The CAUSE:

Empowering Youth in the Santa Maria Valley

Youth Town Hall Format

www.causenow.org ● 2021 Sperry Ave., Ventura, CA 93003 805-658-0810 ● 120 E. Jones St., #120 Santa Maria, CA 93454 805-922-4447

●217 N 10th St. #7, Santa Paula, CA 93060 ● 4225 Saviers Rd., Oxnard, CA 93033 (805) 658-0810

● 126 E. Haley Street, Ste. A-12, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Youth prioritize interventions in families and schools first, community environment second,

leadership opportunities third

What do Youth Want? Who are the Youth?

Healthy Families (20%)

Safe Streets, Transit & Parks (13%)

Police & Probation (12%)

Youth Programs and Facilities (16%)

Leadership Opportunities (9%)

Career Pathways (10%)

Improving our Schools (20%)

The 7 Solutions Surveyed

What do Youth Want? Who are the Youth?

“Increase mental health support and

empower Latinx youth so that they do

not turn to gangs/drugs/alcohol”

-Lupita, 16

“Adults should listen to you and take our ideas into consideration”

-Melissa, 12

“Better training for police”

-Sonia, 20

“Workshops to inform parents and

students on pregnancy prevention, there

are resources that we do not know about

that we should be informed about”

-Jenny, 14

“Creating a sports center for youth to lose focus

from the "bad" habits, creating cultural centers to

encourage the pride of one's culture”

-Monse, 17

“Have better support systems,

encourage students to get

through their education”

-Hugo, 19

Home Addresses of Surveyed YouthHome Addresses of Surveyed Youth

Strategies to Help Empower Youth and Their Families in Santa Maria Valley

Encouraging healthy and supportive families

Keeping students in an engaging school environment

Improving relationships with police and probation

Encourage positive activities through youth programs

Access to leadership opportunities and civic engagement

Recommendations based on notes from town hall discussion groups and survey results: