SANTA ANA PUBLIC LIBRARY (3) - 2011

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Executive Summary The "Seeds to Trees Digital Media Technology Academy" program developed by the Santa Ana Public Library in partnership with the Rancho Santiago Community College District's(RSCCD) Corporate Training Institute (CTI) and Digital Media Center (DMI) will provide training and work experience in various fields of digital media technology for 20 youth ages 16-21 (Please refer to Attachment I for an MOU of the partnership). Of these 20 WIA eligible student interns, 8 youth (40%) will be "Out-Of-School Youth" (ages 16-21) and 12 youth (60%) will be "in-School Youth" (ages 16-21). 2 youth (10%) will be either probation youth, youth in foster care, emancipated youth, or youth with disabilites. The Santa Ana Public Library currently has extensive programming for teens and young adults. Most pertinent to the workforce development goal of this grant is the Seeds to Trees Academy, which utilizes the library's Circle of Mentoring model and funds from the an IMLS Laura Bush 21St Century Librarian grant to provide a tiered program of instruction and employment for youth with the aim of introducing them to and training them in skills essential to the library profession. The library also conducts a program for teens that provides training in video production and an opportunity to produce video content for the city's CTV-3 channel. The program will provide participants with WIA Elements 4 through 10. The program will offer students occupational skill training in digital media technology through the Rancho Santiago Community College and its Corporate Training Institute (CTI) Program (4), as well as work experience producing videos for the city's CTV-3 channel and design/content for various agency and affiliate web sites (5). During their work experience, the teens will operate in teams, where the need for teamwork will help them to develop an understanding of the importance of responsible behavior and an opportunity to display leadership (6). During the entire learning and working period, youth will be monitored and supported by adults and responsible young adults from the library and the College District (8), and provided with the educational materials and equipment required to successfully complete the program (7). A licensed Masters in Social Work intern (MSW) skilled in a variety of fields, including addiction and family counseling, will be available to students as needed (10). It is planned for all 20 interns to obtain a certificate in Digital Video Preproduction from the RCSSD Digital Media Center by the end of the 18th week of their training and education program. Fourteen (70%) of the most promising students will then graduate to a more intensive apprenticeship program of training that will result in an advanced certificate, and will be eligible to participate in the paid work experience element of the program at the Santa Ana Public Library. During the entire program, classes in basic academic skills will be conducted by program staff for students with educational deficiencies. These program elements will insure that students graduate from the program satisfying WIA performance goals, and better prepared for an effective working life. Of the 20 youth the program will enroll, it is anticipated that 13 youth (65%) will enter post-secondary education and/or employment, 12 youth (61%) will attain RSCCD accredited certifications in Digital Media Technology, and 8 (40%) of youth will attain an increase in the literacy/numeracy proficiency rates. The program aims to provide participants services in the following areas: Work Experience, Vocational Training and Certification in Digital Media Technology, educational support, civic engagement and leadership development, entrepreneurship training, life skills development, college skills development, Job search training, mentorship, follow-up services. Classes will be conducted by qualified teaching staff from Rancho Santiago Community College, and will be supplemented by workshops in academic and life skills development conducted by library and project staff. Work experience will occur as appropriate: in the library, in the digital Media Center, and in the field, as interns complete projects that explore and document the needs of their community. The amount requested to provide these services is $150,000.00 Program Description The "Seeds to Trees Digital Media Technology Academy" program developed by the Santa Ana Public Library in partnership with the Rancho Santiago Community College District's (RSCCD) Corporate Training Institute (CTI) program is a free comprehensive apprenticeship program comprised of paid training and work-experience student internships for 20 youth ages 16-21 leading to certifications in the fields of digital media technology. Of these 20 WIA eligible student FYhihit A