Ojai Agency Gets $125,000 Grant to Attack Community Problems

The Ojai Valley Youth Foundation has been awarded a grant to create youth-led solutions to community problems, including the lack of employment and escalating racial tension.

The foundation is one of only 16 agencies statewide to receive the $125,000 planning grant, beating out nearly 400 nonprofit agencies.

The money, awarded by the California Wellness Foundation, will allow the Ojai group over the next 18 months to plan a “wellness village” to keep kids busy and off the streets.

Ten of the 16 agencies awarded the planning grant will go on to receive $750,000 from the Wellness Foundation over the next 3 1/2 years to pursue projects, serving as models for the rest of the state.

The wellness village concept came from another youth group across the country that had redesigned a city block so it would offer a safe environment for children to play after school.

“They [young people] should have a say in what happens in their community since they will essentially be leaders in their community,” said Jonathan Macaranas, a Wellness Foundation representative.

After a long selection process, Macaranas said, the Ojai Valley foundation was awarded the grant because it had creative ideas on how to give youngsters a voice in their community.

The California Wellness Foundation, formed in Woodland Hills in 1992, also distributes grants to help prevent violence and teen pregnancy.

“This is a social experiment,” said Caryn Bosson, executive director of the Ojai foundation. “The Wellness Foundation feels Ojai should serve as a laboratory because we will achieve results that will be applicable to other communities around our state.”

The first step entails foundation members organizing a youth-run marketing agency, under the guidance of a retired marketing executive, that will inform the community about the agency’s goals.

Next, a youth-leadership committee and planning group of youngsters and adults will be formed.

“Although the planning process has not yet taken place, we have identified four clear goals in our community,” Bosson said.

Those goals include reducing racial tension, creating more employment, developing community spirit and expanding educational opportunities.

Just how this will occur is what the group has to determine in the next 18 months.

But 18-year-old Samantha Salmons already has ideas.

The group is planning a diversity summit for March, and has been pushing plans for a skateboard park and after-school activities.

“If we don’t start right now to improve things in the Valley, we will someday end up at the point where there is a lot of gang problems and violence,” said Salmons, a Ventura College student who has been appointed youth coordinator.

“If we build a lot of strength right now, we can keep it out.”