Terrace Kidz Marketing Project: Building Real-World Career Pathways for Young People At the Salesian Family Youth Center, we are committed to creating opportunities that prepare young people not only for academic success, but for life and work beyond the classroom. The Terrace Kidz Marketing Project was designed with that purpose at its core — to serve as a career readiness initiative that exposes young people to real professional environments, expectations, and responsibilit

We wrapped up another incredible school year on a high note! Our members celebrated the end of an exciting season of sports leagues, academic enrichment activities, and special events. As the school year came to a close, our staff and volunteers shifted their focus to preparing for an unforgettable summer at Camp Salesian. We are grateful for a fantastic year and look forward to all the fun, growth, and memories that this summer will bring. Camp Salesian 2026 Is Underway! Cam

By JC Montenegro, PhD More than 150 youth gathered at the Salesian Family Youth Center to celebrate soccer, leadership, and the beginning of a summer of service. A dynamic and engaging sharing as Karla motivates a large group of young people in a vibrant community gathering. On Friday night, the gym at the Salesian Family Youth Center transformed into more than a viewing space for the USA vs. Paraguay international soccer match — it became a gathering place where two summer c

Salesian Family Youth Center – Second Annual Youth Conference Report On June 6, 2026, the Salesian Family Youth Center hosted its second Youth Conference, gathering more than 100 teenagers for a full day of reflection, dialogue, and shared learning. The focus of the day was centered on four major areas that young people identified as deeply connected to their daily lives and future: Human Mobility, Youth Employability, Childhood Vulnerability, and Youth Violence & Substance U

A retreat in the mountains of California became a powerful moment of friendship, reflection, and unity among young Salesian leaders preparing for summer camp ministry. Head Counselors from Camp Savio and Camp Salesian gather for a group photo, showcasing teamwork and camaraderie. For the first time ever, the Head Counselors from Camp Salesian and Camp Savio came together to reflect, pray, and prepare for the summer programs that will begin in just a few weeks. What made this

💙✨ Spreading Kindness in Our Community ✨💙 We are grateful to the Boys & Girls Club for inviting our youth to participate in their Kindness Summit. Throughout the event, our youth learned how small acts of kindness can create a meaningful ripple effect in their communities and everyday lives. To make the day even more special, three of our youth won raffle prizes, adding to the excitement and creating lasting memories for everyone involved. ⭐️April Star Student ⭐️ Congratula

The Salesian Family Youth Center is proud to announce a transformative partnership with the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC), made possible through the World Cup 2026 Extraordinary Impact Grant supported by the LA84 Foundation. This initiative brings a historic opportunity to children from Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles—communities where many young people face limited access to organized sports and recreational opportunities. Through this grant, over

Spring is here, and we’re excited for everything happening at our Youth Center! Our sports programs are in full swing, and March was packed with action and memorable moments. We can’t wait to keep the energy going this season as we gear up for an incredible summer camp! ☀️ 💚 Leaders in Service: Girl Scouts Support Long Beach Clean-Up 💚 On March 21, our Girl Scouts participated in a Long Beach clean-up as part of their Take Action Award, joining Justin Rudd and his team. The

Thank you for all that attended our "Noche de Esperanza" ✨ This past month brought us some truly amazing moments and memories! Our 4th Annual Gala, “Una Noche de Esperanza,” was a tremendous success, welcoming nearly 300 attendees and raising $58,297.40 in support of our mission. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, supported, and helped make the evening so special. Because of you, we continue to bring hope, opportunity, and brighter futures to our communit

Our new year is off to a great start with many programs offered here at the Salesian Family Youth Center! We see the difference in our students everyday as we gear towards our 4th Annual Gala, Una Noche de Esperanza✨, at the end of the month! Only 2 Weeks Away From our Gala 🎉 Our Gala is quickly approaching—don’t miss the chance to join us for a special evening filled with awards, entertainment, and a celebration of the incredible work we do for our youth. Can’t attend but

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,...