Young People's Theatre-regarding tonight's City Council meeting

March 28, 2006


Dear Mayor Gonzales et al.,

Good morning. I am writing to you today regarding the
future of the Young People's Theatre program, based at
Kirk Community Center in San Jose. I believe that
this issue will be discussed tonight at the city
council meeting, in an attempt to put it onto the
agenda in April.

I participated in this program from 6th grade through
my sophomore year of high school. My first job was
through Young People's Theatre, as a Recreation Aide
at the age of 15. Since then, I've gone on to do
theatre on the community level, sing at Paramount's
Great America in the mainstage show for multiple
seasons and later received my Bachelor's in Musical
Theatre and Business Administration from California
State University Chico. I currently perform at
various theatres in the Bay Area and am working on an
original musical recording as well as working full
time in the field of intellectual property law.

I believe that Young People's Theatre set the stage
for me to learn about theatre on an individual basis,
rather than always as a member of the chorus, as is
the case for some of the other children's theatres in
the area. It laid a foundation for me to grow as a
performer and as a well-rounded, active community
member.

It has now come to my attention that the program may
have to shut down due to fiscal problems. If the
council were to reclassify Carole Ferris-Greer's
position so that it is funded from the General Fund
out of the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services
Department budget, I understand that the program will
be able to generate sufficient revenue to cover all of
the other costs of the program.

Therefore, I am asking you today to reclassify Carole
Ferris Greer's position. Your own website says that
San Jose's "innovative efforts are working to ensure
that all children can achieve in Silicon Valley". In
your recent State of the City Address on February 8,
2006, you asked the people of San Jose and its leaders
to follow you and to continue working to achieve a
shared vision to make "San Jose a city that every one
of us can take pride in." I would like to take pride
in the city's efforts to allow the smaller community
youth theatres to continue operations so that its
participants may go on to lead well-rounded, positive
and active lives within the community.

Thank you for your time and I hope that you will do
what is best for the community.

Sincerely,

Monica Turner
MonicaT1225@sbcglobal.net


cc: Les White, Interim City Manager
Judy Chirco, District 9 San Jose City Council
Member
Rosie Marks, Friends of Young People's Theatre
Advisory Committee

Young People's Theater by Geraldine and Gerry Hodson

Dear Mayor Gonzales, Councilman Williams and Mr. White,

We urge you to fully support the wonderful Young People’s Theater program at Kirk Community Center, and the staffers who give so much of themselves to make it happen. As a resident, taxpayer, and consistent voter, we value programs like this that benefit children much more highly than activities such as bringing the Grand Prix to San Jose.


We understand that it is the beginning of the budgeting cycle for the City of San Jose, and would like to add my support to that of all of the other concerned parents, grandparents and citizens and ask that:


Carole Ferris Greer’s position is reclassified into the After School/Youth Services Program

Recommendations are made to the PRNS management to fully fund the Young People’s Theater program



 


Regards,
Geraldine and Gerry Hodson
CA 95125

Young People's Theater by Holly Nielsen

From: Holly Nielsen
Date: March 26, 2006 3:05:04 PM PST
To: mayoremail , webmaster.manager@sanjoseca.gov
Cc: rosiemac@mac.com
Subject: Young People's Theater


Dear Mayor Gonzales, Councilman Williams and Mr. White,

I have been a resident of San Jose for over 30 years, and a homeowner and taxpayer for 13 of those years. I enjoy living, working, and raising my children in San Jose, and am quite proud of our city: our low crime rate, first-rate theaters, the Tech Museum, Children's Discovery Museum, Christmas in the Park, and Kelley Park and Zoo, just to name a very few things.
My 9 year old daughter recently had the opportunity to participate in the Young People’s Theater production of The Wizard of Oz. I was unsure of what the experience would be like, but I was greatly impressed by the professionalism, dedication and passion that Carol Ferris Greer and her staff demonstrated. I volunteered to be a room mother and do makeup for several of the shows, and I saw firsthand how much the children were inspired and how they learned and grew from their experience. What an asset this program is to the City of San Jose, and I’m saddened, and quite honestly, appalled, to find out that the program is in imminent danger of cancellation due to its lack of support by PRNS and has been classified in such a way as to ensure its certain demise.
I understand that it is the beginning of the budgeting cycle for the City of San Jose, and would like to add my support to that of all of the other concerned parents and citizens and ask that:
• Carole’s position is reclassified into the After School/Youth Services Program
• Recommendations are made to the PRNS management to fully fund the Young People’s Theater program

I urge you to fully support this wonderful program, and the staffers who give so much of themselves to make it happen. As a resident, taxpayer, and consistent voter, I value programs like this that benefit our children much more highly than activities such as bringing the Grand Prix to San Jose. I believe there is room for both, but I don't want to see valuable programs such as the Young People's Theater sacrificed--I think the cost is too high.


Regards,
Holly Nielsen

"Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused."

 

Young People's Theater is a hit with the City

Land of Oz: San Jose recognized Young People's Theater group at the Kirk Community Center for its dedication to youth arts and the community.

Young People's Theater is a hit with city, gets commendation By Mayra Flores De Marcotte


After 23 years of following the yellow brick road, the Young People's Theater at the Kirk Community Center has received a commendation from the Emerald City.

San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales and the city recognized the theater group for its efforts and dedication to youth, arts and the community at the Feb. 7 city council meeting.

The program has been facing closure for years and every year pleads with the city to stay open, says Rosemary Marks, a Willow Glen resident and Kirk Center public relations spokeswoman for the parent support group.

In order to keep the program alive, the parents agreed to work on recovering 100 percent of production costs for the young people's theater, Marks says. The parents also agreed to increase their total parent participation requirement to 3,100 volunteer hours.

"It was a huge commitment," Marks says.

At the end of 2005, the program was at 89 percent cost recovery. Then the theater group received two grants of $5,000 each, from San Jose Councilwoman Judy Chirco and Councilman Ken Yeager. This brought the program to 100 percent cost recovery.

The commendation is a long-awaited recognition, according to parents and members of the theater group.

"Young People's Theater has given hundreds of children wonderful experiences and taught them many skills," Willow Glen parent Joan Nelson Schuller says. "It has filled a void for schools that have had drama and music programs disappear from their classrooms. It has provided an outlet for children who are looking for something besides sports as an extracurricular activity," Schuller says.

Schuller has been involved with the program for 10 years.

Along with the performing arts, the theater also involves the youth in philanthropy through canned food drives and raising money for breast cancer.

"I never felt like any of my dollars were being wasted on this program," Willow Glen parent Judy Steinberg says. "The young people employed by the director, Ms. Carole Ferris-Greer, are such good role models for my son. They have taught him so much."

The Kirk Community Center is at 1601 Foxworthy Ave. For information, call 408.723.1571.

http://www.community-newspapers.com/archives/wgresident/20060222/wg-neighbors3.shtml