Everyone needs a little encouragement, especially elementary-school kids taking tests.

“I know that you are very intelligent and always try your best which is what matters. Do your best since each exam is a step towards being that great doctor you have told me you want to be.”

That’s just one example of the special messages that McPherson Elementary School students in Napa Valley received, when 435 parents participated in a note writing campaign. It was part of a neighborhood-wide effort to raise standardized test scores to meet federal No Child Left Behind targets.

Kids were also boosted by local vendors, who donated school supplies and treats. Students got extra tutoring, and firefighters, police officers, and elected officials delivered motivational messages every morning over the PA system.

McPherson is one of several Bay Area Community Schools that is supported by United Way. Our grant supports the school’s Family Resource Center, which makes it easier for families meet basic needs by locating services right on the school campus. When families are sustaining themselves, kids can focus more on learning.

After four months of parents, teachers, and the community joining forces, tests were taken, and McPherson was one of only three elementary schools in Napa Valley Unified School District to meet all testing targets required by No Child Left Behind.

To celebrate, the Napa City Police Department closed the streets and escorted more than 700 McPherson students with about 100 teachers and community members to the new high school football stadium to honor this shared achievement. Everyone was greeted by the Napa High School marching band and cheerleaders, and the school district treated everyone present to a BBQ.

Congratulations, McPherson!

MatchBridge Director Matt Poland was invited to be a “citizen blogger” for the Bay Citizen news website. Here is an excerpt from his first blog post, “Why Aren’t Our Youth Working?”

Some youth graduating from high schools and going on to universities this year are going to discover in four years that a Bachelor’s degree by itself does not qualify them for a good job, as it may have at one time. Unless there are significant changes to the way our labor market works, youth who are in poverty and have other barriers to employment and education will have an even harder time.

There have been expanded efforts by nonprofits and government over the last 40-plus years to provide “safety-net” services to youth and those in need through job training, summer internship programs, employment preparation and job placement services. Yet 2010 was one of the worst summers on record for young job seekers, with over 50% unemployment among those 16-24 according to recent labor market information (see this USA Today article referencing BLS data).

Why? Because we have not yet made private-sector businesses full partners in our workforce development efforts. It’s a simple equation: A functional labor market + government investment + nonprofit services = low unemployment. It’s not government investment and nonprofit services that are causing this equation to fail; it is the lack of a functional labor market.

Read the rest of Matt’s post on The Bay Citizen web site.

Here’s your chance to channel your creativity and inspire people to transform our communities! AT&T is sponsoring a youth video contest for the United Way of the Bay Area’s MAKE IT BE initiative.

MAKE IT BE is a growing movement committed to cutting Bay Area poverty in half by 2020. Right now, 1 in 5 residents struggle to get by. We’re going to change that through MAKE IT BE. Use your creativity and join the movement! If chosen, you could be part of the teen team creating a video to be aired on local AT&T U-verse!

About the United Way MAKE IT BE Video Challenge
If you are a Bay Area high-school student, then you can get hands-on experience, developing a Public Service Announcement (PSA) that inspires the Bay Area to give back to the community. NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY!

If selected, you will work on one of two all-teen film crews to create and produce your PSA during a fast-paced, five-day shoot during Summer Break (August 5-9). Your completed PSA will be showcased online, where people across the Bay Area will view it and vote for it. The PSA that receives the most votes will be shown on local AT&T U-verse this fall!

Ready to transform your ideas into reality? Apply now!
Deadline is July 29th at 3 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time).

 P.S. – A Public Service Announcement, or PSA, is an advertisement that raises community awareness about a particular issue to change attitudes and inspire people to take action.

We all remember that first job interview. Maybe you were a little nervous and spent a lot of time getting ready. Perhaps you had that perfect outfit – or wish you did. For many urban youth today, professional clothes are difficult to afford. That’s why MatchBridge’s “Dress to Impress” event is so important.

Companies from around the Bay Area donated suits, shirts, dresses, shoes, and accessories to the United Way ’s annual spring clothing drive in anticipation for Dress to Impress. Twenty-five youth participants went on a shopping spree this past week, each picking out two professional outfits and other clothing items at no cost.

“Getting free clothes can help you succeed on interviews,” said Seraphine Xieu, MatchBridge member, “Having the right clothes helps you feel confident about yourself – people will trust you more.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Youth participants were also paired with volunteers from UPS, BRE Properties, Bovis, Lend Lease, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, Macy’s, and United Way’s Emerging Leaders group for mock interviews. The youth were asked typical employer questions and given pointers.

Between their new duds and some new interview skills, the young people left better prepared for the job market.

“Having the right wardrobe is amazingly important,” said Connie Moore, president and CEO of BRE Properties, a key MatchBridge partner. “You get one chance to make a first impression. So how you look shows how committed you are going to be, and you’re telling your prospective employer, ‘I want this job and I want to work hard at this job.’ That’s what they want to see.”

MatchBridge is United Way’s youth employment program, which provides urban youth with job opportunities while serving as a one-stop shop for employers looking for new employees.

If you are an employer or a job seeker and want to learn more about MatchBridge, go to www.matchbridge.org.

A new California law for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year requires that all students entering into grades 7-12 have proof of an adolescent whooping cough booster shot called Tdap before entering school.  Information about pertussis and Tdap vaccinations in the Bay Area is available in more than 150 languages by simply dialing 211. 

Tdap is a booster vaccine for older children, adolescents, and adults that safely protects against three dangerous diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (also called pertussis).  Whooping cough is a serious disease that causes coughing fits that can last for months.  It can be deadly for infants.  In recent years, whooping cough has increased in the U.S. and was widespread in California in 2010.

This new Tdap requirement is for current students, new students and transfer students in both private and public schools. Avoid the rush and make an appointment with your regular doctor or health care provider to get your child vaccinated.  Once vaccinated, keep documentation of your child’s Tdap booster shot in a safe place so your child can start school on time.

Your local 211 call center can answer many questions, such as: 
-Where can I get my child vaccinated?
-What if I don’t have insurance?  Can my child still receive the Tdap booster?
-What if my child doesn’t have proof of a Tdap shot before school starts in the Fall?

Learn more about 211 at www.211bayarea.org.

Photo courtesy of “Noodles and Beef” via Creative Commons license.