According to the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, the estimated total number of people residing in Sonoma County is 487,011. However, only 1.7 percent of these residents are Black. Young people of color often struggle with finding representation and this becomes more difficult when they have a limited amount of people within their community to look up to. 

Petaluma Blacks for Community Development (PBCD) established themselves in 1978 as an organization that works towards dispersing Black history, culture and pride throughout Sonoma County. PBCD launched a youth program in Jan. 2021 called the Grapevine Youth Leadership Program. This program was created as a way for Black youth to develop and refine leadership skills, as a way for them to have a comfortable space to discuss societal challenges they face as people of color and as a way for them to work closely with local Black role models. 

Co-coordinator of Grapevine Leadership Program, Kristy Bobbitt, said, “My daughter inspired me to create this program. She wanted a space to connect with other black youth and to do projects in the community.” 

After a successful launch of the pilot program in January that consisted of 12 pre-teens ages 10 to 13, the program coordinators decided to set in motion a second phase of the program which began in September and consists of 14 participants ages 11 to 15. The program takes place over the course of three months with a minimum of six group sessions. 

Each session consists of a combination of guest speakers, discussions, and hands-on activities designed to explore life skills that will help them grow into well rounded-adults. Eligible participants for the program are Black youth from the ages of 10 to 18. 

So far, the program has included discussions around confidence, college, careers in technology, entrepreneurship and identities. These group sessions take place over zoom; however, there are opportunities for the members to meet in person for a chance at group bonding. The group members from the pilot program completed a project for the PBCD Black History Program where they wrote poetry and made a slideshow around the theme of family. With the lift on COVID-19 restrictions, the group hopes to expand their work to include community service projects. 

Jaylena Lomenech is the other co-coordinator for the program. According to an article written for The Press Democrat, Lomench said, “I think that there’s a real opportunity in not only helping these students develop as leaders, but develop that self-awareness and strengthening their own confidence.” 

Representatives from Sonoma State’s Black Student Union (BSU) were in attendance for the first meeting of PBCD, known back then as Black Caucus, in November of 1977. Bobbit said that she would love to collaborate with the BSU again as they have many programs that the teens in the program would enjoy being a part of.

BSU President, Camryn Downey shared his thoughts about the new program: “The positive mentorship and experiences I have gained from being in BSU has enhanced my college experience with networking, leadership skills and much more. Knowing that the youth in our community are experiencing something similar to our organization is pretty cool.” 

Although it is too late to submit an application to participate in the second cohort, those that are interested or know someone that might be interested can head to https://pbcd4us.com/youth-leadership/ to stay updated on upcoming programs and opportunities.