The David and Lucile Packard Foundation celebrates the people and programs that are empowering and inspiring youth in East Salinas, California through a new web site, www.storiesfromsalinas.org.
Written by journalist Rob Waters and photographed by Jay Dunn of The Salinas Californian, the stories feature the spirited children and youth of East Salinas, as well as the passionate homegrown community leaders, working together to create change in their communities.
These stories highlight programs participating in the Salinas Youth Initiative, a place-based approach providing East Salinas youth with safe, academic and athletic enrichment opportunities, funded by the Packard Foundation in partnership with the Community Foundation for Monterey County.
The stories showcase the work and impact of initiative partners: CHISPA, El Camino Real Futbol League, Cesar Chavez Library, Gil Basketball Academy, Restorative Justice Partners, Life Is For Everyone (LIFE), and Partners for Peace. Read about how the Gil Basketball Academy uses the fundamentals of basketball to engage youth ages 4-17 in learning the importance of healthy choices, discipline, academic success and perseverance. And, how the after-school tutoring program at the Cesar Chavez Library provides neighborhood youth a safe place to nurture a love of reading and access to local college students for homework assistance.
Please visit www.storiesfromsalinas.org to see these positive and powerful examples of what happens when communities and programs come together to inspire and empower youth.
