Youth in Focus

Project

Summer Youth Employment Program 2009One Stop Career Center Monterey County

Four Teams of Youth Researchers STOP - Rancho Cielo, Salinas - Violence

Salas - Boys & Girls Club, Salinas - Drug Use

Peace – Center for Employment Training, Soledad- Youth Center

New Side - Boys & Girls Club, Seaside - Economy

What We Did… Each team:

Chose social issue to research Learned how to do action research Went out into community to research

We received national attention for our efforts

Boys & Girls Club Salinas

Salas Team

Salas TeamMISSION

• Bring awareness about drug use in Salinas• Create solutions for reducing drug use

COLLECTED:• 178 surveys 12 interviews 1 focus group

WHAT WE ASKED Why are so many youth in Salinas using

drugs? What kind of drugs are youth using? why?

WHAT WE FOUND1. 81% of Salinas youth & 93% of parents

believe they are negatively affected by drugs

2. 79% of youth said there are not enough resources in Salinas

3. 69% of youth said it was easy to find drugs, while only 18% said it was easy to find jobs

What type of drugs are Salinas youth using?

Why are Salinas youth using drugs?

Gender Findings 79% young men use drugs;

63% of young women use drugs 52% male parents have used

drugs; 40% of female parents have used

What would help youth NOT use drugs?

76% of youth said more jobs would reduce drug use

59% of youth said more free Young Adult/Teen Clubs would reduce drug use

Recommendations Youth led programs using

art to help build leadership skills & decrease drug use

Youth jobs & internships Resources & awareness

classes to parents & youth in English & Spanish about drug use

Soledad Center for Employment Training

Soledad P.E.A.C.E Project

MISSION • To find out if a youth center in Soledad

would reduce violence

DATA COLLECTED:• 127 adults surveyed• 100 youth surveyed

P.E.A.C.E. Team

Findings Majority of youth & adults in Soledad

want a Youth Center 90% of youth 99% of adults

A Youth Center in Soledad would help prevent youth violence

76% of youth agree 95% of adults agree

Recommendations City of Soledad should open a Youth

Center Families should be involved in the

Youth Center: Events Family Nights Parenting Classes

Parents should be educated on Gang Violence

Boys & Girls Club Seaside

New Side Generation

New Side Generation Project Mission:

Increase awareness of how youth in Monterey County are impacted by the economy

Generate support for constructive solutions

300 surveys, 100 photos, 3 interviews Sample: youth, business owners, parents,

teacher, etc. in Monterey county

Research Question

How is the current economy impacting the youth in Monterey County?

How & why are youth in Monterey County participating or prevented from participating in the formal economy?

How & why are youth participating in the underground economy?

Definitions

Underground economy - illegal activities that generate profit - drug trafficking, firearms trade, sex trade, hustling, bootlegging dvd’s…

Formal economy - legal exchange of money, specifically jobs

FindingsPeople in Monterey County are negatively affected by the current economyOver half surveyed are saving less

& spending less on things they need

Over half of employed people are seeking an additional or increased source of income

Findings The economy impacts different racial groups

in different waysAfrican-Americans are 3 times more likely

than Caucasians to have access to the underground economy○ 62% of African-American respondents

said it was ‘very easy’ to find illegal work, in comparison to 37% of Latinos & 23% of Caucasians

FindingsMore African-Americans are un- or under-

employed○ 75% of African-American respondents

said they were looking for additional employment, while only 58% of Caucasians & 52% of Latinos indicated the same

Findings It’s easier to make money in the underground economy than to get a legal job

• Over 80% of people surveyed know someone in the underground economy, which provides easy access•74% of people said it was hard to find a legal job, while 58% said it was easy to find an illegal job

Recommendations More jobs in Monterey County Living wage jobs Programs & incentives for

hiring youth

25

S.T.O.P. Salinas Teens Organizing for Peace

MISSION • Encourage adults to take an active role by

supporting youth in the fight against violence

COLLECTED:• 210 youth surveys • 23 interviews: youth, adults, community leaders

Research Questions Looking at violence caused by domestic violence, broken families, drug abuse & gang violence: How have youth been affected by

violence in their homes & community What resources & opportunities can be

offered to support youth who are dealing with violence

What Type of Individual Would You Characterize Yourself As

N=210 (check all that apply)

What Type of Violence Have You Been Affected By?

N=210 (check all that apply)

Was There Domestic Violence in Your Home As You Were Growing

Up?

Do You Associate with Gangs?

Why Do You Think Youth Join Gangs?

N=172

How Safe Do You Feel When Hearing About Gang

Violence in Your Community?

Recommendations Create & Support:

Mentorship programs for youth

Counseling – health, drug abuse, gangs, domestic violence…

Affordable vocational education

Job opportunities & paid internships for teens

Youth-led program where youth can have a voice

SUMMARY

WHAT WE ALL RECOMMEND Job opportunities & paid internships for teens

(including programs & incentives for hiring ) – include vocational training

Mentorship programs for youth More youth-led programs where youth can have a

voice (like this) Counseling – health, drug abuse, gangs, domestic

violence… Youth Centers & activities for youth in their

communities Parents to have resources, involvement& classes about

drug use, violence & other parenting issues

Thank You

Do you have any questions?