Supervisor Federal Glover of the Fifth District in Contra Costa County convened a series of community forums to address issues within the fifth district. The forums were held with a diverse group of community members representing business, community, elected officials, government agencies, and education. The Forums were facilitated by educators from California State University, East Bay.

Following the forums, The CALIFORNIA NETWORK® initiated immediately a “Building Community” youth internship project focusing on the responses to the issues identified by the forums. An average of five (5) students worked a minimum of 25 hours per week for a period of 12 weeks. The students were either residents and/or students of the City of Pittsburg in District V, and were recommended for the project by their teachers.

Fifteen (15) students submitted a resume and were interviewed for the positions allowing the students to receive life skill training.

Ten (10) of the students were hired for the project. The CALIFORNIA NETWORK® paid intern students were given training in web design, video, photography, interviewing techniques, production, organizational skills, editing and posting. All training has the basic philosophy that when utilized fosters success.

The CALIFORNIA NETWORK® paid student interns have identified over 125 community resource groups for local youth / teens, and compiled and verified current information to be uploaded to Teen Resource webpage(s), including website links to resource groups’ events and information.

During the twelve (12) week “Building Community” youth internship project not only did the students complete this TEEN RESOURCE webpage(s), provided links and resource information for both parents and students, they worked continuously on Community Coverage content for pittsburgca.net.

To date, the CALIFORNIA NETWORK® interns have also completed 30 web event ads on pittsburgca.net utilizing Photoshop & Illustrator programs, they have covered 110 community events with photography, and edited and uploaded photos to pittsburgca.net, wrote 80 coverage articles by attending events, interviewing community members, and / or compiling data from other sources, they also filmed 105 community events and edited / co-edited for finished product, wrote voice-overs, reviewed / copy edited press releases, and completed 48 news & columns.

By attending the events, the student interns have become familiar with local government and officials, and their product is published and archived on pittsburgca.net.

Additionally, during this “Building Community” youth internship project, the CALIFORNIA NETWORK® Youth Interns helped coordinate, cover; photograph, film, edit, write articles, upload, and judge the 4th Annual City-Wide Residential Holiday Light Contest, that was sponsored by pittsburgca.net, the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Pittsburg.