SR 06-14-2016 13E
13.E
June 14, 2016
Council Meeting: June 14, 2016 Santa Monica, California
- MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Denise Anderson-Warren, City Clerk, Records & Elections Services
Department
Date: June 14, 2016
Request of Mayor Pro Tempore Winterer and Councilmembers Davis and
13.E
Himmelrich that the Council allocate $10,000 to the Church in Ocean Park,
a 501(c)3, to continue the work of the Girl Central program of the Santa
Monica YWCA which is closing its doors June 30th. Starting July 1st the
Church will create a new program called Youth Creating Change which will
serve the same young women and girls who participated in the YWCA's
program. The $10,000 will allow the Church to hire one of the YWCA's staff
members for three months to provide continuity; subsequently the Church
will seek to raise funds from other sources to continue and expand Youth
Creating Change program.
1 of 1
Members of the City Council, City Clerk and City Manager,
I am writing to request $10,000 from discretionary funds for a community youth project, Youth Creating
Girl Central,
Change. These funds would go towards continuing a program that will otherwise be lost
due to the closure of the YWCA.
Girl Central
We are concerned about the closing of the YWCA. Their program was
a safe, creative space for girls to discover much about life and about themselves. This program has been a
pillar in the community for the education, empowerment and leadership training of girls and young
Girl Central
women. is diverse and they deal with real life issues. They provide opportunities for
creative expression through dance and spoken word, and they provide academic help.
The YWCA is one of the few institutions that has been in the Santa Monica community for 9 decades.
The fact that they are suddenly closing leaves many girls and their families grieving the loss not only of
important, life-affirming programs but they are also grieving the significant relationships they have
developed. As you probably know, to be resilient, young people need a strong, positive emotional
attachment to a caring, loving adult throughout childhood and adolescence. For many of the girls in the
Girl Central
program, the staff members fulfill that role.
Youth Creating Change is a community program launching out of the Church in Ocean Park for all
young people through the age of 24. Its mission is to provide opportunities for a diverse group of young
people to improve their community and world together. We birthing a safe space with creative arts,
education and experiential learning. YCC is for all young people but with specific outreach to young
people with special needs, youth of color and young people in the LGBTQ community. We provide
support for the sometimes difficult transition from childhood to adulthood for people in these groups.
The girls from the YWCA are grieving the loss of their home base. They are grieving the loss of those
relationships with staff that are helping them build a solid foundation for their lives. The uncertainty
about the future of Girl Central is causing anxiety, and we are trying to reassure them that the Girl Central
program will continue.
This proposal will enable us to keep one of the staff members, at least part time for 3 months so that the
girls feel comfortable and safe. The estimated cost for that position for 3 months is $10,000. We are
doing other fundraising, and hope to hire their beloved and very skilled dance teacher part time as well.
The urgency is that the YWCA is closing June 30 th and we are having a meeting at the Church in Ocean
Park with parents on June 20 th. Our hope is that we can tell them at that meeting, that Girl Central is
continuing and the girls are welcome at this new location.
We believe that this is not the time to stop positive programs like those of the YWCA. In a time of
intense negativity and division, we hope you will support the YCC, so that we can continue Girl Central
and even expand it.
reversing this trend.
to be actively engaged in We are asking for your support in continuing a program
towards that end.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need any more information.
Sincerely,
Rev. Janet G McKeithen Minister, Church in Ocean Park
Add to 13-E
06/14/2016
Anne Samartha
From:davidwhatley@reagan.com
Sent:Monday, June 13, 2016 2:34 PM
To:councilmtgitems
Cc:Clerk Mailbox; robbs@hpumc.org; wocbishop@wocumc.org; westohio@wocumc.org;
churchOP@aol.com; Leah@risenchurch.com
Subject:City Council Meeting Tuesday June 14, 2016 Agenda Item 13E
Attachments:LetterCityCouncilMtg6.14.2016.Item13E.pdf; LetterfromReverendMcKeithen.pdf
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
June13,2014
DearSantaMonicaCityClerkOffice,
IwouldliketospeakonAgendaItem13Eattomorrow'sCityCouncilmeeting.UnfortunatelyIwillbeunabletoattendin
personsoIaskthatmycommentsbegiventheCouncilfortheirconsideration;Ihaveexpressedmycommentsina
letterwhichIhaveaddressedtotheCouncilandhaveattachedwiththisemail.
ThankyouforyourtimewiththismatterandIaskthatmycommentsbemadeapartoftheofficialpublicrecord.
Sincerely,
DavidWhatley
SantaMonicaresident
Attachments:
1.LettertoCityCouncilMtgdtd6.14.20162.LetterfromRev.McKeithen,UnitedMethodistChurch
cc:
HighlandParkUnitedMethodistChurchCouncilviaRev.SusanRobbVIAEMAIL(robbs@hpumc.org)BishopGregory
PalmerVIAEMAIL(wocbishop@wocumc.org)(westohio@wocumc.org)Rev.JanetMckeithenVIAEMAIL
(churchOP@aol.com)RisenWestsideChurchCouncilVIAEMAIL(Leah@risenchurch.com)
1
Add to 13-E
06/14/2016
Tuesday June 14, 2016
The Honorable Santa Monica City Council
1685 Main Street, Room 209
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Re: Agenda Item 13E
The Honorable Santa Monica City Council,
I am here this evening to express my support for Agenda Item 13E…
http://santamonicacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=1065&MediaPos
ition=&ID=2001&CssClass=
…a request by Mayor Pro Tempore Winterer and Councilors Davis and Himmelrich that $10,000.00 be
taken out of discretionary funds and be distributed to the United Methodist Church – Church on Ocean
Parkhttp://www.umc.org/find-a-church/church/74990for their “Youth Creating Change” project.
I know personally Reverend Janet McKeithen who is the Church’s Senior Pastor and think that she is
wonderful. –Not only is she authentic and caring, she is nonjudgmental and welcoming of all.
The “Youth Creating Change” project helps youth in need. According to Rev. McKeithen’s letter, “YCC
is for all young people but with specific outreach to young people with special needs, youth of color and
young people in the LGBTQ community. We provide support for the sometimes difficult transition from
childhood to adulthood for people in these groups”
I would ask that others from within the United Methodist Church family at large and from within the
Santa Monica faith community at small be allowed to participate in the shaping and content of this
community program given that there are a wide spectrum of opinions with respect to issues that impact
our youth and I believe that richness and quality in educational programming comes from such diversity.
Thank you for your time with this note and I urge you to pass Agenda Item 13E.
Sincerely,
David Whatley
Resident and Teacher, Wilmont neighborhood
cc:
Highland Park United Methodist Church Council via Rev. Susan Robb VIA EMAIL (robbs@hpumc.org)
Bishop Gregory Palmer VIA EMAIL (wocbishop@wocumc.org) (westohio@wocumc.org)
Rev. Janet Mckeithen VIA EMAIL (churchOP@aol.com)
Risen Westside Church Council VIA EMAIL (Leah@risenchurch.com)
Add to 13-E
06/14/2016
Members of the City Council, City Clerk and City Manager,
I am writing to request $10,000 from discretionary funds for a community youth project, Youth Creating
Girl Central,
Change.These funds would go towards continuing a program that will otherwise be lost
due to the closure of the YWCA.
Girl Central
We are concerned about the closing of the YWCA. Their program was
, as IÓm sure you are
a safe, creative space for girls to discover much about life and about themselves. This program has been a
pillar in the community for the education, empowerment and leadership training of girls and young
Girl Central
women. is diverse and they deal with real life issues. They provide opportunities for
creative expression through dance and spoken word, and they provide academic help.
The YWCA is one of the few institutions that has been in the Santa Monica community for 9 decades.
The fact that they are suddenly closing leaves many girls and their families grieving the loss not only of
important, life-affirming programs but they are also grieving the significant relationships they have
developed. As you probably know, to be resilient, young people need a strong, positive emotional
attachment to a caring, loving adult throughout childhood and adolescence. For many of the girls in the
Girl Central
program, the staff members fulfill that role.
Youth Creating Change is a community program launching out of the Church in Ocean Park for all
young people through the age of 24. Its mission is to provide opportunities for a diverse group of young
people to improve their community and world together. We birthing a safe space with creative arts,
education and experiential learning. YCC is for all young people but with specific outreach to young
people with special needs, youth of color and young people in the LGBTQ community. We provide
support for the sometimes difficult transition from childhood to adulthood for people in these groups.
The girls from the YWCA are grieving the loss of their home base. They are grieving the loss of those
relationships with staff that are helping them build a solid foundation for their lives. The uncertainty
about the future of Girl Central is causing anxiety, and we are trying to reassure them that the Girl Central
program will continue.
This proposal will enable us to keep one of the staff members, at least part time for 3 months so that the
girls feel comfortable and safe. The estimated cost for that position for 3 months is $10,000. We are
doing other fundraising, and hope to hire their beloved and very skilled dance teacher part time as well.
The urgency is that the YWCA is closing June 30 th and we are having a meeting at the Church in Ocean
Park with parents on June 20 th. Our hope is that we can tell them at that meeting, that Girl Central is
continuing and the girls are welcome at this new location.
We believe that this is not the time to stop positive programs like those of the YWCA. In a time of
intense negativity and division, we hope you will support the YCC, so that we can continue Girl Central
and even expand it.
Our country is becoming increasingly negative and degrading of anybody deemed ÐdifferentÑ. We need
reversing this trend.
to be actively engaged in We are asking for your support in continuing a program
towards that end.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need any more information.
Sincerely,
Rev. Janet G McKeithen Minister, Church in Ocean Park