Graduating Class of 2011!

On May 16th and 24th, Each One Reach One will be celebrating the success of the youth who have participated in the GED Study Hall Program, the Youth Guidance Center Improvement Committee (YGCIC) Early Morning Studies Academy and Log Cabin Ranch High School. These youth all worked towards and/or completed their GED during their detention at the San Francisco Juvenile Justice Center. This year the class of 2011 includes 55 youth who will wear their caps and gowns to receive their diploma or GED at City Hall and 20 young men who will march down the aisle in caps and gowns to receive their diplomas at the Juvenile Justice Center.

For many of these young men, they are the first in their family to complete high school and for all of these young men they completed their high school degrees despite economic hurdles, cycles of violence and addiction, and negative behaviors that led many of them to believing they would spend a lifetime behind bars. Through the support of Each One Reach One in collaboration with YGCIC, the Juvenile Probation Department, and Woodside Learning Center, these young people are afforded an opportunity to envision a life beyond bars and given a second chance to make something of their lives.

All of us at Each One Reach One are proud of the Class of 2011 and extend our sincerest appreciation to the volunteers, mentor, staff, teachers, Probation Officers, and community members who make it possible for us to empower these young people to complete their high school education!

How will Budget Cuts Impact the Juvenile Justice System?

As state legislators look at the proposed budget cuts, many are wondering the impact these cuts will have on the youth served by Each One Reach One. Under the proposed AB109 Criminal Justice Alignment, the state youth prison system would be abolished to save million of dollars and speed up reform at county facilities. While many have been lobbying for the closure of the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) for decades, this means that hundreds of youth will be returning to the county juvenile detention facilities and some, to the adult prison system. Effective July 1, 2011, the DJJ would stop accepting new appointments to their facilities and close by June 30, 2014. Any offender still in custody at that time would return to the local jurisdiction detention facilities. The closure of the DJJ will shift costs from the state to the county level, and hopefully speed up detention reform at the local level.

At the city and county level, 10-25% budget cuts across city-wide departments will also impact our youth. Most Violence Prevention, Gang Reduction, and Non-Violence Initiatives are being forced to limit their spending on programs for at-risk youth. This negatively impacts the amount of funding available to provide detention-based and post-release programming for youth. It is up to agencies like Each One Reach One to collaborate with other agencies and our supporters to continue providing these critical programs!

Check out this great article on the proposed state budget cuts and the impact on the Juvenile Justice System!

http://theguardsman.com/california%E2%80%99s-broken-juvenile-justice-system-proposal-to-cut-state%E2%80%99s-system-brings-up-ghosts-of-youth-torture/

Steppin' Out a play by an EORO Youth

Characters: Setting: Time: At Rise:

THUMP the White Tiger, Male, 15 in animal years old STAR the Koala, THUMP’s Mother, Female, 38 years old Deep down in the swampy jungle in South America.  The sound of other tigers roaring in the distance and the smell of blood from their prey. 2:00pm on a summer day STAR is outside watching the summer sky, warming up her skin.  THUMP is roaming outside in the tall, pikey, green grass.

THUMP

Hey Mom, can I talk to you for a second?

STAR

Yes son, just hold on – I got to get Stink in the house.  What is it you want to talk about?

THUMP

I think you need to sit down for this talk we’re about to have.

STAR

Ohhh, what did you get yourself into now?  I hope you’re not out there in the jungle gettin’ into trouble.  I don’t need to hear about that.

THUMP

No, it’s not that Mom.  It’s…(sigh)…it’s just something I need to get off my chest before it gets too late.

STAR

What’s wrong, son?  What you need to talk about?  Tell me, you can tell me anything.  What’s on your mind?

THUMP

This is serious.  I know you want me to stay here in the den with you and Stink, but Nelly, my Tigress, is pregnant with my cubs and she has one week left to have my cubs.

STAR

What’s wrong with that?  You know I love her.  She’s my daughter-in-law and she is making me a grandmother.  I have no problem with that.  I am gon’ have me some grandcubs running around here.  I am happy for you.

THUMP

I know you is, Mom…but that’s just it.  Me and Nelly is movin’ away and getting’ our own place with more room for the six cubs we’re expecting.

STAR

What, I…I thought you was gon’ stay home with me and Stink.  Why you want to leave us, you know me and Stink need you.

THUMP

I know but I think it’s time for me to be my own tiger and start my own family.  No offense Mom, but I don’t want to live my entire life in this den with you and Stink.  I want to live my own life and explore the jungle with my cubs.  I am still gon’ come by and visit all the time and I’m gon’ bring the cubs with me.

STAR

I don’t care if you come back and visit, I just don’t want you to leave yet.  You say you gon’ come and visit but I don’t believe you.  Your father said the same thing when he left but he never came back.  And what about Stink, what he going to do without you, you know he need you right now. Really, after his father passed away he need a male role model in his life.  Because if he don’t have you here for him, I think he going to end up down that road, and I don’t want him like that.  It’s not like I’m the only one who need you, he need you, too.  What am I going to say to him when he ask, “Mommy, where my brother at, huh?”  He look up to you, too.  Don’t do this to him son, don’t.  He’s going to be hurt if he find out you left him, too. Don’t do it to him.

THUMP

I know he need me, I need him, too.  He’s my little brother – I love him.  I know it’s going to be hard on him, but it’s gon’ be more hard on me.  I am feeling sad just thinkin’ about it, but you act like I am not gon’ come back and visit y’all like three times a week.  I love him like he’s my cub.  I just got to live my life – he can come with me if you want him to.

STAR

No, he’s not going nowhere with you.  My baby staying here with me.

THUMP

What you saying it like that for, like he’s not gon’ be safe with me.  Now you really making me feel bad.

STAR

Well I hope you do ‘cause I am going to feel the same way if I let you leave.

THUMP

What you mean, “if you let me leave”?  I am going to leave anyway to take care of my own family on the way to start my own pride, start my own generation of cubs.

STAR

What you mean you’re leaving anyway?  You’re not going anywhere until I say so.  You’re my baby, my child, you’re going to leave when I let you.

THUMP

Why you steady treating me like a lil cub all the time?  I am 15 years old, I am not the same lil cub that used to do everything you tell me to do.  If you forgot, I’m a grrrrrrrrrown tiger now, I am going to do what I want to do and nobody going to stop me.

STAR

If you want to leave so bad with your precious tigress then leave and never come back.  You’re choosing her over us, then go and never ever come back.  I am done with you.

THUMP

What you mean you done with me?  What are you saying, you don’t care about me no more?  You don’t love me?  How can you say that, I am your flesh and blood, your baby!  I understand if you don’t appreciate what I am doing, but I got to start my own family.  You already started yours and you did a good job.  That’s what I want to do, the same thing and make you proud of me.  And when you talk to other koalas, you can say you’re proud of your son.  Please don’t do this Mom, I need you.

STAR

OK.  OK.  I understand what you’re sayin’.  You want to be a better man than your father was.  But I just don’t want you to go out there and get yourself hurt.  I think I can keep you safe – but like you said, you’re a grrrrrrrrrown tiger now.  I understand you gon’ live your life son, just be safe out there.  And don’t forget to bring my grandcubs by here. And…don’t forget I love you and I am already proud of you.

THUMP

Thank you, Mom.  And I love you, too.  And I am not going to forget to bring the cubs by.  And I love you more.

STAR

I love you more than all the eucalyptus trees.

THUMP

No, I love you more than zebra meat.

THE END

Each One Reach One Hires Brittany Jarabek

Each One Reach One Hires Brittany Jarabek

Each One Reach One Welcomes Brittany Jarabek as the Assistant Director

South San Francisco, CA – April 20, 2011 – Each One Reach One, a non-profit organization that diverts incarcerated youth from a life in prison to become productive community members through mentor-based performing arts and academic tutoring programs, announced today it has hired Brittany N. Jarabek to the position of Assistant Director

Mrs. Jarabek has over 15 years of experience in working with at-risk youth as a mentor, volunteer, teacher, and in non-profit management. Mrs. Jarabek will provide her knowledge and support on fundraising, detention-based programming, grant writing, non-profit management, and working with high-risk youth.

Located in South San Francisco, Each One Reach One provides programming, support and services to the detention facilities and camps in San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.  “Brittany’s extensive knowledge, high regard amongst system stake-holders, compassion for the youth, and experience as Executive Director of City Youth Now is a tremendous addition to Each One Reach One and a valuable resource to our youth,” said Robin Sohnen, Executive Director and Founder of Each One Reach One.

Mrs. Jarabek was formerly Executive Director of City Youth Now in San Francisco and a research analyst for the City and County of San Francisco’s Juvenile Probation Department. During her tenure at City Youth Now, she developed her skills in non-profit management and fundraising. Under Mrs. Jarabek’s leadership, detention-based programming was developed, program offerings to youth in both systems were expanded, and the agency’s operating budget significantly increased. While working with the Juvenile Probation Department, Mrs. Jarabek co-facilitated an initiative that offered capacity building workshops to community based organizations who were working under the city-wide Violence Prevention Initiative. The initiative sought to provide training to the community agencies and foster relationships with the Department.

Mrs. Jarabek currently sits on the board of directors of the East Bay Children Law Offices, which provide a voice and legal counsel for youth in the Alameda County Child Welfare System. Mrs. Jarabek holds a BA in Art History from Westmont College in Santa Barbara and an MA in Art History from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.

About Each One Reach One

Each One Reach One (EORO) was founded in 1998, as an advocacy organization to divert incarcerated youth and youth on probation from a life in prison. EORO has remained dedicated to its mission to divert incarcerated youth from a life in prison to become productive community members through mentor-based performing arts and academic tutoring programs. EORO believes that youth behind bars are children, first and foremost; that one-on-one mentoring through the creative act of playwriting, painting, academic tutoring and life skills workshops provides the best way to positively influence and change the image that both incarcerated youth and society hold of them. www.eoro.org

###

Media Contact: Robin Sohnen, Executive Director and Founder 650.225.9030 robin@eoro.org

Kudos to the Team!

Liz Jackson-Simpson, YGCIC Executive Director (L)
Robin Sohnen, EORO Executive Director (R)

We are pleased to announce that Each One Reach One(EORO) in collaboration with the Youth Guidance Center  Improvement Committee (YGCIC) received  the Outstanding Workforce Partnership Award from the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development. The award was bestowed for the unique collaboration, efforts and work to assist high-risk youth detained youth in San Francisco obtain their GED during and post-detention. Education is a critical tool to assist at risk youth overcome obstacles and make something positive of their lives. 


With over three decades of collective experience working with this population of youth and diverting high-risk offenders from a life behind bars, YGCIC and EORO are making an impact on Street Violence Reduction and empowering young people to make positive life choices. EORO and YGCIC will be further celebrating their collaborative success the end of May at the Juvenile Justice Center Woodside Learning Center graduation, where graduates will obtain their high school diploma or GED thanks to the support of EORO and YGCIC. Kudos to all the staff at YGCIC and EORO! 

"Each One Reach One believed in me, so I learned to believe in myself." -Oscar

Each One Reach One Programs

EACH ONE REACH ONE  currently provides five core  programs that have reached more than 1,300 incarcerated youth in over ten detention facilities in San Mateo, San Francisco and Santa Clara Counties.

• A Dream and A Plan for Tomorrow (ADAPT) is the only after-school facilitated study hall program inside youth detention facilities in the Bay Area addressing the special academic needs of incarcerated youth providing them the opportunity to obtain their GED while detained.
• Playwriting and Expressive Painting Programs has enabled over 700 detained youth to work one-on-one with a theater professional and/or a professional painter to write an original, one-act play or create an original painting as the youth examine their life choices as well as their attitudes, opinions and values.
• Girl’s Health Choices is a health education and life skills program for detained young women in San Mateo. It explores topics of teen pregnancy prevention, HIV/AID/STDs, sexual exploitation, self-esteem and body image, budgeting, employment, relationships and more. 
• HIV/STD Prevention Program, Keeping It Safe (KIS) is an 8-week series program that offers youth the opportunity to learn how to recognize concepts that would have typically been provided by traditional familial role models including defining healthy, respectful personal relationships, recognizing the importance of pursuing HIV prevention skills, and the identification with discussion on the effects of potential risks associated with sexual intimacy such as, HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases (STD). 
• Advocacy and Collaboration with the various components of the juvenile justice system, school districts and institutional staff to provide innovative programs that improve outcomes for detained youth and better coordination among the system’s various components.

Using the arts and education, Each One Reach One is transforming the lives of youth behind bars to assist them on the path to becoming successful adults and in breaking the cycle of violence that entraps so many of their peers.

Welcome to Each One Reach One's Blog!

Since 1998, Each One Reach One has remained dedicated to its mission to divert incarcerated youth from a life in prison to become productive community members through mentor-based performing arts and academic tutoring programs.

Each One Reach One (EORO) believes that youth behind bars are children, first and foremost; that one-on-one mentoring through the creative act of playwriting, painting, academic tutoring and life skills workshops provides the best way to positively influence and change the image that both incarcerated youth and society hold of them.

We believe that young people have the right to learn from their mistakes, and when given the opportunity and encouragement that they will take personal responsibility for building a better future for themselves. After twelve years, EORO knows that education is the tool that can transform their lives.  We support their efforts through theatre and fine arts experiences, academic tutoring, and life skills training; thereby reinforcing their ability to develop into productive community members.

EORO was founded in 1998, as an advocacy organization to divert incarcerated youth and youth on probation from a life in prison. Over the past decade, we have evolved into a unique non-profit that organizes the community to participate in diversion programs serving detained youth. Our mentor-based program model engages over 100 community members annually as individual mentors, tutors, actors and painters while promoting cooperation and collaboration among the juvenile justice systems various components.


The Study Hall GED Program was developed and piloted in San Mateo County in collaboration with the San Mateo County Office of Education at the Youth Service Center in 2002. Above is a photo of the pilot program's first graduate with the President of the San Mateo County Office of Education, Each One Reach One Founder and Executive Director, and the head of the San Mateo County Court Schools.

Each One Reach One received the New American Community Award from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency in 1999 for and was chosen as one of thirty-six “extraordinary organizations that transform lives and strengthen communities” by The San Francisco Foundation in 2007.  This year the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, nationally recognized EORO as one of 50 semi-finalists out of 459 nationwide nominations for the 2010 Coming Up Taller Award.  In 2008, EORO helped author and pass AB622, which lowered the General Education Development Testing (GED) age from 18 to 17, affording incarcerated youth the opportunity to receive a GED.