Some young people walk through The Epicenter’s doors looking for a meal. Others need clean clothes, help finding housing, a safe place to spend the afternoon, or guidance on navigating adulthood. What they often find is something harder to measure but equally important: connection.
Located in Salinas, The Epicenter serves at-risk and system-involved adolescents ages 14–24 across Monterey County. Their youth-led hub combines basic-needs support, mentorship, education, employment assistance, housing resources, and wellness services under one roof.
To help sustain that work, Montage Health recently awarded The Epicenter a $10,000 grant through our Community Benefit program to support the organization’s drop-in services program, which provides food, clothing, hygiene supplies, peer support, and resource navigation for local youth.
"The young people who come through our doors are incredibly resilient,” says Richelle Santoya, executive director of The Epicenter. “But resilience shouldn't mean facing life's challenges alone. Whether someone needs a hot meal, help finding housing, support navigating school, or simply a place where they feel seen and valued, our goal is to meet them where they are and help them discover what's possible for their future."
More than a resource center
Created in response to needs identified by local youth, The Epicenter has grown from a program focused primarily on foster youth into a community resource serving young people experiencing housing instability, homelessness, family conflict, and other challenges.
More than 300 young people participate in Epicenter programs annually. Its work centers on four pillars:
- Health and wellness
- Education
- Housing
- Employment
Youth can access computers, Wi-Fi, tutoring, food support, clothing through the Teen Closet, peer mentoring, and referrals to community resources. The organization’s philosophy is simple: meet immediate needs first, then help young people build long-term stability.
Basic needs matter for health
For many young people, The Epicenter’s services are the difference between surviving the day and planning for the future.
"Health is shaped by more than just medical care," says Yasmine Elsherbini, director of Montage Health’s Community Health and Wellness department. "When youth have access to safe spaces, supportive relationships, and trusted guidance, they are better positioned to succeed in school, pursue employment, maintain their well-being, and build healthy futures. The Epicenter is doing important work to create those opportunities for youth throughout Monterey County, and we're honored to support them."
When adolescents are worried about food, housing, or other necessities, those challenges can affect nearly every aspect of their lives. The Epicenter addresses those needs while reducing risk factors associated with substance use, social isolation, and poor health outcomes.
Prevention through connection
One of The Epicenter’s signature programs is Friday Night Live, a youth-led initiative focused on substance use prevention, leadership development, and community advocacy.
Instead of relying on lectures, the program — which operates in partnership with Ohana, Montage Health’s youth mental health program — empowers young people to become advocates and leaders. Participants learn public speaking, community engagement, and prevention strategies around underage drinking, vaping, and substance use.
Youth also participate in:
- Leadership development
- Peer mentoring
- Adulting 101 workshops
- Financial literacy education
- Healthy relationship training
- LGBTQ+ support groups
- Community advocacy projects
These programs help Monterey County youth build confidence and develop skills that support lifelong well-being.
Youth helping youth
A defining feature of The Epicenter is its youth-led model. Many services are delivered by peers and youth navigators with lived experience, creating an environment where young people feel understood.
A conversation that begins with a meal or clean clothes can lead to housing, educational opportunities, employment support, mental health resources, and long-term stability.
Investing in healthier futures
Montage Health’s Community Benefit program supports organizations that address the factors influencing health beyond the walls of a clinic or hospital. The Epicenter exemplifies that mission.
For hundreds of Monterey County youth each year, The Epicenter is a place where immediate needs are met, confidence is built, and young people gain the support they need to move forward confidently into bright and healthy futures.
Read about Community Benefit program
