Project 1 Critical Literacy

• 1.ALWAYS HERE FOROUR COMMUNITYExecutive Director: Robert N.Masai

2. ABOUT US YMCA(or simply the Y) stands for Young Mens Christian Association we aim to put Christian principles into practice bydeveloping a healthy "body, mind and spirit". These three areas of development are reflected by the different sides of the (red)triangle found in all YMCA logos. The YMCA of Orange County is a nonprofit, charitable organization that serves the entire community. The YMCA arrived in California with the Gold Rush and the California State YMCA Committee supported many start-up Associationsover the next five decades, including those in Orange County. In the 1880s, Santa Ana businessmen founded the first local YMCA toprovide programs for youth to build a strong body, a clear mind, and an upright moral character. Many well-known organizationstrace their roots to the YMCA and Orange County. The Boy Scouts and Campfire Girls were fostered locally by the YMCA, andToastmasters was founded in 1924 by Ralph C. Smedley, Director of the Santa Ana YMCA. During World War II, the Santa AnaYMCA gymnasium was used by Santa Ana College and the USO. For years, the swimming pool served not only YMCA members butalso the YWCA, the Crippled Childrens Relief Association, and youth from Juvenile Hall. Today, the YMCA of Orange County is an association of people of all ages, incomes, faiths, abilities, and ethnic backgrounds.Everyone can feel comfortable and everyone belongs. Our administrative office is located at:YMCA OF ORANGE COUNTY(Association Office)13821 Newport Ave., Suite 200Tustin, CA 92780(714) 549-9622(714) 838-5976 (fax)For more Information Visit Our Website at:Http://www.ymcaoc.org/ 3. MISSION The YMCA of Orange County puts Christian principles into practice through programs that build spirit, mind, and body for all. At the YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. Every day, we work side-by- side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.Service Goal: Our service goal is to provide people and/or young adults with theskills they need to become tomorrows leaders.Objectives:To service 500-1000 more members in this fiscal year.We will install 2 to 3 more facilities in our communities.We will construct 2 more summer camps.We will carry out fundraisers for the less fortunate.To provide career opportunities. 4. VALUES Caring, Honesty, Respect, & Responsibility 5. INPUTS We are in need of donations in order to support our scholarshipprograms and Our commitment to the community. We need more facilities for at-risk individuals and communities tofoment growth of character development , to build healthy spirit,mind, and body for all. We need more program staff to maintain and aggrandize ouralready successful programs to meet the demands of our growingcommunity. 6. PROCESS All members have access to all of our services. Members are counseled by program staff. We provide a myriad of programs which include Camping, Swimming, Sportsand Play, Afterschool Care, and Education/Leadership. We hold banquets to bring the community together in order to promote youthdevelopment. Our most recent one was a Crab-feast. We offer a full equipped fitness center and certified personal trainers formembers. We enroll youth in our academic programs, such as Math, Science, and Art. We help build a strong self-esteem through encouragement of our staff andpeers. We teach the youth life skills such as leadership skills and to think on theirown. We create leaders. 7. OUTPUTS We at the YMCA serve Orange County through six (6) Health & Wellnesscenters (Laguna Niguel, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Fullerton, YorbaLinda, and Santa Ana) and over 50 Afterschool Program centers At our Fullerton Branch We have a membership of 4564 and counting. Our organization does not just have influence in Orange County but rather weare connected worldwide. For example one could visit a YMCA in Mongolia orIsrael. At our facilities we provide a full equipped gym, track, soccer fields,basketball courts for our members. Members have the opportunities of assisting our summer camps. We provide classes such as Martial Arts, Yoga, Swimming. We distribute educational material on subjects such as Smoking, Drinkingand Driving, Drugs. We have fundraising projects to donate to less fortunate communities. 8. At the Y, we help people set and achieve their personal andOutcomes educational goals. They gain85% of our members will successfully confidence as they recognize the Y ascomplete their individualized programs.a place where they belong and can100% of our clients will be assisted one feel comfortable exploring newon one in their fitness training goals . interests and90% of our members will achieve theirweight loss goals. passions.85% of our academic students willWe give them tools to build a high-graduate college with a four-yearcaliber future.degree. Our clients learn90% of members will graduate HighSchool with a High GPA.responsibility ,integrity100 more jobs in the community are social competence, and awarenessgenerated for trainers, volunteers, andappreciation for diversitycoaches positions. problemsolving and communication skills selfreliance and a sense of purpose. 9. COMMUNITY NEEDS We at the YMCA address the issue of obesity through providing a complete gym ranging fromtread-mills, to weights. In addition to this we have swimming pools, tennis courts, basketballcourts, and quarter-mile circular tracks. The percentage of overweight children and adolescents in the US has nearly tripled since theearly 1970s that means more than one in five children between the ages of 6 and 17 are nowconsidered overweight. Obesity has been linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, depression,anxiety, and poor academic performance. More than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) are obese Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types ofcancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death. We have a spiritual, educational, physical activities and after-school programs. Studiesindicate that teenagers with too much time on their hands are prone to illicit activity. For thatreason, We provide programs to prevent idleness and give them a sense of belonging, well-being, and to guide them on their journey towards a wonderful future. Fun and educational class are designed for individuals with special needs including: Autism,Asperger Syndrome, Downs Syndrome, Physical limitations, and other developmentaldisorders. 10. CONNECTION Thinking Foundation YMCA Believes in significantly improving We promote growth in mind, body, and spirit learning, teaching, leadership and through numerous programs. assessment practices in schools WE believe values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for life. Emphasizes cognitive skills We help improve decision making skills. development, creativity, and critical We promote cognitive development, physical well- being, social growth, character development , and reflection in order to transform leadership skills. learning, literacy, teaching and We provide homework support, exposure to the arts, technology, hands-on activities, clubs, service leadership around the world learning and enrichment centers, Fitness & Nutrition, Art & Culture, Science, Social The main focus is of these goals is to Competence and Personal Development, Character Education, Literacy, Diversity & Cultural help students at the pre-school, K-12 Awareness, Cooking , Photography and Science. and college levels. We believe that the youth are the future. 11. CRITICAL THINKING We encourage youth to think independently and to identify a purposefor their growth and their future. We want the youth to accurately analyze what areas interest them. We want them to improve their learning , physical fitness, andspirituality. We want them to draw conclusions about their stepping stonestowards a brighter future. We want them to follow intellectual standards logically. We want them to see multiple view points to put metacognitivethinking into practical daily life situations. One of our goals is to help them to understand concepts of havinggood morals. 12. CRITICAL READING We animate our members to read well in order to learn well. Members learn in their academic courses to know what one isreading. Other courses include Critical Reading where one learns to readstructurally. The student learns to preview the text in order to locate keysentences and paragraph and to focus on how they interrelate. In general, we want our members to read well in order to thinkoutside of the box and become productive leaders , members andthinkers of our society. 13. CRITICAL ACTION We make decisions on how to improve the success of our members. We actively participate in shaping our community. We replace low self-esteem by giving our members confidence and asense of purpose. We engage in youth development in order to change lives. Members study key moral values. We monitor each and every members growth. We would like members to create new friendships. The staff help members discover talents and interests. We as one team achieve our goals. 14. GET INVOLVED Become a volunteer today or search for career options whetheryou enjoy coaching kids on the soccer field or raising funds tosupport families in need, the YMCA needs what you have to offer. Our excellent benefits include medical and dental insuranceoptions for full-time staff, retirement, YMCA membership, paidtime for training and many opportunities for career and personalgrowth. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or searching for acareer with us visit our website at: http://www.ymcaoc.org ORContact us at (714) 879-9622 Where our friendly operators willgladly assist you and explicate any question you may have. 15. PERSONAL CONNECTION When I was younger I use to go to the Fullerton YMCA Facility toexercise and maintain myself fit. I have a lot of respect for thisorganization for how it propagates high quality morals such ascaring, honesty, respect, and responsibility which in turnundergirds key elements for a bright future for our communityand to teach people right from wrong. Furthermore, they providereligious, academic, and athletic activities which makes a personwell rounded so to speak working on the mind, body, and spirit. Ican personally relate to the values of the YMCA because I am acaring person even for people not of my family, I dont lie(I justwont tell), I respect everybody of all nationalitys and so on and Itry to be a responsible adult. I also believe in working onsharpening my mind , body, and spirit. 16. SUCCESS STORIES FROM YMCAMEMBERS When I became a member of the YMCA, I never imagined it would fulfill my life the way it has. I started my weight loss journey andlifestyle change in February 2010 and have lost 90+ pounds so far. Spinning class has had a huge impact on my success and I love the energy that Ihave now. Words can not express how much the support and encouragement that I receive from other members and the YMCA staff mean to me. Myexperience at the YMCA has truly been life changing. My daughter graduated from Youth Chance High School some seven years ago. it was the happiest day of my life. She had been to five high schools, in a gang and somehow I found Youth Chance. She had a mentor, a job and wonderful people aroundher. It took her three years to complete her GED. It was the first time she had ever hung in there and finished anything. I owe my daughters life to Youth Chance and Ill never forget what they didfor her and for me. I am very active, playing Bridge, enjoying all kind of lectures, having almost daily lunch. The most important activities are in the swimming pool and the gym. I am 88 years oldand my belief is that these kinds of activities are prolonging my life and making me healthier, stronger, and feel better and younger. I am not a rich man, but for all the help I am getting thanks toattending the YMCA, I certainly will make a cash gift for the YMCA in my will." Jacob - Member since 1984 "Due to a recent work injury, we were in need and were granted a family reduced membership. The greatest benefits are seen in my 9 year old. The Y offers him a well-rounded program such as swimming, basketball and new activities like wall climbing and camping. A scholarship was granted to our son to spend a week at the Ys camp where he met new friendsand gained more new experiences. We are truly thankful and indebted to the Y." 17. The End