A Path of ROCK

by Gary Sexton

When I started with ROCK, I thought our participants were just like the kids from the suburbs I had worked with in the past.  My former notion changed, when two weeks into my start at ROCK, my supervisor, Erica Hernandez, requested I attend a conference downtown.  As I listened to the speeches, I found myself fighting the early morning “sleepy head-bob”, until one particular high school student stood in front of the podium to tell her story.  She vividly explained how she had witnessed seeing her mother killed by her mother’s boyfriend.

Her story was heart-wrenching.  While she spoke about her siblings, Erica and I made the connection.  Her little sister was a ROCK participant.  This is when I came to the conclusion that our participants weren’t like any of the young people I have worked with.  Each of our students has a different story.  This is when I realized ROCK was where I was supposed to be.

In May of this year, I was offered the Elementary School Coordinator position, and was more than thrilled to accept.  So as I continue my journey through life, I will use my experiences, and more importantly, the stories of those surrounding me as my stepping stones.  Fortunately, that path continues through ROCK.

Goodbye ROCK

by Sarah Schwartz

My last month at ROCK has been an absolute whirlwind filled with all sorts of fun events, celebrations, appreciations, graduations and most notably, ROCK Lil Kid Camp 2010!!!  I have been busier than ever and absolutely scrambling to get everything accomplished

Sarah and a ROCK participant at camp

before my last day, however, I have enjoyed my job more than ever before!   While it may have to do with the multiple going away gatherings, the constant supply of beautiful flowers (courtesy of my awesome families who I love so much) and the heartwarming gifts from kids that keep appearing on my desk—It  also has to do with community.  Living in such a transient and fragmented city as San Francisco, for me, finding ROCK was finding my community.  All the teachers, community members, volunteers, families, ROCK staff and kids who I have come to know and love these past years are the reason why this job is so hard to leave behind…as well as the reason I will always be part of the ROCK Community in some way , shape, or form.  ROCK has given me so much and helped me learn and grow in so many ways both professionally and personally- I am excited to take a step back and watch this process unfold for Gary, who I know will do amazing things at ROCK!  I have so many fun experiences to look forward to in my travels, but I find myself jumping ahead and getting excited to come back to ROCK and see how the kids and the programs have grown.   I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by such incredible people in my daily life at ROCK and I will carry them all with me in my heart, where ever in the world I may be!

If you have a second, please check out the amazing slide show of ROCK Lil’ Kid Camp 2010 courtesy of Curt Yagi:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2atWEiKyqCI.

Thanks for all the memories and keep in touch!

Love,

Sarah

sarahisbold@gmail.com

Youth Thrive on the Gridiron

By Erica Hernandez, Middle School Program Coordinator

This semester, the ROCK Beacon, our after school program at Visitacion Valley Middle School, decided to create a flag football team and enter the City Wide League. Currently, the team is 3 and 2 and hoping to win its remaining games. Star quarterback Marquez Williams has a great arm and can throw a perfect spiral across the entire field. Alvin Norman, the other team captain, helps lead the players in stretches, running plays and in working together. Another star player, LP, the lead linebacker, works well with our other linebacker, Dijante Martin, to use their strength and knowledge to block the other teams players.

Many of our other players, Jahari Oliver, Elijah Oliver, Luis Rosas, Bruce Salize, Marcel Waldron, Eli Iakopo, Willie Lefiti and Sam Martin use their speed and skills to score touchdowns, catch interceptions and pull the other players’ flags, preventing them from scoring.  During the beginning of the week, the team works together to not only practice, but to help each other with their homework and prepare for the game at the end of the week.  With some of the players graduating this year, ROCK Beacon would like to congratulate the 8th grade participants for all the hard work and effort they have put in these past few months.  The team as a whole had a great season and the ROCK Beacon commends them for making great strides to a successful future.

Parking Tickets and ROCK

By Tiffany Subido, Site Administrator

It was the spring of 2004. I was young and carefree… or in other words careless. So careless, that I racked up hundreds of dollars in parking tickets. (Oops!) Luckily for me, San Francisco had a program where you could volunteer hours at a local non-profit to pay the tickets off. With my passion for youth, they placed me at ROCK. From day one, I was welcomed by the middle school students with open arms.

Since then, my life has taken me down many roads: to Hawaii and through motherhood. But no matter where I go, I can always find a home at ROCK, either through accessing their services by taking karate lessons, volunteering for their programs, or being a part of the awesome staff. And to see the individuals I started with mature from thriving pre-teens into such intelligent, responsible, and confident adult-leaders is such a reward. I can’t wait for my son to be old enough to be a ROCKstar!

If I had to choose my favorite virtue that ROCK upholds, it would be wisdom. Wisdom involves both teaching each other while learning from each other. ROCK provides youth with opportunities to learn life lessons that they can carry with them into adulthood. Whether it be the qualities of good sportsmanship and teamwork through sports, leadership through SALT, or an appreciation for nature through camping trips, the youth embrace this new knowledge and therefore become wiser. They make good decisions, have better judgment, and become more responsible people because of the lessons they learn. They can then step into the world ready to share their wisdom with others.

6 Years and Counting

By Teodora Ildefonzo-Olmo, Director of Programs

Playing with friends, running after the ice cream truck and exploring my neighborhood were some of the things that I did as a child.  I was actually the quiet and shy kid who went with the flow and was eager for new adventures with my friends.  As a young adult, I’ve always wanted to come back to my community and provide quality programming for young people.  During my senior year at San Francisco State University, I got my chance!  ROCK was looking for someone to fill its Middle and High School Program Director position.  This job was right up my alley… I grew up in Visitacion Valley and was already working for a non-profit (doing similar work).  Nervous, I showed up for my in-person interview and the rest is history!

For the past 6 years, I’ve been working for Real Options for City Kids (ROCK). I have had the opportunity to see the organization become a successful entity in the community and witness tremendous amount of growth from many of our young people.  It is very rewarding to build positive relationships with young people, be a part of their lives and listen to their joys.  I look forward to many more years with ROCK as the organization and the Visitacion Valley community are definitely a part of my life!

A Flash Before My Eyes

By Erica Hernandez, Middle School Program Coordinator

Working with ROCK has been one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life.  Being a part of a youth development organization, specifically in Visitacion Valley, is exactly what I’ve wanted to do these past few years.  Since I was born and raised in Visitacion Valley and also went to school in the neighborhood, I’ve had a close connection with this community.  Prior to working at ROCK, I was a teacher’s aide for 2 different preschools and a tutor at James Denman Middle School.  Even though those various programs were fun to work at, I was still drawn to working in Vis Valley.  Coincidentally, in the Summer of 2007 I was job hunting for a summer position and stumbled across a position for ROCK’s Summer Escape program on Craigslist.  I was surprised to find an organization with such meaningful visions and goals in the neighborhood I’ve grown to love so much.  I was hired for that position (THANK GOODNESS) and eventually worked in the Homework Help and Saturday Programs.  Two years passed, and I’m now the Middle School Program Coordinator.  I feel like this entire experience just flashed before my eyes and the opportunity that I’ve wanted for so long happened organically.  I’m so happy to be part of this great team and am thankful for this chapter in my life.  Hopefully, I can help provide quality programs to the students at VVMS, because they undoubtedly deserve it.

A Life-Changing Experience

By Sarah Schwartz, Elementary School Program Director

The past three years working at ROCK have been life changing to say the least.  I began my time as the Elementary School Program Director in August of 2007 when I was given an amazing opportunity to attempt to make a mark on the lives of Vis Valley’s children.  Since then, I have been challenged to learn and grow not only professionally, but personally as well.  My first school year at ROCK was a whirlwind of kids, programs, parents, teachers and staff.   I did my best to keep up and attempt to plan programs that met the high standard that the other ROCK program directors set (THEA!).  Just as I was about to let out a sigh of relief, my next big challenge was right around the corner… ROCK Camp 2008! Duh Duh Duuuuuuh!

Picture yourself riding in a charter bus down a windy country road with fifty elementary school kids waiting in anticipation for a weekend away from the city.  Needless to say I was terrified!  It seemed like all the “emergency” situations that I had planned for were coming true-car sick children puking in the back of the bus, others not making it to the bathroom “in time” and wetting their pants, not to mention the extreme heat!  As we pulled into CYO Camp in Occidental, CA I was wondering how I would ever survive, let alone make it back to the city with all fifty kids!

The bus came to a stop and the kids cheered with relief, the long drive was over and we were finally at camp.  As the kids stepped off the bus the energy shifted; there we were, in the middle of nowhere with a weekend of pure fun ahead of us!  Without wasting much time, the group swarmed the cool waters of the swimming pool. Watching the kids play in the water was when I truly understood what ROCK Camp was all about.  Kids playing, smiles on their faces, water splashing all around and not a care in the world.  The rest of the weekend was by no means a breeze and things continued to go wrong for the entire 3 days, but none of that mattered anymore.  Having had a part in bringing those kids to a safe place full of fun, challenging activities just for them was one of the best gifts I have ever received.  Despite the heat wave, the kids’ energy and excitement remained high up until the minute we pulled back into San Francisco.  And to my relief, not only did I survive, I brought all fifty kids home safely-full of camp stories to share all summer long.

Discovering ROCK and Myself

By Curt Yagi, Executive Director

The year was 1998 and I received an email from an organization called Real Options for City Kids, or ROCK, indicating that they were looking for volunteers for their Saturday sports program for children.  While I had never done anything like this before, I thought I would give it a try.  The night before my first volunteering experience, I was nervous since I had no experience working with kids.  Were they going to like me?  Was I going to make a positive difference?  I arrived at the gymnasium where programs were held and my anxiety grew.  I could hear my heart beating louder and louder with each step I took toward the main entrance.  I made my way through the front door and was surprised to see so many kids running around with smiles on their faces.  The energy was contagious and before I knew it, I was running around with the kids having the time of my life.  Gone were the nerves and questions that were plaguing me.  I felt right at home and knew that I had just stumbled upon something truly special.

It has been almost 12 years since I first experienced ROCK and over six years since I transitioned from the corporate world into the Executive Directorship for the organization.  Gone are the days of donning my best business wear as I ride the bus to my corporate job in downtown San Francisco.  I have never looked back, nor think I ever will.  This is the perfect job for my personality and I feel privileged to be a part of something so positively impactful.  I love the fact that I can one day manage ROCK from a strategic level and the next day visit programs to get to know our kids.

I can’t wait to see what the next several years brings.  ROCK has big plans!

ROCK Turns 15

Brandon Smith was 6 years old when he first stepped foot into the Visitacion Valley Middle School gymnasium for a basketball clinic put on by local nonprofit Real Options for City Kids (ROCK).  An awkward child living in a rough neighborhood, Brandon stayed with the program year after year, attending programs such as basketball camp, homework help and backpacking.  His consistency with ROCK provided him with new experiences and the opportunity to form lasting bonds with adult role-models. Today, Brandon is a 19 year old college student who works on staff at ROCK helping children just like he was.

Brandon is just one of many examples of ROCK’s success stories and with his accomplishments, ROCK is proud to celebrate its 15 year anniversary of positive youth development programs in Visitacion Valley.  “I am pleased to be a part of a great organization that has done so much to enrich my life and steer me in the right direction,” said Brandon.  ROCK’s programs are designed to work with children throughout their youth from their elementary school years through their high school years.  The vision of the program is for participants to become productive individuals when they reach their adulthood.  “I am proud to be involved with a great organization for almost its entire lifetime,” said Curt Yagi, Executive Director.  “It is rewarding to see a past participant such as Brandon grow as an individual and become a ROCK staff member.  It is proof that our model works.”

What began as a small, school-based program combining sports and fitness with learning enrichment for elementary school participants has grown into an established organization providing a wealth of year-round opportunities for elementary, middle and high school students.  ROCK expands each year and is on track to continue its expansion for many years to come.

ROCK will be hosting a 15-year anniversary celebration early in 2010.  In addition, the organization just launched its new website: www.rocksf.org.