SRO Newsletter, December 2008
Message From the Executive Director
At the start of each season, we review the rules with a bit more frequency until our new group of students gets acclimated to SRO. I'm sure many of our Newsletter readers recall that the Downtown Oakland YMCA, one of our strategic partners, allows us access to their newly remodeled state of the art workout facility, free of charge. Twice weekly we expose the young people to core strength training, spinning, and yoga to augment their running. In these classes they gain increased strength, balance, agility, and even increased mental discipline. Because it is such an impressive facility, the students are excited to get inside and start their training, but this excitement usually requires some tempering - little reminders to not run through the facility, to keep their voices down, and to be mindful and respectful of the other patrons using the gym.
A few weeks ago, as we were standing outside of the YMCA, I was reminding the students of SRO's rules. After I concluded the reminder, I asked the students, "Do you think you can do that?" and I heard one of the students in the crowd reply, "Yes we can." And right after that, another student understood the significance of the reply and chimed in and said "Yes we can." A few more students joined in and I even heard a couple of students reply back, "Si, se puede."
I smiled reflecting that our new President Elect, Barack Obama, had even touched and reached SRO. Regardless of political affiliation, I know that most of us would agree that the participation and dedication of focused young people is powerful, and we are fortunate to foster that here at SRO. We know that the young people who make it through the program and experience the tremendous pride of crossing the finish line are transformed to take through life an unspoken knowledge of "yes we can." Our new students, many who are a few years away from being able to vote, understood the symbolism and significance to this belief in knowing they can determine their outcome.
During our runs now, you hear young people saying "yes we can," quietly as they make it through their miles. You also hear SRO's cheerleader, Ralph, lead the group in really loud "yes we can" cheers.
At the start of the season this year SRO was better positioned than ever, and then we were thrown a curve ball. The Los Angeles Marathon, the culmanating event of the season, first moved from its original date in early March to two weeks earlier, in mid February, and then subsequently moved it to late May, three months later than our season typically extends. These additional months have sizable implications to the program -- it is three additional months of budget expenses that were not planned as part of the year. It is three months longer than our volunteers signed up for. And for SRO's seniors it will pose schedule challenges that may compete with planned graduation events.
We took a survey of staff, students, and volunteers to let the full organization make the decision as to whether or not we should extend the season. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of finishing the journey to Los Angeles. And, when I have been asked if SRO will be able to make it happen, I reply, "yes we can."
- Spencer Hooper
Los Angeles Marathon Date Change and Student Feedback
As many of you know, the ownership of the Los Angeles Marathon changed this fall, and with that change the date of the marathon was moved to Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.
SRO surveyed staff, students, and volunteers and the result was overwhelming support -- more than 80% -- to extend the season an additional three months.
One of the first students to respond to our marathon training survey captured the essence of what SRO is about:
I think we need to do both runs [the Kaiser Half Marathon in February and the LA Marathon in May] to make SRO a good reputation of keeping their promise of L.A. marathon. If we don't and we just do the half marathon we would be walking home with hardly anything to be proud of. I signed up for a complete marathon no matter what day it will be on. This is only another challenge and I believe yes we can do it. We are ready for a new challenge. This is just like what coach Alphonzo has always said, "Its mind over matter, if you don't mind it dont matter". I have been with this program once and it already turned my life around. It taught me not to give up at all and keep trying until the end. So please fulfill another one of my dreams and give me another run for my life...
- SRO student
Student Liaison Reaching Out to Students, Families
Many of our readers, who are also donors, may recall that last year's annual fundraising campaign was focused on raising the funds to hire a Student Liaison. We are pleased to annouce that with the generous contributions from our supports and a grant from our community partner, Team Up for Youth, we raised the budget to fund this important position. The Student Liaison position was created to work directly as a student advocate, helping to bridge communication between students, families, teachers, and SRO, and also to link students with addition
al resources such as tutoring, college workshops, internship opportunities, and counselors. We are excited to have Michelle Deiro join us as Student Liaison.
My work in SRO is multi-faceted, but my primary focus is on being each student's advocate through motivation, care, high expectations and standards, and providing a strong kick in the butt when needed. In order to do this, I work with students to help them with personal and academic issues that arise and push them to problem solve and make strong decisions. I work closely with SRO staff, school captains, and other school staff to keep tabs on what is happening at school sites for our kids; arrange and monitor grades and tutoring; offer college workshops and college outreach; communicate with families as needed; share leadership, college, and personal growth opportunities within the Bay Area; arrange health clinics during training; support students' emotional and academic needs as they arise during the season; and of course run and workout with students at times during the week. I look forward to working closely with this community of strong, smart, and dedicated Oakland youth to support them as they continue to create meaningful and rich lives for themselves.
- Michelle Deiro
Increased Focus on Mentoring
SRO is fortunate to have a passionate and committed team of volunteers. Each year we have many returning volunteers as well as new recruits. Our volunteer base is such that we maintain a very low adult to student ratio which has always allowed informal bonding and mentoring to occur during the weekend runs and events throughout the season.
This season, SRO is continuing to evolve the mentoring component of the program by developing a more structured mentor model that will increase the cohesiveness of volunteers and students so that the core values of SRO are maintained and supported. We are hoping that deeper adult to student relationships will increase overall retention of students and volunteers, as well as the satisfaction and fun for everyone.
Volunteers are now paired with a Lead Volunteer, a veteran SRO volunteer who helps assist with orientation to the organization, and with one or two students, to whom they provide extra support and guidance.
Special thanks to Team Up for Youth for helping us develop our model and providing input as we continue to develop the mentoring side of our organization. Over the course of the season, we will share more stories from our mentoring program and introduce you to some of our Lead Volunteers and their Volunteers and Student
teams.
Clinic Series
Student Liaison Michelle Deiro is helping organize a series of clinics for students and volunteers. Topics to date have included college preparation, asthma awareness, injury prevention, nutrition, and healthy decision making.
SRO Annual Campaign
SRO's Annual Fundraising and Friends and Family campaigns are underway. To all of our supporters, thank you! We hope that you can see through our work how impactful your contributions are.
This year's campaign is focused on raising the budget for a Business Development position. Like the Student Liaison position that we were able to fund this year, the Business Development role is critical in advancing SRO. With this position, we plan to grow SRO and expand the program's reach to a greater number of schools and students.
Given the unique challenges of this season -- an unplanned additional three months due to the Los Angeles Marathon change -- we could also use more general program support. It's not too late to donate or to volunteer!
Tremendous Thanks
Each year SRO receives terrific support from local and not so local organizations.
Brett Lamb, owner of Fleet Feet San Francisco, has supported SRO for the past two seasons by hosting fundraising runs and by donating running gear.
This year, Brett facilitated SRO forming a relationship with the running company Mizuno. Mizuno is donating 100% of the students' running shoes and training uniforms for the season!
Over the past few months, we have also been fortunate to gain the support of Saucony's Run for Good foundation and the Stewardship Council. Run for Good has contributed funding to help improve the physcial health of young people, and the Stewardship Council has contributed funding to help more young people participate in outdoor activities.
In our upcoming newsletters, we will tell you more about SRO's incredible sponsors.
SRO's website is www.sroakland.org. Tax-deductible donations can be made online or by mailing a check to P.O. Box 10696, Oakland, CA 94610.
Join our mailing list to receive this newsletter in your email inbox.
A few weeks ago, as we were standing outside of the YMCA, I was reminding the students of SRO's rules. After I concluded the reminder, I asked the students, "Do you think you can do that?" and I heard one of the students in the crowd reply, "Yes we can." And right after that, another student understood the significance of the reply and chimed in and said "Yes we can." A few more students joined in and I even heard a couple of students reply back, "Si, se puede."
I smiled reflecting that our new President Elect, Barack Obama, had even touched and reached SRO. Regardless of political affiliation, I know that most of us would agree that the participation and dedication of focused young people is powerful, and we are fortunate to foster that here at SRO. We know that the young people who make it through the program and experience the tremendous pride of crossing the finish line are transformed to take through life an unspoken knowledge of "yes we can." Our new students, many who are a few years away from being able to vote, understood the symbolism and significance to this belief in knowing they can determine their outcome.
During our runs now, you hear young people saying "yes we can," quietly as they make it through their miles. You also hear SRO's cheerleader, Ralph, lead the group in really loud "yes we can" cheers.
At the start of the season this year SRO was better positioned than ever, and then we were thrown a curve ball. The Los Angeles Marathon, the culmanating event of the season, first moved from its original date in early March to two weeks earlier, in mid February, and then subsequently moved it to late May, three months later than our season typically extends. These additional months have sizable implications to the program -- it is three additional months of budget expenses that were not planned as part of the year. It is three months longer than our volunteers signed up for. And for SRO's seniors it will pose schedule challenges that may compete with planned graduation events.
We took a survey of staff, students, and volunteers to let the full organization make the decision as to whether or not we should extend the season. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of finishing the journey to Los Angeles. And, when I have been asked if SRO will be able to make it happen, I reply, "yes we can."
- Spencer Hooper
Los Angeles Marathon Date Change and Student Feedback
As many of you know, the ownership of the Los Angeles Marathon changed this fall, and with that change the date of the marathon was moved to Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.
SRO surveyed staff, students, and volunteers and the result was overwhelming support -- more than 80% -- to extend the season an additional three months.
One of the first students to respond to our marathon training survey captured the essence of what SRO is about:
I think we need to do both runs [the Kaiser Half Marathon in February and the LA Marathon in May] to make SRO a good reputation of keeping their promise of L.A. marathon. If we don't and we just do the half marathon we would be walking home with hardly anything to be proud of. I signed up for a complete marathon no matter what day it will be on. This is only another challenge and I believe yes we can do it. We are ready for a new challenge. This is just like what coach Alphonzo has always said, "Its mind over matter, if you don't mind it dont matter". I have been with this program once and it already turned my life around. It taught me not to give up at all and keep trying until the end. So please fulfill another one of my dreams and give me another run for my life...
- SRO student
Student Liaison Reaching Out to Students, Families
Many of our readers, who are also donors, may recall that last year's annual fundraising campaign was focused on raising the funds to hire a Student Liaison. We are pleased to annouce that with the generous contributions from our supports and a grant from our community partner, Team Up for Youth, we raised the budget to fund this important position. The Student Liaison position was created to work directly as a student advocate, helping to bridge communication between students, families, teachers, and SRO, and also to link students with addition
al resources such as tutoring, college workshops, internship opportunities, and counselors. We are excited to have Michelle Deiro join us as Student Liaison.My work in SRO is multi-faceted, but my primary focus is on being each student's advocate through motivation, care, high expectations and standards, and providing a strong kick in the butt when needed. In order to do this, I work with students to help them with personal and academic issues that arise and push them to problem solve and make strong decisions. I work closely with SRO staff, school captains, and other school staff to keep tabs on what is happening at school sites for our kids; arrange and monitor grades and tutoring; offer college workshops and college outreach; communicate with families as needed; share leadership, college, and personal growth opportunities within the Bay Area; arrange health clinics during training; support students' emotional and academic needs as they arise during the season; and of course run and workout with students at times during the week. I look forward to working closely with this community of strong, smart, and dedicated Oakland youth to support them as they continue to create meaningful and rich lives for themselves.
- Michelle Deiro
Increased Focus on Mentoring
SRO is fortunate to have a passionate and committed team of volunteers. Each year we have many returning volunteers as well as new recruits. Our volunteer base is such that we maintain a very low adult to student ratio which has always allowed informal bonding and mentoring to occur during the weekend runs and events throughout the season.
This season, SRO is continuing to evolve the mentoring component of the program by developing a more structured mentor model that will increase the cohesiveness of volunteers and students so that the core values of SRO are maintained and supported. We are hoping that deeper adult to student relationships will increase overall retention of students and volunteers, as well as the satisfaction and fun for everyone.
Volunteers are now paired with a Lead Volunteer, a veteran SRO volunteer who helps assist with orientation to the organization, and with one or two students, to whom they provide extra support and guidance.
Special thanks to Team Up for Youth for helping us develop our model and providing input as we continue to develop the mentoring side of our organization. Over the course of the season, we will share more stories from our mentoring program and introduce you to some of our Lead Volunteers and their Volunteers and Student
teams.
Clinic Series
Student Liaison Michelle Deiro is helping organize a series of clinics for students and volunteers. Topics to date have included college preparation, asthma awareness, injury prevention, nutrition, and healthy decision making.
SRO Annual Campaign
SRO's Annual Fundraising and Friends and Family campaigns are underway. To all of our supporters, thank you! We hope that you can see through our work how impactful your contributions are.
This year's campaign is focused on raising the budget for a Business Development position. Like the Student Liaison position that we were able to fund this year, the Business Development role is critical in advancing SRO. With this position, we plan to grow SRO and expand the program's reach to a greater number of schools and students.
Given the unique challenges of this season -- an unplanned additional three months due to the Los Angeles Marathon change -- we could also use more general program support. It's not too late to donate or to volunteer!
Tremendous Thanks
Each year SRO receives terrific support from local and not so local organizations.
Brett Lamb, owner of Fleet Feet San Francisco, has supported SRO for the past two seasons by hosting fundraising runs and by donating running gear.
This year, Brett facilitated SRO forming a relationship with the running company Mizuno. Mizuno is donating 100% of the students' running shoes and training uniforms for the season!
Over the past few months, we have also been fortunate to gain the support of Saucony's Run for Good foundation and the Stewardship Council. Run for Good has contributed funding to help improve the physcial health of young people, and the Stewardship Council has contributed funding to help more young people participate in outdoor activities.
In our upcoming newsletters, we will tell you more about SRO's incredible sponsors.
SRO's website is www.sroakland.org. Tax-deductible donations can be made online or by mailing a check to P.O. Box 10696, Oakland, CA 94610.
Join our mailing list to receive this newsletter in your email inbox.
posted by Unknown at 8:25 AM
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