By Sally Schilling
Samantha Ryan, an eighth grader at Willis Jepson Middle School, stood before an audience Saturday at the Third Annual Children and Families Policy Forum. She and Ana Karen Zanabria, a junior at Vacaville High School, explained to the group how the Vacaville REACH Youth Coalition has benefitted them.
Ryan said she was required to join after an incident in seventh grade that landed her in the city’s diversion program. She soon realized the benefit of the group, which helps kids develop leadership skills and volunteer in the community.