Desert Days celebration planned

The El-Wyhee Community Action Coalition in Mountain Home is planning the first El-Wyhee Desert Days to be held July 4-5 at Optimist Park in Mountain Home. Some of the planned activities for the action-packed family event include a rodeo, chili cook-off, talent show, local music and dance performances.

Nationally renowned cowboy entertainer, Rudy Gonzales, will be highlighting the entertainment platform. ECHO Folkloric dancers, the Jeff Palmer Band and many others will provide local entertainment. Activities will be on going throughout the entire event. The El-Wyhee Community Action Coalition (formerly the Community Action Coalition) recently announced the six people comprising the initial Board of Directors for the organization. Anita Durand will serve as chairperson, Mike O'Neill as vice-chair, Stephanie Kazyaka as treasurer, Karen Martin as secretary, Mark Russell and Cindy Terriberry as directors.

The coalition is an alliance formed to connect and strengthen adult and youth community members through partnerships, education, support, and awareness. Eventually it will serve as a central information resource for community services. The mission of the El-Wyhee Community Action Coalition is to strengthen and enrich our community by promoting positive asset-building resources for youth, individuals, and families.

El-Wyhee Desert Days will provide funds to enhance the community for the coming year.

The coalition has served the community since 1999. The members successfully organized a community drug use prevention presentation, "Enough is Enough." They formed the Youth Action Council in which youth are dedicated to promoting asset building activities for youth and give youth a voice in the community.

In 2001, the Idaho Children's Trust Fund awarded a grant to the Coalition providing funding for an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow. The work expanded with a grant written in 2002. The Idaho Children's Trust Fund funded two volunteers last year -- one working with the Community Action Coalition to procure funding and create sustainability for community enhancement and the other working directly as an advisor for the Youth Action Council.

Through the coalition efforts, training was provided to youth and community members at the Healthy Community, Healthy Youth conferences. The coalition also serves as an advisory board to the Mountain Home School District Safe and Drug Free School effort. The El-Wyhee Community Action Coalition is spearheading the effort for Mountain Home to become a Community of Promise, modeled after the national program, America's Promise. In doing so, community organizations and entities will develop a strategic plan to fulfill five promises for youth: 1) ongoing relationships with caring adults; 2) safe places with structured activities during out of school time; 3) a healthy start for a healthy future; 4) marketable skills through effective education; and 5) opportunities to serve the community.