While operation cycle breaker is the police’s answer to the spiraling crime problem – the new boss at Youth for the Future – Diane Finngean prefers intervention over interdiction. Today senior managers from Youth for the Future agencies –participated in a strategic planning workshop. The purpose was for the different agencies to plot the way forward. Devon Gabourel was the facilitator.
Devon Gabourel, Facilitator
“YFF is one of those organizations where the entire world watches. Everybody knows that there is a great need for there to be some stability in the way we help our young people to help themselves. And if we can’t get this organization straight then our young people won’t have confidence in the ability of us to do our work in generations to come. So it is important for the YFF, regardless if the person is a counselor or the person is a program manager, that they will instill in themselves and their programs a confident professionalism that will then transfer to the people that we are supposed to be helping.”
Luke Ramos, Manager – 4H
“We are trying to meet and see what are some of the things we can do better to serve our young people better, to serve our young people, particularly from 4-H. You know we work with young people ages 9 through 19 who can either enroll in our one year program or they could get involved right in their community through 4-H club activities.
Particularly at 4-H we need to strengthen the program to be able to reach out to a larger number of young people. Traditionally 4-H tends to target more rural youths but the new thrust we have been looking at is trying to see how we could expand the program with more vocational activities to try to reach more of those that are in the urban setting.”
Sandra McClaren, Director- Youth Cadet Service Corps
“This workshop is very important for us because we are looking at our whole overall goal, our objective, and how well to better serve the young people.”
Keith Swift,
What needs to be changed or improved at your organization?
Sandra McClaren,
“Basically the infrastructure. We are looking at going co-ed, we are looking at implementing some new and more exciting activities for young people.”
Keith Swift,
So when you leave here, what do you hope to take back to your organization?
Sandra McClaren,
“A sense of direction.”
