02-2: Draft Letters of Support — original pdf

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September 23, 2024 Dear Youth Development Program Staff, We are writing to extend our deepest gratitude and recognition for your efforts this summer which culminated in over 640 high quality, free programming hours being offered for youth and teens across Austin. Your dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to our community’s youth resulted in an incredible set of achievements in the areas of teen leadership and creative expression, among others. Your team was able to serve 598 youth this summer, 112 of which were teens in the teen leadership program. Forty-five of those teens were employed as Junior Activity Specialists in the Summer Playgrounds Program, giving them valuable mentorship and leadership experiences. Your impact on the youth of our community is a testament to the importance of investing in young people. Accomplishing summer programming is no small feat and each of you have contributed in meaningful ways. Your efforts have resulted in the direct mentorship and enrichment of almost 600 young people this summer alone. There is no limit to the return on investment a community receives when they believe in and lift up their youngest members – you are a key part of that admirable and important work. In addition to this summer’s programming, you work behind the scenes all year to build relationships with our local schools, neighborhood associations, and wider community to ensure everyone has a chance to overcome any barriers to participation. The success of this summer is just one example of what can be accomplished through dedication and collaboration with the community. Thank you for your commitment to our community’s young people, whose futures continue to get brighter because of your work. Kindest regards, Pedro A. Villalobos Chair, Parks and Recreation Board Kathryn Flowers Vice Chair, Parks and Recreation Board