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StrategySpecial ProjectsTo increase the community’s capacity for collective leadership on social change efforts, Roca has formed several teams of youth, adults, and community members who work on critical community issues to address human rights, change practices or policies, and promote the power of youth and adult partnerships. The development and start-up of this work is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Kellogg Leadership for Community Change Project. As projects grow, Roca is seeks funding for long-term organizing and resultant direct service or activities. Young people and their adult partners work towards building a community where young people are consistently valued and directly involved in community action, leadership, and decision-making. Currently, Roca has the following youth and adult efforts:
Essencia Latina Essencia Latina is a professional dance company based at Roca, whose main goal is to enhance cultural awareness in our community, improve young people’s self-esteem, and perform in many different dance competitions. Essencia Latina’s vision is to make change through music and dance; we work with families, schools, and many other resources to help the dancers of Essencia Latina with their academic success, leadership and professional development, and community involvement. The most important part of Essencia Latina is that the dance group will help the dancers replace any feelings of hopelessness with empowerment and opportunity. The skills they learn will help make a positive impact, not only in their lives but also in their peers. The Power of Education The “Power of Education” will provide a combination of community organizing and resultant direct services. The education organizing agenda is for systemic change to increase the number of young people who succeed and graduate from High School in Chelsea. The goals of this project are to ensure that our community’s highest risk 14-18 year olds stay engaged in school, pass the MCAS, graduate from high school, and ideally pursue post-secondary education and career success. For more information contact Anisha Chablani, Deputy Director of Roca at 617-889-5210 x257 or Anicha@rocainc.com. The refugee and immigrant rights work is being developed and led by two groups of young leaders, the Pro-Immigrant Group and the Young Mothers Group, in partnership with area organizations including: MIRA, CCEMA, Alpha, and others. For more information see the description of the Roca Immigrant and Refugee Initiative and contact Anisha Chablani, Deputy Director of Roca at 617-889-5210 x257 or Anicha@rocainc.com. The Violence Prevention project is a peace organizing initiative to improve community responses to gang and youth violence that seeks to engage young people, criminal justice professionals, parents and community members to address public safety. Roca’s Youth Star Project is working on a community education campaign, running a range of violence prevention activities with young people and their peers, and building partnerships with community leaders. For more information contact Lissette Sanchez-Gil, Youth Star Project Coordinator, at (617) 889- 5210 x 232 or Lissette@rocainc.com. Over the past six months, Roca has been working with criminal justice professionals, youth leaders and community members to launch an alternative sentencing project with young people in Chelsea/Revere District Court. Other special projects include:
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