Yuba-Sutter Youth

The Community

Located about 50 miles north of Sacramento, Marysville and Yuba City are the county seats and largest population centers in Yuba County and Sutter County, respectively. The cities are separated by the Feather River and are connected by two bridges. With combined county population of about 140,000, the twin cities area is home to 75,000.

The region is very distressed, with an unemployment rate that has exceeded state and national averages since 1985, and 35 percent of minors in Yuba County live in households with annual incomes below $10,320. The underlying challenges of poverty, a lack of positive youth opportunities and low educational achievement have shown to be risk factors for negative behaviors, including alcohol and other drug abuse, violence, disengagement from the public education system and early pregnancy.

Due to their isolated rural geography, the cities have developed cooperation and support among public service and private community organizations that serve youth and families.

The Coalition

The Yuba-Sutter region is working to change community conditions that will promote youth development for the long term. Friday Night Live, the lead agency of the Youth Development Community Action Coalition of Yuba-Sutter, has provided youth development strategies to the community for 20 years.

The coalition’s intent is to bring together grassroots community organizations to focus on youth and support them in making decisions to avoid risky behaviors and prepare for a healthy adulthood. Coalition members express a commitment to helping young people understand life’s challenges and responsibilities and develop the necessary skills to succeed as adults.

YDCAC members include community-based organizations, local government agencies and departments, including school districts, probation, board of supervisors, family resource centers, service organizations, businesses, churches, radio stations, parks and recreation, National Guard, alcohol and drug recovery, mental health, arts council and youth-serving organizations.

The coalition has 11 Youth Development Chapters, each sponsored by a community-based organization and consisting of one adult advisor and a leadership team of five youth, who engage and organize other young people to get involved in coalition activities. The founding chapters are: R Spot at Harmony Health Family Resource Center in Linda, Substance Abuse Steering Coalition at Sutter/Yuba Mental Health in Yuba City, The Spot at Live Oak Family Resource Center in Live Oak, Young People Making Change at Balanced Life Christian Center in Marysville, Wi-Kids at Mercy Housing in Wheatland, Allyn Scott Youth and Community Center in Marysville, Camptonville Community Partnership in Camptonville, Yuba Gardens Intermediate School in Olivehurst, Rhythm 105.9 Radio Station in Yuba City, Sutter Youth Organization in Sutter and Yuba Sutter Civic Community Group at Yuba City Parks and Recreation.

Our Core Principles and Values

• The Youth Coalition strives to make connections and unite youth-serving organizations that provide supports and opportunities for youth.
• Creating nurturing, meaningful relationships between youth and adults.
• Transforming our community into a youth-friendly environment where youth are welcome to participate, volunteer, plan and make a positive impact on the Sutter-Yuba communities.

Our Vision for Our Communities
At our coalition kick-off meeting, we thought about where we wanted to see our communities in 10 years. Here is what youth and adults working together visualized:

• A place where people want to live
• Community-wide events where everyone feels welcome and in which everyone has a part
• Public access for everyone with transportation available
• Sidewalks and bike paths
• Safety is felt throughout — no one is scared to go outside
• Clean, well-lit parks
• Fewer bars
• Large community centers strategically located
• More jobs for youth
• Mentoring opportunities
• Strong relationships between adults and youth
• Consistent activities available throughout the year with multiple organizations making things happen