Vision and Voice: Community Led Youth Development

Community safety

Central LA

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

At Visionary Youth Los Angeles (VYLA), we believe that youth development and community safety are deeply interconnected. Our approach is rooted in the principle that when young people are supported, engaged, and empowered, they become catalysts for safer, more resilient communities. We understand youth development as a holistic process that nurtures the academic, emotional, and social growth of young people—especially those navigating systemic inequities. By building strong relationships, fostering positive identity, and cultivating leadership, we help youth develop the tools they need to thrive. In turn, young people who feel connected, valued, and supported are less likely to experience or engage in cycles of violence, disconnection, or harm. VYLA approaches community safety not solely as the absence of crime, but as the presence of opportunity, trust, and belonging. We create safe and affirming spaces where youth can express themselves.

Visionary Youth LA is seeking to establish our inaugural Youth Leadership Council (YLC) in the summer of 2025, a year-round initiative that empowers youth ages 14–19 to become leaders in creating safer, more connected neighborhoods in East Hollywood and surrounding areas.
This program is rooted in the understanding that community safety is achieved not only through law enforcement but through trust-building, access to resources, and meaningful youth engagement. Participants will met weekly to build leadership and advocacy skills while exploring topics such as restorative justice, trauma-informed care, conflict resolution, and community organizing.
Youth will engage in hands-on projects that address real safety concerns in their neighborhoods—such as school-based violence, intergenerational trauma, and lack of access to mental health services. The council will promote healing, civic responsibility, and preventative strategies that reduce harm and increase neighborhood resilience.
This initiative positions youth as active agents of change, shifting the narrative from youth as "at-risk" to youth as "risk reducers" and community protectors. By centering youth voice in safety strategies, VYLA fosters not only individual transformation but systemic impact—building safer, more inclusive communities from the ground up.

We believe youth development is a holistic and transformative process that supports youth academically, emotionally, and socially. Our work is grounded in the understanding that young people thrive when they are affirmed in their identities, connected to mentors, and trusted to lead in their communities.
We recognize that many of the youth we serve—primarily youth of color and those living in under-resourced communities—face systemic barriers that impact their educational and personal outcomes. In response, VYLA implements a culturally responsive, trauma-informed model that builds resiliency, self-awareness, and social emotional intelligence.
Central to our work is the power of relationships. Through mentorship and youth-led programming, we foster safe, nurturing environments where young people feel seen, heard, and valued. VYLA’s youth development framework is designed to support immediate needs, and to cultivate long-term well-being, educational success, and generational change.