There is a lot going on at BMCYF these days, and we are often so busy that we neglect this website…So I will give an update. Almost the entire staff ( we really missed you Juanita, no skipping out next time !!!) plus resident artist Sharon Strong just spent a fruitful and energizing weekend in San Francisco. We strategized, evaluated, debated, dreamt together, laughed, danced and shared, and got inspired by places we visited. We came back a better team, full of renewed energy and focus for the work ahead. We are now planning a road trip together for our next retreat …
At the center, there are many wonderful activities going on : a very creative Writers’ Group led by Linda Toren is preparing a small anthology, volunteer Ron Schierholt offer music lessons every Tuesday and encourages song writing , we have just hooked up our new kiln and the pottery studio is very busy under Liz’s expert guidance. Friday nights are Teens Only nights, and Terra has many fun activities planned. Spring Break is coming, and we will be offering some special workshops to the kids: there will be a Storytelling and Music event with Lyn Harema and Lois Lewis for our toddlers, a mending worshop, a two-day clay workshop with visiting artist Rodney Mott and a special mask making workshop with Sharon Strong, retelling a MiWok myth. Check our calendar or call 293-4500 for specifics. Don’t miss out, all workshops are free…
Our center has been closed to the youth on Wednesdays to facilitate services and groups for adults and families. A Women’s Tea meets once a month and often has speakers;and a new, grassroots group has recently formed, ECHO ( Ex-Convicts Having Opportunities) . This is a support group for families of prisoners as well as for young people on probation or parole that have returned to our community and often are isolated and feel little hope for their future. The group plans to work both with the probation and parole departments. We have started working on our new gardening project ( funded by First5) that will partner some of our families and their children with a master gardener of our community. With the gardener’s guidance and help, the families will plant their own garden on our Green House property. We will emphasize healthy eating, outdoor time for children and families,and strenghtening community ties. We are also getting ready to plant flowers in our youth center garden. And lastly, we are very excited to announce our partnership with the Living Compassion Monastery of Murphys; on April 23, 24 and 25 we will host a gathering of monks and supporters and together we will build a couple of earth ovens for our youth center and our community garden. We are planning camp fires for the community each of these nights, with music and storytelling . More on that very soon.
We are expecting the arrival of respected grant writer Harvey Chess on Wednesday; Harvey will be working with us for the next three months, helping us with our funding and a variety of other things. We are very thankful for this help and are very much looking forward to this support.
We welcome visitors, anytime is a good time, come for dinner on a Tuesday or Thursday ( Kay Rousseau is in charge of our meals and does a wonderful job ), you might be inspired to volunteer with us or to become a financial supporter of BMCYF …Come check us out…
Filed under: Community, Events, Kids, Projects on March 16th, 2009 | No Comments »