The Neel Center and Group

Unfortunately the owner sold the place we once called home for the pass three year The Neel Parent Support Group and Goodwill VINTA Youth Ambassadors have been desert nomads, meeting any and everywhere we can. Even with the inconvenience of not having a real place to call home. The members continued working on their projects. Using their passion for the Arts to bring attention to such issues as homelessness, pollution, youth violence, world hunger and literacy.

The programs’ objectives is to educate and motivate. To encourage diverse group of young peoples to recognize their artistic and leadership potential to impact their community and the world.

The Group's overall goal and objectives;

To Provide a safe, drug-free, supervised after school, weekend and summer program with expanded hours.

To provide alternative learning opportunities, to help both youths and young adults with and without disabilities to improve their academic performance in school.

To provide innovative and challenging cultural enriching projects for youths and young adults. To foster understanding between diverse cultural groups.

Changing the way youths and young adults with special needs are viewed in the society.

Teaching teamwork.

Teaching the importance of having good work and study habits.

Decrease the incidence of criminal and violence activities by youths and young adult by helping them develop better decision making ability, conflict resolution and coping skills.

To provide self-esteem and characters building activities.

Reduce inappropriate risky behavior in school and at home. That would lead to family discord and placement outside the home. Along with risky behavior that may lead to injures or death.

Reduce the incidence of tobacco, drug and alcohol use, among children, adolescent and youth adults.

Address inactive and unhealthy lifestyles of children, adolescent and youth adults.

Establish a Resource Center to increase the accessibility of information to Parents and Caregivers and families members. To mobilize the community to get more involved in the safety, health and the general well-being of the all children, teens and young adults in the community.

Due to our uncertain economy, our foremost goal is not to depend on grants alone. To insure our financially stability, we will carry out a series of fund rising activities which, in turn, will enable us to provide the best service possible to our members.

This will be accomplished by the gross profit from:

Small monthly service fee

T - MAGZ Magazine - The sell of advertising space in the magazine.

The sell of V.I.N.T.A and Boo and Company Merchandise.
KIDSTOCK Youth Rally and Concert - The proceeds from Vendors Fee, Tickets, Food and merchandise sold.

Annual Children and Celebrity Art Show and Auctions - The proceeds from artwork sold.

Annual Black Tie Mystery Celebrity Dinner Guest Gala - The proceeds from tickets.

Young People Film Festival - The proceeds from Vendors Fee, Tickets, Food and merchandise sold.

Mother Nature Victory Garden - The sell of garden produces.

Mad HatterTea Party - The sell of tickets and the auctioning of Seven large Carousel Horses decorated by local artists.

Admission Criteria

Consideration will be given to all applications received. Applicants will be interviewed and accepted to the program, on a case by case basis. Participants should have an interest in at least one of the following: Art, Dance, Filmmaking, Gardening,Acting, Cooking, Music, and Writing.

Each applicant will be regarded as apprentices the first one-hundred and twenty days. They must attend the following mandatory workshops; Center Handbook, V.I.N.T.A Project / Conflict Resolution, Social Butterfly / Social Skills, Positive self-imaging / I Am, Who I Am, And I'm Ok, Choose Not To Uses / Drug and Alcohol Prevention ,Oh No It Blue / Teen Pregnancy Prevention is optional.

Participants also must sign a Self-Commitment Contract. Each participant will receive a 18in. x 36in. banner called the Banner of Pride. During their time in the program they can earn medals, pins or badges to be placed on their banner for their accomplishments in the following; School attendance, leadership, homework, CPR, First Aid, good study habits, communication skills, self-esteem, empathy, dining etiquette, social skills and humanitarian acts. Participation in workshops, current events, cultures awareness, conservation, Aids awareness et cetera.

Parents and Caregivers of participants are required to volunteer sixteen hours a month doing one of the following: fund raising, making deliveries/pick-up, promotion, clerical work, special event helper and field trip escort.

Program

Components

There are four distinct integrated components: i Adolescent After school activities for individuals 11 - 17 ii Young Adult Program and Work Experience Program for individuals 18 - 24 iii Parent Support Group and iiii Community Outreach

Fees - Small month membership fee
Expanded hours - 2:00pm - 7:00pm - Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat
Vacations (spring and summer) 11:00am - 7:00pm
Closed on Sunday and Monday

Facility

Interior and exterior surveillance cameras * Alarm System * Fence property * Enforced rules and regulations * Insured

Transportation

Some participants will be picked-up from their school or at designated locations in the community too be transported to the center and back to their individual homes at the end of the program day.

Staffing

1:12 ratio per class or workshop * class or workshop size 24 maximum * Trained experience staff Background / criminal screening of staff CPR and First Aid Certified of all Staff and Volunteers

Meals

All participants will receive a nutritious snack, dinner and lunch daily during summer session.

Mandatory Workshops / Labs

After the completion of each workshop participants will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Mandatory Workshops / Labs

THE V.I.N.T.A PROJECT©
VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER was designed to promote conflict resolution and positive life skills for students in grades 5 and up.

Homework Lab
The homework lab is open everyday. Participants having trouble in the following subjects (Math, Reading, Science and English) will have additional help from tutors on Tuesday and Thursday. Participants will also have access to computers and Rosetta Stone language software to learn; Spanish, French, Italian and German.

Current Events
Once a month youths will sit down and openly talk about things they have seen on television, in newspapers and magazines.

Social Butterfly©
This is a fun and informal workshop, teaching basic / formal table etiquette and social skills.

I Am, Who I Am, And I'm Ok©
This workshop is designed for girls, to promote self-acceptance and positive self-imaging.

Choose not to Use©
This workshop is designed to study the rippling affect of alcohol and tobacco abuse has on the users, their families and the community.

Oh no It's Blue©
This workshop gives the participants a real understanding of the consequence of having unprotected and premarital sex. For girls and boys Ages 11-18

Fine Arts Classes

Leonardo Project(Art)

Participants will work on a variety of Arts and Crafts from simple paper projects to furniture refining. Guest artists will be invited three times a year, to do demonstrations a variety of art techniques. Participants will exhibit their works done during the year, at our annual Art Show.

Quite On The Set (Filmmaking)©

This class is designed to give participants an overview of the many aspects of the motion picture industry, including writing, producing, directing, lighting, shooting and editing. Guest Producers of independent movies will be invited to speak to participants about making movies. Participants will create a 3-min. public service announcement and a short film project.

Dance Club - The Baroque Dance Ensemble

This is a beginners Ballet and Modern Dance Class, a combo class using appropriate terminology and technique to develop basic skills. Emphasizes on correct posture and alignment. Later focusing on movements of arms, legs and footwork. In this class participants will be introduces to Baroque Dance.

The Treble Clef Project - (Music)

This is a beginner music class; participants will receive on going instruction on the Casio Portable Piano and Acoustic Guitar. During the year professional musicians will be invited to talk to the group about be a professional studio musician, composing music and writing songs.

Beginning Piano
Beginners will learn:
Basic keyboard skills using both hands including scales, chords and five finger position.

Basic music theory including scales, chords, rhythm, harmony and form.

Different styles of piano music and some music history.

Basic composition techniques to compose a piece for piano.

Beginning Acoustic Guitar
Beginners will learn the basics guitar method and theory in a supportive environment with emphasis on finger and tuning, picking techniques, reading music and guitar care. The instrument that the student used during the year will become theirs to keep at the end of the program year. So they can continue playing their instrument.

What's Cooking (Culinary)

Participants of this class will receive instruction on personal hygiene, kitchen safety and proper basic knife techniques. Instruction will be given in proper food preparation of cold entrees, salad, sauces, soups, boiling, baking griddling, dressings, garnishes and presentations.

Basic terminology and ingredient functions

Proper weight and measure techniques for the kitchen and baking practices

Meat identification, fabricating, prevention of cross contamination

Culinary terms are defined and related to menu description and proper food preparation Menu planning

The dining room serving in its entirety from busperson to maitre d'.

After the completion of this 75 week workshop participants will receive a Certificate of Completion. Participants of this workshop will serve and host two dinner parties.

Mother Nature Victory Garden Project (Organic Garden)

This class is intended for beginning gardeners, teaching participants horticulture skills, which will aid them in growing and maintaining a four acres organic vegetable, fruit and herb garden, along with two 16'W x 20'L Solexx Conservatory Greenhouses. Which will allow us to garden all year round, for the consumption of center participants and their families.

In addition, we will offer workshop nutrition and cooking demonstration of meals using the vegetables right from the garden, teaching participants and their families how to eat better.

Workshops in creating small raised bed, container and vertical gardening. Vertical gardening is a great creative solution to adding space to gardens in small areas. Some plants actually prefer vertical gardening. In the case of vine plants like cucumbers and squashes. Vertical Gardening can be easily accessed by all individuals, the uses of tripods, arbors, trellises and hanging baskets connected to a simple pulley system. Makes gardening fun for everyone.

The will open the garden to the public by reservation every Saturday afternoon. For a small donation High Desert residents can pick up to three bag of assorted vegetables, herbs and fruit.

Ornamental Gardening - Participants will also create and maintain seven miniature garden vignettes throughout the center with STARWALK engraved brick pavers, embellishing the walkway that will go throughout the garden vignettes throughout the center.

Vignette # 1 - 7

Vignette 1. Topiary Zoo (Mother and baby Giraffe) Vignette 2. Knot Gardens Vignette 3. Sitting Areas　Vignette 4. Japanese garden Vignette 5. Statue of Hebe, the Goddess of Youth Vignette 6. Earthly Angels Vignette 7. Outdoor Kitchen and Dinning Areas

Organic Vegetable
Beans-string, Bell Peppers-Sweet, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Cucumber, Eggplants, Garlic, Greens-Mustard, Lettuce-Romaine, Green Onions, Yellow Onion Red Onions, Peas, Peppers-Cayenne, Peppers-Jalapeno, Potato, Radishes, Spinach, Squash-Crookneck, Squash, Spaghetti, Squash-Scallops, Tomatillo, Tomato-German Green, Tomato-Giant Valentine, Zucchini

Fruit
Cantaloupes-Honey Rock, Melon-Honey Dew, Watermelons, Strawberry, Black Raspberries

Fruit Trees
Red Delicious Apple, Elberta Peach, Lisbon Lemon, Satsuma Orange, Nippon Orangequat, Texas Star Banana, Hass avocado

Herb
Basil, Thai Sweet Basil, Lemon Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Parsley, Oregano, Tarragon, Thyme, Peppermint Rosemary, Sage Sweet Marjoram, Wheat Grass

T-MAGZ( Writing)

Participants will publish a free simple color 11 x 8 semi-glossy 100 pages bi-monthly on recycle paper. The entertainment and news magazine for the young people of the Southern California. T- MAGZ will also accept articles from freelance writers if the group decides the articles would be of interested to the readers it will be published in the magazine.

Bi-Monthly and Monthly Clubs

Mouthing Off (Poetry Club)

This is a club that gives young poets, a place to socialize, too share their works and work on their oral presentation. The Club will host a Poetry Slam once a year.

Book Club (Hardbackers and Page Girlz)

On the first Saturday of every month participants will be treated to lunch, which gives them an opportunity to socialize with their fellow Book Club Members. After lunch, members will receive the book of the month and a collectible bookmaker. The members will be given a little background on the author.

The following month on the first Saturday Book Club members will discuss the book as a group. The participants will write the author a short note of what they liked or disliked about the book. The members of the Book Clubs will also host one book signing a year.

Special Projects and Workshops

The Wall Inspiration©

The Wall started out as a simple writing project in 2000. The goal of this project was to encourage positive communication and respect. To inspire young people on the significance of staying in school, getting their education and going for their dreams and striving to reach their full potential. The Wall, has grown into the largest collection of autographed photos, messages, note and letters from
celebrities and notables individuals from around the world.

J. B. Vagabond©

This is a fun way to learn Geography, local Travel Agencies will offer summer vacationing families, a message from J.B. Vagabond and Associates, requesting that they send a postcard from their destination. J.B. Vagabond and his Associates, Julius, Nathan and Melvee are world-renowned relic hunters. The postcard becomes game piece and the key to aid them in locating and recovery some very rare artifacts around the world. Vacationing families can track the group on their quest by reading their blog on the internet.

In this game players learn;

Latitude and Longitude

Names and location of states, provinces, countries, continents, river, lake and much more.

THE STARWALK PROJECT

Starwalk is our way of showing our appreciation to the Celebrities, Businesses and Individuals, who have participated in a project that inspires, young people to stay in school, say no to drugs, gangs and going for their dreams. STARWALK will be the world largest collection of engraved Brick Pavers of celebrity and notables individuals from around the world.(The engraved Brick Pavers, will be place in the walkway around the property.)

The Corner Store and Regal Banking Project
This project will teach participants to learn to money management and investment. Participants will have a number of ways to earn Neel Currency to buy items from the Incentive Corner Store. Once a month participants will take around a Progress Card to be signed off. Points are given to participants for school attendance, following directions, homework, helping out in the community, etiquette, doing chores without being told, and their overall behavior at school and home. The points are added up and participants will be given specially coded Neel Currency for their points. The Neel Currency can be used to purchase items once a month. They may also bank some or all of their Currency to buy special items every 90 days. The Corner Store will have a variety of items, school supplies, clothing, movie passes, amusement park tickets and sporting event tickets, CDs and DVDs.

Television, computers and video games have replaced many of the physical activities once enjoyed by children of the past. Today's youths have become inactive, their unhealthy lifestyles, has a great number of American youths dealing with obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

A nutritionists will conduct workshops on;
On making healthy, tasty meals and after school snacks.

How to read and understand food labels of all the foods they eat. ( How much sugar, sodium and calories is in an item.)

Creating weekly menus

How to order and eat wisely when away from home.

Physical Activity
After acquiring a medical release, a physical fitness trainer will provide participants with a 45-minute workout plan.

Every sixty days the trainer will meet with the participants, making the necessary modification to their workout, meal plans and answers any questions they may have.

Participants will have access to a small physical fitness room designed for young people (Free weights, cardio training, Low Impact Aerobics, Yoga and Pilates.)

Humanitarian Projects and Community Outreach

Project Goodwill
The goal of Project Goodwill is provide Ambassadors to adopt projects of compassion to help others in the community and around the world.

The Angel In My Pocket Project
Is a project that promotes hope and love around the world. The Ambassadors sent out, Angel Medallions that have been blessed, every other month to individuals around the world. These medallions are given to individuals from all walks of life, as well as soldiers servicing overseas and recovering at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington DC. to carry in their pocket to remind them that someone cares. As of March 2008 the kids will have sent out 1680 angel cards and guardian angel medallions.

Painting From The Heart
The Ambassadors will help children around the world by exhibiting and auctioning off artwork done by children and celebrity. Twenty-five percent of the proceed will be used to buy food, school and basic living supplies for the children in need around the world.

THE V.I.N.T.A. PROJECT - VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER©
Encouraging diverse groups of young people regardless of their race, gender, religion, disabilities and social status to work together on projects that will improve the atmosphere of their school and community. The V.I.N.T.A Project encourages participants to learn how to negotiate constructive resolutions of interpersonal conflicts.

Please Don't Leave Me In The Car
On-going campaign against Hyperthermia deaths of children (Please don't leave me in the car). Every year the group will pass out flyers and car window decals to the public reminding everyone never to leave children or animals in a hot car during the summer.

KIDSTOCK Youth Leadership Rally and Concert
The goal of the one day event is designed for those that are interested in becoming better community youth leaders. During the day participants will hear from motivational speakers. It is also an excellent opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the young people from Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles County who have illustrated a deep commitment to their communities and the world. Through their volunteerism and civic involvement. These are young people that have clearly demonstrated that they are ready to meet the challenges of becoming the leaders of tomorrow.

The Young People Film Festival
Once a year we will host a film festival for young filmmakers 12 - 24 of age from around the world, the festival will run for three days.

Hands On
Hands On, provides work experience, any participants 18 years of age or older may apply for one of the twenty-four part-time paid positions with the following; T - MAGZ Magazine, The Corner Store, Mother Nature Victory Garden Stand, The Den, Main Office, Mail Order and Ground Keepers.

Participants will receive eighteen months of work experience under the watchful eyes of experienced instructors. Participants will be later assisted in finding outside part-time or full-time employment.

The Den

Helping parents become better advocates for their children in order to insure they have the best quality of life possible. The Den is where members can meet and obtain information in the form of books, magazines, DVD, audio and videotapes on a variety subjects. The Den will also provide a relaxing and supportive environment with a outdoor patio.

The Den will host small bi-monthly educational lectures and workshops, opening up an opportunity to participate in regular workshops, small conferences that they would not normally be able to attend. Books were donated by Random House, B. Dalton's Barnes & Nobles and a variety of Authors and Private Donors.