We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ✨ December at the Salesian Family Youth Center was one to remember, filled with exciting programs, college exploration trips, and plenty of holiday cheer! A Message From Our Executive Director ☃️ "As we celebrate Christmas this year, my hope is simple: that we help young people look beyond gifts and discover something deeper and more lasting. That shift doesn’t happen all at once. It happens through everyday choices—to be pres

In the spring of 2025, eighteen students from the Salesian Family Youth Center embarked on an unforgettable journey through Northern California’s top universities, including UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. This College Exposure Trip was more than a visit—it was a hands-on experience designed to expand students’ horizons, deepen their understanding of higher education, and strengthen their confidence to pursue colle

For more than three years, Renee Boulware has been a constant and positive presence at the Salesian Family Youth Center. As a young adult volunteer, Renee shared her love for arts and crafts through team-based projects that brought children together to create, learn, and have fun. Through these shared experiences, she helped build confidence, curiosity, and joy among our young people. Renee regularly joined group activities, guiding children as they explored drawing, writing,

November brought incredible moments to the Salesian Family Youth Center!  From serving 150 members and families at our Thanksgiving celebration, to volunteers rolling up their sleeves to help beautify our space, to our youth making amazing autumn memories—there was so much to be proud of. Check out our highlights! 🍂 Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for members and their families 🦃🧡 Our Thanksgiving Dinner this year was filled with gratitude for the wonderful community we have h

At the Salesian Family Youth Center, we believe that real community impact in Boyle Heights happens when young professionals are given meaningful opportunities to grow while serving others. This article highlights the journey of Ingrid Rodriguez, whose internship brought creativity, discipline, and new energy to our communication work. I am grateful for her professionalism, dedication, and the positive mark she left on our team and community. I invite you to read her story an

In today’s digital world, children and cellphones are deeply connected, but this relationship brings challenges for their mental health, communication skills, and sleep. Drawing from experience at the Salesian Family Youth Center, this article explores the impact of screen time and invites families to find balance and healthy boundaries.

The month of October was busy for our center! We have had some awesome activities for our students to attend like arts and crafts, sports programs, mental health activities, and collaborations with other parishes. But most importantly, all our members had lots of fun this spooky month. Inaugural Youth Soccer League Season ends! Our inaugural youth soccer league, sponsored by LA84 Foundation, has finished their first season! We had a total of 6 teams (72 participants) make up

End of the Year Report From July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, the Salesian Family Youth Center reached over 2,000 children and young people , sparking growth, creativity, and connection. This year, we celebrated milestones like publishing two books and expanding programs in education, athletics, and spiritual development. These highlights reflect our mission in action, empowering youth, strengthening communities, and building a foundation for the future. In this e-news, we high

Nine months have passed since the devastating Eaton Fire, yet for many families in Altadena, the road to recovery is still long and...

Get ready to catch up on all the excitement at the Salesian Family Youth Center! In this edition, we’re highlighting summer adventures,...

By JC Montenegro, PhD Last week, we celebrated something extraordinary at the Salesian Family Youth Center: the book premiere and signing...

By JC Montenegro, PhD Every summer program offers something valuable to its participants, but Camp Salesian stands out for one key...

As many of you may know, during the summer, I help Camp Savio, where we have over 600 children. On weekends, I catch up on my emails and...

Over 100 young people gathered at the Salesian Family Youth Center to share their struggles and offer solutions for a better Los Angeles. Their voices shaped a powerful youth document that JC Montenegro and Luis Chacon presented in Sacramento while joining the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Together, they advocated for policies on mental health, education, safety, housing, and youth leadership. The message was clear: young people are not waiting. They are leading today.

In Boyle Heights, the Salesian Family Youth Center is a place where lives are transformed. Many staff members were once participants who found guidance, support, and purpose within its walls. Now, they lead with that same spirit mentoring youth, building community, and living out the values of service and kindness. SFYC is more than a center; it’s a family where young people grow, lead, and give back.

Jayden, a fourth grader in our Mamba League team, began the season chasing the spotlight, but ended it as a leader. Through teamwork, emotional growth, and guidance from Coach Andres Ortiz, he learned that true greatness lifts others. Though they lost the final game, they walked away with something greater: unity, maturity, and pride. Thanks to our partners, this experience reminded us that when we invest in our youth, we all win.

Explore the latest updates from the SFYC! Discover how we’re empowering youth and making a difference in our community.

The Salesian Family Youth Center’s Gala raised vital funds for youth development programs, supporting sports, education, and mentorship!

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to grow up as the child of immigrants in the U.S.? To live in a country where you were born but...

In this e-news, we would like to share with you some of the projects that we have been working on these last two months.