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Community Spotlight: Jovenes, Inc.
On January 14, 2026, Open Doors expanded its reach into southeast Los Angeles County with a full-day Core Training alongside Jovenes, Inc. in Whittier, California. The gathering brought together nearly 40 staff members who work directly with youth experiencing homelessness, creating a rare opportunity for collective learning, reflection, and connection.
Youth Voice: Meet Coatlupe “Lupita” Martinez
Coatlupe “Lupita” Martinez (they/she) is a member of the Open Doors Youth Council, and that’s only one part of who they are. They’re an herbalist, a student, a youth organizer, an older sibling, and someone on their healing journey.
Community Spotlight: Waking the Village
In December of 2025, the Open Doors team partnered with Waking the Village in Sacramento for a care-centered training that brought together staff across creative programming, outreach, wellness, housing, and employment services.
Mentorship Spotlight: Alina & Donald
In this candid Q&A, Donald and his mentor Alina reflect on a relationship that grew naturally through shared work, honest check-ins, epic event flops, and hard-earned confidence.
Their story shows how belief, consistency, and simply showing up can help young people step into leadership and carry that confidence forward long after the mentor steps back.
Youth Voice: A Conversation with Axel Pecero
This past August, Open Doors Youth Council member Axel Pecero was detained by ICE while attending an Open Doors training and youth council meeting in Burbank, California.
Today, he is still forcibly held in an ICE facility while awaiting a decision from the judge on his fate.
Community Spotlight: Saddleback Community College
On November 7th, 2025, Open Doors facilitators Kat Besse and Francisco Valverde traveled to Southern California to train with staff members from Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo. The group consisted of folks from many different departments throughout the college, from financial aid to counseling.
Microlearning: Self-Care as a Strategy
Self-care is often depicted through bubble baths, vacations, or “treating yourself.” In the youth-serving space, however, self-care has a deeper function. It is a grounding practice and a professional responsibility that directly shapes the safety, connection, and support we offer young people.
Continued Learning: Harm Reduction in Practice
Open Doors is grounded in the evidence-based principles and practices of Harm Reduction to decrease or mitigate the impact of substance use and abuse. Centering Harm Reduction principles in our engagements can be lifesaving and humanizing for those who use substances.
This month’s recommended “booster” content is an episode of This American Life’s podcast titled “The Call”. It discusses the importance of Harm Reduction and provides an inside look into the Never Use Alone Hotline, which offers overdose prevention support and compassionate presence for people navigating substance use.
Meet Kelly Richmond: Open Doors Advisory Group Member
Kelly Richmond brings insight, advocacy, and a deep-rooted commitment to equity in her role on the Open Doors Advisory Group. With a focus on historically underserved populations, Kelly is driven by the belief that all youth deserve to be seen, heard, and supported with compassion and respect.
Open Doors Training Program Officially Launches to Empower California’s Youth-Serving Adults
In a bold step toward combating the escalating crisis of youth substance use and overdose in California, the California Alliance of Child and Family Services’ Catalyst Center and the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives, Inc. (CAADPE) proudly announce the official launch of the Open Doors Training Program.
