4Th Second

4th Second expanded upon its Youth Empowerment Program which seeks to address trauma, support resilience, and provide opportunities for all youth. In 2023, 4th Second continued its work with a cohort of 41 underserved youth to support resilience building, mental health and to prevent substance abuse among low income BIPOC youth ages 12-25. Participants attended bi-monthly sessions where they learned stress reduction techniques, financial literacy-including budgeting, credit management, and understanding taxes-and human-centered design principles aimed at creating safe spaces in their community. To mitigate the traumatic impact of economic insecurity and poverty, youth were provided with basic income stipends. As part of their learning, the cohort conducted a Human-Centered Design Project, identifying the urgent need for safe spaces where youth in Vallejo could gather and connect. This project culminated in the opening of 4th Second's first youth-designed youth center in November 2023, marking the successful completion of the first cohort. Building on this momentum, the 4th Second launched weekly sessions at the newly established Safe Space in January 2024, expanding its programming to address youth suicide prevention, substance use prevention, environmental health and advocacy, and young women's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The weekly sessions covered critical topics such as mental health and suicide prevention, where youth participated in self-care activities and co-created a media campaign promoting suicide awareness. Financial literacy and workforce readiness were also key components, with sessions focused on budgeting, understanding credit, managing taxes and paychecks, as well as resume building and mock interviews. Additionally, youth engaged in sessions on environmental health and injustices, exploring systemic issues such as redlining, white flight, and the lack of green spaces in low income communities. Through these discussions, they examined the significance of safe green spaces, including community gardens, as areas where problem-solving skills and positive coping mechanisms could be developed. Further, youth participated in the design of a community garden, sketching layouts and incorporating elements such as crops they wished to grow, ornamental features, and artistic concepts to create a relaxing and welcoming space. They also learned about organic gardening techniques, including materials for raised beds and soil amendment practices. Beyond the physical aspects of gardening, youth engaged in self-reflection exercises, using nature-based mindfulness techniques to stay grounded.

As part of the California Economic Mobilization Initiative, 4th Second expanded its community development efforts by building upon its Up Housing Program to support projects that address food insecurity, healthcare access, recuperative care, shelter, and affordable housing. Predevelopment activities included environmental investigations of potential sites, site surveys, and extensive community engagement in the design process, ensuring that local voices were integral to planning. Additionally, 4th Second facilitated coordination between key partners and the City of Vallejo, leading to the submission of preliminary planning applications for two critical projects: a 25-room recuperative care facility and a mixed-use development that would include a grocery store and affordable housing in a low-income, low-food-access census tract. Recognizing the immediate need for access to healthy food, 4th Second also initiated the development of a community garden to activate a vacant lot until it could be further developed into the mixed-use grocery and housing project. Building on designs created by youth in 4th Second's youth programming, community members, staff, and youth collaborated to bring the garden to life. Volunteers engaged in planting native species, learning about soil composition-including the role of clay, topsoil, and mulch in anchoring roots, retaining moisture, and providing essential nutrients. In total, 12 different types of native plants and three varieties of fruit trees were planted throughout the garden. Beyond enhancing the landscape, the inclusion of native plants was emphasized for their ecological benefits, particularly their ability to attract pollinators, beneficial insects, and other wildlife, aligning with permaculture principles and environmental health initiatives. Fruits, vegetables, and herbs will be integrated within the native plant areas and cultivated in raised beds alongside them, ensuring a sustainable and productive urban green space. Through these efforts, 4th Second continues to foster community resilience by promoting food access, environmental stewardship, and inclusive urban development.