Youth Development
Mika’s Youth Development Programs seeks to develop the youth of Costa Mesa into leaders of purpose through holistic programming and mentoring relationships. This is accomplished by building relationships through our youth programs, such as Step Up – our after school program at the Hope Community Center and Maple Learning Center, Mika’s Christian Surf Club (MCSC), Sk8Zone, and mentoring . Ultimately, our goal is to support and develop young leaders into neighbors who will lead their neighborhood to become a community with VISION.
Step Up
Step Up identifies and equips student leaders by focusing on Academic Tutoring, Artistic Expression, and Bible Study. The program gives students an increased opportunity to grow in community with one another and to be exposed to adult role models.
*Step Up is held at the Hope Community Center on Center St. and the Maple Learning Center on Maple Ave.
Academic Tutoring: National High School dropout rates report that as many as one in three students who begin high school do not receive a high school diploma. Among the students most at risk are those from minority families residing in low-income neighborhoods. All students who attend Step Up are from low-income Latino families living in the west side of Costa Mesa, CA, thus highly susceptible to not completing high school.
Artistic Expression: Step Up’s focus on artistic expression is rooted in statistics that show that students with higher level of arts involvement do better academically, are less likely to drop out of school, and are more engaged in their learning (Arts Education Partnership).
Bible Study: At the request of community members, Step Up incorporates spiritual formation through a weekly teaching of the Bible. On Wednesdays, students come to program on hour early for music, Bible teaching, and art. Bible series have included Champions of Faith, Fruits of the Spirit, the Parables of Jesus, Old Testament Stories, and Who Am I?
Mentoring
Studies show that the most effective way to have a positive influence in someone’s life is through one-on-one mentoring. Mika affirms this through matching positive adult role models with students in elementary through high school through our mentoring program. Mentors are asked to make a minimum of a one-year commitment, and to spend regular time building a lasting relationship with students from Mika’s target neighborhoods.
Mika’s Christian Surf Club (MCSC) organizes surf camps for students living in Mika’s neighborhoods. The purpose of Surf Club is to provide children with an enjoyable and safe surfing experience that builds their self-confidence and that gives them a passion for extracurricular activities, to teach children about God’s love, creation, and the ocean, to connect children with adult mentors, and to foster a deep respect for our environment.
MCSC was founded from a desire to share a passion for surfing with children. Three surfers from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church partnered with Mika and committed their time to not only teach students how to surf, but to also act as role models and mentors over the years. This same team also rallied volunteers to purchase 15 foam surf boards and over 20 wetsuits that can be used each summer.
Mika provides one-on-one instructions during each surf camp. We not only want to ensure the safety of our children, but also provide the opportunity for strong friendships to form between our volunteer instructors and the students. We now have a teen leadership team that helps plan the camps and instructs new students how to surf.
Sk8Zone
Mika has teamed up with one of the leading innovators in board sport brands – Volcom. For the last few years, Volcom has hosted quarterly skate sessions for 30 of our neighborhood skaters at their venue in Costa Mesa for nights of skating, music and lots of fun!
For more information on Youth Development activities contact Caryn@mikacdc.org
