All information presented in this report was possible through the support provided to LA CAUSA YouthBuild- Proyecto Avanza by the LA2050 grant opportunity. The Proyecto Avanza (https://www.lacausainc.org/project-avanza) was officially announced opportunities available in our website and a marketing flyer was distributed to all partnerships, as well as through various social media platforms and community spaces. The aim of the recruitment plan was to focus on young individuals who have been impacted by the system and coming from underprivileged or disadvantaged backgrounds. As a result, we effectively engaged with 308 individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 from low-income communities in East Los Angeles through our outreach efforts. As a result, 110 youth enrolled into our program. Through this grant opportunity, we provided services to a diverse group of young individuals who faced various challenges such as mental health issues, drug and alcohol dependency, involvement in the justice system, teenage parenthood, gang affiliation, and being victims of violence. Our program offered activities that were tailored to the needs of these young people, with the goal of motivating and empowering them to create positive changes in their own lives and in their communities. In acknowledgement of their journey and the challenges they overcame, we had a graduation venue in celebration of their academic accomplishments and determination.

Graduation Event

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

Field Trips: 1 )Japanese American National Museum (JANM), where students had the opportunity to explore an exhibition focused on the internment camps that Japanese Americans were confined to following the events of Pearl Harbor. As part of their U.S. History and English classes, the students had been studying the novel "Night" by Elie Wiesel, which directly relates to the JANM and Executive Order 9066, the order that authorized the internment of Japanese Americans. This field trip served as a valuable extension of their current learning objectives, as the exhibition at the JANM provided them with a deeper understanding of the various mediums through which stories can be conveyed. By immersing themselves in the stories of individuals from their own community, the students were able to gain a richer perspective on the power of storytelling. 2) Universities and Community College Campuses The institutions involved in this initiative were UC Santa Barbara, CalState LA, Long Beach City College, East Los Angeles Community College, and Rio Hondo Community College. Our partnership aims to address the discrimination and missed chances faced by system-impacted youth by establishing a connection between continuation high schools and community college/university. Thanks to the support of these entities, our young individuals were able to participate in college/university campus tours and, more significantly, had the chance to sit in a university classroom environment. 3) YouthBuild Day Event, a celebration of youth resilience and leadership was held by YouthBuild programs across Southern California. The occasion allowed young people to deliver speeches about their life experiences, including the obstacles they faced and how they overcame them. They also shared their enthusiasm for their future goals and vision. 4) Supportive Services/ Counseling to address challenges related to mental health. Our counseling team of staff organized several activities designed to address disclosed challenges such activities included

counseling groups: women, men, LGBTIQQ groups, one-on-one counseling. A resource fair was held where multiple community organizations participated and shared their resources. Our community space now has a "Wellness Center" that caters to mental health services and addresses existing needs related to anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. We collaborated with various mental health agencies in SPA 7 service area to establish a connection and address specialized mental health needs as well as basic needs/resources. Additionally, we created an elective course that concentrates on life skill development. 5) Mental Toughness LA CAUSA’s leadership component starts with Mental Toughness (MT) week, where students actively engage in workshops and activities that aim to challenge and involve them. This week also serves to introduce them to the program. Throughout this period, participants acquire essential skills such as critical thinking, time management, team building, conflict resolution, anger management, decision making, communication, assertiveness, peer counseling, leadership, and cultural sensitivity. These skills continue to be nurtured throughout the rest of the program, including community service activities, the Student Policy Council, support groups, and program events.

Mental Toughness Enrollment Process

UCSB Field Trip

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Through the LA 2050 funding opportunity, we were able to purchase equipment, student uniforms, and necessary supplies for the successful implementation of the Culinary Arts program. As a result, • 3 graduates from LA CAUSA YouthBuild were awarded a scholarship from Education is Forever$1,000. From YouthBuild Charter School of California.

• Through our credit recovery program this year 50 under credited students that enrolled in our program wereable to catch up on become senior level students.

• Out of 38 senior level students, 22 students successfully completed credits for High School Diploma attainment. The remaining 16 students continued their enrollment in our program and are actively involved in the Senior Portfolio Class, a curriculum designed to prepare young people with developing a career plan and set goals for a successful transition into post-program placement.

• Developed EXIT interview process in which successful program completers do a formal presentation of their Senior Portfolio and shared their learning experience while sharing their plan upon completion of our program.

• Created a Wellness Center in our space accessible to our young people

• A student created a short-film in which she shared her personal challenges and her experience at LA CAUSA YB (see link below) .

•https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FvfdTFY9iuPHmRjXFMpYAlclxAdUmuvU/view?usp=share_li nk

• Additionally funding catalyzed by this grant – showcase through proven results and successfully awarded 1.2 million from the Department of Labor YouthBuild grant to further expand our occupational training pre-apprenticeship tracks in the areas of Hospitality/Culinary Arts and Construction.

Culinary Arts Class- Culminating Project