For several months, community members from across Santa Barbara’s Westside, including students, parents, neighbors and service providers, have come together to talk about the challenges they face, the assets they have and the future they wish to create for themselves. These groups will gather at the summit to share their ideas, choose the strategies they want to implement and create action plans to turn their ideas into reality.

Topics include: improving police-community relations, creating a town center, creating a women’s resource center, improving Bohnett Park, building a community swimming pool, addressing gangs and bullying, finding a solution to the problems of graffiti and littering, and much more. Information will be provided in English and Spanish, and free childcare is available. The event is free to attend.

“Westside residents have come up with powerful ideas for making the Westside a better community for all,” said Jarrod Schwartz, Executive Director of Just Communities, the group sponsoring the summit. “They are taking ownership for turning these ideas into action. The summit is an important opportunity for the entire community to come together to celebrate and join in the efforts of these new neighborhood leaders.”

WHO: Community members from across Santa Barbara’s Westside, including students, parents, neighbors and service providers. Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider, County Supervisors Salud Carbajal and Janet Wolf, Santa Barbara Police Department Chief Cam Sanchez, Santa Barbara School Board members, and other key community leaders will be in attendance for the public portion of the summit.

WHAT: Westside community members will gather at the summit to share their ideas, choose the strategies they want to implement and create action plans to turn their ideas into reality.

WHEN: Saturday, January 21st from 2-4 p.m.

WHERE: Boys & Girls Club, 602 W. Anapamu St. in Santa Barbara.

On street parking available in the neighborhood and a shuttle will run between the parking lot at Shoreline Community Church (935 San Andres St. in Santa Barbara) and the Boys & Girls Club between 1:30-1:50 p.m. and 4:15-5:15 p.m.

For more information, visit the website or contact Daniel Elenes at delenes@just-communities.org or (805) 966-2063.

About THRIVE Westside

THRIVE Westside is a partnership between Harding University Partnership School, McKinley Elementary School, La Cumbre Junior High and San Marcos High School to ensure a coordinated effort of resources for children and families living in Santa Barbara’s Westside neighborhood. The goal of the project is to ensure that all children are healthy and safe, prepared for kindergarten through high school graduation, and on to college and career. THRIVE Westside is supported by an education initiative sponsored by THRIVE Santa Barbara County.

About Just Communities

Just Communities is a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit organization that works to bring together diverse groups of people to build leadership and develop joint solutions our communities’ challenges. Just Communities’ programs help build trust across historic divides, foster relationships between diverse community members, and leverage the trust and relationships towards joint action to produce positive social change.

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.