Sacramento youth who call the Del Paso Heights neighborhood have a safe space outside of home and school where they can either enrich themselves or simply have fun.Through the Sacramento Youth Center, located on Del Paso Boulevard, young people ages 12 to 24 can receive mentorship, peer support and practical resources. “We want it to feel like their space,” said Marissa Jones, director of programs. “We want them to feel at home. We want it to feel welcoming and inviting. They can just come hang out, do their homework, play video games, meet with a staff member, or just have a safe place to go after school.”Jones said the nonprofit organization offers various programs with an emphasis on meeting practical needs.”I think that’s what I really like is it kind of cuts away some of the systems that maybe keep resources far away from youth and individuals in need,” Jones said. “We really try to get straight to practical needs.”Bryan Martinez first visited the center about two years ago.”The atmosphere is really nice,” Martinez said. “There’s a lot of good staff around here who help students with any type of struggle or anything that they need help on.”One of the center’s programs is a refugee peer mentoring class, which is tailored to young people who have relocated from Afghanistan to Sacramento.Bibi Bahri teaches the class, saying her own experiences as a SYC mentee and as a refugee herself help her connect with the participants. “We just want to help. We are just here to listen,” Bahri said.Mentorship and peer-to-peer support are key components of the center’s mission. Cameron Jackson, a peer support specialist, said he finds young people have an easier time opening up about their struggles to someone of a similar age. Jackson said he helps kids navigate anything from applying for a job to talking through a hard time.“We’ll come up with a plan. We’ll try something, maybe that won’t work, or come up with another plan,” Jackson said. “Right now, people, kids are afraid to make mistakes. I think our biggest thing we push is to just make a plan and start working towards it right now.”Staff members said that, looking forward, they hope to increase partnerships with local schools and establish another physical location. For those interested in getting involved, the Sacramento Youth Center invites people to follow them on social media or stop by for a tour. There will be a free event Saturday at the center’s youth-run coffee shop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Sacramento youth who call the Del Paso Heights neighborhood have a safe space outside of home and school where they can either enrich themselves or simply have fun.

Through the Sacramento Youth Center, located on Del Paso Boulevard, young people ages 12 to 24 can receive mentorship, peer support and practical resources.

“We want it to feel like their space,” said Marissa Jones, director of programs. “We want them to feel at home. We want it to feel welcoming and inviting. They can just come hang out, do their homework, play video games, meet with a staff member, or just have a safe place to go after school.”

Jones said the nonprofit organization offers various programs with an emphasis on meeting practical needs.

“I think that’s what I really like is it kind of cuts away some of the systems that maybe keep resources far away from youth and individuals in need,” Jones said. “We really try to get straight to practical needs.”

Bryan Martinez first visited the center about two years ago.

“The atmosphere is really nice,” Martinez said. “There’s a lot of good staff around here who help students with any type of struggle or anything that they need help on.”

One of the center’s programs is a refugee peer mentoring class, which is tailored to young people who have relocated from Afghanistan to Sacramento.

Bibi Bahri teaches the class, saying her own experiences as a SYC mentee and as a refugee herself help her connect with the participants.

“We just want to help. We are just here to listen,” Bahri said.

Mentorship and peer-to-peer support are key components of the center’s mission.

Cameron Jackson, a peer support specialist, said he finds young people have an easier time opening up about their struggles to someone of a similar age.

Jackson said he helps kids navigate anything from applying for a job to talking through a hard time.

“We’ll come up with a plan. We’ll try something, maybe that won’t work, or come up with another plan,” Jackson said. “Right now, people, kids are afraid to make mistakes. I think our biggest thing we push is to just make a plan and start working towards it right now.”

Staff members said that, looking forward, they hope to increase partnerships with local schools and establish another physical location.

For those interested in getting involved, the Sacramento Youth Center invites people to follow them on social media or stop by for a tour. There will be a free event Saturday at the center’s youth-run coffee shop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel