Alliance for community wellness ("LA familia") project for SLHAM youth rising - SAN lorenzo hayward acres mobilized (SLHAM) is a grassroots community organization established in 2019, based in the…

Alliance for community wellness ("LA familia") project for SLHAM youth rising - SAN lorenzo hayward acres mobilized (SLHAM) is a grassroots community organization established in 2019, based in the urban unincorporated area of alameda county and surrounding areas working to address decades of disenfranchisement, disinvestment, redlining and the effects of the war on drugs. We work to build resident and youth voices to shift the dynamics of power through our advocacy efforts. Capacity is built through mentoring, training sessions, and hands-on learning opportunities to gain the skills needed to make environmental level change. Our work focuses almost exclusively to uplift the voices of youth, underserved, and marginalized residents in order to shift the dynamic of power that has left the unincorporated area with limited resources, less municipal representation, and economically disadvantaged, making IT difficult to build safe, prosperous and drug-free community. SAN lorenzo and hayward acres are uniquely located in alameda county urban unincorporated area which is governed by the board of supervisors. Supervisors are advised on issues and policies relating to the unincorporated area by a network of municipal advisory councils, grassroots community groups, and committees with two supervisors who represent the majority of the unincorporated area. SLHAM directly works with 1-- residents per year and 400 over the lifetime of the project. SLHAM activities and messaging reaches over 100,000 residents a year, and has reached over 400,000 since 2019. The goals of SLHAM youth rising are 1.) SLHAM will grow resident youth leadership in hayward acres, SAN lorenzo, and the unincorporated area to mobilize are youth substance use issues and engage elected officials who represent the unincorporated area with a focus on the prevention of underage drinking ; 2) to increase SLHAM's capacity and reach in order to grow impressions and visibility to increase awareness of youth alcohol use and misuse; 3.) to reduce the density of alcohol outlets in the unincorporated area; 4) changing community norms and a low youth perception of risk or harm of drinking alcohol.