With May comes nonprofit Eden Youth’s vigorous preparation for their annual Reach for a Better Community (RFBC). This community event takes a holistic approach to promoting health and wellness in the youth, with a spotlight on substance use prevention.
RFBC has grown exponentially since its 2023 launch, with this year’s anticipated attendance expected to be double 2024’s. The event will kick off with speeches from Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas as well as community member and small business owner, Alfredo Rodriguez.
The rest of the day will segue into the resource fair, where local partners such as the Youth Enrichment Program, La Familia, Alameda Alliance for Health and several others will be present. Eden Youth ensures that the resources provided are diverse and capable of addressing a wide range of issues.
A plethora of activities will be available to participate in, from painting to native planting to even a Splash Tower Dunk Game. Free food and ice cream are certain to be enticing bonuses for attendees. The intention behind every activity is to teach and encourage the youth and their families about healthier, positive coping mechanisms to stress, rather than opting for substance usage.
Eden Youth’s substance use prevention manager Cynthia Goco-Nakar explains, “Marketing in the tobacco industry has changed how they appeal to younger audiences, such as developing different fruity vape flavors and packaging them in rainbow colors.
“When youth make those choices and struggle, that’s where we come in,” adds Goco-Nakar. “We teach them about prevention through coping and refusal skills in our school curriculum. We want to be that judgment-free support system for them and showcase the resilience our youth has.”
To further create a safe, judgment-free space, the nonprofit’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) will also be available to converse or merely listen. Youth attendees who typically hesitate to open up to an adult will have the opportunity to talk to and resonate with a peer instead. The YAC has played a significantly active role in Eden Youth, with about 15 to 20 passionate members working on substance use campaigns to help their peers.
Eden Youth’s executive director and CEO Karen Halfon shares, “Our YAC have done tremendous work, including banning the illegal sales of flavored tobacco and vaping products, as well as developing a substance use prevention curriculum that is now being implemented and taught in schools.”
Having community events such as RFBC is crucial in letting struggling youth know that they are not alone. Goco-Nakar says, “A lot of youth feel isolated and are not aware of what other coping mechanisms there are. We want to show, not just teach, that they are seen, have intrinsic value and can belong just by being their unique selves.”
RFBC event is a true call to action for those looking not just for change, but for acceptance. A parent participant who attended last year’s event shares, “What stood out to me the most was how the event created a welcoming space for both the kids and the families. The staff and volunteers were friendly, and the community partners shared resources I didn’t even know were available to us.”
Eden Youth’s continuous commitment to ensuring health and wellness marks them as reliable and genuine advocates for the current and future generations to come.
Reach for a Better Community
Saturday, May 31
10:30am – 2:30pm
Sorensdale Community Center and Park
275 Goodwin St., Hayward
Admission and parking free
