Urban Services YMCA of San Francisco is improving the lives of at-risk youth in San Francisco by providing them with mentors, truancy intervention and after school programs. The Western Edition took a look at four programs that are being offered Urban Services YMCA, and how many youths are benefitting from them.
Building Futures Mentoring Program
The Building Futures Mentoring Program in Ste. 204 at 1426 Fillmore St. pairs at-risk youth between the ages of six and 18 with mentors, according to Regional Director Nick Wightman.
Some of the obstacles the youths are facing include truancy, depression, gang involvement, family problems and social problems.
“The biggest thing for the youth is whatever special thing they were referred for; we hope that improves,” Wightman said. “Just having someone care about them is a huge part of their healing.”
Mentors meet with youths they are mentoring on an average of about once per week. Some of the many activities mentors do with the youths include venturing to Japantown for a meal together, visiting the de Young Museum, hiking, ice skating, or heading to the YMCA to swim or play basketball together.
Wightman pointed out that often mentors will use public transportation to take their mentees to various places. If the volunteers are driving, they need to have a clean driving record.
The goal is to make 180–200 mentor/youth matches this year, according to Wightman. Mentors need to be at least 23 years of age and are expected to fulfill their role for at least a year. They are provided with 15 hours of training that covers how to connect with youth and how to handle difficult situations.
Those who become mentors are “helping someone else’s life just by showing up and sharing their own experience and wisdom,” Wightman explained. “They feel valuable in a way they might not otherwise,” he said. He pointed out that the program has support groups for mentors.
According to Wightman, the Building Futures Program has been around for 20 years and is in five states: California, Maryland, Tennessee, Arizona and Ohio. More information can be found about the program by contacting him at 415.561.0631, Ext. 102, or send an email to mentoring@ymcasf.net.
Truancy Intervention Program
The Truancy Intervention Program, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Western Addition neighborhood at 1426 Fillmore St. in Ste. 204, provides long-term case management services for truant youth and disconnected young adults up to age 25, according to the program director, Tacing Parker.
In addition, the program provides enrichment activities — for example, parent workshops and gender-specific groups — as well as information, referrals and advocacy.
Students are referred into the program by schools, teachers, family members and probation personnel for services, Parker explained. Once referred, both students and their parents or legal guardians must be willing to consent to services.
“We meet our students where they are, and that can be in our office, their schools, home, community, et cetera,” Parker noted.
How does the program help people who are habitually and chronically truant to turn their lives around?
“Collaboration is key,” Parker explained. “We meet them where they are, and we work in collaboration with the youth, family, providers — including city agencies, schools and community. Building a trusting relationship is essential. We work with our youth to build a rapport with them. Many youth do not trust adults they do not know. Many of them have been let down.
Often young people are told what they are doing wrong. Instead we focus on what they‘re doing right and highlight the strengths each young person possesses. Everyone has a gift — it‘s a part of our commitment to help the student discover it.”
According to Parker, the Truancy Intervention program has countless success stories of students it has helped over the years. For example, one girl was referred to the program nearly two years ago. She was lacking at least one academic year, depressed and severely chronically truant. She had far more than 50 unexcused absences and was unmotivated to attend school. Upon entering the program she had a GPA of 0.0.
However, this had changed. “After many conversations, interventions, etcetera, she called me the other day and came by to let me know she has a 3.3 GPA, has solidified part- time work, totally loves her school and is excited about graduating next year,” Parker explained. “Although she'll be one year behind in her graduation, she says it's better late than never.”
Parker further noted, “Rewards like this is what helps us continue to do the work we do. Not only is it her, her family’s and our reward, but it's a reward to the entire city and society because she will be able to positively contribute to her community.”
According to Parker, Urban Services YMCA has been providing truancy intervention work since 1999 through various city grants and donations. “I see our program continuing to provide the services for our youth and families,” she explained. “We are hoping to further build our programming by including more pathways to careers and vocational opportunities and higher education.”
Parker can be contacted for more information on the Truancy Intervention Program at 415.437.1700, Ext. 11, or by sending an email to aparker@ymcasf.org.
IDA B. Wells High School After School Program
The Ida B. Wells High School at 1099 Hayes St. is an alternative school for ages 16 and older, according to the school’s website, http://www.sfusd.edu/en/schools/school-information/ida-b-wells.html.
“They’re here for a reason,” explained the site coordinator, Yolanda Cuellar-Hernandez. “It’s not a traditional school.”
The IDA B. Wells After School Program has an “achievement lab” with computers and books for students to use. Students can also get help with homework and applications for schools and jobs.
Additionally, students can participate in Cyber High through the program, which allows them to take courses online that they are missing, according to Cuellar-Hernandez.
Juniors and seniors can also participate in a college course offered by San Francisco State University, titled Step-to-College though the Ida B. Wells After School Program. Once a week for a full semester, instructors take students to San Francisco State University, where they can meet students there and use the university’s library.
Students can also participate in recreational activities, including soccer, empowerment groups, weight training, dance, sewing, skateboarding, photography, cooking, a video game club, and field trips to places like Ripley’s Believe it or Not in downtown San Francisco.
“It’s all about encouraging kids the kids to do other activities. Keeping them here, keeping them safe, and helping them out as much as possible and getting them involved with their community as well,” Cuellar-Hernadez said.Without the program, the youths “wouldn’t have things to do after school,” Cuellar-Hernandez pointed out. “I don’t know where they’d be without it.”
For more information about the IDA B. Wells After School Program, contact Cuellar-Hernandez at 415.355.7796, or email her at ycuellar-hernandez@ymcasf.net. See www.ymcasf.org/urban/ to find out more about the programs.
Malcolm X Academy Elementary After School Program
Malcolm X Academy Elementary, a public elementary school in the San Francisco Unified School District — SFUSD — at 350 Harbor Rd., has an after school program held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to the site coordinator, Kevin Wilson.
The program provides an online program known as EPGY — Education Program for Gifted Youth — through which students become not only more technologically savvy but improve their math and language arts skills.
Students work on EPGY during the school day as well.
“This online program is not only interactive but engaging,” Wilson said. “I believe it’s key.”
The Malcolm X Academy After School Program also has a Mandarin program through which students learn Mandarin, according to Wilson.
Currently, 100 youths are enrolled at the Malcolm X Academy Elementary, and of those, 75 are enrolled in the after school program on a daily basis. The only requirement is that when students agree to attend the after school program that they participate three days a week. “Anything lower than that, you wouldn’t get too much from the program,” Wilson said.
The after school program continues into the summer with the Malcolm X Academy Summer Heritage camp, which offers such things as an environmental justice class and a science class.
The camp is a mix of academics and fun. The youths spend three days off-site, doing field trips to such places as the zoo, theme parks and natural habitats, and two days a week on-site. “We try to make summer as hands-on as possible,” Wilson emphasized.
Sixty percent of students at Malcolm X Academy Elementary are African Americans, 30 percent are Pacific Islanders, and the remaining 20 percent are Caucasians and Asian Americans.
Malcolm X Academy Elementary has five staff. Three are currently enrolled in college, while the other two are older, with families. Two of the five have children who attend the school. “Our retention rate in terms of staff is phenomenal,” Wilson said.
Call 415.695.2426, or send an email to kwilson@ymcasf.org for more program information.
