Oakland students step in to guide peers toward college
Oakland, CA - In the last year, students at Skyline High School have seen all four of their guidance counselors let go. With a district dropout rate for Black and Latino males reaching as high as 40% in the past few years, this loss of counselors is devastating. Over the past few months, in response to this shortage of guidance counselors, Skyline High School’s Youth Action Team (YAT) has launched the I·AM Project (Inform Activate Motivate); a venture to produce an informative video on the importance of the A-G requirements as well as provide tools for college readiness.
A-G refers to the high school courses required for entrance to the University of California and the California State University systems.
On Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 at 4pm, students from Oakland’s Skyline High School will be presented with a check from State Farm Insurance in the amount of $41,280. This State Farm Youth Advisory Board Grant will help the school’s YAT create the video about the California A-G education requirements.
During this special event, students will participate in a teach-in on the state budget prospects for the year, film for the video being produced and honor local organizations that support students in their dream to attend college. State Farm Insurance has been extremely supportive of YAT. “We congratulate Youth Together and the Youth Action Team at Skyline High School on being selected for a State Farm Youth Advisory Board Grant,” said State Farm Agency Field Executive, Paul Hong. “Helping fellow students across California prepare for college is a valuable endeavor and we look forward to seeing the video when it is completed.”
Skyline High School Youth Action Team
Special Event - February 23rd at 4:00 p.m.
12250 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland, California 94619
About Youth Action Team:
Youth Action Team (abbrev. YAT) of Skyline High School, a part of Youth Together Inc. is a youth-run organization which focuses on creating a positive social change within the Skyline learning community and the Bay Area at large. For more information about the “I*Am” video project, call 510-717-8383.
Contact
Tony Douangviseth, Youth Action Team, (510) 531-4387
Sevag A. Sarkissian, State Farm Insurance Media Inquiries, (510) 596-1639
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 43 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.
