RANCHO SANTIAGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT (21) - 2013

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I. Executive Summary The "Seeds to Trees Digital Media Technology Academy" program developed by the Santa Ana Public Library in partnership with the Rancho Santiago Community College District's (RSCCD) Corporate Training Institute (CTI) and Digital Media Center (DMI) will provide training and work experience in various fields of digital media technology for 20 youth ages 16 -21 (Please refer to MOU of the partnership). Of these 20 WIA eligible student interns, 8 youth (40 %) will be "Out -Of- School Youth" (ages 16 -21) and 12 youth (60 %) will be "In- School Youth" (ages 16 -21). At least 10% of youth enrolled will be foster youth, youth on probation, and youth with disabilities. The Santa Ana Public Library currently has extensive programming for teens and young adults. Most pertinent to the workforce development goal of this grant is the Seeds to Trees Academy, which utilizes the library's Circle of Mentoring model to provide a tiered program of instruction and employment for youth with the aim of introducing them to and training them in skills essential to a secure employment in 21" century industries. The library has a successful history of providing teens with training in video production and an opportunity to produce video content for the city's CTV -3 channel. The program will provide participants with WIA Elements 1, 4 -10. The program will offer students tutoring, study skills training, and instruction leading to the completion of a high school diploma and post- secondary education readiness (1). Students will have the opportunity for occupational skill training in digital media technology through Rancho Santiago Community College and its Corporate Training Institute (CTI) Program (4), as well as work experience producing videos for the city's CTV -3 channel and design /content for various agency and affiliate web sites (5). During their work experience, the teens will operate in teams, where the need for teamwork will help them to develop an understanding of the importance of responsible behavior and an opportunity to display leadership (6). During the entire learning and working period, youth will be monitored and supported by adults and responsible young adults from the library and the College District (8), and provided with the educational materials and equipment required to successfully complete the program (7). A licensed Masters in Social Work intern (MSW) skilled in a variety of fields, including addiction and family counseling, will be available to students as needed (10). Follow -up services for a minimum of 12 months after program completion will be provided for youth to support educational and /or employment endeavors (9). The program aims to provide participants services in the following areas: Work Experience, Vocational Training and Certification in Digital Media Technology, educational support, civic engagement and leadership development, entrepreneurship training, life skills development, college skills development, job search training, mentorship, follow -up services. Classes will be conducted by qualified teaching staff from Rancho Santiago Community College, and will be supplemented by workshops in academic and life skills development conducted by library and project staff. Work experience will occur as appropriate: in the library, in the digital Media Center, and in the field, as interns complete projects that explore and document the needs of their community. The amount requested to provide these services is $170,000. II. Experience/ Qualifications: Santa Ana Public Library: The Santa Ana Public library (SAPL) is a division of the City of Santa Ana's Parks and Recreation Department. The administration and management personnel of the department, including the Director's office, accounting, and payroll functions, are housed in the Main Library building and available for participation in the project. PRCSA's staff is experienced in the management of grants and has learned to incorporate the payment of grant - funded interns through participation in the library's federal IMLS grant. The library itself employs 10 full -time librarians, 8 full -time paraprofessionals and 8 full -time clerical personnel. We currently employ 70 part time EXHIBIT A