Girls Empowerment and Mentorship program participants | File photo

The City of Santa Clarita’s Community Services Office will host the 2016 Closing Ceremony for the City’s summer Mentoring Programs, Peers on the Way to Everlasting Recovery (POWER) and Girls Empowerment and Mentorship (GEM) Program, on Thursday, Aug. 4,  beginning at 4 p.m. at The Centre, 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway.

The closing ceremony will recognize teens for their successful completion of the summer mentoring program, as well as thank mentors and partners for their partnerships. POWER, geared toward males, and GEM, the program designed for females, focus on at-risk youth ages 14-18 to strengthen self-esteem, obtain leadership skills, form healthy relationships and develop job readiness skills. The programs also help teens make positive choices in all aspects of their lives.

This summer, for eight weeks, POWER members participated in team-building activities, educational excursions and were mentored by City employees and provided opportunities to job shadow while visiting work sites. They performed various projects for local non-profits and City divisions, like Streets and Urban Forestry where they visited work sites and developed goals. The teens were able to get hands-on experience as well as participate in educational excursions throughout the program.

GEM participants attended weekly workshops for ten weeks that included internet safety, college preparation, job readiness, teen violence prevention and goal setting. The girls also attended a leadership workshop and volunteered at the local Boys and Girls Club, Old Town Newhall Library and the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center. GEM members were also mentored by female City staff who helped them identify their goals and steps to reach them.

For more information about the City’s POWER program, contact Cynthia Llerenas at (661) 286-4006, and for information about the GEM program, contact Susie Cordova at (661) 250-3721.