First YAC Unity of the Year Welcomes First Generation!

Last Friday, YAC held the first YAC Unity event of the year in a joint workshop with the First Generation Ensemble for some performance art fun!

YAC Unity brought together students, interns, board directors, and staff members together for an evening full of getting to know each other and exploring performance art with the help of First Generation. First Generation is a Springfield-based youth leadership group that expresses both individuality and cultural ties through performing.

During the workshop, First Generation taught YAC several theater and performance games. Some of them included...

Zip, Zap, Zop...

sound games...

Rabbit and Fox...

and the Booty Game.












All participants greatly enjoyed the event. At the closing, several people expressed how wonderful it was to meet new people and learn new things.



For more information on First Generation, check out their website: http://www.performanceproject.org/fg.html


To keep in touch with more YAC Unity events, "like" us on Facebook! : http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1836885056#!/pages/Youth-Action-Coalition/198228199841

THE FUNDRAISER IS COMING!!!

Mark your calendar for LIGHTS, CAMERA, YOUTH ACTION!

Thursday, November 4th!

5-7pm!

Valentine Hall at Amherst College!

RSVP to hannah [at] youthactioncoalition.org!

The latest from Youth Action Coalition ... 3 BIG announcements!

New 21st Century Community Learning Centers partnership: same programs > new partner!

YAC teams up with the Collaborative, ARHS & EHSWe are pleased to announce a new partnership! The Collaborative for Educational Services led the way to a 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant that will bring new after school programs to both Amherst Regional and Easthampton High Schools. YAC--as one of the community partners--will bring our signature Arts-for-Change project offerings to each site (see program schedule below for details).

For more information about 21st Century programs: Chris Taggart, After School Program Director at the Collaborative: 413.586.4900 x 158,ctaggart@collaborative.org,www.collaborative.org/after-school

For YAC info contact Stacey: slennard@youthactioncoalition.org, 413.253.2158 x1

We've got a program for you(th)! Fall Program Schedule

E'Town Rising: Voices of Youth
Tu/Th @ 2:15-4:30p [begins THURS, 10/14]
Easthampton High School
Equipped with digital cameras and creative writing, E’town youth explore and communicate their views about their community. Themes and focus will emerge as the program begins. This is a collaborative project with Easthampton High School.

For more info: Erica Ann: eaflood@youthactioncoalition.org.
Register at EHS 21stC Office: Ibrahim Ali: iali@collaborative.org

GirlsEyeView Amherst
Tu/Th @ 2:30-5p [begins TUES, 10/19]
Amherst Regional High School
GirlsEyeView (GEV) offers young women a safe space to explore who they are through photography and creative writing. We focus on self exploration, women’s issues and community through black and white manual photography. Youth learn to process their film and print their images in the darkroom, host community exhibitions, and sell their photos. We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with Amherst Regional Middle and High Schools. This year GEV is open to girls in 7-9th grades, forming a bridge between middle and high school.
For more info: Erica Ann: eaflood@youthactioncoalition.org
Register at ARHS 21stC Office: Lisa Candito:lcandito@collaborative.org

GirlsEyeView Ware
M/W @ 2:45-4:45p [begins WED, 10/6]
The Literacy Project-Ware
GirlsEyeView Ware is our longest running program, founded in 1997! GEV offers a supportive and creative space for young women to express themselves and their ideas through digital photography and creative writing. We partner with the The Literacy Project-Ware, Ware High School and the Ware Domestic Violence Task Force, helping to build bridges among youth both in and out of school and empower girls to take on important community issues with a photographic response. Youth work is exhibited in local restaurants, galleries, in the streets and on Ware Community Television. Open to 13-18 year old girls. For more info: Lauren: lauren@youthactioncoalition.org

Get Up Get Down
M/Th @ 4-6p [begins MON, 10/18]
Get Up Get Down (GUGD) empowers young people to speak their minds through public art. Since 2000, youth in the Amherst area have used a variety of art forms to get their messages out -- from murals to street puppets, metal sculpture to paper mache, sidewalk art to gallery work -- investigating issues that are relevant to them and their communities. Examples of their innovative projects include: multi-media murals in the community and in the high school, sculptural masks, and grafitti murals at Hampshire College. Open to high school-aged youth. Our community collaborators include Amherst Regional High School 21st C After School Program and the Collaborative for Educational Services, and Hampshire College.
For more info: Katie: katie@youthactioncoalition.org
Register at ARHS 21stC Office: Lisa Candito:lcandito@collaborative.org

Video Vanguards
M/Th @ 4-6p [begins MON, 10/18]
Video Vanguards (VV) works with youth of color and their allies integrating youth leadership, video production, media critique and social justice education. Youth use these skills to create video pieces that address issues that are overlooked by the mainstream media. They organize socially conscious screenings and events throughout the year and attend various trainings, conferences and workshops. Our partners include: Amherst Community Television, Amherst Regional High School 21st C After School Program and the Collaborative for Educational Services, Food For Thought Books, and Hampshire College
For more info: Sasha: sasha@youthactioncoalition.org
Register at ARHS 21stC Office: Lisa Candito:lcandito@collaborative.org

Dates subject to change. Please check in with staff of respective program for updates.



256 N. Pleasant Street | P.O. Box 747 | Amherst, MA 01004 | 413.253.2158
www.youthactioncoalition.org