The commission is also looking into developing an initiative that would applaud local businesses for their contributions to the community.
By Nora Fleming / Special to The Malibu Times
In a brief meeting Monday night, members of the Harry Barovsky Memorial Youth Commission discussed their highest attended annual event, Battle of the Bands, plans for recognizing community friendly local businesses and a possible partnership for future programs with the Malibu Library.
The eight-member commission, which consists of local student representatives who attend both Malibu High School and Middle School, and private schools, works with city officials throughout the school year on city programming that impacts youth. Founded in 2002, the commission, created in honor of City Councilmember Sharon Barovsky’s late husband, meets regularly as a body, in addition to making presentations and suggestions to Malibu City Council.
YAY Business Initiative
Commissioners reported on last week’s presentation to the Malibu City Council of their new plan for a business recognition program called Youth Appreciates You (YAY), a project they have been working on for the past year. The idea is to commend youth-friendly local businesses that have made significant contributions to the community and hopefully generate customer support.
“[The commissioners] kept seeing more and more mom and pop businesses being closed down this year and said, ‘We need to do something about it,'” said Kristin Riesgo, city recreation supervisor and commission liaison, in a follow-up interview with The Malibu Times “They came up with this plan for local businesses who give back to the community to get a thank you from the youth.”
Businesses would submit applications to the commission to be reviewed by a subcommittee of commissioners who would analyze the business based on several criteria: how many employment opportunities the business offers youth, how much the business contributes financially to the community in terms of donation of products and money, and how many hours the business’s employees are volunteering and providing assistance in Malibu.
Recognized businesses would be written up in the city’s quarterly newsletter and honored with a window sticker seal, similar to those used for commendations from the Better Business Bureau and Zagat restaurant ratings.
The Malibu City Council expressed enthusiasm for the idea at its April 13 meeting, with Councilmember Jefferson Wagner suggesting commissioners look into partnering with the recognized businesses for internship opportunities. The youth commission is now hoping to involve the Malibu Chamber of Commerce to start getting the word out to local businesses.
“The commission is very excited to present the YAY business initiative which, although still in its early stages, has received glowing support from the Malibu City Council,” said Rebecca Gray, chair of the youth commission. “We hope this initiative will give back to the businesses that give back to Malibu via our support, local advertising and a YAY seal presented in their store.”
Battle of the Bands
The fourth annual Battle of the Bands event, which this year is cosponsored by the youth commission and the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu, with proceeds supporting the YAY Business Initiative, will take place at the Boys and Girls Club’s teen center, The Club, May 1, starting at 6 p.m.
The popular contest has involved the participation of many local up and coming bands in the past.
Six to seven bands have shown interest in performing so far, including two from Oxnard, Riesgo said. If the number reaches more than seven, tryouts/auditions will be held to limit the number of competing bands; the position of event master of ceremonies also still needs to be filled.
Tickets, available in a pre-sale at The Club and Malibu High School, are $5. There will be food for sale, a raffle and a cash prize for the winning band. Commissioners are currently seeking donations from local stores and businesses for the event raffle.
Library partnership
Stuart Goldman, community library manager of the Malibu Public Library, spoke to the commission about the possibility of setting up a teen advisory board at the library for the coming year. The board would work directly with the library to set up programs and events that would be of interest to teens, hosted at the library.
The library is willing to coordinate and bring in speakers and appropriate instructors depending on the suggested topics from teen board members, Goldman said, with the goal of getting more youth to utilize the library’s resources and participate in its activities.
“Our library is a great resource that is vastly underused by the teens here in Malibu,” Goldman said in a follow up interview with The Malibu Times. “Aside from the materials in our collection, we can help teens with the organization and presentation of programming that’s of interest to them, as is done in many other county libraries. I’m hopeful that the youth commission can help generate some excitement within the teen community.”
The commission is also now accepting applications for next year’s members, due May 1 to the city clerk. Applications are available online at www.ci. malibu. ca.us