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Contact:
Cisco DeVries
(510) 981-7103 |
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2004
COUNCIL
PASSES MAYOR’S PROPOSAL FOR INNOVATIVE CITY PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE CITY
EMPLOYEES TO WORK WITH AT-RISK KIDS
‘Berkeley Champions for Kids’ will provide release time for city
employees to volunteer with Berkeley’s at risk youth; thought to be the
first city policy of its kind.
Berkeley,
CA – Last night, the Berkeley City Council unanimously approved a new
program that will create an infusion of new volunteers to work with “at
risk” children and youth. Proposed
by Mayor Tom Bates, “Berkeley Champions For Kids,” will provide
up to 40 hours a year of paid leave to city employees for the purpose of
mentoring, tutoring, and/or providing support and guidance to Berkeley’s
youth.
Modeled
on a successful State of California volunteer program, city employees will
be required to participate in a pre-approved school or community-based
program, must match employee release time with an equal amount of personal
time, and must receive supervisor approval.
The program was approved in principle by the City Council in
November. City staff returned
with a specific implementation plan at Council meeting on January 27th.
“This is a wonderful next step
in my efforts to create an army of new volunteers and mentors to work with
Berkeley’s kids,” said Mayor Tom Bates.
“I appreciate the City Council and the City staff’s strong
support for this program and I look forward to placing the first
volunteers with our kids soon.”
The idea for the Berkeley
Champions for Kids Volunteer Employee Release Policy was
developed as an outgrowth of the Mayor’s Youth and Education Summit in
March. Prior to being
submitted to the City Council, the program was approved unanimously by the
City of Berkeley Personnel Board.
It is the Mayor’s intention to promote this policy with other
public and private employers in the City of Berkeley.
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