From San Diego to Bray, Letter 1

Today, SDAIHYC is starting correspondence with the HiRez Youth Centre in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland! We are excited to learn more about their program, their youth, and the amazing work they do across the Atlantic. What's up to Ireland from San Diego!

Skateboarding and Gung Fu update

Skateboarding group is now back in full swing...with an actual skateboard instructor!  Yes, you can now skate AND have someone to teach you cool tricks...not just have Daniel saying "Don't fall!" The group is still on Thursdays from 430-6PM; try to be at the YC by 415PM so that you can get your board and safety equipment (the helmet is NOT optional, everything else is) before we venture to Balboa Park or one of the local skate parks, specifically those in Ocean Beach or National City.  Our new instructor, Rafael Uno, has been involved in the San Diego skate community for many years, and has already taught our group attendees some new things.  As for gung fu, Ciani's schedule has changed, so classes are looking to be on either Wednesdays or Thursdays.  Don't forget what you've learned...

Best of luck, Dr. Cain!

Our original Youth Center Coordinator, Licensed Psychologist, Health Circle facilitator, and all-around awesome lady Dr. Melanie Cain has left the building...and San Diego :(. Dr. Cain has taken a position in Los Angeles County serving the urban Native population up there, but we are forever grateful for the service she provided for all of us here in San Diego. On January 3rd, her last day here at San Diego American Indian Health, we here at the Youth Center provided a surprise potluck and go-away dinner for her. The youth, staff and parents alike thanked her for her kindness, generosity, humility, and the outstanding example she has provided for our youth and all of us. Best of luck, Dr. Cain; enjoy the traffic!!!

And a little video of the surprise:

Ice skates and dancing with taco plates

This last weekend was a busy one for Youth Center members, parents and staff. On Friday, we continued where we stopped last year and went ice skating at Horton Plaza. Thanks to our wonderful volunteer Kimberley and to the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation for their donation of tickets for our Native youth! SDAIHYC teamed up with Indian Health Council's Club 7 from the Rincon Indian Reservation and youth from Southern Indian Health Council for this year's event. Each youth that participated was gifted a scarf, mittens and a beanie for the (moderately) cold weather. The day after, YC teens journeyed up to Pechanga to participate in their Christmas dance. Attendees were treated to a lovely taco dinner (hence this post's title) and some holiday and old school music prior to a modern mix. Some of our members also participated in a dance contest and won raffle prizes! Pictures from both events can be found here.

Inter Tribal Sports basketball practice starts!

SDAIHYC is now hosting the San Diego Urban Inter Tribal Sports teams, and the this week we've held our first official basketball practice! We have been playing basketball quite a bit in the last three months, but now it's for real; we have a court reserved most Mondays and Wednesdays (some Thursdays) through the month of January and for the rest of the ITS basketball season. If you haven't already signed up (ITS is for ages 5-18), let us know at the Youth Center! Following basketball season is volleyball, softball and both kinds of football (American and the rest of the world kind, or as we call it, "soccer"). We hope you can join us!

Painting awesomeness for UCSD

Our very own Daniella turned a blank canvas from UCSD's Native American Student Association into a work of art! She chose a variety of symbols to represent the sheer diversity of Native nations that attend our Youth Center, and left room for the youth members to place the names of their tribes and those of other youth members who weren't present in the borders, surrounding the painting with all of our identities. The painting will be on permanent display at the Student Affirmative Action Committee Lounge at UCSD, included in a mosaic of other paintings from other student of color organizations.

Oh Christmas tree...

The tree seems to be in a lot of our recent posts, huh? Here is a picture with the Elder Group (meets 11PM-1AM on Tuesday mornings) in front of the tree!

2011 World AIDS Day

20 youth members and staff participated in this year's World AIDS Day candlelight vigil, starting at the LGBT Community Center and culminating at the 20th Annual Tree of Life Ceremony at Hillcrest Village. Youth member Joseph made an Ojo de Dios during Cultural Arts class specifically to hang on the Tree of Life! After the mile walk on a nippy (well, at least in California) 55 degree night, attendees were treated to baked goods from Kona Coffee before local politicians and host Mama's Kitchen spoke about the theme of World AIDS Day 2011: "Getting to Zero." After the Tree was lit and candles flickered in memory of those who have lost their lives from this disease, the mood was shifted with a performance by the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus. Check out pictures of this and other December 2011 festivities here.

Welcome to the 2011 holiday season!

The winter holidays are upon us, and we kicked them off at the Youth Center on Monday with festive decorations all around (including our tree, with Western decorations, Ojos de Dios, member-made ornaments, angels, and apparently, a skating antelope...). Check out the monthly calendar, because December is jam-packed with a multitude of events!