On Tuesday, June 30, 2020, KYCC’s Prevention Education hosted a Youth Banquet to recognize and appreciate the community work of our youth participants in the BRIDGE volunteer program, Youth Drugs Abuse Prevention Program (YDAPP), Wilton’s Middle School program, and Family Service Center’s Middle School program. For the first time this year, youth interns from KYCC’s Environmental Services, students in the Youth Services RISE Middle School and High School program, and high schoolers from the Clinical Services Mental Health Club SAY (Spreading Awareness to Youth) joined in on the celebratory banquet. 

Due to COVID-19 Stay-At-Home orders, the youth banquet was hosted virtually on Zoom and attended by over 50 youth participants. Prior to the event, staff assembled and mailed out individual care packages for each of the students that included games and gifts. This year’s youth banquet included “Program Highlights” which allowed for youth and KYCC staff to highlight their most meaningful moments and achievements over the past year. Between presentations, students had the opportunity to win various raffle prizes. Students ended the night by getting to know one another in breakout rooms and competing to win the virtual Escape Room activity. 

“Our staff felt strongly about continuing with this appreciation event even though it would be virtual because we really wanted to appreciate our youth volunteers. They contribute so much to the mission and vision of our agency! It was also so inspiring to see staff come together to care for our youth, brainstorm creative ways to engage youth virtually, and elevate youth voice during this time,” remarked Hanna Yi, Prevention Specialist

This appreciation event for our youth volunteers was funded by the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control.