL CIRCLE: “I love this club and all it’s ever had to offer me. This is the club that honestly never stops giving and I hope to soon enough be giving back with it.”

MY Museum

www.MyMuseum.org

649-6444

Founded: 1997

WHAT THEY DO: MY Museum provides a place for learning through play for both children and adults. It’s the only children’s museum between San Luis Obispo and San Jose, and encourages learning through play to develop vital skills overlooked in many educational settings, and qualities of ingenuity, grit and social and emotional balance.

THE BIG IDEA: The museum wants to continue offering $2 Tuesdays, a monthly discount admission program for families in the belief that nobody should be turned away due to economic hardship. They’re help supply future leaders with play-based learning.

LEARNING FROM YOUR KIDS: “A great place to take the kids. Bringing them here helps me to be a better parent.”

Orchestra in the Schools

www.sites.google.com/site/OrchestraInTheSchools

624-9171

Founded: 1988

WHAT THEY DO: Orchestra in the Schools provides high-quality music instruction in schools, based on the premise that all children, regardless of economic status, deserve the opportunity to perform in an orchestra.

THE BIG IDEA: In 2015, Orchestra in the Schools wants to continue filling in for budget cuts to music education by opening a third after-school program, loaning out more instruments and offering more scholarships.

BRAINS ON MUSIC: “Orchestra in the Schools made a big difference in my daughter’s life. After several weeks… her school work improved and she started feeling great about herself!”

Partners For Peace

www.Partners4Peace.org

754-3888

Founded: 1995

WHAT THEY DO: Partners for Peace offers parenting classes on how to love while setting limits with strong-willed and out-of-control teens. Family education is focused on building peaceful, strong families with problem-solving skills.

THE BIG IDEA: Stronger families mean a stronger society, and Partners for Peace wants to build that strength by expanding access to services and adding more classes throughout the county. To provide more families with parenting information and resources, they plan to increase publicity and outreach to the community.

PEACE IN THE HOUSE: “I talk to my kids differently. I don’t scream anymore. I give him rules to follow, I stay firm and I see results.”

Rancho Cielo Youth Campus

www.RanchoCieloYC.org

444-3530

Founded: 2000

WHAT THEY DO: Rancho Cielo transforms the lives of at-risk youth, including many former gang members, by providing job skills through programs including culinary and construction training. Through their programs, disadvantaged and disenfranchised youth become accountable, competent and productive citizens.

THE BIG IDEA: Rancho Cielo launched an Independent Living Village to house 30 at-risk youth; these young men would otherwise be unsafe in their communities. The Big Idea will support case management and help the young men position themselves for adulthood.

MOVIN’ ON UP: “Earning a diploma gave me hope, motivation and drive.”

Seaside High School

SHS-MPUSD-CA.SchoolLoop.com

392-3530

Founded: 1963

WHAT THEY DO: Seaside High is educating students and preparing them for college, with a focus on increasing the diversity of the next generation of computer scientists and helping graduates enter the computer science field – benefiting local employers.

THE BIG IDEA: The school wants to increase the number of girls and minorities in the computer sciences. They seek to offer two courses in computer science on web design, programming, data analysis, app development and robotics.

REAL WORLD: “Seaside High School needs computer science because it is a 21st-century skill set that all students should know before entering college.”

Sol Treasures

www.SolTreasures.com

386-9809

Founded: 2007

WHAT THEY DO: Sol Treasures provide arts and music education, filling the gap for middle school students in South County. They provide a home for creative opportunities to unify the community through art and culture.

THE BIG IDEA: Sol Treasures wants to expand their youth music program to include increased size and coordination of their Middle School Band, SOLO Orchestra and Youth Choir. Sol coordinates students in music groups to work on joint projects and concerts.

KEEPING TIME: “I have been involved in Sol Treasures programs for about three years. They’re fun and they keep me doing constructive things after school.”

Voices for Children – CASA of Monterey County

www.VoicesforChildrenCASA.org

455-6800

Founded: 1995

WHAT THEY DO: Voices for Children recruits, trains, retains and supports community volunteers who advocate for abused or neglected children placed in foster care. Volunteers uphold the children’s rights while pursuing a safe and permanent home.

THE BIG IDEA: Voices for Children wants to increase their numbers of trained volunteers and assign trained advocates to all children on the waiting list. This can help change the outcome of foster children’s futures and end the cycle of abuse.

CENTER STAGE: “I didn’t have just a Court-Appointed Special Advocate, I had someone who cared.”

Youth Arts Collective

www.YACStudios.org

375-9922

Founded: 2000

WHAT THEY DO: Youth Arts Collective mentors artists from 10 high schools in an art-studio sanctuary with tools, supplies, materials and training. They exhibit students’ art and help prepare college portfolios, developing self-esteem and tolerance. Their motto: “Do art. Be kind.”

THE BIG IDEA: YAC will strengthen and repeat the “30 Days 30 Drawings” program launched in 2014; new funding will allow YAC to repeat the programs four times next year.

LIGHTING TECHNIQUE: “Youth Arts Collective gave me a place to be and grow. I now attend New Mexico School for the Arts; it’s a bright light at the end of a long, dark and cold tunnel.”