Youth Leadership Program gets Underway

The first meeting of the 2013-2014 Youth Leadership Program was held at University School in Thousand Oaks. Conejo Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Jeff Baarstad presented information and led activities focusing on leadership qualities to more than 70 students from area schools.

Youth Congress Leadership Program Meeting Schedule 2013-2014

Wednesday, November 13, 2013 Orientation/Leadership
4:00 p.m. University Center (formerly University Elementary)
2801 Atlas Avenue
Thousand Oaks

Wednesday, December 11, 2013 Education
4:00 p.m. Conejo Valley Unified School District University Center (formerly University Elementary)
2801 Atlas Avenue
Thousand Oaks

Wednesday, January 8, 2014 Recreation
4:00 p.m. Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza-Theater Department
2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Thousand Oaks

Wednesday, January 22, 2014 Health Services
4:00 p.m. Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center
215 West Janss Road
Thousand Oaks

Wednesday, February 12, 2014 Fire Protection
4:00 p.m. L.A. County Fire Department- Fire Station #89
29575 Canwood St.
Agoura Hills

Wednesday, February 26, 2014 Business
4:00 p.m. BMW Design Studio
2201 Corporate Center Drive
Newbury Park

Wednesday, March 5, 2014 Justice System
4:00 p.m. Calabasas City Hall
100 Civic Center Way
Calabasas

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 City Government
4:00 p.m. Westlake Village City Hall 31200 Oak Crest Drive
Westlake Village

Wednesday, April 9, 2014 Service to the Community
4:00 p.m. Agoura Hills Animal Shelter
29525 Agoura Road
Agoura Hills

Wednesday, May 7, 2014 Wrap-Up Meeting and Kiwanis Dinner
4:00 p.m. Meeting location-to be announced

2013-2014 Youth Congress Leadership Applications Now Being Accepted

Applications for the Youth Congress Leadership Program sponsored by the Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation are now being accepted. All students in grades 9-12 who attend school in the Conejo/Las Virgenes region are eligible.

 Students accepted into this program will have the opportunity to develop effective leadership skills while learning more about their communities. The areas covered are: Introduction to Leadership, Local Government, the Justice System, Fire Protection, Health Services, Recreation, Education, Community Services, and Business.

The programs will be conducted by representatives from each of the above entities and the students will meet at the particular venue where the speaker works such as city hall, the hospital, etc. Each program will be very different and will range from tours, discussions, presentations, and more. All of the cities in the region will be participating. At the end of the program, students will be encouraged to participate in a community service project of their choosing.

The meetings will take place from 4-5:30 p.m. on the following Wednesdays: November 13, 2013, December 11, 2013, January 8, 2014, January 22, 2014, February 12, 2014, February 26, 2014, March 5, 2014, March 19, 2014, April 9, 2014 and May 7, 2014. This will make a total of 10 meetings.

Applications must be submitted by October 25, 2013 and students will be notified of their acceptance into the program by November 5, 2013. Attendance is very important. Please check your calendar to make sure that you can attend all or most of the meetings. Community Service credit will be given based on attendance. Students are responsible for their own transportation.

All Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation programs are free to the public. The Foundation is most appreciative of the generous support of community members who make programs like this possible.

This is the fifth year of the Leadership Program, which follows twenty-five years of successful Youth Congresses sponsored by the Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation. It has proven to be a very popular program, so we encourage students to apply early as there is a limit to the number that we can accommodate.

A copy of the application can be found on the above tab: "2013 -2014 Youth Congress Leadership Application." Email info@clvff.org  or call Karen Malatesta, Executive Director of the Foundation, at (818) 880-1054 with any questions that you may have.

CLVFF 40th Anniversary Newsletter Now Available Online

The Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation's 40th Anniversary Newsletter is now available to view online. To see the newsletter click on "CLVFF Newsletter" in the tabs above. Or click on the following link: Newsletter.

Youth Congress Leadership Students Brief Local Agencies

As part of the Youth Congress Leadership program, participating students get an opportunity to brief local city councils and school districts on the content and value of the program. For most of the students, it is the first time they have addressed elected officials in a public forum. The students all expressed enthusiasm for the program  and felt that it was beneficial to them personally. Some of the reports are archived on the city or district web sites and can be accessed online.

Youth Congress Leadership participants, Gilbert Bao and Aidan Hodgson
provide a report to the Agoura Hills City Council. 

The following students addressed the following local agencies:

Agoura Hills City Council Meeting: Gilbert Bao & Aidan Hodgson
Thousand Oaks City Council Meeting: Ana Gougas & Taylor Lovullo
Westlake Village City Council Meeting: Stephanie Griffith
Conejo Valley Unified School District Board Meeting: Sean Laput & Katherine Sham
Las Virgenes Unified School District Board Meeting: Chelsea Skrabak & Delaney Kinford
Oak Park Unified School District Board Meeting: Heather Melendez

Future Foundation Video From 2006

Youth Leadership Visit King Gillette Ranch

On Tuesday, April 9th, the Conejo Valley Youth Congress Program traveled to King Gillette Ranch, a parkland located in the center of the Malibu Creek Watershed. Our group was greeted warmly by Melanie Beck, an Outdoor Recreational Planner in charge of trail planning and appraising needs for outdoor resources at the facility.

Melanie lectured extensively on King Gillette Ranch through her expertise in outdoor ecosystems and management. Named for the razor magnate, King C. Gillette, King Gillette Ranch not only houses much of the wildlife in the area, but it also provides insight into California’s cultural and archaeological history. After a brief introduction, Melanie brought us along a tour of the facility, a trip that proved both educational and fun.

We examined various wildlife exhibits that provided information on the surrounding ecosystem and our local issues, such as the endangerment of mountain lions. Melanie concluded the trip by bringing together the concept of individual interests versus community ideals, emphasizing that our decisions to industrialize should consider the safety of our ecosystem.

We left King Gillette Ranch with a higher understanding of the habitat around us, as well as a deeper appreciation for what our actions can do to the environment.

Story by Gilbert Bao