Luna Paz—our November 2022 Volunteer of the Month—has a Bible-inspired servant’s heart.
As an eighth grader whose favorite subject is religion, Luna is both a student and volunteer at KidWorks’ Cedar Evergreen satellite center.
Giving Thanks: Karen Gallardo-Cano
Editor’s note: We’re delighted to present the third installment in our latest blog series, Giving Thanks. As everyone prepares to celebrate Thanksgiving, we feel this is the perfect time to invite KidWorks’ friends and families to share a little about what they are most thankful for. Look for another installment next week!
Karen Gallardo-Cano knows exactly the blessings she’s thankful for this holiday season. In fact, they number in the dozens. No, they are not material goods. This high school sophomore and KidWorks student is most thankful for the many KidWorks staff members, volunteers and fellow students who have positively impacted her life.
“I am so grateful to everyone who is in my life because of KidWorks,” she says. “The staff and volunteers always push me to go the extra mile. They sit by my side and let me know that I matter.”
Karen takes her appreciation for others and applies it to her leadership position as president of Community Leaders of Santa Ana (CLOSA), our youth-led organization that helps improve the surrounding neighborhood with cleanup, sponsored events and other activities.
Like a good leader, she is quick to say “thanks” to her team, including Maria Contreras, vice president, Nancy Cervantes, secretary and all the CLOSA membership.
“They are amazing,” Karen says.
Karen is also thankful for each of the 24 hours in a day. Without a doubt, she fits all she can into her waking hours. Karen is a member of the green environmental club at Valley High School and serves as Associated Student Body Vice President for the class of 2019.
And did we mention that she also makes time to play on the school’s varsity and junior varsity water polo teams?
Speaking of giving thanks, we are so grateful to Karen for being a KidWorks student for 11 years, and for the time she spends as a volunteer helping other children and youth.
Now, if someone could just invent the 30-hour day, Karen would find a meaningful way to fill that time, too!
By Glenn Leibowitz, Volunteer Content Writer
Our students learn about democracy on Election Day
Our second graders received a timely lesson about democracy and good citizenship when they were able to practice voting this week.
They marked pretend ballots and slipped them into the ballot box as fellow second graders played the role of poll volunteers.
It was a wonderful lesson on how the democratic process works. One young second grader wondered if he had to put his name at the top of the ballot, just as he does with his homework. Learning about the difference, he quickly completed his ballot, glad to know that his voice was heard and his choice registered.
When these second graders turn 18, they’re likely to remember the lesson they learned this week about the importance of voting.
A Closer Look: KidWorks’ Programs: Youth Empowerment Network
Editor’s note: We are pleased to introduce our latest blog series, “A Closer Look: KidWorks’ Programs.” We offer a full range of programs for children, youth and adults. In this series, we focus on several of aspects, giving you a peek into what makes these programs tick—and sharing a few “little known secrets”!
We’ve all heard the adage, “If you want to get something done, ask a busy person.” At KidWorks, we have our own take: “If you want to make positive change in the community, ask our youth!”
For several years now, the teens involved in our program have put their creative energies to work making the neighborhoods of Central Santa Ana safer, more welcoming and aesthetically pleasing.
They are part of our Youth Empowerment Network, YEN for short. Today, YEN has 25 members, with participants ranging from sixth grade to early college.
“This is really a youth-initiated and youth-led program,” says Frank Bejarano, our Director of Youth and Family Engagement. “They develop, design and address issues that impact themselves, their families and their neighborhoods.”
Funded by a 10-year grant fro the California Endowment, KidWorks’ YEN program is focused on four key areas where the youth continue to make an impact:
- Restorative Justice: Based on the concept of rehabilitation rather than only punishment, YEN has worked hand-in-hand with the Santa Ana Unified School district to find alternative ways to create restoration and healing.
- Urban Agriculture: YEN has helped create a community garden and compost operation at our Dan Donahue Center. The youth are involving the entire community—children, youth, adults and seniors. Their harvest so far has included kale, tomatoes, chilies and more.
- Health & Nutrition: With obesity continuing to be a life threatening problem in Santa Ana and nationwide, our youth are behind efforts to promote healthy choices. One recent success is convincing the Santa Ana School District to again offer fresh salad bars in school cafeterias. They have also mapped the location of fruit trees in the surrounding neighborhood, hoping to eventually establish a local farmers’ market and food exchange.
- Active Transportation: Active transportation lives right alongside the health and nutrition focus. Here, the students have successfully advocated for bike lanes, skateboard parks and other ways to keep arms and legs moving.
“In addition to taking steps to proactively improve their neighborhood, our YEN members are learning leadership and project management skills that will last a lifetime,” Frank says. “They take ownership of opportunities to make neighborhoods better—and then they get it done!”
By Glenn Leibowitz, Volunteer Content Writer
High School Senior Justin Sung Helps Us "Build Dreams"
Justin Sung, a senior at Sage High School in Newport Coast, immediately knew whom he wanted his Eagle Scout project to benefit.
“With all the help that KidWorks provides to others, the least that I could do is give back to KidWorks by dedicating my project to such an amazing organization,” he says.
We think Justin is pretty amazing, too!
Eagle Scout is the final and highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve. For his project—which was months in the planning—Justin designed and built a beautiful wooden bench and a brand new art cabinet, both of which as now installed at our Dan Donahue Center.
“We are also thankful that that Justin choose KidWorks for his Eagle Scout Project,” says Raquel Nava, Arts and Academics Coordinator at the Donahue Center. “Our students are already sitting on the bench as they wait for programs to start, and we’ve filled the cabinet up with art supplies we use each day.”
Justin’s connection with KidWorks began when his older brother, Ryan, started a club at Sage High School called ReachOut, which organizes various projects that help our students. When Ryan graduated, he passed the leadership baton on to Justin, who now serves as the club’s president.
Justin says that ReachOut is already planning more projects to support KidWorks in the months to come. We are very grateful to Justin and ReachOut for their dedication and love for our students.
By Glenn Leibowitz, Volunteer Content Writer
Our High School Seniors Are College-Bound!
KidWorks is very proud that the majority of the students in our programs earn their high school diplomas, and that many also continue their education at colleges and universities.
The class of 2016 is no exception. We are pleased to share this summary of where our graduating high school seniors will continue their studies this fall.
We also asked our scholars to let you read in the students’ own words how they feel about the next step in their journey of academic excellence. Here’s what several said:
“I intend to pursue a career in law and also get a certificate in architecture. I’m really excited to check out all the potential research opportunities for undergraduates at Duke University and study abroad to learn about cultures and customs. KidWorks has prepared me by expanding my horizon and making me feel empowered.”
“I intend to major in psychology and minor in health studies with a concentration in peace, justice and human rights. KidWorks has provided me support, comfort and tools in order to grow and thrive into a much more confident being and a passionate youth. It has been my safe haven and second family.”
“I look forward to going to UCLA in the fall so that I can begin the first step in my career as a physician. I am also really excited to get involved on campus, especially in areas of leadership and social change, which I feel KidWorks has prepared me for through my involvement in the Youth Empowerment Network.”
“After five years of being part of the Youth Empowerment Network at KidWorks, I have been given many tools and one is the ability to speak up. I cannot wait to see what I could do with that strength at UCSB.”
“My proposed major is mechanical engineering. I am really excited that I’m moving on and I get to meet new people who might help me become successful. KidWorks has helped with my social skills and to value team work.”
“The KidWorks after school program has helped improve my attention span and taught me discipline when it comes to setting time aside for study.”
“The KidWorks after school program has given me a lot of opportunities to try new things and has supported me with my college decisions.”