Redwood City’s Pal Center is hitting its 30th birthday with more than just cake. The long-running youth hub is gearing up to expand its services after the city announced a $4.5 million state grant that will roll out over five years. Operating out of 3399 Bay Road and serving both Redwood City and neighboring North Fair Oaks, the nonprofit runs after-school, summer and teen programs that reach hundreds of young people each day.
Executive Director Ivan Martinez, who has led the center for nine years, says the organization moves at the pace of trust as it builds deeper relationships with local law enforcement. That same philosophy is shaping a new diversion program the Pal Center is developing with the Redwood City Police Department, which the fresh funding is expected to help finalize.
State Grant To Power Police Partnership And Prevention Work
Last Wednesday, city officials announced that Redwood City had secured a Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant worth $4.5 million over five years to support a formal partnership between the Redwood City Police Department and the Pal Center. The money will pay for enforcement and compliance work around licensed cannabis, expanded youth outreach and prevention efforts, diversion services and program evaluation. An oversight team will track how the partnership is working, and Stanford’s John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities will conduct the independent evaluation, according to Redwood City.
Programs Reaching Hundreds Of Kids And Families
The Pal Center’s Community Care and Enrichment program serves upwards of 400 students a day with mentoring, tutoring, arts and athletic activities, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal. In recent years, the center has added bilingual wellness and health offerings for adults 21 and older, while also expanding teen-focused programming designed to keep young people connected to school and work. The nonprofit started as the Police Activities League in 1995 and now emphasizes community safety through prevention and strong relationships, the same report noted.
Police Partnership Built On Trust
Redwood City Police Chief Kristina Bell serves on the Pal Center’s board, a connection the organization highlights on its site as part of its effort to link public safety with supportive, youth-centered programs, according to the mission page at the Pal Center. Bell has said the grant gives Redwood City an opportunity to address public safety concerns while also investing directly in young people, the San Mateo Daily Journal reported.
Oversight, Evaluation And Next Steps
An oversight team will guide how the state dollars are used, with the city pledging regular progress updates to both the City Council and the broader community. The grant will support enforcement, youth outreach, diversion services and data collection as the partnership-driven programs are rolled out and refined, according to Redwood City.
30th Birthday Celebration Draws Local Crowd
The Pal Center kicked off its 30th anniversary by setting up a kids’ play zone during a packed World Cup watch party at Courthouse Square, local outlet Redwood City Pulse reported. The nonprofit has also been spotlighting events such as a Green & Gold Invitational in late June as part of a year of fundraising and outreach, according to the Pal Center.
