Agenda Item # 3.1 - C.A.R.A.S. | Received 01/06/2023COMMUNITY AGENCY FOR RESOURCES, ADVOCACY, AND SERVICESFuture Establishment of Community/Youth Center01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
Introduction-Intern IntroductionXavier and Hazel-Project IntroductionWhat is it that we are trying to achieve?01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
Why a youth center matters•In addition to hosting unstructured social interaction between various age groups, a youth center also offers educational sessions in a secure, supervised setting.•By offering emotional support, pleasant experiences, social skills, and relationship-building chances, adolescents can also develop assets. Increased adult supervision that results from participation in afterschool activities gives kids a sense of security and lessens the likelihood that they will be left unaccompanied with their friends after school.•In addition to promoting personal safety and reducing risky behaviors like smoking or drug misuse, adult supervision that is focused on developmental connections fosters healthy youth development by creating an atmosphere where children can learn and thrive.01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
Community Readiness•As a result of CARAS's belief in the value of having a youth center, the organization was able to canvass the neighborhood to determine whether or not there is a need for a youth center in Gilroy.•Obtained over 500 petitions and over 130 Surveys•Caras also believesin community businesses readiness with numerous support from multiple businesseslocated in downtownGilroy.•It's important to note before each petition signature CARAS states from the Youth center petition (500 signatures) are in favor of implementing a youth center on the eastside of Gilroy. Below in the petition statement•Declaration of Petition states•We, the undersigned, herby make known to all we are in favor of implementing a youth center in Gilroy (preferably the east side). This youth center holds the objective to systematically reduce crime and influence personal youth life by posing as a safe haven for our youth. We will have progressive facilities to empower and support all members." weinth center ce crime safee ng as avee crims a s01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
Youth engagement•Since a youth center involves majority youth, Caras youth enrolled in Caras programs were able to help canvass for a youth center at some of Gilroy's local school's such as:•Gilroy High School•Christopher High School•Brownell Middle School•Apon petitioning for a youthcenter, 85% of youth did not know what a youth center.01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
Preferred location of youth center-Caras believes that a youth center would be most successful if it were situated someplace on Gilroy's east side.-This is due to the fact that the East side neighborhoods have a larger population density and more "at risk youth" than any other section of the city.01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
Surrounding Apartments(East Gilroy)The following slide lists just a few apartment complexes in the east side of Gilroy, where the San Ysidro "youth center" resides. This supposed youth center does not accommodate the space needed for the families in the area. With a measurement of 2,090 square feet around 26'x80', mind you the public bathrooms take up a section of this building.01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
This sums up to a total of 1,212 low-income apartments in the east side of Gilroy. We strongly believe that the San Ysidro youth center does not have enough space to provide a safe space for the children and youth who live in these complexes.Alexander station Apt-Units: 262 Cannery Apt-Units: 103Cannel Apt- Units: 28 Plaza Vaquez-Units: 111Gilroy Garden Apt-Units: 74 Gilroy Park Apt- Units: 74Harvest Park Apt-Units: 98 Maple Garden Apt-Units: 18Monterey Gateway Apt- Units: 75 Monticella Apt- Units: 52Park View Apt- Units: 54 Plum Tree Apt- Units: 70The Tree Apt- Units: 14 The Redwoods Apt-Units: 24Sobrato Family Apt-Units: 60 Sunset Gardens Apt-Units:75Villa Esperanza- Units: 2001/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
Petition and Survey data•The following questions were included in the youth center survey•"On a scale of 1 –10 How much do youth need a youth center here in Gilroy."•"Do you think crime rates would go down if a youth center was built"•"Do you think a youth center would have a positive influence on kids?"01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
On a scale of 1 – 10 How much do youth need a youth center here in Gilroy.01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
"Do you think crime rates would go down if a youth center was built"01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
"Do you think a youth center wouldhave a positive influence on kids?"01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
In the links below are reports stating the following data in the next 4 slides:Annual Juvenile Justice Report 2021Annual Juvenile Justice Report 2020Annual Juvenile Justice Report 2019Annual Juvenile Justice Report 2018Annual Juvenile Justice Report 2017 (Revised Oct.2018)01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
Youth center Effectiveness•Community centers have been shown to reduce crime. One 20-year study conducted in 264 cities by New York University showed that in a city with 100,000 residents every 10 new nonprofit reduced the homicide rate by 9%, lowered violent crime by 6%, and decreased property crime by 4%.01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment
To conclude our presentation, we would like this City Council to vote to place this Youth Center / Multi-purpose Center on a Bond to speed up the building of this project, just like you did with City of Gilroy Sharksproject of 20 million dollars and the police station that was built on a bond.Thank you.01/09/2023 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda Item 3.1 - Public Comment