Community Spotlight: Jovenes, Inc.

Written by James Freeman, Open Doors Senior Facilitator

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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.

Deep Roots in Community Care

Jovenes, Inc. has deep roots in the community. Founded in the late 1980s by Father Richard Estrada — a leader in the Chicano Rights Movement who worked alongside Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez — the organization emerged in response to a growing need.

Estrada recognized the increasing number of unaccompanied youth arriving from Central America as they fled violence in their home countries. In response, he created a space where young people could find safety, support, and a path forward.

More than 30 years later, Jovenes continues to help youth navigate housing instability and build toward long-term stability. Its programs now span emergency housing, transitional living, college support, and comprehensive planning for independence and community integration.

A Space Designed for Support

The training took place inside the Richard Estrada Youth Center, a daily hub where young people access meals, computers, education and employment counseling, housing assessments, and service referrals. The center reflects the organization’s long-standing commitment to meeting youth where they are at and providing resources that foster stability and opportunity.

On site to organize and facilitate the training were Open Doors Facilitators Francisco Valverde and Elle Grant, Senior Facilitator James Freeman, and Program Manager Alina Sanchez. Partners from Community Solutions — including Nicole Irigoyen, Rebeca Chavez, and Adam Fonseca — also participated, highlighting the collaborative and cross-organizational nature of the effort.

Throughout the morning, participants engaged with foundational Open Doors principles such as cultural humility, harm reduction, and restorative justice. In the afternoon, the focus shifted toward relational strategies for youth engagement, particularly when navigating substance use or other behavioral health challenges.

Reflections from the Room

The day closed with a reflection circle, where participants shared how the training impacted them. Words like empowered, motivated, ready, and open-minded surfaced repeatedly.

Several staff members described how the training reshaped their understanding of everyday interactions with youth, offering new approaches to building trust and strengthening relationships.

“We so appreciate Open Doors coming and supporting our staff to empower youth,” said Eric Hubbard, Director of Development and College Success at Jovenes. “It was energizing to see so many of our team members in one room, thinking deeply about how we show up for the young people we serve.”

Building Safer, More Connected Communities

This training reflects the broader purpose of Open Doors: a movement to create safer, more connected communities by equipping adults to engage youth through relational, compassionate conversations — especially when substance use or behavioral health challenges are present.

As with the team at Jovenes, the Open Doors initiative strengthens the skills and confidence of the adults who walk alongside young people every day. With each conversation and moment of connection, Open Doors helps build trust, reduce harm, and open real pathways toward growth and hope.

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Your stories help build a learning community that stretches far beyond the training room.

If you’d like to share an example of how you utilized learnings from the Open Doors training in your life, please email Samantha Suarez, our Communications Project Manager, at ss*****@***fs.org — and we may feature your story in a future newsletter or blog!