Chair Castro, agenda item number one, call to order and roll call.

Vice Chair Camarillo.

Here.

Member Flank.

Member Yuraldi.

Member Deville.

Excused.

Member Cruz.

Member Burgess.

Here.

Member Trevino.

Here.

Member Lightfoot.

Here.

Member Lopez Della Torre.

Here.

Member Moore.

Here.

Member Jones.

Here.

Member Hernandez.

Member Diaz.

Here.

And Member Mota.

Excused.

Thank you, Chair.

You have a quorum.

Agendum item number two, announcement regarding compliance with open meeting meeting law.

Deputy City Clerk, are we in compliance with open meeting law?

Yes, Chair, we are.

Okay.

Moving on to agenda item number three.

Public comment.

Comment during this portion of the agenda must be limited to matters on the agenda for action.

If you wish to be heard, come forward and give your name for the record.

The amount of discussion as well as the amount of time any single speaker is allowed may be limited.

Seeing none, we're going to move on to agenda item number four.

Presentations on the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program Applicants submitted by Valley High School M S T E M Emergency Management, Ready Prep Go, Community Preparedness Fair, Crown Together Crew, Crown Care, Western Family, Suit Up for Summer, KO, Cadence Academy of Arts Middle School, Black Student Union BSU Club, being a service to others, helping heroes, jackets for joy, John C.

Fremont, PDMS, Professional Development Middle School Leadership, Community and Recycling Hygiene and Sustainability Initiative, Hearts and Harmony Youth, Hearts and Harmony, Cheyenne, School Batteries included, Readers Reaching Readers, Mass Liberation, Roots of Liberation, The Healing Garden, GEMS, Gifted, Empowered, Motivated Spartans, Shining STEM Gem Futures, Enriching Expon Exploration and Engineering, Lab Rats, Las Vegas Academy Black Student Union, Black Brilliance, Pathways to Academic Power, Magical Moment Makers, The Healing Hands, Nevada Volunteers, Nevada Volunteers, Youth Commissioner Project, and the AlSparks Robotics Mixer.

No, presenters listed above that do not appear during this meeting may be allowed to present at the December eighth or eleventh, twenty twenty-five meeting, if excused by board at their originally scheduled meeting.

Good evening, everybody or afternoon, everyone.

Our first group that we will see today is Valley High School Amsterdam Emergency Management Ready Prep Go Community Preparedness Fair.

These two mics.

Okay.

Can we move these pictures?

Yes.

Okay.

Yes.

Here, Amy, help me set up the bandaging for you guys.

Yes.

Do you guys have your cards?

We are ready.

Chair Castro.

Hello, and welcome to the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program Grant Review Board Meeting.

My name is Ayana Castro, and I'm the chair of the YNAP board.

You have five minutes to make your presentation, then the board will have five minutes to ask any questions.

Please introduce the name of your group and have all members state their full names.

This meeting is being recorded, so we will need you to speak loudly and clearly.

You may begin when you're ready.

Good afternoon, I am Chris Verlaine.

Good afternoon, my name is Diana Sanchez.

Good afternoon, my name is Alonger.

Amy Sanchez.

Okay, may I have you all step closer to the mic when you are speaking?

Please may I have you repeat your names for the record clearly.

I am Christopher Lane.

I'm Diana Sandoval.

I'm Alondra Hernandez.

I'm Amy Sanchez.

And we are MSTEM students from Valley High School presenting ReadyPrepGo.

I'm Chris Rulane.

We are MSTEM, a program dedicated to military science, cybersecurity, and emergency management.

Established in 2016, we are the newest magnet program at Valley High School.

We are also the only active MSTEM program in the Las Vegas Valley.

Students in MSTEM can pursue one of two pathways, cybersecurity or emergency management.

We, our group here, has chosen emergency management as our pathway.

Our mission is to educate and prepare students to handle a wide range of emergency situations that may occur in and around Valley High School.

In addition to receiving structured classroom instruction and hands-on training training with emergency tools, we also get to teach others these skills and ensure all students are fully prepared to respond effectively during real-world emergency situations.

Valley High School is a Title I school, meaning that many of our families face economic challenges through Ready PrepGo, community preparedness fair.

We aim to reduce concerns surrounding emergency preparedness and help our community feel safer, more confident, and prepared and better equipped for unexpected events.

Last year we also came to you with our proposal where you graciously awarded us around a thousand dollars.

However, this year, as we plan on doubling our community participants, these will include EMT one and EMT2 students.

We hope to be awarded the full $2,000 grant.

We presented many different ways to be safe in a disaster, such as how to do CPR, packing and managing a wound, and etc.

We also had many community partners show up like CERT, Red Cross, and we also showed a drone-off from Red Rock Search and Rescue.

However, we can approve in a few ways, of course, like creating a strict time schedule so all who show up can see everything we have to offer.

With the grant, we will further improve upon Ready Prep Go and span a wider range of our community.

Diana Sandoval, they will now be demonstrating CPR and stop the bleed.

My name is Elonja Hernandez.

My name is Amy Sanchez.

So the first step, we're gonna check to see if the person is responsive.

Second step, if not, call 911.

The third step, we will open the airway.

Fourth step, chest start chest compressions.

My name is Alondra Hernandez, and the first step to stop the bleeding is locate the bleeding wound.

Second, pack the wound with any cloth.

Now wrap the wound tightly.

Right now we have any we have this equipment.

But if you're ever in a situation like this, any cloth is helpful.

Right now, we're not worried about infection.

We're worried about stopping the bleeding.

Now apply pressure.

And continue applying pressure until help arrives.

Good afternoon.

My name is Diana Standoval.

The Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program could help and support the essential cost of our first aid and CPR training event.

Funding would be used to purchase first aid kits and necessary supplies for participating families.

These are the key expenses the grant would cover.

Thank you for considering our request.

We want to thank you all for your time and cons and consideration.

Are there any questions?

Chair Castro, thank you for sharing your YNAP project idea with us.

At this time, our grant review board may ask follow-up questions.

Does anyone have any questions?

I have a quick question.

Um with the I guess the instruction on these techniques.

Is Las Vegas Fire and Rescue part of the community partners?

Chris Verlane.

As we have it set up now, last year they were not part of it, but we are hoping to reach out to them and see if they are willing to come and demonstrate for us.

Yeah, that would be good.

Thank you.

Member Lightfoot.

I might have missed it, but will participants in the uh training will they be certified CPR after everything's said and done.

The uh people you mean by the people coming to CR presentations.

They will be instructed in how to do CPR.

However, they will not be given CPR cards, but just instructed in how to perhaps save a life if need be.

So that I understand what you're saying.

The people that are doing the instructing are certified, right?

But you won't be given out certifications for the people that go through the training.

Is that correct?

Yes.

Uh the people who were gonna be presenting all the um things, they will be 100% certified, of course.

However, we are just going to be showing and semi-demonstrating, so they will not be 100% certified.

We also will not have time at the event to give out certifications.

Um, I see here in the description that you will be teaching families how to make preparedness kits.

Um, are you planning on passing any out, or is it just demonstrating how people can make their own?

We will um be giving out these first aid kits that we are going to use the grant money for, and of course, demonstrating how to pack any survival kits one will need if need be.

Thank you.

Also, lovely presentation.

Thank you.

Chair Castro, thank you again.

The YNAP Grant Review Board will be voting on the recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The YNAP board will be presenting those recommendations to the Las Vegas Council on February 4th, 2026.

Tar Manor will notify your group with information about the YNAP board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

If you have any questions before then, please contact Tara and she will assist you.

We thank you again for your time and your presentation.

Thank you all.

Thank you guys.

Appreciate you well.

Thank you.

Tara Manor here, our next group is has arrived.

Um, our next group is Crown Together Crew Crown Care.

Chair Castro, hello, and welcome to the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program Grant Review Board Meeting.

My name is Ayana Castro, and I'm the chair of the YNAP board.

You have five minutes to make your presentation, then the board will have five minutes to ask any questions.

Please introduce the name of your group and have all members state their full names.

This meeting is being recorded, so we will need you to speak loudly and clearly.

You may begin when you're ready.

Hi, my name is Raina Sophia Espania.

And my name is Isabella Simon, and this is our grant proposal for our project crown care.

An introduction about crown care.

It's about making sure every kid in the hospital feels cared for and respected and comfortable during their stay.

Lots of kids and children and teens during the hospital.

Often a lot of kids with textured and curly hair don't get the hair care that they need during hospital stays.

So we would be providing hospitals with specialized hair care packages made specifically for those needs.

These kids make these kids make sure that these kids who get overlooked feel supported and taken care of while they heal.

Hair care is also a big part of self-esteem and identity for kids, especially teens feeling insecure about their appearance can make a tough can make a tough hospital stay even worse.

When a hospital stay feels long or overwhelming, having their hair cared for can make a real difference in how supported and confident they feel.

The problem is that most hospitals don't carry the right tools or products to care for these for the textured and curly hair.

Most hospitals are made for straight hair, which leaves kids and teens with curly coils or other unique textures without the proper care they need.

For both children and teens, feeling good about their parents plays a huge role in how they cope with being in hospitals.

When their hair isn't cared for properly, it can cause discomfort, frustration, and even the feeling of being overlooked.

Providing the right products helps ensure every child feels seen, supported, and comfortable during their stay.

So that way they have the right products and everything they need to make their hospital stay even more comfortable.

Each package would include shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, a water bottle, some clips, a headband, and head covers.

Crown care would make a meaningful difference by helping kids and teens with textured hair feel more comfortable and confident during their hospital stay.

A small act of care like this can really boost their self-esteem when they need it most.

And it's not just helpful for the kids, it also supports hospitals in being more inclusive and better prepared to care for the diverse communities they serve.

So our budget, we have a quote for our clear bags with our label on it to be around $600.

And then this year I'm hoping to make sure we have more to go around the hospital.

And if there's any leftover, donate it to homeless shelter or things like that.

And I also want to make sure that I'm improving the quality of what's inside the bags every year.

And so this is what last year looked like.

Um clear bags with our own label on it.

They have shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner, along with a water bottle spray, a brush, a comb.

There's a QR code for steps on how to care for the hair using the products we have, some stickers, hair ties, and head covers.

It's pretty much just him saying that he appreciates everything that's there, and he's noticed an impact and what we've done and how we've helped the four and the kids there.

And he's hoping that we continue to support at UMC.

So a conclusion is as a teen with curly hair myself.

That's why crown care matters.

It's not just about hair, it's about making sure kids and teens feel seen, respected, and cared for in every way.

This project deserves funding because it's filling a need that's often overlooked.

Kids and teens of color shouldn't have to feel like their needs don't matter.

With your support, Crown Care can help hospitals provide the right for all of us in our community.

30 seconds.

That's all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair Castro, thank you for sharing your YNAP project idea with us.

At this time, our grant review board may ask follow-up questions.

Does anyone have any questions?

May you please turn on your mic.

And turn it on, sorry.

Um, Maria Travino for the record.

Last year, what hospital did you go to?

Sorry.

Yeah, I'm seeing.

And how do you ask permission to do all that?

Um, so we asked the not the floor manager.

What's it called?

She's in charge of overseeing donations at the hospital in that building uh to like the trauma and the kids side of the hospital.

So we went to her and we obviously uh sent an email asking for her the right to give donations there.

So can I just continue without saying my name?

Okay.

Um and once they said yes, you just drop it off, or you went personally and gave it to each kid, or how does that work?

Uh we didn't go pushly to each kid.

We went to make sure it got dropped off on each side of the pediatric floor, Pete ICU and the Pete's boy.

So, how would you keep track of I sorry just have a few questions about how do you keep track of uh if let's say you gave 600, how do you know all the 600?

Like when when to the to the kids.

I'm sorry, could you repeat the question again?

Yeah, so how do you know if you just drop it off?

How do you know that the 600 bags or as many as you give last year were given away and not just thrown on like um that's a good question.

I don't fully know if anything has been thrown away or things like that.

Um my mom works on the Pete's ICU for, so she kind of oversees making sure that kids that she takes care for get a bag, at least for every kid that she takes care for.

So to my knowledge, there hasn't been anything going to waste, but yes.

Hi, I'm member Yuturalde.

I have a question.

Um, I see that you made changes from last year, which is great because it tells me you did get some feedback from the people who used your products and like you updated and upgraded, maybe to something that worked a little bit better.

So I love that, and I have a feeling you'll probably come to us again in the future.

But to Maria's point, it would be good to collect better feedback and share that, you know.

Like maybe you guys drop off something and then next week follow up and say who liked it and how did it go and what what else do we need?

Because I opened up your whole kit and went through it.

It's nice.

I like your project.

Thank you.

Chair Castro, thank you again.

The YNAP Grant Review Board will be voting on the recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The YNAP board will be presenting those recommendations to the Las Vegas City Council on February 4th, 2026.

Tara Manor will notify your group with information about the YNAP board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

If you have any questions before then, please contact Tara and she will assist you.

We thank you again for your time and for your presentation.

You guys did a great job.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, Tara Manor here.

We have our next group.

Our next group is Westerman Family suit up for summer.

Hello, my name is Roma Westerman, and I am the group.

One second.

Sorry.

It's okay.

Um, Chair Castro, hello, and welcome to the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program Grant Review Board meeting.

My name is Ayana Castro, and I'm the chair of the YNAT board.

You have five minutes to make your presentation, then the board will have five minutes to ask any questions.

Please introduce the name of your group and have all members state their full names.

This meeting is being recorded, so we will need you to speak loudly and clearly.

You may begin when you're ready.

Hello, my name is Roma Westerman, and this is my sister Nicolina Westerman.

Together we are suited up to swim, which is an organization for ensuring that kids are able to have proper swim attire and make sure that uh spread awareness for drowning prevention and um mentor kids in competitive swimming.

I'm gonna hand it over to my sister Nicolina, who's going to talk a little bit about our group and about um our previous grant process.

Hello, my name is Nicolina Westerman, and this is and my sister Roma is the youth leader, and I will support her in this job.

Um my mom, Jenica Westerman is the adult coordinator, and um we have volunteers from our swim team, Sampipers of Nevada, who will be helping us um collect suits, sort them and distribute them at the end.

Um last year we um got 1,200.

Um we um uh we collected the suits at our four YMCA locations in the city of Las Vegas.

Um this was our um like what we used.

Uh this is our flyer that um we spread at all of the YMCA locations in several public pools around Las Vegas, and we had um like sheets to give out that says that said the ages and suits and instructions and how to get free or low-cost one lessons at the YMCA.

Our first photo here is uh us collecting suits at the four YMCA locations in the city of Las Vegas.

The second one is of my mom at a swim meet dressed up as an alligator, um raising awareness of our project.

The next picture is of us sorting suits with our volunteers from our swim team, and of us distributing over 300 suits at the YMCA.

This last one is of us um giving a suit to one of our happy recipients.

Okay, now I'm gonna talk a little bit about um how our project has had an impact on our community and neighborhood.

We have received feedback from um the head of uh um municipal pool who said that our project would be welcome there again.

Also, um the impact of our project was seen in a newspaper article in which they mentioned how a kid who didn't have um proper swim attire and who was about to be turned away, received a bathing suit from us for free, and they were able to go to their swim lesson at the community pool.

So, like last year, um we are collaborating with the YMCA to set up several distribution um sorry, collection bins at all of the four L IMCA locations, and then um we will distribute the bathing suits at one of the YMCA locations again.

So this year, as a new incentive to our project, members of the volunteer team, which is my sister and I, and several of our teammates on Sandpipers of Nevada.

We are going to sponsor two swimmers participating in um the Clark County Swim Program Um and learning how to swim to go to the YMCA pre-competitive swimming classes and learn what it is like to be a competitive swimmer.

One minute.

Oh these two, sorry.

Go ahead.

Okay.

So these um two participants are also going to be um attending a workshop hosted by my sister and I, who will um and they're gonna learn from us about how it is to be in a real swim meet, including learning about how to properly warm up for your races, find your heat and lane, and talk to our coaches.

So this our project will impact the community by allowing um youth to swim without having to buy proper attire or having the money to um participate in swim classes, and we will help so the confidence that they gain from learning how to swim, we will bring to an even higher level by helping them to participate in swim programs.

So the total of hours pledged is 29 hours, but we are completely willing to give more if necessary.

Um we are allotting four hours for the development of online marketing videos to spread awareness from our project, and another main chunk of our time is and your guys' time is up.

Um Chair Castro again, thank you for sharing your YNAP project idea with us.

At this time, our grant review board may ask follow-up questions.

Does anyone have any questions?

Member Lightfoot, you thank you both.

You did great.

Um I wanted to know.

I see on the expense sheet it says um entry to swim meets.

Are those the two that you're sponsoring?

Is that the two that that will be uh spent on?

Correct.

So as part of the YMCA um pre-competitive swim program is um attendance to pre-competitive swim meets, and so we will be hosting them there.

Okay, awesome.

And then I wanted to know about how do you go about buying the sizes?

Do you just buy just a slew of sizes, or do you have some that are recommended from the YMCAs?

Um, so we did this project last year, and so we did uh we found that a certain number like toddler suits are especially in high demand, so we will be buying um extra of those this year.

Um, for extra sizes that we weren't able to distribute distribute at the event at the YMCA.

We give to the municipal um to several pools around Las Vegas so that if um a child comes there without proper swim attire, they can be given that and able to swim.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Yes.

Vice Chair Comarrio, sorry, I kind of um cut you off there on accident.

Uh surprised you.

Is it okay if we give her like another 20 seconds to just finish what she was saying?

Can we do that?

Just to make up for the time I lost for them.

Okay.

So I was just on the topic of the hours that we have pledged.

Um I was talking about the main hours.

So the two last main chunks of time that we are going to spend is to purchase the materials, of course, and at the distribution event, making sure that we can allow everyone to come and get a bathing suit.

That's all.

Thank you.

Three chair, member Y Duralde.

I heard you mention that um, but I love what you're doing, and I love that you found a good partner like the YMCA, and it seems like you have great fact sheets out there for families.

I was curious to know if you were ever gonna team up with the city pools, and I heard you mention that anything in excess you may give to some municipal pools.

That's good.

I just wanted to throw that idea out there since you've done this before and you guys have been working with YMCA and doing so well.

It would be great to see other areas of town receive that type of help too.

Um we are going to be giving uh so the city, we the two people that we are going to sponsor for the two pre-competitive are going to be like City of Las Vegas, swim class um attenders, I guess.

Okay, yeah, we also dropped off some of like the sheets, uh, different pools, the sheets that said the times of where and when the distribution event was.

Okay, and where to drop off and run.

That's great.

Good work.

So pre-competitive swimming is usually so you need to meet certain requirements to participate.

So I'm thinking around like ages six to eleven, Nicolina, right?

Um I think maybe I think it's five um to 13.

Yeah, so just that around like I don't know, kind of older child's area where they're able to like um I don't know, swim enough where that we're not like taking them out of their swim classes and into the pre-competitive.

Right.

So since that is stretching to a little bit more of like the older portion of the kids, would you ever kind of like consider because I noticed that on the sheet you run the sizes of the swimsuits to small in adults?

Would you ever kind of stretch that a little bit more to like the medium sizes or like one more bigger sizes in order to kind of consider everyone?

Because I know that portion of of the of your growth is like kind of where you hit your growth first, so maybe consider other sizes other than small.

Oh, yeah.

Um, we will consider that in purchasing the swimsuits.

Thank you.

Speaking for the record, I heard you earlier mention um drowning prevention.

Will you be offering maybe like safety classes or CPR or emergency drills?

Um, so the main way that we uh spread Americanest for drowning prevention was with the swim guides, where we that we distributed at all the pools and with every bathing suit that we donated.

Um Nicolina and I are not old enough to have like a license in that.

So um is that time or Chair Castro?

Thank you again.

The YNAP Grant Review Board will be voting on the recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The YNAP board will be presenting those recommendations to the Las Vegas Council on February 4th, 2026.

Tara Manor will notify your group with information about the YNAP board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

If you have any questions before them, please contact Tara and she will assist you.

We thank you again for your time and for your presentation.

You guys did a great job.

Yes, thank you.

Okay, Tara Manor here.

Our next group has arrived.

We have KO Knutson Academy of the Arts, Middle School, Black Student Union being a service to others.

Hi, I'm Chair.

Oh Chair Castro.

Hello, and welcome to the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program Grit Review Board meeting.

My name is Ayana Castro, and I'm the chair of the YNET board.

You have five minutes to make your presentation, then the board will have five minutes to ask any questions.

Please introduce the name of your group and have all members state their full names.

This meeting is being recorded, so we will need you to speak loudly and clearly.

You may begin when you're ready.

Hi, I'm Chloe Hanson, and I'm in the eighth grade.

Hi, I'm Daniela Rivas, and I'm in the eighth grade.

I am Jalen Lazat, and I'm in the sixth grade.

Hi, my name is Lavaris Will Jones, and I'm in the seventh grade.

Hi, my name is Catalea Roberts, and I'm in the sixth grade.

What we are about leading now.

Why we don't need to wait until we are adults to make a difference in our neighborhood?

Safe families.

Our special project to help moms and kids who are going through tough times at home.

We are BSU from the KO Knutin Academy of the Arts.

Hi, we are the leaders of the Black Student Union.

We started this club because we wanted a space where we could be ourselves.

Also where we could do something real.

Our goal is to show that young people are leaders, creators, and problem solvers, not just adults could do that.

Our spirit, we believe in Molia.

Which is it in smallly means um unity, which is also the first principle of Kwanzaa and helping our community rise together.

Why we have to give back lifting each other.

When one of us wins, we all win.

Helping our neighbors makes our whole block stronger.

Using our voice.

People listen when young people speak up about what's right.

We have power.

It feels good.

It feels good to know you made someone smile or help them out.

Giving is just not about making a donation, it's about making a difference.

We look up to the high schoolers, but the elementary kids look up to us.

Being a mentor means showing the little kids that they matter, helping with homework at the library, just hanging out and listening, being friends when things are scaring at home.

Only if we're brave enough to see it.

By Amanda Gorman.

Having a space.

Domestic violence hurt moms, but it scares kids too.

We want our BSU Club to be a place of love.

We want to help the moms who are brave enough to leave and find a safe space.

Hard to focus.

It's really hard to focus to do math or when you're reading when you're worried about your mom.

Leaving everything.

Sometimes they have to leave everything or leave home fast and can't bring their toys or clothes, needing safety.

They just need to know that there's a safe place where people care about them.

Helping moms start new beginnings.

Moms are superheroes, but even superheroes need backup.

When a mom leaves a bad situation, she needs basic stuff to take care of her family, like toiletry, soap, toothpaste, diapers, baby wipes, clothes for job interviews, and just knowing someone has their back.

We are collecting bar soap, shampoo, and lotions to make bags for mothers at shelters, card warming, card writing, making encouragement cards for the children at the shelters, so they so they know that they have friends.

Purple to purple Thursday, wearing purple to show everyone that we stand against violence.

Our budget itemized list.

Winter lace set hats, hats, gloves, neck warmers, and socks, 96 packs, 199.

Um 288 piece set homeless care package supplies bulk, 119.

288 piece 24 cent homeless care package bulk, 11 dollars and nineteen ninety-nine cents.

Bookcase of 12 backpacks, 12 winter sets, 12 hygiene kits, hygiene kids clothing for emergency, homeless charity.

30 seconds, 1510 um dollars and ninety-nine seconds.

Um bulk is 12 backpacks, 12 winter item sets, hygiene kits, hygiene kits and clothing for emergencies, homeless charity, one um 151 dollars and ninety-nine cents, 12 backpacks, 12 winter items, 12 hygiene kits, clothing for emergencies, homeless and charity, 151 dollars and ninety-nine cents, 12 backpacks, 12 winter items, 12 hygiene sets, hygiene kits, and clothing for emergency homeless charity, 151 dollars and ninety-nine cents.

Chair Castro, thank you for sharing your why not project idea with us.

At this time, our grant review board may ask follow-up questions.

Does anyone have any questions?

Hi, member Trevina for the record.

So I couldn't cannot completely understand what you project is.

If one of you can just explain your plan, what this is, um, and kind of like not about the prices, just like what your plan is and what you're gonna do exactly.

So basically, what we're doing is we're um asking for this so we can help like people who are women who have gone through domestic violence or mothers who are victims of domestic violence who are in need of stuff and like just stuff for their kids to help them and for them to be more um have more help, and that's we're trying to um get money so we can help these people in need, these mothers and people who were victims of domestic violence.

Okay, um that that's cool.

So, what's kind of like what's the plan?

Where are you getting this mothers or you know, it could be that as well, just so you guys know.

Um, what is your plan to find these people that need help?

How many is it a bag uh that people are getting?

Can you elaborate a little bit more?

Yeah.

So um basically what we were gonna do is we were gonna get like these kits or like these bags.

Um, we were thinking of helping around a hundred people.

So they would each all get like um packs of what like essential needs, like hygiene products and just clothes and all that kind of stuff.

Yes, we plan to hand them out at a women's and children's homeless shelter.

Member Diaz speaking for the record.

Um, will there be more volunteers?

And if so, what will their task be?

Yes, there'll be more volunteers.

Their task will be just handing out stuff, helping them and whatsoever.

Um member Diaz again, will they be or will they be um organizing the kits to pass out?

Uh yes.

Member Lopez de la Torre.

Um, so question.

It says on here that you guys are going to be dropping them off at the West Care campus.

Do you guys have a list of maybe they've reached out to you and said what's needed or for how many people or anything like that, like a distribution list of some sort?

No.

Honda Blackman.

I'm the advisor for our KO Kenosin' BASU Club.

And we reached out to Westcare.

I was able to speak with the director, and she shared that she will be reaching back out to me, but she has it.

I did send the consent form to her.

She asked what we were, what we were about, and so I told her that once we finish our presentation, we'll be willing to share with her.

And so yeah, I still haven't heard that from the director.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

So I'm noticing that here on your budget, you have an overall total of a thousand and two hundred dollars estimately.

Um, on here on your application though, you did request two thousand dollars.

What would that extra money that you're receiving?

What would that go for?

One minute left.

Um, it could go towards like if we needed like extra kids, if there was more people than we expected, it could be for like extra things, or it can also help out the club for any other projects we may be doing, and um, for supplies and more stuff like that.

If you were to receive that money, how many extra items do you think you could produce with that?

Um, I would say around four more of the two hundred and eighty-eight pieces of or twenty-four set homeless care package supplies bulk, or some like three more of the bulk case of 12 backpacks, 12 winter item sets, 12 hygiene kits, depending on what more is needed.

Honda Blackman, um, we will be able to make an additional 300 to 350 bags after we accommodate the hundred at Westcare.

Chair Castro, thank you again.

The YNAP Grammar View Board will be voting on the rec recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The Ryanap board will be presenting those recommendations to the Las Vegas City Council on February fourth, 2026.

Tara Manor will notify your group with information about the YNAP board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

If you have any questions before then, please contact Tara and she will assist you.

We thank you again for your time and for your presentation.

Thank you.

Okay.

Tara Manor here.

Our next group is here.

We do have uh John C.

Fremont, PDMS leadership, community and school recycling, hygiene and sustainable sorry, sustainability initiative.

Fremont, PDMS Leadership, Community and School Recycling, Hygiene and Sustain Sorry, Sustainability Initiative Chair Castro, hello, and welcome to the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program Grant Review Board Meeting.

My name is Ayana Castro, and I am the chair of the YNUP board.

You have five minutes to make your presentation, then the board will have five minutes to ask any questions.

Please introduce the name of your group and have all members state their full names.

This meeting is being recorded, so we will need you to speak loudly and clearly.

You may begin when you're ready.

Hello.

It is nice to see everyone.

Welcome to our presentation titled School and Community Recycling, Hygiene and Sustainability Initiative.

As well, this is our first time applying for the grant.

So good morning, good evening, everyone.

My name is Juliana Velazquez.

I'm an eighth grade student at Fremont PDMS.

I'm also a vice president of our leadership elective at our school.

And one of my big goals I have established for my future and I set to become is to keep helping our community strive as we come as we become a better place as we advance and grow.

Hello, I'm Milana Benn.

I'm a seventh grader at Fremont PDMS, and one of my big goals.

Oh, I am president of Leadership Elective at Fremont, and one of my big goals that I have for the future is to continue working hard to make our community as best it can be.

Another one of my big goals is that I want my future to be as bright as the sun.

Why do we care?

At Fremont Middle School, our school's magnet program is focused on medical sciences.

This project will directly tie into the sixth grade theme on health sciences, hygiene foundations.

As future health professionals, we care deeply about not only caring for others now, but promoting health and improving the future of quality of life for all.

Leadership students will use this to seasonally promote a lasting sustainable recycling initiative.

We will inform and educate our school about the impacts of landfills.

We will use this project we will use this to launch part two of our project.

As Ross picks up his suitcase to leave, it bursts open, and an avalanche of mini soaps and lotions comes tumbling out.

It's admittedly a lot of stuff, but not compared to what's actually left behind in hotel rooms.

So what happens to the toiletries that don't fit into Ross's suitcase?

And we may stop the video now.

Sean Seipler, you if you haven't got the idea yet, we truly believe in recycle, we do reduce, reuse, and recycle.

We truly believe in reduce, reuse, recycle.

How will we impact the community?

The community will benefit from this in several ways.

Our hope is to reduce landfill waste by promoting recycling and repurposing materials.

While doing so, we will increase awareness and knowledge regarding sustainability.

30 seconds.

How will the money be used to create recycled and sustainable hygiene kits?

And within partnership with the nonprofit organization, Clean the World, this nonprofit purifies and redistributes soaps and hygiene materials worldwide as they host the kit making events.

We estimate the price to be four dollars per kit based on research.

And if we get the $2,000, that means we can build about 500 kids.

Chair Castro, thank you for sharing your YNAP project idea with us.

At this time, our grant review board may ask follow-up questions.

Does anyone have any questions?

Yes.

Whatever they we're gonna hold an assembly.

So students, each student will be able to make what how many ever hygiene kits and whatever is left, our leadership team of our elective at our school will be able to do the rest of whatever is left.

And then I didn't quite catch where you guys will be sending those kids.

Those kids will be sent internationally.

They won't just be sent into our community.

It will be sent worldwide wherever they may be needed.

If you would uh consider sending it in various parts of our city because that is like our main emphasis.

Thank you.

Member Jones here.

I have a question for you.

For the kids that you will be sending out, are you going to include like a little pamphlet or something about um spreading your awareness on your mission to recycle more?

Yes, we will.

Okay, thank you.

I have a quick question, Member Itural.

Is the clothing donations for normal like youth clothes, or do you wear uniforms?

Was that like a uniform thing?

So we don't really wear uniforms.

Each student just comes with their regular clothes, and whatever they probably won't use, they can donate it to the recycling bin in which once we get to a certain amount of pounds, or we they can they just come replace it and then we'll get a brand new bin once again.

Very good.

Nice.

Nice to have you.

Thank you.

Chair Castro, seeing that there are no other questions, we're gonna continue.

The YNAP Great Review Board will be voting on the recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The YNAP board will be presenting those recommendations to the Las Vegas City Council February 4th, 2026.

Tar Manor will notify your group with information about the YNAP board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

If you have any questions before then, please contact Tara and she will assist you.

We thank you again for your time and for your presentation.

You guys did an amazing job.

Thank you so much.

Have a great day.

Tara Manor here, our next group is here.

We have the Cheyenne High School batteries included, readers reaching readers.

Chair Castro.

Hello, and welcome to the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Grant.

Grant review board meeting.

My name is Ayana Castro, and I'm the chair of the YNEP board.

You will have five minutes to make your presentation, and then the board will have five minutes to ask any questions.

Please introduce the name of your group and have all members state their full names.

This meeting is being recorded, so we will need you to speak loudly and clearly.

You may begin when you're ready.

Hi, I'm Stephanie Irvin.

I'm the president of Cheyenne High School, Batteries Included, and this is my secretary.

Adriana Smith.

And these are a few of my club members that are here to support us.

And we are here to talk, and we are here to talk about our project called Readers Reaching Readers.

As high schoolers, we often lead.

We often as high school students, we plan to mentor 100 first graders through reading and hands-on activities, which includes making designing books along with building personal bookmarks.

And kids will be encouraged to take these books home and read to their families.

The community benefits.

The community will benefit from this as we promote reading, creativity, and self-expression.

This will also make people this will also make people have more libraries for families, which that it encourages mentorship leadership among us high school students.

We will also strengthen the high school, strengthen the school community, multi-generational relationships by connecting high school students and first graders.

The reading level is at an all-time low in Nevada specifically.

We have some of the lowest reading levels in the state.

Or at least they could like boost their um boost their reading level.

Okay, we will spread the word by through batteries included in our Insta page.

And our school has a daily news.

We would spread it through their updates and through the kids as well.

If we show them how reading can be fun and encourage them to tell their classmates, tell their parents, tell their siblings, and do as we lead by example, right?

Little kids look up to older kids and adults.

So they'll see that we enjoy reading and then they'll spread it.

With us reaching out to support the long-term sustaining abilities of this project.

Most of it will be reusable, so we can use it for later um off office hours for later use.

We can as it will also support ongoing young leadership and community engagement.

We plan on providing two books to our kids.

One being book, one being the book that they made, and the other being the book that we provide throughout the program.

Along with making bookmarks, whether they draw or color them, that's all up to them.

And to have some refreshments like snacks and drinks, along with and with all of that count counted and calculated, it all falls down to a minimum of being 1,000.

We were given 2,000, we were given 275 in donations, but we still do we still do need more.

In summary, we are readers reaching for readers, and we want to help the youth with the youth development and social initiative initiatives as we are doing this in as we are pushing this to Tollin and elementary school first, hoping to reach out to other schools.

In the end, we are requesting 1000 to help us push and make this project happen.

Chair Castro, thank you for sharing your YNAP project idea with this.

At this time, our grant review board may ask follow-up questions.

Does anyone have any questions?

Speaking for the record.

Well will they be writing the short short stories or will you give them pre-made short stories that they just draw pictures that correspond with it?

It's all up to them.

We have extra we have white paper that's being given to us by the school, and we are we are fine with them coloring and all that stuff.

It's all up to them.

It's their own story.

Okay, thank you.

Vice Chair Comarillo.

If you were to let the students uh create their own books with the words included, I would recommend having a short lesson on what a book actually uh contains, including a beginning, a middle, and an end, main characters, and how a main character develops throughout the story.

Member Lopez de la Torre, um, I have a question for you.

So I see on here that you guys have two schools listed.

Um when you guys reached out to them, are there like specific subjects or anything like that in terms of books that um were recommended for you guys to read?

Because I do see that you guys are gonna be reading to them as well, like short stories.

So far, they haven't said anything about specific subjects, but we are more reading to like fictional or non-fiction.

Again, it's mainly up to the kids.

We are reading short stories and like probably Dr.

Seuss and all that stuff.

So we are reading to the kids and kind of teaching them about how the books are made.

So it's mainly up to what the kids are more interested in as they are creating their books and we are giving them books too.

Okay, perfect.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um member flank, how many volunteers do you have for this project?

So far it's just my club.

So we about only have 12 volunteers, but we plan on reaching out to the rest of our school to help.

I do know student council will probably help us up on this.

Oh, okay.

And the location for the elementary schools is that where you intend to actually have this project work.

We plan on going to the different schools and doing them there, but we don't have like a specific place if the school reaches out to us.

We plan on going to their classrooms and talking to them.

So you haven't established the school or schools that you and have agreed to have this project yet.

We have uh we have two schools that are willing to have us sit have us go to their classrooms and do this project in.

Um I'm familiar with the batteries included.

So I know that organization does a lot of good things in different schools, so uh this would be a good project helping kids with their reading skills for sure.

I'm sorry, the um the school we'll be going to is Tolland Elementary School.

It's right up there on the slide.

Tolland, okay.

How many kids do you think you'll actually engage with?

We're hoping for a hundred, but at least we're hoping for at least two full classes.

And what grade levels are you looking at?

First grades.

Okay, thank you.

Chair Castro, seeing that there are no more questions, we're going to continue.

The YNAP Grant Review Board will be voting on the recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The YNAP board will be presenting those recommendations to the Las Vegas City Council on February 4th, 2026.

Tara Manu will notify your group with information about the YNAP board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

At this time, we don't.

We are waiting for groups to arrive.

The next group that we have is Hearts and Harmony Youth, Hearts and Harmony.

Jeff, this group has a flash drive.

Chair Castro.

Hello, and welcome to the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program Grant Review Board Meeting.

My name is Ayana Cashro, and I'm the chair of the YNAP board.

You have five minutes to make your presentation, then the board will have five minutes to ask any questions.

Please introduce the name of your group and have all members state their full names.

This meeting is being recorded, so you will need to speak loudly and clearly.

You may begin when you're ready.

Thank you.

My name is Amani Marie, and I'm the co-well, I'm the youth leader of Hearts and Harmony.

Um, here with me today is the co-leader Hanaya Lewis and the adult advisor Krista Jones.

And we really hope you guys love the presentation as much as we do.

For Hearts and Harmony.

This is my co-leader Hanaya Lewis and our advisor Crystal Jones.

We're excited to share our youth-led project with you today.

What is Hearts and Harmony?

Hearts and Harmony is a dynamic youth-led podcast and storytelling project that uplifts community voices.

Led by passionate young leaders supported by adult advisors, it creates a safe and creative space for expression.

This initiative connects youth with their community through powerful conversations and shared stories, inspiring unity and empowerment.

Youth led initiative.

This model ensures authentic voices and meaningful engagement, empowering young people to shape content that reflects their experiences and aspirations.

Podcasts and storytelling.

Topics focused on mental health, creativity, and empowerment, offering a platform where all voices matter.

This storytelling series cultivates connection through the shared experiences, strengthening community bonds, and inspiring listeners.

Community engagement.

Live recordings and events invite participantation, creating a vibrant space where youth and residents collaborate, celebrate local culture, and build long-lasting relationships.

Addressing youth needs.

By normalizing discussions about mental health, we reduce stigma and encourage healing.

This project empowers youth to express emotions safely and fosters a compassionate community environment focused on well-being.

Building community pride.

Hearts and harmony uplifts local voices, celebrating unique stories that foster a strong sense of belonging.

By sharing diverse experiences, the project inspires pride and identity and culture among youth and residents.

This collective storytelling empowers the community, strengthening connections, and creating lasting positive impact through shared creativity and mutual respect.

Communication and interviewing.

Participants gain essential communication and interviewing skills by engaging in podcast production and community conversations.

These practical experiences build confidence in expressing ideas clearly and listening actively.

These experiences build a strong foundation for project management and cooperative success in diverse settings.

Budget allocation.

The project's $2,000 budget strategically covers critical equipment like microphones, headphones, and audio interference, as well as snacks and youth incentives.

Every dollar is invested in tools and resources that ensure quality production and sustained engagement.

Transparent and purposeful budgeting maximized impact and supports project goals.

I'm sorry.

No, you can go more.

Okay.

Member Travis for the record.

So can you tell me how these projects started?

Like how was the idea born and like what's the goal of it for for you guys?

Yes.

So this idea first started once I kind of went through mental health and I wanted to be that person to where they could come to me and like tell me how they feel and like express themselves because I feel like some adults will just say us youth don't have feelings, but in reality we do.

So that's why this Hearts in Harmony, I want youth and teens to kind of come together and finally relate to one another.

And it benefits us because it kind of we all went through it at a point, of course.

So it kind of benefits us to know that we're not alone and they can also know that we're not alone, and it will kind of share our stories, but they're sharing theirs at the same time.

Um where does the recording and the podcasting, where does that all take place?

This all takes place at 4201 West Washington.

That is located in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It's in our conference room, which is at that location.

Okay, thank you.

Welcome.

Member.

Sorry, go ahead.

Member Diaz, speaking for the record, other than being interviewees or interviewers, are there other volunteer aspects of this project, such as in production?

Yes, it is.

There is um let me get my list for you guys real quick so I can actually know.

I have a question.

Yes.

To piggy pack on member Lightfoot's question.

What is 4201 West Washington though?

It is um a child care center that is letting us use their conference room.

I see.

So the equipment that you want to purchase with the grant is will live at that location?

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

And you're uh just like a member of that facility?

Yes, I am member flank.

I have a quick question.

You mentioned mental health issues, or those are the types of things you'll be talking about.

Will there be mental health professionals?

Yes, there will be.

If we have if we have anyone on that like has mental health issues, yes.

Yes, it does.

Member Burgess, what are the workshops entail?

Are there anything specific?

No, they're not.

They're just like basically workshops where we'll kind of have the youth that do come on the podcast, like come so they'll feel around more people that went through what they run through and like trying to do stuff that helped them kind of help their mental health.

Member Lopez de la Torre.

Um, so since you're gonna be hitting like different topics in terms of like how to help people and the youth, um, are you going to like follow up and recommend them to where they can get help other than a mental health service provider, depending on the problem?

Yes, I will.

Okay, perfect.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Chair Castro, I actually had a question for you.

I seen that the youth participation incentives um is 200.

What is that gonna be for?

That's gonna be for um kind of like if they need something like if they're like extras from what we have, so kind of go towards if they like let's say ask for like either if we can't pick them up like an Uber, okay.

Well, we have extra so we could get you one if we can do pickup.

Chair Castro, thank you again.

The YNAP Grant Review Board will be voting on the recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The YNAP board will be presenting those recommendations to the Las Vegas City Council on February 4th, 2026.

Tara Manor will notify your group with information about the YNAPS board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

If you have any questions before then, please ask, please contact Tara and she will assist you.

We thank you again for your time and for your presentation.

Thank you so much.

Tara Manor here.

We do have one more group before we break for dinner, but I am waiting for notification that the entire group is here.

So if we I didn't get a notification.

Okay.

So please welcome Mass Liberation, Roots of Liberation, the Healing Garden Circle.

What are we doing?

What are we doing?

Stand as we stand.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

Chair Castro.

Hello, and welcome to the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program Grant Review Board Meeting.

My name is Ayana Castro, and I'm the chair of the YNET board.

You have five minutes to make your presentation, then the board will have five minutes to ask any questions.

Please introduce the name of your group and have all members state their full names.

This meeting is being recorded, so we will need you to speak loudly and clearly.

You may begin when you're ready.

Um, good evening, everybody.

We are here on behalf of the iRise Foundation.

My name is Emel Cook.

And I'm Amara Young.

And our group name is Roots and Restoration.

Um, and basically our project is about planting new beginnings and reclaiming our stories.

So sorry, we're gonna go to the next one.

So who we are, our organizations focuses on grassroots, focuses on grassroots organizing capacity of directly impacted vulnerable populations.

So we're targeting those have those who have been incarcerated.

Um, and we do basically just want to give them a space where they can come and feel free, feel comfortable.

Um, we want to give them different opportunities, like mental health opportunities and things of the sorts to make them feel comfortable just coming back out because a lot of the times they don't have resources when they come out.

So that's what this is about.

Our youth team is uh youth ages 10 to 18, and many of them have been personally impacted either by the justice system, um, foster care system, mental health challenges, and we all just kind of want to come together because we're all natural leaders, um, and we want to see change in our communities and how we heal and support each other through certain things.

Our funding amount that we're asking for is 900, and we plan to use it for the venue.

Our venue is gonna be at the Abodo Farm.

Um we plan to use it for things like arts and crafts.

Um, we want to do journaling, meditation, sound baths, things of the sorts, just again to give them resources and stuff.

So we also want to reach out to mental health um people in the community, mental wellness and stuff, so they can come and give them resources as well, people that give second chance resources.

How do we come up with this idea?

Well, um just the symbolism of a garden alone with seeds and growing things, it's supposed to like represent new beginnings, reclaiming yourself, new growth.

What is spring bringing?

New growth, and that's when we plan to have this.

Um separate three of these organizations.

Um, the iRise Foundation would bring the youth-ledness of this um project.

MassLib would give the advocacy and the justice and education of just the um just the system in general, and then the Bodo collective would just kind of be the event space.

They also specialize in culturally rooted, you know, healing practices and things of that sort.

So all three of those together, it basically makes the healing circle because you have the youth, you have the education in the people who know about it, and then you have the space and the people that can help you grow.

Why is this important?

A lot of times, uh um people, especially youth who have been impacted by the system, there's a stigma around them.

You don't really know them until you really meet them, and I feel like this can give a good opportunity for a transition out of either foster care, the system, and then coming into society, just reclaiming yourself, and it's just a good opportunity for them to speak with one another who can relate to their experiences and just kind of come together as a unity and have a sense of belonging.

Um, some examples would be poems.

Um, we did talk about gardening, like seed planting, um, just journaling, maybe even just like an open circle, just to be honest about each other's experiences and stories, and then spiritual stations, like we said, we want to try out sound baths.

That would be something new and therapeutic.

So, yeah.

And a lot of our activities we want to be rooted in control because a lot of the time um those that that have been in these systems, they are used to not having control.

So a lot of our activities and stuff we want to be rooted in control.

40 seconds.

Um, why should it be funded?

Um, this is a meaning initiative worthwhile.

I feel like it is worth funding because it's actually taking the initiative to care for the youth, not just youth who are, you know, a poster child, like just great.

You people who are perfect need care, but people who are also not perfect need care as well.

And I feel like that af the aftermath is very important in order to not have them fall into the same loop because a lot of times if you're previously incarcerated, you may go again, and you don't you want to cut that off.

You want them to be able to transition better.

Chair Castro, thank you for sharing your YNET project idea with us.

At this time, our grant review board may ask follow-up questions.

Does anybody have any questions?

Member Lightfoot.

Um, I wanted to say first, I think this is a great idea.

Um, and I think it's a good idea to partner with the Bodo and the other organizations, especially because they're already in the work.

So you guys are, you know, cutting a lot of your efforts off by not having to duplicate efforts, and you can just uh have them provide some of the stuff that they do.

So I think that's a great idea.

Um, I wanted to ask uh is this going to be a one-day event or like a week long, or how do you plan on doing that?

So it's gonna be one day, and we were thinking for it to be like a Sunday or a Saturday, so it's like a relaxation day.

Um yeah, just like a one-day event.

We were thinking to see, you know, depending on how it goes the first time, then that will kind of determine how we go on.

Um, because a lot of people are probably gonna want to network.

So depending on how you know how our first event goes, that kind of dictates how we go on forward.

Okay.

Um, you know, get the Instagram, get all that stuff popping so that way when you come back next year, you have some, you know, evidence on how how well it went, um, and then push for for more days in the future.

And then I was gonna say um suggest the Westside Education and Training Center just opened up not too far from what's uh from Obodo, and they definitely help with you know job training and educational resources, and I'm sure that they would love to uh be there so that way some of the the um justice impacted young people have uh resources to get education.

Thank you.

Can you see that name one time one more time for me, please?

The West Side Education and Training Center.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

I mentioned you guys, I mean sorry, I heard that you guys mentioned um talking about mental health.

Will you guys have mental health professionals there?

Yes, member Lopez de la Torre.

Um, will you guys be doing follow-ups with everyone who signs up and attends your guys' workshops and um we will um this is really our pilot, you know, to see how well it goes.

Like remind me your name, please.

Member Lightfoot.

Lightfoot.

Mr.

Lightfoot said um this is our this is our pilot, so of course we'll be able to follow up, especially.

I mean, you guys may not personally know me, but um, I am a certify one-to-one specialist, okay.

I I really like to get to know people who I personally like attend a lot of events with these different people, and we will follow up with them.

We'll probably have a Google Doc.

You know, people will be networking, so just to have them in that place for them to meet each other.

We will follow up.

Perfect.

Thank you.

And then just another quick question.

Um, well, comment sort of.

Um, do you guys think about maybe having like organizations kind of like have a table there throughout your workshops, maybe that can help in other aspects depending on what the they need, yeah, what the need is.

Yes, so that's actually one of like you know, the blueprints of the plan to have those different resources there for them.

So second chance, like whoever's giving second chances for jobs, mental health resources, just like giving the community resources that are more open-minded.

We want tables and we because we want them to make those connections with them as well and have resources and get to talk to them personally as well.

Amazing.

Yeah, this is a great idea.

Thank you.

Member Flank, I have a quick question.

Uh looking at your presentation, you have a project timeline, and you have all of these workshops and different things that are listed.

What is what is that about if this is a one-day event.

Do you mean like the origin story and the like no?

There's there's this section here that says project timeline and activity, and they're these uh starting February 1st, and you have uh marketing workshops, workshops, workshops, gallery walk, documentation, and social media, and it goes from February to October.

You know what?

Um sent this in.

I think she didn't send in the same one that we're looking at right now.

But what I do know is I think if I believe if I'm correct, those are the follow-ups, those are the workshops after this one-day event that we can do.

They can be possibly a monthly thing, quarterly thing.

So those are examples.

Okay, thank you.

Chair Castro, thank you again for your presentation.

The YNAP grant review board will be voting on the recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The YNAP board will be presenting those recommendations to the Las Vegas City Council February 4th, 2026.

Tara Manu will notify your group with information about the YNEP board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

If if you have any questions before then, please contact Tara and she will assist you.

We thank you again for your time and for your presentation.

You guys did an amazing job.

Thank you.

Okay, Tarman here.

It is time to break for dinner.

Chair Castro, and we are back from lunch.

Thank you, Chair Castro.

I hope you all enjoyed dinner tonight.

You are more than welcome.

You are welcome.

I'll be sure to tell Julie, our administrative secretary, that you all said thank you.

That was her idea.

She has planned all our dinners.

So I'll make sure I tell her that you all said thank you.

Um, so for the record, I wanted to let you all know that gyms, gifted empowered, motivated Spartans, shining STEM Gym Futures withdrew their application.

So they won't be presenting today.

I am a young entrepreneur, and I am also in student council and choir.

My advisor is Dr.

Linda Johnson McClinton.

Let's get into what STEM is.

STEM is science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

What inspired you about this movie?

Well, I'll tell you what inspired me.

What inspired me about this movie is it inspires me to get more in touch with my STEM side because girls young girls like me can do stuff like this.

And the world is that women have broken down many barriers and paved and paved the way for girls in the future.

Future generations for girls like me.

Why STEM matters to me is because it helps it helps all girls and it's everywhere.

Like these greens are STEM.

Most things are built off of STEM.

We will we will do most of our we will be doing most of our work at the office of E3, which is enriching explorations and engineering.

Then we hope to have our work extended to have our work in an exhibit such as 310 West Utah.

To prepare, I have attended many STEM meetings and events events with E3.

And we have an upcoming one in with my Girl Scouts in January.

This allows me, this allows me to learn more about STEM.

We strive to at least give up 63 hours for meeting meetings for STEM, making the exhibit, and doing a walkthrough and more.

To include the community, we plan to invite other groups like Cody Locks.

This way we can learn and work together as a community.

But we will need your help.

And when will it be taking place?

I do not know the exact date, but I do know that it's in January, and we're also having one in March.

Member Lopez de la Torre.

Um so I see you have allocated hours for volunteers, and um it says you have about five, five, five, eight, eight, eight.

Um, you're gonna be having professionals or like uh experts on subjects of these subjects, teaching those specific workshops, right?

Where do the volunteers come in?

Um the volunteer, well, we are working with Cody Locks, and my professional, my professional teacher is Linda Johnson McClinton.

Okay.

Um, for the record.

Um so in this event, what exactly will it be like?

Will it be like a STEM fair or will it be more of interactive booths that can incite creativity and interest in STEM?

And in my project, we will have interactive objects such as like moving robots that you can test out and use.

Hi, Member Travina for the record over here.

Sorry.

This is a comment.

I have no questions for you.

I just want to say that you did an excellent job.

You should keep doing what you're doing because the way you're speaking, it's gonna take you places.

Thank you.

Chair Castro, does anybody have any more questions?

Yes, I do.

Member Moore here.

Um, so um I just want to know who your audience is and how you plan to reach them.

Like I know you're in Girl Scouts.

Is it for your girls' club?

Yeah, sorry, your Girl Scouts um chapter, or for like who's the audience?

It's it's open to everyone who comes.

My my mom school will be coming, but uh um my Girl Scouts will be attending, and yes, most of the stuff I'm a poet, and then everyone else who wants to come can come.

Member Diaz again, how will this be marketed or how will the word get out about this?

Um, we will be posting on public pages.

I'm trying to for the record, what kind of public pages like Facebook, things like that, or yeah, like Instagram and Facebook and more.

Vice Chair Comarrio, is there a specific area of STEM that you're gonna focus on?

Um, we will be focusing on STEM in general, so we're gonna be focusing on the engineering, science, yes, just most of STEM, all of STEM.

Thank you.

Member flank over here.

Who are the instructors?

I mean, who will present the information for your event?

Um Elizabeth Glover and Dr.

Linda Johnson McClinton.

And those are ladies from your school.

They are my advisors.

Your advisors.

Yes.

Okay.

Board members, you have one minute.

Okay, uh, member Trevina over here.

Sorry.

So, okay, walk me through it.

Let's say it's the day of can you just elaborate a little bit and what's gonna happen, how do you see it?

Um just like the place where it's going to be, things like that.

I mean, we only have 40 seconds, but so it's gonna be at 310 West Utah.

We are gonna be doing stuff like letting the other people interact with the robots.

So things such as like turning them on and programming them and getting them to work, and like we we might have kits like interactive kits that you can like will you plug in wires and make stuff turn on.

Chair Castro, thank you again.

The YNAP Grant Review Board will be voting on the recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The YNAP board will be presenting those recommendations to the Las Vegas City Council on February 4th, 2026.

Tara Manor will notify your group with information about the YNAP board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

If you have any questions before then, please contact Tara and she will assist you.

Thank you again for your time and for your presentation.

You did a great job.

Thanks.

Okay, Tara Manor here.

Um, the next group that we have is the Las Vegas Academy Black Student Union, Black Brilliance, Pathways to Academic Power.

And Jeff, I just uploaded their presentation onto the M Drive.

Copy that just make sure it's not gyms.

The the group that roof drew the application was Gems, Gifted Empowered, Motivated Spartans, Shining STEM Gym Futures.

Chair Castro, hello, and welcome to the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program Grant Review Board Meeting.

Hello.

My name is Ayana Castro, and I'm the chair of the YNET board.

You have five minutes to make your presentation.

Then the board will have five minutes to ask any questions.

Please introduce the name of your project and all the mem and have all the members state their full names.

This meeting is being recorded, so we will need you to speak loudly and clearly.

You may be when you're ready.

Hello, my name is Jada Knox.

I'm the Las Vegas Academy Black Student Union President.

Hello, I am Damari Curtis Johnson.

I am the Black Student Union Vice President.

And hello, my name is Levi Les Thomas.

I am the Black Student Union Treasurer.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

And this is our project Black Brilliance Pathways to Academic Power.

So at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, we have less than 200 Black students at our campus in our school.

And because of this, it's very easy to see how and why the students, the black students at our school, either are successful or unsuccessful in their academics.

And because of this access to our students, we saw that the kids, black the black students in our school struggle with hitting the same achievements and milestones that other the students of other races do, and we were wondering if that was something that was happening district wide or just at our school.

So these are the things that we'll be covering in our presentation today.

Yes, um, to further um our president's uh words, um, I think uh specifically at our school uh Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, where we have two added block schedules for our majors, it's so easy to get lost within balancing major life and academic life.

And so, in many cases, black students have to willingly settle for bare minimum in academics.

So there are many instances where black students get placed in lower level classes or less rigorous and less rewarding classes because they like confidence in their ability to succeed.

This is evident according to the Nevada Department of Education into 60s that we gathered.

So the graduation rate for black students in 2023 decreased from 0.7% to 69.8%.

The graduation rate for Hispanic slash Latino students increased by 0.3% to 80.3%.

The graduation rate for great for white students increased by 0.6% to 86.2%.

That is over 10% lower than the other CCSD student groups.

So our problem is our black students and CCSD are struggling in school academically, leading to black students graduating at a lower rate than other races.

The questions that we want to answer are what is preventing black students from graduating from high school?

Why are black students struggling so much in school?

Why are black students not receiving the same academic help as others, and what can the community do to encourage and support these students in becoming extraordinary scholars?

One of the primary purposes of a BSU is to support and make changes that will uplift the black students on campus, strengthening and preparing the minds of future black leaders and scholars among the or among the many reasons of supporting black student unions.

So why is this happening?

Why are black students not graduating?

One of the reasons we uh suspect it is because their black students have less uh access to mental health support.

So when a student is sad, they tend to struggle and do less well in school.

Two, there isn't enough black role models in the campuses, because at our school we do not have many black teachers or any teachers, any people of color teachers at all.

Three, black students are not getting the same medical help as other students regarding academics, and four, their black students do not receive the same educational support like tutoring or just um services of that nature.

So, yeah.

So our goal is to prevent incoming high school students from falling into the cycle of academic disengagement.

Our solution is to intervene and prevent incoming high schoolers like eighth graders from developing a negative perception about school and providing guidance and firsthand stories about how being successful in school benefit them.

All right, and our project components, what will we do?

We want to host a workshop for for black eighth grade students.

Um our budget will be approximately $2,000, and this will help support um snacks for visiting students, supplies for the instructor workshops, um decorations, the bridge to the bridge to brilliance merchandise, as in shirts and stickers, and the academic empowerment kits, which include a lot of like stuff like backpacks and chopsticks and hand synthesizers.

So the activities that the workshop will include is to provide academic empowerment kits that will include the backpacks, the folders, motivational cards, everything that we think incoming high school students will need to be successful in school.

Secondly, the um workshop will include work um sessions that have lessons on time management, goal setting, and responsibility of 30 seconds to um encourage the kids to do well throughout their high school career.

And lastly, we will invite black professionals and recently graduated college students to share their stories and journeys of how being successful in school set them up to having on their journey and just how that benefited them in life, and this is how we will use our volunteer hours and all the ways we'll do that.

So thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

Chair Castro, thank you for sharing your YNAP project idea with us.

At this time, our Grant Review Board may ask follow-up questions.

Does anybody have any questions?

Member Lopez de la Torre.

Um, so you guys are gonna be touching on all of the schools within Vegas, or is it just targeting your students within your school?

Um, our project will be targeting all the black middle schoolers specifically in Las Vegas because we want to set them up to be successful in an establishment like ours, or just any other schools in Las Vegas that are as diverse as where they could be coming from.

So that is what our project will be helping for.

And where are you guys uh where is your location going to be at?

It'll be at our school Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, which is just down the street on 7th Street.

Thank you.

And member Lightfoot, I have a few questions, but to go off of uh the question that was just asked, how will you contact the middle schools?

Our school has a lot of connections to middle schools.

We're an art school, so we do pull from um schools like KO and LEED and other schools around the district.

So we're we're hoping to pull from those schools as well, and also kids like to talk, kids like to invite you know to the new something's going on.

So we're hoping to just uh pull from there.

Okay, and then when you guys are having the event, um you said that you'll be providing the success kits, um, and you listed backpacks and different various items.

What info gathering did you do?

Uh, did you guys do like a focus group on what you feel would be best to provide the students, or did you give like a survey and allow them to let you know what they need?

We kind of did like discuss within ourselves on what we thought we would have liked to have while we were progressing through our high school life.

So we kind of yeah, just took from our personal experience, like oh, I would have wished I had more pistols or someone to help me with where I could go to get more math tutoring if that the school doesn't provide, you know.

Okay, that's that's perfectly fine.

I just wanted to know, I was curious.

Um, and then I want to suggest um if it's within you guys' time limit before the event starts.

If you would invite I know you said you were going to invite college students and other and other uh older people, if maybe you can go to like a senior center or something to have them possibly partner with some of the incoming ninth graders just so that they can have one wisdom mentoring, but also just a support because I know that sometimes when kids are going through high school, like you said, if they don't feel supported or if they're going through something emotional, they usually close in.

But if they have uh a guidance or a partner, somebody who has been through it who can provide wisdom that might help with uh some of the statistics, possibly moving the needle in the right way.

Right.

Um member more here, just uh um follow up on what member Lightfoot said.

Um I would suggest maybe contacting a hundred black men, they're a hundred uh they're an organization that helps with stuff like that, and I think they'd be interested in helping you guys with that, and they would also be able to um bring in incoming eighth uh eighth graders and younger people as well.

Member Thea speaking.

Um another suggestion I have.

I think that's a great suggestion, but another suggestion.

I don't know what your workshops in Sue, or if they if you have like if you share stories um about success stories, but I recommend the story of Ben Carson.

I'm sure you guys know who he is, but I think it was it would be a perfect opportunity to share that.

A lot of students who need encouragement.

Thank you.

Thank you.

This is Membri Duralde.

I just wanted to know what your majors are or what your art focus is.

We're all musical theater majors, musical theater, okay.

Yes.

So hopefully you can target some just groups that are interested in because I I like that you touch on um the minority groups all in all.

I feel like they could all use your support and knowing that they're the minority, and it would be good to have support in that sense.

But I love your mission.

Sounds great.

Thank you very much.

Members, you have 25 seconds.

Well, thank you very much.

We will take all your suggestions into account and definitely add that to our project.

So thank you very much for letting this coach.

Thank you.

It's been an honor.

Thank you.

Chair Castro.

Um, real quick, I just wanted to say you guys did amazing job presenting.

I love how you guys all brought your personality to this, and you guys had um really good confidence.

Um, so now we're gonna continue.

The YNAP grant review board will be voting on the recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The YNAP board will be presenting those recommendations to the Las Vegas City Council on February 4th, 2026.

Tara Manor will notify your group with information about the WyNAP board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

If you have any questions before then, please contact Tara and she will assist you.

We thank you again for your presentation and for your time.

You guys had an amazing job.

Thank you very much.

Okay, Tara here.

The next group that we have presenting is the AllSparks Robotics Mixer Chair Castro.

Hello, and welcome to the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Grant Review Board meeting.

My name is Ayana Castro, and I'm the chair of the YNAP board.

You have five minutes to make your presentation, then the board will have five minutes to ask any questions.

Please introduce the name of your group and have all members state their full names.

This meeting is being recorded, so we'll need you to speak loudly and clearly.

You may begin when you're ready.

Hello, my name is Victor Hill, and I'm 10 years old.

I'm the youth leader for the OldSparks, and we'll be discussing our project the robotics mixer.

This is the third time we're applying for the wineup grant.

I'll be doing this project with my brother Calvin.

For the 2024-2025 year, we are awarded a wine-up grant for Bricks and Bots.

For the upcoming year, we would like to do a project called the Robotics Mixer.

For our previous project, Bricks and Bots, we received 1,300 in WineAp funding, which is 65% of our requested funding of $2,000.

We initially wanted to reach 102 people, but still served 68 people, which is 67% of our goal.

We posted pictures on our website, theallsparks.org.

On our feedback forms, we got 100% yes on questions such as did the event inspire creativity and did the event foster community engagement.

Some comments shared their favorite experience or moment of the event were the ability for kids to share their ideas, friendly creative and kids are involved, very creative event, plus very educational, and creates them activity for the summer heat.

We also noticed that there was a family who had come for our BRICS Brickathon project last year and attended our Bricks and Bots project this year.

A lesson we learned was that it would be useful to have a registration list because the demand was much higher than anticipated, especially with reduced funding.

For example, we are unaware of a Facebook post of the Bricks and Bots event.

We're learning from other wineup groups and how they've partnered with specific nonprofits and schools.

Therefore, for the robotics mixer, we're planning on working with First Nevada on nonprofit to identify people to serve.

Many local students can't participate in their first Lego League Challenge, FLO challenge because students because their schools don't have teams, they aren't selective for limited spots, but they simply don't have enough information to form their own team.

The robotics mixer changes that.

First Nevada will own robot competition tables, spike prime sets, and FLL challenge sets we can so that we can provide a window into what it is like to participate in FLL challenge.

The projected date for the robotics mixer is June 27, 2026.

We anticipate reaching about 80 people.

The final date and time are determined by the availability of the multi-purpose room at the Sahara West Library.

My brother and I will work together on the event with our family's help.

We'll work together to share ideas, carry out tasks, brainstorm to solve problems, and adults will help pick up supplies and provide transportation.

Our grant match and volunteer hours are valued at 7,755.

First Nefata is loaning items valued at $5,317, such as the competition tables, challenge field sets, and spike prime sets.

We're donating 150 to pay for the reservation at the Sahara West Library for the larger room.

Our total WyNAP grant request is $2,000.

We'll have monthly team meetings, advertise the robotics mixer, and coordinate with First Nevada for the loan materials, and do event preparation.

Event prep includes picking up the bar and materials, organizing registration for the event, activities during the robotics mixer, printing out feedback forms, gathering supplies needed, and organizing the souvenirs for participants.

On the day of the robotics mixer, we'll go to the Sahara West Library, set up, and have fun.

We'll post updates to the AllSparks.org and we plan to advertise with First Nevada.

We'll take photos this year online.

The project will foster creativity, fun, promote inclusion, interaction, and connection with others interested in participating in robotics competition.

In conclusion, this is the third time we're applying for a YNAP grant.

I'm excited and grateful for the opportunity to present today.

Thank you for your time.

Do you have any questions?

Chair Castro, thank you so much for sharing your YNAP project idea with us.

At this time, our grant review board may ask follow-up questions.

Does anybody have any questions?

Member Lightfoot here.

Um I think it's great.

I love the name of your group.

I'm a Transformers fan, so you know that hit home.

But um also I love Legos.

There are a few of us up here who have spent some time playing with Legos in the office.

Anyway, um I think this is great.

I really love the fact that you are using um one, you're using information that you got from your previous um my brain just went blank from your previous project.

Uh so that's great.

And that that definitely helps us understand what more you're going to do.

I also saw uh on the on one of the pages that you're using materials that you didn't use from your last uh project.

So that is that's really awesome because that shows that you're being a good steward over what's going on.

So I don't really have any questions.

I just really I wanted to compliment you and tell you that you you did a really great job.

Member Traveler for the record, I just want to say uh two things.

Number one, over here.

Sorry.

Number one, whoever made this presentation, it's amazing.

Uh it kept me uh entertained the whole time and paying attention to it, so congratulations on that.

And number two, um, this is a very unique project.

Um, so also congratulations on having this idea.

I understand this is your third time.

However, uh, I want to encourage you to keep doing it.

I don't have any questions, it was just comments.

Vice Chair Camarillo.

So, do you plan on continuing these service projects?

Yeah, I think so.

Okay.

So I saw that you had Chromebooks in your um for your budget.

And if you keep doing these service projects, the Chromebooks will help you out a lot.

So I'm surprised you didn't ask for them last year, but I'm very glad you asked for them this year.

Just for your help.

I don't know if that made sense.

I remember Dia speaking.

Um, two things to say.

First of all, I really like your idea.

I wasn't here the other times you presented it, but Legos and Robots were basically my childhood, so um, you know, really creative and inspiring with that.

But my other question was how exactly do you market this?

And how exactly does one register like?

Um, is it social media?

Do you post flyers?

Is it a kind of a library event?

We're post we're like having a registration and interest list on our website, and we're working with First Nevada to identify some people who have contacted them about forming a team.

So they could like register also.

Would you be open to um spreading the word on social media platforms?

Yeah, I think I think so.

Thank you.

Chair Castro, does anybody have any more questions?

Seeing that there's none, I think we're gonna continue on.

Thank you so much for your presentation.

The YNAP Grant Review Board will be voting on the recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The YNAP board will be presenting those recommendations to the Las Vegas City Council on February 4th, 2026.

Tara Manor will notify your group with information about the YNAP board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

If you have any questions before then, please contact Tara and she will assist you.

We thank you again for your time and for your presentation.

You did an amazing job.

Okay.

Tara Manor here.

The next group that we have coming up is Magical Moment Makers, The Healing Hands.

Chair Castro, hello, and welcome to the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program Great Review Board Meeting.

My name is Ayana Castro, and I'm the chair of the YNAP board.

You will have five minutes to make your presentation.

Then the YNAP board will have five minutes to ask any questions.

Please introduce the name of your group and have all members state their full names.

This meeting is being recorded, so we will need you to speak loudly and clearly.

You may begin when you're ready.

Magical Moment Makers, Onix Arkeesian.

So our group is the Magical Moment Makers, and our project is the Healing Hands.

So the grant we're requesting is $2,000, and our organization that we will help is the Ronald McDonald Family Room Support Project.

So some introductions on our positions.

I will be the project leader for this project.

David will be the head of logistics and Daniela will be the community outreach, and she will be in charge of making the care packages.

So about our group.

So Magical Moment Makers was created in 2022 by my older sister, and we're continuing the legacy.

So this is our first time applying for a wine-up grant with this specific group of three, and our goal is to support families dealing with medical hardships.

What is the Ronald McDonald Family Room?

The Ronald McDonald Family Room is a comforting space for families whose children are receiving medical care.

Um it provides rest, food, hygiene items, and support all near their hospitalized children.

It helps remove financial stress such as uh hotels, meals, and travels.

Um the purpose of our project is to collect and donate essential comfort hygiene and household items that support families staying in the Ronald McDonald family room.

Um we will donate snacks and beverages, cleaning supplies and toiletries, um, mattress protectors, towels, and other long-lasting items, and we will build organized care packages.

So why we chose this project is because we wanted to make a real impact on families going through difficult times, and this project uh allows us to let help people directly and immediately.

And we thought that supporting families with sick children will be more personal and more meaningful.

Community involvement.

How neighbors can participate is by volunteering with us, helping us assemble care packages, or uh helping us share awareness about the Ronald McDonald family room, or just donate more supplies.

How this benefits the community is it helps families stay close to their children without extra financial pressure?

It helps reduce stress during medical emergencies.

It will build stronger, more caring communities, and it encourages youth leadership and volunteer services.

So this is our budget breakdown of the $2,000 being spent.

We're spending 310 of that uh amount on hygiene items, 484 dollars on comfort items such as towels and mattress protectors, 174 of that on cleaning supplies, 764 on food and snacks, 268 on care package supplies, and etc.

And we have a pie chart representing that.

So all items are uh directly support family hygiene, comfort and well-being.

Long-term items such as towels, mattress protectors, cleaning supplies will be used for an additional one to two years, and consumable items set the standard for future donation drives and volunteer support.

Um January 10th.

Um we will go shopping on January 18th.

We will assemble care packages on January 26th.

We will go shopping a second time on March 2nd.

We will assemble care packages again on March 16th, and we will donate drop-offs on April 5th and donate again uh drop off again on April 10th.

Umick David and I are planning purchasing and assembling, delivering uh community volunteers, neighbors can help by donating supplies and volunteers can help with packaging that is delivered.

Uh our adult is Sega was Onyx mom.

She will assist with transportation and supervision.

Reflection and sharing.

We will share what we learned by making a short video with all the photos of uh the project.

We will be posting this on social media to raise more awareness.

We will present this to our school slash community, and we will encourage others to join our future service projects.

So, why should YNAP uh fund us?

So, our project provides direct and media help to families in crisis, supplies reduce financial and emotional stress for parents.

We have a clear plan, detailed budget, and realistic timeline.

This project promotes youth leadership, compassion, and community unity, and the impact continues long after the grant period.

40 seconds.

Thank you for your time.

Chair Castro, thank you for sharing your YNAP project idea with us.

At this time, our Grant Review Board may ask follow-up questions.

Does anybody have any questions?

I have a comment.

Member Itural Devonk, how long did you work on this project with your sister when she was a lead?

For two years.

So you found it to be rewarding and beneficial.

Yeah.

Yeah, I worked on her with so we were donating school supplies to schools of need.

So it was completely different from what we're doing now.

Yeah, we're we're focusing more on uh healthcare and stuff.

I like that you're keeping the rings going and continuing to contribute in the community for something good.

Thank you.

Good job.

Member Lightfoot, um a couple comments and then a question.

One, I I appreciate the clarity on you you guys' positions, the timeline, uh, the reflection plan, that's all that's helpful to us, and I think that's it's really good for yourselves as well.

Um I wanted to make a suggestion that um if you guys decide to come back next year, that maybe um because delivering this stuff is great and it does help the the families in need, but if you guys can think of something, and you don't have to, but uh think of a way to maybe create uh a task or not a task, but something for the families that are there for their family member, their daughter, their son, their brother, whatever it might be, um, just to get them out of the room and and get their minds to at ease a little bit because I know personally uh my grandmother was in the hospital last year, and one of the things that we were able to come together as a family was when we when we left the hospital, we found ways to come together, you know, play board games or whatever.

So just something to think about to bring the family closer together as well.

Um, but when you guys deliver the the packages, do you deliver them personally or are you just dropping them off at the Ronald McDonald uh family room?

So for now, we're thinking about just dropping it off at the family room, but when we meet with the team on uh February 10th, we'll kind of like talk to them more and see what the plan is moving forward.

Okay, and just if you could, if you guys are gonna just drop them off, figure out a way to gather the information from uh the Ronald McDonald uh association so that way you can see the impact that you guys are making.

Thank you.

I also thank you for your suggestion.

I'll take that into consideration.

Chair Castro, does anybody have any more questions?

Um member crews, one, love your guys' idea.

Um, but two on the budget.

Um the last item says miscellaneous for $22.

And I'm just a little bit confused on what exactly that is.

So basically the miscellaneous, it's like the extra money that was left over.

So we're not sure, like maybe the tax of what we order online or at the store, that $22 could go for that, you know.

We just wanted to have like a little extra room.

Chair Cash, does anybody have any more questions?

Okay, seeing that there's none, we're gonna continue.

Thank you again for your presentation.

The YNAP Grammar V Board will be voting on the recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The YNAP board will be presenting those recommendations to the city, Las Vegas.

Oh, Las Vegas City Council on February 4th, 2026.

Tara Manor will notify your group with information about the YNAP board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

If you have any questions before then, please contact Tara and she will assist you.

We thank you again for your time and for your presentation.

You guys did an amazing job.

Thank you.

Okay, Tara Manor here in front of record.

Our next group is the Nevada Volunteers, Nevada Volunteers Youth Commissioner Project.

Thank you.

Chair Castro, hello, and welcome to the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program Grant Review Board meeting.

My name is Ayana Castro, and I'm the chair of the YNAP board.

You have five minutes to make your presentation, then the board will have five minutes to ask any questions.

Please introduce the name of your group and have all members state their full names.

This meeting is being recorded, so we will need you to speak loudly and clearly.

You may begin when you're ready.

Good afternoon, and thank you for the opportunity to present today.

My name is Sophia Booth, and I'm honored to serve as the Nevada Volunteers Youth Commissioner and be here today.

I'm joined by April Stewart, one of the adult advisors for this project and a Nevada Volunteers Commissioner.

Before sharing my project, I want to briefly explain who we are.

Nevada Volunteers is the governor-appointed State Service Commission for Nevada.

I've been involved for over two years, first as a youth council member, then president, and now for my third year, I was appointed by Governor Joe Lombardo to serve as the youth commissioner, which is the highest youth-led role in the organization.

This year I created Nevada Volunteers Youth Empowerment, NVYE, which is the first statewide youth service network in Nevada.

Our mission is to highlight youth volunteer opportunities, elevate student voices, and bring young people together for the first ever Nevada Youth Day of Service on March 7, 2026.

To support this work, I built a youth leadership team with roles in outreach, design, media, logistics, and marketing.

We also launched a school coordinator model where each participating high school selects one student to lead book drive efforts on their campus.

Throughout February and early March, schools across Nevada will host Reading Week book drives collecting new and gently used children's and teens books.

On March 7th, youth volunteers will gather at a designated Las Vegas location to sort books by age and reading level, build themed literacy kits, prepare them for distribution to nonprofits supporting shelters, Title I schools, and overall foster youth volunteerism.

This project unites parents, students, educators, and nonprofits, and delivers thousands of books to children who need them most.

We expect 100 to 200 youth volunteers plus 10 to 15 adult advisors for safety and coordination.

But importantly, the vision, planning and execution of this project is entirely youth-led.

What issue can Nevada youth impact right now?

Through listening sessions with teachers, librarians, nonprofits, and some of my advisors, I found that two needs were surfacing again and again.

Low literacy outcomes, especially in under-resourced neighborhoods, and limited youth pathways to volunteer and lead, even though students want to help Nevada Reading Week and be a part of it.

I thought Nevada Reading Week would become the perfect anchor because it would connect to literary support and give students an opportunity to volunteer.

Reflection is also a very core component of this.

Volunteers will complete short written reflections and optional video testimonials for our why I serve Nevada series and a youth-led debrief.

These will help us measure impact and strengthen this model for years to come.

Our long-term goal is to build a repeatable reading week service tradition with templates, timelines, and toolkits so future youth commissioners can easily continue this work.

This is our first time applying for YNAP.

And while Nevada Volunteers oversees grants statewide, this youth commissioner-led initiative has never received YNET funding.

However, my youth teams and I have led multiple successful service projects, including the Holiday Heroes Toy Drive, which I will put here.

Such as creating the boxes at different high schools, decorating them, and then collecting them.

And then we also gathered data, which was a part of our reflection part of our entire project.

In these graphs here, as you can see.

And overall, I really think this project would strengthen Las Vegas neighborhoods through education, service, and youth empowerment.

Thank you for your time, and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Chair Castro, thank you for sharing your YNAP project idea with us.

At this time, our grant review board may ask follow-up questions.

Does anybody have any questions?

Thank you for the clarity.

Thank you.

Are you looking for other forms of funding as well?

Or have you gotten something else just to make the project bigger?

Um, yeah, so we've been looking at other forms of funding, um, but we have not received any grant awards for this project.

Chair Castro, does anybody have any more questions?

Okay, um, seeing that there's none, we're gonna continue on.

Thank you again.

The YNAP Grammar Review Board will be voting on the recommended YNAP funding awards at a later meeting.

The YNAP board will be presenting those recommendations to the Las Vegas City Council on February 4th, 2026.

Tara Manual notify your group with information about the YNAP board's recommendations within the next three weeks.

If you have any questions before them, please contact Tara and she will assist you.

We thank you again for your presentation and for your time.

You did a great job.

Thank you.

Tara here.

Um I would like to ask the board if we had we had a group that was scheduled for today, helping heroes, jackets for joy.

They informed me that informed me that they wouldn't be able to make it today.

And so I would like to ask the board if we can reschedule their presentation for either the 8th or the 11th of December.

Chair Castro, um I make a motion to approve Jackets for Joy to present on December 8th or 11th.

Member Diaz, I second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed.

Motion passes.

Tara Manor here.

We have completed all of our presentations for the night.

Yes.

Chair Castro.

We are going to move on to agenda number item number five, citizen participation.

Public comment during this person portion of the agenda must be limited to matters within the jurisdiction of the board.

No subject may be acted upon by the board unless the subject is on the agenda and is scheduled for action.

If you wish to be heard, come forward and give your name for the record.

The amount of discussion of any single subject, as well as the amount of time any single speaker is allowed, may be limited.

Seeing that there is no one, we're going to move on to agenda item number six, which is adjournment.

I adjourn this meeting.