Peoples' Self-Help Housing

The Mission of Peoples' Self-Help Housing is to provide affordable housing and programs leading to self-sufficiency for low-income families, seniors, and other special needs groups on California's Central Coast.

YOUTH EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

YEEP at Los Adobes de Maria II, Santa Maria, one of PSHH's larger affordable housing sites.

The Youth Education Enhancement Program (YEEP) offers after-school education programs for K-12th grade students. YEEP focuses on improving student literacy, English, and math skills. The program improves grade point averages, sharpens reading and study skills, promotes high school graduation, builds self-esteem, and fosters parent participation in their child’s academic life.

In addition, the child’s learning experience is enhanced by art, music, science, nutrition, financial education, theater and other activities, as well as workshops with guest-speakers and field trips.

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Peoples' Self-Help Housing 2009
Youth Education Enhancement Program Staff

Hillary Colvin is a para educator at the Riverview youth education center in Guadalupe. Hillary holds a degree in mathematics from University of California, Santa Cruz. She also attended Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria and grew up in Orcutt. She has worked as a substitute teacher and instructional assistant in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District. She also tutored grades K-12 at the Homeless Service Center in Santa Cruz.

Kimberly Gaspar is the educator at Paso Robles Canyon Creek housing complex where she directs and provides after school education for four elementary schools through a 21st Century grant. She holds a B.S. degree in Child and Family Development from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. Kim was a substitute teacher in the Paso Robles School District and was active as a volunteer for the school district, the Girl Scouts, and for a church youth program that built homes in Mexico.

Brittany Hadidian, the Carpinteria Camper Park and Dahlia Court educator, received her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Sociology from Gordon College in Massachusetts. She spent a semester in Costa Rica as a student living with a local family and participated in short-term trips to Central America working in local communities, orphanages, and hospitals. She has worked in after school programs with Spanish speakers in Santa Barbara and in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Alejandra Mahoney, the educator at Los Adobes de Maria in Santa Maria, is a native of Costa Rica and received her Bachelor's in Liberal Studies from the University of New York. She has worked extensively in education, developing programs for limited English speakers and their children through the Santa Maria Adult Education Office. She has also worked with juvenile offenders and court schools teaching subjects needed for a high school diploma. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has worked in Costa Rica and Japan tutoring students.

Sophie Vogel is one of the YEEP para educators at the Riverview housing complex in Guadalupe. She graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a degree in Latin American and Latino Studies. She attended the Universidad de Chile, Santiago and is fluent in Spanish. Sophie was an AmeriCorps member with Central Coast Literacy Council in Santa Maria and has worked as a youth activities leader at the Familia Center in Santa Cruz.

Melissa Wilkins is the Teen Club Youth Leader at the Carpinteria Camper Park where she works with teens and pre-teens at risk of gang involvement. She holds a degree in Sociology-Human Services from Westmont College where she graduated cum laude. She has worked and interned at Noah's Youth Crisis Center in Santa Barbara and holds a group home administrator certificate with the California Dept. of Social Services, Community Care Licensing.

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To volunteer in the classroom contact a YEEP Center:

Carpinteria Camper Park: (805) 451-6614, Carpinteria
Dahlia Court Apartments: (805) 566-9217, Carpinteria
Los Adobes de Maria: (805) 348-3823 ext. 206, Santa Maria
River View Townhomes: (805) 343-7823, Guadalupe
Canyon Creek Apartments: (805) 226-0136, Paso Robles

Volunteer Opportunities: Seniors, adults, parents—Make a positive change in a young person’s life! Discover the rewards of teaching and working with youth! Take this opportunity to share your skills and interests. High School students—Earn Community Service Hours by tutoring and assisting in the class room. College/University students—You may be able to earn academic credit (and have fun at the same time) by volunteering in one of our programs. Find out how! We are interested in recruiting a diverse group of volunteers to help with tutoring, classroom assistance, and mentoring.

Young learners at Riverview, Guadalupe

Volunteers are needed during the following days/hours:
Monday-Friday 2:00-6:00 p.m.

What Community Officials Have to Say About YEEP

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For information on how you can make a donation to help the Youth Education Enhancement Program, click here for donation information, or contact our Fund Development Dept. (805) 962-5152