2026 Bold Steps for Children Award: Jóvenes Activos
- 6 days ago
- 1 min read
Jóvenes Activos is a youth‑led program of SOMOS Mayfair and receives the Bold Steps for Children Award due to its meaningful impact on East San José youth and its strong, community‑rooted partnerships. Serving young people ages 12–18, the program fosters leadership, creativity, and civic engagement through mentorship, workshops, and hands‑on organizing. Its collaborations with Santa Clara County Public Health and the East San Jose Peace Initiative have empowered youth to lead violence‑prevention and safety campaigns, including the We All Play a Role initiative. Jóvenes Activos also partners with local arts and cultural organizations such as Local Color and the School of Arts and Culture to create public art projects like the East Side Mural, strengthening neighborhood identity and youth expression. Through additional civic engagement efforts with groups like Amigos de Guadalupe, the program mobilizes youth voters and amplifies young voices in shaping a more equitable future.