Story-telling Through Photography
Salinas, CA.
“Invest in community. Our Youth deserve safe spaces.”
By Carlos Montoya
I often think about what my community would look like if all youth are sacred values were centered. Those who perceive all young people as sacred, worthy of love, protection, and guidance, regardless of their worst mistakes, we believe that young people can transform. I began thinking about what spaces allow youth to feel sacred, live, and be their most authentic selves. So I took a trip to my hometown of Salinas.
ABOUT SALINAS
Salinas is known as the salad bowl of the Central Coast, and despite its richness, many people live in poverty, with limited access to public spaces. My community of Salinas is still riding the victory recently, we helped protect rent stability that would allow people to stay within their community. Growing up, my friends and I would ride our bikes throughout the city, on school days and in the summer. Through sending video game messages and door-knocking, it would be about 14 of us biking around dirt paths to the back roads behind convalescent homes, making friends along the way. We’d play tag and hide and seek when we were young. Stop for snacks and feel the love of our community members. At any chance, the police would stop us, knowing we were young and innocent. We’d be at the park ages 9 -17, and an officer would drive up to us immediately, questioning, searching us, accusing us of being gang members, with the reminder, “I know your faces now.” In Hollister, a nearby city, all police tell youth on bikes to get on the sidewalk. It’s hard to feel safe in your community with the police waiting for us to make mistakes.
Having a place and feeling like you’re part of a community can be challenging. But having space is so important for families and youth, and for youth to have the opportunity to anchor their village that supports them. Youth deserve to feel seen, heard, and known. My vision for a village that embraces youth as sacred is much like the community we love now.
After every football season, our coach would facilitate off-season games for kids from every team in Salinas, as well as individualized practices. He knew we didn’t have much to do or places to be, so he stepped in to get us active and together. Always different games and different parks, rotating after each match. He filled our weekdays and weekends with community and a sense of belonging; he always made things fun. We felt sacred, whether we knew it or not. We learned skills and grew together. At the end of the day, as we grabbed our snacks, we would take a group picture. I can only imagine what we could have achieved if we had safe spaces and support with resources. Through our community support and the infrastructure for safe spaces, our youth will feel sacred, worthy of love, guidance, and protection.
Santa Rita
Santa Rita, 1 square mile. Only two parks in Santa Rita: Soto Square Park and Santa Rita Park. There are no restrooms at either park, and they are not well-maintained or cared for. Additionally, there is not much green grass.
Soto Square Park is a place where kids, youth, and adults of all ages come to have a good time. Youth are scattered around Soto Square, having a good time on another day in Salinas. You're always going to have a great experience, as the ice cream man passes by frequently. There's also a 7/11 down the street for snacks, and you can come back for fun. Soto Square is a sacred space for all young people and the entire community. Located on the North Side of Salinas.
El Dorado
El Dorado is a safe space for youth and anybody who wants to have a good time. They have a nice, decent-sized field, BBQ pits, a Basketball court, a rec center for the youth, two playgrounds —one for the little kids and another for Both Big and little kids. El Dorado is a nice park to walk around. They have bathrooms, both for boys and girls, but they are not well-maintained.
El Dorado Park is a space for Parties, Barbecues, etc. There’s always something going on at the Park, People having a basketball game, Soccer game, Baseball games, and more activities. El Dorado has a Recreation Center for the young people. They also have a lot of things going on in there. The playgrounds are filled with kids and joy, kids having the best time of their lives. The ice cream man is always present at the park, catering to the youth and kids with a sweet tooth. El Dorado is located on the North Side of Salinas.
Central Park is very close to nature, featuring numerous trees, a garden, and various seating areas to enjoy the view. There are plenty of places to sit down.
Central Park is a huge, vast park with ample space for various activities. Always a good time to enjoy your day at Central Park. Many children are playing, and families are having a great time. You can walk through the whole park with the walkways they have. Next to Central Park is a College, Hartnell College. Throughout the park, there are seating areas and tables where people can sit and enjoy the sacred space.
Central Park
La Paz
La Paz is always filled with kids and youth. They have good play structures for the kids, places to sit down, a basketball court, a handball court, and a big painting of a turtle on the back of the handball court. A little park in the back. There are no restrooms for the boys or girls, and the grass isn’t that green.
Always filled with kids, youth, and families. The ice cream man is always at La Paz Park, showing the kids love. Located on the East Side of Salinas.
Las Casitas
Salinas Skatepark is always filled with young people, most definitely a youth safe space. Back then, MILPA would host events at the skate park to give away prizes and have a good time—there were no restrooms by the skate park. There’s a walking trail that takes you by a mini bridge, up a hill, past a tennis court, a Volleyball court, and a basketball court. The tennis court isn't well-maintained.
The paint from the ground is gone, and the nets are old. The volleyball is taken care of, but there's no net to play on. The basketball court is well-maintained, but the nets could be improved. Located on the East Side of Salinas
Usually, it's a family barbecuing or kids having a good time. The ice cream man comes by a lot, helping the kids feel sacred. Many young children are here having a wonderful time.
Hartnell Park
Hartnell Park is a safe space for everyone. They have a large field for playing football and soccer—lots of trees, with two play sites located across from each other. The bathrooms for boys and girls are not well-maintained, and there is a basketball court.
Hartnell Park is a diverse park. We had a flag football game here, and a lot of young kids showed up to support. A great place to host a party, with plenty of space to have fun. They have two different sides of the playground, one side is more suitable for younger kids, and the other is for everyone, along with a row of swings. They have a basketball court for a quick game of basketball. There are options to sit down, a place to have a picnic, and Hartnell Park is a good choice. They have bathrooms for the boys and girls. The place is very well-maintained and a sacred area. Located on the West Side of Salinas.
Bread Box
Bread Box is a youth rec center and safe space. They got an indoor basketball court. A pool table, a couple of little games to play against each other. A TV and a couch to relax. The restrooms for boys and girls are well-maintained. Bread Box is a place where they care about their young people and their future.
The BreadBox is a sacred space for the youth—a Recreation Center for families offering sports facilities. You will find youth in and out of there all day. They are offering to support the young people and their dreams. They have bathrooms for the young ladies and the young men. The BreadBox has been around for many years and continues to support the youth and community. All athletic activities are co-ed and designed for all skill levels, ages 6-18. Located on the East Side of Salinas.
MILPA
MILPA is a sacred space for everyone. They hold a circle every Thursday, and a community circle every other Wednesday. It’s a decent-sized space. The workers help with their schoolwork, assist them with their problems, and emphasize the importance of using their voice. MILPA is a village for the youth in Salinas. They genuinely care about the Salinas community and its youth.
Every Thursday, the circle is mainly attended by youth, and they also offer a fellowship for those who attend the Thursday circle. Every other Wednesday, they have a community circle. If anyone from the Salinas community wants to come, they are more than welcome. The staff are there for the young people and their future. MILPA is a well-known organization in Salinas and has also expanded to Watsonville.
AFCA
ACFA is a safe space for the youth in Salinas. They are having different things going on at once, a very busy place, and they keep everyone going. ACFA is a decent size. They have a stage for the performers or plays. They have an art room for anyone who likes painting and creating art. They have a little library for the kids. They have couches and chairs sitting around. ACFA is a space where everyone cares for their young people.
ACFA is a community sacred place for everyone in Salinas. They help the young kids and the youth follow and succeed in their dreams. Sometimes they have dances and events going on. The All Youth Are Sacred (AYAS) had their CYA/DJJ art exhibit at the ACFA community space. They offer a range of programs, including music, dance, visual arts, and theater, for all age groups. Located on the East Side of Salinas, next door to the BreadBox.
