4 Bright Spots Nearly half of all children experience bullying at school. Bullying has long-lasting effects on kids who have been bullied as well as those who bully. To combat bullying, Monterey County Pops! has enlisted “Tubby the Tuba,” a musical lesson in self-esteem. Children from kindergarten to sixth grade are following the adventures of Tubby as he learns to stand up to bullies. Tubby presentations have traveled to schools in Salinas, the Salinas Valley and North County, reaching over 1,200 students and counting. What a way to make a difference through music. Monterey County Pops! Youth on Course As youth sports' seasons were canceled across the county during the COVID-19 pandemic, an activity kids could safely turn to was golf. The game surged in popularity, similar to when Tiger Woods frst emerged onto the scene. Youth on Course was there to make sure the game could be enjoyed affordably by families in our community. In support of its mission to ensure that every child has affordable access to golf, Youth on Course subsidized more than 13,000 rounds of junior golf in 2021. That’s 13,000 rounds kids played for just $5. Youth on Course is helping make the future of golf inviting, inclusive and most importantly, accessible to all young people — the next generation of lifelong players and lovers of the game. We continue to be impressed by the new and creative ways our community is supporting our youth with critical and impactful programs. Here are a few inspiring stories of Foundation grantees demonstrating resilience and creativity. The Wahine Project The Monterey Bay serves up some of the best surf in the world, but the world of surfng doesn’t always feel open to everyone. The Wahine Project focuses on removing barriers that prevent youth participation in ocean sports. Says Alisal (Salinas) High School student Daisy, “As a child, I always thought that surfng was a sport only people in movies would participate in. It wasn’t something I ever saw people of color doing; it wasn’t a reality for me. The Wahine Project has changed my life, and for that I will always be grateful.” The Wahine Project highlights the positive aspects of surf culture, teaching ocean safety while emphasizing the importance of exercise, nutrition, social responsibility and environmental stewardship. Breaking Barriers on Breaking Waves Just the sight of a Red Book Bag brings smiles and giggles of excitement across the classroom. At the Seaside Children’s Center, children receive a new Red Book Bag once a week. It is flled with award-winning multicultural books that they get to share with their family for the week. The premise is simple: Students are more eager to read when they can do so with their families. Through the Raising a Reader program, children can do just that with their Red Book Bags. The program has been such a hit, it has already been adopted by the Marina Child Development Center for this fall. Since the program’s inception, students are scoring higher in language and literacy development measures. But best of all, they are enjoying reading. Monterey Peninsula Unified School District The Magic of the Red Book Bag Affordable Golf for Every Youth How old do you need to be to become an expert? AIM Youth Mental Health tapped into Monterey County’s local high schools for guidance in developing recommendations, treatment and best practices for youth who are struggling with mental health issues — the numbers of which have increased exponentially in the wake of the challenges COVID-19 has presented. Their Ideas Lab Team — a group of 90 high school students — surveyed 280 peers across 16 area high schools. They reviewed their fndings with Stanford Behavioral Health and the Monterey County Offce of Education before presenting their research and solutions at the recent AIM Scientifc Symposium. Attendees at the Symposium included world-renowned researchers, parents, educators, policy makers and members of our community. After all, who knows more about what it’s like to be a young adult than youth themselves? AIM Youth Mental Health Solutions from Real Youth Experts A Musical Lesson in SelfEsteem 2021 Annual Report 5
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