OVERVIEW
The Challenge
Salinas is most often in the news for murders, gang violence, and drug dealing, along with occasional stories about poor test scores. The Packard Foundation took aim at these issues by expanding the after-school programs that removed kids from the streets and playgrounds where they were recruited for gangs. MDC was asked to brand the identity of this new approach for the foundation’s local grant-making program.
Approach
Through its research, MDC uncovered an alternative strand in Salinas’ trajectory: passionate homegrown leaders who stay or return to Salinas to work with the younger generation and help them pursue academic success in high school, college and beyond.
Results
MDC produced StoriesFromSalinas.org, written by MDC journalist Rob Waters and photographed by MDC’er, Salinas’ Jay Dunn. This website lives on today as it tells the stories of the Packard Foundation’s growing roster of new grantees.
Details
SALINAS PUBLIC LIBRARY
TUTORING PROGRAM
A Community's Young Adults Pitch in to Help the Younger Ones Learn
It’s 2:30 pm and Cesar Chavez Library in Salinas is filling up with kids. Graciela Flores taps them on the head—“40, 41, 42”—as they sign in to the homework center. Over the next two hours, about 60 Salinas schoolchildren will come to the library to work—with help from some exceptional tutors.