solar youth's 2005 year-in-review newsletter
DESCRIPTION
Overview of Solar Youth and highlights from 2005TRANSCRIPT
often for the first time. “The most chal-
lenging part of the summer” explained
Jaleesa, “was transitioning from the
youth role to the staff role.”
Staff Training Retreat
This Fall, adult staff, Steward Team In-
terns and our Youth Advisory Group
attended our first overnight training
retreat. It was a great success, particu-
larly in terms of the bonding that oc-
curred among the youth, and be-
tween youth and adults. We hope to
repeat this for future training, pending
funding of course.
Youth employment is an integral part
of our programming. It gives older
youth experience working, provides
role models for younger children, and
gives our participants opportunities to
continue their leadership develop-
ment.
According to Sharnice Brooks, working
for Solar Youth “gave me an opportuni-
ty to have responsibility and also learn
at the same time.” Xavier Miller adds
that you get to “learn about others
and learn more about yourself.”
E ach Friday afternoon, teenagers
trickle into the office for their
weekly staff meeting. There are
smiles and jokes, laughter and chatter.
The meeting opens with an Intern lead-
ing a new game, then the Interns and
adult Team Educators discuss their
“Roses and Thorns” for the week, talk-
ing about their successes and chal-
lenges. After a brief introduction to
new curriculum, the staff break off in
pairs to prepare for the next week’s
program.
Friday staff meetings are only one
component of our youth employment
program. Solar Youth hires youth year-
round from high schools throughout
New Haven. Each undergoes a rigor-
ous hiring process that includes an
application, interview and references.
In 2005, Solar Youth trained
and hired 15 high school
students as leaders. This was
made possible through support from
Empower New Haven. Since our
founding, we have employed over fifty
youth.
During an intensive staff training, Interns
learn about ecology, youth develop-
ment, team-building, behavior man-
agement, as well as Solar Youth’s
hands-on curricula including songs,
games and chal-
lenges.
Our youth employ-
ment posi tions
teach job skills es-
sential for future
success including
leadership, respon-
sibility, and ac-
c o u n t a b i l i t y .
Through the oppor-
tunities they gain,
and the supports
provided by caring
adult supervisors,
they build essential
competencies in-
cluding positive self
-worth, a sense of
membership and
belonging, commu-
Volume 5
January 2006 2005 YEAR-IN-REVIEW
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Heather Gilbert Chair
Shakila McKnight Youth Co-Chair
Maureen McCarthy Treasurer
Javaughn Harris Youth Co-Treasurer
Rebecca Gratz Secretary
Jasmine Webb Youth Co-Secretary
Chris Cavallaro
Peter Davis
Charles Nixon
Joanne Sciulli
Kate Walton
nication skil ls and
more. Youth must main-
tain a passing grade in
all classes to emphasize
education as a priority.
We require youth to
open bank accounts for
di rect deposi t of
paychecks, to learn
money management.
Summer
Last summer we hired 3
Senior Interns (ages 15-
16) and 3 Junior Interns
(14). All Junior Interns
(Luquaia, LeShea and Angelica) were
past Solar Youth participants. This was
Senior Intern Jaleesa Freeman’s 6th
summer with us!
Both groups
gained experi-
ence develop-
ing and imple-
menting lesson
plans, executing
daily responsi-
bilities and cul-
tivating healthy
peer relation-
ships. Youth participants were excited
to learn about new subjects from other
youth just a few years their senior.
Much of the youth’s learning comes
from being in positions of leadership,
William is a freshman at Common Ground
High School, as well as a resident of
Westville Manor. He was one of our first
Stewards in 2001, and was with us for three
seasons. He joined us again in the Fall of
2005 as an Intern for our Neighborhood
Steward Teams. We now watch him lead
the same kinds of activities he used to
p a r t i c i -
pate in!
At school, he also volunteers at
the Downtown Evening Soup
Kitchen, and at his former ele-
mentary school, reads to chil-
dren and helps them with their
homework. “Will Will” has a
William at NST in 2001
William mentoring Steward
Staff, Interns and YAG at fall 2005 retreat in Branford, CT
Intern Xavier with a
Westville Manor youth
Youth Employment and Leadership By Rosana Garcia
INSIDE learn about our 2005
accomplishments and how
Kids Explore! Kids Do!
Kids Teach!
Solar Youth, Inc. provides opportunities for young people to
develop a positive sense of self, and a connection and
commitment to others through programs that incorporate
environmental exploration, leadership and community service.
2005 Adult Staff
Joanne Sciulli
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Hanifa Washington
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Rosana Garcia
PROGRAM MANAGER
Stephanie Bergman
PROGRAM DIRECTOR (SPRING)
John Forte
SCA INTERN
Kendall Applewhite
SPRING PUBLIC ALLY
Gamaliel Moses
FALL PUBLIC ALLY
Danny Carrillo
TEAM EDUCATOR (SPRING) YALE COLLEGE
Brandi Collander
TEAM EDUCATOR (FALL) YALE SCHOOL OF FORESTRY AND
ENVIRONMETNAL STUDIES
2005 Youth Staff
Javaughn Harris
YAG COORDINATOR
INTERNS
Sharnice Brooks
Angelica Bryant
Lakisha Catlett
Jaleesa Freeman
Tamira Jones
Tiffany McCrea
Luquaia Melton
Xavier Miller
Andrea Moore
Candace Morrison
Jody Ann Purcell
LeShea Sparks
Adrienne Toney
William Winfrey
It’s official—we turned 5!! This newsletter gives a taste of our year’s activities
and accomplishments, made possible by our generous supporters. However,
we continue to struggle to stay alive financially. “Seed” funds got us off the
ground. We are now seeking sources of support we can count on year after
year. This is one of our main objectives in 2006—to strategize ways to become
financially sustainable. This work will happen as we continue to provide unique
opportunities for New Haven’s youth, and demonstrate the power of positive
youth development.
About 11 percent of our income last year, or $30,000, came from F.O.S.Y.—
―Friends of Solar Youth‖ - individuals who made our work one of their giving
priorities. This income is an essential part of our financial survival. Therefore,
whether you are an individual, parent, youth or business, a past, current or
future F.O.S.Y., we encourage you to join us in the new year. Thank you in
advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Joanne Sciulli
Executive Director
SOLAR YOUTH, INC. PAGE 3
Solar Youth Goes to
Japan! BY NICOLE DUNNAVILLE, YAG
If Javaughn and I could name this
once in a lifetime experience, we
would call it JAPAN: LOST IN TRANSLATION,
for the simple reason that it was really
a different world from where we live.
This summer we got to go to Japan for
the United Nation’s 2005 Children’s
World Summit for the Environment. This
conference went from July 26th to 29th,
held in Aichi, Japan. The mission was to
bring together children from all over
the world to discuss important environ-
mental issues and air their own con-
cerns on the state of the environment
on both local and global levels.
The Summit didn’t just get served to us
on a silver platter. First we registered
online and wrote an essay. When we
heard we were accepted, we got
down to business. We wrote a proposal
to the International Coalition for Chil-
dren and the Environment and asked if
they could help us fulfill this once and
a lifetime opportunity. We also ran
Operation Can Angel (where we
asked people if they can save their
cans so we can turn them in for mon-
ey), Yale Employee Support Campaign
(Javaughn’s mother asked coworkers
for donations). Nicole’s mom asked
different local businesses for donations.
Dominic Gilardi from A1 Toyota, Kathe-
rine Owens, Yale Office of New Haven
and State Affairs and other individuals
made the trip possible!
We headed to
the New Ha-
ven Public
Library to study
before our big
day — about
the language
and culture.
Chris Cavallaro
showed us
how to eat the
food.
The day we left
we headed to
JFK, where we
said our good-
byes. This was
Javaughn and my first plane ride. We
were very excited but nervous at the
same time. It lasted 13 long hours, but
it was all worth it.
The conference was packed full. Each
day had a theme, for example one
day we focused on water and the
next on energy. We had trips and
workshops based on those themes.
Workshops we attended were Chil-
dren’s Health (where they taught us
about how other countries don’t have
fresh water to drink like we have and
this causes illness). One of my favorite
was on wind farming because we got
to visit it and experience it first hand.
They taught us that it is a “safe” energy
for the environment, and also that one
windmill’s energy can power 100
homes and saves 27 tons of CO2 each
year. It was an amazing piece of tech-
nology. We asked about the contro-
versy of wind mills killing birds, but they
told us it was not a problem. But while
we at the windmill site, we found a
couple of dead birds on the ground.
Hmmm.
While in Japan we went to the 2005
World Expo. It was truly amazing. The
theme was “Nature’s Wisdom.” It is this
century’s version of the World Fair.
Different countries built pavil-
ions showing unique things
from their country. We stayed
there for that whole day, but
still didn’t get to see every-
thing.
During the conference we
asked kids why they came to
the Summit. Some said they
came to meet new friends.
Others said they wanted to
learn more about the environ-
ment. But overall, kids came
to have fun with different peo-
ple from around the world.
After the conference was
over, we stayed in Japan for
one more night (or so we
thought). We went exploring,
shopping and eating in Tokyo.
The hardest part was not be-
ing able to communicate with
most people.
On the train to the airport, WE
MISSED OUR STOP!! So we
found people who spoke Eng-
lish and they helped us get to
the airport, but not in time. We
had to leave the next day, but
got home safe.
On this trip we learned many
things, like that we are very
lucky to live where we live.
People around the world have
environmental problems we
do not have, but the problems
that hurt children around the
world should be important to
us. Finally, we learned that
before you visit someone else's
culture, you should do re-
search and learn about them.
We felt disrespectful and out
of place because we couldn’t
speak the language. WE were
the foreigners.
As I said before, we are very
lucky. We can actually say
that we have been to Japan be-
cause of the wonderful donors who
helped us get there! It was truly a
once and a lifetime experience!
Eating Sushi in Tokyo
We
me
t kid
s from
…
Ne
pa
l… Fin
lan
d…
Jap
an
… Le
ba
no
n…
Tog
o…
an
d K
en
ya
.
Nicole with children at local elementary school
At the World EXPO in front
of Toyota Science Plaza
Mutual Housing-George St. The Mutual Team was a
renewed partnership with
Mutual Housing’s building
at 730 George Street.
They were very enthusias-
tic and spent a lot of time
exploring the local com-
munity, including West
River Memorial Park. Every
June, Mutual Housing par-
ticipates in Neighborhood Works Week, so as
their CSAP, the Team made signs to recruit
people in the community for a neighborhood
clean-up. The Team helped lead smaller
groups during the clean-up. For the PEF they
created posters and spoke about their neigh-
borhood litter clean-up.
John Martinez School
The Martinez Team in Fair Haven focused on
water-related issues because of their ideal
location on the confluence of the Mill and
Quinnipiac Rivers. Through their C-SAP pro-
cess, the Team had decided to plant flowers
in the courtyard of the school. The team de-
cided later that litter at Criscuolo Park was a
larger problem, and planned a very success-
ful, last-minute, clean-up there. For the PEF
they created posters and speeches about
animal classification, creating rules, teamwork,
ecosystems, and the C-SAP.
Hill Central Teams At Hill Central
Music Academy,
2 Steward Teams
are part of the
21s t Ce ntu ry
Community Learn-
ing Center pro-
gram that pro-
vides after school
programs for all
grade levels. Both
Teams learned about ecological adaptations
through a variety of games, working as a
group to solve the riddles their Team Educator
presented. For the PEF, they created posters
and speeches about their C-SAPs
Hill Central 1 The Monday/Wednesday Team identified a
messy trail on the side of the school as their
problem. They did a clean up and planted
annuals and wildflower seeds to beautify it.
SOLAR YOUTH, INC. PAGE 4
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
RUN IN COLLABORATION WITH
NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AND COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS
Celentano Music Academy During one of the TEAM’S walks around the
community, they noticed a lot of graffiti; espe-
cially on one of the local churches. They de-
cided that this would be the focus of their C-
SAP, and did a fantastic job painting over the
graffiti on the side of the Agape Christian Cen-
ter on Goffe Street. For Solar Youth’s Public
Education (PEF) Forum, they created posters
and spoke about their CSAP, field trips, and
feeling successful!
Katherine Brennan School The TEAM started off small, but grew into a
strong, large group that focused a great deal
of their time on team building activities. The
TEAM focused their C-SAP on removing graffiti
from the local park. Unfortunately, the day
the C-SAP was to take place, the weather did
not cooperate for painting, so they did a park
clean-up and painted a few days later. For
the Solar Youth’s Public Education Forum, they
created posters and speeches about litter,
their CSAP and graffiti.
Martinez NST at Criscuolo Park Clean Up
Hill Central 2 The Tuesday/Thursday Team identified the
weed infested flower beds around the school
as their problem. In total they counted 18
beds, of which they adopted two to de-weed
and plant marigolds. The Team also collected
rocks to border the beds.
Katherine Brennan School The Brennan Team, alt-
hough small, was strong.
Led by grad student Brandi
Collander from the Yale
School of Forestry and
Environmental Studies, for
their CSAP they chose to
clean up around their
school.
Mutual Housing-George St. The Mutual Housing Team chose the littering of
cigarette butts as their CSAP problem. They
ordered cigarette butt receptacles for around
their building and made buttons to encourage
the use of the receptacles, with slogans like
“Butt Free Zone.”
John Martinez School
The Martinez Team realized that there were no
recycling bins anywhere in their school. They
spoke with school officials and discovered that
the school will be starting a recycling program.
The youth decided to construct recycling bins
from cardboard boxes and placed them out-
side many of the classrooms in their school to
educate people about their schools recycling
program.
Planting flowers
at Hill Central
Celentano NST painting graffiti for their CSAP
SOLAR YOUTH, INC. PAGE 5
Building a New Neighborhood Steward Team: Westville Manor
The top of West Rock Ridge
Hill Central 1 For their CSAP, youth chose to clean a trail
that runs close to the school and add a gar-
bage can colorfully painted by the Team to
encourage proper disposal of litter. However,
due to a situation in the neighborhood, the
Team had to stay close to school and come
up with a quick alternative. So they did a
school yard clean-up and planted flowers.
They also made and handed out magnets
with Anti-Litter Slogans to their classmates for a
Teach project.
Hill Central 2 Fifteen third graders made up the Hill Central 2
Team. An energetic group that enjoys games
and songs, they decided to plant tulip bulbs
around their school for their CSAP. The New
Haven Land Trust supplies us with the bulbs,
and advice, for a successful planting.
At the foot of West Rock Ridge State Park,
Westville Manor houses 151 families and is the
NEW home of the Solar Youth office, as well as
a new NEIGHBORHOOD STEWARD TEAM.
With West Rock Park, West Rock Nature Center
and Wintergreen Brook nearby, Westville Man-
or is an ideal neighborhood for a Solar Youth
Team, full of opportunities for youth to Explore,
Do and Teach. Due to the unfortunate pres-
ence of drugs and violence, there is also a
tremendous need for youth programming
here.
Although many of the children in the area
have been a part of Solar Youth at some
point, to build a Team we need to do out-
reach. In November staff led a hike through
West Rock for Westville Manor youth. It was a
beautiful autumn day and twelve youth joined
in. Intern Xavier Miller is a resident of “the
Manor” and his community knowledge helped
us reach youth.
Westville Manor youth also joined in our Satur-
day trips, such as the Garbage Museum. One
youth commented on his feedback form: “I
learned that you can have so much fun in one
day.”
We feel confident that the Westville Manor
Neighborhood Steward Team will be a strong
one, with many motivated and enthusiastic
youth willing to learn about their community
environment and improve it.
On Saturdays, we invited members of all Steward Teams to day-long adventures, to explore
new places and meet youth from around the city. Here are some highlights.
Hammonassett State Park The Bronx Zoo We found a dead
deer on top of
West Rock Park
Reptiles with
Ranger Joe,
WR Nature
Center
Garbage Museum
In Stratford
Fall Hike
SOLAR YOUTH, INC. PAGE 6
adventures during the Citywide Steward Pro-
gram. We ended the summer with butterflies
in our stomachs as we explored the ups and
downs of Lake Compounce Amusement Park.
CAMPING AT GREAT MOUNTAIN FOREST by Tiffanique Dicks
On Thursday, August 4th at 9:30 we packed up
two cars and the bus and traveled 2 ½ hours
to Great Mountain Forest. Then we hiked up
about a mile to a campsite called Yale Camp.
When we reached the campsite we had
lunch and played games. Then we set up our
tents. After we set up we played some more
games. Next we searched for firewood and
leaned how to make a campfire. When we
went camping we learned how to make
s’mores. We also learned some cool stuff
about how the eye works and why winter-
green lifesavers make sparks in the dark.
Special Thanks to our program partners… Including...Wray Williams at West Rock
Nature Center; Southern Connecticut
State University for taking us to Outer Is-
land; New Haven Parks Department for
the bikes and canoeing; Susan Swenson
for her EE expertise; Star Childs and Great
Mountain Forest for camping site; Bushy
Hill for a day of adventure; Bank of
America for use of the 27th floor for our
Public Education Forum; and others!
Sponsors: LONG ISLAND SOUND FUTURES FUND
NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS and ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION
T his summer, our theme was
watersheds! Each week of the
program was dedicated to a particular
part of understanding watersheds.
Youth learned about the chemistry of
water, water cycle, importance of water,
and how watersheds shape their lives.
Participants went on a total of 19 trips
during the 26 days of the program. They
identified environmental problems and
completed three Community Service
Action Projects. At the end of the sum-
mer, they taught their families and others
about all they had learned and accom-
plished. This year we had so many appli-
cants that we had to create a waiting
list! Overall, we had a GREAT SUMMER!
Week 1: Introduction Week! We explored the
basic concepts of a watershed and youth
used their eco-art skills to create a model wa-
tershed out of paper mache and recyclable
items.
Week 2: Geography Week! Taking field trips to
the Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby, CT;
Outer Island in Stony Creek, CT and New
Haven’s own East Rock Park transformed
learning about how water shapes the land
into a riveting adventure!
Week 3: Flora & Fauna Week! Youth learned
about the plants and animals that thrive on
CT’s water sources. We loaded up the bus
and went on a wet and wild ride during our
New Haven Watershed Tour. Youth used maps
to understand how water flows from a high-
point to a common body of water. With the
New Haven Parks Dept. we canoed Lake Win-
tergreen. Campers also had the special treat
of going to a rare Atlantic Cedar swamp at
the Bushy Hill Nature Center in Ivoryton, CT.
Week 4: Human Impact Week! This week fo-
cused on the human impact on water sources
with trips to the New Haven Waste Water
Treatment Plant and the Maritime Aquarium in
Norwalk. Youth also learned some watery his-
tory as we biked down the Farmington Canal.
Week 5: Kids Do Week! We started August
with youth-led Community Service Action Pro-
jects. After their hard work we headed up to
Great Mt. Forest for an overnight camping trip
(most youth’s first time camping).
Week 6: Kids Teach Week! At our Public Edu-
cation Forum (PEF) campers put on their dra-
ma hats and thinking caps to present their
As “Old-ladies of the Watershed,” Interns taught
campers the three rivers of New Haven through song.
Jackie and youth construct a watershed
Canoeing with NH Parks Dept.
on Lake Wintergreen
For C-SAP’s (Community Service Ac-
tion Projects), youth are led through a
9-step process:
Explore Community
Identify Problems
Choose a Problem
Research Problem
Brainstorm Solutions
Choose a Solution
Develop an Action Plan
Take Action
Evaluate Results
To teach family and friends what they learned and accomplished during the pro-
gram, each youth wrote a short presentation highlighting one day, including the
theme of the day, where we went, and what activities we did. Each C-SAP group
created wonderful chants and skits about their Community Service Action Pro-
jects. The youth greatly enjoyed preparing for and presenting at the Public Edu-
cation Forum, and the audience benefited from not only hearing about, but see-
ing what activities the youth participated in this summer.
BAKE SALE FOR CHILDREN At Goffe Street Park, a group of youth orga-
nized a bake sale to benefit St. Jude’s Chil-
dren’s Hospital.
BEACH CLEAN UP AT LIGHTHOUSE POINT One of the CSAP groups decided
to clean up Lighthouse Point
Beach, which is visited by an
estimated 200 New Haven
beach-goers a day. The youth
filled three large garbage bags
with litter.
ENVIRONMENTAL SHOWCASE AND TALENT SHOW
WEST ROCK COMMUNITY CENTER, NEW HAVEN At the West Rock Community Center, Solar
Youth presented an Environmental Show-
case and Talent Show. Forty elderly and
mentally handicapped people elected to
watch the showcase. Through three well-
orchestrated, youth-led chants, the audi-
ence learned about the water cycle and
New Haven watersheds. The director of
recreation of the center urged the youth to
come back again.
In Parent’s Words… “My child has more knowledge of the environ-
ment and how what we do can affect it. He
has made friends and built a little more confi-
dence in himself.”
“She never looked forward to going to any
camp before. For the last 5 years we have
gone to many camps and after a week or less
she wanted to drop out. This is the first camp
she has wanted to attend.”
“My children have learned a lot of knowledge
that they could not learn in books.”
“How can you measure the confidence,
knowledge and love that Solar Youth staff
gave our kids for nature and the environment
and its processes? As a parent I love the fact
that [my son] looks forward to going to the
program. On the weekends he anticipates
going back on Monday. I can’t praise Solar
Youth and the staff enough.”
SOLAR YOUTH, INC. PAGE 8
2005 YAG Members Javaughn Harris Christian Reyes
Jelisa Burton Nicole Dunnaville
Shakila McKnight Jasmine Webb
YAG AT THE PEABODY For the 2005 Martin Luther King Environmen-
tal Justice Festival at the Peabody Museum,
the YAG along with Hanifa Washington,
Director of Education, created an environ-
mental justice issues and events timeline.
The YAG also created a scavenger hunt on
environmental justice for the participants to
complete. We gave out prizes to the peo-
ple that completed the scavenger hunt.
JAPAN PRESENTATIONS Javaughn and Nicole presented their adven-
tures in Japan (see page 3) to over sixty children
and adults this fall. The first presentation took
place at the Connecticut Financial Center for
family and spon-
sors.
In the video they
produced, they
captured memo-
rable moments
including their first
time on a plane,
trying to decipher
subway ticket
machines, their reaction to Japanese-style beds
at their Tokyo hostel and a classic music video
of Javaughn, Nicole and Joanne doing their
unique rendition of Alicia Keys’ song, “Fallin’.”
Javaughn and Nicole also visited Solar Youth’s
after-school Steward Teams to teach partici-
pants about Japan and their trip. They taught
some basic Japanese words like konnichiwa,
which means hello and goodbye, and arigatou,
which means thank you. They plan to present
their adventures to other local after school pro-
grams in the coming months.
OTHER YAG ACCOMPLISHMENTS Gave presentations on international cultures
and cuisine at spring Youth Summit
Javaughn participated in New England Grass-
roots Environmental Fund’s grant-making
committee in New Hampshire
Participated in the Community Dialogue on
the Achievement Gap at the New Haven Pub-
lic Library.
Attended Environmental Justice conference in
Hartford
Started to organize a Food Pantry for the
Westville Manor community with Connecticut
Food Bank
Organized the Solar Youth Holiday Party
At a Tokyo subway station
Hands-on Outdoor Learning Adven-
H OLA is Solar Youth’s in-school program is run in collaboration with New Haven
Public Schools and New Haven Parks and Recreation. It provides opportunities for students in the 3rd to 5th grade to engage in in-depth explorations, facilitating an
understanding of science as it relates to personal, social and global issues. HOLA supports the Connecticut Core Science Curriculum Framework. Youth learn
through hands-on, outdoor, inquiry-based lessons both at New Haven Parks and on-site at their schools.
2004-2005 HOLA SEASON
Last year we ran the HOLA program at Barnard Environmental and Micro-Society Magnet Schools with overwhelming suc-cess. The curriculum was positively re-ceived by teachers and students. Teach-
ers greatly appreciated the curriculum being synchronized with the New Haven standards. As one 4th grade teacher not-ed, “the instruction is aligned with my sci-ence curriculum,” while a 3rd grade teacher said her students “learned about conservation, and the activities reinforced some of our social studies curriculum deal-ing with resources.” The students greatly enjoyed getting outside and learning, and after water testing, one student claimed they “felt like real scientists.”
Learning about population dynamics by playing
“Oh Deer!” at West Rock Nature Center
Classmates learn about the 3 R’s by Recycled
Bingo at Coogan Pavilion.
Participants put their skills to the test and water
testing at the Mill River in East Rock Park.
The mission of the YAG is to is “to advise Solar
Youth on what kids like to do, act as a youth
voice, support the success of Solar Youth, and
help youth grow in their attitudes, business life,
public speaking, knowledge and skills we will
need in the future.”
This is a poster for a Japanese
theatre production of “Driving Miss
Daisy” in Toyota City, Japan.
HOLA creates an outdoor classroom
Kids Teach! Day 3 of the Summit was again hosted by
Common Ground High School, where partici-
pants were given a farm tour, highlighting the
poultry pen, chicken hatchery and plant nurse-
ry with incubator, and the vegetable rows
where they tasted home-grown organic pro-
duce. Later, participants created educational
games to pass on lessons learned through their
Solar Youth experiences.
economic activities and cuisine. Youth also
learned about healthy eating and nutrition
from Kendell Applewhite, our spring Public Ally,
who presented about the food pyramid, and
led a game reinforcing food pyramid facts.
Kids Do! Day 2 was held at East Rock Park, where par-
ticipants split into three groups and together
completed a cleanup of Rice Field. Later, we
hiked up the Great Steps to the summit of East
Rock.
S olar Youth held its annual Youth Sum-
mit during the New Haven Public
School spring vacation, from April 19-21.
The Youth Advisory Group chose this
year’s focus: Health and Nutrition—
important elements of youth develop-
ment.
Kids Explore! Day 1 was held at Common Ground High
School where participants learned about
d i f f e r e n t
c u l t u r e s
from mem-
bers of the
Y A G ,
t h r o u g h
posters and
s p e e c h e s
on Japan,
China and
Puerto Rico,
highlighting
c u l t u r e s , At the East Rock Park Clean Up: Look at all the trash!
At Common Ground Farm
Teaching the Food Pyramid
SOLAR YOUTH, INC. PAGE 9
O ctober 1, 2005 dawned cool
and clear. By mid-day is was
warm, sunny, and, at West Rock
Ridge State Park, it was a perfect
day for a festival.
Inspired by youth of the New
Haven Environmental Justice
Advisory Board of CT-DEP in 1996,
the goal of the festival is to high-
light the resources of West Rock
Park and to provide a fun, edu-
cational opportunity for New
Haven families.
With four sites, the festival
had something for every-
one. The New Haven Parks
Department hosted canoe-
ing on Lake Wintergreen as
part of their Canoe New
Haven Program.
At Common Ground Farm, there
was a Farmer’s Market, farm tours,
hay rides, Bike Jamboree, folk music
and drumming with Dave “Baba”
Coleman.
At the West Rock Nature Center,
Park Ranger Wray Williams showed
off some of the animals in the Rep-
tile and Amphibian House. Children
and adults enthusiastically painted
pumpkins on the porch of the center
and, in the parking lot, tried their
hands (and feet) at the mobile
climbing wall.
At the Summit, there was a free
cookout of hotdogs and Tofu Pups.
The Eco-Fair, with earth-friendly,
hands-on fun, had recycled paper
making, lessons on how to make fire
with a bow drill, and an exhibit
about the flora and fauna of West
Rock Park. After his stop at Com-
mon Ground, “Baba” brought his
drumming to the Summit, sharing his
instruments and rhythm. The day
ended with a performance by
“Luggage” the Band.
Solar Youth reached out to the com-
munities that surround the Park prior
to the event. Solar Youth’s Public
Ally, Gamaliel Moses led drum cir-
cles in Westville Manor, Brookside,
Valley Townhouses and McCo-
naughy Terrace public housing to
“drum” up interest in the festival.
We wanted
everyone to
know that free
shuttle busses
would be run-
ning not only
between the
four sites, but
also in and out
of their neighborhoods.
A special thanks to all our
volunteers, who acted as
guides, cooks, canoe
launchers and more, smil-
ing the entire time! We
couldn’t have done it with-
out them!
Overall, it was a great day,
with many people learning about the re-
sources available right in their backyard. If
you missed it this year, make sure you join us
next year for a West Rockin’ good time!
West Rock Park Day Organizing Committee:
SOLAR YOUTH
NEW HAVEN ECOLOGY PROJECT
NEW HAVEN PARKS, RECREATION AND TREES
WEST ROCK PARK SENIOR COMMISSIONER
ASSOCIATION
CT DEPT. of ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Event Sponsors:
West Rock Ridge Park Association
Mayor’s Community Art Grant Program
Community Foundation Neighborhood Prog.
Connecticut Food Bank
Lake Wintergreen
Climbing Wall
Pumpkin
Painting
Drumming with Baba
Drumming for the Rock!
SOLAR YOUTH, INC. PAGE 10
JOHN FORTE
J ohn Forte hails from Georgetown, Guyana.
After receiving his degree in environmental
studies from the University of Guyana, he moved
to New Haven where his mother is getting a PhD
from the Yale's School of Forestry and Environ-
mental Studies. He joined Solar Youth as a Team
Educator in the Fall of 2004, but became our full
time Student Conservation Association intern in
January 2005. As an educator of our Steward
Teams and summer program, John brought hu-
mor, energy and a unique style to our family. He
is known by youth for his crazy renditions of
“Fried Chicken Wing” and
the Solar Youth chant. In
addition, John became our
database guru, and assisted
Joanne in every aspect with
fundraising. We wish you
luck in graduate school, and
we will miss you John!
Thank You Stephanie! After three years as Solar Youth’s Program Director, Stephanie Bergman
is taking her love of nature and youth back to the wilderness. This sum-
mer she left New Haven to
become Director of Education
at Clearpool Education Center
in Carmel, NY. Stephanie was
an invaluable part of Solar
Youth’s early years. She dedi-
cated her energy, creativity
and passion to building our
programs. According to youth
Maryann Calo, “Stephanie is
fun and she has GREAT charis-
ma.” We are in great debt to
her, and wish her luck and
happiness on the next leg of
her journey.
Republic Art Thanks to a grant from the Connecticut Com-
mission for the Arts, we partnered with rePub-
lic Art as part of the “Color Project.” The goal
is “to expand the nature of art in public plac-
es through participatory art projects that
h e l p b u i l d c o m m u n i t y
and public appreciation for the arts as a vehi-
cle for positive social change.” This year’s
street banner theme is Diversity. After a les-
son on New Haven’s biodiversity, our youth
drew designs for 16 banners. The Youth Advi-
sory Group, staff and others then painted the
banners—which can currently be seen hung
on street poles in Downtown New Haven.
Thanks JoAnn Moran for your dedication to
youth and art in New Haven!
Clockwise from top: Stephanie and Mary see a salamander at
Lake Wintergreen; Hike up the Great Steps of East Rock; Josiah,
LeShea and Jaleesa-summer 2005; Nelson at the Wastewater
Treatment Plant.
In the Press...
Joanne and Nicole accept a
Long Island Sound License Plate
Fund grant from Governor Jodi
Rell, head of CT’s DMV and DEP
Commissioner Gina McCarthy for
summer 2006 program —
CITYCOLOGY(stay tuned!).
Solar Youth has traveled around the world, and the
world has come to Solar Youth. Our staff include
John from Guyana, Hanifa from Texas, Gameliel from
Dominica, Rosana from Puerto Rico and Joanne
from New Haven (at least for the last 12 years).
F.O.S.Y. 2005 Friends of Solar Youth
to our...
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF NEW HAVEN (In-Kind Office Space)
CAROLYN FOUNDATION
LONG ISLAND SOUND FUTURES FUND
THE WATERSHED FUND (REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY)
US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
NEW ALLIANCE BANK FOUNDATION
MUTUAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION
PUBLIC ALLIES CONNECTICUT
ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION
LONG ISLAND SOUND STUDY
INTERNATIONAL COALITION FOR CHILDREN AND THE ENVIRONMENT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION – NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM
MAYOR'S COMMUNITY ARTS GRANT PROGRAM
YALE OFFICE OF NEW HAVEN AND STATE AFFAIRS
NEWMAN’S OWN ORGANICS
...AND PARTNERS CITY OF NEW HAVEN DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND TREES;
BROOKSIDE COMMUNITY; KATHERINE BRENNAN/CLARENCE ROGERS SCHOOL; HILL
CENTRAL MUSIC ACADEMY, CELENTANO MUSEUM ACADEMY; JOHN MARTINEZ
SCHOOL; BARNARD ENVIRONMENTAL MAGNET SCHOOL; MICROSOCIETY MAGNET
SCHOOL; NEW HAVEN ECOLOGY PROJECT; SCSU SCIENCE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT;
STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION; PEABODY MUSEUM; AND MORE...
NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
There are many ways YOU can be a ―Friend of Solar Youth‖:
Donate on www.solaryouth.org - or send a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE check to:
Solar Youth, 425 West Rock Avenue, New Haven, CT 06515
Sell things on Ebay? Donate a % through Missionfish.org
Extra Car? Donate to SY and take a tax deduction
Extra Time? Volunteer time for trips, Committees or Board of Directors
Tell a Friend about us—and join the FOSY Posse!
Lanna Akers, Carol & Frank Altieri, Janet
& Joe Ambrose, Christin Eve Arnini,
Barnes Group Foundation, Dave
Bechtel, Cordalie Benoit, Stephanie
Bergman, Molly & Chuck Birenbaum,
Nathan Bixby, Leslie Blatteau, Ona
Bloom, Robert & Kati Bradley, Zoe
Brookes, Alisa & Gordon Brown, Bill
Brown, Johnna Brown, Keishanna
McCalmon, Susan Brown, Frank
Bruchman, Beth Rosen & John Buell, Bill
Burch, Thea Buxbaum, Rebecca Gratz
& Joe Callaghan, Mitz Car, Wendy S. &
John Champion, Fifi Cheng, Marian
Chertow, Star Childs, Lisa Clark, J. Kieran
Coleman, Sean Corvino, Robert
McGuire & Ilene Crawford, Lee Cruz,
Charlotte & Donald Currier, Jim Martin &
Terry Dagradi, Che Dawson, Ellen Denny
& Andrew Richardson, William Doheny,
Eileen Eder, Karen Gilvarg & Eric Epstein,
Suzi Epstein, Kim Estes-Fradis, Sarah Fa-
bish, Josephine Robinson & Dean Fisher,
Kristen Phelps & Bob Fitzgerald, Jack
Fitzpatrick, Assoc., Sarah Fitzpatrick,
Alyson Fox, Brian Blakeley & Terry Free-
man, Carol Gaetjen, Dominic Galardi,
Matthew Garrett, Gordon & Shelley
Geballe, Chris Getman, Lindy Lee Gold,
Alfred & Irma Gonzalez III, Michelle
Gottlieb, Bill Gratz, David Heiser, Bonnie
Hill, Tom Holahan, Heather Hurst, Joseph
Illick, Annamaria & R. Franco Iuliano,
Thom Johnson,
Colae And Clint Jukkala, Peter & Meg
Kassen, Kelly Keefe, Knights of
Columbus, Jenny Laden, Susan Landon,
Sheryl Leamer, Trina & David Learned,
A. Lehren, Lenny Levesque, Rev. David
Lewicki, Joanne Price c/o Libby
Foundation, Gina & Scott Little, Sharon
& Bennett Lovett Graff, Steve Massey,
Laura McCargur, Maureen McCarthy,
Jen, Alex & Max MikoLevine, Susan &
David Millen, Florence Miller, G. &
Penelope Miller, April Mohr, Lenny
Moskovitz, Joelle Musante, John Navar-
ro, Lynne Tourville & Gregory Neagle,
Julie Newman, Sara Ohly, Elisabet Or-
ville, Bob & Inge Osborne, Susan Papa,
Mike & Ann Paulsmeyer, Melanie Payne,
Edmund & Elisabeth Peck, Geannine &
John Peck, Muffy Pendergast, Charles
Pillsbury, Cathryn Poff, Elana Ponet, Dev-
on & Kelly
Porpora, Stephen Press, Jo-Ann &
Michael Price, Andrew Rapkin, Matthew
Robb, Holly Robins, Jackel Robinson,
Helen Rosenberg, Marjorie Rosenthal,
Lynda Russo-Johnston, Elisa Sananman,
Erin Scanlon, Duncan Schmitt, Barbara
& Frank Sciulli, Chris Winters & Leigh
Shemitz, Deb & Dan Shepherd, Claire
Shubik, Heidi Sormaz, Shanna Strongin,
Martha Venter, Cassandra Vertefeulle,
Janna Wagner, Kate Walton, West Rock
Ridge Park Association, Rhonda
Williams, Robin Winnat, Yale University
Graduate & Professional School Senate,
Yarn, LLC, George Zdru, Louise Zemina
YOUTH SPOTLIGHT NICOLE DUNNAVILLE
By Javaughn Harris, YAG Coordinator
N icole Dunnaville has been in Solar Youth
since the summer of 2002, as part of the
Citywide Steward Program. Since then, she has
joined the Youth Advisory Group (YAG). As part
of the YAG, she has been to conferences with
other youth organizations and trainings on facili-
tation and leadership. Last summer, she attend-
ed the 2005 Children’s World Summit for the Envi-
ronment in Aichi, Japan.
The adult and youth staff at Solar Youth has only
good things to say about Nicole. Nicole is a
polite, compassionate person to be around.
“She’s wicked funny and always takes initiative
on projects,” says Joanne Sciulli, Solar Youth’s
ED. “We have seen her gain great confidence
over the years.” She’s very dependable and
helps other people on projects when they need
help. The only thing I can say about Nicole is
that she is a good friend that you can trust and
always count on. She’s always positive, has a
smile on her face and can always make you feel
better. That is why we chose Nicole as our Youth
Spotlight for 2005, because personally, I think
there was not a better choice.
Nicole with Russian woman in Japan,
2005
Nicole on a YAG Retreat in 2004
Nicole at a ropes course in 2002
54 Wayfarer Street
New Haven, CT 06515
(203) 387-4189
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID New Haven, CT
PERMIT NO. 67