HYC Dream Resource Centers Student Podcast

Community safety

South Bay Gateway Cities San Gabriel Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Helpline Youth Counseling (HYC) operates Dream Resource Centers (DRCs) at La Puente High, Norwalk High, Inglewood High, Morningside High, and Fedde Middle Schools to support students at risk of hate-based bullying, school disengagement, and dropout. The DRCs provide an environment of safety, community, understanding and respect and offer resources including mediation to help resolve student conflicts, restorative community circles, tutoring, case management, and mental health support. Participating youth include BIPOC, LGBTQ+, English Language Learner, and students with disabilities. The DRCs are open to all students and actively engage parents and school personnel.
DRC students plan and lead creative arts, career-focused, and cultural awareness projects building youth voice, skills, and future opportunities. HYC is requesting a grant of $75,000 to support DRC student leadership and increase student safety and belonging through the launch of the Dream Resource Centers Student Podcast.

The Dream Resource Centers Student Podcast is a student-led media project that explores campus culture and student identity across five DRC campuses located in the SGV (La Puente), South Bay (Inglewood), and Gateway Cities (Norwalk, Hawaiian Gardens). The podcast will facilitate discussion and self-understanding, deepen connection and acceptance among students, and reveal the unique experiences and perspectives on each campus. The Student Podcast is part of HYC’s work at the DRCs we have operated since 2022. The project is currently in the launch stage. Each of the five DRCs has created podcast content on Google Drive and pending school approval, will share the podcast campus-wide and between the five DRC campuses. The students’ plan is to make the podcast widely available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. To do this, we need project funding.
The project budget includes one HYC Wellness Specialist; editing assistance by a professional journalist and podcaster with LAist, Brian De Los Santos, who will mentor DRC student podcasters; and food and refreshments for students, who reside in homes with limited incomes and often experience food insecurity.
The Dream Resource Centers Student Podcast will provide training for students in media production and open the door to further professional development in this in-demand career area. The HYC Wellness Specialist provides staff support to students in planning and structuring podcast content. The project is designed and led by students.

The Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission, responding to the County Board of Supervisors, identified County schools where students were in need of safe and inclusive spaces and selected HYC to operate DRCs at schools in communities with elevated hate and bias-related incidents. The Commission's hate crime reports are available at https://hrc.lacounty.gov/stop-violence-2/. The DRCs provide BIPOC, LGBTQ+, English Language Learner, students with disabilities, and other students with safe and judgment-free spaces. The DRCs are sorely needed at this time when many students are deeply anxious regarding issues including immigration, economic security, and identity.
HYC’s DRCs, located in LA County areas impacted by bias-based conflict, empower youth to overcome stigma in receiving support and build supportive community. The Dream Resource Center Student Podcast will inspire students to develop their voice and leadership and will be a launchpad for student media career opportunities.