YAC Thanks Community for Support at LCYA Fundraiser

The recent Lights, Camera, Youth Action fundraiser brought in a lot of support from the community, and YAC would like to thank everyone involved. The generosity and kindness that we receive from our supporters means so much to the organization. The night went wonderfully and it was great to see everyone. We would like to extend our thanks to everyone involved in the event.

The event brought in quite a crowd!

Presenters from our five Arts-for-Change programs showed their work and explained how being a part of YAC has affected their lives.

Special thanks to the Amherst Regional High School Jazz Workshop for their lovely music and to Peter Hadley Catering for providing delicious hors d'oeuvres and dessert.

If you didn't make it to the event and but nevertheless would like to show your support, you can still donate! You can donate online via Network for Good or send your check straight to YAC, P.O. Box 747, Amherst, MA 01004.

Thanks again to all of our supporters!

Get Up Get Down off to a geat start!

Get Up Get Down is off to a great start this year. Gathering in Hampshire College's Lemelson Center on Mondays and Thursdays, they are already exploring different types of art.

Using plaster, they are learning to make molds of their own hands.

They are also using magazine cutouts to create cool buttons with the button-making tool.

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

Cool opportunity: Join the Governor's Statewide Youth Council!

Sounds like they're looking for youth like you! Contact the YAC office for the application! hannah [at] youthactioncoalition.org


To: Massachusetts Youth and Young Adults, Ages 14-20


In response to a 2008 outbreak of youth-related violence in the Greater Boston area and in order to incorporate youth voices into the policy-making process, Governor Patrick created the Governor’s Statewide Youth Council. Since that time, the Youth Council’s mission has been to advise the Governor in making decisions and setting policy to improve the lives of young people throughout the Commonwealth.

Current Youth Council members are now serving their second and final term. They will be selecting 28 new Youth Council members to represent Massachusetts’ fourteen counties, two Council members per county. They are now aggressively seeking to contact and recruit potential candidates throughout the state to apply for membership in the Youth Council.

Youth Council applicants should be passionate, motivated, emerging leaders between the ages of 14 and 20 who are able to make a two-year service commitment. Their responsibilities will include: attending monthly meetings and conference calls, advocating for youth issues and incorporating the ideas of other youth and young adults into the creation of effective policy.

The Youth Council has advocated on various issues in the Patrick administration; most recently, the historic anti-bullying legislation that Governor Patrick just signed. To learn more about activities, initiatives and trainings that the Youth Council has participated in please visit www.mass.gov/governor/youthcouncil or contact Anny Jean-Jacques at the Governor’s Office of Community Affairs (617-725-4020).


Sincerely,

Governor’s Statewide Youth Council

Congratulations on an awesome year!

The month of May went by fast and furious at YAC - with at least one event every single week! We've been displayed, barbecued, screened and recognized, and now all four programs have wrapped up for the year.

Check out photos of Making Our Way, the YAC-wide end of year show, on Facebook.

If you have any additional photos, please post them to the Youth Action Coalition Facebook page or email them to Hannah - hannah [at] youthactioncoalition.org

This summer, in the YAC office, we'll be working on planning for next fall! On that note, I'd like to introduce Briana Hanny, our summer intern! Briana comes to us through the Amherst College Pioneer Valley Internship Program, and will be working at YAC throughout June and July. If you're involved in a YAC program, you'll probably be hearing from her soon as she works on evaluating our programs and planning for the fall!