SAVE JAPANTOWN YOUTH LEADERS (JYL)
Background: Recently, JCYC was informed by the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF) that the only funding allocated for youth services in Japantown will not be cut in 2010/2011, but completely eliminated. For the past 12 years, the Japantown Youth Leaders (JYL) program, formerly known as JAYS, has brought hundreds of youth to Japantown on a weekly basis to participate in community service, leadership training, and personal development. The youth who consistently support our community festivals and events such as Cherry Blossom, Nihonmachi Street Fair, and Kodomo no Hi, are current or former participants of JYL.
Why You Should Care: Despite the city’s budget crisis, other communities will still be receiving funding from DCYF. In 2010/2011, DCYF will allocate $20 million for children and youth services and has decided that Japantown is not worthy of even a small amount of those resources. This decision demonstrates a blatant disregard for our community and sets a very dangerous precedent for the future. We believe it is in the best interest of our community to collectively take a stand and make it clear that the needs of Japantown can not and will not be dismissed by the city of San Francisco.
How Can You Help: The Mayor has the discretion to restore this funding until June 1st when his office, by law must submit a budget to the Board of Supervisors. We have the rest of May to let the Mayor know that it is not acceptable for the city of San Francisco to dismiss the youth of Japantown.
Continue to check back to JapantownNOW.com or visit nihonmachiROOTS' Facebook page to see how you can help us send this message to the Mayor.
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