|
By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer
April 25 -- Scores of Santa Monica youths are expected
to pick up applications and meet employers at Santa Monica
High School Wednesday, three days after a youth fair at Virginia
Avenue Park stressed the need for unity.
Part of a larger strategy aimed at keeping young Santa Monicans
out of gangs, the youth fairs are two small steps on the long
road in implementing a community-wide "action plan"
launched two years ago by nearly a dozen partners, including
the local schools, police, the City and the business community.
"With each year that goes by, action partners have taken
steps towards getting where we need to be on these issues,"
said Scott Wasserman, a human services administrator at Virginia
Avenue Park who works with youths, including some for whom
gangs are a part of everyday life.
The two fairs come on the heals of other recent efforts to
provide alternatives to Santa Monica youth, many of whom live
in the Pico Neighborhood, which has been plagued with gang
violence.
The Chamber of Commerce joined with the City earlier this
year to launch a Big Brothers Big Sisters program that has
connected more than 20 young residents with mentors, said
Wasserman, one of the primary City officials tapped to track
the partner programs.
In addition, a new program is focusing on Santa Monica teens
who have already had a brush with the law or trouble in school.
Started last month at Virginia Avenue Park, the program --
dubbed “Night Bridges” – meets several nights
a week to help connect at-risk youth with services.
"The action partners have taken steps that were never
taken before," Wasserman said.
One of the brightest spots has been the creation of a "Youth
Resource Team" that includes park personnel, police and
probation officers, principals from Olympic High School and
the new Community Day School, Wasserman said. A trained clinical
social worker is also present, he said.
"I think this has the most potential to impact the program,"
said Wasserman. "I feel like the more and more we meet,
the more effective we are as a group."
The fairs Sunday and Wednesday, which are annual events now,
also move the strategy forward, Wasserman said.
"The one thing we heard over and over again consistently
is we don't know what resources we have available, so this
is to publicize this," he said of the resource fair held
Sunday.
Wednesday’s job fair -- which in the past has had trouble
reaching the very teens from the Pico Neighborhood -- also
is a productive endeavor, he said.
The City, the local non-profit Pico Youth and Family Center
and Jewish Vocational Services are taking steps this year
to boost participation by youths from the city’s poorest
and most diverse community, Wasserman said.
'We are meeting with kids ahead of time to tell them what
to expect and how to dress," he said.
However Wasserman suggested more could be done to help create
job opportunities for youths.
"The job fair is good, but it is one event, held once
a year," he said.
Instead, Wasserman believes a larger job bank is needed that
includes both training, which is currently provided by several
groups, and development of job opportunities, which are scarce.
"We would still like to see an employment plan for youth
and at least one organization to step up and oversee the project,”
said Wasserman. “I think what we need is one coherent
organization to look after all of that."
In addition to new programs and services, a City project
to spruce up the Pico Neighborhood has been moving forward.
"The trees are being trimmed, the streets are being
paved," he said.
Although there is far less youth violence in Santa Monica
than in neighboring Los Angeles, the issue is considered no
less important, said Wasserman who has worked with youths
in other communities.
"There are just a lot of committed residents here,"
he said. "They want to be part of the solution.
"Santa Monica has a better youth services infrastructure
compared to other cities," he said.
The community partners have been methodically moving forward,
even as the City filled key posts, including Police Chief,
City Manager, School District Superintendent, College President
and Chamber of Commerce CEO.
"What strikes me is everyone has stuck by their commitment
to do this right," said Wasserman.
Wednesday’s job fair is open to all local youths between
14 and 24, as well as those who attend Santa Monica High School.
A valid drivers license or student ID will be needed to enter
the fair, which will be held from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the school
cafeteria.
For more information call Virginia Avenue Park at 310-458-8688.
|
