Youth Action attracted student to involvement

QUINCY  - David Navarro was a better than B-average student who never got involved in student leadership.

Then, in the summer of 2010, at a meeting sponsored by adults, he became a leader. He helped form Youth Action, which focuses on youth and community needs.

Last January he spoke to a legislative committee in Olympia about funding cuts that would hurt Readiness to Learn programs. Funding was not cut.

“He sold them,” said Kaye Baumgartner, one of the adults who helped form Youth Action.

Baumgartner was a member of Partnership for Youth (PFY), which was formed in 2007. One of its goals was to unleash the leadership abilities of a youth like Navarro.

During community youth development forums sponsored by PFY, members of the organization started to realize community youths had a lot to say and offer. All they needed was a venue.

But, after the forums ended, “there was a void,” Baumgartner said.  A new effort was needed, and that took shape in June of 2010.

The plan was to meet once a month with students for lunch, Baumgartner said. Instead there were several meetings in rapid succession that led to Youth Action.

In addition to Baumgartner, Youth Action advisors include Mareesha Backman, Pearl Lopez, Erin James, Violeta Cortez and Diane McNay.

Navarro doesn't recall why exactly he went to the first meeting. He went, probably, because he received a personal invitation.

“It was a totally random thing,” he said.

Navarro was among a group of students who were invited specifically on the recommendation that they possessed leadership qualities. Once he realized what the meetings were about, Navarro didn't miss.

“I enjoy helping the community,” he said.

“He's a natural,” Baumgartner said. “Sometimes kids just need an avenue.”

Navarro's attitude was the one Baumgartner and the group sought. The principal question at the meetings was: What do you want to do to better your community?

   “We wanted to help our youths to be realized and recognized as assets to the community instead of problems,” Baumgartner.

Youth Action members ran with that goal. They organized Family Fun in the Park for that September and drew about 150 people to the event.

Youth Action organized Movie Night, which is held once a month at the high school. The City of Quincy got behind that effort and paid for the license necessary to show movies.

“The city really believes in this group,” Baumgartner said.

Movie Night drew a few people the first time. Now it attracts about 100, Navarro said. The closest regular movie house is 16 miles  away in Ephrata.

Movie Night shows two movies. There is one family-oriented film from 5-7 p.m. There is a youth-oriented film at 7:30.

Movies so far have included “Transformers 3”, “Blind Side” and “Smurfs”.

In September of 2010, Youth Action members offered themselves as volunteers at the annual Farmer Consumer Awareness days. Some were hired to be interpreters at a booth set up by an insurance company.

Another project for Youth Action occurred during National Drug Facts Week. Members spoked to junior high students about the challenges of drug use.

Then Youth Action joined a national substance abuse campaign called Draw the Line. It asked adults and youths alike to draw a line between underage drinking and the community's youths.

Draw the Line was held in the NAPA parking lot. People ate and drank soft drinks together, heard presentations and signed Draw the Line pledge cards.

Afterward, people lined up along the street, holding large sheets of paper with a big blue line  end-to-end in a long chain, Draw(ing) the Line. It stretched from NAPA to Central Ave.

For two years, Youth Action has partnered with the Youth Readiness to Learn Action Team to send four Youth Action members to Arizona for leadership training. Navarro was part of the second group to go.

Coming up soon for Navarro is the task of helping find a new president. He will graduate from Quincy High this spring and head off to WSU with his 3.30 grade point average.

Baumgartner will be sad to see Navarro move on, but she'll be happy too. He will leave behind a Youth Action that is ready for greater accomplishments and a core of youths ready to lead.

“Advisors will share new dreams with the kids,” Baumgartner said. “I see more community involvement.”

Already plans are under way for Draw the Line in the spring and Family Fun in the Park in August.