Youth of the Year nominee Ashley Delgado

Ashley Delgado found the Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley’s Compadre Branch – Chandler  when she was 7. Now  17, she helps embrace new teens who want to join.

Ashley Delgado. Photo courtesy of the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Valley.

She has been in the clubs’ Leadership in Training Program and served as a group leader during a daytime summer camp. As the Keystone Club’s leader she helped raised about $500 for cancer research. She also teamed up with her mother, who works for Community Services of Arizona, to allow the Keystone Club to serve food to folks at the Gilbert Senior Center.

Delgado is one of eight outstanding valley youth vying to become the Boys and Girls Clubs of East Valley’s Youth of the Year on Feb. 27. The event, which ultimately will chose one youth to represent the chapter at the statewide competition, will be held ar 5:30 p.m. at The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre.

Delgado used to compete in various sports until she was diagnosed with a heart condition last March. This, among other serious obstacles have made her determined and committed to her family. When she was younger, her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer; Delgado watched her fight and beat it.

Her neighborhood is also has a lot of gang activity and violence, but Delgado’s parents have helped her stay on track and make good choices.

Delgado is a senior at Chandler Early College, a high school on the Chandler-Gilbert Community College campus, where she takes college classes while still in high school so she can graduate early. Her Keystone Club experience prepared her to serve on the school’s Student Council.

After high school, she would like to earn a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy at Arizona State University. Delgado hopes to work with patients diagnosed with cerebral palsy and other special needs children.

Every year, thousands of children benefit from after-school youth development programs, extended services and community support programs through the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Valley. For more information visit clubzona.org.

— Erin Saltzman

ICAN breaks ground with help of Justice O’Connor

Sandra Day O'Connor.

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor will be the guest speaker at a groundbreaking ceremony for a project that will allow the ICAN Community Center to expand its services to at-risk youth by 55 percent.

The ceremony will take place at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 18 at Folley Memorial Park in Chandler.

For more than 20 years, the ICAN Community Center has offered preventative programming to at-risk youth, providing free academic and recreational programming and empowering kids to avoid drug use, gang activity and crime and become active contributors to the community. About 150 youth per day are currently being served.

O’Connor’s “commitment to youth and children’s rights, and her continued recognition of social equity for kids” makes her alignment with the project particularly significant, says ICAN Community Center CEO Christy McClendon.

Also present at the ceremony will be Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny, members of the City Council, ICAN’s board of directors and contributors to the project.

ICAN’s current facility, located in the Chandler Redevelopment Area, has 6,000 square feet of space. The 5.6 million dollar new facility will grow that area by 15,000 square feet, sitting on 2.5 acres in its new location at Folley Memorial Park.

It will include six classrooms, a half gym, a learning center, offices and conference rooms. Construction is scheduled to wrap up in the summer of 2012.

The groundbreaking ceremony will include a virtual tour of the new facility, which will be outlined on the ground at the site, as well as the interment of a 20-year time capsule.

Light refreshments and food will be served during the groundbreaking event, which is free and open to the public.

For more information about the event, or about ICAN, call 480-821-4207 or visit icanaz.org. — Sadie Smeck

Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor talks about the Our Courts project, a website designed to boost interest among middle schoolers about civics education. With interactive games for students and curriculum builders for teachers, O’Connor’s vision is to inspire students of the 21st century to remain active participants in our democracy. RAK Podcasts.

ICAN turns a young man’s “wishful thinking” into reality

Jonathan Davis.

When Jonathan Davis was 6, he was living in a three-bedroom apartment with seven other family members. His father was dead. His single mom was struggling to provide for her family.

“The neighborhood I grew up in (had) a lot of gangs running the streets…doing drugs and (participating in) graffiti,” Jonathan recalls. There were a lot of negative influences that could have led Jonathan into gang activity and substance abuse, but Chandler-based ICAN helped keep him focused on school and making the right decisions for his future.

Earlier this year, Jonathan, now 20, got to share his story with NPR’s StoryCorps. His interview will be archived in the Library of Congress.

“Without ICAN, I don’t know where I’d be today,” he says. Three of his siblings never completed high school.

Jonathan had dreams of attending college but worried that “it was wishful thinking.” Little did he know that the skill sets and relationships he built at ICAN would help him reach his goal. While in high school, Jonathan met ICAN supporters John and Patty Breeding at an event where Jonathan was presenting. The Breedings were so inspired by Jonathan’s story of overcoming the challenges he faced in his life that they offered to sponsor him through college.

John Breeding says Jonathan is “a fine young man” who will create a long-term, positive impact on our community simply by being educated. “Patty and I feel like you have the qualities of someone who…will bring change and will improve and motivate everybody around you,” he tells Jonathan. “You’re the kind of person who’s going to make the world a better place. Patty and I are very proud of you.”

Jonathan is currently completing his first year of college at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, where he earned As and Bs his first semester. He has set his sights on music production when he completes his studies. He’s still involved in ICAN, where he works as a youth trainer.

“Going through hard times can make a man out of you,” says Breeding, who describes himself as Jonathan’s “sponsor, sometimes mentor and biggest fan.”

ICAN provides free, comprehensive out-of-school time programs that empower youth to be productive, self-confident, and responsible members of the community. Learn more.

Volunteers needed for Water Safety Day

More than one hundred volunteers are needed to work at Valley Toyota Dealers’ 12th annual Water Safety Day, also presented by SRP Safety Connection, on Tuesday, March 29 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, 2626 E. Pecos Rd. in Chandler.

At the event, which takes place from 9am to 1:30pm, more than 1,100 first graders will learn drowning prevention lessons.

Water Watchers at Phoenix Children’s Hospital coordinates the effort, with Chandler and Gilbert Fire departments lending significant assistance and Mesa Community College providing support. More than one hundred volunteer positions are available, including:

• Tour guides to direct teachers and children through the activities
• Setup, cleanup, and food service positions
• Logistical support, including transporting supplies throughout the event
• Assistants to help presenters at various activities, including the “Build-A-Reminder” craft activity, with La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries

Some shifts start as early as 5 a.m. Bilingual Spanish speaking volunteers are especially needed. For more information, contact Dusty Whitney at 602-546-0268 or dwhitney@phoenixchildrens.com.

Last year 20 children drowned in Maricopa County and half of those drownings occurred in the East Valley.

Holiday festivities around the Valley

Halloween is over, Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas is on its way. All around the Valley you can find holiday festivals to take part in and enjoy.

FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE’S “CHRISTMAS AT THE PRINCESS”

The Fairmont Scottsdale’s new “Christmas at the Princess” festivities include a Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration from 6 to 8pm, Tuesday, Nov. 30. The event features the lighting of the resort’s all-new, four-story Christmas tree, specially designed with 65,000 LED lights that twinkle and dance to 10 holiday songs. The evening includes a performance by the Phoenix Boys Choir, a visit from Santa and a surprise performance by a nationally-known entertainer. Complimentary hot cider, cookies and other seasonal treats will round out the fun.

The tree lighting ceremony kicks off the resort’s Toys for Tots drive. The Scottsdale Fire Department will be on hand with a fire truck to accept unwrapped toys and the Princess will be a drop-off location for the drive through Monday, Dec. 20.

Sedona’s Holiday Tree Lighting

In Sedona, the Holiday Tree Lighting will kick off on Friday, Dec. 3. It includes the annual tree-lighting ceremony, holiday music and a visit from Santa in uptown Sedona. For more information, call 928-282-7722.

CHANDLER’S TUMBLEWEED TREE AND ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING FESTIVITIES

On Saturday, Dec. 4, Chandler’s unique Tumbleweed Tree and Annual Tree Lighting Festivities begin at 4:30pm at the San Marcos Ave Stage and the Arizona Place Stage. Performers include Dance Kids USA, Heat Wave Dance and Cheer, Copperstar Carolers, Masters Conservatory Suzuki Strings, and Tri-City Chorale and Brass Ensemble. They will also have Santa’s House with a free picture opportunity for the kids from 4:30 to 9pm, the Parade of Lights at 7pm, and the Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony at 8pm at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park. For more information call 480-782-2735.

PRESCOTT’S CHRISTMAS PARADE AND COURTHOUSE LIGHTING

Also that day: the Christmas Parade and Courthouse Lighting in Prescott. Events will kick off at 6pm with the annual Holiday Light Parade with decorated floats, pets, people and Santa traveling through downtown Prescott. Following the parade is a Courthouse lighting ceremony. There will be carols, cider, home made cookies and a chance to decorate the town’s Christmas tree. For more information visit prescott.org.

SCOTTSDALE’S HOLIDAY HARMONY “SNOW AND GLOW”

Scottsdale will hold its Holiday Harmony “Snow and Glow” on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 3:30 to 6:30pm. The annual tree lighting takes place at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall at 6:15pm and there will be live performers, interactive booths, a snow play area, snow sledding, cookie decorating, and a visit from Santa. Donations will be accepted for a holiday toy drive. For more information, call 480-312-0217.

Take time this holiday season to enjoy the festivities around you. You’ll find more events on Raising Arizona Kids’ online calendar.

Best communities for young people

Each year, BusinessWeek selects one city in the U.S. as the “Best Place to Raise Your Kids”. The criteria includes median family income and a real estate analysis, as well as school performance, crime rates, and the number of museums, parks, and theaters. This past year Mount Prospect, Ill. was awarded the title.

I was raised in a city that had been a persistent winner of this award – Naperville, Ill. While I receive a good education and lived in safe town, there was something missing from my youth. I felt as if I was in a bubble, with little to no interaction with other cities and towns.

In my opinion, the “Best Places to Raise Your Kids” list doesn’t include some important factors that makes communities great.

Then last year, while I was trying to find a story to write about for my journalism class, I learned about the organization America’s Promise Alliance and its annual competition, “100 Best Communities for Young People”.

The competition seeks to recognizes outstanding community-wide efforts that improve the well-being of youth, particularly those that fulfill the “Five Promises”:

• Caring Adults
• Safe Places
• A Healthy Start
• Effective Education
• Opportunities to Help Others

The criteria does not include population or family income, but instead characteristics that ensure kids will be surrounded by opportunities to become caring, well-rounded adults.

This year, Chandler, Tempe and Scottsdale all made the top 100.  In fact, all of these Arizona cities have made the Three-Time winner list, as well as Tempe being awarded a grant to fund efforts to educate and enroll more children and families in the state Children’s Health Insurance Program.

I have had the privilege to live in or work in all three of these cities that truly deserve the “community” title.  Each has its own unique feel and personality, yet they all collaborate to create incredible programs for their youth.

To learn more about the programs highlighted for the award, click here.

Also, if you get a chance this Saturday, Oct. 17th, head out to Chandler to participate in one of their award-winning events, the “Day of Play”.  The event features vendor and activities encouraging health and wellness in kids – from potato sack races to solar oven cookies.

Congratulations Tempe, Scottsdale and Chandler!!