One Step a la Vez is an after school drop-in and resource center for teens. Our program has three main components:
**ACTIVITIES MAY DIFFER DUE TO COVID-19**
ONE STEP DROP IN CENTER
• OSALV offers homework assistance, a computer lab, cultural field trips, college application assistance, career planning, mentoring and resource referrals for youth and their families. We have a safe place to hang o
ut after school, a full kitchen as well as gym equipment, musical instruments, video games, and even Netflix! Many of the youth who attend our center are children of immigrants and/or are coming out of homes with generational violence, poverty and gang involvement.
• The teens work together with community volunteers to distribute food to the community twice monthly.
• We offer a weekly activity and support group for LGBT teens.
• One Step Youth leaders form community advocacy committees and campaigns and work to improve their community on issues that matter to them such as farmworker housing and public transportation.
• We shepherd the Social Equality Club (anti-bullying club) at the local high school which creates safe space for all, discourages bullying, and encourages bystander intervention.
• We are also starting the One Step Print Shop, a social business where youth will learn silk-screening and be able to create shirts to support their advocacy campaigns as well as learn business skills. Eventually the Print Shop will create paid internships and we will offer our silk-screening to the larger community.
• Annual membership to our center and all trips are FREE! CIRCLE OF CARE
OSALV coordinates the Circle of Care, a collaborative of service providers, non-profits, service clubs, governmental agencies (police, fire, city, school district representatives), churches and interested individuals. CofC meets monthly to identify and address community needs. From that collaborative we have partnered with providers to offer programs at our center such as a weekly Spanish speaking Domestic Violence Support Group, Mental Health Fist Aid Classes, Stress & Wellness classes. Anything that strengthens families and community also serves to increase success for at risk youth. JUVENILE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
OSALV mentors youth in custody and helps them set goals and attain them when they are released. We assist with court preparation and advocate for youth in court. We work with Ventura County Probation and the larger community to coordinate Restorative Justice Re-Entry Circles for interested youth. Restorative Justice attempts to create healing both for the youth and the community they are out of balance with.
