The ARC Community Leadership Program has completed its inaugural year! Based in three high schools during the past academic year – North Tahoe, Truckee, and Dos Palos – the program provided deep-dive leadership and outdoor instruction. Sixty-six students participated in the program for a total of 2,726 student-hours of instruction. When schools closed their doors in March, we continued our cohort meetings and student check-ins virtually and, in May, sent certificates to our first-ever Community Leadership graduates! These rising tenth grade students will now be eligible for a $1,000 college scholarship if they complete an ARC summer course and a second year of the program.
Recent studies have shown that adolescents are feeling an increased sense of isolation and loneliness (Teenagers Say Depression and Anxiety are Major Issues Among Their Peers, NYTimes, 2019). Jesus Alejandre, ARC’s Central Valley Program Coordinator, who co-facilitated the program, said that ARC’s in-school workshops and weekend trips combated this sense of isolation, “Students had a place to feel in community. The had a place to feel proud of their individuality.” A Community Leadership student at Truckee High School voiced this same sentiment: “This group was amazing, and it helped me out during days I didn’t know I could get through.” Karen Martinez at North Tahoe High School expressed that the program helped her, as a ninth grader, “make friends, become close with the group, and become family.”
Community Leadership students participated in nine out-of-school trips during the academic year. Students visited state and national parks, UC Natural Reserves, and colleges and universities. Outdoor adventures included hiking to the Yuba River in the Sierra foothills, skiing at NorthStar, standing below the massive Sequoias at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and staying in cabins in Yosemite. After their participation, 96% of students responded “agree” or “strongly agree” to the statement “I love being outside.”
Students met weekly at Truckee and Dos Palos High Schools and monthly at North Tahoe High School for leadership workshops. ARC staff engaged students in conversations about self-identity, community, and goal-setting. Through these workshops, ARC aims to build a generation of students who take on leadership in their schools and beyond. Hugo Chavez, a Dos Palos participant, said that through the course of the year, “I learned how to be a better person and leader,” and with the confidence he gained, “I can overcome any type of challenge.”
We are excited to report that, in its first year, the ARC Community Leadership Program provided youth an inclusive and accepting community, a structured leadership progression, meaningful exposure to nature, and a mentoring relationship with caring, trained ARC educators. In 2020-21, we are looking forward to improving on our successes with this new program and we will be expanding to a new high school in Fresno County this fall. Jesus Alejandre says, “I am sad to know that our adventure has come to an end for this academic year, but I look forward to more in the future!”
We would like to thank our school partners, without whom this pilot year would not have been possible: the Foundations Class at Truckee High School and teachers Stephanie Timmons and Laurie Brown Cussen; the College and Career Readiness Class at Truckee High School and teacher Craig Rowe; the GRIT program at North Tahoe High School and Vice Principal Alejo Padilla; TTUSD Educational Services Department and EL Coordinator Tara House; and Dos Palos High School Vice Principal Dana Reyes and Career Technician Lisa Conger. Thank you all for supporting ARC!