Autumn 2014 Volume 4, Issue 2

Recap Positive Youth Development Week 2014 Union City 6th Grade Fun Night Applying the Assets Asset #35: Resistance Skills Happy Holidays News and Events Strong Vincent Update GradNation Mark Your Calendar #GivingTuesday PYD Introductions Karrah Kurpiewski

Additional Download and explore the 2013-2014 Annual Review

Inside

This

Issue

Positive Youth Development Week 2014

“Making Connections” Positive Youth Development launched the 9th annual Positive Youth Development Week with a press conference and luncheon in the Hemingway Ballroom at the Ambassador Conference Center on Monday, October 6th, 2014.

The “Making Connections” Press Conference and Luncheon focused on merely that: making connections with youth in attempt to build positive relationships, as well as support and encourage youth involvement in recognizing local issues and creating solutions. PYD aims to serve the community through outreach programs, education, trainings, and resources to build the developmental assets that instill the qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. Each year, PYD dedicates a week that empha-sizes the positive efforts that are happen-ing throughout Erie County.

The event included an award ceremony, in which PYD gave recognition to individu-als and organizations that go above and beyond in their efforts to invest in the youth of Erie County by presenting PYD’s “Spark” and Asset Champion Awards.

The 2014 “Spark” Award was presented to three organizations: Wellsville, Union City

Family Support Center, and Corry Area School District. Other honorable mentions for the award included: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Family Services of NW PA; French Creek Council, Boy Scouts of America; Wattsburg Area Elementary Center- Fuel Up to Play 60; Stay Focus Health and

Wellness- Rodney Cray Program; Women’s Care Center of Erie County, Inc.- Educational Division; and Earth Action- Environment Erie.

The 2014 Asset Champion Awards were presented to Erie School District Superintendent, Dr. Jay Badams and General McLane School District Superintendent, Rick Scaletta.

An additional award included PYD’s Unsung Hero Award, which was presented to two PYD Advisory Board

Members: Robert Blakely, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, and Dr.

Sandra Myers, Superintendent of Union City Area School District for their dedication and service to positive youth development in our community.

In addition to the press conference and luncheon event, PYD held a “Making Connections” networking breakfast. The event brought youth and adults from the community together to discuss problems and collectively determine potential solutions to those problems.

Asset Champion Award Winner

Jay Badams with Robert Blakely

Our Mission Positive Youth Development

of Erie County activates communities to create

healthy, caring and responsible individuals.

4909 Jordan Road • Erie PA 16563 • (814) 898-6297 • www.youtherie.com

UC Family Game Night

RECAP: Positive Youth Development Week 2014 “Making Connections” continued...

2014 “SPARK” Award Winners

Unsung Hero Award Winners

Sandra Myers and Robert Blakely

Asset Champion Award Winner

Rick Scaletta with Robert Blakely

Applying the Assets Asset #35: Resistance Skills

Young person can resist negative peer

pressure and dangerous situations.

From Instant Assets: 52 Short and Simple E-Mails for Sharing the Asset Message. Copyright© 2007 by Search Institute®, 877-240-7251; www.search-institute.org. This message may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). All rights reserved.

In your home and family Model and role-play resistance skills, specifying what to say or not say in certain situations. Talk with your child about what was easy and what was difficult. Focus not only on how to resist, but also on what to say "yes" to.

In your neighborhood and community Offer a safety net to the young people you know. Let them know they can call you if they feel pressured or tempted to do something unsafe or unhealthy.

In your school or youth program Learn about individuals who stood up for their values and resisted social pressures.

Union City: 6th Grade Game Night

Scavenger hunts, flag football, icebreaker games, and a paper snowball fight were just a few of the activities on the menu for Union City’s 6th Grade Game Night.

6th Grade Game Night was organized by the UC middle and high school students. The event was not only designed to have a good time, but also as an opportunity for the upcoming 6th graders to build positive relationships and experiences with their older schoolmates.

The open forum and bonding activities encouraged the 6th graders to communicate with the older students about questions or concerns they might have had with making the move from the elementary school to middle school.

The transition between grades can be difficult, but with the help of the Union City upperclassmen, the sixth graders felt welcome to join them this school year.

PYD gives the young Union City leaders a warm round of applause for truly

demonstrating what it means to be an Asset Builders in the community!

Peer pressure can be an obstacle during the adolescent years. However, peer pressure can also be a positive thing. Youth can create a movement for what they believe in and create a tipping point where young people encourage other young people to help them tackle big social issues and make healthy decisions.

How can you encourage youth in your community to use their voice to make a difference? How could your community offer a platform for youth to express their opinions?

Click here for a

complete list of the

40 Developmental

Assets!

Ways to Give

The holiday season is a time to be thankful for what you have, as well a time for giving.

Give a charitable donation or volunteer your time:

Food drive/Holiday meal drive

Gift collection

Clothing and coat drive

Goodwill

Local City Mission

Local Soup Kitchen

Learn about how you can give back to your community this holiday season through your local churches , schools, missions, and other organizations.

Ask a young person you know to participate in giving back with you!

Holiday Reading Countdown

Reading can be a fun and educational way to count down the days until your celebrations with your children or students! Here is a fun way to make reading a part of your Holiday Countdown this year...

Wrap one book in wrapping paper for each day you are counting down. The books can be old books that are lying around your home or classroom, no need to purchase new books!

Stack wrapped books. Books can be stacked under your Christmas tree, by a child’s bed to read at bed time or in the reading area of a classroom.

Read one book each day. Let the children pick one book to unwrap from the pile each day starting starting at the first day of your countdown until your celebration!

The pile of books provides a great visual for children as they countdown until Christmas day, and it promotes reading!

Things To Do… Tree Lighting Ceremony

Modern Tool Square: 333 State Street

Dec 4, 5:30pm Peninsula Polar Fest Presque Isle State Park: 301 Peninsula Dr. Erie, PA 16505

Dec 14, 10:00am-6:00pm

Lake Erie Ballet: The Nutcracker

Warner Theater: 811 State St, Erie, PA 16501

Dec 20 @ 7:00pm

Dec 21 @ 2:30pm Disney on Ice

Erie Insurance Area: 809 French St, Erie, PA 16501

Jan 28, 2015– Feb 1, 2015

The 2015 holiday season is right around the corner. The holidays represent more than football games, receiving gifts and shopping all the latest deals– it’s a time to be more intentional in cherishing the relationships we have with the people around us. It is a beautiful time to share more smiles, have a more giving heart, and be even more thankful for what, and who, we have. PYD encourages you to put extra effort in giving back to your community. Do you know of a family that could use a warm meal this holiday? Perhaps you know of a family that might struggle to keep their children warm this winter, and you happen to have extra coats and gloves. Maybe you come across someone who doesn't have anyone to spend the holidays with and you have room for an extra place at your table.

However you choose to give, do it whole-heartedly. You never know how you can change a single person’s life with one gesture.

Give to your community, cherish your family, and spread the joy this holiday season with everyone who crosses your path.

From

Want to stay in?

Bake holiday cookies Make holiday arts and crafts Build a snowman

Get creative!

Mark Your Calendars... for a global day

of giving!

Community strategy to increase on-time high school graduation rates is part of the America's Promise GradNation Campaign. Erie Together will provide updates on key areas of progress. Learn how you can impact, or get involved in, local youth's lives and educational success.

Special Guest: Steve Pemberton, Fortune 50 executive and author, will speak about the impact caring adults made in helping him overcome insurmountable odds.

Erie Together Community Forum 2014

GradNation

Location: Bayfront Convention Center

Phone: 814.456.2937 ext: 233

Date: Tuesday, November 18

Time: 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m.

Cost: Free, Registration Required

Registration: 8:30 a.m.

Register: ErieTogether.org or call

814.456.2937 ext: 233

#GivingTuesday is a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

Please consider giving a gift towards the mission of Positive Youth Development this #GivingTuesday and be a part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity.

With your support, we can fulfill our vision for a future in which all children, youth, and adults are thriving and productive, creating diverse and successful communities!

Donations can be made to PYD: Online at www.youtherie.com/donate By phone at (814) 898-6297 Or by mail to Positive Youth Development 4909 Jordan Road Erie, PA, 16563

Every dime you donate aids Positive Youth Development in our mission to help the youth in Erie County develop into successful adults!

News

&

Events

Strong Vincent Update What’s Happening at SVHS?

Positive Youth Development of Erie County is back again this year at Strong Vincent High School. We are excited and thrilled to work with students, teachers, and staff in creating a positive school environment!

Last year PYD empowered students to “Make a Difference” in their school and strengthen relationships between students and teachers. This year, PYD will continue to support a positive school climate and reduce truancy through a number of events and activities including:

Youth Leadership Council

Community Advisory Board

40 Developmental Assets Training & Technical Assistance

School-Wide Assemblies

Truancy Reduction Committee

“Asset of the Month” We look forward to a great

2014-15 school year and working with everyone at

SVHS!

PYD has placed an in-house Associate Coordinator at Strong Vincent High School, Kevin Buczynski, to assist in instilling the 40 Developmental Assets, and ultimately to encourage a positive, productive, and thriving school environment within SVHS.

Meet PYD Karrah Kurpiewski, Communications Coordinator

Karrah, an Edinboro, PA native, attended Penn State Behrend and graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. After graduation she spent two years working at Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation. Having a passion for serving the community, Karrah is looking forward to her role in promoting Positive Youth Development and the 40 Assets in Erie County.

What makes you passionate about CORE’s mission? I am extremely excited to be a part of the Positive Youth Development team because I strongly believe in and support the mission: activate communities to create healthy, caring and responsible individuals.

I have a strong desire to make a difference in the lives of others and being a part of Positive Youth Development allows me to be in the position to utilize my skills to promote the 40 developmental assets within our community. What’s your favorite developmental asset and why? Youth programs. I strongly believe it is important for youth to be involved in three or more hours per week in music lessons, sports, church groups, clubs, organizations, etc. at school and/or in the community. In my life as well in the lives of others close to me, I have witnessed how youth programs help young people discover strengths and talents, be motivated to achieve goals, be in leadership positions, and aid in creating positive relationships with peers and adults. When young people engage in youth programs they are accumulating experiences that provide them with instrumental resources and tools to grow character and to enhance their future. What is one aspect of PYD that you enjoy? I really enjoy the teamwork that takes place, not only within the PYD office but within the community. There are so many individuals and organizations that join forces to shape the lives of young people. It is inspiring to see the impact that can be made when a community comes together to work towards the same goal, and I am excited to be a part of it.

Positive Youth Development is

Proudly Supported By: Additional Links:

Contact Us Penn State Erie C.O.R.E. Phone: 814-898-6297 Address: 4909 Jordan Road Erie, PA 16563 Fax: 814-898-6270 Website: http://youtherie.com/

Make a Donation

Online at www.youtherie.com/donate

By Phone: (814)898-6297

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