FALL 2012

NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, November 15, 2012

Focused on the Future:

A Letter from NYAs Board President
Hello, My name is Wendell Barner. As the incoming President of the Board Of Trustees, I'm excited about the future. Following are the newly appointed Board Officers: 1st Vice President: Daniel McQueen 2nd Vice President: Watt W. Webb III Treasurer: Joe Silver Secretary: Joyce Maddox Morandi Immediate Past President: Don Allison, Jr.

Youth Service Council Luncheon

Twice each year, the Friends of NYA host a luncheon for local agencies that share a mutual concern for the children and families of our communities. This luncheon has proven to be a valuable means of developing new partnerships and strengthening existing ones.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Scholarship & Community Service Awards Dinner

This annual event at The Riviera Country Club celebrates the accomplishments of the NYA students, as well as the support from the community partners and volunteers.

I truly believe that our efforts to develop our youth will create a brighter future. We are at a crossroads as a society. As options are evaluated and decisions made, we must embrace change. I look forward to embracing our collective future as an NYA family. Wendell Barner, Board President

Wendall Barner, incoming President of the Board of Trustees.

Celebrating Abigail Vibiano:

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Venice Garden & Home Tour

Celebrating 20 years! This annual self-guided walking tour raises funds for NYA. Each year the tour features an eclectic array of homes, showcasing the unique spirit of the Venice community. www.venicegardentour.org

Serving NYAs Children, Youth and Families for 25 Years!

If you would like to receive an invitation to any of the events listed above, please call us at (310) 664-8893.

Abigail Vibiano with Isabella Amador.

FOR 25 YEARS, Teacher and Program Assistant Abigail Vibiano, or Teacher Abby as she is more commonly known, has been sharing her talent and commitment with the children, youth and families of NYA. Earlier this year, Teacher Abby was recognized by the Venice Chamber of Commerce Wave Awards for her outstanding ability as an educator to inspire excellence and achievement. Teacher Abby started working at NYA 25 years ago, but her history with the agency goes back further than that. As a teen, she was one of NYAs first Youth Leaders! Now, Teacher Abby is a leader among her fellow educators.

Where Are They Now?

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OFFICERS
The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Chairman Wendell Barner, President Daniel McQueen, 1st Vice President Watt W. Webb III, 2nd Vice President Joe Silver, Treasurer Joyce Maddox Morandi, Secretary Don Allison, R., Immediate Past President

MEMBERS
Robert F. Cavanaugh Jos E. Feliciano Ludmila Gibbons Thomas W. Hulick ODonnell Iselin Nancy Kirwan Ann S. Lucas Clarke Morrow Marissa RomanGriffith Mark R. Ross Paul Swanson Donald Walton Susan Welde Robert Williams

EX OFFICIO
Adri Butler Elizabeth Ames Chris Ruud

LOCATIONS
NYA ADMINISTRATION 1016 Pleasant View Avenue Venice, CA 90291 Phone: (310) 664-8893 Fax: (310) 664-8792 NYA LAS DORADAS CHILDRENS CENTER 804 Broadway Venice, CA 90291 Phone: (310) 450-0327 Fax: (310) 664-8792 NYA MAR VISTA LEARNING CENTER 3877 Grand View Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90066 Phone: (310) 390-6641 Fax: (310) 391-1948 NYA SATELLITE SITES Academy Hall 12010 South Vermont Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90044 Emerald Terrace 1345 Emerald Drive Los Angeles, CA 90026 Pico Gramercy 3215 West Pico Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90019 Phone: (310) 664-8893 Fax: (310) 664-8792

REYNA WAS AN eighth grader at Mark Twain Middle School when she joined NYA. I was quite shy and didnt do much besides schoolwork. That all changed when I began attending NYA. After becoming a Youth Leader I became more outgoing and took on more leadership roles. NYA supported me and helped me achieve my goal of attending college. Reyna certainly overcame her shyness! Reyna was elected Student Body President during her senior year in high school. She was also President of Knights and Ladies, a campus service club and was a council member of the Oak Grove retreat program for high school students. All this, while acing three AP courses and participating on the Varsity Cross Country team. Reyna is a four time winner of the

NYA Alumna Reyna Juan

Reyna speaks at the 2010 NYA Scholarship and Community Service Awards Dinner.
Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza M. Jones Scholarship. Last year, Reyna graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a double major in Politics and Spanish. She is currently working full time and considering graduate school.
Photo by Penny Jennings

Impacting More Students in More Neighborhoods

EVERY YOUNG PERSON deserves the opportunity to succeed. That is why NYA has partnered with affordable housing developers to bring NYAs PERSONAL BEST afterschool academic program to youth in low income neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles. Through these partnerships, NYA has added three new program sites throughout Los Angeles in Downtown, Mid-City and South Los Angeles. NYA is serving an additional

60 students at these sites, providing the academic support they need to succeed in elementary school, middle school, high school and beyond! Now in year three of these partnerships, the program is a hit with students. Diego, a third grader in Mid-City says, I like NYA because they help me with my homework and my grades. One of my favorite things from tutoring, aside from the help we have, is the orientation our tutors give us as future college students," says Alejandra, a twelfth grade student at NYAs South Los Angeles site. Alejandra is one of two students from the South Los Angeles site applying for NYAs college scholarship program.

Visit us on the web:

www.nyayouth.org

Join us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/ NeighborhoodYouthAssociation

Sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

Success Starts Early

Students, families, extended family, and friends gathered for a festive day at NYAs Las Doradas Childrens Center in June to celebrate the first of many graduations for these young students. NYAs Las Doradas Childrens Center serves low income children aged three to five, providing them with a strong foundation of academic and social skills to ensure their success in kindergarten and beyond!
Photos by Petra Krasinski

ABOUT NYA
Our Mission

BE A VOLUNTEER!
Neighborhood Youth Association's (NYA) mission is to provide low-income, at-risk children and youth, ages 3-18, and their families with core academic support and a comprehensive set of life skills in a sustained and focused manner over the critical years of their lives so that they may achieve a successful and productive adulthood.

Can you type?

Can you use a computer?

Our Students
NYA serves 200+ low-income and at-risk children and youth ages 3 to 18 and an additional 300 family members throughout Los Angeles with sites in Venice, Mar Vista, Downtown, Mid-City and South Los Angeles.

1016 Pleasant View Ave Venice, CA 90291

How about a hammer and saw?

Can you sew?

Can you play video games?

Can you read a story to a little one?

Or help a beginning reader?

How's your math or science?

100% of NYAs high school seniors graduated on time for the fifth year in a row in June 2012. All of these graduates are now in college or have completed an undergraduate degree all are among the first generation of their families to attend college! Three of NYAs students have been recognized by the Gates Millennium Scholarship Program, including one winner and two finalists.

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

Can you balance your checkbook?

Could you help a student struggling with homework?

Can you dance? Or sing?

Can you cook?

Whatever your skill or talent, NYA can use it. We depend on volunteers to assist our staff in keeping our programs running.

It's not only the students who will benefit. You'll find rich rewards for yourself in watching students meet their goals.

NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT # 142 Venice, CA

Call 310-664-8893 today. You'll be glad you did.

NYA Alumni alma maters: Bryn Mawr College California Art Institute California State University campuses in Bakersfield, East Bay, Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles and Northridge Macalester College Marymount College Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Mount Holyoke College Rhode Island Institute of Design Ripon College Lewis and Clark College Loyola Marymount University Mount St. Marys College University of California campuses in Berkley, Davis, Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz University of Southern California