'Say Yes!'

The Rotary Club of Tehachapi and the Tehachapi Healthcare District are joining forces to present "SayYes!," a leadership seminar for teens grades 9-12. Life has been difficult for all of us these past few years. Social isolation, loneliness, loss of school time and interaction with friends has caused a crisis with our kids and they are hurting. Our future as a society depends on them and their ability to navigate in the wide world. We want to give them the support and care they need to become successful adults.

Sept. 16 began the registration process for "Say Yes!" to be held on Nov. 4 at Slice of Life from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program will be facilitated by Jani McGuire who has been working with teens since 2005. In that time, she created life skills/leadership workshops, after school programs and summer camps for youth ages 13-17. Jani believes it is an honor for her to be facilitating "Say Yes!" for the teens of Tehachapi where she has lived for four years. Enrollment will be open to 9th through 12th grade students. Sixty students will have the chance to take part in the experience.

Being a teenager is tougher than it appears. Rotary and the Tehachapi Valley Health Care District are working to support our kids and provide them with the tools and resources they need. If you are interested in your child taking part or would like more information, please contact Judy Trujillo at [email protected] or Lisa Hughes at [email protected]. You can also speak to an Interact Club adviser or member at either Tehachapi High School or Valley Oaks Charter High School.

The Rotary Club of Tehachapi is a volunteer service organization with the motto, "Service Above Self." The club meets on Thursdays at noon. For more information about Rotary Club, you can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RotaryClubofTehachapi/ or contact club President Judy Trujillo, (661) 699-5851.