Their new multicultural outreach group does not yet have a name or a specific agenda.

But after two meetings, organizers Mary Shumate and Johnny Mason know two things: They want the group to focus on the needs of local youth, and they do not want the group to focus on faith and religion.

Proselytizing all but took over at one of the group's prior meetings, and they would like to nip that habit in the bud.

"Religion is a very tricky thing," said Shumate.

Talking about it "ends up offending everybody," said Mason, "because everybody's religion is different."

The point of the group is to bring different cultural groups together to work for common goals, Shumate said. "People need to feel comfortable with one another for this to work," she said.

Meetings for the unnamed group are held in Yuba City, but community advisors include officials from Sutter and Yuba counties, as well as from Yuba City and Marysville.

Another outreach group, centered around the Bethel AME Church in Marysville, formed recently in order to address similar youth-oriented priorities.

Church-related community service has always been an important aspect of Yuba-Sutter's complexion, Shumate said. But she would like her own group, "to include everybody ... black, white, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, or what have you."

After their first two forums, Shumate and Mason said it was clear that the key concern of participants was a lack of safe places for kids to go and healthy things for them to do.

Marysville Police Chief Wally Fullerton, who is on the list of advisers for both groups, agrees that there are not enough community services for youth.

As a newcomer to the area, Fullerton said he was surprised to find there is no branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Yuba-Sutter, and no real skateboard park.

Fullerton said that providing such outlets for kids is increasingly important here because of changes in the area's workforce, and a growing population.

More parents commute to work, "so they are away for longer periods of time," he said. In addition, the number of single parents is growing, "leaving more latch-key kids."

Fullerton said the relationship between crime and idle youth is clear.

"Anytime you have a total absence of programs (for youth), it's tough," he said.

Shumate would like to bring more arts-related opportunities to the area, and maybe even start a new theater group for at-risk youth.

Mason said he would like to organize youth activities that can involve parents, such as lessons at the Iles Academy of Golf - which are subsidized through private donations - and weekend bowling sessions.

Fred Hayes, president of Iles, said he hopes Mason and Shumate's group will help introduce more minority and at-risk youth to the sport.

"We know the game is one that excludes so many people socially and economically," he said. "It's no accident that we only have one African-American golfer on the pro circuit."

The group's next meeting is scheduled for 6-8 p.m., Thursday Jan. 17 at the Yuba City Corporation Yard, 1185 Market St.

A flier for the meeting urges all community members to participate in planning the group's agenda.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Nancy Pasternack can be reached at 749-4712. You may e-mail her at npasternack@ appealdemocrat.com.