Redwood City 2020 Wins Prestigious Award for Service to Youth

The local collaborative Redwood City 2020 has been honored by the nonprofit Friends for Youth mentoring program, with the 2013 "Making a Difference" Award.

Redwood City 2020 and its staff are being recognized "for their collaborative approaches throughout the community, their outstanding commitment and enthusiasm for young people, and for going 'above and beyond' in their tireless work and support of the community's youth," said a statement issued earlier this week.
 
Redwood City 2020 Executive Director Pat Brown, who will accept the award at the Friends for Youth annual mentoring conference later this month, said, "Redwood City 2020 is very grateful for this recognition from Friends for Youth. Being honored by this highly respected and very successful youth mentoring organization will help to further energize and strengthen our commitment to youth in the Redwood City community."

"On behalf of Redwood City's partners, including the City of Redwood City, I want to thank Friends for Youth for this recognition," Brown added. 
 
Among the Redwood City 2020 initiatives which have resulted in this award and recognition are:

• Community Schools programs offering students and families services and opportunities beyond the traditional academic areas to address barriers to success.
• Teen Resource and Teen Wellness Center programs at Sequoia High School to develop leadership skills and connectedness with their school and the community.
• Community Wellness programs related to promoting physical activity, healthy food choices, and other healthy practices.
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Partnership, fostering youth/adult partnerships and meaningful activities, and discouraging alcohol and drug abuse.
• Community Youth Development aimed at creating a system of supports and opportunities for our youth.
• Redwood City Together, an affiliate of Welcoming America, focused on highlighting values which are shared across all community members, both newer immigrants and long-time residents, and creating a community environment which is welcoming, cohesive, and thriving. 

Redwood City officials praised the award as well.

"Redwood City 2020 continues to be at the forefront of effective youth services in the Redwood City community," said Bob Bell, City Manager of Redwood City. "The variety of effective programs and the remarkable collaborative nature of their work are immense assets to the youth and families of our community, and I congratulate them on being honored by Friends for Youth."
 
Friends for Youth, called the "gold standard" in youth mentoring by Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) and national mentoring researcher Dr. Jean Rhodes, has a mission to create quality mentoring relationships for youth who need them most.

"Friends for Youth is committed to supporting youth through creating and cultivating friendships with adult volunteers, providing opportunities for enrichment and growth, and focusing on ways to help youth achieve their potential," the statement read.

The Friends for Youth website is www.friendsforyouth.org.

The City of Redwood City said, Redwood City 2020 is "a remarkable community partnership," designed to support the success of all youth and families and to engage and strengthen the community. This collaboration brings together key public and private organizations toward this goal - the City of Redwood City, the Redwood City Elementary School District, the Sequoia Union High School District, San Mateo County, Stanford University/John W. Gardner Center, First 5 San Mateo County, the Sequoia Healthcare District, and Kaiser Permanente. The

The Redwood City 2020 website is at www.rwc2020.org. 

What do you think of the Redwood City 2020 website and this award? Tell us in the comments below. 

Also on Redwood City-Woodside Patch:

• Campaign to Rally Against 'Corporate Personhood' Comes to Town Sunday
• 'HELP' Finds Local Entities Guilty of Housing Discrimination
• Woodside High Teen Caught with Cocaine and Pot at School
• City Greenlights Controversial Laurel Way Development
• Cleanup of Woodside Rd/El Camino Interchange Underway

Stay informed on the latest crime, news and events in your local neighborhood - follow Patch!

Sign up for Redwood City-Woodside Patch’s daily newsletter
"Like” us on Facebook
"Follow” us on Twitter

Want to share your opinions with the communities of Redwood City and Woodside? Start your own blog here.