Humboldt Sponsors Supports Field Trip to statewide CA Youth Court Summit at UC Merced

This is a press release from Boys & Girls Club of the Redwoods:

Boys & Girls Club Teen Court at the CA Youth Court Summit at UC Merced Pictured left to right: Teen Court Coordinator Caitlin Gildersleeve; youth representatives Sofia & Nayeli; Fortuna Teen Court Program Manager Raven Majors; Teen Court Director Sacha Marini; and youth representatives Ethan & Thomas

On June 27-30, the Boys & Girls Club of the Redwoods-Teen Court staff from both the Eureka and Fortuna sites took 4 Teen Court youth representatives to the 19th annual California Association of Youth Court (CAYC) Summit at UC Merced. Humboldt Sponsors donated generously to help make this opportunity a reality.

The Teen Court youth stayed in the UC Merced campus dorms, attended workshops, listened to plenary speakers, and engaged in networking activities to meet teens from other youth courts from across California. There are over 70 youth courts in California, and around 1,300 nationwide. Humboldt County Teen Court is part of a national movement that centers teens at the forefront of solving the problems that they themselves face.

One of our youth representatives, Ethan, serves as a youth advisory board member on the CA Association of Youth Courts which is the organization that planned the event. Ethan even led a workshop at the Summit titled “Building Bridges Between Youth Courts”. He presented on the various youth court models and their strengths and weaknesses in order to highlight the most successful strategies for deterring youth recidivism. Thanks to youth leaders like Ethan, Humboldt County Teen Court is a unique model that embraces youth voices and innovation.

It was a full weekend with many new connections being made. We were all thoroughly tired when we left, but excited to bring back new ideas to Humboldt County. And we look forward to next year!

Without the sustained support of Humboldt Sponsors, it would be very difficult to consistently offer enriching experiences like these to our Teen Court youth. Humboldt Sponsors is a fantastic organization that sustains many youth activities like ours.

Teen Court is a real court run by teens for teens. All teens between the ages of 8th and 12th grade are welcome to volunteer. To get involved or for more information contact 707-444-0153 or [email protected].

Humboldt Sponsors Presents Big Check to Boys & Girls Club-Teen Court at their September 5th courthouse hearing
Pictured left to right: Teen Court student volunteers Bodhi & Joey; Humboldt Sponsors representatives Judith Stoffer & Denise Christen; volunteers Ethan & Violet; Teen Court Director Sacha Marini