News and PublicationsEl Dorado Grants Advisory Board for Youth (EDGABY)
awards grants for 2010.
On Tuesday evening, February 9th, the El Dorado County Youth Commission hosted the 2010 EDGABY Awards Night to a packed house at the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors’ chamber in Placerville.
The EDGABY program gives kids between the ages of 10 and 19 years the resources to lead projects that address community issues. El Dorado County youth partner with adult mentors to create and submit youth-led grant proposals. The EDGABY Board, which is made up of sixteen youth members, twelve board members, four youth program officers and facilitator Sandy Martin. The Youth Board reviewed the proposals and made the funding decisions which then went to the El Dorado Community Foundation Board of Directors for final approval. EDGABY is made possible with funding from the El Dorado Community Foundation and is administered through the El Dorado County 4-H Youth Development Program.
An email received at the Foundation office reads: “My husband and I attended the EDGABY Grants presentation February 9th with our granddaughter and family. Both of us came away saying that we were very, very impressed with the young people on the board, and those receiving grant awards. Their conduct was exemplary, with all showing maturity above what one stereotypes as ‘teenage behavior’. Congratulations to the EDGABY program and students!”
This year EDGABY awarded fifteen grants totaling $15,000.00 for youth-led projects in El Dorado County. Each youth team will work in partnership with an adult mentor and a non-profit agency sponsor to implement its project. Congratulations to the following 2010 EDGABY youth grant recipients!
- Tahoe Art Revival – Vandalism Clean Up, led by Sphere of Influence Youth Group and Tahoe Art League. South Lake Tahoe youth are working to educate their peers on different art forms and build more youth involvement in the community by youth creating art in public places (i.e. utility boxes) through out the South Lake Tahoe area. The youth’s artwork will replace vandalized areas, with the goal of diminishing vandalism through several public murals.
- South Lake Tahoe Youth Commission (SLTYC), led by Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe. To provide the support to establish the South Lake Tahoe Youth Commission. SLTYC goal is to empower youth with a voice in governance in the South Lake Tahoe community by working with the South Lake Tahoe City Council, Boys & Girls Club, and local community organizations. SLTYC will provide a forum for opening doors of positive change and creating an opportunity for diverse youth involvement.
- EDUHSD Robotics Team, led by Circuit Breakers Youth Robotic Team and El Dorado Union High School District. The EDUSHD Robotics team’s (32 high school students in El Dorado County) goal is to increase youth involvement in the technology through hands-on experiences with robots. Youth will have opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge needed to construct a robot that can be taken to competitions and to local schools to educate younger youth about the importance of science and modern technology.
- Markham Builder’s Club Garden/Farmer’s Market Project, led by Markham Middle School’s Builder Club and Kiwanis Club of Placerville. The Markham Builders Club is a community service club at Markham Middle School. The club of 45 youth members plan to create a school garden to gain healthy life skills, and the garden will provide 1) a source of healthy foods for Markham “Farmer’s Market”, 2) a teaching tool in history class with a bed dedicated to ancient and medieval garden, 3) a teaching tool for Math and Science classes, and 4) a source of pride for the school.
- Bijou Friday Night LIVE Program, led by South Tahoe High School FNL. The purpose is for South Lake Tahoe high school students to mentor and begin Friday Night LIVE clubs within the elementary schools of the Lake Tahoe communities, starting with Bijou Elementary School. The goal is to create a positive, safe environment for elementary school kids in order to diminish the influence of gangs, drug use and violence affecting youth.
- Building Fences, led by Girl Scouts and All About Equine Animal Rescue. For Girl Scouts to learn construction skills and to help build much-needed fencing for a local non-profit animal welfare sanctuary that provide rescue and rehabilitation for horses destined for slaughter. As well, the youth will actively work towards supporting the development of a disaster response team for large animals in the county.
- Schnell School Garden of Learning, led by Boy Scouts. For Boy Scouts to build a gazebo and improve the garden at Schnell School in order to create a safe place that increases the learning opportunities for the elementary school students.
- Plastic Reduction & Education Operation, led by Sierra Ridge Middle School’s Student Council. Sierra Ridge Middle school youth are working to educate students and local citizens about the impact of plastic on their community. On Earth Day, the student council plans to distribute reusable bags and information they’ve researched about the environmental impact of using plastic bags while shopping. The long-term goal is for youth to encourage others to reduce plastic use through leading by example. The youth aim to work with local businesses and government agencies to develop a discount for consumers who use reusable bags or a charge for consumers that use plastic bags.
- Shelter Gazebo, led by Boy Scouts and New Morning Youth & Family Services. The Boy Scouts will build a new Gazebo at New Morning’s new shelter site, which will provide a welcoming and safe outdoor environment for homeless kids (estimated 275).
- South Lake Tahoe Tolerance Project “T2” - Youth Preserving Living History, led by South Tahoe Middle School. The youth are working to bring awareness about the need for tolerance in the community by preserving living history through youth interviewing local community members that have survived historical intolerance, such as Manzanar, Tule Lake during WWII, Civil Rights, Gay Rights and Farm Workers Rights.
- FL Studio Music After School Program, led by Computer Science Team at Sierra Ridge Middle School. The purpose is to create an after school music program for students Sierra Ridge Middle and Boys & Girls Club of Pollock Pines area. The youth grant team will work to create lesson plans so students participating in the after school program will learn about music while gaining math and computer skills.
- Alumni Grove Mural & Sculpture Garden, led by El Dorado High School Mural Team. The purpose is for high school art students to bring life to the school and create a comfortable learning environment by creating murals in the Alumni Grove area of El Dorado High School.
- Multi-Cultural Week, led Junior Statesman of America Club of Oak Ridge High School and Valley View Christian Church. The purpose of the multi-cultural fair for the community’s families is to provide an opportunity to promote tolerance and understanding of different cultures. The youth will work to plan for an international food fair and fashion show and to encourage youth from other clubs and schools to participate.
- Youth Career Day at White Rock Village, led by Hands for Hope. To bring a career day for youth to White Rock Village to encourage youth to think about their future and understand that there are many possibilities for a career, as a firefighter, bankers, teacher, doctor, or architect.
- Teen Center Mixed Media Art Station Project, led by Leader Legacy Club of the Teen Center at the El Dorado Hills Community Service District, and El Dorado Hills Visions Coalition. Teen Center serves 150 youth in El Dorado County, the grant will provide an art station for preteens & teenagers, who are constantly facing peer pressure, the opportunity to creatively express themselves and increase self-esteem through a mixed-media art station and monthly art workshops.
For more information about the EDGABY program, please contact the University of California Cooperative Extension office at (530) 621-5503.
