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  • We’Ced Presents: Meet your Merced Candidates- Anthony Martinez

    October 31, 2016 /

    I seek to raise the morale of Merced by bringing good deeds and kind acts to all segments of our population. I seek to change the way new parents see this city as a place to raise a family I seek to change the way our youth see this town as an area of ineptitude and misery. Instead, I want the youth to know that the city is not only here for them, but depends on them to become strong men and women of character who must take up the charge of leading Merced into fruition.

    Anthony Martinez  District 1  elections  merced city council  spotlight  

  • We’Ced Presents: Meet your Merced Candidates- Jesse Ornelas

    October 31, 2016 /

    I have supported invest in youth campaign several times during city council meetings . Where i have voiced my displeasure with the city officials in investing in the incarceration of the youth not their futures.

    candidate  District 1  elections  Jesse Ornelas  merced  merced city council  spotlight  

  • In Stockton, Green Spaces Critical for Health of Young People

    October 19, 2016 /

    The opportunity for recreation and community cohesiveness is powerful for public safety. By giving our children a place to stay out of trouble and by adding more eyes on the street, parks help keep communities safe and connected. Our organization, Fathers & Families of San Joaquin (FFSJ), has seen the comprehensive benefits parks provide and has become a champion for parks in Stockton and throughout California.

    #Park4all  Fathers and Families of San Joaquin  green space  parks  spotlight  stockton  

  • City leaders, law enforcement officials noticeably absent from Community Summit

    October 5, 2016 /

    Dozens of audience members gathered together to plan out a brighter future for Merced while across the hall an entire row of chairs reserved for city representatives sat vacant. Each of the seats was labeled with the name of a local city, police or sheriff’s department official who had been specifically invited to the event. “We’d like to highlight how all local law enforcement officials were invited here tonight but none of them bothered to show,” said Vanessa Zaragoza, 15, a youth activist and master of ceremonies at the Live Free event.

    law enforcement  Live Free  MOP  police  Police accountability  spotlight  

  • Merced County jail conditions exact a heavy price on local families

    September 26, 2016 /

    Castillo is one of several community members participating in solidarity with loved ones behind bars. Her husband, Richard Castillo, is currently being held at Merced County Jail while he fights charges of evasion. He’s been there since early 2013 and is facing life, partially due to gang enhancements which can add years and even decades to a sentence.

    hunger strike  Live Free Merced  mass incarceration  Prisoners  spotlight  

  • The diverse faces of Merced’s future

    September 22, 2016 /

    Perhaps most importantly, the Youth Council provides Merced’s teens with an opportunity to represent their fellow youth. By building up their leadership skills, the program is empowering many to consider how they’ll wield that voice in the future.

    diversity  government  Merced Youth Council  spotlight  youth  Youth Council