News & Events
07/13/10 - The Sacramento Bee Visits Summer Program
Cathy Rodriguez shares history, career advise and newspapers with Summer Program participants.
05/30/10 - Walk 'N Rock For Kids
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported People Reaching Out and Walk 'N Rock For Kids 2010.
02/08/10 - Students Reaching Out Goes to Washington, D.C.
Students Jamee Hawthorne and Victoria Lose represented SRO at the 2010 CADCA Conference in Washington, D.C.
04/09/10 - Art in Action
Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission has been working in partnership with People Reaching Out's PRO After School peer mentoring program.
03/04/10 - 2010 Outstanding Chapter Leader
Counseling Services Program Director, Kathy Green, MFT Intern, recently accepted the award for 2010 Outstanding Chapter Leader from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
02/01/10 - Students Reaching Out to Improve Community Safety
Showcasing the Valley Hi Community Walk Audit including the final report and video...
02/19/10 - Sacramento State Community Engagement Center
Spotlight on a successful partnership between People Reaching Out and Sacramento State Service Learning Students as volunteers...
01/19/10 - People Reaching Out on News 10's Sacramento and Company
Video discussion about National Mentoring Month and the PRO After School Mentoring Program with Program Site Coordinators Jayna Record and Jeff Katz and show hosts Guy Farrell and Melissa Crowley...
01/2010 - January is National Mentoring Month
Celebrating the success of the PRO After School Mentoring Program...
01/04/10 - People Reaching Out on News 10's Live Online
Video discussion about National Mentoring Month with Erika Green, Director of Youth and Community Prevention, and show host Sharon Ito...
09/25/09 - People Reaching Out Receives e:merge Coalition Pillars of Promise Award
General Colin Powell congratulates award winners including People Reaching Out for "Excellence in the Commitment to Providing Safe Places"...
09/21/09 - People Reaching Out on News 10's Sacramento and Company
Video discussion about the programs and services of People Reaching Out with Staci Anderson, President and CEO, and Evan Cole, Chairman of the Board and show hosts Guy Farris and Melissa Crowley...
09/19/09 - Family Fun Day Provides New Ideas for Improving the Valley Hi Community
Members of Students Reaching Out present the results of the Valley Hi Community Walk Audit during the annual Family Fun Day, held by the Valley Hi Youth and Adult Coalition...
07/15/09 - People Reaching Out on Access Sacramento's "Live Wire"
Video discussion about the programs and services of People Reaching Out with Staci Anderson, President and CEO, Evan Cole, Chairman of the Board, and Lucia Kimble, Students Reaching Out Program Coordinator...
07/15/09 - KQCA My58 TV's Project Healthy Kids Camp
Program staff of People Reaching Out implemented two workshops in partnership with KQCA My58 at River City High School in West Sacramento with students ages 10-15...
07/02/09 - River Cats Foundation Supports People Reaching Out
Students and staff of People Reaching Out accepted a check for $2,500...
07/15/09 - PRO MOTION Summer Camp 2009
Celebrating the successful program featuring guest speakers and positive activities for youth during the summer...
06/09/09 - 2009 Dan Lewandowski Youth Leadership Award
Brittanie McGee, Valley Hi Students Reaching Out member is the recipient of the annual award...
05/23/09 - Walk 'N Rock For Kids 2009
Celebrating the success of the inaugural event...
04/23/09 - Art of the Kitchen 2009
Highlights and photos from the artsy event...
3/15/09 - People Reaching Out Student to be a City of Sacramento Youth Commissioner
Jamee Hawthorne, Valley High School student and participant of both PRO After School and Students Reaching Out was accepted as City of Sacramento Youth Commissioner...
02/28/09 - CADCA 2009 in Washington D.C.
Students Reaching Out members Imani Armstrong & Shakila Brown traveled alongside two People Reaching Out staff members for the annual Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Conference....
09/24/08 - Students Reaching Out present Valley Hi Community Survey Results
Members of the Valley Hi Students Reaching Out present results of a community-wide survey to an audience of school district and elected officials...
07/15/08 - PRO MOTION Summer Camp 2008
Celebrating the successful program featuring guest speakers and positive activities for youth during the summer...
02/13/08 - CADCA 2008 in Washington D.C.
Students Reaching Out members Javara Wilburn, Yvone Brackus, Leo Wilson and Talon Glover traveled alongside two People Reaching Out staff members for the annual Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Conference...
01/24/08 - Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
Office of National Drug Control Policy launches first major initiative to combat teen prescription drug abuse...
08/13/07 - Energy Drinks With Alcohol Stir Fear
Parents advised to pay attention to what their teen are drinking...
09/24/07 - People Reaching Out is a partner for Family Meals Day
Link to Project Help website...
10/29/07 - 2008 Dan Lewandowski Youth Leadership Award
Kathy Saephanh, CK McClatchy High School PRO After School and Students Reaching Out participant is recipient of annual reward...
The Sacramento Bee Visits Summer Program
Summer sizzles with rising temperatires and the launch of PRO-Youth in Action Summer Program speaker series. First up, in the newly launched series was Cathy Rodriguez, Community Affairs Manager for The Sacramento Bee newspaper. Equipped with magnetic enthusiasm, first-edition copies and the daily paper, plus loads of Starbucks gift cards for program participants, Cathy mesmerized her audience of tweens and teens about the 153-year history of the newspaper. Interest was piqued when participants learned about her Community Affairs responsibilities and that Cathy was first in her family to go to college. Sharing loads of sage advice about the importance of education and career choice - her young and astute audience grilled her with two vital questions, how much does she get paid? and how to get an internship? Youth In Action Summer Program is made possible by People Reaching Out, City of Sacramento-Youth and Family Services Program and Kaiser Permanente.
Walk 'N Rock For Kids 2010
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported People Reaching Out and Walk 'N Rock For Kids 2010. Congratulations to Azure Acres, our #1 fundraising team. Special thanks goes to our Team Captains for their hard work and High School Team Sponsors - Sierra Health Foundation, Sutter Children's Center, Wells Fargo, The Sacramento Bee, Kathy Hill and Katie White - for your generous support.
Students Reaching Out Goes to Washington, D.C.
Members of Students Reaching Out, Jamee Hawthorne, a senior at Valley High School and Victoria Lose, A sophomore at Encina High School were given the opportunity of a lifetime when selected to represent Students Reaching Out at the annual Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) conference in Washington, D.C.
Braving both challenging winter weather and travel woes their voices were heard during a series of conference workshops presenting practical approaches to community and youth engagement around substance abuse issues. This year's conference theme was Coalitions at Work: Restoring Communities.
Both students agreed the highlights of the trip were learning new ideas at workshops, seeing the sites of the capital city and meeting new people engaged in community change.
Art in Action!
Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission has been 
working in partnership with People Reaching Out's PRO After School peer mentoring program. The Community Arts Program has brought guest artists to lead the mentoring pairs through creative exploration. Art allows the younger students in the mentoring relationships to take on leadership roles that they don't usually take. Mia finds great pleasure in inspiring her mentor to dance. Dance Instructor Sunny has designed a piece specifically for mentor and mentee pairs, allowing Mia the opportunity to work with and teach her mentor, a person who she admires, in an activity that makes her shine.
2010 Outstanding Chapter Leader
Counseling Services Program Director, Kathy Green, MFT Intern, recently accepted the award for 2010 Outstanding Chapter Leader from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists representing the Sacramento Valley Chapter. Kathy successfully oversees the Counseling Program and Parent-Teen Workshop Series for People Reaching Out. Congratulations, Kathy!
Students Reaching Out to Improve Community Safety
Students Reaching Out Youth Advocates in partnership with the Valley Hi Youth and Adult Coalition recently conducted a walkability audit in the Valley Hi neighborhood of South Sacramento. The walkability audit identified which conditions impact safety, including physical environment and how safe people feel moving in and around the community. The project assessed environmental elements such as lights, stop signs, and cross walks, as well as the climate of the community (people loitering in parking lots, fights in public areas such as parks, etc.). The groups visited 12 locations in the Valley HI community to determine its assets and challenges and produced an audit describing, through photos and captions, the walkability and safety of Valley Hi. Results were presented before school district officials, elected officials and community members. View the Final Report by clicking on the image above
or watch the video.
January is National Mentoring Month:
Congratulations to PRO After School Mentors & Mentees!
The PRO After School mentoring program provides an opportunity for high school students to serve as mentors to elementary and middle school students weekly in an after school setting. The pairs participate in one-on-one enrichment and prevention activities including art, sports and recreation. The program benefits both parties - the younger students receive the benefits of having a mentor while the high school students gain valuable leadership skills.
"Providing the opportunity for high school students to serve as mentors allows them to give back to their community, build upon their own self worth, and increase communication abilities," according to Erika Green, Director of Youth and Community Prevention. "It also enables the high school students to connect with their school and increases grades and attendance, as evidenced by our program's evaluation." Recent evaluation results from PRO After School produced the following results: 
* 91% of elementary school students improved or maintained their grades.
* 57% of high school mentors improved their GPA.
* Students with unexcused absences improved their attendance by 31%.
Since its inception in 2003, the program has grown from 2 to 14 sites in Sacramento City, San Juan and Elk Grove Unified School Districts and currently serves close to 400 students ages nine through eighteen. Research has shown that mentoring can play a powerful role in reducing drug abuse and youth violence while greatly enhancing a young person's prospects for leading a healthy and productive life.
People Reaching Out receives e:merge Coalition
Pillars of Promise Award
General Colin Powell congratulated representatives from the two winning organizations of the e:merge Coalition's 2009 Pillars of Promise Award: "Excellence in the Commitment to Providing Safe Places." Pictured with Colin Powell are award recipients Staci Anderson, (right), Executive Director of People Reaching Out and Kim Williams, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Greater Sacramento. The award recognizes exemplary organizations in Sacramento that provide safe places for youth in their homes, neighborhoods and schools that are physically and emotionally safe, free from gang violence, racial discrimination, hate, and offer constructive use of time in interesting and relevant ways.
Family Fun Day Provides New Ideas for Improving Community
On Saturday, September 19, 2009 over 600 youth and adults attended the 4th annual Family Fun Day hosted by the Valley Hi Youth and Adult Coalition at Prairie Elementary School. This event provided families with free resources such as health and dental screenings, arts and crafts, local service providers, and new this year, low cost fruits and vegetables from the Urban Farm Stand.
The highlight of the event was a photo gallery and presentation by Valley Hi Students Reaching Out, a program of People Reaching Out. The presentation brought out Councilman Robbie Waters, Senior Field Representative from the office of Assemblymember Dave Jones and a representative from the office of Senator Darrell Steinberg. The inspirational project showcased the students' tenacity and dedication to improving their community. Their photo display highlighted the assets and challenges in the Valley Hi Community such as the new library and the lack of sidewalks in high pedestrian areas.
The outcome of the project provided the following recommendations to the community:
1. Plan "Clean up Days" involving all community members, coupled with the addition of
more public trash cans.
2. Build sidewalks in the following area:
* Franklin and Mack (at the bus stop)
* Bruceville Road at the entrance to Cosumnes River College
* Along Cosumnes River Drive, between Bruceville Road and Center Parkway
3. Build a crosswalk on Center Parkway between Valley High School and the main
entrance to Cosumnes River College.
4. Increase bus routes and bus stops with benches and coverings throughout
the neighborhood.
5. Provide opportunities/programs for teens to get involved within the community,
including sports.
6. Initiate more community events, such as a Neighborhood Block Party for the whole
family with better outreach including helpful drug and alcohol prevention resources
for parents and teens.
For more information:
Erika Greenat 916-576-3300 ext. 304
July 15, 2009 - Live Wire Interview.
TV Interview with Staci Anderson, Executive Director, Evan Cole, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Lucia Kimble, Students Reaching Out Coordinator from People Reaching Out.
Project Healthy Kids Camp
People Reaching Out staff directed two workshops at the KQCA My58 TV's Project Healthy Kids Camp at River City High School in West Sacramento on July 28, 2009. The first workshop was designed for kids ages 10-15. The campers discussed bumper stickers and tag lines and then had the opportunity to create their own. Some of the creative ideas they came up with were: "Live Life, Dream Big;" "Try Being Yourself;" and "Basketball helps you score a positive life."
The second workshop was for kids 6-9. The students were each given a giant puzzle piece and asked to either write or draw what they want to be when they grow up. The students all brought together the decorated giant puzzle pieces to create a poster with the People Reaching Out tagline: "Drug Free. Dream Big."
The students and the staff of People Reaching Out had a blast creating these projects that emphasize the importance of a drug free lifestyle.
River Cats Foundation Supports People Reaching Out
River Cats Mascot, Dinger (far left) and Dan Vistica, River Cats CFO (far right) present a check for $2,500 to students, Jamee Hawthorne and Shakila Brown, along with Erika Green, Director of Youth and Community Prevention. The money from the check will support People Reaching Out's PRO Motion Summer Camp.
More about PRO Motion Summer Camp.
PRO MOTION Summer Camp 2009!
People Reaching Out Student Brittanie McGee
Receives 2009 Dan Lewandowski Leadership Award
Each year People Reaching Out gives the Dan Lewandowski Leadership Award to a student participant who exemplifies leadership and commitment to youth substance abuse and violence prevention. This year's recipient is Brittanie McGee, Students Reaching Out (SRO) student and senior at Valley High School.
Brittanie became involved because of her interest in bettering her community, the Valley Hi area. She heavily participated in a needs assessment on youth violence in Valley Hi that was completed in summer of 2008 by reaching out to neighbors, parents, apartment complex residents, and other community members asking for their opinions about the issue of youth violence in the Valley Hi community. She presented the results of that survey to key stakeholders such as City Council Member Robbie Waters, County Supervisor 
Jimmie Yee, school officials and community residents.
Her educational pursuits have led her to be ranked 6th in her class and she will be pursuing a college degree in the aeronautical field. She has been accepted at Embry Riddle and Florida Tech, some of the best universities specializing in the aeronautical field.
Brittanie's humble and honest character has shined within the program. She has served as a role model to other students by challenging her peers to think critically about issues facing young people and bettering the community. Congratulations, Brittanie!
Walk 'N Rock For Kids
A sincere thank you to everyone who supported People Reaching Out during the Walk 'N Rock For Kids on Saturday, May 23rd. The walk and Journey concert were both a huge success with heavy attendance. If you haven't already, it is not too late to contribute! Make your contributions now.
For pictures of the event, go to our Facebook page. You do not have to have a Facebook account to view the pictures.
Walk 'N Rock For Kids 2010 will be on May 29th next year. For more information go to Hope Productions Foundation.
Art of the Kitchen 2009
Art of the Kitchen 2009 was a huge success. Attendees were able to bid during a silent auction on one-of-a-kind Kitchen Aid Mixers painted to suit different tastes. Meanwhile, across the space at Lounge on 20, local chefs created art of their own at our chef demonstration counter. Please see pictures of the mixers and chefs by following the links above.
With fun art to look at, good food to eat and great folks to talk with, people enjoyed a wondreful evening and are sure to come back for seconds next year. Click here for pictures of the event.
Thanks to all the attendees and those who purchased a mixer to display at home. The art piece by Pat Orner and Keith Hopkins was purchased by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and will be on display in City Hall. Be sure to stop in to check it out. A special thank you to all the artists and chefs shown on the linked pages for donatin their time and talents.
People Reaching Out Student to be
a City of Sacramento Youth Commissioner
People Reaching Out is proud to announce that one of our students, Jamee Hawthorne, has been accepted as one of the newest members of the City of Sacramento Youth Commission, one of the highest leadership positions a young person can have in Sacramento. Jamee is a sophomore at Valley High School and has been involved in two People Reaching Out programs over the past two years including PRO After School and Students Reaching Out. Last school year Jamee joined PRO After School as a mentor where she mentored two students at Jackman Middle School. This year Jamee has been very dedicated to the Students Reaching Out program as a student leader, where she was given the opportunity to co-present workshops at various youth conferences including the Elk Grove Unified School District High School Leadership Conference and the youth Leadership Retreat through the Teen Resources Committee in Elk Grove. Jamee is very passionate about issues affecting young people in her community and has blossomed into a shining leader and a role model for her peers. Miss Hawthorn's talents and understanding of youth issues will be an asset to the Sacramento Youth Commission. People Reaching Out appluades her achievements!
CADCA Trip to Washington D.C.
Imani Armstrong and Shakila Brown wrote about their experience:
"Going to the 10th annual Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA), was breath taking and this is not over exaggerating. We had an experience of a life time. We not only had a good time, but we got the chance to meet new people with the same struggles we have as a community. Not only were the sites beautiful, but the 'hands on' sessions were amazing. The techniques that were taught will always stay with us. Also the activities were youth-led - no one there judged others - which made us feel more comfortable to ask any questions necessary. The sessions were never boring if you could believe that - everyone was involved and no one felt left out. We met with other youth who felt the same struggles that we go through on a daily basis. We want to use the info we are bringing back to unite our peers. Although the overall experience from CADCA was fun, the most important thing that we brought back was how the Valley High Community can be better if we try.
Lucia Kimble, SRO Coordinator, reported that CADCA's Leadership Forum was an incredible experience for both students and staff. Erika Green, Director of Youth and Community Prevention and she were able to attend this year's forum along with student leaders Imani Armstrong and Shakila Brown. From Community Prevention Day with great workshops to Capitol Hill Day and town hall meetings, this year's program was packed with lots of learning experiences for both staff and youth. They were able to meet with Congresswoman Doris Matsui and advocate for SRO and the Valley Hi Youth and Adult Coalition. Imani and Shakila also had a great time attending the Summit for Youth while Erika and Lucia were able to learn more environmental prevention strategies and ways to engage the coalition in great community work. In addition to their busy conference schedule, they made sure to check out the sites Washington DC offers, from souvenir shops at National Harbor to the White House! They were able to visit the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol. Lucia said, "CADCA provided us the opportunity not only to learn some great tools to take back to our coalition and SRO, but also to appreciate our nation's capitol. We were all happy to have been a part of this awesome experience."
Valley High School Students Present Survey Results
to Their Community
(From the Elk Grove Unified School District Newsletter)
On September 24 and 25, students in the Students Reaching Out (SRO) program at Valley High School and Samuel Jackman Middle School gave prsentations highlighting the results of a survey distributed to Valley Hi residents during the summer. These Students are also members of the Balley Hi Youth and Adult Coalition (VHYAC). The survey gave Balley Hi residents a chance to highlight community needs.
"I was very impressed with the hard work that the SRO students put into this high quality research project," said Tami Silvera, a project implementer for the district. "I am excited by their recommendations and the potential for real positive community change."
The students also presented recommendations to improve the Valley Hi community. They recommended that the community center have fun extracurricular activities, tutoring programs after-school, a swimming facility, skate park, music room and teen 
center. Students also recommended that future research focus on the situation of gangs in the Valley Hi area, determine the proper prevention programs for the area, find out what parents can do to help prevent youth violence and investigate what other communities have done in similar situations.
Students Reaching Out is a program facilitated by People Reaching Out (PRO). In SRO, middle and high school students are recruited to lead prevention councils where they design community and media campaigns aimed at addressing alcohol, tobacco and other drug issues. SRO students are trained in the areas of substance abuse prevention, media advocacy, social marketing and community mobilizing. Through the program, SRO students gain leadership skills in planning and implementing effective prevention strategies.
Formed in 1981, community-based non-profit People Reaching Out was created in response to deal with youth substance abuse and violence. Through the years, PRO has refined and expanded their programs to reflect new and innovative prevention strategies and address the many influences that put youth at risk. PRO's goal is to promote a healthy community by empowering youth to make healthy choices, strengthening families to guide their children away from drugs and violence and forming effective partnerships that work together to build a strong community.
-- Article from the Elk Grove Unified School District Newsletter
Photo: Top row from left: Ashleigh McGee, Javara Wilburn, Amy Vien
Bottom row from left: Brittanie McGee, Ariel Chung, Lucia Kimble
All are from Valley High School except Ariel Chung who is from Laguna High School.
Lucia Kimble is People Reaching Out's SRO Program Coordinator.
PRO Motion a Success!
In the second summer in a row, PRO MOTION summer camp was a huge success! The program served students from our PRO After School Mentoring and Students Reaching Out programs. PRO MOTION allows our students to be engaged in positive activities year round. Students in PRO After School were able to continue their mentoring relationships that began last fall and also welcome new students. Youth in Students Reaching Out continued work on a community needs assessment that surveys youth and adults living in the Valley Hi area. The survey results will guide the Valley Hi Youth and Adult Coalition in creating an "Action Plan" to make positive change in the community.
PRO MOTION is an eight week program packed with fun weekly themes. 
Some of the most popular themes included nutrition, "Chillaxin' 101" and art projects. Students were given the opportunity to create their own healthy snacks while learning about nutrition and how to relax and cope with stress during "Chillaxin' 101." Local artist Alan Silva led students in a charcoal drawing art workshop. After practicing a few techniques, each student was given a small section of a photograph and created a larger square using the charcoal and drawing techniques. In the end, the combined squares became the picture shown. Students not only learned new skills but were also able to practice important teamwork skills to complete the final project. While much of the program was educational, students also had the opportunity to go outside and participate in typical summer camp activities, including the Water Olympics, where students had a blast challenging each other and getting everyone soaked to the bone. Needless to say, PRO MOTION will be splashing back again next summer and the students are sure to talk about their fun experience well into the fall. For more information, please contact Heather McClenahen, Click here to email Heather.
People Reaching Out Takes 4 Local Youth to Washington, D.C.
Two People Reaching Out staff and four students attended the annual Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Conference. Valley Hi School students Javara Wilburn and Yvone Brickus, along with CK McClatchy students Leo Wilson and Talon Glover flew to Washington D.C. on February 11th to participate in the week-long conference that provides coalitions across the nation with opportunities to learn new strategies and ideas to implement environmental prevention projects in their communities. PRO staff members Erika Green and Linda Osuorji accompanied the students.
Representative Doris Matsui's office in Washington issued the following press release: Rep. Doris Matsui Welcomes Sacramento Teens to Washington, D.C.
People Reaching Out (PRO) is a Family Day Partner
http://www.projecthelp.org/
THE RECIPE FOR RAISING SUBSTANCE-FREE KIDS: FREQUENT FAMILY MEALS
Seven Family Dining Do's:
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Start the pattern of family meals when children are young.
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Use Sunday as the day to pick several times during the upcoming week when the entire family can eat together. Make your best attempt to stick to the schedule.
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Encourage your children to create menu ideas and participate in meal preparation.
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Turn off the TV and let your answering machine take care of your incoming calls.
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Talk about what happened in everyone's day: school, work, extracurricular activities, or current events.
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Establish a routine to start and end each meal. Light candles or tell a story at the start of the meal; eat dessert or play a board game after dinner to continue the conversation.
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Keep conversation positive and make sure everyone gets a chance to speak.
Whether you're gathering around the table for macaroni and cheese or a five-course meal, don't underestimate the power behind the simple act of taking time to share meals with your kids regularly.
The stories and laughs that you share during mealtime help you stay connected to your kids. Did you know that the more often kids and teens share meals with their families, the less likely they are to drink, smoke and use illegal drugs? That's the reason The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University created Family Day ?
Family Day is a national effort to promote parental engagement as a simple, effective way to reduce substance abuse in children and teens and raise healthier children. Family Day, which is celebrated on the fourth Monday in September is gaining significant momentum. Last year, more than 1.3 million Americans pledged to celebrate Family Day by eating dinner together with their families. The President, 47 governors, 500 city and county executives, landmarks across the nation and scores of schools, community organizations and religious groups also celebrated Family Day.
CASA research consistently shows that regardless of a teen's gender, family structure or social or economic status, frequent family meals make a difference in teens' lives. Compared to teens who have five to seven family meals in a typical week, teens who dine with their families fewer than three times in a typical week are nearly three times likelier to use marijuana, two and a half times likelier to smoke cigarettes and one and a half times likelier to drink alcohol, according to CASA's The Importance of Family Dinners II. The report also found that frequent family meals are also associated with higher academic performance. Teens who share meals with their families five to seven times in a typical week are 50 percent likelier to get mostly A's and B's in school than teens who dine with their families fewer than three times per week.
"America's drug problem is not going to be solved in courtrooms or legislative hearing rooms by judges and politicians. It will be solved in living rooms and dining rooms and across kitchen tables by parents and families," says Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA's chairman and president and the former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. "'Parent Power' is the most potent and underutilized tool in preventing children from using substances or engaging in risky behavior.
We encourage everyone to celebrate Family Day by sharing a meal together on September 22th and every day. More importantly, talk with your kids. During mealtime, turn off the TV and let your answering machine record incoming calls. Involve the entire family in planning and cooking meals, and make regular family meals a priority in your daily life.
For more information about the importance of family meals, please visit Project Help website at www.projecthelp.org.
Local Teen Wins Dan Lewandowski Youth Leadership Award
On October 29th, 2007, People Reaching Out named McClatchy High School graduate, Kathy Saephanh, as the recipient of the Dan Lewandowski Youth Leadership Award.
The Dan Lewandowski award is given annually to a student participant in People Reaching Out's programs who exemplifies leadership and commitment to youth substance abuse and violence prevention. Kathy was involved with People Reaching Out's programs for three years at McClatchy High School. She is continuing her education at Sacramento City College majoring in physical education.
"Being part of People Reaching Out at McClatchy High School was an incredible experience for me," said Kathy Saephanh. "I learned so much and honestly felt that I was making a difference in the lives of others."
Kathy was involved in two of People Reaching Out's school-based programs. She participated in Pro After School as a teen mentor to elementary school students at Bret Harte Elementary School and in Students Reaching Out where she learned community advocacy and awareness for the prevention of substance abuse and violence.
"Kathy never missed a day of class and was a true advocate recruiting students to our program," said Staci Anderson, Executive Director of People Reaching Out. "Kathy's leadership and her passion for helping others understand the importance of prevention in the lives of youth made her a stand out among her peers."
The Dan Lewandowski Award is named for a former vice president at CalFed Bank Northern California who strongly valued prevention education and community-based programs as effective tools for preventing substance abuse and violence. He was an advocate for youth leaders, believing they are the key to upholding a healthy community. Dan was a staunch supporter of People Reaching Out and was responsible for donating a CalFed bank building to People Reaching Out, which is now the agency's headquarters.