Like many cities, Salinas, California is dedicated to its youth growing up successfully, yet it faces a continual pattern of violence and crime, overcrowded and costly housing, lack of jobs, and limited integrated services. In recognition of this, an extended community network developed a framework for preventing violence with funding from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation. This framework, Cultivating Peace in Salinas, which focuses primarily on reducing youth violence, addresses overall community well being, and is a model for cities across the United States.
Ethnic, gender and cultural factors play a significant role in developing a strategy for Salinas. The Hispanic population represents 51% of the total population. It is largely affected by high unemployment rates and low-paying jobs that has led to high population density in some areas of Salinas, forcing families to share inadequately small homes or apartments and bringing youth violence to the community.
At the conclusion of the session, participants will: 1)understand the components of the framework, the tools for creating a community-wide effort, and the 16 recommendation action plan that emerged; 2)recognize the importance of a comprehensive approach to address violence and community planning in a large Latino community; 3)be able to list the five most important issues that emerged throughout the planning process, particularly those related to Latinos: economic disparities, language limitation, family dynamics, availability of drugs and guns and general oppression; and 4)learn the importance of a culturally comprehensive approach in community planning.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will: 1)understand the components of the framework, the tools for creating a community-wide effort, and the 16 recommendation action plan that emerged; 2)recognize the importance of a comprehensive approach to address violence and community planning in a large Latino community; 3)be able to list the five most important issues that emerged throughout the planning process, particularly those related to Latinos: economic disparities, language limitation, family dynamics, availability of drugs and guns and general oppression; and 4)learn the importance of a culturally comprehensive approach in community planning
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Cultivating Peace in Salinas
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.