Listed below are several of the programs that the Outreach team and the Bresee Youth Center provide followed by explanations of that program and the staff responsible for it. Feel free to contact any of the staff with interest and involvement as a student or volunteer.

Summer Camps
Winter Sports
Sports Leagues
Recreation
Volunteers
Parenting Class/Parenting Support
Youth Advocacy Program (FDN)
Tomorrow's Leaders
LA Bridges Virgil
Neighborhood Action Program (NAP)
Youth Leadership Council
Restorative Justice Initiative
Girls & Boys Clubs
Life
Covenant Groups

Summer Camps
The Bresee Youth Center offered several summer camps this past summer. The Yosemite trip, Cedar Lake camp and the Bike trip are three camps that were offered specifically for junior high age students. The Yosemite trip gave students a chance to camp outdoors, hike around the national park, and experience nature. Our next trip was to Big Bear, California to participate in Cedar Lake camp. Cedar Lake offered swimming, canoeing, rock climbing, rope courses, basketball, and outdoor camping. The last camp for junior high students probably required the most physical activity and that was the Bike Trip. The Bike trip took approximately 15 students and 3 staff biking up the Pacific Coast Highway. The Bike trip traveled over 372 miles in six days. The students and staff slept at local churches along the route.

There were three camps offered for high school students and they were the Houseboat trip, Quaker Meadows camp and Noah’s Ark camp. The Houseboat Trip was a four-day camp for high school age students. The trip offered a variety of water activities such as wave runners and water skiing. The Quaker Meadows Camp offered swimming, canoeing, rock climbing, rope courses, and outdoor camping. The last camp that we attended this summer was the Noah’s Ark Camp. The 10 high school students that participated in this camp traveled with 3 staff to Colorado and went rock climbing, white water rafting, and backpacking. If you would like to sign up you child/children for any of the summer camp or if you have any questions or concerns feel free to give Fonda Whitehead at ext. 164.
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Winter Sports
Last year we had the opportunity to participate in the Chill Program this program allows inner-city youth the opportunity to learn how to snowboard in the Big Bear Mountains. This program lasts for 6 weeks and our first set of kids had the time of their life. We also have the same privilege this year as well.
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Sports Leagues
Schedule of sports seasons
Boy’s basketball (CCBA League) Jan-April
NYI Tournament March
Girl’s Basketball (CCGBA League) May-June
Indoor Soccer June-July
Jr.-Sr. High Basketball June-Aug
Co-ed Volleyball (CCVA League Oct-Dec
Boy’s Flag Football Oct-Dec
Contact Fonda Whitehead, Sports & Recreation Coordinator
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Recreation
Monday thru Friday from 3-7 pm youth have access to recreational games such as pool tables, air hockey, and foosball but two of our most popular interest for youth would be the DJ booth and the mini-theater. Our DJ Booth is one of few that are located in a youth center. Youth can come in any day of the week and learn how to mix and scratch on the turntables or the CD mixer. We have had over 9 volunteer DJ’s come in to teach youth how to use our equipment but recently we have one DJ Instructor (Jimio) who teaches youth all aspects of Disc Jockeying like promotions, music theory, and production. We also have volunteers like DJ Eclipse who is sponsored by Power 106, mixes at several clubs in LA and is the Techniques #1 DMC Champ.

Our other interest is the mini-theater, youth are able to watch movies on VHS or DVD or look at Sporting events on satellite cable. But one of their favorites is Karaoke sing along. On a big wide screen youth are able to sing along to words of songs with their friends usually karaoke is done in places where youth are not allowed but now youth have the opportunity to sing and have fun.
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Volunteers
Thank you to all of the volunteers that have spent numerous hours working with the Bresee Youth Center. Without our dedicated volunteers we would not be as successful as we are in our sports programs and recreational activities. The Bresee Foundation would like to thank the following volunteers that have donated their time to Bresee over the past year:
Fred Burnam- Varsity Basketball Coach
Chris Brownlee- Jr. Varsity Basketball Coach
Fonda Whitehead- NYI Basketball Tournament and Girl’s Basketball Coach
Jimi Oh- DJ Instructor
DJ Eclipse-DJ Instructor
Richard Pulido- DJ Instructor
Designine D'Madreama-DJ Instructor
Dana Cremins- Yoga Instructor

If you are interested in volunteering as a coach, assistant coach or just volunteer your time to help the youth at Bresee please call us at (213) 387-2822 and contact Fonda Whitehead (Director of Outreach and Recreation) at ext. 164.
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Parenting Classes/Parent Support
If you were to ask me to name the heroes in our community, without a second thought, I would answer "parents." For those of you, who are parents, let me briefly remind you that you are probably the greatest hero your child will ever know.

Bresee is currently offering Parenting Classes three times a year through the Family Development Network (FDN). The winter session will begin January 8, 2001 and will end on March 26, 2001. Classes are once a week and sessions are 12 weeks long. In class we focus on issues such as child development, redirecting a child's attention, rules & consequences, communication, and self-esteem. A parent support group also meets every Friday from 6-7:30. Day care is provided.

You are cordially invited to be a part of this family, one in which you will learn important tools to strengthen your family and in which you will find the support that you have been looking for. Please contact Perla Aragon at 213-387-2822 x130 for further information.
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Youth Advocacy Program (FDN)
The Youth Advocacy Program (Y.A.P.) is designed to deter first time offenders from becoming second time offenders. Through the Y.A.P. referral system, youngsters between the ages of 11-18 are given an opportunity to improve in many aspects of their lives. The Y.A.P. referral period lasts three months, during this time period all referrals must attend 12 sessions of peer counseling, each session lasting for two hours. Also on a weekly basis all referrals must attend at least three hours of academic enrichment and three hours of technology enrichment (computer training). One on one counseling is also provided to those referrals that need it. Y.A.P. referrals also have unrestricted access to all the daily activities that go on at Bresee and may remain active member once their referral period has ended. Parents can also join parenting classes or parent support groups when looking for new strategies to help improve family relations in general.
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Tomorrows Leaders
This program begins every six weeks. This program will encourage students to improve grades by attending the learning Center, improve their computer skills by completing courses in the computer lab, and improve their leadership skills by being a part of a our Youth Leadership Council for 6 weeks. Students will participate in one of our activities that are offered on Tuesday and Thursday (Art, Drama, Yoga, Hip Hop Classes, Karaoke, Sports, Job Workshops, etc.). Contact Andrew Middleton at 213-387-2822 x129.
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LA Bridges Virgil
All students referred to us from the Bridges program will receive assistance with homework, develop basic computer skills, and our LA Bridges Virgil Outreach Specialist will manage the cases. Referrals can be suggested to Bresee but must be referred by the LA Bridges Virgil office on campus. Contact Gerardo Gastelum for more info @ 213-387-2822 x117.
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Neighborhood Action Program (NAP)
Provides homework & computer assistance for low-income students in the CIPA 3 area. See attached diagram. Contact Andrew Middleton at 213-387-2822 x 129.
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Youth Leadership Council
Our Youth Leadership Council consists of 6 youth. The Council meets on a weekly basis to discuss issues in the community and to develop projects to help better the community. For more info contact Fonda Whitehead at 213-387-2822 x 164.
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Restorative Justice Initiative
This program is designed for youth who are considered to be "repeat offenders", who have had multiple contacts with law enforcement. They are referred to us by law enforcement agencies, such as Probation, LAPD and the Juvenile Courts for intensive case management.

Services offered are Anger Management, Peer Counseling, Self-Esteem Counseling, Community Service, Job Training (including paid internships), Parenting classes, Academic Enrichment, Technology Training and Recreation. We schedule the kids for services that are required by the referring agency and/or based on their individual needs. Youth in this program have full access to the other activities available in the Youth Center. The emphasis in this program is on individual attention and personalized intervention plans.

For more information, contact Rene Martinez, (213)387-2822 ext. 112. rmartinez@bresee.org.
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Girls & Boys Club
Every other Monday Bresee Youth participates in our girls and boys club meetings and events. These clubs are specifically designed to deal with everyday issues that girls and boys face but also includes fun activities that youth can participate in with their same gender.
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LIFE
Life is a program that involves skits, speakers, and music from a Christian perspective. This program takes place on a weekly basis and youth are not required to participate in this program but it is open to any youth.
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Covenant
Covenant is a group of 3-5 youth that meet with a staff member on a weekly basis to talk about issues that occur in their life (support group). The groups are faith based and also include fun activities.
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