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Youth Leadership Academy

@seasiderising

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A youth-led leadership academy in Seaside, CA dedicated to empowering, uplifting, and building our community!

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Welcome to the Seaside Rising Youth Leadership Academy! We are excited to share a space with youth in this our community this summer. by @seasiderising

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4 years ago

What a joy it was to learn that some of our littles are Oaxacan! 🫶🏾 Still riding the natural high of witnessing the colorful beauty, richness, and pride of Oaxacan culture. From the Indigenous languages and traditions to the dances, stories, the food 😋 and personal identities, it was a powerful reminder of what it means for young people to see themselves, their heritage, and their culture celebrated. There is power in knowing who you are, where you come from, and that your roots are something to be proud of. ❤️ shout out to our City of Seaside for the 6th Annual Oaxaca by the Sea. by @seasiderising

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18 days ago

Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year 2026 🌟 Celebrating the extraordinary achievements, leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to healthy lifestyles of Club teens. The journey begins locally at individual Club sites and continues through state, regional, and national competitions, where one exceptional young person is ultimately selected as the National Youth of the Year, serving as a role model, spokesperson, and ambassador for millions of Club youth nationwide.

We so appreciate you inviting us into this space. It’s always a joy to rub elbows, connect with young people, and walk through the doors of a building that had such a major impact on some of our own upbringing and for some of us, was even the place where we got our first jobs at just 14 years old.

There’s something special about coming full circle. 💙🏆 by @seasiderising

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18 days ago

The feeling we get when we spot YOU in the Seaside Rising Youth Leadership Academy shirt. 🤩 by @seasiderising

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18 days ago

What happens when youth, parents, and Black and Brown communities come together? We heal communities. We build power. We move forward together. ❤️

It truly takes all of us. A huge thank you to Peninsula Parents Coalition for showing up and speaking to the impact our Seaside Rising Youth Leadership Academy youth organizers are making in our community. They see firsthand the power of eliminating language barriers, connecting families to resources, and providing the youth the support needed to strengthen the work happening in Seaside.

Education is necessary inside and outside of the classrooms and when we come together, we remind each other that we are not in this alone. by @seasiderising

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18 days ago

Seaside Rising is exceptionally grateful for the continued support of the City of Seaside. That support has helped shape our work, provide a safe and productive foundation for the youth of Seaside, and measurably grow their capacity to stay engaged in their city, pursue college and career opportunities, and reach back to mentor others.
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The Seaside Rising Youth Leadership Academy continues to uphold the strength and commitment of civically engaging youth and young adults in the decisions that ultimately shape their today and tomorrow. We recently had the opportunity to showcase this past year’s work, and we couldn’t have been more proud, especially when we think about where and how we first began and where we are today.
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A huge thank you to everyone who continues to love on, speak up for, and support Seaside Rising Youth Leadership Academy. Your continued belief in our young people means more than words can express. We are grateful to continue growing, building, and creating opportunities with and for the youth of Seaside. by @seasiderising

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18 days ago

What happens when you bring community-wide resources together in one space? You create more than a resource fair. You create a bridge between people, services, and opportunity. You break down barriers by making resources easier to find and access, connect people to the support they need. From health, housing, food, employment, education, and family services. You build relationships and trust between residents and local organizations. You also strengthen collaboration by bringing organizations together to share knowledge, networks, and resources. And that is exactly what we did during 831 Day. By bringing our community’s resources together in one space, we created opportunities for connection, support, and growth, connecting people to services, organizations to one another, and our community to the resources it needs to thrive. 💙🌊 by @seasiderising

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18 days ago

Day 2 of the 1st Annual Sickle Cell Awareness Weekend was truly special. ❤️

Families, organizations, and community members gathered in Seaside at Broadway and Noche Buena before setting out together on a 1.2-mile walk through Seaside. Led by the powerful sounds of the Seaside High School Drum Line and escorted by the Seaside Police Department, we walked together toward Laguna Grande Park in honor of those impacted by sickle cell disease.

It was a powerful sight—a sea of people moving through Seaside in matching white shirts provided by @sicklecellawarenessseaside, many handwritten with the names of the sickle cell warriors they were walking for. We arrived at the park together carrying signs and banners, holding hands, and carrying the names and stories of loved ones with us.

Mayor @oglesby.ian, who joined us for the walk, shared special words to officially kick off the afternoon at Laguna Grande Park. From there, attendees connected with our Resource Partners and learned about local programs, health and wellness services, and organizations serving our communities.

The afternoon included live music from Everyday People Band, a performance by @liyahthelibra, spoken word from @queen_tay2023 of @kweenskounsel, and presentations from Bay Area health care workers who provided sickle cell education and eye-opening statistics about the disease and the people and families it impacts.

One of the most meaningful moments of the day came when Ava DeGruy’s father shared words of gratitude with everyone who came out to honor his late daughter. This entire weekend was dedicated to Ava, and we are grateful to everyone who helped carry her memory forward through awareness, education, action, and community. ❤️

Thank you to everyone who participated and showed up in support. Special thank you to the City of Seaside and everyone working behind the scenes to clean and prepare Laguna Grande Park.

📸 Photos from the event are available! Visit the link in our bio to view and download photographs from last weekend.

#SickleCellAwareness #SickleCellAwarenessMonth #SickleCellAwarenessWalk #MontereyCountyBlackCaucus #SickleCellAwarenessSeaside taken in Seaside, California by @seasiderising

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22 days ago

Day 1 of the 1st Annual Sickle Cell Awareness Weekend ❤️🩸

We began this special weekend with the Sickle Cell Awareness Blood Drive, bringing people together not only to raise awareness, but to take action that can directly impact the lives of those living with sickle cell disease.

For many sickle cell warriors, blood transfusions are an essential part of managing severe pain and potentially life-threatening complications. And representation in our blood supply matters: according to the American Red Cross, 1 in 3 Black blood donors is a match for a patient with sickle cell disease.

A heartfelt thank you to @csumb.hrc, @redcrossblood, and @kweenskounsel for your partnership and participation in making Day 1 possible. ❤️

And most importantly, thank you to everyone who showed up to donate blood. Your decision to give may become part of someone else’s treatment, relief, and ability to keep fighting. To those who weren’t able to donate but shared the flyer, told a friend, encouraged someone to sign up, or simply helped us spread the word—that mattered too. Every act of support helped extend the reach of this effort!

This entire weekend was created by @sicklecellawarenessseaside in loving memory of Ava DeGruy. We honor Ava by continuing to bring awareness to sickle cell disease, supporting those who live with it every day, and moving our community toward action. ❤️

#sicklecellawarenessseaside #montereycountyblackcaucus #csumbhrc #americanredcross #sicklecellawareness by @seasiderising

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25 days ago

Today, we remember.

We honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001, the families who carry their memory, and the courage of those who ran toward danger to help others.

May we never forget the humanity, sacrifice, and resilience revealed in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

September 11, 2001. We remember. We honor. We reflect. ♥️

#NeverForget #September11 #WeRemember #MCBC by @seasiderising

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a month ago

Community care is community action. 🌱🖤

This Saturday, a few of our youth leaders joined FOSPA (Friends of Seaside Parks) to help clean and care for Capra Park. We felt welcomed and got right to work. From pulling weeds, watering roots, laying wood chips, sweeping sidewalks, and picking up trash.

It’s important that our young people remain active participants in improving the quality of life in our communities. This is what leadership looks like: showing up, getting our hands dirty, and taking care of the places we call home.

Thank you, FOSPA, for allowing our youth to be a part of the work. This will not be the last time you see us! by @seasiderising

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2 months ago

Building connections between our Seaside youth, Monterey County leaders and local campuses will always matter to us. This Saturday, we joined the annual Welcome Black BBQ hosted by the Helen Rucker Center for Black Excellence at CSUMB.

From the food and games to the sunshine and smiles, it was a beautiful reminder of what happens when community comes together. We love connecting with our CSUMB family and reminding them that they belong here, they are supported here, and we are one community. taken in The Brass Tap - Marina by @seasiderising

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2 months ago