June Bloom

​June was filled with many emotions and hurdles which were overwhelming to many people. It is safe to say that the month of June could be perceived as the revelation of the undeniable truth of long lasting effects. Despite of the social unrest and the Global COVID-19 Pandemic, RAD has found ways to bring happiness, resources and education to the communities it serves while undergoing great times of uncertainty. You can find some of RAD’s June projects hightlighted below. 

​SKILLZ is a summer school program that takes place in an environment of love, support, understanding and high expectations. Students were given the opportunity to work in small groups with instructors who cared about the students and their success. During the Life Skillz section of the program, topics like alcohol, marijuana, prescription medication, and other substance related issues were discussed and unfolded. Due to unexpected global pandemic, SKILLZ found ways to adapt to the Safer-at-Home orders and provided programing via Zoom’s platform. In order to create the best effective program, SKILLZ student cohort was decreased and increased the staff to student ratio. This ensured more individualized attention for the students and increased the success rate of the program. By the end of the program, students expressed how impactful and fun SKILLZ was to them. Most of them also expressed how much they will miss SKILLZ and highlighted their hopes that online learning during the academic school year will reflect the online learning experienced they had during the SKILLZ Summer School program. This programing would have not been possible without the help of staff, community partners and school districts. A huge Thank You to everyone who made it possible and overcame all the unpredicted obstacles that came along with COVID-19 restrictions and the untraditional online learning process.

​ 
As things progress in ways we did not expect, RAD decided to compile all the currently identified resources available to individuals thought the San Gabriel Valley (SGV) into one Parent Resource Directory booklet. As community partners, it is our duty to ensure that the families we serve have access to the any additional resource they may need. This Parent Resource Directory includes resources like: food, health, dental health, mental health, educational resources, faith- based resources, legal resources, social services, substance use treatment, other services including Black Lives Matter resources, and some resources that help individuals with the application process of certain resources/services. This Parent Resource Directory was designed to help facilitate the process of accessing community resources for families throughout the SGV.

​Day One and other community partners came together to provided care packages for families within the community. These care packages included drug, alcohol, and prescription medication prevention material, health related goodies, COVID-19 essentials, hand sanitizers, masks, and a variety of other things like toothbrushes, reusable bags, crossword puzzles, games, etc. Care packages were designed for students and for parents and families. Students and families were asked to take a picture and send them to staff members.

​ 
June has also been filled with civil unrest as people battled through something that has always existed but often fails to be acknowledged. It would be absurd to recognize the recent flood of racial injustice as a newly formed phenomenon when racial profiling, discrimination, oppression, racial injustice, are things that has been embedded in our daily lives and throughout history in various ways or forms. RAD stands with the Black community in the fight against racism, injustice and violence. RAD also strives to help black children, youth and families in the fight against systemic racism, violence and the oppression of the Black community. We are committed to working alongside our communities to create a better world. Black Lives Matter yesterday, today and tomorrow!