The Huntington West Virginia Housing Authority

Youth Programs

Operation Right Choice

“YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR CHOICES
BUT YOU CAN’T CHOOSE YOUR CONSEQUENCES”

Funded through the U.S. Department of Education

MONTHLY REPORT - YOUTH NEWS

Youth Programs Update

Andrea Gilman, Youth Programs Coordinator

Operation Right Choice (ORC) will begin new classes starting the beginning of October. ORC is tentatively scheduled as follows:

Marcum Terrace (Teen Center) Monday's @ 4:30pm

Neighborhood Network (Scott Center) Wednesday's @ 4:30PM

Throughout the summer those teens involved in ORC have been very active in making their schools, neighborhoods, and community’s drug, alcohol, tobacco, and violence free. So, if you are a youth between 11 and 17 year of age and want to join Operation Right Choice please call Andrea or Tim at 522-0576.

ArtWorks
ArtWorks participants completed their 16th ArtWorks project! There were 15 students who participated in this ArtWorks and it was a great success. This ArtWorks project was facilitated by Brent Patterson, a media art professor at Marshall University, and Traci Fisher, a professional dance instructor and choreographer. Traci taught the students an awesome dance routine to the song "You Brought Me" by J. Moss, a very inspirational song, which the students now want to incorporate into their Cabell PRIDE performances. It was good to see one positive program influencing another and the students incorporating that on their own. Brent had the students make their own helmets, armor, shields, and weapons for a "battle" that was fought at the end of the project. The students also worked with other artistic mediums such as paints and clay. They were able to mold and shape their own bowls and then pit fire them to make them strong enough to eat out of. Additionally, the students made lifelike replica's of themselves using plastic wrap and tape! They turned out great!

Their final art pieces were revealed and displayed at the Burke Art Gallery on the campus of Marshall University on August 12th. Students were able to see all their creations displayed in the museum and were very proud of what they had accomplished. Brent also showed, for the first time, the video that he had created of the students which was titled "Daydreamers." It turned out phenomenally and the students were very excited about getting their own copy and showing others what they had done. We are very proud of all the students and the effort they put into making this another very successful ArtWorks!

Cabell PRIDE
On August 2nd, Cabell PRIDE performed and participated in the "Celebrate the Community Block Party." Streets were closed off for this huge event, in which many people who are actively involved in the community were a part of. Cabell PRIDE, along with many other churches, performing artists, and singers delivered outstanding entertainment for this event. Cabell PRIDE did an awesome job and was even asked by other organizations to perform at other events around the community. Members of Cabell PRIDE also set up a booth which gave out information about the program and explained what Cabell PRIDE is all about. PRIDE and other ORC students also volunteered their time at the face painting booth and passing out cotton candy. Overall, the event was a great success and we hope to make it an annual event.

ORC Students Lead Workshops at APPI conference
Johny Riner, Jewel Webb and Shakasia Woolfolk assisted Tim White in facilitating two workshops at the WV Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Initiative Taskforce Conference on Wednesday, September 17 at the Days Inn in Flatwoods, WV.

Their two workshops were "The Power of Choice" and "The Power of Youth Voice".

They did an excellent job and were invited back to do more training and speaking at future events.

All three youth are graduates of ORC and are members of Cabell PRIDE, Artworks, RAZE and TACS.

ORC to Launch the Y.E.S. I CAN Mentoring Program

Do you have a child between the ages of 9 and 17 who needs a loving, caring adult in his/her life?

Would you like to have your child(ren) involved in programs and activities that help them succeed in life, school, at home and in their community?

Would you like your child(ren) to be in a program that helps to monitor their school progress, helps to reduce the influences of violence, tobacco, drugs, alcohol, while at the same time builds character, and responsibility?

Then you need to enroll your child in the Y.E.S. Program. What does Y.E.S. stand for? Youth Empowered to Succeed.

Contact your manager and get your child signed up today. Space is limited to 40 youth.

8/24/06 - ArtWorks unveils latest project
By BRIAN CHAMBERS, The Herald-Dispatch
Download Release as PDF


9/3/06 - EDGE: HHS student gives back to those who gave to her - By RONALD WORLEY, The Herald-Dispatch
Download Release as PDF

10/3/06 - GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES SAFE AND
DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES GRANTS
Download Release as PDF

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